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A Newsletter concerning the
Mission and Ministry
of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN
Vol. 52 April 2003
No. 3
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“As one family, we lovingly proclaim Jesus Christ.”
From Pastor Koch:
A Dramatic Beginning
I’ve always been somewhat of a “drama nut.” I was active in drama starting in
high school and running through college and seminary days. I have found that a
lot of people are influenced by drama, particularly by stories with which they
can relate. The story impacts on them when they have something of the story in
their own lives.
Play writers call that “drawing the people into the story.” The writer will
tell you that the play has its most profound effect when the viewers feel
themselves to be a part of the action. AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS EXACTLY WHAT
HOLY WEEK IS ABOUT–GETTING ALL OF US INTO THE ACTION.
Now that action will begin in our lives as we welcome our Savior and King
into our city and lives on Palm Sunday. The action will continue as we recall in
the Wednesday Passover meal how God led us all out of slavery, in Egypt and in
Sin. Then the focus will shift to how our Lord prepares us to observe His
Passion by feeding us in His holy meal. On Good Friday we die with Him on the
cross, and learn to await with patience our resurrection morning.
Our Easter Vigil will be a celebration of new life for brothers and sisters
brought into the story by the waters of Holy Baptism. Then we finish the story
by celebrating our resurrection with Jesus.
REJOICE! SHOUT HALLELUJAH!! WE ARE RISEN WITH HIM!!! LET THE SOUND OF JOY
RESOUND. IT IS OUR STORY AS WELL!
From The Worship Committee…
April Worship Information:
Fifth Sunday in Lent- “The New Kingdom Predicted”
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Sat, April 5 - Traditional Worship Service - 7 pm
Sun, April 6 - Traditional Worship Service - 8 am - Communion
- Celebration Service Worship Service - 10:45 am
(Music led by the St. John’s Praise Team)
Palm Sunday- “The Coming Serving King”
Zechariah 9:9-10
Sat, April 12 - Traditional Worship Service with Communion - 7 pm
Sun, April 13- Traditional Worship Service with communion - 8 am
- Celebration Service with Communion—10:45 a.m.
(Music led by the St. John’s Praise Team)
- Handicapped Accessible Service - 2:30 pm - Communion
Easter Sunday- “Surely this is Our God”
Isaiah 25:6-9
Sat, April 19 - Easter Vigil Service - 7 pm
Sun, April 20 - Sunrise Service - 6:30 am -
- Easter Worship Service - 10:30 am
Second Sunday of Easter - “Holy Doubt Turned to Holy Joy”
John 20:19-31
Sat., Apr. 26 - Traditional Worship Service with Communion- 7 pm
Sun, Apr. 27 - Traditional Worship Service - 8 am
- Celebration Service - 10:45 am - Communion
(Music led by the St. John’s Praise Team)
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2003 LENTEN SEASON continues….
Theme - The Intimate Christ
“How Personal Is Your Relationship With Jesus?”
The stress will be on one’s personal relationship with Jesus, as seen through
the following incidents in the Gospel of John.
April 2nd: Jesus Raises Lazarus: John 11:1-44
Has Jesus come to raise you to new life? Do you know that you will never die
but have eternal life in Him? Have the grave clothes of sin and death been
“unwrapped from around you?”
April 9th: Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet: John 13:1-17
Has Jesus washed your feet? Has his servanthood so touched your life that you
are ready to serve others, to imitate him? Do you know how clean Jesus has made
you by his servanthood? Do you know how he has chosen you?
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From the School Principal…
St. John’s Lutheran School Principal’s Page April, 2003 Calendar of Events:
4/3 Faculty meeting
4/7 Spring break week
5/3 St. John’s Lutheran Academic Bowl invitational 8:00
5/4 Confirmation 10:45
5/9 Gr. 7 field trip
5/10 Sock Hop in gym…more on that later
5/14-20 Gr.7. and 8 to MPLS for mission trip
5/27 Gr 7 and 8 to Chicago
5/28 Teacher Workday
5/30 12:30 dismiss…bus in a.m….no bus at 12:30 Awards day…K graduation
5/31 Gr 8 Graduation @7:00 church service
Other Notes:
1. We currently have 162 children enrolled in St. John’s School from
preschool through the 8th grade.
