January 2019 Saint John Lutheran Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Who Needs New?!

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1 Good News January 2019 Saint John Lutheran Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi Who Needs New?! If you have it figured out, then you don t need anything new. If you already know the way, then you have no need for directions, of course. If you can manage well enough on your own, keeping your life in order, then new ideas, gadgets, or methods have little usefulness to you. What is it that makes us dismiss the new as if it s the same old, same old? Maybe that s just the easier response. It s easier to maintain the well-known status quo than to potentially disrupt our familiar patterns with something new. New people, new information, a new way... Who needs it?! If it s not broken, don t fix it. But what if you re the other person? What if you re the one who s tired or overwhelmed? What if you re the one who s lonely or broken? What if it s really not the same for the other person as it is for you? What if new is actually welcomed and needed...sometimes desperately? What then? We can be the bearers of good news when we become invitation people. When we invite others generously, without prejudging whether or not they will respond positively to our event or activity, we reflect the grace that s characteristic of the divine. When we invite others generously, it shows who we are as the found people of God, put to the task of finding more people God loves, because Love Incarnate has loved us from top to bottom. We followers of Jesus ought to be the most welcoming, inviting, hospitable, brave, courageous, creative, and generous inviters in our neighborhoods and community. We have the most to give, the most to share. It s who we are: Inviters, for Jesus sake and the good of those around us. Now is the time: This new year 2019, the Year of Invitation. Let s not wait any longer to become better inviters! We can all do this, each and every one! It s of God. Let it be of us, too! John Eric Karle Exploring. Equipping. Encouraging. Ephesians 4:11-16 Surprise the World! Love. Like. Jesus. + Hope for the City.

2 January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 MITES BREADBASKET 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 13 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 11:45 Action Teams 20 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 27 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship pm Elders 21 10am Newsletter Deadline :30am Avenues Bible Study 1:30pm Kaffee klatsch :30am Avenues Bible Study 1:30pm Kaffee klatsch :07am Men s Breakfast 10am AA 12 10am AA 10am Altar Guild 10am Faith and Finances 19 10am AA 10am BOD 26 10am AA 6pm Chili Cook-off

3 Serving in January Pastor John Karle Music Director Jason Sims Elder Donna Blair Altar Care Team Debbie Frederick and Christina Keiper Date Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 Ushers Warner Boortz & Jerry Frederick Wayland Johnson & Terry Lovdahl Willy Noffke & Ethan Potesta Mark Keyl & Ethan Potesta Online Giving Online giving is available to members and friends of Saint John via the 'Give' tab on our webpage. Thank you for supporting our work together in Jesus' name. LUTHERAN CAMPUS MISSION Campus Mission Welcome to all college students! We're glad you're here. Please check in with Pastor John after worship today (or text/call at ). Elders January Meeting - Monday, Jan. 14th at 6pm. BOD January Meeting - Saturday, Jan. 19th at 10am. The Avenues Bible Study meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, please contact Pat Davenport at They are currently studying of The Screwtape Letters. The next meetings will be held on Thursday, January 10th and 24th. The Screwtape Letters, a Christian novel written by C. S. Lewis was first published in The plot and characters are used to address issues of temptation and resistance to it. Using a satirical style, Lewis used the form of a series of letters written by a senior demon, Screwtape, who holds an administrative post in the Lowerarchy of Hell and acts as a mentor to his nephew, Wormwood, a Junior Tempter. The uncle s mentorship pertains to the nephew s responsibility for securing the damnation of a British man known as the Patient. When Wormwood is anxious to tempt his patient into extravagant and deplorable sins, Screwtape reminds him that the safest road to hell is the gradual one the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. Lewis uses wit and humor to expose the subtle pitfalls of everyday sin and temptation. This book is an entertaining, enlightening, and helpful portrayal of human life from the perspective of the enemy. West Hattiesburg Bible Study Resumes Wednesday, February 6th at 10am at the home of Shirley Thone, 2 Bluebeard Point. (Phone: ) Bring your Bible as we're working our way through the book of Romans (we're completing chapter 9) as facilitated by Debbie Frederick. Friends are very welcome here! Please note the change of day to the first and third Wednesday of the week. We're thankful to continue Mary Gohlke's legacy of Gospel hospitality.

