A Newsletter concerning the MISSION & MINISTRY of
St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church
________________________________________________________________
VOLUME XLIX LA PORTE, INDIANA / February
2001 No. 1
LENT FOCUSES ON JESUS’ DEATH
Lent begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 28. During Lent, we walk with
Jesus to the city of Jerusalem and there witness His trials,
suffering, and crucifixion for us. We once again see Him agonize
in the Garden and give Himself willingly to His Father’s
plan for salvation. We are reminded that all this is for us. Our
sin by birth as well as our sins of thought, word, and deed which
flow from it, caused our Lord to come, to be one of us and to
suffer shame and separation from His Father.
During Lent, our series of Wednesday services will focus on
the theme, "Who Wants Jesus to Die?" according to the
following schedule:
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 28 "The Father Wants Jesus to Die"
(I Cor. 5:20-6:2)
Mar. 7 "Satan Wants Jesus to Die"(Matt. 4:1-11)
Mar.14 "Barabbas Wants Jesus to Die"
(Mark 15:6-15)
Mar.21 "The High Priest Wants Jesus to Die"
(John 18:12-14)
Mar.28 "Pilate Wants Jesus to Die"
(John 19:10-16)
Apr. 4 "Judas Wants Jesus to Die"
(John 12:4-6)
We pray that you will be assisted in your Lenten journey by
these meditations concerning Jesus’ death for us. Glory be
to Jesus!
FIRST COMMUNION CLASS
The second series of First Communion Classes for those young
people in Gr. 5 or older, will be held on Sunday, Feb. 4 and 11
at 2:00 p.m. in the school Ladies’ Lounge. Any young person
who desires to come to the Lord’s Table before Confirmation,
is invited to come to the classes. Each student must have a
parent/guardian in attendance with him or her. No prior
registration is needed. If you have questions, please talk to
Pastor Schoop.
CONFIRMATION DATE CHANGE
PLEASE NOTE: This year Confirmation for
our young people will be held in a 10:30 a .m. service on Sunday,
Apr. 22. This change became necessary when the Day School’s
Washington, D.C. Trip was scheduled over the first weekend in May.
We want to let you know now, so that plans can be made
accordingly.
IT’S TIME FOR A BAKE SALE
The L.W.M.L. will have their "Bake Sale" on Sunday,
Feb. 11, in the school hallway following the 8:00 a.m. service.
All baked food donations may be brought to the school after 8:00
that morning. We will give 25% of the proceeds to the Vacation
Bible School.
All ladies are invited to our next meeting on Wednesday, Mar.
21, at 2:00 p.m. in the school Ladies’ Lounge. Join us for
fellowship!
LABOR OF LOVE
The Willing Servants (Funeral Dinner Committee) thanks all who
donated food and helped at funeral dinners this past year. Your
assistance was greatly appreciated. It was truly a labor of love!
If you would like to assist in the future, please call Mrs. Clara
Haack (324-9148) to be put on her calling list of Willing
Servants. God bless you for serving Him in such a willing, caring
manner!
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
Our sincere thanks to all the participants who supported the
Kroger/Al Gift Certificate fundraiser. The profits have provided
the church with new carpet and the redecorating of the school
Ladies’ Lounge. The current project will provide funds for
the releading of the stained glass windows in the years to come.
This fundraiser is a "no cost" opportunity for you.
The certificates come in various denominations and can be picked
up on Saturday/Sunday in the church Narthex before the services
or Sunday following the 8:00 service in the school hallway. You
may also call: Vivian Brettin (362-6309), Imogene Dahl (324-6668),
Janet Kessler (362-6954) and Dorothy Levandoski (326-6097). We
encourage our church and school families to support this "no
cost" fundraiser. The church receives 5% from your purchases.
SCHOOL NEWS
Spelling Bee
The school will sponsor its annual Spelling Bee on Tuesday,
Feb. 6, for students in Gr. 3-8. The top three spellers in each
grade division will participate in the District Spelling Bee on
Feb. 22 at Kesling Middle School.
