It was moved, seconded, and passed that we accept Michael Byrnes and daughter Erin to be received from St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in Macomb, MI.

Ballots from Synod proposing constitutional amendments.

were explained by Chairman Trowbridge and members were encouraged to place their vote.

It was moved and seconded that this assembly support St. John’s Lutheran Church’s participation in the Lutheran Hour Ministries Living For Tomorrow program and pay the $200 participation fee. Following a brief explanation and discussion, the motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that the congregation take up a freewill offering for medical bills of Bea Shelby to be held on Shrove Tuesday this year. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to table the motion.

It was moved and seconded that the Bylaws be changed to having quarterly Voters’ Assembly Meeting. (Feb., May, Aug., and Nov.) The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that the President and Vice President terms be changed back to 3 year terms, the same as secretary, treasurer, and 2

assistant treasurer, voting for them in staggering years beginning with the election in February, 2002. The Vice President will be elected for a 2-year term only for this time and then return to a 3-year term to allow for the staggering of these offices. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that David Wippich be called as principal of the day school. The motion passed unanimously.

It was moved and seconded that financial decisions regarding bequests and the annual budget be turned over to the Board of Trustees. Following a brief discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and passed to table this motion.

Preceding the election of President and Vice President of the Voters’ Assembly, the job descriptions of these officers were read from the constitution.

Dick Rutz placed the name of Chuck Link, Jr. on the ballot for the office of President (three year term). The nomination was seconded and passed.

Bill Trowbridge’s name was on the ballot from the nomination committee. A motion to close nominations was made, seconded, and passed.

Nominations for the office of Vice President (two year term) from the nominating committee included Jim Crum and Mark Bublitz.

A motion was made to close the nominations. The motion was seconded and passed.

A discussion about the constitutionality of serving on a board and as an officer ensued. It was explained that being an officer is not synonymous with being on a board.

A ballot vote was taken. Chuck Link, Jr. was voted President and Jim Crum, Vice President.

The following names of those appointed to serve on the Call Committee for calling a pastor were read: Bill Trowbridge, Mark Bublitz, Sherill Lee, David Lee, Kathy Page, Bob Keller, Terry Page, Dale Povlock, David Wippich, Matthew Nelson, Martin Vollrath, Orv Ulmer, Jim Foglesong, Ricky Short, Imogene Dahl and new chairman Chuck Link. Members were called forward and installed by Pastor Koch.

Martin Vollrath commended the improved Cafeteria sound system.

Bill Trowbridge and Ed Brettin were commended for their service as officers.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Penny Nelson, Secretary

PS 11

2/28 - 4th gr AG Day Armory 9:30-11:30 PK AM 16

PK PM 10

3/2-Saturday Math Contest Valpo gr 5-8 K 10

1st 15

3/3-3/8 NLSW beginning w/ worship on 3/3 2nd 19

at 10:45 service 3rd 16

4th 18

3/8-STUDENT COUNCIL DANCE 5th 11

5-10pm—Gym/ Cafeteria 6th 11

7th 10

3/12-SCHOOL BOARD 8th 10

Total 157

SPELLING BEE WINNERS from St. John’s School, Feb. 6, 2002

1st Place Zachary Ulmer 1st Place Blaise Fetters

2nd Place Nick Rissler 2nd Place Ronnie Beach

3rd Place Annamarie Gerick 3rd Place Emily Krentz

Alternate Mason Beach Alternate Megan Gilchrist

1st Place Sara Firnhaber

2nd Place Michael Koontz

3rd Place Karen Eigenmann

We currently have a total of only $45.00 in arrears SMART payments...that means parents are paying their payments...and that is good! Thanks to all the parents for their diligent effort to keep accounts up to date.

