“What is the Kingdom of God Like?”

150  Years of Service, Outreach, and Witness

When Jesus was teaching he asked, “‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it?’

He went on, ‘It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’ And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’” (Luke 13:18-21)

“And the kingdom of God is like 1,000 teeny tiny onion plants, lovingly placed in the soil by the young ones that people with limited access to fresh food can be fed.”

Okay, that part is not actually in the gospels. But I do think that Jesus would agree that what our Youth Group and their faithful adult co-laborers did recently when they spent a day planting a thousand onions and weeding at the Garden of Health to make fresh food available to those who are food insecure is Kingdom (or “Kin-dom”) work.

There is a long (150 years!) history of service, outreach, and witness at St. John’s. Noticing that our neighbors were in need of food led to feeding people in the basement of the church and community Thanksgiving dinners (which continue to this day). This led to the creation of Manna on Main Street which was founded at St. John’s in 1981 and went on to become one of the most respected local organizations, working to end hunger, build community, and transform lives. As Tom Allebach shared with us recently, Manna was like a child who grew up and flew the nest to do great things. Praise God!

Rev. John Touchberry created sanctuary and a safe place for people with HIV and AIDS at a time when churches offered not care but judgment and condemnation. Rev. Sue Bertolette accompanied the congregation through the process of becoming an Open and Affirming congregation, advocating for and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, and queer individuals, and working to fully embody Christ’s extravagant affirmation.

While COVID and several years of transition, grief, and change meant that the church needed to focus its energy internally, the St. John’s culture of generosity and giving beyond our walls never stopped. This church is known in our conference for faithful support of the UCC Special Offerings, and in our North Penn community for its generous support of St. Vincent DePaul Society which helps to feed, clothe, house and heal individuals and families in our Lansdale/Hatfield community who have nowhere else to turn for help. Through the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Fund, we provide grants and financial support to people and organizations outside of the church. Our Designated Benevolences support local and international ministries and missions and include: Child Sponsorship, Church World Service, Manna on Main Street, Urban Promise, HIRN (Hebron International Relief Network), Phoebe Ministries, and Bethany Children’s Home. Our Emergency Fund is used by the pastors to provide immediate and confidential support to people in and outside of our church community.

Extending the work of the previous Outreach Committee, we now have the SOW Team (Service, Outreach, and

Witness and “sow,” as in sowing seeds) which is helping us deepen our commitments to supporting our neighbors, expanding our community relationships and connections, and providing bold witness for justice for people and creation.

Thanks be to God for the rich history of service, outreach, and witness at St. John’s over the last 150 years. May the next chapter of our life together help us continue to live faithfully into the call to build the kin-dom of God in our time.

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We Belong to God and to One Another

“And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own.”

I sang this hymn, “In the Garden,” more times this past week than I have in the last few years! During the beautiful “cluster visits” that Pastor Elaine organized with residents at Dock, Peter Becker, and Brittany Pointe, this was the first song folks wanted to sing. We gathered with members – most of whom who are unable to be physically present at church – who have tender stories, rich memories, and deep commitments to St. John’s. (Pictured above)

We sang together. We prayed. We heard stories about how St. John’s has shaped lives – weddings, baptisms, raising children, Sunday School, beloved pastors, and friendships forged over many years. We broke bread and shared in Holy Communion together. We affirmed our belonging not only to God, but to one another.

As that beloved hymn reminds us, we are God’s own. We belong to Jesus.

But we also belong – through Christ – to one another. Our circle is always wider than what we think we see. There are always more people in the room than the number of bodies in the pews.

Folks are listening to the service recordings. (And soon, we hope that people who can’t join us in person will be able to watch the service in real time, not just listen after the fact!) People who may not have been able to come through the doors for years are reading the Enlightener, seeing our news on Facebook, and praying for the church.

People you may not know are watching what we do. When I move around in the community, I talk with local folks who are not churchgoers, but they are following the progress on our steps, talk with us at First Fridays, ask for blessings, notice and appreciate our banners, are grateful for our support for neighbors in need, and share their gratitude for the witness we offer of welcome and inclusion. They know about our singalongs. They heard about the fact that we raised money to feed people in Gaza. They have come to the Artist Series concerts. I meet with and pastor people who may not be members, but are grateful for the witness and care that we provide.

There is a “buzz” about who we are and what we are doing. We are bound up with others in a fabric of care.

Jesus says that we are his own. And we also belong to one another. “See what great love God has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1) Thanks be to God for this love that connects us, holds us, and never lets us go!

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How to Live in this Time, Center, and Pray
(maybe even with your feet!)

A lawyer, trying to trick Jesus, asked him which was the greatest commandment. And Jesus said,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

This Lent, I am inviting us to a collective Lenten Practice – Praying for Our Neighbors – on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm (or whenever you are able). If you’re in the midst of your daily routine, I invite you to pause at 2:00 on Tuesdays (2 on 2s-day!) and pray.

