St. John's Voice Of The Youth
Interview With Herman Ahrens By Emily Bergey
Q: So you've edited "Youth" a national church magazine, can you tell us what it was about and how long you were editor?
A: I edited "Youth" from 1950-1981. "Youth" was a monthly UCC magazine aimed at young people. We tried to give the young people what they wanted and what they needed. At the end of each year we composed a hard bound copy of all the issues. We also put out pins, t-shirts, and fold-out posters. Some of the different topics we covered were marriage, drugs, politics, hunger, American Indians, Black history, The Peanuts, India, Japan, The Beatles, Hispanic Americans, athletes, racism, movie reviews, music critics, and The Carol Burnett Show. We even did an interview with MAD magazine to help parents understand what their kids were reading.
Q. Where there any particular issues that you thought made an impact more than others?
A. The Black history issue we put out was purchased in large sums by schools during the Civil Rights Movement. It was nice to see our magazine appeal to more than just the UCC.
Q: When you and your wife were youth group leaders at St. John's what kind of things did you do?
A. We taught Sunday school in the morning and had youth group meetings & discussions at night. Sometimes we would have a brief worship service. Most of our discussions were led by kids in the youth group. This one time we had a young man who wanted to have a discussion about racism. So we got a man from Allentown to come and pretend to be racist, only the group didn't know it was pretend. So when the man started calling the boy names it was to see the other young people come to his defense. There were other times when we would take small trips or go roller skating. This one time we took over the YMCA and held hootenannies and square dancing. We also took Christmas and Easter caroling to the shut-ins. Our group was also involved in the International Christian Youth Exchange, so we were able to bring an exchange student to the congregation in 1960. There was a total of 26 students coming and going from Germany, Switzerland, Japan, France, Egypt, New Zealand. This program of the church is what lead to North Penn's student exchange program. We also used to put on plays on the stage that was once downstairs where the bathrooms currently are. We also started Salem Crusader a high school newspaper calling in religious journalism. I still remember what my father, a pastor said to me. He said "You're reaching a congregation I'll never reach". It meant a lot coming from my father. But we stopped leading the youth group when our own kids were in high school.
Q: In 2003 you were on the committee to find a new associate pastor, what made you choose Pastor Ryan?
A. I've been on all search committees but one. When interviewing for associate pastor we looked for honesty, integrity, someone who mixes well, sets a good example, shows commitment to their church and the Bible, and a person that likes people. All of these qualities were present in most of those who we interviewed for the position, but what made us decide on Pastor Ryan was that he is sincere and well grounded in his faith and in his potential.
Q. What does it mean to you to be a member of our St. John's family?
A. St. John's has been home to me and my family for many years. The church has really fed and nourished me in my paper & experiences with the youth.
Q. If you could change anything about the past what would it be?
A. I Had a good experience, it had its ups and downs, but we were very fortunate. I don't believe I'd want to change anything.
Q. What do you see in store for the future of the UCC? of St. John's?
A. Nationally the church has a role in advancing some very important social aspects. Very supportive of St. John's, there are many things we can do, and our church can do things with missionaries.
Northlandz Model Train Museum By Henry Conoly
Have you ever wondered how cool it might be to see entire cities come alive right before your eyes? (complete with trains of coarse) Well then Northlandz is the place for you. With over 50,000 ft. of track, hundreds of cars, planes, and trees it's the most amazing train museum out there. There was a group of guys from St. John's that went. It took a little under 2 hours to walk through the place. Walking through this place was like walking all over the country. From mile deep mines to mile high mountains. We were amazed by the creativeness of one man and his wife. Northlandz was a sight I'll never forget, what a great trip.
New Orleans Mission Trip By Jacob Schultz
In the beginning of August, a small group of teens and adults spent a week in New Orleans for a mission rip. This rip included me of coarse, and a few familiar faces: Pastor Ryan, and Missy Zirkel, who I've known most my life. A few new faces also accompanied us: Marci Grossman, Nate Francis and his mom, Jean Francis, Steve Clement, and Pastor Ryan's college friend Richard Easley, whom we met at the airport. When we got to New Orleans, we drove to Little Farms UCC, a quaint and small church, that was our home for the week. We were welcomed with arms wide open and a good old southern feast. The people we met were anything but ordinary. We met a women named Rose who took care of the church's affairs. Rose shared with us info about Little Farms and her experiences during the hurricane. Everyone who we met had a story to tell involving Katrina. As we listened we stood in complete awe, and we were humbled by their stories. The first 2 days were spent getting set up and the next 5 days rebuilding a house. Each day we worked from 8am - 3pm. We helped sand, paint, and clean up the house. This wasn't as easy as it sounds. During the week it was over 100 degrees (with no central air). It was very HOT!! Also, this project involved heavy lifting and moving so we got tired fast. When working on the house we put our heart and soul into it, so our physical exhaustion was the last thing on our minds. We felt proud of our accomplishments, because all the family had left was a table with some pictures, and a few odd things that don't add up to much. So this house was a gift for them. Around the city we saw almost nothing it was sad. We all came to New Orleans for different reasons, but by the time we left we all agreed we were really rebuilding lives and new hope for people who had nothing. We left as changed people, and we knew right away we would be back again and we hope you'll join us too.
