LU HERAN - Allegheny Synod

LU HERAN
Allegheny Synod
701 Quail Ave.
Altoona, PA 16602
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TO INFORM, INSPIRE AND ILLUMINATE
www.alleghenysynod.org
Volume 11, Issue 1
www.AlleghenySynod.org January/February 2016
Tips & Advice on
How to Avoid the
BLUES
By RICK KAZMER
Lutheran Letter Editor
The view from your window is likely pretty dreary these days. The colors white, gray
— maybe some brown — dominate the landscape.
It can be depressing.
The “Winter Blues” exists, according to
counselors with the Lutheran church. As
sunlight decreases, cold weather ailments
increase and the loss of loved ones become
We all face it, but that
doesn’t mean you can’t find
fulfillment this winter
A Special Message on
the Significance of Lent
compounded by the holidays, depression can
be the result.
“The first thing is to recognize that we do
not feel like ourselves,” said the Rev. Ralph
Hamer III, director of pastoral care and congregation relations at Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries.
“Sharing our feelings of sadness, loss and
depression allows us to release them and to
begin addressing them.”
He referenced the story of Job in the Bible.
New Centerville
Lutheran Parish
(See BLUES, Page 11)
By PASTOR
LEE R. GABLE
Lent is traditionally a time for baptismal preparation.
Those
who
would be baptized
into the community
of Christ spend the
Lenten season in
intense preparation
for their baptism at
the Great Vigil of
Easter.
Yet, for those who
have passed through
these storied waters,
Lent provides a time
to approach the font
again, to gaze back
into the living waters of God’s promise and grace.
(See LENT, Page 7)
Inside this issue
Meet some new seminary students and learn what motivates
them – and about their challenges: Pages 8-9
Bishop Michael Rhyne’s Message: Page 2
2
January/February 2016
The Lutheran Letter
LU HERAN
The Way, the Truth and the Life
Allegheny Synod
701 Quail Ave.
Altoona, PA 16602
Change Service Requested
Dear sisters and
brothers,
TO INFORM, INSPIRE AND ILLUMINATE
If you have ever
is published bi-monthlywww.alleghenysynod.org
by the
heard me preach, lead
ALLEGHENY SYNOD OF THE ELCA
a Bible study or speak
Bishop Michael Rhyne
at an event, you have
701 Quail Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602-3010
most likely heard me
Phone: 814-942-1042 • Fax: 814-941-9259
tell you that Jesus loves
www.AlleghenySynod.org •
you and that Christ is
email: Office@AlleghenySynod.com
the answer.
EDITORIAL STAFF
I point to the cenEditor Rick Kazmer
trality of Jesus Christ.
email: LutheranLetter@AlleghenySynod.com
As we begin the new
Printed by the Daily American, Somerset, PA
year – and move toNote: The Office of the Bishop reserves the
ward Lent, I want to
right to revise, cancel or reject any
reflect on why it is all
advertisement or editorial information.
about Jesus. Most of
SUBMISSIONS
us accept that Jesus is,
Please contact the editorial team (above) with
as he says, “the way,
your comments and story ideas. We look
the truth and the life.”
forward to hearing from you.
(John 14:6) I want to
OUR MISSION
give some reasons why
Rooted in the Gospel of our Lord, the
we make this claim.
Allegheny Synod inspires, encourages and
First we must undersupports the church, in response to God’s call
stand Jesus.
to gather around word and sacrament, and
We often think about
to scatter into the world to offer God’s gifts of
our Lord as the baby
love, forgiveness, care, justice and mercy.
in the manger, or the
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
one who died on the
Articles for the Letter should be about 300
cross. But do we ever
words or less and include applicable
stop to ponder the sigwebsite or contact information.
nificance of who Jesus
Images should be as high
really is? Jesus is God.
resolution as possible, ideally 300 ppi at 3x5
God became flesh and
inches (900x1500 pixels.)
lived among us. In the
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beginning of the GosCONTACT US
pel of John where we
Newsletter: LutheranLetter@AlleghenySynod.com
hear that, “In the beBishop Rhyne: Office@AlleghenySynod.com
Bishop Emeritus Pile: Office@AlleghenySynod.com
ginning was the Word,
Rev. Tim Knauss: Tim.Knauss@AlleghenySynod.com
and the word was with
Rev. Paula Schmitt: Paula.Schmitt@AlleghenySynod.com
God, and the word was
Michelle Bossler: Michelle.Bossler@AlleghenySynod.com
Office: Office@AlleghenySynod.com
God. He was in the beginning with God. All
things came into being
through him, and with-
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Bishop Rhyne
out him not one thing
came into being. What
has come into being in
him was life, and the
life was the light of all
people.” (John 1: 1-4)
St. John is telling us
that Jesus was no ordinary baby. The power
of God (that was God)
that brought all life
and light into being is
the one who came to
save us. When we look
at Jesus we see something unlike anything
that had ever happened
before or would happen again. Through Jesus, God stepped into
the world to save us.
