A Newsletter concerning the MISSION
& MINISTRY of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church
_______________________________________________________________
VOLUME XLVIII LA PORTE,
INDIANA / July-August, 2000 No. 6-7
SUMMERTIME
Summer is here! Schools are out.
Children are becoming bored already. People are thinking about
vacations. But even in summer, the work of the church goes on.
Along with the obvious weekend services, there are also Bible
studies on Sundays and Wednesdays, Youth activities, Vacation
Bible School, Church Picnic on Aug. 5, Baptisms, the Celebration
of the Lord's Supper, weddings, funerals, and the usual calling
on shut-ins and hospital patients. Before you know it, the
teachers will be gathering for plans for the new school year!
It is important that we, as congregational members, also
remember that worship does not stop because it is summer. We may
vacation but God doesn't. He still wants His people to come to
His House, wherever they are, to worship and praise Him and
receive His Holy Supper for spiritual strength. We also have
obligations, like salaries and operating expenses, that must be
met during the summer months just like the other times of the
year!
May God bless your summer and may you be a blessing to Him
this summer as well!
A BIG "THANK YOU"
"Thank you to all who came to the reception for
Annelie and me for my 20th
anniversary as your pastor. Thank you, also, for all the
beautiful cards and messages of gratitude and encouragement, as
well as the gifts of love! It really doesn't seem that 20 years
have gone by. We pray that in the years to come, we may continue
to work together for the greater blessing of God's Kingdom and in
His abundant love. Thank you, again!"
Pastor & Annelie
NEWS FROM DUNELAND LUTHERAN
HIGH SCHOOL
The Duneland Lutheran High School will be offering a strong
college preparatory curriculum for the 2000-01 school year which
will commence on Aug. 24. A fabulous All-Star Teaching Staff has
been assembled from highly experienced teachers who have
distinguished records in education in the public, parochial high
school, and university arenas of education!
French instruction will be given by a teacher who has majored
in French and is licensed in the State of Indiana. She is the
recipient of the Presidential Academic Award and has been
accepted into the Academic Hall of Fame. She taught French in Jr.
High School through High School and has lived/studied in Europe.
Introduction to Computers and Computer Applications will be
taught by Allan Harvey Computer Advisors of Michigan City, IN.
This company has a broad background and experience in all facets
of computer instruction and equipment. This will be cutting edge
instruction.
Religion is a required part of our curriculum and will be
taught by Dr. David Albertin. The first semester will be
instruction in Literature of the Old Testament and the second
semester will follow the study of Literature of the New Testament.
Dr. Albertin has traveled extensively to the Holy Land.
Fine Arts instruction is also a requirement of Duneland
Lutheran High School and will be taught by teachers with years of
experience in Art and Music. The Great Masters and The Great
Composers, their works, their times and cultures will be explored.
The students will learn sketching, composition, and be exposed to
the various art mediums. Instrumental Music and Choral Music will
be taught and ensembles will be formed.
Physical Education will be offered in a most creative format
with units in Sailing and Navigation, Golf, Bicycle Touring,
Hiking, and Bowling. Team sports and fitness activities will be
held at the Michigan City YMCA.
If you are interested in more information or would like to
make a donation to the Duneland Lutheran High School, please
contact Ruth Radke (219)879-4185.
SINCERE THANKS!
"I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation
to the members of the congregation for their good wishes and
generous gifts acknowledging my retirement. Pastor Mroch's sermon
in the morning service and the reception in the afternoon made
that day one to be remembered! Thank you!!"
Orv Ulmer
YOU ARE INVITED TO A
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!
The Family of Charlotte Dinwiddie invites you to an "Open
House" on Sunday, July 23, from 2-4:00 p.m. in the school
Cafeteria to celebrate her 80th birthday! Only the
gift of your presence is requested.
Please come and share in this joy-filled occasion. Charlotte
is looking forward to visiting with all of her friends at St.
John's! If you would like to send her a Birthday greeting, her
address is:1708 Fisher Drive, Oxnard, CA 93035
VOTERS' MEETING
The next Voters' Meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2, in
the school Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. All members, 18 years of age or
older, are eligible to become voting members. All you need to do
is read the church Constitution and request voting membership at
the meeting. We invite all members to take an active interest in
the workings of the church.
THANKS!
"We thank the many individuals and organizations in
our St. John's family whom God used to help support our Mission
Trips this summer. God generously has supplied all the funds
needed! We continue to ask for your prayers for the work God has
before us!
