The Light of St. John s December, 2018

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2 The Light of St. John s December, 2018 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. Luke 2:16 The holiday season is upon us. It seems to come earlier every year. Christmas decorations have been on display at WalMart since around Halloween, and one local radio station has been playing continuous Christmas holiday music since the first week of November. Many dream of a white Christmas. And I don t mean snow. I mean more white space on our December calendar. Christmas always feels like a rushed holiday. Pageants. Parties. Shopping trips. Baking days. Wrapping nights. As a result of this busyness, our calendars are filled with activities that have to be done which can crowd out the spiritual significance of the season. The hustle and bustle of the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas can easily steal our joy and replace it with nothing but a headache if we don t pause to appreciate the meaning of this season. I wonder if the participants in the original Christmas story ever envisioned that the celebration of the birth of Christ would become so hurried. But actually, hurriedness was present the night Jesus was born. But the shepherds weren t in a hurry to get to the mall to select that perfect gift. When the angel announced to the shepherds that the Christ child was born, Luke 2:16 says they hurried off to find him lying in the manger. They hurried off to worship the Lord. If I had been one of those shepherds, I would have been silent and amazed once I got there. Being around a newborn baby always makes me quiet and in awe to see new life. And being present shortly after the King of kings was born must have been the greatest awe of all. Maybe we could do the same today. In the midst of our holiday hustle and tasks, we should stop if only for a moment. On one of our busy shopping trips, we could pause and reflect on the meaning of this important season. December should be a worshipful month, not a rushed and stressed month. If we take the time to appreciate the meaning of the season, we might just discover an unhurried holiday. A season that will strengthen us spiritually instead of sapping our energy and joy. Blessings, Pastor Terry

3 SERVING IN DECEMBER Kitchen: Altar: Usher: Melanie Becka (Council) 2 nd Poinsettias 9 th Poinsettias 15 6h Poinsettias 21 st Poinsettias 28 th Poinsettias FLOWERS Please pray for our soldiers, the shut-in, the lonely, those in need of healing and their families: Melanie Becka, Dennis Hejtmancik, Larry Maresh, Mildred Miman, Mike Noak, Dan Gerdes, Dendy Brown, Jamie Brown, Ronnie Langham, Baby Harrison Pharis, Steve Hodges, Scott Marks, Roy Havemann, Gail Hardin, MaeDell Cowan, Gladys Kocurek, Adele Zboril, J.D. Lambrecht, Jake Cedidla, Kim and David Hardin, Martha O Roark, Amelia Wearden, Dena Doonan Matcek, Lou Frances Mahon, Chris Jadlowski, Jeff Krueger, Eric Payonk, Patricia Tarnowki, and the family of Fontaine Wilhelm, Estelle Pivonka, Arthur Kluge. Bernice Popek Ondrasek, Stella Kubecka, Esther Elliot and George H.W. Bush. Sign Up Time! A year has once again passed by and it is time to plan for Your volunteer efforts are greatly needed in several ways at St. John s. Volunteers are needed for: Altar Flowers each Sunday. They can be fresh cut or pot plants and can be placed in honor or memory of a loved one. Altar Service prepare the communion trays for worship services on the first and third Sundays. If you have not done this before, we will have another member assist you and provide some training. Ushers Serve as the welcoming smile at the front door, distribute weekly bulletins, light and extinguish candles and take up offering are the main duties of the ushers. The lead/ head usher each month is one of the council members and they will provide you with instructions. Kitchen Hostess Serve as the kitchen hostess each month on the pot luck Sunday. Main duties are making drinks, heating food, setting out paper goods and clean up detail afterwards. Signup sheets for all of these activities are on the back table of the church. Please help by sharing your time and talents.

4 Eldie and Lela Mae Maresh John and Connie Kubiak By Len and Lynda Of Those We Love By Jim and Jeanette Peed Jimmie Brinkman By Betty Brinkman Frank and Mary Roberts Paul and Charlotte Jurek Walter and Vivian Schumacher By Debbie and James Schumacher Leroy Schwartz By Vinelda Schwartz Vince and Mary Maresh By Donnie and Beverly Blinka All Of Our Loved Ones By L.W. & Carol Brinkman Our Parents By Roy and Donna Havemann Our Parents, Brothers, and Sisters By Marvin and Loretta Laffere R. J. and Ruby Smith John and Lorine Gerdes By R. J. and Barbara Smith R. J. and Barbara Smith Harold and Larise Charlson By John and Casey Smith Our Children and Grandchildren By R. J. and Barbara Smith

5 Everyone Welcomed! HAND-ME-DOWNS are also appreciated!

6 To my church family and non-member friends. Words are inadequate to express my thanks and appreciation for your visits, phone calls, cards, flowers, food, prayers, and any other deeds during my recuperation of hip surgery. God has truly blesssed me with healing, friends, and making me a part of a caring and loving church family. Love and Blessings, Mildred Miman Prayer Shawl Group Thank you so much for the soft beautiful prayer shawl given to me while I was in the hospital. I truly used it every day and now use it daily at home. Several comments were made about the beautiful butterflies. Mildred Miman to those who prepared the meal for the Harvest Festival. Cookers were Blake Kocurek, Bo Zboril, Brandon Telshow, Bradley Suehs, Clay Gooden, Josh Freeman, Judy Kocurek and Marsha Kocurek.. Thanks to those brought desserts and those who helped with the set-up and clean up. A special thanks to the Bradley Suehs family for the donation of turkeys from Cameron and Brycen s fair project. The meal was delicious. Donations of $740 was collected that will given to the KBTX Food for Families Food Drive in Caldwell on December 5th. Thanks to everyone who supported this project!