This is the Lord who
existed before anything
else, the God who exists and the God who
will be in existence
when the world passes
away. When creation,
time and space finally
fold and are no more
– God will be there. Jesus, who came into this
world, will be there
as well. Because he
knows us and loves us,
we will exist once all
things pass away, too.
That is what our Lord
means in Revelation
when he tells us, “I am
the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the
end.” Jesus is God, and
in the end, God is all
that there is.
Secondly, Jesus is
the only one who can
save us from our sins.
A story about Martin
Luther demonstrates
this fact.
You may know that
Luther took a monastic
vow as an Observant
Augustinian
monk.
Later he became a priest
and a doctor (professor)
of the church. While a
monk, Luther had an
obligation to go to confession and to ask for
forgiveness of his sins.
Luther loved to go to
confession. He felt he
had the great weight of
his sins on his soul. He
was so devoted to confession that he would
confess for, as some
stories report, up to 12
hours at a time. Brother Martin’s devotion
to confession was not
the standard practice of
other monks. We also
might do well to thank
God for the patience of
those hearing Luther’s
confessions.
Luther knew he was
a sinner. He knew that
as hard as he tried he
would keep sinning.
He was afraid that if
he didn’t confess, God
would not have mercy
on him. Luther thought
it was all about him.
Luther thought that the
way to have forgiveness from God was that
he, Luther, had to do
the work of confessing. Luther realized
the job of confessing
all of the things he had
done, and the work
of being perfect, was
something that he was
simply not capable of
doing. Perfection is not
something we will ever
achieve on our own.
But here is what
changed
everything
for Luther. Through
prayer, through study of
the Bible, through the
guidance of his Confessor, Father Johann von
Staupitz, Luther started
to realize that salvation
wasn’t something he
could earn, gain – or
something of which he
was worthy. In the tender compassion of God,
Jesus came into this
world to save us from
sin, death and the devil. Jesus came into this
world to save people
like you and me. On our
own we are not worthy.
(See RHYNE, Page 6)
January/February 2016
News of note
From the
BISHOP’S DESK
A SPECIAL WEBCAST
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will be taking part in
a live webcast at 8 p.m. Jan. 14
about racism, called “Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning.”
This conversation will focus on
offering a variety of perspectives on the U.S. criminal justice
system. It will focus on two commitments. One is this church’s
proclamation of Christ and the
confidence that this good news
brings to set us free from the
captivity of racism.
The second is this church’s enduring commitment to address
the complexity of racism and to
end discrimination.
Participants can read more
about this webcast at www.
ELCA.org/webcast, where a link
to the live webcast will be provided.
3
The Lutheran Letter
THE BISHOP’S NEXT STOPS
Throughout the year Bishop
Michael Rhyne visits
congregations throughout the
Synod for Sunday worship. Here is
his upcoming schedule:
Jan. 17: Mt. Olive Lutheran
Church in Fairhope
Jan. 24: Yeager Memorial
Lutheran Church in Bedford
Jan. 31: Grace Lutheran Church in
State College (Ecumenical service)
Feb. 7: Trinity Lutheran Church in
Johnstown
Feb. 10: St. James Lutheran
Church in Huntingdon
Feb. 21: St. Peter Lutheran
Church in Aaronsburg
Feb. 28: Lavansville/Bakersville
Lutheran Parish
March 13: Mt. Carmel and Mt
Tabor Lutheran Churches in
Somerset County
March 20: Christ Lutheran Church
of Madley (Palm Sunday service)
UPCOMING DISCERN YOUR
DISCIPLESHIP COURSES
Discern Your Discipleship courses
are for anyone who wants to enrich
their faith, learn more about the history and teaching of the Lutheran
church or find new ways to serve.
In January we are offering two
courses: “Church History” on Jan. 9
and 16; and “Mission” on Jan. 30. In
“Church History” participants will discuss how the church developed and
changed from its beginning.
“Mission” will help learners explore
the question of why we do what we
do as Christians.
February offerings include: “Stewardship” on Feb. 13; “Evangelism”
on Feb. 20 and 27; and “Hands On
Worship” on Feb. 21, 28 and March
6. Saturday classes are held 9 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Synod Office, 701 Quail Ave., in Altoona. Sunday evening classes are held 6:30 to 8
p.m. at a congregations.
Visit the Allegheny Synod website
for the brochure and registration
form or contact Pastor Paula Schmitt
at 814-942-1042, or email paula.
schmitt@alleghenysynod.com.
of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Johnstown enjoy
A pie tradition Members
many pies as part of a tradition at the church. This year, a
Submitted photo
group of women from Mt. Calvary presided over the church’s
Thanksgiving eve service Nov. 25. The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s service was adapted from
the WELCA.org website’s Thankoffering service. Having the
women plan the service was a new feature. The time-honored
tradition of the pie social that followed was a mainstay. The
mother/daughter combo of Lois Sholtis and Kim McMullen offered the sermon, “It’s all about the pie,” which they felt was
more devotional than sermon. It was based on Philippians 1:311. WELCA members Carol Sauter, Kathy Ling, Ruth Pozun, Becky
Lilja, Cindy Solarczyk, Claudia Plows, Shirley Glova and Joan
Bunnell ushered, offered prayers, read lessons and the gospel. Approximately 35 people attended the service and the pie
social. The group is hoping to expand this service next year.
