St. John's Reformed Church

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” – Romans 12:18-20

 

This is one of those verses that make many uncomfortable. Showing hospitality to an "enemy" goes against our sense of justice – or even propriety. It just doesn't seem right. That's the point. We don't live by the world's system. We have a heavenly Father who will judge the world with justice. We trust Him. Or do we?

 

We've probably all seen the reaction to the spectacle at the Olympics opening ceremonies: the feast of the Greek god Dionysius that many saw as a parody of da Vinci's The Last Supper. Sasha Grishin, an art historian, noted, "The idea of the central figure with a halo and a group of followers on either side—it’s so typical of the Last Supper iconography that to read it in any other way might be a little foolhardy."

 

Offensive? Certainly. The question is how do we, as Christ-followers, rightly respond to such offense?  Many believers were understandably outraged by such a slanderous depiction of The Last Supper. Such a "food fight" raged over social media. How are Christians to respond to such offense? Scripture teaches, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,  and give no opportunity to the devil." Ephesians 4:2-27.

 

How do I deal with my anger – presumably before sundown, without sinning or giving the devil an opportunity? Social media brings out the worst in us, as we are often alone, venting our unchecked outrage when, if we were face-to-face with the group – we would likely choose our words more carefully, and others around us would signal if we over-reacted. Many otherwise good Christians over-reacted. Dallas Willard observed that when Christians react as the world expects (with harsh outrage), it actually entrenches them in their sin. This is the opposite effect than what we as Christ's Ambassadors are here to do! Trusting God's sovereignty, leaving vengeance to Him, frees us to treat such "enemies" as Scripture teaches us, as cited above. When we don't react, this disrupts the cycle of conflict, leaving the aggressor to "burn with shame" and wonder what makes us different. The Apostle Paul concludes, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

 

We have an inspiring example from the Apostle Paul in Acts 17 when he was in Athens, where the Olympics originated. He took offense at all the idols that littered the city (Acts 17:16). Rather than chide them that they had a god for everything imaginable, that they would bow down to anything that crossed their path, Paul instead found a point of connection – an altar to an unknown god. Paul used that as a springboard to tell them about the one true God who created heaven and earth – and introduced the Gospel by teaching how Jesus rose from the dead. The conversation ended there, but some believed, including, curiously, a man named Dionysius!

 

As "ambassadors for Christ" our primary focus is to share the Gospel of Christ and invite people to trust Him as Savior and Lord. That's a very different perspective then taking offense at unbelievers acting like unbelievers. Frankly, I expect unbelievers to act like unbelievers. I also expect Christians to act like Christians, responding to offense – even persecution, with the fruit of the Holy Spirit– rather than anger and accusation, which reflects our carnal nature. Christ transforms us! We are a new creation in Him!

 

Growing with you, in Christ,

Dave Meckley, Pastor

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Pastor, Wife Mark 12 Years at St. Johns

Sunday, Aug. 11, marked 12 years since Pastor Dave and PeggyAnne
moved to Loysburg to begin this ministry calling. “We are so grateful for the way you have embraced us and our family,” said the pastor. “ We thank God for your partnership in the Gospel and the many blessings we have enjoyed as we begin our 13th year together!
God is so good!”

This is by far the longest period of service for the local parish since the
retirement of Rev. A.M. Gordon.

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Here Is a Rundown on Retreat Sept. 13-15
 

Here is a rough outline of our schedule:
•What: St. John's Church Retreat
•When: September 13th-15th (Friday 6:00 PM - Sunday 12:00 Noon)
•Where: Camp Mantowagan (Saxton, PA)

Overnight Accommodations are available

•Who: All are invited (29 adults and 23 children are currently signed up to attend)
•Why: To build community, think about our church's vision, and grow in our love for and understanding of the good news of Jesus

 

This is a tentative schedule for the weekend:
 

Friday:
6:00 PM Arrive and unpack in cabins
7:00 PM Welcome and Chapel (Topic: Worship)
8:00 PM Campfire with s’mores and hot dogs
OFF TO BED (at some point)
 

Saturday:
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Morning Chapel (Topic: Fellowship)
12:00 PM Lunch
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Evening Chapel (Topic: Discipleship)
8:00 PM Games in the gym (or outside)
OFF TO BED AGAIN
 

Sunday:
8:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Church service at the camp (Topic: Ministry)
 

PACK UP TO GO HOME

 

--Submitted by Elder Chris Kurtz

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Mailing List for Newsletter Being Reviewed

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Because of the cost of postage (a first-class stamp is now 73¢) the mailing list for this newsletter is being  reviewed.

If you are able, please find the newsletter on the church’s website each month. If you don’t have Internet access or are unable to pick up a hard copy in church on the last Sunday of each month, please contact Dave Snyder to ask that your newsletter be continued and remember the cost when you make your tithes and offerings.

[814-575-5255 or email dave_sharonsnyder@yahoo.com]

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Meckley Grandsons Dedicated Aug. 11

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. – Isaiah 54:13
 

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Brad and EllaMae Barnwell of Frederick, Md., brought their children
Micah and Ansel to St. John’s on Aug. 11 to be dedicated to God during worship. Standing with them is their Discipleship Partner PeggyAnne Meckley and Pastor Meckley, their grandparents, and their older siblings, Alexander,10, and Maebree, 8. Micah and Ansel are four years old.

