St. John's Lutheran Church
Youth Photos
Please take a look at highlights from our youth activities at St. John’s Church!
UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS:
On Saturday, April 12th we will again be participating in the UMT Bunny Hop at Grange Park from 1-4 PM. We are looking for donations of plastic eggs and small goodies to place inside. Please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex. Cash donations may be handed to Cindy Graf. Speak with Cindy if you are interested in helping hand out items at the event on the 12th. We could also use volunteers to help us stuff the eggs on Tuesday, April 8th at 7 PM!
First Communion will be held on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2025. At St. John’s, children who are/will be six years of age or older during 2025 will be considered for admission-letter with details will be mailed out to eligible families soon. Please contact Pr. Nelson if you would like to discuss and determine the readiness of your child. There will be a parent meeting on Sunday, March 23rd.
Background Check Info
For Volunteers
CLICK HERE for info on the NEPA Synod website. There are direct links to the sites where you can complete your clearances online. (Click on the “Background Checks” tab.)
We have also compiled a file of useful information and paper copies of the required clearances if you wish to submit them by mail. CLICK HERE for the PDF file.
Once you have completed your clearances, YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY TO THE CHURCH OFFICE. We MUST have: PA Child Abuse History & Criminal Background. They will be kept on file and will be valid for 5 years.
PA Child Protective Services Law
At the end of 2014, new laws took effect that required all employees and volunteers working with children to receive background checks. Laws were amended in 2015 that changed the requirement from every three years to every five years and made some of the background checks free for volunteers. If you just began this process in 2014 it is time to think about renewal of these checks.
The laws that came about in 2014 also put into place the new reality that our church volunteers became mandated reporters if they became aware of or suspected abuse or neglect toward a child. If your employees and/or volunteers have not been informed or trained in what this requires now is as good a time as any to make that happen.
Mandated Reporting
The new laws expand the definition of “mandatory reporters” to include all rostered leaders, paid church employees who work with children and also volunteers over age 18 who work with children in activities and programs. For churches, this means ALL Sunday school teachers, nursery attendants, VBS volunteers, youth group leaders, etc.
Mandatory reporters are those who, when they have reasonable suspicion of child abuse, are required to call the state ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. The new law puts the burden on each mandatory reporter to notify state authorities. They are required to follow up with a written report. Willful failure to report is punishable by law.
