St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church October 2017 REV. KEVIN K. ADER 715-544-0325 office@stjohnkellner.org pastor@stjohnkellner.org www.stjohnkellner.org Mission Statement: We are called by God to be the light of the world. We are to go forth and show Jesus love and forgiveness through loving care for all God s creation. Adult Bible Class We continue reading through the Scriptures on Sunday mornings with the Gospel Project Chronological study as our road map. We will be wrapping up the Old Testament over the next few weeks and then start into the New Testament. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 8:05 a.m. Study Guides are available. Monday afternoons (1:30 3:00 p.m.) we will continue our study of #struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World. We will continue this study through the month of October. Watch for the sign-up/book order sheet for Hallmarks of Lutheran Identity about mid- October. We will begin this study after the first of the year. Circuit #17 Reformation 500 Events Martin Luther: An Idea That Changed the World will be shown at the UW Stevens Point University Center Theater on Wednesday, October 18 th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Pastor Andy Weden from the Peace Campus Center has arranged for this showing of this movie, a PBS documentary. A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex, deadline to sign up is Sunday, October 8 th. A freewill offering for Peace Campus Center will be taken. The Board of Education has also rented a bus for transportation to UWSP, priority will be given to Weekday School students and their families as seating is limited. If you would be interested in a seat on the bus, please indicate by putting bus after your name when you sign up and we will get back to you. The bus will be leaving at 5:00 p.m. Sign up is necessary whether you drive on your own or ride the bus to help determine if an additional showing needs to be arranged. Celebration of the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation Service at St. Paul s Lutheran Church in Stevens Point on Sunday, October 29 th, at 2:00 p.m. The service will feature some of the great music of our Lutheran Reformation heritage, featuring a brass quartet, choir, and congregational singing. It s Still All About Jesus! Page 1
Rural Christian Women s Conference The 2018 RCWC will be held at the Parkside Middle School in Wautoma on January 20, 2018. This year's speaker will be Alison Allen. She is a Broadway actress and will speak about finding our role in Christ. Tickets are now on sale and can only be purchased online at www.itickets.com/events AND by telephone at 1-800-965-9324. $30.00 per ticket includes muffins and coffee at 8:00 a.m. and a catered lunch by Christiano's. The Conference begins at 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in going to the Conference, please purchase your tickets as soon as possible as the Conference fills up very quickly. There will be a sheet in the Narthex where you can sign up after you purchase your tickets if you are interested in car pooling to the Conference. If you have any questions, please let me know. Darleene Swen Book Sale Donations Our annual book sale will take place upstairs in the narthex on Saturday, October 28. (Same day as the Fall Bazaar). Please place your donations in the blue bin located in the Library/Media Room. Besides books we will also take videos, CD's and DVD's. (clean and in good working order). We are also in need of volunteers to help set up the books on Thursday, October 26 at 9 AM and/or to help for a few hours the day of the book sale. If interested please call Laurel Zager or Sharon Dix Scrip Scrap Corner Days are getting shorter....leaves will be turning and Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. Please consider buying scrip for your shopping needs. We have now added Pizza Ranch to our scrip inventory at a cost of $25.00 per card with an 8% profit to St. John. Our profit total for September was $164.35 Bethesda Thrift Shop The store is full of fall/ winter clothing and an abundance of fall decorations and some costumes. During October we will have a 50% off sale on all purple bar code tags including non-clothing items. We are preparing our Christmas Shop again across the hall from our main store. That store will open on Saturday, October 21. New furniture and mattresses are also available at a low price. At this time, we still do not know if we have a different location after the mall closes December 31. We will let you know as soon as a place has been found. LWR Semi Loading Each year First English Lutheran Church arranges for a semi here in Wisconsin Rapids to receive blankets and other items which are sent to areas of need around the world. Lutheran churches from a radius of about 40 miles use this Wisconsin Rapids semi to receive their donations. Lutheran World Relief and donations from foundations pay the freight. Individual donors or churches are not charged freight costs. Again this year, they will have a semi parked in their church parking lot on Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 AM to Noon. Certain items needed are Mission Quilts, Personal Care Kits, Baby Care Kits, Fabric Kits, School Kits, Fleece Tied Blankets and soap. Sorry, NO clothing of any kind! First English Church is located at 440 Garfield Street, Wis. Rapids, WI. For more information: lwr.org Facebook: facebook.com/luth World Relief Twitter: Lutheran World Relief @Luth World Relief Page 2
