News Bulletin. Jan. 12/ Inside this issue... The Ministry of St. John. St. John

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1 St. John News Bulletin ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH Seward, Nebraska Facebook - St. John Lutheran Church Seward, NE Jan. 12/ sjcstaff@stjohnseward.org Pastor Scott Bruick Pastoral Leader scott.bruick@stjohnseward.org Pastor David Rempfer Pastor for Visitation & Pastoral Care david.rempfer@stjohnseward.org Tim Rippstein Director of Christian Education tim.rippstein@stjohnseward.org Inside this issue... Contribution statements available in the narthex for 2 weekends Jr. High Matt Talbot Service Project This Weekend Trivia Night Jan. 18 Life Sunday Weekend Jan. 19/20 Voting Assembly Jan. 20, 10am, fellowship hall Evening of Prayer Jan. 27, 6-8pm, sanctuary Kindergarten Open House Feb. 10 Volunteers needed in various ministry areas School/CDC/Concordia News Next week s calendar The Ministry of St. John Proclaiming and Practicing the Love of Christ Church: 919 N Columbia Avenue; School: 877 N Columbia Avenue; Child Development Center: 1053 N Columbia Avenue; Deaconess Juanita Ebert juanita.ebert@stjohnseward.org Paul Soulek Director of Parish & School Music paul.soulek@stjohnseward.org Amber Fiala School Principal amber.fiala@stjohnseward.org Lisa Aring Director of Child Development Center lisa.aring@stjohnseward.org For Your Devotional Use This Week Psalm 128 Isaiah 62:1-5 1Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11

2 Worship and Christian Growth Opportunities Nursery for Families with Young Children Nursery is located on the main level and is staffed on Sundays from 10am-12pm. Official Act BAPTISM: During this weekend s 8:30am service we welcome Nolan Philip Schmidt, son of Trevor L. and Tiffany J. (Riley) Schmidt, into the Lord s family (sponsors Nick Riley and Jaci Renner; officiant Pastor Scott D. Bruick). Our Attendance: Jan. 5 5:30pm 155 Jan. 6 8:30am :00am 301 Flowers in the Sanctuary... Placed by the family of Marv and Pearl Plamann in honor of the couple s 60 th wedding anniversary (12-28) Young Men s Ministry For centuries men (elders, grandfathers, uncles, dads) have raised up and mentored young men of God. St. John is kicking off our own ministry to young men. Sunday, Jan. 27, men from 7 th grade and older will gather together in the fellowship hall during the Bible class hour (10:00-10:45am) to learn more of what the Lord s vision is for a man of God to be, for a light breakfast and discussions. Fellowship Bible Class January Schedule No Fellowship Hall Bible Class this Sunday, Jan. 13 Sunday, Jan. 20, is the Annual Voting Assembly Sunday, Jan 27, is the Young Men s Ministry Kick-Off February will get back on track with Pastor Schauer leading the study on Vocation. Meanwhile, the Christian Nurture Board will be scheduling some of the topics and leaders as suggested from the Fellowship Hall Planning Session. High School Bible Class Every 1 st Sunday of the month through May meet in the sanctuary All other Sundays meet in the portable Jan. 6 Ridgewood: 26 Total 856 Jan. 6 Adult Bible Class 92 Sunday School 85 Jr. High Youth at Matt Talbot This Sunday The Jr. High Youth are worshiping at Christ Lutheran Church this Sunday and serving at the Matt Talbot Kitchen in Lincoln. We pray that their service to those in need of a healthy meal will be a blessing from our Lord. What Did They Do for 3½ Months? Sunday, February 24, 10am, fellowship hall Join Pastor and Jan Bruick as they share their experiences of the pastoral sabbatical journey and what it means for them now as they step back into ministry life full time. Learn also more about resting in the Lord for yourself. 2