Service League Play
Students in Preschool-Gr. 5 will experience live theater by
attending the annual Service League Play at La Porte High School
on Thursday, Feb. 1. This year the performance will be, "Aladdin
McFaddin."
Coordinator Needed
The school is looking for a replacement for Mrs. Dawn Crum as
our Market Day fundraiser coordinator beginning 2001-01 school
year. If interested in coordinating this monthly program that
funds our PTL, Athletic Program, and general office expenses,
contact the School Office (362-6692).
Easy Way To Help The School
If you shop at Target stores, there is an easy way to help our
school. If you have a Target Guest Card, the store will donate 1%
of your Target store and target.com purchases made on the Target
Guest Card to our school through their School Fundraising program.
It’s easy to participate. Just call the Target School
Fundraising hotline at 1-800-316-6142 and give them your Target
Guest Card account number and school name. Let your friends and
family know. Anyone in the country who shops at Target can
designate our school. If you don’t have a guest card but
would like to participate, you can pick up an application at the
check-out lanes at any Target store or apply online at www.target.com.
Pepsi Notes Program
St. John’s School is participating in the "Pepsi
Notes" program until Feb. 28. Look for official "Pepsi
Notes" printed on the back of specially marked packages of
Pepsi and Frito-Lay products. Remove the notes from the package
and return them to the School Office.
New Committee
The School Board is in the process of organizing a committee
to look at the safety of our playground facilities. If you are
interested in serving on the Playground Committee, please contact
Annette Williams (326-8017) or the School Office (362-6692).
WHAT’S NEW AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
February is "Have a Heart" month at Sunday School.
This year we will be "having a heart" for the Voice of
the Martyrs Ministry. This organization was founded in 1967 by
the Rev. Richard Wurmbrand with the purpose to support Christians
being persecuted and imprisoned around the world, with prayer,
food and God’s Word. They also support the families of those
martyred for their faith. While it may seem unusual that fellow
Christians in the world are actually dying for their beliefs in
Jesus, it is true. We hope to have a special speaker come from
Voice of the Martyrs who has actually traveled to Pakistan,
Vietnam, and the Sudan working with those afflicted for their
faith. We will also have door offering cans at each church exit
during February. Please join us in our support of this worthy
cause. Thanks!
During our opening worship time in January, we really "dug
up" some interesting facts about dinosaurs! Ken Ham, from
the Answers in Genesis Program, explained that the dinosaur was
one of God’s creations that lived here on earth with man.
The next time someone tells you that dinosaurs lived millions and
millions of years ago, ask them if they were there! When they
ask, "Were YOU there?" you can tell them God was and
His Word is still here today, telling us the truth about how old
the earth is. If you missed our video presentation of Dinosaurs
and the Bible, the video is available in the St. John’s ARC.
Contact Deb Trowbridge to view it.
This past year, after our Christmas Pageant a Chicken Dinner
was held in the school. Mrs. Dana Alexander was in charge and
reports: 92 people were served, including 10 shut-in friends, $350
was given tot he General Fund, and $65.12 was disbursed to each
of 12 Gr. 7-8 students toward their school Washington, D.C. Trip.
We applaud Mrs. Alexander for her efforts on this endeavor!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT...
We are beginning something new! Each moth we will "spotlight"
Sunday School Staff members so that everyone can get to "know"
them a little better! This month we are featuring two ladies who
work with our 2 yr. old and Parent Class:
Mrs. Lorri Feldt - Mrs. Feldt is married to Robert and
they have three children. They are Tom- age 8, Susan-age 5, and
Sam-age 4. Her hobbies include travel, scuba diving, helping out
at school, and laundry. Lorri’s favorite food is Italian. A
Bible verse that is special to her is, "And you will seek Me
and find Me when you search for Me with al of your heart,"
from Jeremiah. She has been teaching the 2 yr. old and Parent
Class for seven months. What she likes best about working with
our Sunday School is...THE KIDS!