Enrichment By Jack Kasander
Ever wonder what we do at enrichment that makes us want to come back week after week? Well, at enrichment we do many things. We sing, we do crafts, and of course, we eat. Most of the time, volunteers, or the Angels cook and it's good. But the best meals are when Pastor Ryan cooks! This year we've had a wide variety of well-made dinners. We've had tacos, pancakes, chili, turkey, potatoes, and soup. We've had a lot of soup! We also have salad with almost every meal and we have ice cream pretty often too. After dinner, the worst part: DISH TIME! (Actually, the parents do that!) After dinner, we kids go do enrichment activities. Now let me tell you about that. At enrichment, we do crafts and word searches. We go outside, and we have paper snowball fights. To do these things we need supplies and Mrs. Bergey's got'em. Last week we did clay pot animals and a lot of the heads kept falling off. No problem! Mars. Bergey broke out the glue guns and the Angels hot glued them on. Another time, we went outside for a treasure hunt. Unfortunately, what Brandon found was poison ivy! He washed his hands fast enough that he didn't get the rash, but man the face he made, when he realized what he was holding, that was funny! Sometimes our enrichment activities involve food too. We've made mini apple pies, chocolate covered pretzels, and we've decorated cookies. They looked good, but they tasted better. Enrichment is a lot of fun. So come join us some Wednesday, and see for yourself!
Confirmation Class 2008 By Abagael Bergey
Once you reach seventh grade you can choose to become part of St. John's Confirmation Class. Confirmation is lead by Rev. Sue and Pastor Ryan. We spend about eight months getting more familiar with our Bible and the other members in our class. It is our responsibility to attend all classes, Sunday School, and Sunday morning worship. We are responsible for learning the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23 1-6, John 3-16, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and both the Old & New Testaments Books of the Bible. As a group we participate in other activities as well, such as a service project at Manna, helping with the Congregational Dinner, taking part in the Ash Wednesday Service, and a retreat at Mensch Mill. As a Confirmation Class we have enjoyed many good times and laughs readying ourselves for confirmation day. What I have experienced thus far as a Confermand will be something that I will carry with me forever. In some of our classes so far we've learned about stain glass and the different stories each window has behind it. We've also learned about the different events through our the church year. I could go on and on about all that we've learned; we've learned so much! Being a part of the confirmation class this year has enabled me to grow within the church. Our big day comes in May, when we are confirmed and become official members of St. John's! I can't wait until then, but we'll have to survive the retreat first, and from what I've heard what happens at Mensch Mill stays at Mensch Mill.
Cooking At St. John's & Teen Night By Alex Kempf
We, the Angels get to cook with Pastor Ryan once a month for Enrichment. We also get to cook with him other times and make dishes like chicken "Spongebob" parmesan. We even make soup for Manna. In the past we've made many different kinds. Each time that we cook for Enrichment we like to change the menu and spice things up. This past week for Enrichment we had a hot dog and baked potato bar. For the potatoes, we had all the fixings that you could imagine from cheese to sour cream. The hot dogs were a big hit with the kids and adults. When we cook it's not only for people but for pets too. We're known to make dog treats that are "Sigma certified". As some of you may know, I attend the Culinary Arts program at the Tech school, and cooking in the church helps me to expand my knowledge of different cooking techniques. We like to think we are good cooks thanks to the opportunities St. John's provides.
On March 14th we had our first Teen Night. It started at 7pm and ended at 10pm. Admission was $5 per person to cover expenses. We were allowed to bring friends to come and join the fun. There were board games, pool, air hockey, loud music, and food. We had pizza, soda, and plenty of snacks. The attendance for the night consisted of about 15 teens. It was nice to get to meet some new people, and have a fun, safe place to hang out on a Friday night. There were giant Hershey bars given away. The winners were Brenda Krissinger, Sarah Robbins, and Tyler Malachowski. I had a whole lot of fun and so did my friends. I swill surely be at the next Teen Night on April 4th. Hope to see you there!