3 Wanting to Know More about the Christian Faith? Sundays beginning Feb. 3, 10am, Centennial Room Do you know someone who would like to know about the Lutheran Christian teachings or would you like to have a refresher class? Pastor Bruick will lead a new Getting to Know Jesus class begins Sun., Feb. 3, wherein we will search the Scriptures to look at the basics of the Christian faith. This class offers a great opportunity for individuals to learn more about the Lutheran Christian teachings (doctrine), either as a refresher from their confirmation instruction or in preparation to join the Lutheran Church. If you or someone you know is interested in taking this class, please contact the church office. Guest Preacher for Life Sunday Weekend Jan. 19/20 Lutherans For Life Board of Directors member, Rev. Jeff Duncan, Pastor Emeritus, from Bellevue, Nebraska, will serve as the guest preacher on Life Sunday weekend. Pastor Bruick Out-of-Office Pastor Bruick will be attending the LCMS MegaChurch Conference January in Orlando, FL. This conference is the gathering of the larger LCMS congregations for the purpose of encouraging, equipping and networking. If you donated a poinsettia, they are now in the hallway by the church offices waiting to be taken home. Evening of Prayer Sun., Jan. 27, 6-8PM, sanctuary Join others on this Sunday evening for a quiet time of silent prayer and reflection on the mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father. Participants will be offered a prayer guide when entering the sanctuary. The Heritage Room will be available for those who would like someone to pray with them or would like to pray with others. Tuesday Morning Men's Bible Study Jan. 22 (every 2 nd & 4 th Tues.), 6:30-7:30am, Concordia s cafeteria Current topic: Explaining All the Scary Stuff in Revelation (with Rev. Ken Klaus). All men are invited to join us as we gather for prayer, Bible study, mutual encouragement and faith conversations. Praying Parents January 15 & 29; February 12 & 26; March 12 & 26; and April 9, 8:15am, Heritage Room We are blessed to spend time in God s Word with your children every day. We also want to have the opportunity to spend time in God s Word with you too. Please join Deaconess Juanita and Principal Fiala for Praying Parents. The nursery will be staffed for your younger children. We will use Parenting In Christ: Treasures for Parenting from Jesus this year. We will take care of ordering the books (suggested donation of $8). If you have any questions, please contact the school office. 3

4 General News From the Board of Trustees In Colossians 3:23 Paul writes: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Has the Lord put it in your heart to work for Him? The eight members of the Board of Trustees ask you if you might be ready to take up the work of this board by filling the vacant spot we currently have? We ask that you take it to prayer and serious thought. If you have questions or comments or want to volunteer, please call Bill Peters, ; Doug Zimmerman, or the church office, [During a non-election period, your name would be submitted by the Trustees to the Coordinating Council, which would then appoint you to serve.] Special Needs Respite Night Friday, Jan. 25, 6-8pm, fellowship hall The Disability Ministry Committee is hosting this night of respite filled with supervised activities and snacks for those with special needs (and their siblings) while parents eat out, run errands, enjoy some quiet time, or relax on-site with other Seward area families. Register by Jan. 21. Forms can be found and completed in the church office or at and ed to Amanda.geidel@cune.edu or call to RSVP and complete the forms that night. Check-in begins at 5:45pm. Voting Assembly 10am Sunday, Jan. 20, Fellowship Hall No Adult Bible Classes End of the Year Contribution Statements are available for pick-up in the narthex (sorted alphabetically). Concordia Bulldogs for Life Bake Sale Jan. 13, between services, lower level by elevator Bulldogs for life is the Pro-Life club on campus. There will be 14 of us traveling up to Washington D.C. this year for the March for Life, from January While in D.C. we will march to the Capital and we will also be attending the Lutherans For Life Conference. To raise funds for this trip, we will be offering various baked goods for a freewill donation. Please keep us in your prayers. We appreciate your support! St. John School Kindergarten Open House Sun., Feb. 10, 3:30-5pm (presentation at 4pm); call school office with questions To be eligible for kindergarten in August, children must turn five by July 31, Presentations by Sandra Royuk and Amber Fiala begin at 4pm. St. John offers a full-day program (with a half-day option) for all students to learn of the love of Jesus and grow in their ability to learn and work with others! If you know of someone who may be interested, please pass this on! 4

