Jottings from St. John’s - May 2025
- jordanrhoat
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Loysburg, PA 16659………...May 2025
How Long Is Too Long?
by Jordan Rhoat
Some of you know I’ve recently taken what you might call a crash course in
prison ministry. What you might not know is why.
Back in February, something happened that reopened a chapter of my life I had
long since surrendered to God. Someone knocked on my door, someone from my past I
hadn’t seen in years. At first, I didn’t recognize her. Fifteen layers of clothing. A
shaved head. A voice I barely recognized. It took my son saying, “Dad, that’s my
mom,” for it to register.
His mother and I share a dark history. Over a decade ago, we were locked in a
violent, addictive relationship. It’s not easy to talk about, and it’s even harder to explain.
But the truth is we were hurting each other. We were both lost. I was drinking myself
into the ground, hiding bruises, walking with even more of a limp from chairs thrown in
the night, knives stuck in the wall, and a lot of brokenness, literally and spiritually. Our
son was caught in it too, and he carries his own scars. There’s no clean church version of
what we lived through. Only unimaginable love and ever-present healing on the other
side.
By what I can only describe as God’s very real power, He pulled me out. I ended
up in a rehab program that changed my life. I got clean. I lost everything, which turned
out to be necessary, and slowly, I was rebuilt. I was given full custody of our son. It was
a long road. It still is.
But that night on my porch, February 28, brought it all back. His mother was
unrecognizable. Her voice was shrill and strange. Her eyes were darting. She was
clearly not well. I finally convinced her to come inside for food, coffee, warmth. And
then she disappeared again into the cold.
I called the police, not out of anger, but dismay. She had no phone. No
protection. And that’s when something in me shifted. I didn’t feel rage. I didn’t feel
pity. I felt called. Staring into that moment, listening on the phone to the silence of
under-staffed hospitals, under-funded nonprofits, and a community unsure what to do
with people like her, people like me, I knew I was being called to do something, to start
caring not just about her, but about anyone like her. The ones who fall through the cracks
no one’s accountable for. The ones who get lost in the spaces between systems, too sick
for one service, not broken enough for the next. The ones we fear because we don’t have
the experience to understand them.
That moment became the beginning of something. Since then, I’ve found myself
being thrown into all kinds of community work, with a kind of urgency and joy I’ve
rarely felt. Writing. Helping. Showing up. There have been many nights I’ve whispered
to Jesus, “Please just put me anywhere. I don’t care where.”
One of the more recent adventures was volunteering at the Blair County Prison,
offering Bible study, prayer, and handing out Bibles.
And that experience stirred something unexpected, because I’ve been on both
sides of those prison doors.
Years ago, I was the one inside. It was a short time, but enough to never want to
go back. If you think people with disabilities are forgotten or mistreated in this world,
spend time in a jail. On the outside, a rising tide might lift all ships. In jail, it’s the
opposite, a receding tide that sinks everyone, especially those who already showed up
drowning.
I know what it feels like to be handcuffed, processed with broken glasses and no
shoes, and looked at like a disgusting worm. And now, walking through those same
doors as a volunteer, I’ve realized neither side is any easier when you’re running after
Jesus.
Being locked up comes with its own shame, sometimes well deserved. But
showing up, voluntarily, prayerfully, and with love, that comes with a different kind of
weight. Grace is heavy no matter where you carry it.
And it didn’t take long for me to make the rookie mistake. I looked someone up.
One of the men in the study, I knew him from fourth grade. And later, at home, I
looked up the charges.
You can imagine the rest. The kind of things that make you want to throw up,
cry, and pray all at once.
Which brings me to the question I’ve been sweating over ever since: How long
does a rap sheet need to be before we stop forgiving?
It’s not a question Jesus ever asks, but it’s one we wrestle with. We say
“everyone deserves a second chance,” but what about the third? The thirtieth? At what
point do we quietly stop believing change is possible? In our legal system, your record
grows with each mistake. A rap sheet doesn’t forget. It gets longer. Sixty-three counts
of unspeakable evil. Thirteen counts of sins no one wants to look directly at. Every
failure tallied. Every regret catalogued. For those who’ve been through the system, their
sins aren’t just personal, they’re public. Listed. Stamped. Permanent.
But Jesus doesn’t count like that.
He doesn’t keep a running total.
He doesn’t build a case.
He breaks it.
These days, we throw our sins in the trash. Out of sight, out of mind. The truck
comes, the bin’s emptied, and we get to start fresh next week.
But in the ancient world, people had to watch their sins burn.
In the Hebrew tradition, sacrifice wasn’t symbolic. It was vivid and physical.
When something was burned on the altar, it turned into smoke and disappeared. Fire was
the only thing that could truly take something away. The only thing that made it gone.
That’s why it took Jesus.
Not a new teaching. Not a better ritual
But a body.
The Word became flesh so there would be something truly real, human enough,
holy enough to carry sin all the way through the fire. He didn’t just speak forgiveness.
