February St. John s Messenger - February Message from Pastor

Transcription

1 February 2016 The Mission Statement of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church Jesus told his disciples, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21); therefore, we the members of St. John s Ev. Lutheran Church welcome his Gospel mission for us. God created each of us and our congregation to make all people lifelong disciples of Christ. We will use the power of God s Word and Sacraments to nurture believers for spiritual growth and service, and to evangelize our community and the world, all to the glory of God. Message from Pastor Because February 14th falls on a Sunday this year, it s reasonable to expect that we will be talking about love in our services that weekend. It s Valentine s Day, after all, and almost everyone is going to have hearts and flowers and love on their minds. Valentine s Day is a day to make a demonstration of love to the person you love the most. Most of the boxes of candy you can buy for Valentine s Day are heartshaped. Valentine s Day cards always feature hearts in some way, shape or form. If the subject matter of Valentine s Day is love, then it only makes sense that the symbol of Valentine s Day is the heart. But February 14th, 2016 is not just Valentine s Day; it is also the first Sunday of the Lenten season. And the theme of the first Sunday in Lent is that Jesus has defeated Satan in order to secure our salvation. So how are we going to meld the two conflicting themes into a coherent message for that Sunday? Actually, there really isn t a conflict. I m glad that the first Sunday of Lent falls on Valentine s Day. Because if, as we said earlier, Valentine s Day is a day to make a demonstration of love, what better demonstration of love for us could our Savior make than defeating the one enemy of ours who threatens our very existence? Think of it this way: many stories and movies portray gallant men rescuing the women that they love from danger. Jesus is, according to Scripture, the gallant husband determined to rescue his bride the collection of all believers of all time from the dangers of sin, death and hell. He does so by sacrificing himself, only to take back his life so that he can be with his bride forever. And this is no work of fiction. Admittedly there are people who don t look forward to Valentine s Day because they do not have someone to share the day with or because they have lost the one they loved. Maybe that describes you. If so, there is a message for you on the first Sunday in Lent. It s found in the second reading of the day which contains these words from Romans 10: It is with your heart that you believe and are justified. With your heart you believe. We might have our hearts broken here on earth, but those hearts still have a divine purpose: to receive and reflect the love of God. That ubiquitous symbol of Valentine s Day is actually a symbol of a more lasting love, a love transmitted through the Word of God: the love of Jesus Christ, your Savior and your victor over Satan. If God has continued on page 2 St. John s Messenger - February

2 blessed you with someone with whom you can share Valentine s Day this year, praise God for that. Enjoy giving and receiving love. But never forget the transcendent love that you enjoy through Jesus. May that love be planted deeply in your heart, now and forever. And Happy Valentine s Day! Pastor Schmidt Lent This year's Lenten series is entitled, "Ironies of the Passion" which will reveal ironic aspects of the passion account and to teach about the unique and lasting significance of Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection. The season begins February 10 - Ash Wednesday and continues on Wednesdays, February 17 and 24; March 2, 9 and 16. If observing Lent is something new to you, why not attend this year? Come with repentant hearts each week to see the love of Jesus in action. Take the opportunity to grow spiritually with us through this special time of the year. The service time is 6:00 PM with a supper served at 5:00 PM. Ash Wednesday: "He Had Been Wanting to See Jesus" (Pastor Schmidt) Lent 2 - February 17: "Don't You Fear God?" (Pastor Aaron Weber) Lent 3 - February 24: "This Man Went Home Justified" (Pastor Jim Langebartels) Lent 4 - March 2: "Not During the Feast" (Pastor Dale Reckzin) Lent 5 - March 9: "We Have No King but Caesar!" (Pastor Kevin Hundley) Lent 6 - March 16: "It Is Better that One Man Die for the People" (Pastor Greg Pufahl) Fellowship Breakfast On Sunday, February 28 we will enjoy a breakfast held in the lower level basement of the church. Breakfast will begin at 9:00 AM and will be available until 10:15 AM. Come and enjoy delicious food and fellowship. No adult or teen Bible Study will be held on that morning but will resume on Sunday, March 3. YBS will be held but children are encouraged to eat breakfast with their family before attending class. Bible Baseball Game Night Save the Date Please mark your calendars for an evening of family fun at the Schmidt house (801 Mackinac Avenue in South Milwaukee) on Saturday, February 20 at 7:00 PM. We will divide up into teams and play Bible Baseball. Test your knowledge of Scripture as your team selects questions for 1st, 2nd, 3rd base or go for the toughest question - a home run! All ages are welcome. Please RSVP to by Thursday, February 18. A bingo/lunch fellowship activity will be held on Sunday, March 6 following the late service. Pizza and soda will be enjoyed before the bingo. You ll have a lot of fun and the there is the possibility of winning some very nice prizes. It s a good opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors to church and then have them stay and enjoy the bingo fellowship. St. John s Messenger - February

