A Newsletter concerning the MISSION & MINISTRY of
St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church
________________________________________________________________
VOLUME XLIX _______________
LA PORTE, INDIANA / April 2001 _________________________________________ No.
3
CALL ACCEPTED
The following
announcement was read by Pastor Schoop in the worship services on
Feb. 24-25, 2001:
"After much prayer and deliberation, I have come to the
conclusion that the Lord wants me to serve Him by accepting the
Call to Calvary Luth. Church in Sioux City. This has been a
difficult decision to make as I realize I will be leaving a
calling in which I have worked for 21 years and am leaving behind
many people whom I have known and learned to love.
Besides that,
a part of both Annelie and me will always be here in La Porte.
But I also know that my time here would have been at most 3½
more years, a time during which I would have to carry an even
heavier responsibility than I have now, with Pastor Ungrodt’s
leaving. I know that I would not have the spiritual or physical
stamina to carry out the necessary work in a vacancy and in
obtaining a new pastor. This would not be fair to you or to the
church.
I also
believe that some of the problems which are here could best be
solved by this congregation’s lay people working with the
District President and Circuit Counselor. I ask for your prayers
during the move and the beginning of my new calling at Calvary. I
also request from you a peaceful release in order to move to this
new ministry. May God bless St. John’s and Calvary in
this time of transition.”
A FOND FAREWELL
It is
difficult to write this farewell. After 21 years of ministry in
this congregation, I feel as though I am leaving home once again.
I really didn’t plan on having to write this until
retirement time. But now the Lord has decided that I am to serve
Him in Sioux City and when the Lord tells a pastor to
move, then he must move.
I am looking
forward to a change of pace and getting my spiritual batteries
regenerated. I leave St. John’s with many fond memories of
people and events which have shaped my life and ministry. I pray
that this congregation may continue to carry on God’s
gracious work in this community under the direction of a new
shepherd whom He will send.
I also hope
that you will remember Annelie and me in your prayers as we move
to our new calling. I thank all of you for the kind remembrances
which you gave Annelie and me at the Farewell Reception on Mar.
18. I will remember with love all of you and your care for us
during our years of service to you. We will continue to remember
you and all that you have done for us in our years in La Porte.
God bless all of you!
Pastor Schoop
FROM THE CALL
COMMITTEE
The Call
Committee met Mar. 15 with Pastor Daniel Kacer, from the Indiana
District, and Pastor Carl Fitchett, our Circuit Counselor. Pastor
Kacer explained in more detail what an Interim Pastor is and does
when hired by a congregation to work for a specified period of
time. He noted an Interim Pastor cannot be called as a permanent
pastor in a congregation.
We have,
therefore, requested a list of available interim pastors in
Indiana. Once that information is received, the committee will
meet to discuss the prospects and decide the next step to be
taken in the process of receiving an Interim Pastor for St. John’s
Church.
In the meantime,
we will have vacancy pastors or seminary students preach in our
weekend services through April. Our Wednesday Lenten Service
series will continue and Pastor Ungrodt will preach at those
services, on Maundy Thursday, and on Apr. 28-29. Pastor
Beversdorf, our Visitation Pastor, has graciously accepted our
request to officiate at the Good Friday Service, since Pastor
Ungrodt will be filling in at Trinity Luth. Church in Westville
that evening.
The Call
Committee will continue to keep the congregation informed during
this pastoral transitional period. Your prayers are requested for
God’s guidance in all that we do!
EASTER LILIES
The Altar Guild
is now accepting monetary donations toward the Easter lilies used
to decorate our chancel on Easter morning. The price is $7.75
this year. Donations may be given to Kathy Page or turned in at
the Church Office by Friday, Apr. 6. Please let us know if you
wish to take your lily after the services or would like us to
give it away.
HOLY WEEK AT ST.
JOHN’S
Holy Week begins
on Palm Sunday, Apr. 8, with the traditional Procession of Palms.
The Walther League Chorus and Jubilant Handbell Choir will
present special music. Maundy Thursday will be observed on Apr.
12 with a Communion Service at 7:00 p.m. This service will also
feature the chorus and handbells. It will include the Striping of
the Altar in preparation for Good Friday. Good Friday will be
observed Apr. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in a service featuring our Walther
League Chorus singing Dubois’ “The Seven Last Words.”
The soloists for this masterwork are: Susan Rosselli-soprano,
David Wippich-tenor, and Bill Trowbridge-baritone. There will be
no Communion in this service.
There will
be no Vigil Service or Saturday Evening Service this year!
