Celebrating the Saints of St. Matthew
As we celebrate All Saints’ Day this November, we take time to remember and give thanks for the members of the Saint Matthew family who have entered into eternal life over the past year. This day reminds us that those we love are still with us in the great family of God, cheering us on in faith. We are grateful for the many ways they blessed our congregation and touched our lives, and we hold onto the hope that we will be reunited with them again after this life. May the memory of these saints encourage us to keep living out our faith with love and joy.
Michael A. Canty (1950 – 2025)
Jay C. Fenstermaker (1928 – 2025)
Eldortha Grover (1929 – 2024)
Mary Ruth Houck (1937 – 2025)
Audrey E. Hower (1951 – 2025)
Rosemary A. Huber (1955 – 2025)
Helen D. Rescorla (1923 – 2025)
Frances Rubenstein (1933 – 2024)
Karl H. Schaefer (1939 – 2025)
Barbara Skipper (1944 – 2025)*
*Friend of St Matthew
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! – November Opportunities for Worship
Sunday, November 2, 9 a.m. – Worship – All Saint’s Sunday (led by ALWL Wendy Davis)
Sunday, November 9, 9 a.m. – Worship – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost (led by Rev. Wayne Muthler)
Sunday, November 16, 9 a.m. – Worship – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost (led by ALWL Wendy Davis)
Sunday, November 23, 9 a.m. – Worship – Christ the King Sunday (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Sunday, November 30, 9 a.m. – Worship – First Sunday of Advent (led by Becky Toth)
Volunteers Needed
St. Matthew is looking for volunteers for two recent ad hoc committees that are being formed: the Personnel committee and the Security community. If you have expertise or interest in human resource management or security matters, we would value and appreciate your input! The personnel committee will examine and revise job descriptions and duties, develop employee policies and guidelines, and plan for the church’s future while the security committee will examine safety and security, including the possible installation of a security system or cameras. If you are interested in serving on either (or both!) of these committees, please contact the church office (570-784-4515) or John Kula (jwkula2@gmail.com).
If it is difficult for you to make it to Sunday worship and you’d like to have the office email you the weekly bulletin, please send us a message and we’ll add you to the list.
Music Ministry
Celebrating 100 Years of Worship and Song
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the 100th Anniversary Celebration of St. Matthew’s building such a meaningful and memorable occasion. The service was filled with joy and reverence, from the stirring voices of all our choirs to the gifted instrumentalists who enriched every note. The singing was robust, uplifting, and deeply moving; a true reflection of our shared faith and the strength of our musical community. Thank you for being part of this milestone celebration and for helping us honor a century of worship and ministry through music.
Jubilate Choir: Celebrating 20 Years of Song
This December marks 20 years since the inaugural Jubilate Choir Concert. It began in 2005 with this simple announcement:
“The Jubilate Choir is rehearsing on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. in preparation for the December
performances of John Purifoy’s Born a Savior, Born a King. There are approximately 30 voices from
various local churches… Please mark your calendars for December 17 and 18 and join us for a time of worship!”
Two decades later, our Jubilate family has grown to nearly 70 singers and a 25-piece orchestra, performing works that span the sacred choral tradition from Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo and John Rutter’s Magnificat to beloved arrangements of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, The First Noel, O Holy Night, and a new setting of What Child Is This? culminating in a joyful and “surprise” finale.
We are deeply grateful for the congregation’s unwavering support throughout these years. Your encouragement, attendance, and generosity have allowed this ministry to thrive and bring high-quality sacred music to our community at no cost to attendees.
As we prepare for our 20th Anniversary Christmas Concerts December 13 at 7:00 p.m. and December 14 at 3:00 p.m. we invite you to consider becoming a Jubilate Sponsor. With the loss of grant funding for the second year in a row, your contribution is more important than ever in helping us sustain this ministry and share the gift of music with all.
Sponsorship Levels
Conductor Circle-$500+
Orchestra Circle -$250-$499
Choir Circle – $100-$249
Bell Circle-$50-–$99
Patron -$25-$49
Friend -$10-$24
Becoming a sponsor of The Jubilate Choir supports not only the arts but also our shared mission to inspire faith and fellowship through music. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the concert program with gratitude for their generosity and commitment to this ministry.