3 FISH (Faithful In Serving Him) The teens continue to meet in the large classroom off the Welcome Center area for Bible class each Sunday morning at 9:15 AM. Our high school age teens are encouraged to attend both the Bible classes and activities. Please bring a friend along to the next class. Youth Bible Study We are not far into the second half of our year and would like to remind parents of the importance of sending their children to YBS. Each Sunday they have the opportunity to grow in their faith as they hear and learn the Word of God. What a blessing! If you have children or know of children ages 3-14 please enroll them as soon as possible. It is early in the second semester which can still provide a great entry point for new children to be enrolled. Go to the lower level of the church and the staff will assist you in getting your child(ren) to the right class YBS Upcoming Events This is a reminder for February events: GRANDPARENT S DAY: We are encouraging grandparents to attend the entire YBS session on Sunday, February 14. Grandparents will enjoy refreshments and are welcome to sit in on the Youth Bible Study classes. We hope that all grandparents will make every effort to come and spend quality time with their grandchildren on that morning. Singing in Church: The YBS students will be singing at the 10:30 AM service on Sunday, February 14. YBS After Fellowship Breakfast: The fellowship breakfast will be served on Sunday, February 28. YBS students are invited to eat with their parents, but children should then go to their respective classes. We encourage you to eat with your children as early as possible. One side of the serving tables will be designated for parents with children and we ask that parents follow this designation to save time. Breakfast will begin at 9:00 AM. No adult Bible classes will be held that day. Sibshop Sibshop at St. John's continues Saturday, February 13 from 9:30-11:30 AM. The fruit of the Spirit we will discuss is gentleness and the planned indoor activities will make being stuck inside a lot more fun. Siblings of children with special needs are encouraged to attend this unique opportunity with others who share their experiences. Call Ellen Moon ( ) or Margo Schmidt ( ) for more information. St. John s Messenger - February

4 Presentation in February "Wait for Your Soul Mate" is the name of the presentation that will be given for women on Saturday, February 6 at 10:00 AM at St. John's. Speakers will share their experience and wisdom. Learn why it is so important to be patient and properly invest your emotions while the Lord prepares your heart and the heart of your future spouse for true love. All women and young ladies (sixth grade and up) are invited and encouraged to attend this presentation. Refreshments will be provided. Please text or call Margo Schmidt at to RSVP by Thursday, February 4. Coffee with the Savior All ladies are invited to attend "Coffee with the Savior" on February 27 at 9:00 AM. We meet in the Welcome Center area at church. Feel free to bring a friend or two. What message is the Lord conveying to us through David with the words "you anoint my head with oil" in the 23rd Psalm? Come and find out! Meetings Our newly-named women's ministry group has many exciting things to share with the women of St. John's in the new year. The Leadership Team would like all Confirmed women to be a part of WinGS as we encourage one another in the Lord and have fun! Please watch upcoming Messengers and the Service Folder Announcements for information on future meetings. Name and Logo The women will be finalizing the group logo - look for it in the March Messenger. We want to thank the women who submitted name ideas and logo sketches. The hope is to provide an online website to show our pride and connection with each other. Watch for this! Bible Study Back by popular demand in June is the "Come As You Are" breakfast potluck and Bible study. No make-up is required and PJ's and robes are accepted attire. Watch for the time and date in future Messengers and/or Service Folder Announcements. Outing Ideas WinGS Women in God s Service The planning of social events, fund raisers, and craft class opportunities are being discussed on an ongoing basis. Many talented women are willing to share their skills in arts and crafting. We are looking for ideas for outings that are fun and inexpensive! Plays, concerts, movies, retreats, and mother-daughter times are just some of the thoughts. We especially would like to be able to see productions at the area schools where the children of St. John's members attend. There are so many options. Let's use our imaginations! continued next page... St. John s Messenger - February

5 Sunshine and Secret Sisters Wendy Tischendorf has volunteered to head Sunshine and Secret Sisters teams. This is an opportunity for all of us to get to know and strengthen each other. Contact Wendy to assist her in this important mission. Community Outreach and Service Ideas for community projects and service to others will also be investigated to further our already existing work. In addition to helping with services in assisted living facilities, I am sure we have women working in many other areas of our communities. Discussions for Future Meetings Now that WinGs is functioning well, our group meetings will become less frequent so our communication needs to be strengthened. Discussions at our future meetings will include communication ideas such as a possible newsletter, and/or a website page of our own or part of the St. John's website. We are glad that so many of you have decided to join us this year. Watch for meeting dates and times. All Confirmed women are welcome! If you can't attend the meetings in person please request the meeting minutes at the Welcome Center by leaving your name and address and we will add you to our contact list. If you don't have just leave a note for Carol Anderson to make a copy of the meeting minutes for you. Book Club The next Book Club gathering will be held on Monday, February 8 at 6:30 PM in the Welcome Center area. We will be discussing Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The Club will continue to meet on the second Monday of each month. The March book discussion will be The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Senior Luncheon The Senior luncheon will be held at the Water Street Brewery located on Howell and Drexel Avenue in Oak Creek. The date is Tuesday, February 9 and the time is 11:30 AM. Contact Jackie Stair by at jaxbug49@gmail.com or for more information and/or to make reservations. SCRIP Program Thank you to all who have supported this program. The retail gift cards will be available for purchase in the Welcome Center area on the first and third Sunday in January. To see all merchant cards available for purchase through the expanded Scrip Program. Go to the website and click on the Expanded Scrip Program link. Waste Receptacles Please make sure all garbage gets inside the waste receptacle liner bag. Liquids should be emptied into a sink before discarding the cup or bottle in the appropriate receptacle. Your consideration is appreciated! St. John s Messenger - February

