A
Newsletter concerning the MISSION & MINISTRY of St.
John's Ev. Lutheran Church
_________________________________________________________
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VOLUME
#51
LA PORTE, INDIANA / FEBRUARY 2002
No. 1
LENTEN SEASON
We will be
celebrating Lent from Ash Wednesday, February 13, up to Easter,
on Sunday, March 31. During the Lenten Season, watch for a
few changes in music, programs, worship services, and more.
We will spend more time meditating on what the Lord has done for
us, and the debt of gratitude we owe Him!
We will also work
on developing new ways of serving Him! To learn more about
what is planned, watch for information in the weekly bulletins,
and attend our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm.
SCHOOL NEWS
School Calendar
2/6 – In
school Spelling Bee Grades 3-8
2/7 – Faculty
meeting
2/12 – School
Board
2/15 –
Practice Oral Spelling Bee 1:15pm - 2:15pm
(Grades
2-8)
2/18 – NO
SCHOOL – Scheduled Snow Day
2/19 – GIVING
TREE PRODUCTION 10:00am
School
Information
Kroeger
and Al’s certificates are on sale in the school office.
At this point we have not been able to sell at Church on the
weekends. We hope to get to that point eventually. All
proceeds are placed in our technology fund to repair and replace
computers.
Basketball
tournaments are coming up as follows:
Grade 4-6 girls
&boys: Feb 9 beginning at 8am
Grade 7-8 girls
& boys: Feb 16 beginning at 8am
Come and cheer us
on to victory!
Devotion of the
Month:
Condensed from "The Quest for Character" - Chuck
Swindoll, from a devotion entitled "Parental Negligence":
Compiled by the
United States Chamber of Commerce, a list of 12 rules on "How
to train your child to be a delinquent"
1. When you kid is
still an infant, give him everything he wants. This way
he'll think the world owes him a living when he grows up.
2. When he picks
up swearing and off color jokes, laugh at him. As he grows
up he'll pick up cuter phrases that will floor you.
3. Never give him
any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and let
him decide for himself.
4. Avoid using the
word "wrong". It will give your child a guilt
complex. You can condition him to believe later, when he is
arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he
is being persecuted.
5. Pick up after
him - his books, shoes, and clothes. Do everything for him
so he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility onto
others.
6. Let him read
all printed matter he can get his hands on, never monitor his TV,
sterilize the silverware, but let him feast his mind on garbage.
7. Quarrel
frequently in his presence. Then he won't be too surprised
when his home is broken up later.
8. Satisfy every
craving for food, drink, and comfort. Every desire must be
gratified; denial may lead to harmful frustrations.
9. Give you child
all the spending money he wants. Don't make him earn his
own. Why should he have things as tough as you did?
10. Take his side
against neighbors, teachers, and policemen. They are all
against him.
11. When he gets
into real trouble, make up excuses for yourself by saying, "I
never could do anything with him; he's just a bad seed."
12. Prepare for a
life of grief.
A little too
sarcastic? But before tossing out the baby with the
bathwater, better take a closer look. How is it going with you
and your kids?
QUEST: Home is
indeed where life makes up its mind. It is there with
fellow family members where we cultivate the more valuable things
in life - attitudes, memories, beliefs, and maybe most of all,
character. Thank the Lord for using your home to develop
these positive attributes and for a home among fellow believers -
the church. Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9.
WHAT’S
NEW AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
How will this year be different? We have little control
over some of the circumstances and events of 2002! HOWEVER…there
are a great number of things we CAN change! We can change
our attitudes and help our faith grow!
Remember, …faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word
of God! (Romans 10:17) How about making Bible reading a
daily habit, trying out one of our Bible classes, making an extra
effort to be kind to others (even those that may seem unlovable!),
giving God our problems and trusting Him for the outcome?! Let’s
make this a year we will really get busy for the Lord!
Be on the lookout for out red cans! This month is our
annual “HAVE A HEART” month. This year, we are
“having a heart” for the La Porte County Home. Your
donation will go to provide needed items for the residents of the
home. While much of our attention has focused on New York
and it’s plight, we don’t want to forget those in need
right in our own back yard! We will invite a spokesman from
the County Home to speak during one of our openings. Watch
the bulletin for more details! Thanks in advance for
showing your Christian love to those at the La Porte County Home!
God bless you.
Our hearts were warmed by all those who helped in so many ways
during December. By setting up and tearing down the gym,
making props, brining children to rehearsal, preparing costumes,
helping memorize parts, making cookies, etc. you helped make the
pageant a tribute to God’s glory! Thanks also for
fellowshipping at our Christmas Tea. It was a pleasure to
serve you!
In January, we focused on raising money to fulfill our commitment
to our Com-
passion child
“Sawmya” from India. A contest was held to encourage
the children to tithe, and
remember Sawmya.
Each class collected money in a designated can. Money was
assigned a point
value. (i.e. a
quarter = 25 points, etc.) At the end of the month the class with
the most points won
a special treat!