He became the sacrifice.
Not once a week. Once. For all.
Today we don’t see smoke rise. But forgiveness still costs something. It always
has.
The Cross wasn’t clean. And grace still bleeds through prison walls and broken
families, into quiet living rooms and late-night porches.
Not everyone is called to prison ministry. But everyone who follows Jesus is
called to something.
Somewhere to serve. Some way to love that costs you.
You just have to find what that is.
From the Consistory President
The Consistory met on April 10, 2025, in the copy room of the church. After
opening with prayer, we went straight into Committee reports. Thanks to Steve on the
maintenance committee who spackled and painted the two holes in the wall by the piano.
You can’t even tell they were there.
Julie is asking that at the annual Congregational meeting we look at Ephratha House Christian Ministries (https://www.ephrathahouse.com/), which runs an orphanage in Africa, as a potential group to sponsor. The men’s fishing trip is still on for May 16 and 17. A very special thank you to David Snyder who has offered to help pay the cost of the
cottage/campground.
Much of the old business was discussed with you during the congregational
meeting on April 13. An update on the IPM: Pastor Gehret who was our current
candidate has withdrawn his name. However, we continue to work with the main office,
and they are already exploring new candidates they feel will be a good fit for our church.
Mail is still being delivered to the mailbox in front of the parsonage, and Joel will
make another trip to Hopewell (the post office that serves Loysburg) to try to at least
ensure we get the Daily Bread which has yet to be delivered. If you pick up the mail,
please either put it in the box by the back door or place it on the table by the copier, and
we will get it on Sunday.
The Pastor Search Committee met on the 29th at the church with the primary goal
to review the Pastor Information Form submitted by Andrew Double. Josh will keep us
all informed as progress is being made.
Under New Business, and, as we discussed on April 13, Sarah Gunnett is chairing
a short-term Exploratory Committee regarding missionary trips. Joel will represent the
consistory on the committee. We still need three additional people to volunteer to sit on
the committee. The purpose is to discuss possible trips we, as a church, can make, as
well as all the logistics that are involved in such a venture. The committee will then
make recommendations to the Consistory for their review and approval and we then will
take it to the congregation for final approval if necessary. If you wish to help with this,
please see Sarah.
The Consistory would like to thank everyone involved for a wonderful, successful
Easter weekend. The Easter egg hunt was fun for all who participated, the Sunrise service was beautiful, and although there was a slight, chilly breeze it did not rain or
snow, which was a blessing. The Easter breakfast was delicious as usual and the Easter
communion service joyous and meaningful—a time to pause and give thanks to our
loving God for the blessed reassurance and hope we find in the resurrection of His Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Consistory meets again at 7:00 p.m. on May 8, 2025.
-Submitted by Joel Ritchey
MEETING MINUTES
(St. John’s Women’s Guild – April 11, 2025)
Program – Laurie Stiles presented a very thoughtful and inspirational program,
speaking of the benefit of contemplation. While meditation is often being quiet, resting
the mind, contemplation is a more active process of thinking, reflecting, and observing.
Laurie provided two dozen beautiful paintings (calendar pages with exquisite images of
Jesus) for us to view and “contemplate.” We each chose the one that we felt the Holy
Spirit speak to us through most. We took turns explaining what we felt, thought, saw, and
heard in each painting. Many of us referred to our Lent devotion, The Shepherd, the
Lamb, concerning the beautiful scenes of Jesus with sheep, in how He protects, rescues,
provides, heals, and cares for each one of us. Jesus in gardens made many remember
their mothers’ and grandmothers’ love of Jesus and flowers. We discussed the humility
of Christ reflected in the eyes of a shepherd boy gazing on Baby Jesus, His love for
children, His sacrifice for us, and the peace, calm, and strength in the waters and trees.
Laurie opened and closed with prayers, and graciously invited us to take our chosen
painting home. It was a beautiful way to draw closer to Jesus in preparation of
Resurrection Sunday. Behold, the Lamb!
I. Business Meeting Details
Beverly opened the meeting as Barb and Linda served light refreshments.
Offering collected. Barb read the March 14 minutes. Accepted as read. Marsie read the
treasurer’s report. Accepted as read.
II. Business at Hand
1. Cindy and Marsie reported a successful soup sale, from which the proceeds will
be divided by the number of St. John’s children attending church camps to help with
registration fees.
2. Following a brief account of the parsonage walk thru, the group agreed there is
a need to make updates, do some painting and repairs to the home. The parsonage should
be a comfortable home for a pastor and his family and also reflective of the respect we
have for them. If we wish to attract a quality minister, we should consider improvements
that we ourselves would want in a home.
3. Remember donations for Sunrise breakfast. Have meats here by 7:00 to cook.
Kim, Barb, and anyone else who would like to help will set up dining hall and buffet
tables after the egg hunt on the 19th.
4. Shelley reported the Mother/Daughter Tea is coming together beautifully.
Don’t miss it!
