Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 17, 2014 139 th year August 17, A.D. 2014 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Welcome Visitors! We have a gift mug for you available at all three of our entrances. Please pick one up after the service. We are glad to have you in worship today. May God bless you with His love and grace. Board of Evangelism In Your Prayers This Week Please Remember: Recovering from Surgery Delbert Koch Our Sympathy To the family and friends of Dorthy Mueller who was called home to heaven on Sunday, August 10, 2014. Continuing Concerns Marlin Brockmeyer Linda Foote Eileen Clements Elijah Rabacchi Marcus Delre Debra Guebert Gloria Moore Julie Netherton Helen Braun Lynette Tillock John T. Foote Emma Ritter LuAnn Hartmann Connie Kirkland George Salger Marilyn Dailey Roy Thornton (Vicki Potter s father) David Jensen (Karen Chamness brother) Caniella Patterson & newborn child, Gabriel (Emma Ritter s cousin) Shannon Hohgrefe (Stephanie Diercks Brother) Kara Bartee (Nancy Higley s daughter) Tiffany Troue Denyer Ronald Ohlau (Linda Mulholland s step-father) Andy Schorr (Carol Mayer s brother) Anita Shafer (Mary Reith s mother) Daniel Bell (Lisa Greatting s Brother) Robert Holley (Norlyn & Jane Kingsten s grandson) Drew Stallman (Linda Foote s Grandson) Kevin Dukes (Donna & Pr. Al s relatives) Laverna Castens Delores Doss Norma Wolters Thelma Weaver Onieda Mahnken Shelly Fedderke Care Center Residents Evangeline Wahlmann Clarence & Judy Clasen Adeline Bauer Delores Heck Clara Biermann Rev. Wally Dressler Luella Muench Mildred Eggemeyer Doris Salger Charlotte Knop Receiving Ministry At Home Jewell Rubach Marjorie Wicker Norma Rodewald Page -2-
Military Personnel & Their Families Richard Thompson, Kevin Kahre, Ethan Pierce, Matt Kraus, Casey Vallett, Tim Eichenseer, Bill Ingles, Andrew Grab, Bryan Gramenz, Cory Jeffers, Denny Ernsting, Heather Lee, Christina Willard-Cavan Mission Prayers Remember God s work in Lutheran Schools as you pray for Lutheran school principals, who lead stakeholders to passionately embrace the witness our schools provide to the community. Pray that pastors, principals, directors and teachers would work together in God-pleasing unity. And pray for for Lutheran school teachers, who bring the concepts of Law and Gospel to students through real-life application each day. We respect the privacy of our members and friends and will not pray for you publicly unless it is requested and we know we have your permission. Thank You Thank you to Pastor Al & Pastor Bedard for all of the prayers. Thank you to everyone for all of the cards that have been sent. Ruth Koch Thank you for all of the cards and prayers and visits as I continue my rehab therapy at Coulterville Care Center. Charlotte Knop Thank you to Karen Gramenz, Norma Ernsting, Denise Ernsting, Linda Stegmann and Glenda Minton for your help in serving the funeral luncheon for the Dorthy Mueller family. Your help is always appreciated. Help Needed for Funeral Luncheons We need to update the list of willing (although not always available) persons to help with funeral meals. Please call Linda Stegmann @ 426-3130 or Glenda Minton @ 965-9736. Call even though you believe you are on the list already. Thank you. Bible Studies Wednesday, 10:00 am, Church Office Meeting Room. Bible Hour: Sundays 10:15 a.m.: Family Bible Study Fellowship Hall Studying the Gospel of Matthew Exploring Faith and Life Adult Special Needs Sunday School Class Bible Readings from (Lutheran Service Book) Daily Lectionary (pg. 299-304) Sunday, Aug. 17 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 1 Corinthians 9:24 10:22 Monday, Aug. 18 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Corinthians 10:23 11:16 Tuesday, Aug. 19 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Wednesday, Aug. 20 2 Samuel 12:1-25; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 Thursday, Aug. 21 1 Kings 1:1-4, 15-35; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 Friday, Aug. 22 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Saturday, Aug. 23 1 Kings 3:1-15; 2 Corinthians 1:1-22 Cookbooks Cookbooks are still available for sale in the church office during work hours. The cost for each cookbook is $17. Roof Fund Envelopes The school roof repairs have been completed. The Board of Stewardship has placed ROOF FUND envelopes in the pews and at each church entrance. To date $30,953.10 plus $2,000 from cookbook sales has been collected for the school roof fund (final cost $56,800). Prayerfully consider giving a special gift or gifts toward this Fund by using the envelopes. Special Blessing Gift Offerings A letter was sent out in June along with a special envelope (Special Blessing Gift) to help meet the expenses of our summer expense obligations. Many of you have already made donations and we would like to thank you for your generous giving. To date we had received $5,095 from these envelopes. If you have not made use of this envelope yet, please prayerfully consider doing so and helping the church to pay off our debt. Page -3- Page -4-