7 to everyone who prepared food, decorated, provided tables with treats and Bingo for the annual October 31st event. It was enjoyed by the children and adults! The annual St. John s Hayride and Church Picnic was held on Saurday, November 5th. to Frank and Shirley Kristof for hosting the Picnic each year at their home. It is a fun-filled time of fellowship.

8 SUNDAY SCHOOL BAKE SALE The Sunday School will once again be helping with donations for the Christmas gifts for local families. Items that are needed: Fresh Baked Goods Will Be Available After Worship Service Girls Jackets Size Kids 3-4; 5-6; Boys Jackets Size Kids 3-4; 5-6; Bike for 4 year old boy Bike for 9 year old girl 2 baby alive dolls Big Lego Set (age 8) Barbie Doll House Race Car Set Boy 7 2 drones Boys Age 110 Girls Spandex Sets Size 6-7 Cowboys NFL Shirt and Hat Boys Age 10 Bike for 10 year old boy The Christmas Program will be presented during the worship service on Sunday, December 16th. Make Plans to Attend! 3 Finger Monkeys 4 fishing rods and small tackle boxes For more information Contact Marsha

9 Sympathy Is Extended To The Fontaine Wilhelm March 15, 1923 November 15, 2018 Services for Fontaine Wilhelm, 95, of McKinney, Texas were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 17, 2018 at St. John s Lutheran Church in Deanville. Interment followed at St. John s Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation was from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 16, 2018 at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell. Mrs. Wilhelm passed away November 15, 2018 in McKinney, Texas. Fontaine was born March 15, 1923 to William Fontaine Shamburger and Ila (Smart) Shamburger in Pine Hill, Alabama. She married Clarence Johnny Wilhelm on December 3, 1965 in San Antonio, Texas. Wilhelm/Shamburger Family On The Loss Of Their Loved One Sympathy Is Extended To The Esther Elliot, 88, of Somerville, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, November 27 with family by her side. Visitation was held at Strickland Funeral Home on Saturday, December 1 from 11 am 2 pm. Service followed with Interment at Oaklawn Cemetery. Zwernemann-Elliot Family Esther Elliot October 17, November 27, 2018 Esther enjoyed gardening, animals, especially dogs, cats and birds and spending time with family. She was a hard worker that never sat down to take a break and always put others needs before her own. She was a very patient woman who helped run the family wrecker business and ambulance service. She loved kids and watching John Wayne movies. Johnny Cash was always her favorite to Fontaine enjoyed working in her garden growing tomatoes, squash, potatoes and of course flowers of all kinds. She loved to spend time with her dogs, and make quilts which she would generously give to everyone. Fontaine loved to write, was active in her church and loved her grandchildren. listen to on the radio. Ester loved to eat BBQ and go dancing. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Zwernemann and Emma Wiederhold, husband, J. V. Elliott, Jr.; son, Lonnie Wayne Elliott; sister, Vilma Drahem and brothers, Ewald and Calvin Zwernemann. Survivors include her daughters, Virginia Dominey, of Bryan, Gloria Hamiter, of She was preceded in death by her parents; husband C.J. Wilhelm; and son, John Dale Wilhelm. Fontaine is survived by sons, Jeffrey Wilhelm of McKinney, Texas, Ronnie & Kitty Roberts of North Carolina; brother and sister-in-law, Frank & Juanita Shamburger of Mobile, Alabama; grandchildren, Jason & Jennifer Wilhem, and Elizabeth Wilhelm, all of Anchorage, Alaska. Remembrances are gratefully accepted at St. John s Lutheran Church in Deanville Austin, Mary Ann Causey and husband Michael of Pflugerville; sons, Virgil Elliot and Jerome K. Elliot, both of Somerville; sisters, Lorena Bland of Pearland, Viola Bartek of Deanville; granddaughters, Karen Dominy and Nancy Green; great grandchildren, Katie Walker, Racheal Walker, Lea Walker, Kelsie Walker, Kyl Walker, Russell Green, Heather Green, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Honorary pallbearers are Virgil Elliott and Jerome K. Elliott.

10 The Youth Group met on November 18th at Elizabeth Lutheran Church for their monthly meeting. They made 15 pumpkin pies for the Senior Citizens Center in Caldwell for Thanksgiving. Youth group members also had a lesson about having an attitude of gratitude by looking as Psalms. They also got to sample some pumpkin pie! Thanks to Michael Zwernemann for leading the worship service on Sunday, November 23th. Michael is the son of Cynthia and Rudy Zwernemann.

11 Christmas Day Birthday of Jesus

12 The Sons of Hermann Life-Deanville would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! In appreciation of the support they have received in the past year they would like to extend an invitation to the Lodge s Christmas Party to be held on Sunday, December 16th. A chili and hot dog dinner will be served at twelve (noon) with a visit from Santa. Everyone is welcomed to attend! New Year s Eve in Deanville Be sure to mark your calendars for Jake Penrod at Deanville Hall for New Year's Eve!