St. John s Lu theran Church S e p t ember 2017 Eagle Newsl e t t er Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. St. John s Lutheran Church and School 4939 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60641 773-736-1112
2 How Does My Child Receive Early First Communion? by Rev. Richard A. Heinz Lutheran Church has always had an emphasized catechesis: a lifelong learning of God s Word. Children are to be formed in the faith by God s Word at home by their parents and family, as their lives revolve around the heartbeat of the Church, the Lord s Supper. Early Communion is not early at all, according to the ancient practice of the Church, which the first Lutherans continued. They understood being worthy and well prepared is not about our own work or trust, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit, giving faith in these words: Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Holy Communion is, however, tied to the hearing of God s Word in the Divine Service and at home. The learning of God s Word on a regular basis goes hand-in-hand with receiving the Sacrament. Process: 1. Ask Pastor & Office to be on the list for the next scheduled sessions. 2. Learn by heart and be able to recite the primary texts of the Six Chief Parts to parents: The Ten Commandments The Apostles Creed The Lord s Prayer Matthew 28:19 (Baptism) Mark 16:16 (Baptism) John 20:22-23 (Confession) The Words of Institution/Words of Our Lord (Sacrament of the Altar) 3. Recite the same primary texts of the Six Chief Parts to Pastor. 4. Attend brief sessions on each of these Six Chief Parts with Pastor. Be able to discuss these in an age appropriate manner. 5. Be faithful in regular attendance of the majority of Divine Services at St. John s. 6. Be faithful in regular attendance of the majority of Sunday School classes at St. John s. 7. Participate in Individual Confession & Absolution in an age appropriate manner.
3 Return to Regular Worship Schedule: Starting Sunday September 3 rd, we will return to the regular worship schedule: Divine Services: Sunday at 8AM 11AM 6PM and Wednesday at 4:30PM Bible Study: Sunday at 9:30AM Fellowship and Coffee Hour: Sunday at 9:15AM Ladies Book Club: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain was our book for August. Many of the Book Club members said that it is the kind of book which they stayed up late in order to finish and to find out if the ending is what they thought it would be. This was definitely a book that the ladies enjoyed. In September, we will be reading and discussing Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. The author and her family abandon the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life. They vow that, for one year, they would buy only food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves or learn to live without it. This book is part memoir, part journalistic investigation and is an interesting narrative that will open eyes to the old truth: You are what you eat. The Ladies Book Club Selections for the upcoming months are: October 2017: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne AND Marking Time: The Radium Girls of Ottawa by Heinz Dietrich Suppan November 2017: Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb December 2017: The Whip: A Novel Inspired by the Story of Charley Parkhurst by Karen Kondazian January 2018: Lake of Sorrows by Erin Hart We hope that some of these books spark your interest, and we invite you to read them and to join us for discussion at our meeting. We welcome all visitors or new members. Look for information on each book in the weekly bulletin and in the monthly Eagle. Please contact Karen Buhler for a complete list and updates of our schedule. The Ladies Book Club meets the last Tuesday of each month at 7PM for an interesting discussion of the book of the month accompanied with refreshments.