Our Stewardship of Time, Talents and Treasures August 16-17 Organist: Janet Wicker/Kim Preuss Altar Guild: Karen Rheinecker, Carol Hamilton Acolytes: (6pm) Chloe Gordon; (9am) Luke Bartens Greeters: (6pm) Wayne & Myrna Eldridge (9am) Scot & Sheila Alms Elders: (6pm) Mark Prange (9am) Jim Zobel, John Reith August 23-24 Organist: Carl Handel Altar Guild: Carol Hamilton, Loretta Luedemann Acolytes: (6pm) Sydney Castens; (9am) Jared Phillips Greeters: (6pm) Leonard & Arlene Lampe (9am) Rose Bartens Elders: (6pm) Dale Diercks, Steve Smith (9am) Bruce Uchtman Year End Financial Report Year-to-date Income and Expenses (August 2013 July 2014) Congregational Offerings....................... $ 474,927.17 School Deposits............................ 201,546.04 Total Deposits......................... $ 676,473.21 Church & Office Expenses..................... $ 168,518.13 School Expenses............................ 575,679.29 Parish Property Expenses....................... 42,101.51 Total Expenses........................ $ 786,298.93 Deposits minus Expenses...................... $ -109,825.72 **June Total Deposits were $38,193.42 & June Total Expenses were $64,620.19. July Total Deposits were $36,907.85 & July Total Expenses were $67,333.86. Worship Attendance: 8/9-10 Sat - 96 Sun - 105 Weekly Total - 201 Communed - 63 Christian Education Attendance: Sun. 15 Wed. 78 Checking Balance August 1, 2014-15,772.19 Deposits August 8-14 Month to Date Congregational Offerings $ 8,515.00 $ 16,857.71 School Deposits 26,115.94 26,115.94 Total Deposits $ 34,630.94 $ 42,973.65 Expenses Church & Office $ 5,979.75 $ 5,979.75 School 16,306.11 16,306.11 Parish Property 2,981.12 2,981.12 Total Expenses $ 18,201.67 $ 18,201.67 Checking Balance August 14, 2014 $5,083.26 Loan First National Bank........................................ $41,400.00 ***Summer Total Deposits $75,101.27 & Summer Total Expenses 131,954.05 Summer Shortage $ -56,852.78 Dear members of St. Mark's, Thank you to all who were able to attend the lunch on July 27 th, those who planned it, and those who made the delicious food! I greatly appreciate all the support you showed for me, and also for Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne. I ask for your prayers as I continue my preparation for the Office of the Holy Ministry. Pax Christi, Stefan Gramenz Unwanted Junk Becomes Cash Income for the Church Recycle your metals for St. Mark s general fund to help pay all the bills at the church and school. We can recycle any metal item, such as: Cans, Buckets, Air Conditioners, Electric Appliances (no glass tubes), Pots, pans, Motors, etc. Call for info or pickup (Mike Vallett 618-317-1058 or Jim Pierce 618-615-0650). Page -5- Page -6-
St. Mark s Lutheran School News Opening Chapel Pastor Janneke will be leading our opening chapel service for the 2014-2015 school year at 8:25 a.m. on Monday, August 18 th. Our offering will be designated for the Grant-In-Aid fund. Everyone is invited to attend. First Day of School! The first day of school for K-8 will be this Monday, August 18 with no regular bus service available. There will be no regular bus service on Tuesday, August 19 as well but latchkey and transit will be available. New Faculty Members St. Mark's is ready to start the new school year with an eager faculty and staff. We are excited to welcome two new teachers to our St. Mark's family. Teaching Kindergarten will be Mr. Ryan Weber. Mr. Weber lives in Marissa and is anxious to meet his new students. Our new 6 th grade teacher is Mrs. Nealy Hicks from Sparta. Mrs. Hicks is married and has two elementary aged children. Pastor Janneke Pastor Bedard Preschool 3 & 4 Director Mrs. Carolyn Gramenz Kindergarten Mr. Ryan Weber 1 st Grade Mrs. Karen Gramenz 2 nd Grade Mrs. Deanna Bowlin 3 rd Grade Mrs. Susan Schwarz 4 th Grade & Administrator Mr. Larry Luedders 5 th Grade Ms. Theresa Klein 2014-2015 Faculty and Staff 6 th Grade Mrs. Nealy Hicks 7 th Grade Mrs. Carol Zobel 8 th Grade Mr. James