Through "Teen Mania Ministries" Amanda will be
sharing the Gospel in New Zealand, using drama and personal
outreach during the month of July. Brett will be backpacking with
his team to a remote village in Nepal, to live and work beside
the villagers while planting a Christian church in the months of
June and July."
In His Love,
Amanda Johnson & Brett Schuelke
WHAT'S NEW AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
It's the good 'ole summer-time....How's your garden growing? (Your
spiritual garden, that is!) We hope it's flourishing with jumbo
size FAITH, tender MERCIES, sweet CHARITY, and abundant
RIGHTEOUSNESS! Sometimes churches do not feel it is necessary or
worthwhile to provide a summer Sunday School Program. Sometimes
people do not feel like attending church/Sunday School during the
vacation months.
We think that summer is a most excellent time to "harvest"
good things from our spiritual garden! What a wonderful
opportunity for us to discover some powerful new Bible truths or
refresh ones we've forgotten. Don't let the weeds of apathy,
doubt, or discouragement take over your garden. Come to church
and Sunday School each week to get refreshing water, needed
nutrients, and weed removal. You'll really GROW!!
Our "Journey with Joshua" program got off to a great
start on June 11. We learned Bible truths about Joshua and the
importance of following good advice and gaining wisdom. The
children in Gr. 1-7 (fall of 2000) rotated between three
different centers each week entitled, "DISCOVER," where
they did activities to discover the main point of the lesson.
They also went to the "STUDY" area where they explored/acted
out the Bible story.
The last center was "APPLY," where the students
learned to apply what they learned to every day life. We also
learned new songs with sign language motions. Thanks to Mrs.
Wallin for her expertise in executing the correct motions! Some
of the songs were Bible verses set to music, which allowed us to
memorize God's precious Word at the same time!
"Journey with Joshua" will wrap up on Sept. 3. It's
not too late to join in the fun. Come and bring a friend! Our
Nursery/Preschool classes are meeting together, this summer,
learning all about Moses. These exciting stories are taught with
a "hands on" approach that keeps the children coming
back each week.
Going to the great La Porte County Fair? Don't forget to stop
by and say, "Hi," when you visit Commercial Building #2.
We will be there at the Lutheran Laymen's League Booth. Our Fish
Pond will be "fully stocked" with "fishers of men"
on staff to "hook" a visitor and let them "land"
a Christian witness message by way of a small toy. If you can
help, by watching the pond for two hours (2-4:00 p.m. or 6-8:00 p.m.),
please call Melody Povlock (325-3049).
Special thanks to Mrs. Felicia Menear and Mrs. Dana Alexander
for organizing our recent Bake Sale, during the church annual
Parking Lot Sale, on June 17. Thanks, also, to those who kindly
donated baked goods! God bless you.
Those faithful students who came each week during May and
received attendance awards were: Rachel Alexander, Caleb Bublitz,
Brooke Baima, Rachel Brown, Lindsey Hull, Jenna Marie Kalsow,
Alexander Kelsey, Abbey Lloyd, Taylor Baima, Emily Barnhart, Ryan
Searing, Kayla Macher, Brittany Ryan, Sam Bublitz, Matthew
Hewitt, Victoria Kelsey, Pauly Lloyd, Sky Shortt, Kathryn
Scherer, Heather Macher, Bryan McDonald, Jacob Barnhart, Larry
Keller, Andrew Scherer, Brittany Scherer, Aubrey Barnhart,
Kimberly Snyder. Congratulations, children!
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Attention: Due to a problem with the church computer program,
the contribution envelope labels for the 6-month report may
not show Mr. & Mrs. on the label. We hope to be able to
correct this problem very soon. Thank you for your patience and
understanding!
The L.W.M.L. meeting, in July, has been canceled. Our next
meeting will be on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 2:00 p.m. in the
school Ladies' Lounge. All ladies are welcome to join us!
Please Note: On Thursday, Aug. 17, there will
be school registration and Parent Information Meetings at 1:00 p.m.
or 6:30 p.m. in the school building. We hope all parents will be
able to attend at one of these times!
REPORT OF FINANCE SECRETARY FOR MAY
1999 Attendance - 2,373
2000 Attendance - 1,840
1999 General Fund receipts - $55,414.72
2000 General Fund receipts - $37,714.48
1999 Mission Fund receipts - $ 1,051.00
2000 Mission Fund receipts - $ 302.00
Church Budget Year to Date for 2000:
General Fund (short)...($123,387.45)
Mission Fund (short)...($ 3,113.64)
JULY/AUGUST AT ST. JOHN'S
July 1-2 - "A Walk Through the Garden"(Gen.
