A Newsletter concerning the MISSION & MINISTRY
of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church
________________________________________________________________
VOLUME XLVIII LA PORTE, INDIANA / November, 2000 No.
10
IT'S ALMOST HERE!
It's almost here! That is a phrase that brings excitement and
anticipation in people. It can refer to something that's been
ordered which is awaited vigilantly. Or perhaps to a visitor
whose coming is anticipated with joy. Or this time of year, it
may refer to the holiday season which begins this month with
Thanksgiving and culminates with Christmas and New Year. Yes,
it's almost here!
But this time of year also marks the end of another church
year. The theme during this end time season is one of preparation.
For as Christians, we know that what is important is not what is
coming but who is coming. During November the Gospel lessons
retell the signs and warnings concerning the coming of Jesus in
judgment and glory. The church is to be in an expectant mood. It
is to have its lamps burning and the preparations made, for we do
not know the day or hour of Christ's return. We are also reminded
of how brief our lives really are and how soon we are called home
to Glory. Yes, Jesus is almost here!
And then the Advent Season begins with its emphasis on
preparation not only for Christmas but also continuing with the
message that Jesus will return. Somehow it becomes old hat.
Somehow it loses its impact. Perhaps we have heard it too often.
Perhaps we have not experienced great loss or great sorrow. Maybe
things have been too good and we have been found sleeping when we
should have been awake and watching. Remember, Jesus is almost
here! May we be found ready and prepared when He comes!
NEW BIBLE CLASS
On Thursday, Oct. 19, a new Bible Class began by choosing a
topic for discussion. (At this writing, it had not yet been
chosen.) Each Thursday evening you will have another opportunity
to study the Word. This study will be led by Pastor Schoop and
will be in addition to the Sunday Bible Class and the Wednesday
Prayer Service. This is an excellent time for those of you who
cannot come between Sunday services or early on Wednesday. We
look forward to seeing you! The study topic will be announced in
the church bulletin.
VOTERS' MEETING
The last quarterly Voters' Meeting of 2000 will be held on
Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 7:00 p.m . in the school Cafeteria. In
addition to the 2001 Budget proposal, there will be several other
important matters to be discussed. They will be publicized
pending Church Council approval on Oct. 24. It is very important
for every voter to be present
THANKS-GIVING CELEBRATION
On Sunday, Nov. 5, from 9-10:30 a.m. in the school Gymnasium,
the Staff Care Committee is inviting everyone who is currently or
has ever volunteered for anything at St. John's to come and be
honored by your fellow Church Family for all your hard work and
dedication! All volunteers are asked to gather in the Gymnasium
for fellowship and refreshments. Please join us! All we ask is
that you sign in and wear a name tag.
Also, at this time we are playing "catch up" for
several people who were not recognized for their 15 and 25 years
of service to our congregation. There will be special boxes for
each of them for your greeting cards: Bill Burger-Director of
Music, Marci Burger-Church Librarian, Mary Felts-Church
Secretary, Larry Heidel-Head Teller, Linda Livinghouse-Sun.School
Teacher, Sig McMahan-Day School Aide, Melody Povlock-Sun.School
Teacher/Superintendent, Mary Ann Scholz-Organist, Karen Ulmer-Day
School Aide, Pastor Ungrodt-Pastoral Ministry, Martin Vollrath-Sun.School
Pianist/Helper. In addition, we thank each and every one of you!
Special thanks goes to all Church Officers and board members:
School, Missions and Evangelism, Parish Fellowship, Parish
Education, Stewardship, Social Ministry, Public Relations, and
Youth; all members of Committees, Altar Guild, and Sunday School
Teachers.
We give thanks for all St. John's Organizations, to list a few
not already mentioned: District Representatives, Circles, Walther
League Chorus, Finance Secretaries, Jubilant Handbell Choir,
Ladies' Aid, Lutheran Hour Ministries, AAL Branch 317, Quilters,
L.W.M.L., L.L.L., Men with a Mission, P.T.L., School Alumni,
Seniors Group, Sunday School Staff/Substitutes, Ushers, Jr. and
Sr. Youth Groups, Youth Leaders, and V.B.S. Workers.