Easter will be celebrated at the Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.
and a second Easter Service at 10:00 a.m. Both of these services
will celebrate Holy Communion. The Walther League Chorus will
participate in both services and the Jubilant Handbell Choir and
School Chorus will be featured in the Sunrise Service. You are
invited to worship at any and all of these Holy Week services!
EASTER BREAKFAST
St. John’s
Sr. High Youth Group is sponsoring their nnual Easter Breakfast
for the church and community. On Sunday, Apr. 15, we will provide
breakfast (free of charge) to anyone who wishes to join us.
Breakfast will be served immediately following the Sunrise
Service at approximately 8:00 a.m. The menu will include: fresh
fruit, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, french toast, hash
browns, coffee, orange juice and milk. We hope you will be able
to join us and celebrate our Risen Christ!
CONFIRMATION
This year we will
have Adult Confirmations held on Sunday, Apr. 22, in the 8:00 a.m.
service. A Welcome Reception will be held for these adult
confirmands after the service in the school Cafeteria. We invite
all of our members to attend and extend a warm welcome to these
new members!
The 8th
Grade Confirmation will be held on Apr. 22 in the 10:30 a.m.
service. During this service, 13 young people will be confirmed.
They are: Nicholas Bennitt, Ashley Bigg, David Buss, Danielle
Eigenmann, Randal Johnson, Caleb Ketcham, Rachel Lange, Cameron
Pulaski, Matthew Schutz, Sarah Vaughn, Chad Waak, Andrew Watson,
and Justin Wippich. We pray the Lord’s blessing on all these
people as they profess their faith and confirm their Baptismal
Covenant!
Please Note:
Both services on Sunday, Apr. 22, will be Communion Services.
STAFF CARE
COMMITTEE UPDATE
We
have been quite busy planning receptions for this spring. Thank
you to all who are so willing to help! Please mark these dates on
your calendar so you can join us in honoring these fellow members:
Apr.
29 Pastor Ungrodt-Farewell
June 10 Julie
Stelter & Karen Ulmer-Years of Service
June 24 Mary Ann
Scholz-Retirement
NEW MEMBER
DINNER
You are
cordially invited to our “New Member Dinner”....When?
May 20, 2001 Where? St. John’s School Time? 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Please come and
join us in welcoming our new members. There will be good food and
great fellowship for all! The dinner will be provided. Therefore,
we need reservations for everyone (workers, too). Please RSVP by
calling one of the following people by May 13:
Monyean Hahn (362-8390)
Trudy Roule (362-7452)
Terry/Kathy Page
(362-5903)
Sherrill Lee (219-654-7313)
Ellie Heidel (326-1866)
The menu
includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, garden salad,
dinner rolls, dessert, and beverage. A freewill offering will be
received to help cover the cost of future dinners. The Board of
Missions and Evangelism hopes you can come to this dinner!
SCHOOL NEWS
Replacement
Needed
We are still
looking for a replacement for Dawn Crum as our Market Day
Fundraiser Coordinator beginning the 2001-02 school year. If you
are interested in coordinating this monthly program that funds
our PTL, Athletic Program, and general office expenses, call the
School Office (362-6692).
Enrollment
Time
St. John’s
School is in the process of enrolling students in Preschool-Gr. 8
for the 2001-02 school year. If you would like to receive
enrollment information, contact the School Office.
Mathematics
Contest
On Mar. 3, twelve
St. John’s students participated in the Invitational
Mathematics Contest sponsored by Immanuel Luth. School in
Valparaiso. The team score in Gr. 5-8 ranked 2nd place
in this year’s contest. Congratulations to Taylor Chartier,
Erin Rissler, Caitlin Wippich, Samantha Danielson, Karen
Eigenmann, Amy Schulz, Chris Bartholomew, Katie Johnson,
Stephanie Radke, Danielle Eigenmann, Daniela Madiol, and Chad
Waak for participating and placing in the event. The following
students also placed on individual scores: Taylor Chartier-First,
Erin Rissler-Third, Caitlin Wippich-Fourth place for Gr. 5; Karen
Eigenmann-First, Samantha Danielson and Amy Schulz-Fifth place
for Gr. 6; Stephanie Radke-Second and Katie Johnson-Fourth place
for Gr. 7.
Assistant
Cook Needed
Our school is
seeking an individual who would like to serve as Assistant Cook
in the school kitchen for 2001-02 school year. The hours would be
Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 1:00 p.m. If you
would like more information or would like to apply for this
position, please call the School Office.