Zobel Administrative Assistant Mrs. Sandra Fortner Preschool Aids Mrs. Jennifer Diercks Mrs. Kathy Troue Hot Lunch Cooks Mrs. Alicea Orella Mrs. Amie Bockhorn Latchkey/Custodian Ms. Robin Knop St. Mark's Baseball St. Mark's Panther baseball players have been busy fine tuning their skills in preparation for their first game on Tuesday, August 19 at Coulterville. The students representing St. Mark's this year are Logan Hinnerichs, A.J. Stearns, Luke Bartens, Logan Fulkerson, Bastian Kraus, Jared Phillips, Dalton Hornberger, Tarik Ogilvie, Austin Park, Eli Coop and Aaron Kothe. Coaching the Panthers are Jim Zobel, Matt Kraus and Marvin Bartens. Come and show your support for your St. Mark's Panthers! St. Mark's Softball Not to be outdone, the Lady Panthers softball team has been busy with practice as well. They will also have their first game on Tuesday, August 19 at Coulterville. The Lady Panthers consist of Chloe Gordon, Karley Kothe, Kelsey Cowan, Sierra Dufrenne-Klein, Elisha Easton, Destiny Beckly, Morgan Coop, Adrienne Vallett, Ryleigh Richelman, Kadence Bockhorn and Jaden Hinnerichs. Coaching the girls are Christy Wasson, Casey Vallett and Chris Bockhorn. Come and watch your Lady Panther's! St. Mark's Sports Tues., Aug. 19 SB/BB @ Coulterville Away 4:15 pm St. John s (Red Bud) Senior Youth Group announces Spaghetti Dinner (All-you-can-eat spaghetti, salad, breadsticks & dessert) and Jesus Painter (Mike Lewis, check out his website www.jesuspainter.com or youtube videos) at St. John s Lutheran School, Red Bud on Sunday, August 24 th. Dinner will be served 5-6:30 p.m. and the performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices are: Dinner and Performance $15; Performance only $7 and Kids 5 and under are free. Two paintings will be auctioned off at the end of the evening. Contact the church office (282-3873) or call Susie (201-5654) for tickets and info. Advance tickets are recommended. Page -7- Page -8-
Peace Meal from Peacemaker Ministries "But peacemaking just won't work in this situation!" Unfortunately, many believers and their churches have not yet developed the commitment and ability to respond to conflict in a gospel-centered and biblically faithful manner. This is often because they have succumbed to the relentless pressure our secular culture exerts on us to forsake the timeless truths of Scripture and adopt the relativism of our postmodern age. Although many Christians and their churches believe they have held on to God's Word as their standard for life, their responses to conflict, among other things, show that they have in fact surrendered much ground to the world. Instead of resolving differences in a distinctively biblical fashion, they often react to conflict with the same avoidance, manipulation, and control that characterize the world. In effect, both individually and congregationally, they have given in to the world's postmodern standard, which is "What feels good, sounds true, and seems beneficial to me?" Taken from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2003) p. 15-16. Food for Thought Biblical peacemaking should never be understood as a better way for you to win arguments where you're "right". It shouldn't even be understood as a more likely way to get to the truth. One or both of those things may happen, but neither gets to the heart of why we engage in biblical peacemaking. Biblical peacemaking is at its core a recognition that even in the midst of an argument where we have a lot to lose and where our opponent may be entrenched in sin, the most important thing we can do is to bring glory to God through our conduct. It is an act of faith that out of this peacemaking witness, God can do things far beyond upholding the truth or vindicating us, though he will also do both these things eventually. The "thing far beyond" that peacemaking makes possible is redemption--especially of those trapped in sin. Next time you find yourself tempted to say, "But peacemaking won't work in this situation or with this person," remember that what God and you are attempting to "work" may be two entirely different things. Page -9- Christ Our Savior Lutheran High School Opening Worship: COS will have a worship service to open its school year today at 2 pm at St. Peter's in Evansville. New teacher, Jessica Koch will be commissioned and installed as part of the service. Join us as we start the year in proper context by giving glory to God. An ice cream social will follow at St. John's in Ruma. Save the Date: The 2014 Fall Benefit Dinner for