Pray for the neighbors you know – the people next door, the woman who brightens the neighborhood with her flowers, the ones who put trash in your cans and dump snow on your side of the sidewalk, and the kids who live nearby. And pray for the neighbors you don’t know – the family on the next block with the star math student whose father is undocumented, the shopkeeper from Bangladesh, the woman who runs the halaal takeaway restaurant, the family not far from us in Eagleville who were asleep when federal agents burst into their bedrooms, or the students bravely expressing their hopes and concerns about the world we have handed down to them.

If you feel moved to “pray with your feet,” consider joining other people of faith at the weekly Community Interfaith Prayer Service in response to ICE activity, co-led by two of our local UCC clergy. They meet every Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the corner of Marshall and George Street in Norristown.

Wherever you are, however you pray, and whatever form your faith is taking in this time, know you are not alone. You are connected to a holy fabric of community and humanity. You are claimed and held by God. On the next page is a beautiful prayer for centering your spirit in a turbulent time, written by the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman* in 1953.

Peace,

Pastor Linda

*Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was an American theologian, author, minister, and civil rights leader whose theology of radical nonviolence deeply influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. He authored over 20 books, including Jesus and the Disinherited. 

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Roots & Branches

I am writing this message over the din of chainsaws as a large Horse Chestnut tree is being taken down in my back yard. Maggie, our big red Irish Doodle, is unraveled, sure there is imminent danger to us all. It’s sad to see this beloved tree come down, as it has given us welcome shade on our back porch and its broad, spiky leaves create beautiful dappled patterns in the sun. Despite it looking healthy (at least to me), the tree guys said that there are problems at the roots and down it must come.

Roots matter. Sometimes the roots of our trees and even our institutions and systems are too far gone to mend and must be taken down or dismantled – even if they look sound to an outsider. But as any tree lover will tell you, there are ways to tend to roots before the damage cannot be reversed. Trees need water, good soil, and nutrients.

Our work as people of faith is to tend to our roots, because healthy roots produce sturdy branches and good fruit. Honoring our history, giving thanks for those who have cultivated this garden called St. John’s United Church of Christ before us, and preserving some of the traditions that continue to nourish and strengthen us to do the good, brave, and sometimes hard work of discipleship is “root work.” Celebrating our 150^th anniversary with joy as we look to a future of vibrant ministry and care for one another and the world is “root work.” Praying even – or especially – when we don’t know what else to do is “root work.”

The theme for this season is “Roots and Branches.” In addition to the special photo exhibits organized by our faithful historian, John Hendricks, the LOFT (Living Our Faith Together) will focus stories about St. John’s history and impact. On February 1, we’ll remember some of the founders of St. John’s. Many families have deep roots in our congregation, and on February 8 and 15, we’ll hear stories and testimonies about the ways the church has shaped generations of our families. Come and share your or your family’s stories, memories and photos of times past at St. John’s. It meets at 9:00 am in the Activity Room.

A new expression of “root work” is being led by our SOW Team (Service, Outreach, and Witness). Inspired by the invitation to generosity led by the Stewardship Committee (bring your commitment cards to be dedicated on January 25!), the SOW Team will highlight one of our designated benevolences (partner organizations and projects which receive our special offerings) each month.

Strong roots. Sturdy branches. And whether it’s little Izzy dancing in the aisle on Christmas Eve (ask me to see the video!), or the many volunteers serving in so many ways, or the love that radiates from this place, the fruits of St. John’s are abundant!

In faith,

Pastor Linda

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Hello, St. John’s Family! We’ve done it again- made it through another year. There was so much to celebrate! After all, the Eagles won the Super Bowl, no doubt thanks to our celebration and Don Atkiss’ Mummers’ outfit!

At the beginning of the year, the Elders worked tirelessly to get the church ready for Rev. Linda’s arrival, cleaning out rooms and accounting for all sorts of odds and ends, some of which now hang on the Office walls. In March, Rev. Linda started and began to get to know our wonderful congregation. That same week we began observing Lent, having an Ash Wednesday dinner and service. On the fated Ides of March, our front steps fell (quite like Caesar!) from a car collision. Thanks to the quick response of our Trustees and volunteers, the sidewalk was made passable, and the hard work to get the stairs repaired began.

April began with a musical extravaganza, the inaugural performance of The Artist Series at St. John’s Intergenerational Choral Series. The Artist Series Chorus and the North Penn Chamber Singers performed Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with a full professional orchestra, sharing that Blessed are Those that Mourn, Blessed are the Dead, and most importantly, “For death shall be swallowed in victory!” As we approached Easter, Rev. Linda hosted an all-new Maundy Thursday potluck dinner, where we set a single long table in the Sanctuary in honor of the Last Supper. We broke bread and had communion with the peaceful background music of hymns on the piano, speaking of all the things we are thankful for, like each other, St. John’s, and Steve Jarinko’s zucchini bread.

