This Week
@ Saint John's
TUESDAY | May 13
9:30AM-3:00PM Church Office
6:00PM Spiritual Council
THURSDAY | May 15
9:30AM-3:00PM Church Office
SATURDAY | May 17
8:00AM Men's Breakfast
@ Dutchway, Myerstown
8AM-NOON Church Yard Sale
SUNDAY | May 18
MUSIC SUNDAY
8:00AM Chancel Singers
8:20AM Joyful Ringers
9:00AM Worship Service
Choir Members, Worship Leaders
Upcoming
Services & Events
SUNDAY | May 25
GRADUATION SUNDAY
9:00AM Worship Service
Susan Gipe, Worship Leader
10:00AM Sunday School
TUESDAY | May 27
9:30AM-3:00PM Church Office
6:00PM Consistory Meeting
SATURDAY | May 31
9AM-5PM PSEC Spring Meeting
SUNDAY | June 01
10:30AM Worship @ Saint Mark's
"Once Upon A Morning"
Combined Choirs
11:30AM Social Time
click image for
May 11 Worship Service
click image for
May 04 Worship Service
click image for
April 27 Service
We invite you
to worship with us!
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PARKING - A small parking lot is located next to the church and can be accessed from River Street, which runs behind the church building. Ample on-street parking can also be found on East Main Street and Dock Street.
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ENTERING THE CHURCH - You may use either entrance doors on the front of the building. Once inside, you will find a friendly greeter who will direct you to the Sanctuary, which is located on Level Two (or the Chapel on Level One if our service is being held there). If you need the elevator, they will assist you. Restrooms are located on the Ground Level.
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ENTERING THE SANCTUARY - An usher will give you a worship bulletin to guide you through the service. Children's activity bags are also available. Offering plates are located on a stand inside each Sanctuary entrance (or just outside the Chapel).
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DURING THE SERVICE - Please be mindful that the service is being recorded for those who are viewing online. If we are celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the elements (bread and wine/juice) will be distributed by the ushers. The Mite Family Room is available in the rear of the Sanctuary for those who have difficulty sitting for longer periods of time.
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LEAVING THE SANCTUARY - At the end of the service, you may spend a few moments in prayerful reflection during the postlude music or exit using either of the stairwells. If you need the elevator, an usher will assist you.
A NOTE FROM THE
CONSISTORY PRESIDENT
May 2025
Why is it taking so long to find our new pastor?
A message from the PSEConference
If this article is showing up in your bulletin or newsletter, it may be several months since your last pastor's final Sunday. The pastor's office has been cleared out, the sign in front of the church updated, and you're wondering when will our next pastor be getting here. Unfortunately, that's a difficult question to answer.
Maybe it's been a long time since your church's last search, and it took time for the Search & Call Team to compile the information for the church profile. There are several options for a pastor (Interim, Designated-Term, Long-term Supply, Sunday Supply) and your leaders might be working to discern the best next steps.
It's also possible that your church's leaders are doing everything they can to find the next pastor, but candidates are not available. Most clergy are approaching retirement (more than 60% of clergy serving PSEC churches are 60 or older) and seminary graduating classes and shrinking. These and other factors have led to a decrease in candidates for our churches. We've found that churches receive about half as many candidates for an open pastor position as they would have received for the same position just five years ago.
That doesn't mean that a great candidate isn't out there for your church. It just means that congregations may need to be more patient in their search. It also means churches that can, should take steps to make themselves more marketable, such as offering Conference compensation guidelines when possible, and additional vacation time or other benefits when it's not.
Pennsylvania Southeast Conference is the link that connects our church's various and diverse ministries both locally and globally. The Conference provides guidance, support, and resources for ministerial transitions through Rev. Kevin McLemore, Associate Conference Minister for Search & Call and Brea Rarick, Assistant for Search & Call.