As we look back with gratitude and ahead with anticipation, I am reminded that the true beauty of our music lies not only in the notes we sing but in the community that gathers to sing them. Whether you have sung with Jubilate, attended a concert, or simply encouraged our ministry along the way, you have played a vital part in this twenty-year journey. May this season of Advent and Christmas fill your heart with the same joy and hope that we strive to share through every anthem. Thank you for continuing to make music and ministry possible at St. Matthew.
Warmly,
Alan
Congregation Meetings Coming Up in November
Please make plans to stay after worship for a few minutes on November 2 and November 16 for important annual congregation meetings. On November 2, nominees to fill expected vacancies in the church’s 2026 council will be solicited and nominated. Several members of the council are finishing their second three-year terms at the end of the year and are not eligible for reappointment. In accordance with St. Matthew’s constitution and bylaws, nominations will be accepted from the floor. On November 16, congregation members will be asked to vote on the nominees for council, in addition to reviewing and approving the church’s 2026 budget.
Both of these meetings should be brief. Your attendance at both meetings is very importantand greatly appreciated!
Celebrating Our Building’s 100th Anniversary
In early October, our congregation celebrated the 100th anniversary of our building with a series of memorable events over a busy weekend, starting with an open house and tours on Saturday and commencing with a spectacular worship service and luncheon on Sunday. County Commissioner Dave Kovach and State Representative Robert Leadbetter stopped by to present proclamations, Bishop Miller led us in a music-filled worship, and former pastors shared their memories of Saint Matthew at St. Matthew. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so special, especially Alan Hack and The Brass Menagerie, who provided incredible music, and members of the anniversary planning committee who made this memorable celebration possible.
A special thank you goes out to Becky Toth for her leadership of this celebration. Thank you to all who were involved and attended!
Remaining Hopeful in A Time of Transition and Uncertainty
In seasons of change-when our church is searching for a new pastor and the world around can feel harsh and uncertain-it’s easy to feel weary. Yet even now, God is at work in and among us. We are blessed with a congregation of caring, dedicated people who have stepped up to serve, lead, and support one another in this time of transition. Their faithfulness reminds us that the church is not defined by a single leader, but by the living body of Christ in which each of us plays a part.
Scripture tells us that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” As followers of Jesus, we carry that light into the world through kindness, patience, forgiveness, anda willingness to show love, even when it isn’t easy. When the news feels overwhelming or the future is unclear, we anchor ourselves in God’s promises, that He is with us, guiding us, and preparing the way ahead.
Let us continue to pray for one another, encourage one another, and keep our eyes open for God’s grace shining through daily moments. Hope isn’t something we wait for-it’s something we can practice. Christ is our firm foundation, and in Him we can face each new day with courage, peace, and trust that a bright future is unfolding right here in our church family. May God bless you on this journey.
Meet Pastor Chad
Pastor Chad Hebrink is serving as the interim pastor for administration during the pastoral search process at St. Matthew. Pastor Chad has been serving as the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Berwick since August 2003, and has served various interim positions in the area as well, including at St. Matthew in 2006-2007. He is a native of Cresco, Iowa, and graduated from Wartburg College in 1994 with a double major in accounting and religion. He passed the CPA exam on his first attempt. From 1994 – 1999, he served as the accountant at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Then he attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, earning a Master of Divinity. For his internship year, he served at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hershey, PA and lived on Cocoa Avenue within walking distance to Hershey Park. Upon graduating from seminary, he said that he would be happy to return to Pennsylvania for a call to a congregation. Actively involved in the work of the community and our Upper Susquehanna Synod, Pastor Chad is a member of the Berwick Rotary Club, Diakon Child Family and Community Ministries board, American Red Cross PA Rivers Chapter board, and serves as the Synod treasurer. In his free time and to keep his mind sharp, he enjoys doing Sudoku puzzles and Solitaire games on the computer.
