News and Announcements:    

Calendar of Events for the Week of March 24, 2024:
Monday - 5:00pm - Karate    
Tuesday -     
Wednesday - 6:00pm - Lenten Covered Dish Dinner, Discussion & Devotions    
Thursday - 1:00pm - Choir Rehearsal; 7:00pm - Holy Thursday Worship Service
Friday - 11:00am - Children’s Good Friday Service; 12:15pm - Stations of the Cross Prayer Walk; 7:00pm - Good Friday/Tenebrae Service
Saturday-     

EASTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
March 23rd/24th – Palm Sunday Worship Saturday 5pm/Sunday 10:30am
March 27th - Wednesday Lenten Dinner/Discussion & Devotions at 6pm
March 28th – Holy Thursday Worship at 7pm
March 29th – Good Friday - Children’s Worship at 11am and Tenebrae Service at 7pm                                     
March 30th – Saturday Easter Vigil at 5pm
March 31st – Easter Day Worship at 7am and 10:30am

CHILDREN’S GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - On Good Friday March 29th at 11am Pastor Chip will hold a special service for all children and youth of the parish. Parents and adults are also invited, but the service is designed for younger ages.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED - Dates are open for volunteers to teach Sunday School in 2024. Open dates are: April 14, 21 & 28 and May 12, 19, & 26 for the Pre-K-4th grade class and May 12 for the 5th-7th grade class. Please consider helping by picking one of the dates. All material is provided. See the sign-up sheet on the table in the parlor.
WILL YOU SERVE? - We are in need of individuals to serve as assistant ministers.  If you've ever wondered about or considered it, this is your time to find out more and maybe even take this as a sign to give it a chance.  Please reach out to Ashley Marsicano [(570) 401-1067/ amarsicano14@gmail.com] or the Church office with any questions.  We really appreciate your consideration and help!
SAINT JOHN BOSCO BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY - Sharing the Journey / “Grief Shared is Grief Diminished”. The Bereavement Ministry of St. John Bosco Church will provide the Spring Support Group Sessions starting in April that are open to all people who are grieving the death of a loved one and are having difficulty in their grief. 

The overall goal of the support group is to provide insight into one’s grief and to help them to move toward a resolution of their grief. It is designed to be flexible. When the worst has happened and everything changes, get the support that you need to remember with more love than pain.

The program consists of seven weekly sessions on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the parish multi-purpose room, beginning on Monday, April 1, 2024.  Registration is required to assure seating and materials.  If interested, please call Marie (Bereavement Ministry) at (570) 455-3874 to register.  Sessions are non-denominational.

VALLEY INTERFAITH COMMUNITY MEAL - The next meal is Friday April 26th from 5:30pm-7:00pm at Black Creek United Methodist Church at 158 Golf Course Road in Sugarloaf. Tickets are available in the church office. There is no cost for the tickets but a free will offering will be taken. All proceeds go to fund the next meal. Please pick up your tickets by April 12th so they know how many to prepare for.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS / “THE WAY OF THE CROSS" HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONAL - We would like to have the Stations of the Cross set up for Holy week as in two previous years for use by our family of faith and people in our community.  We hope to have this meaningful devotional available as a self-guided prayer (printed guide) for use anytime between 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday of Holy Week. We also wish to assemble and travel “the way of the Cross” for a Responsive prayer service, lead by worship leaders on Good Friday at Noon. To make this happen, help is needed with initial setup of some of the station heavy tables and chairs outside after worship on Palm Sunday. Volunteers are also needed to help place treasured and delicate items outside in the morning @ 8:30 am and to take some items indoors in the evening at 5 pm each day of Holy Week. If you can help one or more of the times/days please put your name and phone number on the signup sheet in the parlor.  See Br. Fred Jaxheimer for additional information.

CHOIR REHEARSALS - Choir rehearsals are Thursdays at 1pm to prepare for the Lent and Easter worship services. Join us each week or talk with Patt about singing with the choir. 570-956-2068. Come and sing praises to the Lord!!