PREGNANCY
ASSISTANCE CENTER
The Pregnancy
Assistance Center (PAC) is holding its annual fund raising
Banquet on Tuesday, May 8, at the Silver Palace. The speaker will
be Pam Stengel, a nationally known speaker on abstinence. Since
this is such an important issue to Christians in our society,
support from St. John’s members would be most appreciated! For
ticket information and reservations, please call Monyean Hahn (362-8390)
by Apr. 15.
Any businesses
wishing to donate an item for the silent auction at this program,
may do so by calling 324-4646. Your business name will be listed
in the program.
WHAT’S NEW
AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Lord is
Risen! The Lord is Risen, Indeed! These joyous words mean so much
to the Christian. They give hope to every believer. We do not
serve a God who is mortal, but immortal. Alleluia! Here at Sunday
School, we are happy to celebrate our Lord’s triumphant
victory over sin and death. It is our hope and prayer that Jesus
will truly be the focus of Resurrection Sunday and not the Easter
Bunny and colored eggs. We will celebrate the day at a different
time due to the Sunrise Service and Easter Breakfast. Sunday
School will be from 8:45-9:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday only!
In
March, we had fun bringing visitors for our “Let’s Go
Fishin’” campaign. Our Sunday School children love to
bring visitors! Each fish (visitor) and the fisherman who caught
them, got to fish for candy fish, worms, frogs, etc. from our
candy fish bowl. Thanks to parents who willingly picked up these
little “fish” and brought them to Sunday School.
In case you
missed the bulletin report, the total door offerings collected
along with Pastor Schoop’s Bible Class for the Voice of the
Martyrs (VOM) outreach Mission, was $387.36. The total Sunday
School offering for the month of February was $363.65. The grand
total sent to VOM was $751.01. We marvel at God’s goodness!
It seems you just can’t outgive God. The Sunday School was
happy to collect 12 warm blankets for the “Blankets of Love”
project sponsored by VOM. Thank you for your prayers (keep them
up) and generosity! God bless you!!
Perfect
attendance for February were: Caleb Bublitz, Ashlynn Smith,
Rachel Alexander, Brooke Baima, Rachel Hill, Jenna Marie Kalsow,
Taylor Baima, Emily Barnhart, Kayla Macher, Brittney Ryan, Jordan
Smith, Sam Bublitz, Andrew Schuelke, Nathan Alexander, Jacob
Barnhart, Larry Keller, Andrew Scherer, Brittney Scherer, Aubrey
Barnhart, Heather Macher, Kathryn Scherer, Nicole Scherer, and
Steven Smith. Each child received a God Loves Me kazoo. Just a
note to parents about our attendance policy...we really do miss
your child when they aren’t here! Our Attendance Secretary,
Mrs. Cheri Schuelke, sends “miss you” cards on a
regular basis. After a prolonged absence, a parent letter is sent.
It is our hope and prayer that these methods let you and your
child know that we care about you and are concerned about your
spiritual welfare!
This month’s
Staff Spotlight falls on Terri Snyder our Preschool Teacher and
Teresa Stayback who works with our indergarten children:
Terri is married
to Robert and they have three children: Ashley-18, Elizabeth(Libby)-16,
and Kimberly-11. If these names sound familiar, they should!
Ashley and Libby were in our Spotlight last month. Isn’t it
great to see a family working together for the Lord!! Terri’s
main hobby is working on the family’s new log home. She says
her favorite food is steak! A Bible verse that is special to her
is Matt. 7:7-8, “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone
that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened.” Terri has been teaching
in our Sunday School for seven years and says the best thing
about working here is the wonderful children!
Teresa is
married to Aaron and together they enjoy going out to eat at Don
Pablos’ and Kelsey’s Steak House. Her hobbies include
counted cross-stitch and latch hook rugs. Her favorite Bible
verse is, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.” (Ps. 46:1) Teresa has been working with
our Sunday School for five years. The thing she likes best about
helping with the Kindergarten class is helping the little ones
and watching their faces as they learn new things.
We thank both of
these ladies for their dedication and hard work! God bless you
richly!!
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
Summer Festival-June
16 at St. John’s Parking Lot from 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
sponsored by AAL Branch 317. Advance parking spaces are $5 each.
We advertise and you keep the profits! Start collecting items now
to bring to this sale. For details or to reserve your spot,
contact Imogene Dahl (324-6668) or Christel Bublitz (325-0831).