Lutheran Letter Patrons
Thanks to these individuals and groups for their generous donations, which helped to make
this issue of The Lutheran Letter possible.
PATRONS: Bishop Michael and Karen Rhyne • Bob and Linda Thomas • Dean D. Naugle •
Johnstown Conference of the Lutheran Churches • Kirby and Susan Barclay • Lowell and Carna
Friedline • Peggy Thatcher • Sandra Parker Hall and Dennis K. Hall • Terry and Joyce Conrad
• The Rev. Clarence and Doris Caldwell • The Rev. Gregory and Barbara Pile • The Rev. Paula
Schmitt • The Rev. Rick and Kriss Klotz • The Rev. Robert and Caryl Swanson • The Rev. Susan
Mazer Winger and Larry L. Mazer • The Rev. Timothy and Monica Knauss • The Rev. Vernon and
Carolyn Miller • The Rev. Warren and Phyllis Karshin
IN HONOR OF: Pastors Lee and Dena Gable • The Rev. and Mrs. Kevin Shock by Elizabeth F.
Happeny
IN MEMORY OF: Jeff McCready by Mary Jane McCready • Pastor Jim McCormick • the “Lost 74”
from USS Frank Evans DD-754 June 3, 1969 (www.USSFEE.ORG) by USS Frank E. Evans Assoc.,
Inc. • The Rev. Robert G. Whisler • W. Clair and Aletta S. Calvert by James A. Calvert
4
The Lutheran Letter
January/February 2016
Women’s Group Takes Action for Ill Friend
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings
of the weak, and not to please ourselves. – Romans 15:1
By CAROL SAUTER
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Johnstown
Our Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America group is new, but that
doesn’t mean we’re not busy and active.
So when a call came in that a congregation
member was suffering from cancer and needed
someone to clean her house, we rose to the occasion.
Our friend had cancer for about five years.
She set goals. She wanted to stay alive long
enough to see her son graduate from high
school. Mission accomplished.
Next she wanted to see him graduate from
college. That might be a little more difficult.
Time will tell. But that doesn’t mean we
Visit From the Bishop
Bishop Michael Rhyne
visits with different congregations each month
for worship. In November
he visited the Simpson
Temple United Parish, in
Altoona, and Faith Lutheran Church, in Somerset.
Below he is pictured with
Pastor Denise Arpino, of
Simpson. In the bottom
photo he is with Pastor
Sue Winger, of Faith.
Submitted photos
couldn’t fulfill her request for cleaning.
A few phone calls later and we had seven
women from Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in
Johnstown who volunteered to help.
We drove to our friend’s home with buckets,
rags, cleansers, polishing liquid, strong backs
and sunny dispositions.
We did as our friend requested. We found
the TV remote that was hiding under the bed,
we decluttered her upstairs by sorting old mail
along with years-old receipts and coupons,
taking (with her permission) lots of clothes to
Goodwill.
We washed windows, curtains, bedding,
made her bed with fresh sheets, dusted and vacuumed ­– the kind of stuff we all take for granted
when we clean in the spring.
We did God’s work with our hands, just as
(ELCA presiding) Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has
reminded us to do.
We did it with love and caring for a sister in
Christ.
We did it with glad hearts. It took us four
hours to clean upstairs.
We rescheduled a time to come back to clean
the downstairs, but God has other plans.
Our friend is now in a facility where she gets
round-the-clock care.
Her burden will soon be lifted. Her ultimate
goal will soon be reached.
(Editor’s note: The previous letter was written before the women’s group found out that
their friend had met her last challenge. She is
no longer in pain and is with God.) †
Marking
Milestones
Vicar Jennifer Soltis, Bishop
Michael Rhyne and Pastor Linda McElroy Thomas celebrate a
milestone for the Somerset Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The congregation continued
the celebration of 225 years of
ministry with a banquet at Camp
Sequanota in Jennerstown Oct.
25. The evening involved special
music, fellowship and a time to
remember stories about Trinity.
The church has had several locations in Somerset throughout
the centuries. Two buildings
were destroyed by fire. The people of the church, however, continued to grow.
Some stained glass at Simpson
and at Faith (inset.)
Submitted photo
January/February 2016
The Lutheran Letter
5
er
Lett
n
a
r
e
UTH
The YO
What Would Jesus Do? Trinity Youth Find Out
By THE LUTHERAN LETTER
Studying weekly Bible
stories is the most important
aspect of children’s Sunday
School at Trinity Lutheran
Church in Altoona, but awareness of a “What Would Jesus
Do? (WWJD)” theme is also
being emphasized.