Education Fee $4,840.20 Full Tuition $6040.56

PS Tuition $2,168.18 PS+Member $1643.32

Day School $1,356.25 PD in Full $840.00

$16,888.51 SMART Collections to date 2/7/02

$37,312.28 SMART Payments total expected

SMART fees $805.00

Full Tuition $18,595.00

Full 2nd Semester $8,976.99

PS/PK 2nd Sem ester $5217.50

PS/PK Tuition $9,700.00

Member Education Fee $12952.00

Member Education 2nd $10057.69

*SUNDAY 3/3 10:45 Worship

*MONDAY 3/4 Volleyball in Gym...12:30

Julie/Cheryl in charge...involves grades 1 through 8

*TUESDAY 3/5 Evening Family Swim at the High School...Activity for students and parents enrolled at our dayschool.

*WEDNESDAY 3/6 Movie Day in the Gym...PK-3rd 9:00-11:00; 4th-8th 12:30-2:15...Video projected movies with popcorn and drink.

*THURSDAY 3/7 Each student brings 1 dozen cookies to be packed in ornamental boxes to deliver to police station, fire station, mayor, court house, hospital...Delivered by student council members.

*FRIDAY 3/8 PTL Luncheon for Teachers...with back rubs from volunteer therapists 11:00-12:30...PTL in charge of finding teacher replacements...Lee Rardin, a local artist will hold drawing technique classes in cafeteria as follows:

K-1st 8-8:30

2nd 8:35-9:15

3rd 9:20-10:00

4th 10:05-10:50

5th/6th 12:30-1:15

4th/8th 1:20-2:15

PTL IS SPONSORING THE ENTIRE WEEK’ WORTH OF EVENTS!!

Rio Light, Our PreSchool Director, will be undergoing intestinal surgery soon. Location and time are unknown at this writing.

It’s our annual LET’S GO FISHIN’ MONTH! This month, we are encouraging children to fish for a friend, and “reel ‘em in” to Sunday School! The children who bring visitors, as well as “the catch” of the day will have a chance to fish for candy fish from our fish bowl. Let’s do as Jesus instructed and be FISHERS OF MEN! With His help, we can do a great job!

We were astounded at the enthusiastic giving during our “Save Our Sawmya” Mission Project in January! We originally had a shortfall of $159 to meet our commitment to Compassion “Sawmya” from India. The children (from 2 year old/parent through 8th grade) were challenged to bring change every week. Money was assigned a point value. Each week the total points were added for each class. It was a pretty close contest, but in the end, it was our Kindergarten class that tallied the highest points! A total of $417.01 was collected (including two gifts from adult friends of the Sunday School). We just praise God for this answer to prayer. With the surplus funds we will be able to purchase gifts for Sawmya’s birthday and a gift for next Christmas, PLUS, we’ll have a good start on next year’s commitment! To all the parents who encouraged their child to share and tithe...THANK YOU!

During the month of February, we focused on our “Have a Heart for the La Porte County Home” project. Mrs. Rita Winger, director of the home, came to explain to everyone how the County Home got started, and the purpose of the residence. Door offerings were collected from the Congregation, and the children and their families were encouraged to remember the residence of the home when they did their weekly shopping. Items such as toothpaste, socks, shampoo, microwave popcorn, etc. were brought in by the students. With the money collected from the door offerings, we will purchase Bibles and Christian audio/ visual tapes for the residents. In March we will take a field trip to the La Porte County Home, deliver the collected items, and sing a few songs while we visit with the residents. A report on the amount of the door offerings collected will be noted in the bulletin, when available. Thanks to everyone who gave “from the heart”! Thought for the day: BE AN ORGAN DONOR...GIVE JESUS YOUR HEART!

Brandon Gropp, Caleb Bublitz, Tyler Games, Austin Gropp, Madeline Livinghouse, Mary Lloyd, Brook Baima, Samuel Feldt, Abbey Lloyd, Nickolas Owens, Storm Shortt, Susan Feldt, Lindsey Hull, Jenna Marie Kalsow, Alexander Kelsey, Morgan Livinghouse, Taylor Baima, Emily Barnhart, Katrina Games, Chelsea Levandoski, Brittney Ryan, Sam Bublitz, Justin Farrell, Victoria Kelsey, Paul Lloyd, Sky Shortt, Andrew Schuelke, Tom Feldt, Jacob Barnhart, and Larry Keller. Thirty students had perfect attendance during January! (We think this sets a January record.) Praise the Lord! These children received smiley face “Jesus Loves Me” bouncy balls!