2. Pizza Hut Fundraiser Nights will be the 3rd Wednesday of every
month throughout the 2003 calendar year. Last month we earned $187.00. Proceeds
are 20% of every dollar spent on pizza on that particular evening. Next: 3/19,
4/16, 5/21, 6/18, 7/16
3. Please continue to purchase Al’s and Kroger’s certificates. Thanks to
Dorothy and Jan for continuing to sell. We have raised over $3,000 so far for
the technology fund.
4. The 7th and 8th grade will be traveling to
Minneapolis for a spring mission trip excursion. We will be serving breakfast
and lunch to the disenfranchised on 3 separate meal occasions. Other plans
include a historic Mpls. paddleboat ride on the Mississippi, a tour of Concordia
University in St. Paul, an overnight camping experience at the aquarium under
the Mall of America, and much more! Please pray for our safety and that our
efforts to help the homeless will be fruitful.
5. Please pray for Hannah Hoard, the infant daughter of Cheryl and Chad
Hoard. Cheryl is our seventh grade teacher…and as of this writing…her daughter
has been in the hospital with bronchiolitis. Please continue to pray for Danette
Michaels as she fights cancer. And pray for Mindy Bremer’s father who continues
to struggle with lung and heart problems.
6. The school asks you to advertise our school to your friends and neighbors.
We currently are accepting students in all grades who exhibit a Christian
character and who are academically sound. PK/PS/K classes are filling fast!
7. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped with the spaghetti dinner
and magic show…the next family event will be in April. Thanks to everyone who
served as a sub teacher in the classrooms and who provided food during the PTL
sponsored luncheon on 3/7 for NLSW. The faculty and staff enjoyed the lunch. The
faculty also hopes you enjoyed the church service on 3/2!
8. School family church attendance for the third quarter was 72.5%! That is
up from 64% from this time last year.
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From our Seniors’ Committee
Senior Potluck
April 16, 11:30 in the cafeteria
Hope to see you there!
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From Our Boards & Committees…
FINANCE SECRETARIES
FINANCE SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR FEBRUARY
2002 Total Attendance - 1,926
2003 Total Attendance - 1,511
2002 General Fund-$35,766.42
2003 General Fund-$45,956.78
2002 Building Fund—N/A
2003 Building Fund—$1,133.00
2002 Mission Fund - $583.00
2003 Mission Fund—$838.00
2002 Scholarship Fund-not available
2003 Scholarship Fund-not available
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ALTAR GUILD
EASTER LILIES
It is time to start asking for donations for the Easter Lilies.
We do so appreciate all your help in the past and pray that you will be so
generous again this year. The cost per lily is $10.00.
You can make your donation to the Church Office, Kathy Page or Sherrill Lee.
Please let us know at that time if you will be picking them up. They will be
taken down after the 2nd service on Easter Sunday. If you are going to take your
lily, please be there to pick it up at that time. If you have any questions,
please feel free to call the Church Office, Kathy or Sherrill.. Thank you again
for you donations to the flower fund.
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PARISH EDUCATION
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEEDS
We are in need of a new Sunday School Superintendent.
We believe a man would be best suited for the position. Please pray about this!
If you feel called to lead the children of St. John’s in this way, or know
someone we should contact, please contact Christel Bublitz.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
This summer’s VBS, “The Jesus Expedition” will take place
from Monday July 28th through Friday August 1st. We will travel around the
world, from the depths of the sea to the heights of Mt. Everest—the miracles of
Jesus are everywhere! Join us and bring your friends! If you would like to help
in any capacity, whether for a day, part of the week, or the full week, contact
Sue Rosselli at fr.jim@csinet.net, or just come to the next meeting of the
VBS committee on April 3rd at 7:15 p.m. in the school library.
