Let us come together in song & prayer this weekend!!
Come to any one of our three worship services!
Here's what you can expect at church:
- Communion - both elements - will be offered
- The offering plate will be passed during worship
- Congregational singing
- Masking is optional. Masking is recommended during singing.
- Sunday, 8:15am worship service will be livestreamed
- Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
- Fellowship (coffee, tea, fruit & pastries) at 9:30 a.m.; hosted by the World Outreach & Endowment Committees
|
|
|
Limited quantities of large print bulletins
will be available on the Welcome Table for worship services.
|
|
|
Join us through the end of October for our Season of Creation liturgy and messages! All components: hymns, liturgy and prayer responses will be included in the bulletin, and hymnals will not be necessary.
We hope you are excited to experience these next two months rejoicing in God's creation and reflecting on the bounties which He has given us.
Each week will have a unique theme and artwork by Geoffrey Thulin emphasizing the theme.
Season of Creation, Week Two
Sky
Message by Pastor Gil Waldkoenig
Geoffrey Thulin
Winter Sky, no. 1
|
|
|
We are looking forward to the start of Sunday School on Rally Day, September 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Youth and Adult Sunday School classes will begin. Invite a friend!
We will also be handing out storybook bibles to our 2 & 3 year olds during Sunday School, and 4th graders and their families will receive a bible during worship.
Pre-registration is not required. Come as you are. Bring a friend. All are welcome!
This Sunday, Sept. 11, children and their parents will gather in the Worship Space for an outline of the Sunday School program, and then all will participate in a Rally Day Scavenger Hunt! Parents are requested to stay with their children to supervise during the scavenger hunt.
Pre-School - PreK (Room 306, upper level)
Teacher: Marianne Drummond
Kindergarten - Second Grade (Room 305, upper level)
Teacher: Sharon Kaya & Melinda Johnson
Third - Fifth Grade (Room 304, upper level)
Teachers: Julie Dunlop & Kasey Smith
Confirmation: Sixth - Eight Grade (Youth House, 121/123 York St., upstairs)
Teachers: Mark Clowney, Jim Flanagan, Andy Keyser, Josh Main, Brent Smith, Karen Smith, Travis Smith
High Schoolers are welcome to help with the Youth Sunday School Classes!
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
Adult Discussion Class (Library, main level)
Contact: Judy Leslie
Upcoming Discussion, Seminars, and Plans
The Seekers (Room 204, main level)
Contact: Lucinda Bringman
Miracle Workers (Room 300, upper level)
Contacts: Amanda Bair, Diane Joiner
Movers & Shapers Class (Room 301, upper level)
Contact: Jim Dunlop
Exploring Faith (Room 303, upper level; and via Zoom)
Contacts: Alli Crowell, Jenny Wood
Faith & Fellowship Class (Room 309, upper level)
Contacts: Gary Shaffer, Lyne Aurand, Cindy Zepp
|
|
|
|
September 11: God's work. Our hands. Sunday
St. James Lutheran Church and other Lutheran Churches in the Gettysburg Conference come together to serve organizations within our community through a variety of service projects. But God's work. Our hands. Sunday stretches beyond just our local community. This is a day of Lutheran churches across the nation coming together to serve. Take some time while you are serving to consider the impact Lutherans are making nation-wide!
God’s work. Our hands. Sunday service opportunities for 2022:
- Ruth’s Harvest Food Collection: Collecting food for food insecure children – meet at Lincoln Elementary School
- LWR Quilt Making – Meet at Christ Lutheran Church, Gettysburg
- Camp Nawakwa Beautification – Meet at Camp Nawakwa in Arendtsville to complete projects around the camp
- LWR Blanket Making – Meet at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Biglerville
- Tender Care Pregnancy Blankets - Meet at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Biglerville
- Fellowship with Agricultural Workers - Meet at 80 Lobaugh Road, Aspers, PA 17304
Gathering time is at 1:00 p.m. Please note that this year volunteers will launch from the service sites. (In previous years, there was a Sending Service from a central location; this will not be occurring this year.)
|
|
|
September 18: Fall Festival & Blessing of Animals
On Sunday, September 18, we will have our annual Fall Festival & Blessing of the Animals. Come out for an afternoon filled with fellowship, food, music by Ernie Kranias & Sharon Kaya, and games at Tom & Barbara Vossler's Farm at 1:00pm (665 Knoxlyn Road, Gettysburg).