3:9-15) Special Music: Solo-Renny Rutz
July 8-9(Prayer & Praise Services) - "Life's a
Tent" (II Cor. 5:1-10)
July 15-16 - "Reconciled to Become Righteous" (II
Cor. 5:14-21) Special Music: Handbell Solo-Mary Felts
July 22-23 - "The Grace of Giving" (II Cor.
8:1-9,13-14) Special Music: Solo-Jeanette Darby
July 29-30 - "His Grace-Our Sufficiency" (II
Cor. 12:7-10) Special Music: Duet-Renny Rutz, Mary Felts
Aug. 5-6 - "The Call to Discipleship" (Mark
6:7-13) Special Music: Solo-Bill Trowbridge
Aug. 12-13 - "Shepherding-A Cautious Calling" (Jer.
23:1-6) Special Music: Flute Solo-Mary Felts
Aug. 19-20 - "God's Gifts" (Eph. 4:1-7,11-16)
Special Music: Solo-Jeanette Darby
Aug. 20(Shut-in Service) - "Real Food" (John
6:1-15)
Aug. 26-27 - "The Bread of Life" (John 6:24-35)
FROM THE CONGREGATION COORDINATOR FOR JULY/
AUGUST 2000:
If you would like more information on these topics, or others,
please contact the person listed, or contact me, at (219) 362-3726,
or e-mail me at stjohnsarc@csinet.net. More
information on many of these activities is also available through
our St. John's Web Site, at www.STJOHNS-LPIN.org.
Thank you! - Debra Trowbridge
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is still signing up helpers and
supplies for this summer's VBS program. The theme is "HolyWord
Studios" and the date is set for Monday, July 31
to Friday, August 4.
Vacation Bible School is offered free to all children (members
or non-members) as a ministry of St. John's. A registration
form is enclosed with this newsletter.
VBS is also looking for people who want to sponsor the cost
of a child to attend. Any donations are welcome.
For more information contact VBS Director, Christel
Bublitz, at 325-0831 or link to her e-mail on St. John's web
site under "Volunteer Ministries-VBS".
Board of Parish Fellowship
The Board of Parish Fellowship is looking for greeters for
all services. You choose which weeks and which services you
prefer. Contact Dorothy Diedrich at 326-6416, or contact
Sherrill Lee at 654-7313, or e-mail at poohandmom@aol.com.
Also, Saturday, August 5, is the "Old
Fashion Family Reunion" Picnic in the park. All
St. John's members & friends are invited to attend! It
will begin at 11am with meal served at Noon. The location
will be Kesling Park Shelter #4. (The largest shelter near Fort
LaPlay Porte.) Bring a large dish to share, your own soft
drinks and lawn chairs. Hot dogs, fun and fellowship will be
provided!
The Board of Parish Fellowship would like to know if your
organization has any ideas for activities or children's games.
They need donations of plastic table covers, table service,
cups & napkins, & trivia facts about members. If you
can help, contact Linda Woodruff at 362-5770, or lindy@netnitco.net.
Sr. High Youth Bible Class
We are looking for St. John's Shut-ins who might be
interested in learning how to use a computer and the Internet. The
Internet now allows persons, who are confined to their home,
the opportunity to communicate on a regular basis with people
all around the world. Shut-ins could also communicate
with others using "e-mail".
The Senior High Youth Bible Study Class is interested
in taking on the project of finding used computers and getting
them to shut-ins for FREE. They would also help teach the
shut-ins how to use them to find information and communicate.
If you know of a shut-in person who might like to give this a
try, or if you have a computer to donate, contact Bible
Class Teacher Mark Bublitz at 325-0831.
Junior High Youth
The following events are available for any Junior High age
youth for the summer months:
- Sun, July 2 - 5-8pm - 4th of
July Party at Stone Lake Beach with Senior High Youth. Bring
a snack!
- Tues, July 25 - 9:30am-4:30pm - Splash Down Dunes Water
Park event with Senior High Youth. Meet at church at 9:30am.
Cost is $10. Parents are welcome as chaperones! You may bring
food & drinks in a cooler - no glass allowed.
