St. John Journal. News & info for the family of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill

Transcription

1 St. John Journal News & info for the family of St. John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill A loving and welcoming family of faith, excited about what God has done (and continues to do!) for us Volume 8, Number 11 November 2015 St John Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran

2 Volume 8 Issue 11 November 2015 St. John Journal FROM THE PASTOR S DESK The deadline for the December newsletter is: Monday November 16 th Submissions received after this date will be included if time and space allow. If material is still relevant, late submissions will be included in the next month s newsletter. Thank you! 2 Gratitude and Generosity This is the month we will all give thanks for our lives and for our country in Thanksgiving. This time of year also reminds me of God s generosity. We are saved by God s generosity the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore no life worth living is possible without generosity. So naturally I have been thinking about gratitude and generosity, and the relationship between the two. Jesus describes giving as not just getting rid of something you don t want anymore. It is deeper. It is something different. Giving is sharing. This is echoed in Mark 12:43-44, Then he called his disciples and said to them, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. God doesn t just want us to give money, but rather give of oneself. It is the love that we put into giving that is the most important thing. This is something Jesus wanted all of us to learn; the chance to share our love with one another is a gift from God. God does not give simply so we can have and enjoy things, rather God gives so we can become joyful givers and not just receivers. In other words, we are blessed so that we can be a blessing. Gratitude and generosity are closely linked Let s experience the joy of loving God by giving to each other, not because we can, not because we should, but because of God s love for us. When Mother Teresa was asked, Do you attempt to present any special religious message through your work? She responded, Love has no other message but its own. Everyday we try to live out Christ s love in a very tangible way, in every one of our deeds. So this Thanksgiving remember the connection between gratitude and generosity by living out Christ s love in every one of your deeds. Pray for me as I pray for you. Grace & Peace, Pr. Kyle

3 READINGS FOR NOVEMBER NOV. OLD TESTAMENT RESPONSIVE NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL 1 ISAIAH 25:6-9 PSALM 24 REVELATION 21:1-6a JOHN 11: KINGS 17:8-16 PSALM 146 HEBREWS 9:24-28 MARK 12: DANIEL 12:1-3 PSALM DANIEL 7:9-10, PSALM 93 HEBREWS 10:11-14 [15-18] REVELATION 1:4b-8 MARK 13:1-8 JOHN 18: JOEL 2:21-27 PSALM TIMOTHY 2:1-7 MATTHEW 6: JEREMIAH 33:14-16 PSALM 25: THESS 3:9-13 LUKE 21:25-36 NOV. Acolyte (10:05 only) Layreader Flowers Given By 1 Clay 8 Star 15 Riley 22 Kaden 29 Haylie Reagan Randermann John Haarmeyer Jean Seeker Sandy Ordner Delores Gaskamp Karen Rosenbaum Connor Himly Kallie Finke Taylor Klatte Jennifer Anderson Kevin & Anna Finke Juan & Cammie Guzman Blake & Johanna Becker Chris & Stephanie Koehler Brett & Rachel Muegge WELCA BIBLE STUDY MEETING DATES Tuesday, November 3 rd & 17 th Rachel Circle 6:30 pm, Annex Thursday, November 5 th Naomi Circle 10:00 am, Activity Center Sunday, November 8 th Deborah Circle 5:00 pm, Parish Hall Thursday, November 12 th Ladies Aid 2:00 pm, Activity Center

4 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS October has been a great month for our Sunday school. We have had an average attendance of 18 children each Sunday. Many thanks go out to our teachers for giving their time and making it an excellent experience for the young people of St. John. Our program couldn't thrive without you! November will bring many great things as well. Please try to have your child at Sunday school every Sunday. We will begin program practice for Christmas Eve on November 1st. On November 22nd, the women of St. John are providing cookies for the children. It will be a yummy treat and a perfect way for the generations of our congregation to spend time together. Cookies will be shared during the Sunday school hour after we practice singing. On November 28th, we will decorate the church Christmas tree. Jeannie Kroll and I will head up this task but we would love help from any of our youth and their families. Anna Finke is taking donations for Christmas bags. Please consider donating as it is a wonderful tradition that the children really enjoy. I am thankful for all of the support that is and has been given to the Sunday school program. The fast approaching holiday season should be wonderful for all. Respectfully submitted in Christ's name, Stephanie Koehler Please save the following dates: November 28 th - Decorate church tree at 9:00 December 12 th - 10:00 Christmas Caroling for all Youth & Sunday school children Lunch at church after caroling December 22 nd - Evening program practice at 6:00 Parents will stuff Christmas bags at 5:30 prior to the practice December 24 th - Children's Program at the 4:30 service Dates for June 6-10 th VBS June 12 th - Children will sing VBS songs at 1 combined service 4