Worship for Shut Ins Worship for Shut-Ins (WFSI) is a thirtyminute Christian worship experience featuring classic hymns, the Apostles Creed, the Lord s Prayer, and a 10-minute message by Lutheran Church Missouri Synod pastors. Beginning on June 28, 2015, RCCA will begin airing WSFI on Solarus Cable Channel 3 and Charter Cable Channel 985 on Sunday mornings at 6:30 am and Wednesday mornings at 8:00 am. WSFI can also be seen on Stevens Point Community TV (Charter Cable Channel 984) at the following times: Mondays 12:30 pm, Tuesdays 2:00 pm, Thursdays 2:30 pm, Fridays 10:30 am and Saturdays at 11:00 am. October 1, 2017 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 21) Psalm: 25:1-10; Epistle: Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18; Gospel: Matthew 21:23-27 Heat or Light? - Sermon Text: Philippians 2:14-16 Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer Each of us possesses the potential to create heat or light in our world. Followers of Jesus Christ have the power to shine His true light onto a world that stumbles in darkness. Discover how the true Light of the world, Jesus Christ, can shine in us and through us. October 8, 2017 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22) Psalm: 80:7-19; Old Testament: Isaiah 5:1-7; Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46 God s Vineyard - Sermon Text: Matthew 21:33-46 - Rev. Paul Shoemaker God calls us, His people, His vineyard. That is because even though a vineyard requires much care and attention, the final harvest is well worth it. Jesus paid the ultimate price to make us God s vineyard. October 15, 2017 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23) Psalm: 23; Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9; Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 The Wedding Feast - Sermon Text: Matthew 22:1-14 - Rev. Dr. Daniel Brege Salvation, and even heaven itself, are compared to a wedding feast. In this parable Jesus shows how some people reject the feast, and how God, in His generosity, invites the "nobodies" to this feast. We are invited. The only way we can partake of God's feast is if we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. October 22, 2017 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24) Psalm: 96; Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22 Are We There Yet? - Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - Rev. William Mueller Paul encourages the Thessalonian Christians, giving thanks to God for their faith, love, and hope, as positive examples to other Christians. As children of God, we are on a journey of faith through life. We might be tempted to lose hope, to be diminished in our love, or to let our faith waver. Take courage! God has not left us alone but continues to carry us on! October 29, 2017 Reformation Day Observed Psalm: 46 with Gloria Patri; Epistle: Galatians 5:1-2, 13-16; Gospel: John 8:31-36 Living in the Freedom of Faith - Sermon Text: Galatians 5:1-2, 13-16 - Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Living the life of freedom that uniquely flows from a faith relationship with God, human beings yearn for freedom, the fight for freedom, but they can not have the ultimate freedom that they were indeed created for because of their sin. Jesus Christ entered the world to overcome our bondage, our sin, and all that seeks to separate us from the freedom that God created and redeemed us to have and to live for others in Him. Page 3
Lutheran Hour Broadcast The Lutheran Hour can be heard on the following radio stations on Sunday Morning: WAXX 104.5 FM at 6:30 a.m.; WDLB 1450 AM at 8 a.m.; WDUX 92.7 FM at 8 a.m.; WSAU 99.9 FM at 8:30 a.m.; and WRVM 91.3 FM, 94.3 FM or 101.3 FM at 10 a.m. October 1 "Power to Overcome Worry and Anxiety" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Thanksgiving and anxiety are two opposing forces. Have you ever thanked God for your problems, pains, and suffering? (Philippians 4:4-13) October 8 "No Selfies Needed" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz God isn't afraid of messy people. He loves the broken, embraces the outcast, and seeks the lost. (Philippians 4:4-14) October 15 "Luther the Man: Called by God to Boast in Him " Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Although Martin Luther is widely regarded as one of the most influential people of the last 500 years, he knew he was no big deal, compared to Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) October 22 "The Enduring Reformation Moment and Message of Grace" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz The Reformation was quite a moment for Martin Luther, but also for people who suddenly heard of a merciful God Who really cared for them. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18) October 29 "A Reformation Invitation - the Just Live by Faith " Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz 500 years ago, Martin Luther rediscovered a truth that turned the world upside down: the just shall live by faith. Can this message transform you today? (Romans 1:16-17) Shoebox Gift Anyone interested in preparing a Shoebox Gift for Operation Christmas Child/ Samaritan s Purse can contact Sue Helmuth, 715-423- 8022 or Cindy Lau, 715-325-5504. We can get you a colorful preprinted shoebox or you can pack your gifts in a plastic, shoebox-size tote or you can gift-wrap a cardboard shoebox and lid. It is suggested you include a wow toy such as a doll, soccer ball with pump, or a stuffed animal. Then add other fun toys, hygiene items and school supplies to your gift. Do not include war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; seeds; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift. Please indicate if your gift box is for a boy and girl. Also, indicate an age group: 2-4 years old, 5-9 years old, or 10-14 years old. Visit samaritanspurse.org/occ for details Please place shoeboxes in the church library. $7 is needed to transport and deliver each Shoebox Gift into the hands of a child in need. Monetary donations for shipping can be placed in an envelope (marked Shoebox Gifts) and given to Sue Helmuth or Cindy Lau or the church office. Shoebox Gifts can be brought to church library until November 5 th. Page 4
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