We extend appreciation and thanks to some of our informal
volunteer groups: Banners/Sewing group, Little Saints Church
Nursery volunteers, Fellowship Coffee volunteers, Fish Fry
volunteers, Lay Readers, Building Maintenance and Groundskeeping
workers, Market Day helpers, Musical
Instrumentalists, Vocalists/Small Choral Groups, Newspaper
Stuffers, Office Worker helpers, Prayer Chain group, Shut-in/Hospital
Visitation helpers, Day School Room Mothers, Day School Coaches/Athletic
Department volunteers, Lent Supper workers, Easter Breakfast
volunteers, Day School Library volunteers, Transportation
volunteers, Thrift Shop workers, Women's Exercise Group, Women's
Bible Study groups, Willing Servants, Contribution Record
posters, Cradle Role, Communion Assistants, Greeters, Acolytes,
Attendance Tally Sheet posters, and Sound/Recording Technicians.
It is our prayer that no one has been left out. However, if we
have omitted you, we lovingly apologize and hope that you will
forgive our oversight. Please let us know so it will not happen
again. Make no mistake, we give God all the glory and honor for
you and your service, but we also sincerely thank each and every
one of you for giving of your time and talents to the Lord and
our church! Our Gracious God has richly blessed St. John's
congregation with so many willing, dedicated workers!!
In His Love,
The Staff Care Committee
WHAT'S NEW AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
What are you thankful for? There are so many blessings that
each of us have! There are, of course, the obvious things...our
salvation through Jesus Christ, our families and friends, our
health, our home, material blessings, etc. How about the freedom
to worship our Lord in the church of our choice? How about the
vast variety of Christian books and materials made available for
us to study and discuss? How about the opportunity to attend
Sunday School and
Bible Class? Sometimes we do not fully appreciate these
blessings until after they are gone! Let us all take the time to
thank our Gracious Father for EVERY good and perfect gift that He
has given!
This month during our opening, we are focusing on what we are
grateful for and talking about our forefathers and their great
faith in establishing this country on God's principles. We are
truly thankful for each and every child, each and every family
that has become a part of our Sunday School Family!
We are happy to provide a Halloween alternative on Oct. 29. A
"Reformation Party" will be enjoyed by children in
Nursery-Gr. 6. While parents attend a video with discussion, the
children will watch a video and participate in various activities.
Those students with perfect attendance in October are: Brooke
Baima, Rachel Brown, Lindsey Hull, Alexander Kelsey, Emily
Barnhart, Brittney Ryan, Aaron Vaughn, Victoria Kelsey, Sky
Shortt, Andrew Schuelke, Kathryn Scherer, Scott Vaughn, Frank
Wallin, Nathan Alexander, Shannon Brandburn, Larry Keller, Andrew
Scherer, Noelle Wallin, Brittney Scherer, Andrew Vaughn, Aubrey
Barnhart, Samantha Moncada. These children received a Christian
witness key chain. Congratulations!
Our annual "Christmas Program" will be held in the
school Gymnasium on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3:30 p.m. We are very
happy to continue to provide the opportunity for our shut-in
friends and our families to participate in this special service
honoring our Savior. Practice times are:
Saturday, Nov. 18 10-11:00 a.m. in church basement
Saturday, Nov. 25 NO PRACTICE
Saturday, Dec. 2 10-11:00 a.m. in Gym
Saturday, Dec. 9 10-12:00 p.m. in Gym
(This is the last practice and our "Pizza Party"
will be held, too.)
Sunday, Dec. 10 Please bring your child to the Gym by 3:15.
Program begins at 3:30 p.m.
NOTE: Donations of cookies are most welcome for our party.
There is no cost for the "Pizza Party."
PARENTS: It is very important that your children attend these
practices! Things run more smoothly when children are prepared to
speak/sing their parts. THANK YOU!
Thanks to Mrs. Dana Alexander for the recent donation of a
copy machine. It is greatly needed and appreciated!