We will have the Blessing of Animals at 1:00 p.m. with lunch to follow at 2:00 p.m. Even if you don't have a pet for the blessing, please come! This fellowship event is open to all!!
Read all the details here.
Please RSVP so we know how many to prepare for. Please bring a side dish to share, along with reusable place settings (go green!).
If you are able to help set-up on Saturday, September 17 at 1:00 p.m., please contact Tom Vossler at tvossler@comcast.net.
|
|
Choir Rehearsals are now in full swing!
The Martin Luther choir will sing at the 8:15 a.m. service this Sunday, September 11
Adult Choir Rehearsals on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
New voices are always welcome!
|
|
|
|
Youth News
Check out our Youth Page.
WEDNESDAYS
Middle & High School Breakfast (6:45 a.m. at the Youth House)
K-5 Youth Group (3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Starting SUNDAY, September 11, 2022
Middle Youth Group (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Youth House)
Dinner for MS & HS Youth (6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Youth House)
High School Youth Group (6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Youth House)
NEW to our Sunday Night Youth Program, we will have dinner from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The Middle & High Schoolers will overlap during this time for fellowship, dinner, music, and worship.
We are in search of volunteers to make dinner and eat with the youth during this time. If you are interested in providing a meal, please reach out to Adam (youth@stjamesgettysburg.org) to be put on the schedule!
|
|
|
|
Weekly Bible Study with Pastor Andrew resumes, Thursday, September, 15. In-person.
All are Welcome!
|
|
|
We have a few openings for altar flowers in September and October. If you are interested in sponsoring flowers in memory or honor of a loved one, please reach out to Judy Seilhamer. (717-334-4301)
Available dates:
September 24 & 25
October 1 & 2
|
|
|
Group Tickets for Soweto Gospel Choir at the Majestic Theater
Monday, November 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Soweto Gospel Choir is coming to Gettysburg at the Majestic.
Jonathan is coordinating group reservations to see this performance. Please contact him (jnoel@stjamesgettysburg.org or 717-334-2012 x 207) by Thursday, October 20 to secure your group seating.
Seats will be $41 (discounted $5 per ticket)
Youth are free (expenses will be covered by the church and a generous donor)
Group seating is in the balcony, section B
Learn more about the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Majestic.
|
|
|
|
Gettysburg Community Concert Association has invited Sophie Shao to come to Gettysburg, and perform at St. James Lutheran Church.
Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
$20 admission, or membership to GCCA
Cellist Sophie Shao, winner of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and top prizes at the Rostropovich and Tchaikovsky competitions, is a versatile and passionate artist whose performances the New York Times has noted as “eloquent, powerful” and the Washington Post called “deeply satisfying.”
Learn more about the cello performance.
|
|
Operation Christmas Child
For the month of September we are collecting toys to fill the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes:
- Toy cars, Yo-yos, Jump ropes
- Small dolls and play jewelry
- Deflated soccer balls with pumps
- Small sets of building blocks
- Small flashlights with extra batteries
- Children's socks, watches and sunglasses
Donations can be placed in the plastic tub outside the church office.
Remember, items will need to fit in a regular sized shoebox, and are for children ages 2 - 9 years old.
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Miracle Workers for Movie Nights and Lunch in September!
All are Welcome to attend!
|
|
|
|
Pastor Andrew would like to meet with as many households of the congregation as possible. He has prepared a questionnaire to facilitate your discussion. Please complete the questionnaire and then Pastor Andrew will be in touch with you to arrange a time to meet. The meeting usually lasts about 45 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