Music & Youth By Henry Conoly
If you've ever wondered about the different music programs for youth offered at St. John's, then the man you need to see is David Furness. He leads the Generations Choir, an occasional Drum Circle, Hand Bells, and the Wind Ensemble, all of which are composed of youth and young adults. Many members of these groups are St. John's talented youth. Some of those youth include Brandon McMasters, Emily Bergey, Kelsey Weber, Dana Billy, Abagael Bergey, Shannen Donnell, Katie Haines, Alex Kempf, Kelly Connelly, Tyler Malachowski, and myself (Henry Conoly), as well as many more. Mr. Furness devotes many long hours to making the magnificent music of St. John's, and we are truly grateful to have him to work with.
Horseback Riding Camp At Mensch Mill By Kelsey Weber
Last Summer I went to Mensch Mill for Horseback Riding Camp. Every day we went down to Skyline Stables and rode. We mainly went on trail rides which were so much fund. It was an adventure cantering through the woods. My horse's name was Clyde, he was a sell behaved and adorable horse. When a fallen log was in our path he just jumped over it without any hesitation. It was one of the most exhilarating events of my life. We would always cool off after in the pool. The camp took place during sports camp so we were involved in some games with them. On the last day of riding we took carrots to our horses for a special treat. At the closing of the week we had to do a skit for our parents and the rest of the campers. We galloped on stage riding our "invisible" horses. We told everyone our name, our horse's name, and what our favorite part of camp was. It was a lot of fun and I have a lot of good memories from that week. I can't wait until this summer! [ Check the office bulletin board for 2008 Mensch Mill Brochures]
The Big Apple By Shannen Donnell
On February 15 some very lucky youth & adult members from St. John's went to "The Big Apple", yea you guessed it NYC! We wasted no time checking out he sites. We walked from 42nd and Broadway all the way to Central Park. Then we proceeded through the park to the cathedral of St. John the Divine, where we began a program called night watch. As part of our stay at the cathedral we were given a tour and saw the most beautiful structures. The cathedral was gorgeous. Some of it being reconstructed due to a fire 6 years ago. During the night we walked a labyrinth, sang songs, played basketball, and took communion at a service that was held at 12:00 midnight. The next morning we were awoke by a man singing. Then we said our goodbyes and headed up town for another day of excitement. We ate lunch at Planet Hollywood, and went to see the play "Spamalot" by: Monty Python. After the show we headed back to catch the bus to go home. This was truly an extravagant trip!
Ash Wednesday By Abagael Bergey
It was 5:05 on Wednesday February sixth. I had arrived a tad early for Enrichment. As I walked down stairs I smelled a delightful aroma that led me to the kitchen. When I opened the kitchen door, what did I see but Pastor Ryan slaving over a hot stove cooking a huge pot of fish chowder, and if that wasn't enough, there were two huge turkeys that looked almost too good to eat. The sight of all this made me oh so very hungry. Unfortunately it was not dinner time yet, so I scurried out of the kitchen and over to my Angel meeting where we began to work on the 2nd edition of St. John's Voice of the Youth. Finally it was 6:15 and time to join the rest my St. John's family for the covered dish in the assembly hall. There Rev. Sue led us in prayer prior to embarking on a feast fit for a king. On the tables there was everything from shepard's pie to kings cake. This delicious meal was followed by a lovely church service, where this years confermands announced what they were giving up for lent. We were graced by the beautiful sound of Generations, our Junior Choir, and some of St. John's finest musicians. Then we were offered communion and ashes. It was an evening of awe. It was a feeling of awe.
Fun Day By Dana Billy
The youth and young at heart took a trip to Lazer Quest & The Works in Reading. The Works was really cool! There were so many different games to play & prizes to choose from. After The Works, we went next door to Lazer Quest to play lazer tag. First we got called up to make our code names to use during the game. Then we were told the rules, and were suited up into the lazer tag gear. Finally we were let into the playing grounds, which are huge mazes with smoke, music, secret corners, and mirrors to reflect our lazer beams. When the game was over they turned off the lazers and we exited out. We were able to play 2 thrilling rounds of lazer tag. This trip was fun for all!
