Last year on the Sunday before Christmas, the middle-aged daughter of one of the parishioners of my church was visiting from another state. After attending worship that Sunday morning, this visitor whom I didn’t know felt compelled to approach my wife about the “hymn selection” of the worship service. She said, “Tell your husband that he needs to pick out happier songs for his church. This is Christmas.”

Now, as you have discovered if you’ve attended church regularly since I’ve become your pastor, that on occasion, I have selected some hard to sing hymns for worship, for which I apologize and promise to do better. But that wasn’t this woman’s beef. She wanted to hear Christmas songs. There was one problem. IT WASN’T CHRISTMAS! It was ADVENT in our church calendar! Although it would be easy to chalk it up to her ignorance about the historical and liturgical worship practices that the church has used for centuries with its church calendar, or her lack of actual church attendance over the years, I suspect it was something different. It was that “holiday season” mentality.

And why wouldn’t she? Everything about our culture wants to rush to “Xmas.” We need only look to the media, what with Christmas advertising in our papers in October, Santa Clauses and decorations for sale the day after Halloween, and party planning and gift purchasing being done months in advance to beat the crowds. All in anticipation of the “joy of celebrating.” But celebrating WHAT?

In a “Peanuts” cartoon by Charles M. Schulz, little Lucy throws up her hands in utter despair and cries, “For months we looked forward to Christmas. We couldn’t wait till it came, and now it’s all over!” Even the actual day of “Xmas” doesn’t satisfy. For a few brief moments there is a special glow in the air. Life is softer, fun, more exciting somehow. For a few breathless moments the world is a magic land where everybody loves everybody and problems melt away.

But then the magic moment is past. The problems all return, and the gaiety and laughter turn out to be only whistling in the dark. The warm glow of friendship disappears, and people become strangers again, passing each other by, unknown and unrecognized. Imagine if St. John’s operated like that!

We don’t. We don’t tie all our joy up into one particular day a year. That’s why we have a liturgical church calendar which exists to help us live out the fulfillment of our lives as Christians, celebrating and recalling events in the life of our Lord (Advent through Easter season) and his church (Pentecost). That’s why our church celebrates seasonally the entire life of God’s plan for our salvation, begun in the manger in Bethlehem and fulfilled and completed upon a painful Roman crucifix. That’s why we go through a season of Pentecost and celebrate the life of discipleship on this earth. That’s why we speak of the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to return a 2^nd time to complete God’s plan of restoration for his children. That’s why we celebrate the season of ADVENT!

Advent is the beginning of our church calendar, a theme that prepares us, much like the ancient church of Old Testament believers, for the fulfillment of God’s promise to send us a Savior, a Messiah, to free us from the bondage to sin and the condemnation that comes with disobedience to our Lord. For us, it’s a time to celebrate with confidence the fact that God has indeed fulfilled all that we need for life, salvation and eternity because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf on His cross. It is a wonderful season full of anticipation and joy. How tragic it would be for us to give it the “bums’ rush” just so that we could get to one particular happy day.

It is my hope and prayer that you would make everyday, even these next 4 weeks of Advent, joyful days. Let’s live everyday with the hope, love, peace and joy of Christmas. And as I promised, I’ll make all our hymns “singable!”

Yours in service to our Advent King,

Pastor Young

Hello, My name is Timothy M. Sassaman. I am the second son of Roger and Pamela Sassaman, the youngest of three children. I have a brother John who works for a GM plant in Three Rivers, Michigan. My sister Tabie (Tabitha) works at a car dealership in Elkhart, Indiana. My father is the Vice President of manufacturing for Decorative Veneer Inc. My mother is working as a bookkeeper in Goshen, Indiana.
I was born May 31, 1975 in Muncie, Indiana. I was adopted and raised in Union, Michigan (a small town north of Goshen, Indiana). I graduated from White Pigeon High School in 1993, and went on to study Organizational Communications at Western Michigan University where I graduated with a BA in 1997.
I was baptized as a baby at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elkhart, Indiana. I was raised in that congregation and I enjoyed participating in Sunday school as well as Christmas and Easter programs. I was confirmed at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in 1989. My parents are currently members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Goshen, Indiana. I was an active member in Ongoing Ambassadors For Christ since I was 12 years old. I also taught 7th & 8th grade Sunday School for one year at Prince of Peace after I finished college.
I had always felt called to serve in the Church and several elders at Prince of Peace encouraged me to consider attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I started Seminary in 1998. Here, I met your Pastor David Young. I have also been learning a great deal while studying.
I met my wife Altagrace Maurice in the Spring of 2001. Her cousin Daniel Paul was a very close friend of mine and introduced us. She was living in Port Au Prince, Haiti. I traveled there and we were married on May 29, 2001. We wanted to start our lives together as soon as possible, so I filed for her residency visa as soon as I returned to the USA. Then, I took a leave of absence from Seminary and began a full time job working with the developmentally disabled as a trainer, which I will soon leave to be your vicar. The Lord blessed us and on May 29, 2003, my wife at long last received her visa and we met each other again in Detroit, Michigan.
Since then, I have been working full-time while attending seminary. My wife has been studying English and she is working to get her driver's license. She was working as a receptionist at a doctor's office in Haiti. She would like to study to be a nursing assistant.
We are both excited about the opportunity to learn under Pastor Young's supervision and I am looking forward to serve the Lord in your congregation. We hope to set a move date shortly. May God continue to richly bless your congregation!