4 January March Portals of Prayer now available near the foyer mailboxes. January Newsletter ed on Thursday, January 10 th. Paper copies are available at the foyer mail boxes. February newsletter deadline is Monday, January 21 st. Removing the Greens We'd enjoy the help of any and all church folks to remove the Christmas decorations this coming Saturday, January 12th at 10am. A participant reported this week: "The past several years, there were many hands on deck for decorating and taking it down. It was so nice to be part of the group; the work seemed light and fun." Two other activities are also taking place in the building at the same time, but we have the capacity to function well in this generous space. Offering envelopes If you would like an envelope for your offering, manila check-size envelopes are available from the ushers offering envelopes should be arriving soon for those who used them last year. Sunday Morning Study Groups at 9:15am 1. Group One is completing the study "Making Marriage Work." We meet in the fellowship hall. New participants are welcome. Even if you didn't make the first part of the study, you can still benefit from the study and contribute to the conversation. 2. Group Two is beginning a study of C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." This is the same study taking place every other Thursday morning. Please see the description in The Avenues box. Contributions Statements and Thank You Letters are ready for pick up from your church foyer lobby mailbox today. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel! 2019 Chili Cookoff Saturday Evening Jan. 26th. Details to come. Altar Flower Sponsorship Openings We need someone to sponsor the altar flowers for: January 20 th, February 10 th, February 17 th, and February 24 th. Cost of sponsorship is $40 per Sunday. You may take the flowers home or give them to another after worship. WE ARE URGED to move quickly beyond the intimate scene of Jesus birth toward the more challenging vision of his baptism. In short, we are asked to move in the direction of life itself: from concern for intimacy to concern for community. A Christian parish becomes its best self when it accepts the challenge of community. The parish community, as the real expression of a local church, cannot limit its attention to the search for justice and intimacy among its own members; it must be prepared to take up the cross, standing against evil and injustice wherever they exist in the world. This may seem like a harsh message for the Christmas season, but in fact it is the church s message at all times, in all seasons. There is, ultimately, only one mystery Christians celebrate: the paschal mystery, Jesus dying and rising in a new human community called church. Nathan Mitchell

5 From the Altar Guild Un-Deck the Halls With care we store our chrismons, tree, wreaths, and nativity sets. Please come lend a hand. With these necessary tasks done, we can then focus more clearly on Epiphany. Date: January 12 / Time: 10:00 a.m. Flower Calendar The 2019 flower calendar is now available for you to reserve your dates to sponsor altar flowers and/or Eternal candle. Your continued support is truly appreciated. We all have special events (anniversaries, birthdays, remembering or honoring someone) that touch our hearts. As this information is added to each Sunday bulletin, it is also a way of communication within the congregation. A Study in Prayer Is it possible to pray nonstop? A few years ago, I read an article in The Washington Times written by Chaplain Barry C. Black, Navy Rear Adm., Retired on this very topic. He feels it is possible because we can cultivate a spirit that is habitually devotional, keeping our hearts attuned to the divine. He further explained that the Greek word for without ceasing [that we read] in 1 Thessalonian 5:17 is adialeiptos, which doesn t mean nonstop but actually means constantly recurring. In other words, we can punctuate our moments with intervals of recurring prayer. 1 This idea stuck with me, and I liked what Chaplain Black said. When reading this article, two words grabbed my attention: cultivate and recurring. We generally think in terms of loosening, breaking up, and preparing soil for the growing of plants when cultivating. We can loosen and break up negative thinking and behaviors, preparing our minds and hearts to grow into a spirit that is habitually devotional. But how do we cultivate our minds and hearts? There is no new formula or method for this. We already know what to do, but we must deliberately apply ourselves. We pause in our busyness and turn to God. We read and study His word in the Bible. We worship with others. We pray. We tune in again and again throughout each day, in each situation to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We develop these actions into recurring behaviors, thus establishing a devotional habit. Food for Thought Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day--like writing a poem or saying a prayer. What matters is that one be for a time inwardly attentive. Anne Morrow Lindbergh Chris Keiper Altar Guild Chair Black, Barry C. (2015, November 29). Can one truly pray without ceasing? The Washington Times.