During a 10-minute period
of traditional opening exercises, the boys and girls are asked
to identify what Jesus would
probably do when given a re-
al-life scenario in which they
might find themselves one day.
“We try to explore a different theme each year in addition to praying the Lord’s
prayer together, celebrating
birthdays, determining which
class is the winner of the traveling attendance trophy, and
the like. Last year I was surprised to learn that a majority
of the kids were unaware of
the meaning of WWJD,” said
Tom Bradley, who leads the
opening each week and teach-
es the class for fifth- and sixthgrade children.
“Our goal is to ingrain
the WWJD concept into their
heads so they can make good
decisions when faced with difficult choices in their lives –
both now and in the future.”
All of the boys and girls
received a WWJD bookmark.
As birthdays are celebrated throughout the year, each
child will also get a glow-inthe-dark WWJD bracelet and a
colorful WWJD pencil. †
A few of Trinity’s
Sunday School
children
display their WWJD
bookmarks, pencils and glow-inthe-dark bracelets.
Pictured
are Logan Bartlebaugh, Maddison
Conway, Brayden
Conway
and
Elaina Hamer.
Submitted photo
Youth Service Award
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Submitted photo
Josh Dunkel, of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Duncansville, received the Youth Service Award at the annual Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries awards dinner on Oct.
22. Dunkel is a sophomore at Hollidaysburg Area High School. Patricia Savage, ALSM
president, is pictured with Dunkel.
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6
January/February 2016
The Lutheran Letter
Trinity Lutheran Church in State College Celebrates 50 years
By the LUTHERAN LETTER
The congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church in State College celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“For 50 years God has sustained
the people of Trinity Lutheran
Church as a small part of the Body
of Christ,” Pastor Ronald C. Miller
Jr. wrote in a letter to his congregation. “We look forward to where
God will have us go and who God
will form us to be. After all, this is
Christ’s church, He died for it, but
He has called us to this ministry.”
Here is a brief recap of the
church’s history:
• Late 1950s-early 1960s: State
College area is identified by Lutheran leaders as a location in need of a
Rhyne
(Continued from Page 1)
On our own we are creatures
who cannot be perfect. But Jesus
shows us on the cross that he has
paid the ultimate price for us.
Luther realized that though he
needed to continue to struggle every day to turn away from sin and
from the temptations of evil, he
did not need to doubt his salvation.
Jesus pours out his life upon
us in the waters of baptism. Jesus feeds us at his table and Jesus
walks with us all the days of our
life, shaping us into the people
that God calls us to be.
What finally clicked for Luther
was realizing that his action would
do nothing to save him. But he
had already been saved by Jesus
Christ.
Because of all that Christ has
done for us we are therefore called
church. The Rev. Harry E. Smyser
Jr. would become Trinity’s first pastor.
• 1965: Parsonage is under construction. A second payment of
$8,850 to J. Alvin Hawbaker Inc. is
recorded. The parsonage would be
used as a temporary chapel, referenced as the “House Chapel.” The
estimated cost for the house chapel
and land was projected at $26,500,
at a rental rate of $225 per month.
• 1966: A charter written on
parchment was prepared by North
Oak Lane resident George Debo.
Of the 134 individuals who signed
this charter and pledged to “join the
church at such time it is formally
opened,” 74 were officially received
as church members on a subsequent
to share Jesus’ love and mercy
with the world. We have been
blessed by Jesus, therefore we get
the opportunity to be a blessing to
this world. Luther finally realized
the true gift is the grace and mercy that has been poured out upon
us in and through Jesus Christ our
Lord. So why is it all about Christ?
First, because he is God. He
is the beginning and the end. All
of this will pass away but Jesus Christ will not. Secondly, we
know it is all about Jesus because
he is the only one who can save us
from sin and death. It is no exaggeration when our Lord says he is,
“the way, the truth and the life.”
May you be comforted and led
by the presence and life of Jesus
Christ now and always.
In Christ,
+Bishop Michael
Sunday.
• 1967: An agreement was signed
between the church and architect
Jack W. Risheberger and Associates.
The earliest blueprint of the church
indicates an unusual design: a series
of three hexagons would serve as
the worship area, classrooms and a
nursery adjoined by an office.
• 1969-70: Risheberger’s design moved forward, and an official
groundbreaking was held on Oct.
31. The first worship service was
held in August 1970.
• 1993-95: The expanded sanctuary is planned and built to accommodate church growth, which
includes various ministries and
programs. The expansion is now 20
years old. †
A TALE OF TWO STEEPLES
Since the first sanctuary building
was kept as part of the expansion,
the original cross spire and the new
steeple are both retained on top of
the building, thus christening it as
the “church with two steeples.” It is
easiest to view both from the rear
church parking lot.
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January/February 2016
Remember
in prayer
Join the Allegheny
Synod in prayer for
these congregations
this issue.