- Sun, July 30 - 6-8pm - Youth T.N.T. Worship Service in
the Chapel
- Tues, Aug 8 - Time TBA - Great America Trip with the
Senior High Youth. Parents are welcome as chaperones! Cost is
$27. You must be signed up and money paid by August 1st!
- Sun, Aug 13 - Noon to 6pm - Goodbye to Seniors Pool Party
with Senior High Youth at Schuelkes'. Bring a snack.
- Sun, Aug 27 - 6-8pm - Youth T.N.T. Worship Service in the
Chapel
If you are interested in helping the Junior High Program,
contact Junior High Youth Leader Scott Childress at 362-7170.
Senior High Youth
Senior High Youth Events for the Summer are as follows:
- Sun, July 2 - 5-8pm - 4th of
July Party at Stone Lake Beach! Bring a snack.
- Sun, July 9 - 6-8pm - Video Panic at church.
- Sun, July 16 - Noon to 2pm - Help at St. John's New
Member Dinner. Bike ride afterward. Bring a bike and money
for Dairy Queen!
- Sun, July 23 - Noon to 5pm - Car Wash & Cookout at
the church. Also, hand out VBS flyers in neighborhood.
- Tues, July 25 - 9:30am-4:30pm - Splash Down Dunes Water
Park event with Senior High Youth. Meet at church at 9:30am.
Cost is $10. You may bring food & drinks in a cooler - no
glass allowed.
- Sun, July 30 - 6-8pm - Youth T.N.T. Worship Service in
the Chapel
- Sun, Aug 6 - 6-8pm - Volleyball at Stone Lake Beach.
- Tues, Aug 8 - Time TBA - Great America Trip with the
Senior High Youth. Parents are welcome as chaperones! Cost is
$27. You must be signed up and money paid by August 1st!
- Sun, Aug 13 - Noon to 6pm - Goodbye to Seniors Pool Party
with Senior High Youth at Schuelkes'. Bring a snack.
- Sat, Aug 19 - World Pulse Festival in South Bend -
Noon to 6pm (Free concert with Michael W. Smith, Stephen
Curtis Chapman & Third Day). Meet at Noon at the church for a
ride. No cost but must sign up by August 13th!
- Sun, Aug 20 - No Youth Group
- Sun, Aug 27 - 6-8pm - Youth T.N.T. Worship Service in the
Chapel
If you would like more info on the Senior High Youth
Activities, call Cheri Schuelke at 325-8247, Laura
Roule at 362-7452 or Al Vollmer at 778-4077 or 778-4393.
St. John's School Alumni
Many thanks to the people who have been helping with the
gathering of information on St. John's Day School Alumni. Going
back 75 years gathering alumni names is quite a project! If
you would like to help with this project, or if you know the
address and phone number for someone who went to school here,
please let me know.
I would also like to have a primary contact person or two
from each year who might be interested in helping put
together reunions on a periodic basis. If you are interested
in helping with this massive project, please let me know at
stjohnsarc@csinet.net!
St. John's Walther League Chorus
Chorus rehearsals will begin again at the end of August! We
look forward to seeing a lot of new members who promised us they
would join in the fall! We need your voice to praise the Lord
at our Worship Services and at the Christmas Concert at the Civic!
If you feel the Lord's call to use your talents, and
join this fun and worshipful ministry, call Walther League
Chorus Director, Bill Burger, at 362-5292, or contact any
chorus member.
Volunteers are still needed:
To help the Newspaper Stuffers on Monday mornings,
contact Lola Tarnow at 369-9449.
To help the Thrift Shop as occasional or regular staff,
contact Mary Jo Uebele at 362-2538.
To help the Altar Guild, contact Judy Schreiber at 362-6390.
To help usher on weekends, contact David Homann at 362-3592,
or Al Schmitz at 362-1416.
To help Willing Servants with funeral meals, contact
Clara Haack at 324-9148.
Board of Missions & Evangelism
You are invited to attend the New Member Dinner on Sunday,
July 16 from Noon to 2pm. All persons who have joined the
church in the last year will be honored. If you would like
more information or would like to help, contact any Board member.
Also, St. John's Magnetic Name Badges are
still available for only $6.00! They are very attractive and
gentle on clothing. Please talk to Name Badge Chairman,
Sherrill Lee, or leave your name & payment at the Church
Office.
(End of St. John's E-Newsletter
Vol 1, No 2.)
(For information on attachments to paper Newsletter, or for any
comments or questions regarding this service, contact St.
John's Web Editor.)