Mrs. Christel Bublitz - Mrs. Bublitz is married to Mark.
They have been married for 11 years and have two children. They
are Sam-age 7 and Caleb-age 3 ½. Her hobby is cross-stitch. Her
favorite food is steak and her favorite place to eat is "Kelsey’s."
The Bible verse that is special to her is "In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths," found in
Proverbs. She has been active in our Sunday School by teaching
and most recently substituting in the 2 yr. old and Parent Class
for a combined total of five years. Christel says what she likes
best about working with our Sunday School is...THE KIDS!
We thank these ladies for their dedication and hard work. May
God richly bless them both!
Remember, if you are the parent of a two year old, Lorri and
Christel would love to have you visit their class on Sunday. They
meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Saints Sanctuary room next to the
telephone in the church basement. Any questions? Call Mrs. Melody
Povlock (325-3049).
Students with perfect attendance in December: Ashlynn Lovet
Smith, Alexander Kelsey, Taylor Baima, Chelsea Levandoski,
Brittney Ryan, Ryan Searing, Sam Bublitz, Victoria Kelsey, Andrew
Schuelke, Sky Shortt, Hillary Frye, Brianna Searing, Larry
Keller, Andrew Scherer, Allison Frye, and Gus Radke.
Congratulations to these faithful students–they received a
neat Christmas witness skateboard keychain!
In the Craft Corner: We thank Mrs. Ryan for organizing our
December craft. The children made little treat bags that were
filled with goodies!
SENIORS MEETING
St. John’s Seniors Group will have a Potluck Luncheon on
Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 11:30 a.m. in the school Cafeteria. We ask
that you bring a dish to share with others and your own table
service. All senior citizens are welcome to join us for an
afternoon of delicious food and Christian fellowship! For more
information, contact Jeanette Darby (362-3891).
LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
The Lutheran Hour Ministries office in Venezuela was opened in
1953 and currently broadcasts 30-second and one-minute radio
messages that focus on real-life problems like worry, gossip,
drugs, depression, occultism, and family relations. Through these
open doors they can then tell about the love of Jesus. The LHM
office there is also working hard with the national disaster
office to distribute powdered milk to victims of last year’s
flood that killed 70,000 people. Please pray that the LHM office
in Venezuela is successful in reaching the 23 million people of
this nation with the hope and love of the Risen Christ!
REPORT OF FINANCE SECRETARY FOR DECEMBER
1999 Attendance - 2,340
2000 Attendance - 2,845
1999 General Fund receipts - $83,475.41
2000 General Fund receipts - $105,287.35
1999 Mission Fund receipts - $ 2,215.00
2000 Mission Fund receipts - $ 1,389.50
Church Budget Year to Date for 2000:
General Fund (short)...($127,094.52)
Mission Fund (short)...($ 2,227.36)
FEBRUARY AT ST. JOHN'S
Feb. 3-4 "Edified by Spiritual Gifts?" (I Cor.
14:12b-20)
Special Music: 7:00/10:45-Bill Trowbridge 8:00-Walther League
Chorus
Feb. 10-11 "The Great Contrast" (Jer. 17:5-8)
Special Music: 7:00/10:45- Renny Rutz, Mary Felts 8:00-School
Chorus
Feb. 17-18 "The Big Surprise" (Genesis 45:3-8a,15)
Special Music: 7:00/10:45-Bill Trowbridge 8:00-Walther League
Chorus/Jubilant Handbells
Feb. 18(2:30-Shut-in Service) "Who Do You Love?"
(Luke 6:27-38)
Feb. 24-25(Prayer & Praise) "The Gospel–Veiled"
(II Cor. 4:3-6)
Special Music: 7:00-Gr. 1-4 8:00/10:45-Jeanette Darby
Feb. 28(Ash Wednesday) "The Father Wants Jesus to Die"
(I Cor. 5:20-6:2)
Special Music: Walther League Chorus