Help Support the Teen Center Meal Ministry…
The Social Ministry Committee is looking for help from folks who like to cook! We will be providing frozen meals periodically to the Teen Center at 36 East Main Street in Bloomsburg. Young folks visit the Teen Center Monday through Thursday and many times are in need of something to eat. You can provide a whole meal, or simply a quart of soup.
How will it work? We will be “stockpiling” meals in the church basement freezer located at the bottom of the stairs leading to the kitchen/fellowship hall. Simply put your food in a freezer container, label it with the contents and the date, and put in the freezer. We will see that the Teen Center gets the meals!
Suggested types of meals: things that freeze well and can be heated up in a microwave or air fryer, like soups, lasagna, meatballs, sloppy joes, chili, stuffed peppers, rice or pasta dishes, casseroles, mac ‘n cheese, etc. Think “what will teenagers like to eat?”
This is an on-going, local ministry that was started by Madison O’Shea, a BU student, as her Senior Project. Thanks for your help to make a difference for our local teens!
Have a question? Contact any member of the Social Ministry Committee: Kathy Stewart, Denise Lorenz, Bonnie Ulshafer, Cathy Cosoleto, Mary Lou Wagner, Pat Ferry or Katy Miller.
St. Matthew’s Visitation Team
Visitation Team Reminder
Do you or someone you know need special prayers, a friendly phone call, or a visit? Have you or a loved one entered a care facility? Would you like a visit from our visitation pastor, Pastor Pam? Please let us know and we will arrange whatever care you are in need of. Contact the church office (570-784-4515), Katy Miller (570-441-2850), or Barbara Welliver-Bramer (570-458-5254). Prayer is powerful and a friendly voice, a warm smile, or a heartfelt personal note can go a long way in comforting someone.
Meet Pastor Pam
As soon as our congregation’s search for a new pastor began, the Upper Susquehanna Synod has assigned two local pastors to serve our congregation onapart-time interim basis. Pastor Chad Hebrink from Berwick, who is well-known to our congregation, is assisting with administrative matters. Pastor Pam Meilands, who comes to us from the Table and First Presbyterian Church, has been tapped to provide pastoral care/visitation and handle funerals and weddings. Here is some information about Pastor Pam from the First Presbyterian web site: Rev. Pamela Meilands has been an ordained pastor for ten years, serving churches in Michigan and Pennsylvania. She received her
Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2014 and is also a graduate of the music department at The College of New Jersey. She has completed training focused on innovation and the church, has completed the first segment of transitional ministry training, and is currently pursuing a M.B.A. degree. When not working or studying, Pastor Pam can
be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, knitting, or in the pottery studio working with clay. We are thankful for the services and support of Pastor Chad and Pastor Pam.
You Are Invited to Pastor Pam’s Book Study
Rev. Pam Meilands invites the good people of St. Matthew to join in a book study, along with members of The Table and First Presbyterian Church. Participants will read and discuss Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life by James Martin. Discussion groups will gather weekly on Sundays at noon at First Presbyterian and on Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at The Table beginning on October 12 and 13. Copies of the book are available at First Presbyterian or through bookshop.org or other online vendors.
2026 Council Members Are Needed
St. Matthew’s council will be losing three members at the end of this year as their terms expire, and new members are urgently needed! The council generally meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. If you are interested or have any questions about what’s involved, we’d love to talk to you. Feel free to see any council member or contact the church office. The council is responsible for keeping our church operating and on sound footing, and your service is especially important now during our pastoral vacancy.
Thank you for your consideration.
November Collection for the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard
Please help the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard continue to provide groceries for 275-300 families a week. During November, St. Matthew will be collecting “heat and eats” – canned pasta, chili, stews, sloppy joes, and so on. Want to make a monetary donation instead? Checks can be made out to Bloomsburg Food Cupboard or donations can be made online at their web site www.bloomsburgfoodcupboard.org). Thank you for your faithful support, which is more crucial than ever!
What gift can you share? Altar Guild, Choirs, worship assistants of any type—all can use your gifts. Please call the office or speak to a member of the church council, Erin Hartman about choirs.