Nelson’s
“Port-a-Pit Chicken Sale” will be in full swing that
day in the parking lot from 9:30-1:30 p.m. Presale tickets will
be $3.75 half chicken (which must be picked up by 12:30 the day
of the sale) and $4 the day of sale. Tickets available at the
School Office or call Annette Williams (326-8017).
More exciting
news about the Summer Festival will be forthcoming. Watch the
church bulletins and Newsletters!
REBEL ATTACK IN
GUINEA
(The following
letter is a report from Missionaries, Tim and Beth Heiney, on the
recent rebel attack in southern Guinea, West Africa. Our Board of
Missions and Evangelism wanted to share it with you.)
Dear Praying
Friends,
Well, it’s
been five days now since our big experience and things couldn’t
be more normal. How strange! I suppose if something like this
happened in a country like the United States, you would hear
about it on CNN for days afterward: interviews with people who
had witnessed the rockets’ red glare and the bombs bursting
in air, who was responsible, reports on how many lost their
lives, anguishing interviews with the families, etc. Here, we
just hear rumors and try to piece together parts of the story
from those who have heard from someone else.
Some things are
definitely true. Many people lost their lives that day. Those
that live in that area had to literally run for their lives. Many
in Conakry were afraid that war was coming, spilling over from
the Forest Region. There was bedlam in the streets and people ran
but didn’t know to where they were running. Some thought
they would be safe in the ocean and as they were running to the
water were sucked into the quicksand in the marshes in that area.
In the midst of
all this destruction, God is showing His presence. Many questions
are being asked since many of the houses that were NOT destroyed
in the explosions were the homes of Christians, often right next
to other homes that were leveled. And in the Forest area where
fighting has claimed the lives of hundreds, God is watching and
protecting His people. Men are forced to fight after they are
captured, and part of that involves drinking a special “potion”
which is supposed to protect them from bullets. Those captured
men who are Christians refused to drink the potion, claiming that
God was their protection, and incurring the anger of the leaders.
“O.K.,” they were told, “if you refuse to drink
this then we will put you in the front lines.” Since you
know our God, you can guess that not one Christian was killed in
that fight, yet many others in the back lines lost their lives.
Many people are starting to ask questions about these Christian
people. What is it that they have? Praise God, even when things
look horrendous and impossible and even scary, God is not absent.
God has a
plan for Guinea. It is so obvious that God is ready to work, that
He is hearing prayers of His faithful and longs to bring this
nation to Himself. Please pray for our family as we prepare to
travel across the country to pick up the Nortons at
the Cote d’lvoire border. Please also continue to pray for
this country. Iwould even be so bold as to ask you to set aside a
time each day to lift Guinea before the Lord and ask for this
nation as an inheritance (Ps. 2:8). We believe God’s heart
aches to call Guinea His own, to release her from the bonds that
have so long held and deceived her. We have the victory in Jesus.
Living in that
Victory,
Tim, Beth, Joel,
Jonathan,
Katie and Andrea
Heiney
ITEMS OF
INTEREST
As you may know,
we have purchased a new piano for the school Music Room. Approval
was received from the Board of Trustees to seek donations to
cover the cost of this musical instrument. If you would like to
make a memorial donation or general contribution towards the
piano, please turn it in at the Church Office or use a pew
envelope and mark it for “Special Purpose Fund–Piano.”
The piano expense w/movers is $9,200. Donations received to date
has brought the current total needed to $7,465. Thank you for
your help. Let us make music to the Lord for all He has done!
Seniors
Travel: If you have not paid your March 1 deposit of $100 for
the Branson Trip, please mail it to Eunice Wright, Tour Director,
at 9E-21st Street. Deposit confirms your reservation!
APRIL AT
ST. JOHN'S
Mar. 31-Apr.
1 (vacancy pastor)
Apr. 4(Lent)
“Judas Wants Jesus to Die” (John 12:4-6) Pastor
Ungrodt
Apr. 7-8(Palm
Sunday)(vacancy pastor)
Special Music: 8:00/10:45-Walther
League Chorus/Jubilant Handbell Choir
Apr. 12(MaundyThurs.)
“The Best Meal You’ve Ever Had” (Luke 22:7-20)
Pastor Ungrodt
Special Music: Walther League Chorus/Jubilant Handbell Choir
Apr. 13(Good
Friday) “It Is Finished!” (John 19:30)Pastor
James Beversdorf Special Music:
Walther League Chorus
NO
SATURDAY SERVICE APRIL 14!
Apr.