5 Women s Fall Event Saturday, November 7 th join us as we celebrate our business women with an opportunity for early Christmas shopping with our ladies. Everyone is asked to bring a salad. Women s Trip to Brookwood Village 26 ladies will tour, shop, and grab lunch at Brookwood Village on Nov. 16 th! Those riding in the van can pay Regina Holtkamp or Johanna Becker at the church office. The cost is $ Departure details to follow. The Women of the church will serve cookies to the Sunday school on November 22 nd Women s Cookie Swap & Annual Meeting Sunday, December 13 th. Details to follow Upcoming LYO Events November 22 nd Good Neighbor Sunday: The youth will meet in the church kitchen at 10:30am to prepare plates for the shut-ins that they will deliver. December 5 th Downtown Christmas Stroll: The youth will have a float at the parade. December 11 th LYO Babysitting Service: The youth is offering a date/shopping trip night out for parents of St. John from 6:30-10pm. The cost is $20 per child, $10 for each additional child per family. They will be offering a movie, games, and pizza. Please contact Cathie Klatte for questions & information: (979) November Quilting Schedule The Quilters will meet on Tuesday Nov 17 only. Hostesses are Patty and Nancy. We meet at 9AM to noon. Come join us for quilting, sewing and tying LWR quilts. 5

6 NOVEMB SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 1 ALL SAINTS DAY 8:00AM Holy Communion 9:00AM Sunday School 10:05AM Service of the Word 2 6PM Executive Committee 3 9:30AM Weekly Word 6:30PM Rachel 4 Senior Party at 1:30PM :00AM Service of the Word 9:00AM Sunday School 10:05AM Holy Communion 2:00PM Pastor Kyle s Installation 6PM Council 9:30AM Weekly Word 15 8:00AM Holy Communion 9:00AM Sunday School 10:05AM Service of the Word Baptism 5:00PM Deborah Circle 16 Women s trip to Brookwood Village NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 17 9AM Quilt 9:30AM Weekly Word 6:30PM Rachel Good Neighbor & Christ the King Sunday 8:00AM Service of the Word 9:00AM Sunday School 10:05AM Holy Communion :30AM Weekly Word 25 6:30PM Pies & Prayers 29 Advent Begins 8:00AM Holy Communion 9:00AM Sunday School 10:05AM Holy Communion 30 Special Envelope: World Hunger 6

7 ER THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 10AM Naomi 12 2PM Ladies Aid Women s Fall Event 4:30PM-7:00PM 7:30 Men s Breakfast COUNCIL Cookie Engeling Lisa Finke COMMUNION BREAD Deanna Giese SCREEN Steve Skrla Barnay Glaesmann ALTAR PREPARATION Delores Gaskamp Diana Williams FAMILY AID Phyllis Bickham MEMORIAL COMMITTEE Allene Holtkamp Carolyn Kessel 26 Thanksgiving Day All Bible Studies Decorate for Christmas SANCTUARY PREP Anna Finke Lisa Finke CHURCH TELLERS Charles & Deanna Giese Sunday, November 8 th 2:00PM USHERS James Schawe, Billy Wellmann Timmy Herrmann, Marvin Wellmann 7

8 Baptismal Anniversaries 11/02/2003 Erik Tosta 11/02/2003 Haylie Tosta 11/03/1951 Karen Tiller 11/03/1957 Karen Dreyer 11/04/1928 Esther Dahmann 11/05/2000 Camryn Finke 11/05/1972 Gil Janner 11/05/1939 Evelyn Strangmeyer 11/08/1928 Gilbert Gaskamp 11/08/1959 Dale Reisner 11/11/2007 Swayzee Huckert 11/12/1939 Elvera Tisdel 11/13/1932 Ruby Kettler 11/13/1988 Jayda Knebel 11/14/2004 Kaden Seeker 11/15/1998 Colson Altman 11/15/1992 Kaylee Nordt 11/17/1935 Howard Grebe 11/17/1946 Donald Lange 11/17/2002 Kameron Ray 11/19/1922 Annie Gaskamp 11/20/1918 Herbert Klatte 11/22/1965 Shanan Marburger 11/24/1985 Adrienne Reynolds 11/24/1985 Kacie Wellbrock 11/24/1996 Dillon Randermann 11/25/1973 Brian Rosenbaum 11/26/2000 Taylor Klatte 11/26/1995 Jess Boswell 11/26/1922 Ruby Schlottmann 11/27/1966 Keith Kroll 11/27/1977 Chad Westerfeld 11/30/1952 Donna De Leon 11/30/2003 Reece Knebel 11/30/2014 Robert Spinn Wedding Anniversaries 11/08/2008 Cammie & Juan Guzman 11/09/1958 Harry & Janet Wehring 11/09/1982 Johnny & Sherry Randermann 11/12/2011 Blake & Johanna Becker 11/17/2007 Chris & Stephanie Koehler 11/20/1993 Herbert, Jr. and Cathie Klatte 11/23/1976 David & Linda Bryan 11/23/1991 Robert & Annette Neuendorff 11/27/1999 Glenn & Connie Mueller 11/28/1976 Larry & Linda Pieper 11/30/1958 Emery & Helen Schulze Soap Collection The Women of St. John will be collecting bars of soap year round for Lutheran World Relief. A collection basket will be located in the Narthex. 8