Jan. 3 St. Mark
Lutheran Church,
Howard
Jan. 10 Mount Zion
Lutheran Church,
Huntingdon
Jan. 17 St. Matthews
Lutheran Church,
James Creek
Jan. 24 Christ
Lutheran Church,
Johnstown
Jan. 31 First Lutheran Church, Johnstown
Feb. 7 Grace
Lutheran Church,
Johnstown
Feb. 14 Mount
Calvary Lutheran
Church, Johnstown
Feb. 21 Moxham
Lutheran Church,
Johnstown
Feb. 28 St. Paul
Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Johnstown
March 6 St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church,
Johnstown
(Mundys Corner)
March 13 Trinity
Lutheran Church,
Johnstown
In God’s
Name
‘Faith Needs Time Away’
Camp Sequanota Making Improvements,
Invites Public to the Great Outdoors
B y PASTOR NATHAN PILE
Camp Sequanota
In the late 1970s the Sequanota board had a vision for
the camp to be a place set aside for adults as well as kids.
They realized that faith in all generations is nurtured
with time away from daily worries.
The dream of a comfortable, adult-focused facility was
born. The building of the Bowersox Enrichment Center
brought this vision to life.
It is a space designed to meet the needs of adults, families, congregations and other organizations while they are
away from home.
Recently, through the gifts of the Framing Faith for the
Future Capital Campaign, renovations have started on this
35-year-old facility.
With remodeling, paint, new furniture and with continuing improvement plans, the Bowersox Center provides a
comfortable and pleasant place to host a retreat, reunion or
strategic planning event.
The center is surrounded by Sequanota’s 400 private,
wooded acres and provides overnight accommodations for
45 guests and meeting space for more than 70 people with
several small break-out spaces.
The Sequanota board has a renewed vision of this holy
space.
In the busy pace of life, it is apparent that God’s people
Lent
(Continued from Page 1)
7
The Lutheran Letter
It is a time to remember and reflect
on who you are and who you belong to
in Jesus Christ.
For me, the sight and sound of water
is renewing.
I could sit and listen to a river run its
course, over and around the rocky outcroppings, swirling and gurgling along
the way, or watch the sun reflect across
the waters of a lake.
As I approach the waters of baptism
I imagine the font like a sea shell. If we
listen closely we’ll hear in it the river
UPCOMING EVENTS AT CAMP SEQUANOTA
March 5: Somerset Bowling Benefit from 3 to 6 p.m. at Terrace Lanes Bowling Center. There is a cost of $15 per person
with teams gathering additional donations.
April 2-3: Men on a Mission at Camp Sequanota. A big
project needs your help. This free event includes two days of
projects and overnight fun.
April 22: Women’s retreat. Conversations will be held based
on the book “Stitches” by Anne Lamott. It will be facilitated
by Pastor Sue Winger. Costs are based on double occupancy. The cost is $130 for the weekend; $90 for one overnight
stay; $30 for Saturday only; $50 for no lodging.
April 29: Tours and appetizers at 4:45 p.m. at Camp Sequanota. Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. A $50 donation is suggested.
need a place to connect with God, creation and one another.
Families that have spread out in this region need a comfortable facility to gather for holidays and reunions.
Congregations and their small groups need space to nurture faith in the life of Christ’s disciples. Faith needs time
away!
Those who are planning and visioning for councils, organizations and businesses need a place to work hard with
modern conveniences, including Wi-Fi, and still leave refreshed. Sequanota has a facility to help you meet all your
needs.
The Bowersox Center is improving to meet the needs for
this generation.
Contact the office for details and let us help you plan
your next event.
The office can be reached at 814-629-6627. †
of life.
Our ears are filled with the sound of
God’s life giving grace that has been
poured out upon us in great abundance.
Maybe as you look into the font you
will see your reflection in the water and
remember that you are a beloved child
of God, sealed with the cross of Christ
forever.
The discipline of Lent takes on many
forms in our life together as the community of the baptized. How will you
make use of Lent this season? Will it
be a time of giving up this thing or that
habit? Will it be a time of taking on a
new prayer practice or a more focused
study of scripture?
Maybe you will attend additional
worship services or pray through the
stations of the cross. Lent is a time set
apart in the life of the Church, a time
for preparation and spiritual renewal,
both personally and communally. May
your Lenten journey and practice be
filled with the work of the Holy Spirit as you walk the way of faith with
Christ.
Lent lasts from Feb. 10 to March 26. †
8
The Lutheran Letter
Students of the
Word of God
Some Insight From Seminary Students
and From Someone Who Teaches Them
Name: Kathy Popp
Age: 67 (years young)
Congregation: St.
Peter’s Lutheran
Church, Osterburg
Attending: Gettysburg
Seminary
Kathy Popp
Lutheran Letter: When did you hear
God calling you to this task?