4 Sunday School: Join us as we kick off the new Sunday School season on September 10 th in the Parlor at 9:30AM. Dorcas Society: We resume our monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the Month at 7PM in the Fellowship Room. Each month we have an event following our business meeting and all ladies are invited to join us. Watch the Eagle and Church Bulletin for the program of the month. SEPTEMBER EVENT: Join us for our Happy Birthday to You party where we will celebrate with games and goody bags and balloons and treats. No matter when your birthday is, please celebrate it with us in style. RSVP to one of the Dorcas members. Our Dorcas family is mourning the loss of Aurelia Burkett, who was a member and a friend of Dorcas for 50 years. A few of her many talents and contributions to St. John s over the years are: Aurelia made the banners for the children baptized at St. John s; she was a Sunday School Teacher/ Director here at St. John s for many years beginning the year she was confirmed, and she coordinated the Coffee Hour for several years. Aurelia was a friend to many and will be missed. Cub Scout Pack 3997 and Boy Scout Troop 997: Discover the Adventure in St. John s Cub Scout Pack 3997 and Boy Scout Troop 997. You can participate in fishing, camping, hiking, sports, fun, adventure, games, friendship, family centered activities, leadership opportunities, and learn positive values and skills that last a lifetime. Cub Scouts (1 st - 5 th grades): Meets the 1st & 3rd Monday at 6:30PM each month starting September 22 nd 2017 Boy Scouts (6 th grade - 18 Years Old) Meets 2nd, 3rd & 4th Monday at 7:30PM each month Starting September 11 th 2017 All boys welcome. Boys do not need to be affiliated with St. John s to be part of our groups. For more info, email us: Sandy Pavlat pavlats@yahoo.com
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6 Russell Meyer 9/3 Aileen Sluka 9/3 Leona Burger 9/4 Lauren Walsh 9/4 Daniela Lively 9/5 Stephanie Kurash 9/6 Curtis Owen 9/6 Melissa Cacciabondo 9/7 Peggy Kline 9/7 Midge Quest 9/7 Margarete Giess 9/8 Mike Mayrens 9/9 Cindy Thompson 9/9 Luanne Gegeanis 9/10 Mark Lauer 9/10 Jessica Griggs 9/13 Dylan Kraak 9/15 Kevin O'Hara 9/15 Susan Beeson 9/16 Roger Burden 9/16 Douglas McLane 9/17 Chris Sturgill 9/17 Sandra Banko 9/18 Douglas Markworth 9/18 Steven Zanders 9/18 Michelle Clark 9/20 Ashley Scott 9/20 Jennifer Foley 9/21 Marge Gall 9/21 Terry Wilczak 9/21 Jacqueline Schacht 9/22 Michael Steigerwald 9/22 Carolina Giral 9/23 Arnold Diaz 9/24 Dolores Sauser 9/24 Nikki Wardecki 9/24 Margot Hernandez 9/25 Grant Riley 9/26 Michael Aleksiewicz 9/28 George Przybylski 9/28 Meghan Davis 9/29 Timothy Schmidt 9/30
Looking to donate your time and talent? Two significant ways to be a good steward is to donate your time and talent to enriching the Church. There are current areas of need at St. John s. 1) Stewardship Committee: Due to Dan Karnatz donating his time and talent as the congregation President, a vacancy needs to be filled on the Stewardship committee. 2) Elder: Due to Jacob Tomaw relocating, a vacancy needs to be filled on the Board of Elders. 3) Chief Usher and Ushers: A chief usher is needed to build and distribute a regular schedule to ushers for the Divine Services. Additional ushers are also needed. If you can help in any way, Please contact Adam Neubauer: neubauer.adam@gmail.com Stewardship Under the Cross, God's Word on How We Use His Gifts by HR Curtis What is Stewardship? Christian stewardship is the faithful management of our financial resources and all we have. It begins with the understanding that all we have is God's: Ps. 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Additionally, "we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world" 1 Tim 6:7. Since all we have is God's, we should use it for His purposes. God's purpose for us in our lives is expressed in the various vocations, or callings, that we have. So, for example, a father and mother use their income to feed, clothe, and protect their children. 7 Besides the vocations that each of us have in our family life and in society, we are also all Christians and members of this parish. How do we use our income faithfully in regard to this vocation? To learn this we must look to God's Word. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Luke 16:13 Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Malachi 3:8-9 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me. 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9:6-8 But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving....the point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything. What does this mean? Your heart always goes where you put God's money. Stewardship is not an optional subcategory of the Christian life; it is the living out of a Christian's dependence on God. As such, faith and finances are inseparable. True joy is found not in storing up the things of this world, for the things of this world won t last. True joy is found in clinging to Christ who poured out His life for you on the cross and now gives you His Life in Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. The things of this world are temporarily given to us by God to see and we will be called to account for how we manage the Owner s things (Rom.14:10-12, 2 Cor. 5:10). Call to Action: Prayerfully consider your giving to God's work in His Church. Are you faithfully giving a first-fruits tithe (10%) of your income to the work of God? Are you, as St. Paul says, excelling in this grace of giving? If not, why not? In next month's newsletter we'll consider more of what God says about Stewardship specifically more about tithing (the Biblical practice of giving a tenth of our income to God's work in the Church).