5 Trivia Night 2019 FULL! The 9 th Annual PTL Trivia Night is coming to the AG PAVILION on Fri., Jan. 18! We have reached our maximum capacity at 50 teams! If your team of 8 would like to be added to a wait list, in the event that a spot opens up, please contact Michelle Meyer at Also, contact Michelle to be a corporate or memorial sponsor for a team or trivia round. Trivia Night Silent Auction Donations As part of the trivia night festivities, we will be hosting a silent auction! Please consider donating new items of value, experiences such as game tickets or condo usage, or valuable antiques for us to auction. All profits from the auction items go directly to the St. John PTL for use in supporting our school, teachers, and students! If you have an item to donate or questions, please contact Cari Berner at or us at stjohntrivia@gmail.com. Mobile Food Pantry Distribution Date Tues., Jan. 22, 4:30pm until items are gone, fellowship hall No cost Income guideline eligible Bring a box or basket with handles to take your items home; contact: Deaconess Juanita, Have You Ever Considered Becoming a Pastor or Deaconess? If so, Rev. Scott Holder from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, would like to meet with you in the Lincoln or Seward area: Tue. & Wed., Feb. 5 & 6: CUNE, Seward, 8am-5pm; Thurs, Feb. 7: University Lutheran Chapel, Lincoln, 9am- 12pm Rev. Holder is interested in meeting with prospective students of all ages elementary school age through adults. Appointments are individual, informal, and family/friends are welcome to come with you. Appointments are not necessary, but encouraged. If you are interested in scheduling a specific time, please contact Rev. Holder at or holders@csl.edu. Lincoln Lutheran (Community) Choir Spring Season Lincoln Lutheran Choir welcomes new and returning members to the Spring Concert Season! Rehearsals begin with a retreat on Sun., Jan. 20, 2-5pm at First Lutheran Church, 1551 S 70 th ST, Lincoln. This spring the choir is pleased to welcome our new conductor and artistic director Ms Julia Marble. Our concert theme is Christ, Light in the Darkness, and Julia has chosen music that speaks to His grace, peace and hope. Come join us on this musical journey! Synodical Nominations (From the Board of Elders, Bd. Reps.: Ken Block & Courtney Meyer) It is the responsibility of St. John Congregation to submit nominations for the following: President, Vice President, as well as the regional vice-president of the Great Plains region. These nominations will be confirmed at the annual congregational voting assembly on January 20. Church members may submit nominations to the floor at the January meeting or to Ken Block or Courtney Meyer in writing through the church office. The Board of Elders has already been advised of potential candidates. Your participation in this process is encouraged. 5