9 A big thank you to the quilters for the beautiful quilt I won. It is beautiful and it is something I will treasure forever. Phyllis Bickham Pies & Prayers Wednesday, November 25 th at 6:30PM Please save the date to join the family of St. John for a Thanksgiving Prayer Service. Please sign up in the narthex to bring your favorite pie! Good Neighbor Sunday Invite your friends and neighbors to St. John! The #1 reason people attend a new church is because someone invited them. Take a moment out of your day, and invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers to join us for worship. On November 22, we will have our Good Neighbor Sunday, followed by a full turkey dinner with all the fixings! Senior Get Together Wednesday, November 4 th The seniors will be gathering in the Activity Center the first Wednesday of every month at 1:30PM-5:30PM. Join them for games, fellowship, and light refreshments provided by the host! 9

10 Council Highlights The Church Council of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church met for its monthly meeting on October 10, 2015 at 6 pm in the Church Annex. Council President Jon Westerfeld called the meeting to order. Jeannie Kroll was absent. Opened with a prayer by Pastor Kyle Merkle. MSC to approve, the September minutes. Old Business None. New Business Pastor Kyle s installation scheduled for Sunday, November 8 at 2 pm. Discussed food ideas. MSC to approve the suggested names for the Audit Committee: Theresa Kuecker, Regina Holtkamp and Audrey Steinbach. Discussed the wind/storm damage received during the August 25 th storm to the roof on the parsonage, church and steeple. Insurance adjusters have been out and getting bids for the repair needed. Items for Information: New Ricoh copier for the office, $100 savings per month. Worship and Music Report Cookie Engeling Would like to involve the little kids into helping with the worship service and will speak to the Sunday school teachers and parents. Youth Report Kenneth Seeker See printed LYO meeting notes with a schedule for functions until the end of the year. Evangelism Report Herbert Klatte Planning for Good Neighbor Sunday/Thanksgiving turkey meal for Sunday, November 22. Property Report Steve Skrla Water leak on the front of the property is on the water district side of the meter and they have been called to repair. Pastor s Report Report as submitted. Pastor Kyle Merkle MSC to accept all reports as given. MSC to Adjourn, closed with The Lord s Prayer. President...Jon Westerfeld Vice-President...Kenneth Seeker Treasurer... Lisa Finke Secretary... Rita Gaskamp Community Concerns... Johanna Becker Evangelism... Herbert Klatte, Jr Financial Secretary...Connie Rohde Parish Ed... Jeannie Kroll Property... Steve Skrla Worship & Music... Cookie Engeling 10

11 REACHING YOUR CHURCH OFFICE By Phone: By Pastor Kyle Website: By Mail: Men in Mission MIM Breakfast Meeting The Men in Mission (MIM) met on the second Saturday in October with Gerald Herrmann and his son Kyle cooking another great country breakfast. Gerald also conducted the MIM meeting and Allen Parker gave treasure and meeting minutes report. Allen also reported on the status of the ticket sales for the MIM Scholarship fundraiser scheduled for Sunday October 18, Pastor Kyle opened the meeting with a prayer. There were sixteen members present. If you would like to join us in The Activity Center, we meet every second Saturday of the month and we eat at 7:30. Start your Saturday off with the MIM and enjoy the coffee, breakfast, fellowship and St. John news and project status. The MIM Breakfast meeting closed with The Lord s prayer. The MIM Scholarship Fundraiser The MIM held their 2015 Scholarship fundraiser on Sunday, October 18. A total of 371 tickets were sold with 45 people choosing to dine in. All funds generated will go into the MIM Scholarship account to be handed out in future years. A large turnout of St. John youth and adults helped make the entire program a huge success. Many thanks go out the youth, women, St. John Quilters, MIM and Nathan s BBQ. Phyllis Bickham was the lucky ticket holder that won the Quilt donated by the St. John Quilters. Pictures are available at our website: (Ministry / Men Ministry) secretary@stjohnprairiehill.org pastorkyle@stjohnprairiehill.org Old Independence Rd. Brenham, TX, The church office is open from 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM Monday-Wednesday 11

12 St John Lutheran Church of Prairie Hill 6605 Old Independence Rd. Brenham, TX Check us out on Facebook or the church website for the latest news & updates! Pastor The Rev. Kyle Merkle Associate Pastor (Visitation) The Rev. Virgil Pecht Church Secretary Johanna Becker Sexton Jerry Randermann Accompanists Mary Longhofer, Linda Pieper, Linda Schulze, Clarence Witt Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Brenham, TX Permit No. 157 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 12