HEARING IMPAIRED MINISTRY
St. John’s offers worship and Bible study for Hearing
Impaired members of our congregation and the surrounding communities. On the
2nd Saturday of each month we have a CITI (Church Interpreter Training
Institute at Ft. Wayne Seminary) certified Interpreter for the Deaf signing at
the 7 p.m. worship service.
On the 4th Saturday of each month at 6 p.m. we have a Bible
Study with an Interpreter for the Hearing Impaired in the School Ladies
Lounge. Both hearing and Deaf members are invited to attend this study by
Indiana Missionary for the Deaf, Rev. Jerry Munz. We are currently studying the
book of Genesis. Our group size is now up to an average of 7 to 8
participants! PRAISE THE LORD for the growth of this ministry!
St. John’s Bible Studies
Sunday - 9:30 a.m. -Cafeteria - Adult Bible Study - Rev. Karl Koch -Music Room
- Men in the Church - Bill Trowbridge -Ladies Lounge - From Guest to Disciple - Terry Page
- Church Basement - Sunday School for Children 2 to 18 (Led by Sunday
School teachers)
Sunday - 6-8 p.m. - Youth Bible Study- St. John’s Youth Room
Tuesdays - 9 a.m. - Ladies Lounge - The Book of Acts (Led by Monyean Hahn)
Tuesdays - 7 p.m. -Ladies Lounge - Psalms: Conversations with God
(Led by Dorothy Moellman)
Thursdays - 6:30 pm -Cafeteria - The Gospel of John - Rev. Karl Koch
Saturday - 5:45 pm -Cafeteria - The Gospel of John Part 1 -
4th Saturday monthly
- 6 p.m. - Ladies Lounge - Genesis (With Interpreter for the Deaf Rev. Jerry Munz)
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PARISH FELLOWSHIP
AEROBICS CLASS
The Step Aerobics class is doing
Step-Aerobics at St. John’s on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings! Julie
Sinclair is the aerobics instructor. These classes are for men and women.
They 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 takes
place Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, starting promptly at 5:30 p.m. and
ending by 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Julie.
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
CHURCH PICTORIALS ARE HERE
Church Pictorials are here and can be signed for and picked
up from Emily in the Church Office. If no picture was taken and you would like a
book, they are available for $5.00 each. .
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SOCIAL MINISTRY
A special "Thank You" to all of you in the congregation and school for your
donations of food to help in this outreach to our fellow members .
Through your continued support of donations, we, the board of Social Ministry,
and the Men with a Mission Group, are able to deliver food baskets each month to
several families in our congregation in need of help. What a wonderful way to
show our love for each other. If you know of a member in need, please call one
of the board members. They are: Sherrill Lee; Richard Rutz; Sue Howell ;
Nancy Winn ; Deana Murray ; and Kathy Page.
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General Announcements
LWML OKLAHOMA CONVENTION
In a few short months, (June 19-22, 2003) you could be headed for
“Soonerland” (that’s Oklahoma) for the 30th Biennial LWML convention celebrating
“Lord of my Heart...our Hope.” One of the highlights at the convention in
Oklahoma City will be a genuine “OKLAHOMA” celebration night. It will begin with
a chuck wagon Bar-B-Que followed by an exciting evening or entertainment
performed by Discoveryland!Singers. Discoveryland! Is the national home of
Rogers and Hammerstein’s “OKLAHOMA!” The entire cast of 35 singers and dancers
will perform music and dance highlights from their awat winning production of
“OKLAHOMA!” Hope to see you there in OKC this summer. Website: www.lwml.org
TRIP FOR OUR SENIORS
Our Seniors will be traveling June 13-15 to scenic Southern
Indiana. Highlights will include the State House in Indianapolis, as well as
lunch and a show called “Ragtime Cabaret.” Then, they will be off to Corydon,
Lamier’s House, Clifty Falls State Park, and much more. Detailed information is
available from the Tour Director, Eunice Wright.
(NOTE: Telephone numbers have been left off the on-line newsletter.
If you need to get a hold of one of these people, contact the
church office at 219-362-3726.)
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