I was not raised in the Lutheran Church. I became a member of the Lutheran Church when my husband, Gary and I got married in the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Allentown in 1959. We joined St. John’s Lutheran Church, Emmaus in 1966. We raised our three children, David, Michele and Eric at St. John’s. My husband and I have been involved in different ministries of St. John’s over the many years that we have been members such as serving as greeter, usher, and attending adult Sunday school.

I joined Altar Guild in the late 1980s because there was a need for Altar Guild members and I am still a member of the Altar Guild at the present time. I have been active in WELCA and currently serving as the recording secretary of WELCA at St. John’s. I also attend the BYOB women’s bible study group.

In 2010, I attended a one-day women’s retreat lead by our Associate in Ministry, Melanie Werley. At that retreat, she introduced us to Anglican Prayer Beads. Myself and others that attended that retreat were interested in the use of Prayer Beads. With the approval of the pastor at that time, we started our own Prayer Bead group at St. John’s. We meet several times a year to make the Prayer Beads. The Prayer Beads are sent to veterans, our shut-ins, to the bride and groom when we have a wedding at our church. The Prayer Beads are also available to anyone who would like to receive a set.

It is important to me to stay active in the life of St. John’s so the ministries of St. John’s can continue, not for my own recognition or satisfaction. St. John’s has been my church family for over 50 years. The support and prayers of my church family are an important part of my personal life and my life at St. John’s.

I have been a member of St. John’s my entire life. As a child, I fondly remember walking with my family to church and Sunday School. By the time I was a teenager, I began to learn what it meant to volunteer and help my church community. I would go with my mother to help her prepare the altar for church services. Once I became old enough, I joined the Altar Guild to continue to help out in this way and have done so ever since.

I also involved myself in the church’s nursery program. It was always fun and enjoyable volunteering to take care of the babies and toddlers in the nursery room. My son, Joseph, also loved to spend time in the nursery room with me.

After my husband passed away, I was asked to become a Sunday School Teacher for the third and fourth graders. I’ve had the pleasure of working with the students throughout their time in Sunday School until they were confirmed. It has truly been a joy and blessing to help them and watch them grow. On that note, it is also interesting for me to reflect on the many years I have been involved with Vacation Bible School at St. John’s. I attended the annual event as a child and now, as an adult, volunteer every summer to aid this wonderful program and pass along the years of happiness and fun it gave me as a child.

I also have many fond memories of Christmas caroling along with other church members and my family to sing to homebound members. Seeing the joy on their faces when we arrived was always very heartwarming for me.

In addition to these, I am a member of the G.I.F.T. and Stewardship committees and also serve as a greeter, flower deliverer, gift presenter, and baker/server for fellowship and special dinners.

St. John’s has always been a part of my life and my church family will always continue to bring joy to my life. I am often reminded of this joy when I volunteer and give back to the community.

I have been a member of St. John’s Lutheran for as long as I can remember. I was baptized, went to Sunday school, got confirmed, and was married in 1991 here. After my daughter Alicia was born in 1992, I had her baptized here too. I can remember my Mom and Dad volunteering for different committees when I was a child. They would bring me, my brother and sister to church to attend service, help with decorating on holidays, go caroling at Christmas to our shut-in church members and let us help with altar care which included flower delivery when we were old enough. My mother would also bake, serve during fellowship/ congregational dinners and help teach vacation bible school when I was a youngster. My dad served as an usher and was on the property committee. They fostered in me at a young age the importance of being a good steward and serving your church and community in any way you can. When I was a teenager, I played my flute during church services and was a member of St. John’s youth group. After I became an adult, I chose to become a nurse and provided care to patients in trauma, critical care and currently in gastrointestinal /pulmonary endoscopy.

I have worked my entire nursing career at LVHN for the past 32 years. Although nursing has its demands of working holidays, weekends and different shifts, I have always tried to volunteer here at St. John’s Lutheran Church. I was part of the parish nurse team which had blood pressure checks held two Sundays a month during fellowship. I am currently a member of the Gift and Stewardship committees. I serve on altar guild, flower delivery, a greeter, and gift presenter with my husband, Bruce. I also bake for fellowships, serve during dinners, decorate the Church for the holidays and teach vacation bible school in the summer. I will continue to offer my time and talents to St. John’s because I find volunteering very rewarding and a good opportunity to meet and work with new members of my church family.

It is wonderful to see all the great volunteers at St. John’s who keep the Lutheran spirit alive and well. I only pray that St. John’s Lutheran Church continues to be blessed with so many great members who are willing to offer their time and talents, so the church can continue to grow and serve God and the community.