5. Cindy Johnson will take care of Homewood residents - May birthday cards from
the guild.
6. Pacifico will donate bread for our June 28 spaghetti dinner. Barb, Marsie, and
Cindy will serve as the planning committee. We will solicit as much as possible. All
invited to help cook and serve.
7. Lauren is checking with Janet Sell as a possible Harvest Home speaker.
8. November 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. is the date set for our auction. More details to
come.
III. New Business
1. Church Family Picnic will be July 11 at 6:00 p.m. – Marsie and Cindy
hostesses. Bring a covered dish.
2. Stay in prayer for June 9-13 VBS. Food supplies will be solicited.
3. Barb is exploring details and a date for a day trip to Hoffman Homes this
summer.
4. Shelley Vaughn agreed to join the visitation team!!! Thank you, Shelley.
Next meeting is June 13 at 6:00 p.m. Barb Thomas has the program. Kim
Rodgers and Beverly Smith are the hostesses.
-Respectfully submitted, Barb Thomas, acting secretary
Easter Egg-stravaganza 2025
St. John’s Reformed Church was a hoppin’ place
the morning of Saturday, April 19, as members of the
church, family members, and members of the
community gathered for the Easter Egg-stravaganza.
The Son was shining down on us as the temperature
was much warmer than it has been in recent years for
the Easter Egg Hunt. Thankfully, the annual event was
able to be held at the church this year, despite other
festivities being scheduled onsite later in the day.
To begin, the committee, consisting of Julie, Tina, and Lauren, guided the children and families through the Easter story with use of Resurrection Eggs that contained items from the Biblical account.
The twelve eggs included a donkey, silver coins, Passover cup, praying hands, leather whip, crown of thorns, nails, dice, spear, linen cloth, stone, and an empty egg to symbolize the empty tomb and that
Jesus is Risen! Next, we all went inside to complete a colorful sand art cross craft. Finally, the moment that everyone was waiting for arrived. We all headed back outside to search for eggs. Unfortunately, some families were unable to attend this year, resulting in lower than average attendance. However, the 20 children who did attend had baskets that were overflowing with eggs. Snacks, drinks, and treat bags consisting of a kite, bracelet, and pencil were also distributed.
The eggs were collected and tucked back into the clean attic to use next year. Thank you to everyone who filled eggs, came early to help set up and scatter the eggs, and/or stayed to help clean up afterwards. We would not be able to do this event without all of you! Our prayer is that the seeds which are being planted will receive the nourishment they need to develop
and grow in the future!
- Respectfully submitted, Lauren Sell, committee member
LOOKING AHEAD
Vivaldi's Gloria Choral Concert, Sunday, May 11, 4:00 p.m., Trinity Lutheran
Church, Bedford (see attached flyer).
Cove Music Academy & Bedford Area Music Academy Concert Monday,
May 12, 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church, Roaring Spring. (These homeschool children
and youth choirs will be presenting a few of their pieces at the Mother's Day
concert on May 11 in conjunction with the Society Singers presentation of
Vivaldi's Gloria, but will present their full program May 12.)
Men's Camping Trip May 16-17. All men & boys welcome. If interested, see
Chris Kurtz.
Ascension Day Service Thursday, May 29, 10:30 a.m. at Christ Church in
Roaring Spring
Vacation Bible School June 9-13, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This year's theme is
Faith Expedition: God's Treasure Revealed. Any questions, or if you'd like to
help, please talk to Tina Holderbaum.
Spaghetti Donation Dinner June 28, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at our church to help
pay for the recent church kitchen remodel.
Women's Guild Meeting, June 13, 6:00 p.m.
Church Family Picnic July 11, 6:00 p.m., hosted by Marsie & Cindy. Bring a covered dish.
Church Family Retreat at Camp Mantowagan September 12, 13 & 14
Women's Guild Auction November 1, 5:00 p.m.
MAY FOOD PANTRY REQUESTS:
Microwaveable meals, Chef Boyardee main dishes, hamburger helper, cereal, paper
products, cleaning items, toilet paper, and paper towels
MAY PRAYER CONCERNS:
Eileen Adams, Jake Carper, Denny Holderbaum, Chris Marlowe, Quinton Morrow,
Charlie Mountain, Betsy Rupp, Kelly Schibi, Sheldon Weaver, Bobbie Willis, George Snyder
CALENDAR
Acolytes:
May 4-Sole Rhoat
May 11-Grayson Rodgers
May 18-Janie Russell
May 25-Sole Rhoat
Music Ministry:
May 4-Brad Gable
May 11-Joel Ritchey
May 18-Choir
May 25-Denny Holderbaum
Children's Moment:
May 4-Laurie Stiles
May 11-Cindy Johnson
May 18-
May 25-Beth Clark
Greeters:
May 4-
May 11-
May 18-Mark Sell
May 25-
Altar Flowers:
May 4 & 11- Cindy Johnson
May 18 & 25- Beverly Smith
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