LOYALTY WEEKEND
Loyalty Weekend will be held on Nov. 18-19, 2000. This is the
time for each of us to recommit ourselves to the Lord and to the
work He has entrusted us to do. It is also a time for us to make
a commitment of how we plan to be good stewards for Him in the
coming year.
Since the Lord is so good to us and provides us with all that
we need, it is not too much for Him to ask us for a response
to His blessings. Remember to the one to whom much is
given from that one much will be required.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING!
Yes, Christmas is coming! When we hear the songs of Christmas
wafting from our school Music Room, it reminds us that the
Walther League
Chorus' annual "Christmas Concert" is fast
approaching and Christmas is not far behind. This year's concert
is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 3, at 4:00 p.m. in the La Porte
Civic Auditorium. An exciting variety of new and traditional
Christmas melodies will be performed by the Walther League Chorus/Jubilant
Handbell Choir and the School Chorus/Choir Chimes. With all the
conflict and chaos in our world, this concert is the perfect
opportunity for you to come away for a while and receive the
message of Christmas Peace-Christ has come for all!!
All ages are invited to attend. Tickets remain at the same low
price: $4-Adults, $3-Sr. Citizens age 65 or older, $2-Children
through high school age. (Price increases $1 at the door.)
Tickets will soon be available from chorus members, at the Church
Office, and at several places of business in La Porte.
Draw some musical notes on your calendar for Dec. 3 and mark
it for 4:00 p.m. This is one holiday concert you won't want to
miss!!
SCHOOL NEWS
Donuts for Dads
The P.T.L. will sponsor "Donuts for Dads" on
Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 7-7:55 a.m. in the school Cafeteria.
Dads, grandfathers, special friends, or a relative of students
are invited to share a fellowship breakfast of donuts, fruit,
milk, juice, and coffee.
Campbell's Labels
St. John's School continues to participate in the Campbell's
Labels for Education Program, General Mill Box Tops for
Education, and Tyson Project A+. These programs are an easy way
to earn educational materials and funds for our school. Just save
the labels or the part of the box designated for Box Tops for
Education or Tyson A+ Project. Place assorted labels in the large
Campbell can in the school hallway or turn them in at the School
Office.
Washington, D.C. Trip
On Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m. in the school Cafeteria a
representative from Travel Services, Inc. will meet with students
in Gr. 7-8 and their parents to discuss the upcoming Washington,
D.C. trip in May.
Chapel Offerings
Chapel Offerings for the 2nd Quarter are designated
for Doug Larson Ministries, Inc. This is a music ministry that
shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encourages God's people to
share that Good News in their daily lives. It is a non-profit,
charitable organization based in Truman, MN and governed by a
Board of Directors. Mr. Larson will be performing for St. John's
students on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the school Gymnasium at 10:00 a.m.
The congregation is invited to join us!
Fountainview Nursing Home Visit
The 2nd-3rd Grade students will be "Reaching In-Reaching
Out" on Monday, Nov. 20, to the residents at Fountainview
Nursing Home in La Porte. Students will perform a 30-minute
Thanksgiving Program for the residents.
Harvest Fest '00
The La Porte County Soil and Water Conservation District will
sponsor "Harvest Fest '00" for our students in Kdg.-Gr.
5 on Nov. 21. This year's topic, "Wonderful Wetlands,"
will demonstrate the many values and functions of wetlands.
Education Conference
The faculty of St. John's Schoolwill attend the Indiana Non-Public
Education Conference in Indianapolis on Nov. 9-10. The conference
is entitled, "Coming Together to Celebrate Learning."
SCRIPTURE CARDS-WHAT DO WE
DO WITH THEM?
In case you are wondering what to do with the Scripture Cards
we hand out each weekend, we want to share some of the ideas that
we have comeup with or have been sharedwith us by members of our
congregation.
One of the ladies puts them in the cards she sends to friends.
Another suggestion may be to give them to a co-worker, hand one
to a waitress with her tip or to a cashier when paying your bill,
give to the grocery cashier when you pay for your groceries.