6 LCEF Nebraska District Scholarship Applications Available Applications are now available for the 2019 $1,000 Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Nebraska District Scholarship. Go to lcefcentral.org/scholarships to apply. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or current full-time post-secondary student at an accredited institution with at least one year of courses remaining. Candidates must also be members of a congregation belonging to The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod located in one of the following LCMS districts: Iowa East, Iowa West, Minnesota North, Minnesota South, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, North Wisconsin, South Dakota or South Wisconsin. The application deadline is January 31, Lincoln Stars Faith and Family Game Jan. 20, 2:05pm, Lincoln Stars Ice Box For the third consecutive year, the Stars are hosting a Faith game and once again partnering with Food for the Hungry (FH.ORG). Five dollars of every ticket purchased will go to Food for the Hungry. This donation, coupled with their 22x matching grant will have an exponential and permanent impact on the DRC where there are 70 million people without access to clean water. For a $15 ticket you will receive: UNLIMITED All you can eat hotdogs, hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, and fountain drinks. Parking is also free. In addition, the game will feature a post-game skate with the Stars players and a free showing of the faith-based sports movie Facing the Giants on their brand new video board. Call or go to the Stars website for more information or to book your tickets. Service Opportunities......Trustees Looking for Volunteers There is a current need for someone to do volunteer concrete work. A few slabs of sidewalk need to be replaced. Most of the tools needed can be supplied by St. John. Looking ahead toward warming weather, more volunteers will be needed for mowing from March through October. If you are interested in serving in either of these areas, please call the church office ( ) and ask for Nick.... Mobile Pantry Helpers Needed St. John will host Lincoln Food Bank s Mobile Pantry on Jan. 22. Volunteers are needed to unload the truck and to help recipients bag up their food. Truck unloading begins at 3:30pm; distribution happens from 4:30-5:30pm. To help, contact Deaconess Juanita or Nancy Held....Fellowship Hall Bible Study Coordinator Needed The Christian Nurture Board (CNB) is looking for an individual to coordinate weekly presenters/leaders for the Adult Education Hour in the fellowship hall every Sunday at 10am. This coordinator would need to contact potential leaders, organize a calendar, and inform the office of the topics being studied. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Jank at or rachelmmol@gmail.com. The coordinator will be provided with a list of previous leaders and topics and will have regular communication with the CNB to assist in this role. 6

7 ... Blue Valley Community Action Thrift Store Needs Volunteers Help is needed mostly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (all day or even part of a day). On-call workers are also needed for covering vacations and illness. An example of job duties would be running the cash register, sorting clothing and answering phones. Anyone interested can contact the coordinator Kelsey or assistant Deb at the store 105 S 6 th ST, Seward or call School and Child Development Center CDC Registration Is Now Open! Members of St. John Congregation and currently enrolled students at the Child Development Center are now able to enroll for the 2019 summer and the school year. On January 21, the list opens to waitlist families and, on January 28 registration opens to the public. St John Child Development Center is a Christ-centered, Project Approach and Reggio-based center. Developmentally appropriate quality preschool is planned for each day. Stop by to get your enrollment packet at your earliest convenience! Next Week s School Chapel Wed., Jan. 16, 8:25am, sanctuary Chapel will be led by Mrs. Betsy Werner. Please join us for this special time of worship. Second semester chapel offering will go towards Garuna Kids Foundation. Garuna means grace, mercy, and compassion in the Thai and Khmer languages. Our goal is to sponsor our three students again to attend a Garuna school in Cambodia. It costs $360/year for a child to attend the school and learn about Christ. Miss Brianne Stahlecker will also serve on a mission team to Cambodia this summer Re-enrollment Due by Jan. 28! Copies of the re-enrollment packet when home with students on Jan. 7. Complete the required forms and turn them into the school office with the $50 re-enrollment fee per child. This will reserve a spot for your child in the school year. We will begin accepting community applications beginning on January 29. Please contact Principal Fiala if you have any questions. K-8 th Grade Parent/Teacher Conferences (Mon., Jan. 14 & Wed., Jan. 23) K-4 th grades: Sign up on Sycamore for your conference time. An was sent on Tues., Jan. 8, with instructions. K-3 rd will meet in classrooms and 4 th grade in the fellowship hall 4 th -8 th grades will have conferences in the fellowship hall in an open house setting; 3:45pm - 5:00pm and 5:45pm-8:00pm Concordia, Church Family and Community Upcoming Concordia Events Go to to see postings for upcoming events. Celebration at the Lied (presented by CUNE and Jones Bank) Sat., Mar. 23, 7pm, Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln, NE You re invited to join CUNE for a gala evening of music and celebration of their 125 years of Christcentered excellence. Tickets online now! 7