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DAFFODIL SALE - If you ordered daffodils the plants can be picked up March 23rd.
THRIVENT MEMBERS REMINDER - Your Choice Dollars need to be distributed by March 31st. 
BEAR CREEK CAMP - Registration for Summer Camp is now open. See the poster on the bulletin board in the parlor for dates and take an information packet that shows costs phone, e-mail and other information. Financial help is offered to campers from our congregation (see Cindy).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT LENTEN GATHERINGS - Everyone is invited to Wednesday evening Lenten gatherings in Roth Hall beginning on February 21st. The evening starts at 6:00 PM with a ‘covered dish’ or ‘potluck’ dinner followed by time for discovery, discussion, and brief closing worship ending by 7:30 PM.
WILLING WORKERS INDOOR YARD SALE - This event will take place on Saturday March 23rd from 9am-2pm. Here is how it works: Congregation members may purchase a table for $10. You MUST STAY at your table and sell your items. The proceeds are yours to keep. Unsold items may be donated to the Apple Fest Flea Market in October (except clothing, books and electronics that you had at your table). Food will be available for sale and a bake sale will be held. Donations of baked goods are appreciated. Several vendors will have displays (TBA). For more information or to reserve a table call Sue Oliver at 570-788-4292 or the church office at 570-788-1572 as soon as possible as space is limited. Set-up will be Friday March 22nd from 10am-2pm and 4pm-7pm.

RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE - will be here at our church Tuesday March 19th from 1pm-6pm. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org to register.
BIBLE STUDIES - Wednesday night Bible Study is each week at 7pm. As long as the roads are clear, we will have class. Currently, we are wrapping up Exodus and will be starting Leviticus shortly. (We will start meeting again after Lent.) Wednesday morning Bible Study meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 11am. We use the “Wired Word” current affairs material and discuss how it relates to the Bible and our lives.

2024 FLOWERS AND BULLETIN SPONSOR CHARTS ARE AVAILABLE - Look for the sign-up charts on the bulletin board in the parlor to choose your dates to sponsor. Special flower pieces need to be ordered through the office (i.e. altar piece).
DEVOTIONS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE - Have you seen and read the devotional prayers that are posted periodically on our congregation’s Facebook page? Hopefully, when you read them, you will find encouragement and a sense of God’s peace as you go about your daily life,
NEED A RIDE? - Would you like to come to church or go to a church event but are unable to get there on your own, especially at night? Currently, this need is being assessed. Please call Dawn Whitfield (570-788-3256) or Betsy Fisher (570-788-6611) if you would be interested in getting a ride. Also, if you are willing to possibly help provide transportation, let Dawn or Betsy know.
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE - LDR is asking for gifts to help with the recent disasters and wars. The survivors/victims need our support. Checks may be out to the church and marked LDR.

STEPHEN MINISTRY - They are among us.  No, we’re not talking about angels or aliens.  We’re talking about individuals who care about others.  As Galatians 6:2 says,” Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ”.  If you or someone you know wants to do more as a Christian caregiver, consider Stephen Ministry.  This is one of our congregation’s one-to-one caregiving ministries.  For more information contact Deb Jones or any of our Stephen Ministers.
COMMUNITY EVENTS -

* Easter Crystal Sale at Christ UCC – deadline to order is March 3rd-/pickup date is March 23rd 10am-Noon $14.00per box. Call 570-788-3246.

* Valley Interfaith Council Community Meal – The next meal is Friday April 26th from 5:30pm-7:00pm at Black Creek United Methodist Church at 158 Golf Course Road in Sugarloaf. Tickets are available in the church office. There is no cost for the tickets but a free will offering will be taken. All proceeds go to fund the next meal. Please pick up your tickets by April 12th so they know how many to prepare for.
SYNOD NEWS - Click Here! for weekly news from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. 
 

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