Sunday, February 24 the GIFT Committee will host a Pot Luck Luncheon with a talent show fol-lowing the lunch. The luncheon will be starting at about 11:45 am after the late church service. The talent show will feature folks who hang out at our church on Sunday mornings. The committee will supply the drinks and there will be ice cream sundaes for dessert.

There are 2 sign-up sheets on the parish hall bul-letin board. The first sheet will be the sign up for the luncheon. Sign your name, number of people in your party and the dish you wish to share. The second sheet will be for the talent show. Sign up your name, your talent, and any support you need, such as chair or table. We will have a microphone on stage, and you will be able to use a CD, phone, etc. to plug into our electronic system if needed. The time allotment for participants in the talent show is 10 minutes.

The deadline for sign-ups is Sun-day, February 17.

All Saints Sunday will be observed during both worship services on Nov. 3. All Saints Sunday commemorates not only the martyrs of the church, but also all the people of God, living and dead, who form the mystical body of Christ.

The paschal candle is lighted on All Saints Sunday to show the connection between baptism and the Easter resurrection. As Christians, we are reminded that we are baptized people of God and that our baptism is not just for this time and this world, but forever.

During the November 4 worship services, we will remember by name those who have died since last All Saints Sunday. As each name is read, a candle will be lighted and the tower bell will toll.

• In Memoriam
• Lani Amig
• Ethel Nester
• Raymond Nester
• Kent Druckenmiller
• Julianna Collette
• Ronald Wessner
• Lorraine Rowlands
• Everett Arndt
• Gloria Alpago
• Theresa Haskey
• Julius Ernst
• Jeanette Lacker
• Raymond Keeler
• Marian Sell
• Barbara Roth
• Wendy Sichak
• Warren Hunsberger
• Mahlon Hariu
• Carlton Wetherhold
• Chad Owens
• John C. Wagner
• Dorothy Stauffer

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord that they may now rest from their labors.

The Lehigh Mission District Lutheran In-Gathering is held annually on the first Wednesday of December. This year it is December 5. All churches in the Lehigh District take part in this worthwhile cause. In-Gathering is providing Christmas gifts, small items and monetary gifts to local institutions. Those institutions
receiving these gifts are: The Allentown Rescue Mission, Daybreak, The Sixth Street Shelter, Turning Point, Sharing Life, Boys and Girls Clubs of Allentown, Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Centers, Bethany Christian Services (Refuge Resettlement), Cedarbrook (Allentown and Fountain Hill), Keenan House and The Topton Home. Lists of small items needed for these institution are in the green insert in this newsletter.

We ask that you consider donating some of the small items listed under the various institutions. Also we encourage you to follow the directions on the list as to “New” or “Good Used” condition. When bringing your items to church, please clearly mark your bags or boxes with the name of the institution your contribution is for. Place your bags or boxes in the box marked In-Gathering in the cloak room.

Here at St. John’s we hang little stockings on a tree by the first Sunday in November; this year that would be November 4. Each of these stockings will have a name and the name of the institution. Inside the stocking you will find a paper with the name, age and gift suggestion for that person. We encourage you to take a stocking and purchase a gift for the person shown. When choosing a stocking from the tree, we ask that you sign your name and phone number on the Master List next to the person’s name. Please wrap the gift carefully and mark the gift with the name and institution and fasten it securely to the box. Do not use the little stocking as your gift card unless you tape it to the box. Boxes are preferred to gift bags. This makes it easier to pack boxes for delivery. We handle many gifts at In-Gathering and in packing these gift tags could come off and items could fall out of gift bags. If you are buying gift cards, please put the gift card in a box and wrap. Envelopes can get lost in packing.

Please bring your wrapped gift to church and place under the tree by Sunday, November 25. We then ask you again to sign your name on the Master List indicating the gift was placed under the tree. If you prefer not to buy a gift, perhaps you would help by taking a stocking marked donation, from the tree. These monetary gifts will be used for the benefit of people in our local institutions.

On In-Gathering Day, Wednesday, December 5, members of the churches in our district gather to sort all the small items brought in (and there are many) and check all wrapped gifts to see that each person, child or adult, on the lists received from the institution, will receive their gift. After the work is finished, a short service will be held with a speaker from one of the institutions. Lunch is then served to all the workers.

This is a huge project and we appreciate all the help from our church members. If you have never seen this in operation, take a few minutes of your time that day and stop in and see the action. You may decide to join us in the future.

Also, we would appreciate any cookies you might want to donate for the 5th of December.