Christ Our Savior will be hosted on Friday, October 24, 2014 featuring SID-LCMS President, Rev. Timothy Scharr. Invitations will be distributed in church services next Sunday. T-Shirt Design Opportunity: Christ Our Savior's school year theme for 2014-2015 is "Shielded in God's Word" (Proverbs 30:5). We would like to invite your submissions for our t-shirt design to celebrate this theme. You can do so on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or by submitting them to the school office. Take advantage of this special opportunity to share your vision of what it means to be "Shielded in God's Word." The chosen design will get their own COS t-shirt. Please submit designs by Wed., Aug. 20. Preparing for Worship The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecos Proper 16 (Aug. 24, 2014) Isaiah 51:1 6, Romans 11:33 12:8; Matthew 16:13 20 The Lord Jesus Christ Is the Son of the Living God Jesus asked His disciples: But who do you say that I am? (Matt. 16:15). The question is also put to us: Who do you say that He is? Flesh and blood do not reveal this to us, but by the ministry of the Gospel the Father in heaven reveals His Son to us on earth, who has become flesh and suffered death for our salvation. Thus we believe and confess that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt 16:16). As He died for our transgressions and was raised for our justification, He looses us from all our sins and preserves our life within His Church, against which even the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matt. 16:18 19). His salvation is forever, and His righteousness will never be dismayed (Is. 51:6). He comforts us with the Gospel in His Church, so that joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song (Is. 51:3). Therefore, according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Rom. 12:3), we also offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1) through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Page -10-
Sat., August 16 Sun., August 17 Mon., August 18 Tues., August 19 Weekly Calendar Food Pantry Donations.... 6:00 PM Worship Service Food Pantry Donations.... 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship w/communion... 10:15 AM Bible Class 1 st Day of School St. Mark s Lutheran School.... 8:25 AM Opening Chapel Wed., August 20... 10:00 AM Bible Class.... 2:00 PM Randolph County Care Center.... 4:00 PM Confirmation Class Thurs., August 21 Fri., August 22 Sat., August 23.... 6:00 PM Worship with Communion Sun., August 24.... 9:00 AM Worship Service... 10:15 AM Bible Class Pictures Available Our first shipment of Lifetouch complimentary 8x10s has arrived. If your name is listed below please pick up your picture in the narthex this weekend or stop by the church office next week. Betty Braun Marcus Delre Norma Ernsting Mary Galbraith Christopher Griffin Shelby Hammond Nancy Higley Claude Husband Bruce Mathis Chris Mathis Mark Prange Brenda Ruroede Clarence Ruroede Jason Vallett Chip Wasson James Word Thank you to everyone who took the time to come and have your picture taken. I hope you all enjoy your beautiful portraits. St. Mark's Lutheran Church St. Mark s Lutheran School 105 North Garfield Street 504 North James Street Steeleville, Illinois 62288-1345 Steeleville, IL 62288-1433 Church Office: 618-965-3192 School Office: 618-965-3838 Fax: 618-965-2232 Fax: 618-965-3060 stmarks.steeleville@gmail.com stmarkssm@egyptian.net www.stmarksteeleville.com Dr. Alan Wendel Janneke, Senior Pastor School Contacts Cell: 618-317-4416 pr.owl.j@gmail.com Rev. Kelly Bedard Pastoral Assistant Cell: (985) 791-4447 Sandra Fortner, School Secretary bedard.kelly@gmail.com Cell: 618-615-7466 Misty Smith, Church Secretary Cell 618-317-6319 The Mission Statement of St. Mark's Lutheran Church Our mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, education, outreach, fellowship and service. Worship Schedule Saturday evening 6:00 p.m.; Sunday morning 9:00 a.m.; Next Handicap Accessible Service August 14 th, 10:00 a.m. Next Contemporary Service August 17 th, 9:00 a.m. Blended Contemporary/Traditional Service August 10 th, 9:00 a.m. Holy Communion is celebrated every weekend, the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at the 9:00 a.m. service and at the 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening service before the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Because those who eat and drink our Lord's body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor or an elder. Page -11- Page -12-