6 Lutheran Women s Missionary League LWML Mites collected on Sunday, December 2, 2018, totaled $ Thank you for your prayers and support of the Mission Grants of the National and Gulf States District LWML. Mites will be collected next on Sunday, January 6, There will be no Business meeting in January. On Sunday, February 3, 2019, we will have the first business meeting for year Main agenda items: Registration and plans for the LWML National Convention to be held in Mobile, Alabama - June 20-23, Theme for convention, "In Praise to the Lord" (reference 1 Chronicles 16: 23-24). Watch for more information on the National Convention in the Winter Lutheran Women's Quarterly. I'm hoping that we can take a group from Saint John Hattiesburg. This will be a wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord with gladness with thousands of women from our nation! Election of Officers for year 2019 was held prior to the Christmas party on Sunday, December 2nd. Elected by Acclamation as follows: President - Shirley Thone; Vice President - Brenda Hesselgrave; Secretary - Elaine Kersh; Treasurer - Chris Noffke. Thank you to all the dedicated friends at Saint John Hattiesburg (both women and men) who made this year such a blessing for all the wonderful missions of the LWML. Seventeen ladies attended the Christmas party at the home of Debbie Geroux and Shirley Thone. It was a wonderful evening of fun (dirty santa game), singing, fellowship, and yummy finger foods. After the party, five of the ladies were able to visit Mary Gohlke and sing Christmas carols. It was such a special time! After a long illness, Mary is now in heaven, singing carols with the angels. Mary served as our LWML Treasurer for over nine years. Even though she was not able to attend church for several years, she dedicated a few hours on the first Sunday of every month - counting and wrapping those pennies, etc. - those "Mighty Mites". I know that I'm not alone - we will truly miss Mary, and her smiling, sweet face. In this life, she loved her Lord Jesus and always shared His love with everyone she met. You may have thought since she was in a wheel chair for over forty-five years that she was handicapped, but Mary was a mighty witness to the world! She knew how to LOVE LIKE JESUS!!! UNTIL NEXT TIME... Serve the Lord with Gladness!!! -Shirley Thone President LWML

7 Faith and Finances at Saint John Hattiesburg ABOUT the Faith and Finances Emphasis at Saint John Hattiesburg We want to find meaningful ways to help people with their value-based financial decisions. We re partnering with Thrivent Financial professionals Terry King and Patti Young in 2019 to host a series of workshops and other similar opportunities for you, your family and friends, and your neighbors. The presentations are product-free (They re not selling anything.) and provide strong opportunities for improving your life now and in the future. We d love your help increasing the positive impact of these events by your own participation and by your courageous inviting of others. Please RSVP via the church Events webpage for each workshop you plan to attend. Do One Thing Different Doing just one thing differently can help improve your financial life. Find out how. With eight topics to January 12 th choose from, you can start simply or take a big first Saturday step to see how the benefits can add up. This is an 10:00am excellent workshop for starting the new year. If you re looking to dip your toe in the water to make 2019 turn out better, here s a great place to start. Refreshments provided. Facilitated by Terry King and Patti Young. RSVP deadline January 10 th. Action Teams Action Teams are the way we get great things done for our community. Thrivent members, friends, and January 13 th neighbors come together to plan and put into practice Sunday projects, programs, and other good activities that 11:45am improve the lives of real people in our community. Refreshments will be provided as we learn the rules, explore possibilities, and plan out meaningful ways to positively impact our community in the new year. Each Action Team Project is eligible for $250 funding to make it happen. RSVP deadline January 10 th. Making a Difference Making a Difference: Sharing Time, Talent, February 16 th & Treasure helps participants identify their values so that they can then discover meaningful ways to share Saturday their time, talents, and treasures. Explore how to 10:00am make the most of your resources and create your own generosity plan. Refreshments provided. Facilitated by Terry King and Patti Young. RSVP deadline February 14 th.