In the classroom...our 7th-8th Grade class has begun a new study on Esther and Ruth...What interesting ladies! Come and check us out! We’re meeting in the church basement, in the room under the stairway.

Due to the Easter Sunday Service time change, Sunday School will be held from 8:45-9:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday only. Come celebrate the Lord’s resurrection with us! Alleluia! He lives!

Project 2000 and Beyond—(Update letter from the Board of Trustees)

As you may or may not know, in 1999 the Voters Assembly agreed to support Project 2000 from start to finish. The Board of Trustees had a few set backs with this project—namely the repair of the Gym roof and School roof and both pastors leaving. It is now 2002 and we are ready to move on with the Church addition & improvements. With your support we will accomplish the following as you can see by the preliminary drawings.

1. New Welcome Center.

2. 3-stop elevator

3. Handicap accessible bathrooms on the main floor.

4. Handicap accessible bathrooms in the basement.

5. Ramp to make our lower basement level handicap accessible also.

6. Air conditioning in the main floor only.

7. New electrical service in the church with its own transformer.

8. New transformer for the school.

9. Cry room for our new parents and children. (We are working on a

new location for this as requested by many of you.)

10. New car port and drive up at welcome center level.

11. Moving the men’s restroom in the basement.

12. Enlarging the bride’s room.

13. Some new tile in the Narthex.

14. New Church storage under the Welcome Center.

15. New lighting in the Church .

16. New Janitors sink.

We ask that you pray for this project and that all boards and committees involved in this project, that this will help with our mission at St. John’s. And that we may glorify our Lord by reaching out lovingly to those with special needs to bring them into fellowship with the rest of their brothers & sisters in Christ.

Donations toward this project can be made to the Building fund.

Paul Shelby (Chairman) 369-1363

Alan Childress 785-4232

David Lee 654-7313

Mark Johnson 326-5521

Mark Hill 325-9031

Mary Jo Uebele 362-2538

Matt Heinold 362-9168

George Johnson 324-7625

Dale Fischer

Yours in Christ, The Board of Trustees

Pastor Koch has started a new Discipleship Class for those adults who would like to become members of St. John’s on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the School Cafeteria. It is not too late to join! Current St. John’s members are also invited to attend to refresh their knowledge, meet these new people and help them feel at home here. If you would like information, see Pastor Koch.

Teens and Young adults are invited to participate in a Bible Study on the video “All Stressed Out?” This Bible Study uses real-life material, including TV commercials, creative skits, etc. This study takes place in the Youth Room Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m.. For more information, see leader Mark Bublitz.

A new Bible Study on Christian Parenting began on Sunday, February 24 at 9:30 a.m. Christel Bublitz leads the discussion on the video series “Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly”. This twelve-part interactive series explores the principles of effective Christian parenting that have proven to be workable, realistic and effective models for families like yours. Come to as many sessions as you can, even if you have to miss some! See Christel for more information.

A Bible Study for the Deaf take place on the 4^th Saturday of each month at 7pm in the Ladies Lounge. Hearing persons are also invited to learn and help with this ministry. For more information, see Debra Trowbridge.

Sunday morning at 9:30am join us in the Music Room for a study on Working Together as Christians - the Family of God”. This is a discussion on what the Bible says about our different roles as Christians. Group leaders will be Bill Trowbridge, and for the last few sessions, Pastor Karl Koch. For more information, call Bill at (574-654-7815).

On Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. during Lent, join us for a “Creation versus Evolution” video Bible study on “Science, Evolution, and the Bible”. This class is centered on the new “Answers in Genesis” video series, and is being taught by Science Teacher Bill Trowbridge. For more information, call Bill at (574-654-7815).