Kathy Popp: I very clearly heard the
call! I felt the needs of those whom
I had been serving in the nursing
homes and hospitals and in prison. I
heard God call through these people
in need, and I went to Bishop Michael
Rhyne (who had just taken the position.) I had reservations about giving
up my active volunteering and living
at the seminary for three years before
I could formally serve a church. That’s
when he and Pastor Paula told me
about the TEEM program. I am very
grateful to Gettysburg Seminary for
offering me this opportunity.
LL: When will you start your studies?
KP: I took my first intensive TEEM
course this past September, “Lutheran Confessions,” at Gettysburg
Seminary. I loved the campus and I
was fortunate to have an excellent
first learning experience with Dr.
Vincent Evener. The TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging
Ministries) program is specifically
for mature Christians who have
had experience in churches, and,
perhaps already have a master’s
degree. It is contextually-based,
so while I am attending intensive
courses over the three-year period,
I can actually be placed in a rural,
small church to serve God’s Word
and Sacrament. I will be at Gettysburg about three weeks a year, and
I will be able to study, write and
work at home. It is not a distance
learning program, as I do attend
formal classes and I have actual
classmates.
LL: What are you most looking forward to as you study God’s word?
KP: I have been actively studying God’s word for several years as I
have been teaching an adult Sunday school class and a Bible study
group. The Bible is a living and dynamic book for me! The lessons and
people’s stories in it are as relevant today as they were 2,000 years
ago … I want to share his message in a way that connects the Bible to
our everyday issues and concerns.
LL: What is your greatest motivation?
KP: My motivation has been my sincere desire to serve. I have done volunteer
work in nursing homes, in my church, as a hospital lay chaplain, tutoring atrisk children and in teaching community Bible study groups. I am motivated
by the blessings that God has bestowed on me and my family. I want to be a
blessing and a help to others – but I want my service to point to Jesus. I felt
the best way that I could do this was through becoming ordained.
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
January/February 2016
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
The Rev. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen is interim dean and associate professor of
systematic theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. The
Lutheran Letter asked her to provide some insight about the first year of
seminary. Here is some of what she told us:
First, we don’t call it “seminary school”—it’s just seminary. The first-year
students really dive right in. Typically they start with Greek in the summer,
then in the fall they take an introduction to the Old Testament course and
a course on the early church and the Creeds—in addition to a few other
courses. Along with their coursework, we start them right away in the field
education program, placing them with a supervisor in teaching parish. The
most important way students can prepare is to come with an open mind
and an open heart.
It also is hard for students to move to a new place; and for some of
them, to adjust to going from working full time to being a student full
time — the pay isn’t as good! And it is always a little scary to open yourself
up to the work of the Spirit and accept that you might be called to serve in
places you never would have imagined. It’s also very rewarding, but it’s not
easy!
In the first year we are trying to construct a solid foundation for the
students that they can build on in the coming years. So we introduce
them to basic concepts of preaching: history, theology, biblical studies, etc.,
so that as they continue their studies, they can expand their knowledge and
deepen the connections between their faith and all aspects of their life in
the world for the sake of the ministry to which God is calling them. We want
them to be able to faithfully teach and proclaim the Gospel in whatever
contexts they find themselves, to whomever they are called to serve.
The seminary community at Gettysburg is very strong. The faculty
spends lots of time with the students, both in class and outside it, and so we
get to know the students well, and become very invested in their process.
It’s a great joy for us when they graduate and get ordained.
The church needs more public ministers! So if someone is feeling a call
to seminary, talk to your pastor and get in touch with our great admissions
team.
More from the students on the next page
January/February 2016
Tyler Graham is a member of the
Faith United Lutheran Church in
Houtzdale. He has been studying at
the Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Gettysburg since Aug. 15, 2014.
The hardest challenge about
seminary is at times … the academics. Some assignments can
really stretch you in your comprehension, interpretation and
reflection of the required reading and class materials. Though
challenging, these assignments
enable you to explore the material in greater depth and in turn,
yourself.
Name: Curt Wingert
Age: 39
Congregation: New Hope
Lutheran Church in Spring Mills
Attending: Gettysburg Seminary
9
The Lutheran Letter
The biggest thing I have
learned about God while studying is that it is not so much about
looking for God, but rather opening ourselves to the experience(s)
of God. In slowing down, relinquishing control and removing
ourselves from being the focus of
life, we modify the space between us and God – space that is
constantly changing throughout
our lives. Despite the distance
of this space – near or far – God
remains connected and infused
within humanity and the world.
To be successful at seminary
you need to – success depends
upon a multitude of factors in
conjunction with one’s own perception of success. Each individual has been gifted in various ways
by the Holy Spirit and seminary is
one way to bring people together
to explore and share these gifts.
It is with this consideration that
I believe the greatest opportunity for success exists. Opening
ourselves to the experience –
allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us
and to share the experience with
others – we not only increase
our own learning, but we live in
the reality of being the body of
With God all things are possible!
LL: Can you describe the experience of when
God called you to this task?