8 Citizens For Life/Lutherans For Life News and Events To receive updates for Seward Area Lutherans for Life activities contact Cheri Johnson at To receive the Citizens for Life quarterly newsletter contact Donations are welcome. Checks may be made to Seward Area Lutherans for Life and mailed to: Bob Gilbreath, th Rd, Seward, NE 68434; Like us on Facebook! "Seward Area Lutherans for Life" LCMS Life Conference Joy:Fully Alive Body & Soul:, Jan , Alexandria, VA online registration open Nebraska Walk For Life, Jan. 26, 10am, north side of Nebraska State Capital building National March for Life, Jan. 18, Washington D.C. Life Quote This is a Life Quote from Lutherans For Life If God places such high value on life all life (John 3:16) how can we possibly be less concerned? We do love others because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8) because when we had no voice, no standing, no defense, Jesus stepped in on our behalf. There is no way we can be less loving. Christian Life Resources This Week at St. John SUNDAY 8:30am Worship, sanctuary 10:00am Sunday School and Youth Bible Classes, various locations [Sunday School classes are available for children ages 2-years-old through 12th grade; however, during certain months of the year, classes may be combined or on break, so please see the Sunday School superintendents in the school workroom. They would be happy to assist you in locating your child s class. Please ask an usher to help you find the school workroom.] 10:00am Hands of Mercy, school library 10:00am Adult Bible Class (Gospel of John, Matthias & Jurchen), classroom #108 10:00am Adult Bible Class (Book of Titus, Russ Moulds), 11:00am Communion Worship, sanctuary 3:00pm Alaska Mission Team Meeting, Heritage Room MONDAY 3:00pm 3:30pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm Client-Choice Food Pantry, Christ s Cupboard Grades K-8 Parent/Teacher Conferences Education Board, CDC Human Care Board, Centennial Room Stewardship Board, narthex 8

9 TUESDAY 8:15pm 10:00am Praying Parents, Heritage Room Comforters, CDC lower level WEDNESDAY 8:25am School Chapel, sanctuary 10:00am Women s Bible Study, CDC lower level 1:15pm Seward Manor Communion 3:45pm 3 rd 6 th Grade Midweek Classes, Heritage Room & classroom #09 5:30pm 7 th and 8 th Grade Confirmation, classrooms #129 & #204 7:00pm Adult Choir, fellowship hall 7:00pm Godparent Groups, leaders homes 8:10pm Doxology Bells, sanctuary THURSDAY 8:30am Large Print, Centennial Room 9:15pm CDC Chapel (Pastor Amber Fiala, leader) 6:00pm Client-Choice Food Pantry, Christ s Cupboard 7:00pm Christian Nurture Board, Heritage Room 7:00pm Evangelism Board, classroom #108 FRIDAY 6:00pm SATURDAY 9:00am 5:30pm SUNDAY (Jan. 20) 8:30am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am Trivia Night, Seward Co. Ag Pavilion Client-Choice Food Pantry, Christ s Cupboard Communion Worship (Life Sunday), sanctuary Life Sunday Communion Worship, sanctuary Sunday School & Youth Bible Classes, various locations Voting Assembly, fellowship hall Worship, sanctuary Stephen Ministry St. John is a Stephen Ministry congregation. If you need someone to help you through a difficult time, call any of the following church office ( ) Deanna Dowding ( ) Deaconess Juanita Ebert ( ) Mary Ann Steinbeck ( ) Marlene Block ( ) 9

10 Our AEDs are in the narthex and by the school office. - St. John Parish Health Ministry - This Sunday s 10am Bible Classes Gospel of John MUSIC ROOM Ryan Matthias and John Jurchen Book of Titus HERITAGE ROOM Russ Moulds Needed to Meet the St. John Ministry-Funding Plan: The General Fund amount needed per week to further the Lord's ministry at St. John: $38,956 General Fund received last week (1/6/2019): $42,470 Debt amount received last week (1/6/2019): $5 FtCG pledges and gifts received last week (1/6/2019): $