March 1—5:30pm—T-N-T planning meeting at Schuelke’s

March 3—5:30-6:30pm—Mission Trip Prayer Group in the Youth Room

6-8pm—Surprise Activity & Bible Study

March 10—6-8pm—Capture the Flag in the Gym & Bible Study

March 17—5:30-6:30pm—Mission Trip Prayer Group in Youth Room

6-8pm—Medic Ball & Bible Study

March 24—6-8pm—T-N-T (Teen Non-Traditional Service) in the Church

March 31—EASTER BREAKFAST! (Gym) (set-up times to be announced)

A new Aerobics class has begun at St. John’s on Monday and Wednesday evenings! Julie Sinclair received instruction as an aerobics instructor when she was working in California, and wishes to use this gift at St. John’s. These classes will be a high/low impact aerobics class for men and women. It will include a warm-up, a cardio portion, strength training, abs, and cool down. All fitness levels will be able to participate, but plan to sweat! (Showers will be available.) Bring clean gym shoes and comfortable clothes. The class will take place Mondays and Wednesdays, starting promptly at 5:30 p.m. and ending by 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Julie at (219)326-0585 or sinergy@csinet.net.

Thursday June 13 - One Day Trip, Sail and Dine Chicago’s First Lady Cruise. A 90-minute narrated river and lake front cruise/luncheon at Chicago’s famous Eli’s Restaurant. Cost $51.00.

October 2-4 join us on a Fall Color Tour through Wisconsin. Our first stop: Chicago Botanical Gardens. Then we travel to the Kenosha area. We will visit the new Jelly Belly Center featuring full throttle fun with the Jelly Junction train. There are only two Jelly Bean centers in the world, one in California and one in Wisconsin. Visit Kahler Design Center which is rated as the most attractive destination in the Midwest, and Woodlake shops, with a driving tour of the Fall Colors. Our last day will include Pleasant Valley Llama Farm, Lake Geneva. Cost: double occupancy $285, single $360.

All trips include transportation, lodging, meals, handling of 1 piece of luggage and gratuities. Make reservations with Eunice Wright-tour director: 362-7947.

The boys basketball team finished their season with the Varsity Boys Winter Classic Tournament at South Haven Christian School. The girls volleyball team finished their season with a tournament at Plymouth. The sports awards night will be held on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City. A potluck dinner will be served.

Duneland Lutheran High School will celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week March 4th through 8th. The High School students will read to the

younger grade school students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Michigan City. We will be joining them for a chapel service at St. Paul’s. The High School students will also have an ice cream party and will do radio spots on WEFM in Michigan City.

The students attended the movie , “The Count of Monte Cristo”, as part of their English classes. The students also attended the Bible play, “The Corpus Christi Mysteries” at Valparaiso University after enjoying a pizza dinner at Tony’s in Valparaiso.

The January Open House for students desiring to attend Duneland Lutheran High School for the 2002-2003 school year was successful. Any students who missed it and wish to shadow a Duneland student for the day, may do so by contacting the School Office at (219) 874-5103. Registration is open for Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.

The South Suburban College of Music is presenting the Camarata Women’s Voices under the direction of Albert M. Jackson in concert Saturday, March 2nd, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Michigan City. The concert, “Shade of Winter, Light of Spring”, will include choral music by Brahms, Debussy, Persichetti, and others. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and over, and $8 for students. Children under 12 are free. Part of the admission fees will go to the Duneland Lutheran High School. Reservations can be made by calling Immanuel Lutheran Church at (219) 872– 4419.

Help us sell 650 dozen

Krispy Creme Donuts!

Profits from the event will benefit St. John’s School,

St. John’s Pre-School and St. John’s Sunday School.

The profits will be matched by AAL up to a maximum of $3,200.

Tickets are available at the School Office, Church Office, or by calling

Annette Williams at 326-8017, Imogene Dahl at 324-6668,

or Melody Povlock at 325-3049.