Wouldn't that brighten their day? Any place you happen to visit-one
of our members has been taking them to the Pregnancy Assistant
Center and puts them in a basket with a note to take one for
encouragement. The Thrift Shop is putting them in the bags as
people purchase from them. You never know when someone may need a
word of encouragement.
We first began handing them out to help ourselves and others
learn Scripture. We hope everyone will continue with this, but
what a nice witnessing tool! We hope you will join us in using
these little Scripture Cards as another way of reaching out to
our community in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In His Love,
The Board of Missions & Evangelism
WHAT IS LUTHERAN HOUR
MINISTRIES?
Lutheran Hour Ministries consists of several programs that
reach out to hurting people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These programs are produced by The International Lutheran
Laymen's League (L.L.L.) with the money provided by volunteer
donations. The L.L.L. is an auxiliary organization of The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. However, it receives no financial
support from synod.
Some of the programs produced are: "The Lutheran Hour,"
"On Main Street," "Woman to Woman," "Wired
With the Word," "Bible Studies," "Living for
Tomorrow," "Seasonal Special," and "Project
Connect." For more information on any of these programs
please see Debra Trowbridge.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Lutheran Hour Ministries is offering Advent devotions
entitled, "The Seasonings of Advent and Christmas." The
series is available via email and on the Internet in an all new
interactive format. Scripture references will be linked to an
online Bible so you can look them up with just the click of a
button! Get the devotions at www.adventdevotions.net
or receive them via email each day by sending an email to mailserv@crf.cuis.edu (leave
the subject line of the email message blank, and in the body of
the message type: subscribe lhm-devotions).
PLEASE NOTE: The December-January issues of the Newsletter are
combined into one publication. Therefore, all items for the
December-January Newsletter are due in the Church Office by
Wednesday, Nov. 15.
NEWS FROM OUR BOARDS/GROUPS
Lutheran Women's Missionary League (L.W.M.L.):
a. We are planning to participate in the Fall Festival on Oct.
26.
b. We will have a Bake Sale in February, 2001.
c. We are looking for ways to bring more women into the L.W.M.L.
d. We are trying to encourage all women of the congregation to
participate in our local L.W.M.L. and its activities.
Contact Person: Karen Piper (362-8070)
Recruitment Committee
a. We have a trip planned to Concordia Univ. in River Forest,
IL on Sunday, Nov. 5. We will have a car pool leaving at 11:00 a.m.
for a tour of the campus at 1:00 p.m. It interested, call Debra
Trowbridge (office/362-3726) or Marlene Will (362-8837).
b. We would like names of youth in Gr. 5-12 who would like to
be on the mailing list of the Concordia Univ. system.
c. We are hoping to set up visitations to other colleges in
the Concordia system in the spring.
Contact Persons: Terry Page (362-5903), Marlene Will (362-8837)
REPORT OF FINANCE SECRETARY FOR
SEPTEMBER
1999 Attendance - 1,661
2000 Attendance - 1,713
1999 General Fund receipts - $43,680.56
2000 General Fund receipts - $81,611.30
1999 Mission Fund receipts - $ 277.00
2000 Mission Fund receipts - $ 237.00
Church Budget Year to Date for 2000:
General Fund (short)...($176,132.99)
Mission Fund (short)...($ 3,259.18)
NOVEMBER AT ST. JOHN'S
Nov. 4-5(All Saints' Day) "Where Is Your Name?"
(Rev. 21:9-11,22-27) Special Music: Mixed Quartet
Nov. 11-12 "Be Warned-The End!" (Mark 13:1-13)
Special Music: 7:00/8:00-Bill Trowbridge 10:45: Walther League
Chorus
Nov. 18-19(Loyalty Weekend) "The Opened Book" (Dan.
7:9-10) Special Music: 7:00/10:45-Bill Trowbridge 8:00: Walther
League Chorus/Handbells
Nov. 22-23(Thanksgiving) "Thankfulness=Appreciation"
(Luke 17:11-19) Special Music: 7:00-School Chorus 9:00-Walther
League Chorus
Nov. 25-26 "Keep Watch!" (Mark 13:32-37)