Photo by Kim Rodgers

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Sept. Food Pantry 

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Requests for donations during September for the Northern
Bedford Food Pantry include Rice-a-Roni, Ramen Noodles,

ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, sugar, flour, Jiffy muffin

mixes and healthcare items.

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4-Cs Women to Hold 17th Retreat Sept. 27 & 28

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The Ladies Fellowship of the CCCC’s Allegheny Fellowship will hold its 17th fall retreat on Sept. 27 and 28, at Sequanota Conference Center, Boswell, Pa. (1 mile west of Jennerstown).

Barb Thomas, Kendra Bertoti and Myra Whysong-Krentz formed the ladies fellowship in 2007 and the first fall retreat was held that September. While the 4-C’s Ladies Fellowship facilitates the event, all women of all

denominations, ages and stages of life are welcome to attend this heart-to-heart ministry retreat.

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Myra and Barb have chosen “Strong in the Lord” Bible Study, a beautiful series of devotions compiled by Christ to All publishing. The retreat begins Friday at 5 p.m., settling in rooms and catching up with each other. A covered-dish meal will be served at 6 p.m., followed by ice-breakers, music, craft, and the first session, “Strength and Song”, led by Carol Deremer. 

Saturday is scheduled around 5 more sessions led by Patti Deal, Myra Whysong-Krentz, Penny Corle, Shirley Dubeau and Sue Northcraft, and times of reflection. At 10 a.m. a group photo will be taken at brunch, with music led by Barb Thomas. The retreat will end around 4 p.m. with a closing worship time.

 

The cost is $80 total overnight – motel lodging, two ladies to a room and private bath. Single rooms, if available, are $100. The cost to attend Saturday only is $40. Children ages 5 – 11 can stay overnight for $35 or attend Saturday only for $15. Registrations and payments are due Sept. 10.
Please see Barb for more information. Sign-in for those registered for Saturday only begins at 8 a.m.

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Jottings’Would Like to Resume “Who We Are”

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For several years the monthly Jottings had a column written by someone in the congregation about themselves and their families in an effort to help us get to know each other better. Eventually we had a column about almost everyone in the congregation, and thus columns stopped.

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But it’s time to get started again since we have quite a few newer members since the columns lapsed. If you haven’t previously written a column about yourself and are willing to give it a try, please contact David Snyder at 814-575-5255 or dave_sharonsnyder@yahoo.com and I can answer any questions you might have and schedule you for a future issue of Jottings.

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-- David Snyder, editor

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St. John’s Struggled to Find Full-Time Pastors

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By David Snyder

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By the 1860s the word “German” had been dropped and just “Reformed” used by the denomination and the local parishes, but Loysburg and other congregations struggled to find a pastor who could preach to them every Sunday. Loysburg was moved from the Martinsburg (Hickory Bottom) Charge to the Yellow Creek Charge,
which included St. Paul’s Reformed (on the hill just east of Yellow Creek) to help resolve the pastoral shortage.
 

Some time earlier Loysburg church leaders became aware of a young man who was a student at the Mercersburg Academy, a church-founded school, in Franklin County. Mercersburg was also the headquarters of the Reformed Classis, which covered much of Pennsylvania west of Lancaster and York Counties. The young man’s name was I.N. Peightel. In the late 1860s or early 1870s Loysburg church fathers pleaded with classis officials to appoint Peightel as their pastor after hearing him on a special occasion. Their request was denied numerous times by the classis, which
considered him not well enough qualified for the title of pastor, even though his major at the academy was theology.
 

Finally in 1878, when the congregation was 30 years old, the classis authorized Peightel to accept an invitation to visit the Yellow Creek charge and preach a trial sermon. At a meeting of the Mercersburg Classis held at Bedford in April 1878, Peightel, now a licensed preacher, was authorized the preach a trial sermon on May 4 in the Reformed Church at Pattonsville (Loysburg), At a congregational meeting that followed the service, Rev. Peightel was unanimously elected pastor. The same afternoon, Peightel preached at Yellow Creek with the same resulting vote, and an official “call” was made to the classis by the joint consistory. A special meeting was called by the classis president in pattonsville May 12 at which the classis approved the assignment of Peightel to Loysburg and Yellow Creek.

 

Peightel at that time was living in McConnellsburg (Huntingdon County before Fulton was created). It’s not recorded how soon he moved to the parsonage in Loysburg. Rev. Peightel served 10 years before resigning in September 1888. He was replaced by Rev. Robert O’Boyle of New Centerville, Pa., after going through the same procedure required by the classis. His installation service, for some unexplained reason, was held in the Reformed Church in Saxton.

 

For more than 100 years after this Loysburg shared a pastor with other churches, lastly with Mt. Pleasant of Martinsburg RD and East Sharpsburg. Usually there was worship each Sunday at varying times, and for a few periods there was a “skip Sunday” when one of the three churches had no Sunday worship, just Sunday School.
 

Some other brief items from St. John’s history will be published in a future newsletter. The above information was gathered from a hard-bound book labeled “Pattonsville Congregation” that apparently was provided by the Reformed Classis. In a section for memberships the very first members listed are Adam Haderman and other founders, although the book itself would not have been provided that early.

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