15(Easter)(vacancy pastor) Special Music: 6:30-Walther
League Chorus/School Chorus/Jubilant Handbell Choir 10:00-Walther
League Chorus
Apr. 21-22(Confirmation)“The
Good Word Is Nothing” (John 20:1-9)Pastor Edmund Peters/Vacancy
Pastor Special Music: 10:30-Walther League Chorus
Apr. 22(Shut-in
Service-2:30 p.m.)Pastor Ungrodt
Apr. 28-29
“It Is The Lord!” (John 21:12-14) Pastor Ungrodt
Special Music: 10:45-School Chorus
REPORT OF
FINANCE SECRETARY FOR JANUARY
2000 Attendance
- 1,989
2001 Attendance
- 1,833
2000 General
Fund receipts - $64,918.78
2001 General
Fund receipts - $39,982.80
2000 Mission
Fund receipts - $2,241.00
2001 Mission
Fund receipts - $4,868.00
Church Budget
Year to Date for 2001:
General Fund (short)...($27,869.09)
Mission Fund (short)...
$3,329.52
From St.
John's Congregation Coordinator for April 2001:
If you would like
more information on the activities listed, or would like help
with any comments, ideas or events, please contact me by e-mail
at stjohnsarc@csinet.net
or call me at (219)362-3726.
More information
on St. John's activities is also available through our web site,
at www.STJOHNS-LPIN.org,
under "What's New?" and "Calendar of Events",
& "Volunteer Ministries".
Yours in the JOY
of the Lord! - Debra Trowbridge
Spring
Maintenance
The Board of
Trustees is in need of volunteers for building & grounds
maintenance for the year 2001. We could schedule you to work a
particular week, or put you on call as needed. Annual volunteer
areas include:
- lawn mowing
with the riding mowers
- mowing in
smaller areas with push mowers
- edging of curbs
& sidewalks
- weed trimming
around sidewalks and posts
- blowing or
sweeping off sidewalks
- raking leaves/debris
off lawn
- cleaning out
debris from around bushes
- trimming bushes
- planting and
caring for flower beds
- window cleaning
- finishing
painting of the trim on buildings
We also need
volunteers for our annual Spring Clean-up day for all of those
areas. The date will be set soon - watch your bulletin.
If you would like
to volunteer for any of these items, contact the Building &
Grounds chairmen Jim Crum (324-2985), Mark Johnson (326-5521),
Matt Heinhold (362-9168), or stop by and let me know.
Fish Fry
Volunteers Needed
The Board of
Trustees is holding one more Fish Fry this Spring - Friday,
April 27, from 4pm to 7pm. Volunteers are needed from 9am to
8:30pm for food preparation, serving drinks and food, carryout,
dishwashing and tear down/clean-up.
We also need help
selling tickets and placing flyers around town. This has become a
great fundraiser and community outreach tool for St. John's. If
you are available to volunteer in any way, please let me know as
soon as you can.
Board
Members Needed
We are looking
for additional members for the following boards: Youth Board,
Board of Public Relations, Board of Parish Education and Elders.
If you are interested in finding out more about any of these
boards, contact Ed Brettin, Nominating Committee Chairman, at 778-9602.
Welcome
Center
We are in need of
volunteers to help man our new Welcome Center. Volunteers are
needed fifteen to twenty minutes before each service and ten
minutes after. You will hand out Visitor Packets and answer
questions of visitors and members. Most of the information you
need to know is posted in the Welcome Center, but you will
receive an orientation and have someone assisting you the first
time or two. Please call me for more information, or to receive
an orientation on the Welcome Center.
Lutheran
Hour Ministries
The following is
a list of the Lutheran Hour Ministry programs sponsored by St.
John's LHM group #20-06-101 on Sundays:
10am - "Woman
to Woman" on WLOI 1540 AM (Magazine format on current
topics with host Phyllis Meyer.)
10:30am -
"The Lutheran Hour" on WLOI 1540 AM(Sermon topics
by Dr. Dale Meyer or Dr. Wallace Schultz.)
Noon - "On
Main Street" on LaPorte Cable Access Channel #43 (Magazine
format on current topics with host Dr. Dale Meyer.)
The St. John's
group also sponsors the two "Project Connect"
topical booklet racks in the Church Narthex and School
building by the Congregation Coordinator's Office. Your prayers
an support are needed to continue these programs. If you would
like to learn more about Lutheran Hour Ministries on the
Internet, you will find information on St. John's web site.
If you would like
to donate toward our local programs or become an International
Sponsor, contact St. John's Representative, Debra Trowbridge at stjohnsarc@csinet.net or
(219) 362-3726 or Assistant Representative, Ellie Heidel, at