8 Women and Money Today it s critical that women know how to save, invest, and plan for their future. Women have never March 25 th been in a better position to achieve financial Monday security. This evening workshop will pamper the women in attendance while showing how you can 5:30pm take charge of your financial future, become a more-knowledgeable investor, advocate for yourself in the workplace, plan for retirement, protect your income and assets, and create an estate plan. Refreshments provided. Facilitated by Terry King and Patti Young. RSVP deadline March 21 st. At Thrivent Student Resources we believe students Student Resources deserve to go to college without spending the rest of Spring 2019 their lives paying for it. That s why we offer: To Be Announced 1) an advanced suite of tools and resources to help students and the families prepare, plan, and pray for college; 2) educational webinars to help learn how to manage student debt and explore repayment options; 3) a network of financial guides who coach families to match their college dreams with financial means; and 4) access to student loan information and education. We want to help you have a healthier relationship with money, especially at the beginning of college. When you re more financially secure, you re free to live a more content, confident, and generous life. RSVP deadline TBA. Who Are Our Thrivent Financial Professional Partners? Terry King has worked in this field for 15 years. During that time, he has pursued education and designations to be able to help you navigate through difficult financial decisions. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, Retirement Income Certified Professional, Certified Kingdom Advisor, and Fraternal Insurance Counselor Fellow. He is a member of Lutheran Church of the Pines in Waveland. Patti Young is a member of the Central Gulf Coast Thrivent Team, whose primary responsibility is to encourage and assist members to use the Fraternal Benefits. She enjoys representing Thrivent's culture of Generosity because she values the way of life made possible by using these member benefits. She formerly served as the administrative assistant at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Slidell and currently serves as Treasurer on the Southern District Lutheran Church BOD.

9 Ellen Heck Brenda Ogle Mary Cubley Birthdays in January Brenda Hesselgrave Jan. 1 Macy McMichael Jan. 1 John Blair Jan. 4 Skylar Chaney Jan. 11 Jerry Frederick Jan. 11 Don Shields Jan. 11 Dori Carver Jan. 14 David Grunig Jan. 16 Jayce Wastvedt Jan. 17 Sawyer Chaney Jan. 20 David Cubley Jan. 21 Mark Cubley Jan. 21 Ann Gault Jan. 24 Virginia Rosenberger Jan. 24 Regina Johnson Jan. 27 Lauren Matthews Jan. 28 Susan Perkins Jan. 30 Karla Weiss Jan. 30 Trenia Thiel Jan. 31 Baptisms in January Joe Adams Jan. 1 Stephen Arleaux Jan. 1 Mary Lowry Jan. 1 Eric Reid Jan. 1 Jason Sims Jan. 1 Lisa Case Jan. 8 Jane O Connor Jan. 10 Willy Noffke Jan. 19 Christopher Davis Jan. 29 Anniversaries in January Thomas and Brenda Hesselgrave, 29 years Jan. 6 Jason and Mary McMichael, 17 years Jan. 26 Bob and Mary Cubley, 40 years Jan. 27 Surprise the World! Love. Like. Jesus. + Hope for the City. Saint John Lutheran Church 2001 Hardy Street Hattiesburg MS Telephone: Website: stjohnlutheranchurch@gmail.com Like Us on Facebook: USM Campus Mission Like Us on Facebook: Oktoberfest Hattiesburg Like Us on Facebook: Saint John Church Hattiesburg Like Us on Facebook: Longleaf Heights Neighborhood Association