Our financial commitment to Sawmya amounts to $336 per year.
The $72.00
from the
Christmas pageant offering went to this fund also. Thanks
to everyone who
contributed!
Perfect attendance for the month of November was as follows:
Brandon Gropp,
Caleb Bublitz,
Austin Gropp, Aleczander Smith, Brooke Baima, Storm Shortt, Ryan
Farrell, Lindsey
Hull, Jenna Marie Kalsow, Alexander Kelsey, Zoe Moellman, Taylor
Baima, Chelsea
Levandoski, Zachary Robbins, Brittney Ryan, Sam Bublitz, Justin
Farrell,
Victoria Kelsey,
Andrew Schuelke, Sky Shortt, Kathryn Scherer, Lexi Butts, Larry
Keller,
Brittany Scherer.
Those with perfect attendance for the month of December were as
follows:
Caleb Bublitz,
Aleczander Smith, Abigail Vaughn, Savannah Vaughn, Rachel
Alexander,
Brooke Baima,
Storm Shortt, Lindsey Hull, Jenna Marie Kalsow, Alexander Kelsey,
Taylor
Baima, Emily
Barnhart, Chelsea Levandoski, Brittney Ryan, Sam Bublitz,
Victoria Kelsey,
Andrew Schuelke,
Sky Shortt, Jacob Barnhart, Larry Keller, Andrew Vaughn. Congratulations
to all of these
fine students and their parents! Thanks for making Sunday School
your Sunday
morning priority.
Our Staff Spotlight focuses on two newer teachers this month!
They are Stephanie
Kessler who
teaches our 2yr. old/Parent class, and Donna Levandoski who
teaches our Pre-
School class.
Stephanie is married to Brandon and together they have twin
daughters Lillie and
Amelia who are
in their mommy’s class! Stephanie enjoys reading,
gardening, and being
outside. Her
favorite restaurant is Red Lobster. A song that has been special
to Stephanie since
childhood is
“Jesus Loves Me”. She has been teaching Sunday
School since this past Septem-
ber. The
things she likes most about working with Sunday School are the
parents she meets
and spreading
the word of God to her students. Donna is married to
Carey and they
have one
daughter Chelsea age 7. Her hobbies include shopping and movies.
Donna’s favor-
ite food is
Mexican and she lists Hacienda as her favorite restaurant. She
has several favorite
Bible verses
including John 3:16 and Rev. 21:4 which states “And God
shall wipe away every
tear from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall
there be any
more pain; for the former things are passed away.” Another
favorite verse is
Matt. 7:7-8
which says “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.” Donna has also been teaching
since September of 2001.
She said the
best thing about working with Sunday School is teaching the
children about God,
and the kids!
Again, welcome to our staff ladies,and may God richly bless all
your efforts!
ITEMS OF
INTEREST
With Thanks
to All of You...
No wonder there's such warmth behind the thanks this brings your
way. For being supportive of the Kroger/Al's Gift
Certificate program. Your special kindness and support
brought such joy, it really made the day. For allowing us
the privilege of successfully completing all of our commitments
and projects. The last being the Stained Glass Window
repair - $11,376.98. A very special thanks to each one of
you, and a special thanks to God for making supportive people
like you!
Peace, love, joy,
Imogene Dahl,
Program Administrator
Telemarketing
Relief
Are you tired of
receiving telemarketing phone calls? You can add your name
and number to the telemarketing no-call list by contacting the
State of Indiana Office of Attorney General. Though their
was a deadline of December 10th for the first group of
banned numbers, people still wanting to be on the list may
register for another list that will be complied in April. The
list will be distributed to the telemarketers every three months.
To register to get on the next list, call (888)834-9969 or on-line
at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral.
Shut-in
Communion
If it is difficult for you to attend worship services at St. John’s
Church and you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home,
please call the Church Office (362-3726) and leave a message for
Pastor Beversdorf. We appreciate your informing us of this
need and your desire to receive the help the Lord graciously
offers us.
–Pastor
Jim and the Board of Elders
FEBRUARY AT ST. JOHN'S
February 2-3
- P. 136, 6, 136
(Special music 8:00am
service: Walther League Chorus)
February 9-10
- Transfiguration P. 6, 136, 6
February 13
- Ash Wednesday (printed service)
(Special music:
Walther League Chorus)
February 16-17
- P. 158 all services
(Special music 8:00am
service: Walther League Chorus)
February 23-24
- P. 158 all services
Answers to:
Spiritual
Gifts Quiz
Although scholars differ in
their opinions of what is a gift vs. a spiritual gift,
listed here are at least 27 potential gifts: wisdom, knowledge,
faith, prophecy, healing, miracles, hospitality, distinguishing (or
discernment) between spirits, poverty, speaking in tongues,
interpretation of tongues, helper, teacher, administration,
martyrdom, celibacy, mercy, intercession (prayers), serving,
leadership, pastor, exhortation (encouraging), apostle, giving,
deliverance (or exorcism), evangelist, & missionary.