6 Church Attendance December Weekly services: week#1: 213 week#2: 239 week#3: 366 week#4: 103 Advent 1: 81 Advent 2: 83 Advent 3: 93 Christmas Eve: 298 Christmas Day: 103 New Years Eve: 53 Total for December: Contribution Statements The 2015 Contribution Statements are available for pickup in the Welcome Center area. If you have any questions please contact Linda Mathwig at Wish List The following is a wish list submitted by various committees or individuals and approved by the Church Council. If you would like to make a contribution towards or take care of one of these needs please speak with Pastor Schmidt or Rod Bollinger. Youth Discipleship - Playground Systems/Base - $15,000 ($ 4, already given) This is another way that God presents an opportunity to exercise our love for what our Savior has done for us through stewardship. All contributions and gifts are appreciated. Energy Needs - to Light the Way The new Energy Calendar is on displayed in the Welcome Center area. The format has been changed and 3 months will be offered at a time. When one month passes the next sequential month will be displayed. Donations received help defray some of our energy expenses. During December the gas and electric bill was reduced by $ due to generous contributions from members. Use the envelopes provided - any amount is appreciated! To heat and light the building for one day is approximately $ If you would like to commemorate a birthday or other occasion for your donation, please attach a sticker to the calendar to mark the date. Memorials A memorial was given by Mr. and Mrs. Ken Schoenike to honor a friend and neighbor Jack Ryder. St. John s Messenger - February

7 Our three-year Gifted for Praise appeal began in late 2012 and was completed on December 31, We thank all who supported this program for the various ministry programs Over the last 3 years, Wisconsin Lutheran and Shoreland high schools expanded and upgraded their facilities and programs. WLHS added a new student and fine arts facilities, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classrooms, and Family and Consumer Education (FACE) classrooms. SLHS added state of the art technology facilities for a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academy, an expanded academic assistance center along with electrical and security upgrades. Both Shoreland and Wisconsin Lutheran are building strong Christian centered learning environments for all students, today, and tomorrow! Gifted for Praise also supported the Gospel message globally, reduced our financial debt, and provided capital for major upcoming programs at St. John s. Thank you again for your faithful and generous support of God s ministry through the Gifted for Praise appeal. Through God s Grace, we have distributed $153,185 to designated programs reported in the chart. Cleaning Program You can view the Team Schedule and the Cleaning Program Instruction on the St. John s website under the Congregation Resources tab. The direct link is stjohnsoakcreek.org/cleaning. The areas that will need to be cleaned are the church entrances, Welcome Center area, Sanctuary, balcony and the lower level basement. In general, the cleaning duties include dusting surfaces, wipe down counters and table tops, vacuuming along with sweeping and mopping floors. Specific cleaning guidelines for the various areas of the building can be viewed at the website address above. An updated instruction sheet will also be provided when you come in to clean. All the necessary cleaning tools and supplies are in the storage room - off of the kitchen. There will be nothing you need to bring but yourself. The approximate amount of time will be 90 minutes. If you have any questions regarding this program or your assigned week, please contact the Cleaning Program Coordinator: Jane Rewolinski at or jrewolinski3@outlook.com. The March teams are listed below. March Cleaning Completed Between Sunday 6 2/29-3/5 Team Members *Indicates team captain Baltutis, Charles & Carol Baltutis, Eric Fleischman, Angela Fleischman, Daniel Fleischman, Lea Matthews, Callie Matthews, Daniel & Lynne* Sunday 13 3/7-3/12 Sunday 20 3/14-3/19 Sunday 27 3/21-3/26 Barnes, Judith Bartelak, Thomas & Jacqueline Moon, Kevin & Ellen* Reed, Helen Forston, Jonathan* Hittman, Laura Kralovetz, Brenda Palmtag, Larry & Cindy Farris, Nicole Grundy, Andrew Grundy, Ron & Carol* St. John s Messenger - February

8 Can you help? Can you give additional time on another day to help a Cleaning Team? We need to increase the number of people on some of our smaller teams and could use your help. Please contact Jane Rewolinski at or jrewolinski3@outlook.com to let her know if you would be available. Altar Flowers Some dates are still available for the 2016 Altar Flowers. The booklet is at the Welcome Center. The cost of the flower arrangements will be $30.00 and are yours to take home after the Sunday late service on the day you have chosen. As a reminder, we are only able to have one family sign-up for any given Sunday. If the date you preferred is taken please consider an alternate date that is still available. St. John s Lutheran Church Night Out! St. John s Messenger - February