¨ Did you know that over $1,100 a month is given electronically by members of St. Matthew?
Automated giving provides convenience for you and cash-flow consistency for St. Matthew. Getting started is easy. Additional information is available from the church office.
¨ THRIVENT MEMBERS: Please remember that you must redirect your Thrivent Choice Dollars each year. If you do not redirect your Choice Dollars yearly, Thrivent will choose a charity to receive your Choice Dollars. Please consider redirecting your Choice Dollars to St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bloomsburg. If you have any questions please contact Randy Ruckle or Elaine Stauffer. Many thanks to St Matt Thrivent members who direct their choice dollars giving to our mutual benefit!
¨ Follow St. Matthew on Facebook! Watch for online updates, info, and reminders.
Equal Exchange
Chocolate bars – mint crunch, orange infused, milk, very dark 71%, extra dark Panama 80%.
Also many varieties of organic teas, 2 kinds of hot cocoa.
And the exotic!—Dried Mango.
Full-flavored, fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you;
the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal Exchange co-op.
Plus, Organic Virgin Olive Oil and Dates from Palestine.
Available on the cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
Did you know that over $1,000/month is given electronically by members of St. Matthew?
Automated giving provides convenience for you and cash-flow consistency for St. Matthew.
Getting started is easy. Check out the giving portal on our homepage: stmatthewbloomsburg.org
¨ Many thanks to St Matt Thrivent members who direct their choice dollars giving to the ministry of St Matt and our mutual benefit!
¨ Follow St. Matthew on Facebook!
St Matthew offers Equal Exchange fairly-traded products at wholesale prices throughout the year.
Fairly-traded means that everyone in the supply chain is compensated fairly and is able to work in a healthy environment. Equal Exchange trades only with farmer cooperatives who vote and together decide how to use their premiums in their communities. Premiums support environmental initiatives like beekeeping, protecting the pollinators their crops depend on. EE is committed to fully traceable supply chains to counter the child and forced labor problems in West Africa.
Thank you for supporting small-scale farmers, their communities and the environment with your purchases of fairly-traded chocolate, nuts, coffee, fruit, tea, cocoa, and olive oil.
…and what does the Divine require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6 :8
Thank you for supporting small-scale farmers, their communities and the environment with your purchases of fairly-traded chocolate, nuts, coffee, fruit, tea, cocoa, and olive oil.
Full-flavored, fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you; the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal Exchange Co-op.
Plus, Organic Virgin Olive Oil and Dates from Palestine.
Available on the cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
Baking supplies! Chocolate chips (55%), baking cocoa, almonds, pecans and cashews.
Fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you; the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal
Exchange coop. Available on the Fair Trade Project cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
New on the Fair Trade Cart—Mind, Body & Soul Coffee (whole bean).
Blend of medium and Vienna roasts—smooth & creamy with chocolate notes.
Community Blessing Box Offerings
Jesus said, Go and do likewise Luke 10:37
Community Blessing Box Offerings
As you consider offerings to the Community Blessing Box, here are some items we’ve found to be in great demand:
Food items
· Individual size heat ‘n eats in flip-top cans
· Snack crackers (Lance, Keebler, etc.)
· Pop Tarts
· Individual size cereals, apple sauce/fruit
· Canned/packaged chicken/ham/tuna salad, spam, beef jerky
· Spaghetti sauce (paired with boxed pasta)
Personal care items
· (small) Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant
· (small)(bottles) Laundry soap, fabric softener/dryer sheets
· Tablets & pens
· Toilet paper
· Socks
· Wash cloths
Special thanks to Kathy Stewart for managing this vital ministry.
Food for Thought: (we picked up some tips from another newsletter—to help you help others)
So, I spent some time at a Food Bank today, and spoke to the people getting food. Here are some things I learned from those in need.
* Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
* Oil is a luxury but needed for rice a roni which they also get a lot of.
* Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
* Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
* Sugar and flour are treats.
* Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
* Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
* Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
* Everyone loves Stove Top stuffing.
In all the years I have donated food at the holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did.