JULY DISCIPLES OF THE MONTH:
Harvey & RuthAnn Peters
How long have you been a member of Saint John’s? What brought you here? What is your church background?
We first joined Saint John’s in 1973 when our family moved from Chicago to Westfield. The move was the result of Harvey’s job with a churchwide agency of the Lutheran Church in America. We decided to ‘church shop.’ Having identified three LCA congregations close to our house we agreed to attend Saint John’s first. That same afternoon Pastor Franklin and Mary Fry showed up unannounced at our front door with a bottle of wine to welcome us. Our 16 year-old son began asking questions, including “How can we join your church?” The rest is history.
What is your favorite thing(s) about Saint John’s? What about Saint John’s inspires or excites you?
We delight in seeing young families when we are physically able to worship in the sanctuary. They will learn from their church family how love spills over. It is normal to be welcomed by the pastors and invited to participate fully no matter where one is on their faith journey. The staff assures that bulletins and announcements are printed fully to make it easier for newcomers. We love music. We won’t leave the nave until the organ postlude is played in its entirety. We have the benefit of a long perspective, now being in our nineties. We occasionally sit on the bench in the Memorial Garden and read the names of our friends whose ashes are spread there. We intend to add ours there someday.
What is your favorite Bible verse, hymn, or church season?
Among our favorite hymns are, “We Know that Christ is Raised and Dies No More,” “Children of the Heavenly Father” and “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry.” Our favorite organ piece is Karg-Elert’s “Now Thank We All Our God.”