Regular Worship Services are at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. on Sunday. Communion will be held at the 8 a.m. service on the 1st & 3rd Sundays and the 7 p.m. & 10:45 a.m. services on the 2nd & 4th Saturday and Sunday. Special services & times are noted below:

March 2/3 (Sat/Sun)—Walther League Chorus sings at 8 a.m. service

March 6 (Wed)—Lenten Service with skit

March 9/10 (Sat/Sun)—Girls Scouts sing at 10:45 a.m. service

March 13—Lenten Service with skit

March 16/17—Walther League Chorus sings at 10:45 a.m. service

March 20—Lenten Service with skit

March 23/24—PALM SUNDAY—Walther League Chorus sings at both

services; A traditional procession of palms, lesson and music.

March 27—Passover Dinner—6pm—Cafeteria; Modern celebration, following Jewish customs, but with a Christian interpretation.

March 28—Maundy Thursday—7pm—Walther League Chorus sings; we celebrate the Institution of Holy communion & recall Jesus love.

March 29—Good Friday—7pm—Walther League Chorus sings; We remember the passion of our Lord. A time of meditation & reflection.

March 30—Easter Vigil—7pm—Walther League Chorus sings; We celebrate the saving activity of God throughout all history, culminating in the saving work of Jesus. We will welcome new members on this night.

March 31—Easter Sunday—6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service; 10 a.m. Service—We rejoice that we are risen with Jesus—the resurrection we celebrate every Sunday. There will be procession, song, banners, lights, music, Walther League Chorus, and Holy Communion at both services.

Paul’s happy words, opening the First Letter to the Corinthians, were followed very quickly with unhappy words about the divisions and rivalries that had sprung up like weeds in that congregation. Paul didn’t have the luxury of being able to take a course in conflict management at a local university. He had to attack the problem in the manner that seemed best to him at the moment...This letter, written almost two centuries ago, reveals that conflict management is hardly a new phenomenon.

Specific subjects or areas of division and conflict are as varied as the people involved in them. In the case of the Corinthians, loyalty to a particular apostle or teacher became a source of pride and jealousy. People in Corinth were aligning with these leaders as though they were heading up different political parties…

Another area of division had to do with spiritual gifts. As I read the New Testament, it seems clear to me that these gifts are given to the church. The fact that a particular person receives a particular gift is merely God’s method of providing that gift to the church...As a matter of fact, we might think of the gifts as persons who are needed by a given church in order for it to accomplish its mission and ministry….

The apostle was concerned that the cross of Christ was being emptied of its meaning and he pointed the Corinthians to the Gospel of God’s grace in Christ. He urged them to follow Christ alone, as people set free from sin by the grace of God in the cross of Christ. Worldly wisdom is humbled by the foolishness of the cross and if that humiliation was the way our Leader chose to save us then we certainly cannot follow Him with displays of smug superiority.

...The call of Peter, Andrew, James and John [was] to become “Fishers of People.”...they gave up their careers, along with success, prestige, money, influence, family life and the roofs over their heads. They gave up everything in order to become students of a penniless itinerant Teacher. Today, most of His “followers” will not give up an hour a week of their precious time. The great majority will not tithe and many don’t give a dime.

Commenting on this fact, Edward A. Beckstrom of Equality, Alabama, asked, “What have YOU left to follow Jesus?”…”First, we should leave our prejudices...I’m not just talking about the prejudices between the races or between religions, but the everyday prejudices between people that arise out of jealousy, or greed, or just personality conflicts. If there’s one thing Jesus couldn’t stand, it was prejudices of any kind. How He lit into the Pharisees because of their prejudices! He compared them to marble mausoleums, pretty on the outside, but full of corpses on the inside.

