Category Archives: worship

St Johns Worship activities

Carol Ann Brokate: Steward of the Month – January 2018

I grew up in this church from the time I was baptized until present time.

I attended Sunday School with my younger brother and then stayed for church with my parents.

I sang on the Children’s choir, attended Girl Scout Pack 33, and went to Sunday School until I was confirmed. Then I started teaching a class with Eleanor Lavey until I went off to college for 4 years. I helped in the summer with the bible School (2 week session). I also taught Catacactal class for 3 years in the 1970’s.

In 1966, Hank and I were married in St. John’s and we continued to attend church. In fact, they convinced Hank to teach 9th grade. I continued to teach Sunday School and my own 3 children attended every Sunday. I had them in my class too.

Pastor Foerster became Pastor in 1972. In the late 90’s Pastor Fred was the one that asked Nancy and me if we would take over Fellowship the second Sunday of the month, excludes July and August.  We said we would try it and we have been doing it every since, about 23 years.

I will continue to help in any way possible as long as I am able.

Andre Fatula: Steward of the Month: July 2017

My involvement with St. John’s ministry began in the mid 1990’s when Reverend Fred Foerster asked for volunteers to visit the homebound members of the congregation on a set schedule.  At that moment in my life I was a part-time employee of the John Gould Pharmacy in Emmaus.  My role was to deliver prescription medicine to the pharmacy’s vast clientele, many of whom were confined to their living quarters.  Despite the wide disparity in ages I was able to forge a trusting friendly relationship with these senior citizens.  As a result of this rewarding experience I was confident of my ability to relate to the homebound of St. John’s.  For two years, I paid monthly visits to three homebound members and forwarded brief summaries of those visits to Eileen Gribben who was the project coordinator.  For reasons, I cannot recall this outreach came to an end, and I was left in limbo until the late Richard Keim approached me one Sunday following worship and stated that there was a need for communion assistants and ushers at the early service.  Would I help? After some thought I decided to serve in both capacities which I did until 2007 when I decided to focus solely on ushering.  Two years later I slipped quietly into the role of full time usher at the eight o’clock service.

To be among the first to greet friends, acquaintances and visitors to worship on a Sunday is one of my joys in life.  I look forward to this experience each week.