The Trustees built a temporary frame for banners, which have enabled us to promote our programs and values, a group of volunteers staffed our table at First Friday, and Easter was celebrated with its usual two services, with one in White’s Road Park at dawn. As spring warmed into summer, we had our church picnic, selling t-shirts, enjoying food from the Deacons, and welcoming six new members. On Pentecost, we confirmed four confirmands! Rev. Linda and Rev. Tom began to have Listening Sessions to learn and hear from the congregation on a variety of topics. Rev. Linda’s Listening Session with the Youth began our St. John’s Youth Group, something our teens were hungry for! As June continued to heat up, St. John’s participated in the Lansdale Pride Parade, marching alongside many of our community members and our partners at Trinity Lutheran. Later that same day, we had our usual table at Lansdale Day, hosting our annual basket raffle and selling Sunflowers for Ukraine. Our Basket Raffle raised over $1,500 for our Exterior Restoration fund, while we sold over 100 giant Sunflowers! After our Pride Sunday service, we took a group picture by our rainbow banner, smiling and ensuring that everyone knew “YOU are welcome here”!

Summer continued with our Community Hymn Festival and Music Camp. We gained a new Facilities Manager, Tony Ottaviano. Then, the Elders and Educators worked together to transform the right side of the Sanctuary into a Soft Worship Space. Now, it is a section for those of us with different needs, where we can engage our bodies in ways that allow us to be more present in worship. There are soft benches, lamps, yarn, and all sorts of activities for folks of all ages. As Summer wound down, we had our Vacation Bible School- Building on the Rock! This one-day extravaganza was fun and educational, with each participant painting two rocks with inspirational sayings that were then placed around the outside of the building for anyone to see and take. John Hendricks began to write his phenomenal “Inside the Red Doors: Tales from the St. John’s Archives,” a series of articles sharing insights and pictures from St. John’s history!

The beginning of September marked the beginning of Fall programming, and we started with Water Sunday! Over the summer, Rev. Linda tasked us with going to a place where we felt rest and bringing back water from that place. The Elders provided a bottle, tagged with Psalm 23 “He leads me beside still waters.” On Water Sunday, we all brought our water forward and filled a clear bowl with them, stating all the places they came from. This water was then purified and used in our baptismal font for the rest of the year! The next Sunday, we began to have two services – one at 8:00 am and one at 10:15 am. We had our Blessing of the Backpacks and Blessing of the Animals, hosted Bobby Jo Valentine in concert, and filled a time capsule to place beneath the steps.

Finally, at the end of September came Rev. Linda’s Installation. It was a wonderful service, a covenant made between St. John’s and Rev. Linda in the presence of community members, the United Church of Christ denomination, and other faith leaders from different religions. Together, we promised to do our best to step forward as leaders and “Midwife the Moment,” following the example of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah from Exodus, who refused to stand by and allow a genocide to happen, even when ordered to by the highest power in the land.

St. John’s is now blessed to have a Settled Senior Pastor, one that spends her vacation time in Palestine representing the UCC Movement for Palestinian Solidarity and St. John’s – “standing where Jesus would stand.” Rev. Linda has made connections with many of our local nonprofits and neighbors.

In October, the steps were completed! We celebrated our 10-year anniversary of becoming Open & Affirming, sent our Goodie Boxes to our college students, and had our Trunk or Treat! We began the LOFT, Living Our Faith Together, our adult faith formation classes. On All Saints Sunday, accompanied by the ringing of our bell choir and the heartfelt songs from our Chancel Choir, we honored the lives of 14 members and 21 friends. The Service, Outreach, and Witness (SOW) Team was formed – raising nearly $12,000 for Gaza food aid through the World Central Kitchen, and renewing our support for food justice in our own community through Manna. The 2026 printed calendar was completed and presented to the congregation – available for free thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. St. John’s also hosted Manna’s Thanksgiving meal and, as always, there was enough food for everyone to take home leftovers!

Now, we’ve come full circle once again. The Women’s Retreat celebrated the 17^th annual Women’s Christmas Tea, singing carols, drinking tea, and raising money for Redeemed for a Cause. We had a shared Advent Worship with Trinity Lutheran Church on Wednesday Nights, hosting a community meal and Holden Evening Prayer. The Artist Series Christmas Festival was the greatest one yet, with poetry readings and musical collaboration between the Artist Series Chorus and North Penn Highschool. Our Anniversary committee has been hard at work preparing for our 150^th year, and the entire congregation has done its best to emulate what St. John’s is, listening for what God has in store for us next.

For St. John’s, the future is bright. In 150 years, a lot has changed, but I know that folks are still fighting for faith, hope, and most importantly, love – the thing the Bible teaches is the greatest of these.

I leave you with the words of Rev. Chuck Maxfield, from “The Dandelion Prayer”.

Lord, make me like a dandelion,
Though others may despise me
And try to poison me
And root me out
May I never cease being,
A little speck of sunshine on this broad green earth.

May the roots of my faith
sink deeply into the earth
So that try as they might,
Mortals shall never totally destroy me,
And I will keep coming back,
A little speck of sunshine on this broad green earth.

May my acts of kindness and love
Disperse like little parachutes carried by the wind,
Bringing sunshine to others,
‘Till there are brilliant fields of sunshine
All over this broad earth.

Stay Gentle,

Kay Peebles

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