…”Another thing we need to leave is our aversion to the pain of new ideas. It’s been said that the seven last words of the church might very well be: ‘WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY.’...The very fact that Jesus walked up to a group of fisherman...and said ‘FOLLOW ME,’ was an indication that things would be different from then on. The people, the religion, the world would be changed by the presence of Christ in the world. EVERYTHING that God touches changes. So if the church doesn’t change, then there’s a strong indication that God has not touched the church or its people. Remember, when Christ says ‘Follow Me,’ if we’re not MOVING—read that ‘changing’—then we’re not following”…

If a church is having financial difficulty, every good steward ought to be concerned about that. Members need to be wary of how the money is spent, but they must examine their own stewardship as well. Often, God has provided the gifts, but the members have selfishly kept them. Almost always, the people who stir up the most trouble and complain the loudest about how money is spent are the ones who don’t give any of it. They are motivated personally by greed and they push their greediness onto Christ’s corporate Body.

The primary mission of the church is to people who are not in it yet… In the Church, there are two kinds of people-...those who have already left their nets to follow Christ and those who are being invited to do the same….

We cannot follow Christ if we insist on dragging out nets along. They will snag on rocks of greed, selfishness, pride and prejudice. We will keep going back to mess with them and Christ will move on out of sight. Never compare your following to someone else. Compare what you do to what has been done for you. Compare what you give to what you have been given. Christ has given us love and service without limit. Think for a minute about the “nets” He left for us!

Easter Sunday—Join us for Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. , then join us for

The breakfast is free. A Freewill donation will be

received with all profits going to the Youth Mission Trip.

If you would like to donate food or other supplies before the breakfast, please call

Senior High Youth Leader Cheri Schuelke at 325-8247 to find out what is needed.

111 Kingsbury Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350

Church—(219) 362-3726 (voice mail) School (219)362-6692 (voice mail)

FAX—(219) 362-2237 TDD (for hearing impaired) (219) 362-4742

Web site: www.stjohns-lpin.org

General E-mail Box: stjohns@stjohns-lpin.org

Intentional Interim Pastor—Rev. Karl Koch - (574) 876-9848 (cell)

Visitation Pastor—Rev. James Beversdorf - (219) 465-3921 (home)

Congregation Coordinator—Mrs. Debra Trowbridge - (574) 654-7815 (h)

Interim Music Director—Mr. Matt Nelson - (219) 362-7317 (home)

Organist—Mrs. Susan Rosselli - (219) 324-8364 (home)

Head Custodian—Mr. Barry Siddall - (219) 325-2956 (pager)

School Principal—Mr. David Wippich (219) 362-9288 (home)

Mary Rooney (Admin. Asst.), Mrs. Rio Light (Daycare/ Pre-school), Mrs. Karla Eigenmann (Kindergarten), Mrs. Marlene Will (1st Grade), Mrs. Sally Foglesong (2nd Grade), Mrs. Jan Martinsen (3rd Grade), Mrs. Lois Krider (4th Grade), Mrs. Jennifer Vant‘hof (5th Grade), Mrs. Cheryl Hoard (6th Grade), Mr. Steve Parry (7th Grade), Miss Julie Stelter (8th Grade),

President—Mr. Chuck Link, Jr.—(219) 326-1069

Vice President—Mr. James Crum—(219) 324-2985

Treasurer—Mr. Jeff Scherer—(219) 362-5333

Secretary—Mrs. Penny Nelson—(219) 362-7317

Elders—Mr. Mark Jerndt—(219) 326-1177

Trustees—Mr. Paul Shelby—(219) 369-1363

School Board—Mr. Scott Childress—(219) 362-7170

Missions & Evangelism—Miss Elyse Heidel—(219) 326-1866

Parish Education—Mrs. Christel Bublitz—(219) 325-0831

Parish Fellowship—Mrs. Jeanette Darby—(219)362-3891

Public Relations—Mrs. Peggy Droege—(219) 325-0011

Social Ministry—Mrs. Nancy Winn—(219) 324-9221

Stewardship—Mr. Dwayne Rogers— unlisted

Youth Board—Mrs. Julie Childress—(219) 785-4232