CW: I think my call story is a little different than
most. A few years ago I could feel God calling
me to more of an active role in the church. At
Lutheran Letter: When will you
that time I was not even thinking that I wanted
Curt Wingert
start your studies (or when did
to be a pastor or would become a pastor. I met
you start)?
with my pastor at that time, Pastor Nathan Pile,
Curt Wingert: I am a candidate in the Theologand told him what I had been feeling. After some
ical Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM
discussion I became more active with the youth
Program,) where I am pursuing a certificate in
program at New Hope in Spring Mills. Within a
theological studies.
few months I could feel a stronger calling from
LL: What are you most looking forward to as
God, and that calling was in Word and Sacrament.
you study God’s word?
But then I started to question God: what are you
CW: I am looking forward to gaining a deeper
thinking, all the years that I had turned my back
understanding of The Old Testament. One of my on you and the church, you want me to do what?
goals is to become better versed in The Old Testa- You see for me, even though I had been raised in
ment, and then being able to share that with the the church, I reached a point in my life that I quit
Christian community.
attending church. My time was more valuable
LL: What do you see as the biggest challenge
than God’s. God had other plans for me. In the
to achieving your goal?
months that followed I met with Pastor Lynn MillCW: For me the biggest challenge is that there is er who was in charge of candidacy and also met
not enough time in the day. I have a full-time job with Bishop Gregory Pile. I started in the Discernat Burkholder’s Country Market in Spring Mills,
ing Your Discipleship program offered from the
where I am the dairy and frozen manager. My
Allegheny Synod and became an authorized Lay
sons are very active in sports and they also show Worship Leader. After meetings with the current
livestock in 4-H. Also while I am in seminary, I will Synod staff, Bishop Michael Rhyne and Pastor
be serving two congregations: Cassville Lutheran Paula Schmitt, along with the candidacy comChurch and Mt. Zion in Huntingdon. It is a crazy
mittee, I was entranced and now I am beginning
schedule, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
seminary.
Christ.
I have found the experience
of seminary so far to be worthwhile in a number and variety of
ways, though primary consideration is given to the relationships
that have been formed throughout the experience. Sharing this
journey, and life, with so many is
formative in an all-encompassing
manner as I have not only encountered the realities of humanity­ – joys and sorrows – but
encountered Christ and ways in
which He is intertwined within
humanity and the world.
Name: Dug Swank
Age: 50
Congregation: St. Peter Lutheran
Church in St. Clairsville
Attending: Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Philadelphia
Dug Swank
Lutheran Letter: When did you
hear God calling you to this task? Can you
describe the experience?
Dug Swank: Preteens. Pretty much seeing the
gifts God had given me and how they could be
used in ministry.
LL: What are you most looking forward to as
you study God’s word?
DS: Learning the many and various ways we
can publicly proclaim the love of God through
Christ.
LL: What do you hope to accomplish as you
grow spiritually?
DS: To be less of a hindrance to the Holy Spirit.
To better align my will to God’s.
LL: What do you see as the biggest challenge
to achieving your goal?
DS: Finances, being able to afford tuition,
room, et al.
LL: What is your greatest motivation?
DS: Getting strong enough to pick up bread.
Seeing there are hungry people who need to
be fed the bread and the cup of the Eucharist. †
10
The Lutheran Letter
January/February 2016
Holy Trinity Buys a Farm
As Congregations Start Lenten Projects,
Here’s a Successful Story From 2015
B y JENNIFER ERTMER
Member of WELCA at Holy
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanse
Submitted photo
St. Luke volunteers pack food Oct. 28 to feed hungry around the
world.
St. Luke Sounds the
Gong, Helps Hungry
with Volunteer Effort
By THE LUTHERAN LETTER
Volunteers from St. Luke Lutheran Church
in Centre Hall gathered Oct. 28 at the local
American Legion to pack meals for hungry
people in developing countries and for disaster
relief efforts.
More than 50 volunteers manned their stations to rapidly complete the project in two
hours.
Nutritious food was weighed, sealed, labeled and shipped.
Volunteers marked progress with the sounding of a gong to encourage the work. The event
was made possible through numerous church
fundraisers and a Thrivent Financial contribution, which covered product costs. The volunteers ask readers to continue to pray that hunger in the world ceases. †
Cooper Township was the last township
established in Clearfield County in the mid1880s.
It’s a very rural township with about seven
little villages established. Peale, one of those
little villages, is a ghost town. Two others,
Grassflat and Lanse, populated primarily by
Swedish and Slovak immigrants, have seen a
big population decline during the years.
Employment for most men generally
meant coal mining or lumbering – work requiring long hours, dangerous conditions
and low pay.
To survive the harsh working conditions
and low pay, many families had chickens,
cows and pigs. Care of farm animals created more work, but they also provided sustenance.
During the warmer months, large vegetable gardens flourished wherever enough
space could be found to enable growing staples, including potatoes, corn and tomatoes.
They would be canned to provide adequate
food for the winter months ahead.