Widener University By Emily Bergey
On January 21st Widener University held a Foundations Of Leadership Martin Luther King Commemorative Service that I was so very fortunate to attend. This service was a reflection on a day full of community service. It was inspiring to listen to some of the students at Widener speak about how they view Martin Luther King Jr. in their eyes. During the night there was an amazing mime performance by Silent Praise from Bethany Baptist church, and we heard the winning MLK day poem from 2008. I also got to hear from a woman who actually met Dr. Martin Luther King. She spoke of how she was in charge of arranging the tea for Dr. King and his wife upon their return from India. At the tea Dr. King personally thanked her and gave her a hug. She also mentioned how Coretta Scott King sang for her. After the service we got to talk to her more as we walked to our cars. All in all this was a remarkable experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.
MLK Trip By Shannen Donnell
On Sunday January 20th we the youth of St. Johns had the privilege of worshipping at Mother Bethel church in Philadelphia. After the church service, we went downstairs to the historical museum dedicated to Richard Allen, the founder of the church. We were shown where he was laid to rest and we got to see bibles, pews, offering baskets, and other old relics from the church's past. Then we were off to Dave and Buster's where it was all fun and games. There we enjoyed lunch with the youth of Zwingli UCC. When we finished, we were off to spend the night at a church called Old First Reformed UCC. The next day was Martin Luther King Day. We had to be up and packed for our service project bright and early in the morning. We went to Fishtown to help clean up their recreation center. Some of us painted the outside of the building by decorating the walls with different colored fish. While some were outside others of us were inside attempting to make 1,000 origami fish to be used as a fundraiser for the rec. center. Although only 234 out of the 1,000 were made, they were very much appreciated. I went home that day feeling excited, and grateful to know that I had helped make the Fishtown Rec. Center colorful and inviting for kids to enjoy, rather than an uninviting building full of graffiti (like it was).
Angels Host Fellowship By Katie Haines
The busy week before Christmas was when we, the Angels got a chance to host fellowship! We put good effort into the preparation of the food, and it was a lot of fun. It seemed like the entire congregation came downstairs after the service to join us. It was nice to see everyone enjoying themselves. Lots of eggnog was gulped down and the sausage cheese balls were very popular. The Angels had a great time, and by the looks of things the rest of the congregation did too. Overall our special holiday fellowship was a big success and a joy for everyone.
German Service By Emily Bergey
Back on December 9th I had the privilege of attending a German candlelight service during advent. This service was held at Huff's Union Church and was sponsored by the PSEC of the UCC. It was an amazing experience for me. I really truly enjoyed the service, because I was able to take the criteria I learned in German class and apply it. I found it fascinating how the worship leaders could speak German fluently. During the service there was prayer, scripture, song, and communion all in German! When everyone had their candles lit we raised them high and joined together in a joyous song of Christmas time. This was one of those times that I just didn't want to end. The next time there is a German service you can be sure you'll find me there, and by then my German vocabulary will have expanded and if you need me to, I'll be happy to translate. Tschus! (goodbye)
Christmas Lights By Branden McMasters
Did you know we went to Koziars Christmas Village Back in December? It was cool and cold. The place was packed with people from everywhere coming to see the light display. Everybody was bundled up tight. We had an awesome time with friends and family. We drank hot chocolate, bought silly holiday hats and saw the most amazing light display I've ever seen. I hope you get a chance to go and enjoy it someday yourself.
Hershey Park By Kelly Connelly
On October 28th we took our youth and young at heart to Halloween in Hershey Park. Some of us road the carousel and the sky ride while the rest of us braved the many thrilling roller coasters. Then the whole group went to Chocolate World USA where we bought lots of, yes you guessed it, chocolate, as well as T-shirts and other goodies. We had a "Spooktacular" time and I will always remember the good times we shared on this trip.
Blessing of The Animals By Dana Billy
October 21st the second annual St. John's Blessing of the animals was held. The animals were blessed by the one and only Pastor Ryan. It took place and was celebrated in the St. John's courtyard. This was done because our animals are pets of God, just like we are children of God. That is why we held the 2nd annual blessing of the animals and we are looking forward to the third. Hope to see you and your pet there this year!
General Synod By Henry Conoly
This past summer of '07 a group of St. John's youth along with those from Zwingli, totaling about 30 or 40 went to Hartford, Connecticut to experience the 50th anniversary of the UCC. It was a once in a life time chance to see people from around the world, and to learn about the different missions the UCC is working on. Yes the dorms may not have been the best, the water leaking from the sink when you run the shower, the floors squeaking, but hey we got through it. In my personal experience it was life changing. We got to see Barack Obama and hear of his experiences with the UCC. Overall it was the best thing I did last June.