During the years barns and farm animals
began to disappear. The days of needing animals for fresh milk or eggs, the occasional butchering of a cow, hog or chickens for
extra income or for feeding the family are
becoming things of the past.
But that is not the case elsewhere in the
world.
In February 2015 two members of Holy
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Lanse – Joan Fetter-House and Mary Kaye
Gurbal – noticed a little cardboard box made
to look like a barn. It had a paper with information about ways to help people in
under-developed countries establish some
economic independence by providing them
with various farm animals. The idea called
to mind the past of Lanse and other small
Clearfield County communities.
God’s Global Barnyard is a program funded through donations that purchase various
farm animals. These animals are then provided to poverty-stricken people around the
world.
Fetter-House and Gurbal approached the
Rev. Matt Finney to ask about the feasibility of their congregation participating in this
project during the Lenten season of 2015. He
thought the idea had merit so they set up a
poster with a thermometer on it to mark donation levels.
Cows are priced at $500 each, pigs at $30
and chickens at $10. They set a goal of $715
during Lent, which would be used to purchase as many animals as possible. Honey
bees, sheep and goats are also available. An
ox and plow cost $1,000.
Holy Trinity is far from being a large congregation, but the members poured out their
support for this project. Sunday after Sunday
donations grew and grew – and grew. Not
only was the initial goal of $715 met, but it
was surpassed.
The end result? The church was able to
buy a farm.
To learn more about this project and how
your congregation can participate, contact
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American online at www.ELCA.org/goodgifts
or write to ELCA-Global Church, 8765
West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. †
January/February 2016
(Continued from Page 1)
Job, who lost his family and property, recognized the value of voicing his suffering to his
friends, according to Hamer.
“I am reminded that all of us have times
when we need to speak and there are times
when we are called to listen.”
Hamer and Evelyn Wald, who is a licensed
counselor and lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, both referenced seasonal affective
disorder.
“That’s the fancy psychological name for
what many call the winter blues/blahs,” said
Wald, who is also an ordained minister.
She said it is important for people to stay active.
“Bundle up and take a walk on a sunny winter day – even in the snow,” she said. “It is a
lack of sunshine, often a lack of exercise and
isolation (because of the cold weather) that can
create depressive symptoms.”
The best medicine may be companionship.
Wald suggests that people make sure they interact during the winter months.
“Maybe churches could offer suppers and
game nights during the winter months,” she
said. She noted that even a campfire on a starry
night can bring joy.
Hamer suggests that people find a purpose
for each day. Volunteering is one way to help
the community – and yourself.
“The commitment to help motivates one to
leave home,” said Hamer, who is also the per
diem chaplain at UPMC Altoona.
“Seeing how by words, deeds and our pres-
“
Bundle up and
take a walk on a
sunny winter day –
even in the snow.
“
Blues
11
The Lutheran Letter
– ­Counselor Evelyn Wald
ence uplifts and comforts others, we are able to
see clear sense and purpose to life.”
Wald, who said she is still a child at heart,
reminds us that winter is not all bad.
“It’s fun to remember what snowflakes falling on your face feel like. I even find sitting inside and watching the snow fall to be peaceful
and sometimes meditative.” †
Your MENTAL HEALTH
CHECKLIST for the winter
Go outside. Exercise and get some
sunlight. Winter in the Allghenies can
be brutal, but be sure to take advantage of nice days when they are here.
Talk about your feelings. Share your
thoughts about how you feel with
your family and friends. Recognizing
depression is important to treating it.
Play. Puzzles, games and other activities with friends and family can keep
your mind sharp and provide ways to
stay engaged with the world.
Volunteer. Helping others will
provide a sense of purpose, as well as
bring joy to others in need.
Go in
PEACE
As I am writing on a November day in Somerset, we are enjoying near 70-degree temperatures. But each warm day brings a stronger realization that the last one for the year is
near. The extended
summer will not last
long.
That can be depressing.
But as counselors
Evelyn Wald and
Ralph Hamer told
Courtney and Rick Kazmer
us in this issue, the
Winter Blues can be treated. Find your medicine. If you can take part in outside activities,
like skiing, snowman building or snow angel
making – do it. Books, puzzles and volunteering are other ways to improve your mind or
help others.
The Alleghenies offer four seasons, each with
unique attributes and opportunities.
God intended for us to enjoy them all.
That being said, some of us just don’t like winter. For those readers I offer this: winter will not
last long and we are already working on the
Spring Edition. See you when the snow melts.
– Rick Kazmer
Stay Connected
Synod news is also online.
The Synod’s Facebook page is updated with events and video messages from Bishop Rhyne. Find the
Synod at Allegheny Synod 8C.
For Twitter users, follow the Synod using “AlleghenySynod.”
Find videos from around the
Synod on YouTube at Allegheny
Synod, ELCA channel (www.
tinyurl.com/synodyoutube).
12
January/February 2016
T:10”
The Lutheran
Letter
S:10”
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