In His Service,

Timothy M & Altagrace Sassaman

CALENDAR ITEMS;

Dec. 5 FINAL REHEARSAL CIVIC CONCERT @ 7:00
7 CIVIC CONCERT @ 4:00
17 CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 7:00 ..WED. EVENING ADVENT

SERVICE
18 PTL CRAFT FAIR...FACULTY BIBLE STUDY WITH PASTOR
19 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE CHRISTMAS BREAK


TUITION MONEY AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:

1. Pizza Hut Fundraiser continues. The next dates is 12/17. St. John's receives 20% on the dollar for all purchases on these evenings. The proceeds are currently helping our 7th & 8th graders pay for proposed spring trips. Order take out or delivery from the La Porte Pizza Hut from 4-11:00pm.

2. Innisbrook fund raiser brought in $4000 for the second consecutive year.
These proceeds will purchase new desks beginning in grade 6 and working
our way down to grade 5 and 4 hopefully.

3. We have utilized several grants from the government to hire a testing
consultant, textbook instructional assistance for teachers, the Wheel of
Wisdom game for Red Ribbon Week, teacher instructional seminars, BAT in grade 4, CPR and first aid training for the faculty and school personnel,
video instruction for Blood Borne pathogens and supplies to use.

4. Church attendance for the first quarter was 79.89% for K-8. Last year
at this time it was 71.2%.. Forty-eight children attained perfect
attendance this first quarter. They were treated by the PTL. Last year at
this time we had twenty-four perfect church attendance students.
Commendations to parents and students alike for making this intensive
effort to worship.

5. NLSA Committee recommended that we fix a playground situation where our fall zone by the swings were too close to the barriers. Thanks
to Jack and Annette Williams for organizing and rectifying this situation.

They also recommended improvement in classroom ventilation. A partial aid included repair of the exhaust fan in the gym and the purchase of a large barn fan to help exhaust the hallways. These at least moved some air but did not alleviate classroom temperatures and humidity and carbon dioxide problems.

6. A. This school year we have again implemented the following augmented marketing plan pertaining to school family activities. We have branded this with a name... F.A.N. (family activity night) and are currently scheduling activities.

December 17: School Christmas Program, 7: 00 p.m.
December 18: PTL Craft

January 23: Movie Night sponsored by the faculty with Valentine
construction from 6-7 with movie following. Concessions available.
February: School Board..no date set
March: NLSW is from March 7 through 13, 2004. Worship service will be at 8:00 on March 7.
Swimming at the YMCA will be an evening activity. Other events are being planned as well. The swimming is sponsored by the School Daze Newspaper Club
April: PTL sponsored Sock Hop and or Roller skating.
May: Music Dept will sponsor a spring musical or concert.

6. B. This year we have also implemented a community assistance and awareness program consisting of serving dinner at the Salvation Army on the 3rd Friday of every month. Annette Williams is the overseer of this event. It involves preparing, serving and cleaning up for local people needing meal assistance. The schedule is as follows:
December: Is being led by Penny Nelson on 12/19/03.
January: Faculty serve on 1/16/04.
February: The Walther League Chorus on 2/20/04
We still need other groups to cover March, April, May, June, July.

6. C. We are also working on establishing an Alumni Committee. Edna Kelsey has volunteered to begin this project. The committee will hopefully establish goals and a viable reason for operation.

7. We have been collecting food items for our church pantry this quarter again and also collected $845.74 to send to the Harbor Lights Mission in

Minneapolis where the 7th and 8th graders did mission work last spring. Our second quarter monetary collection will be given to our local Salvation Army.

8.. Perfect school attendance children were rewarded with a dinner coupon to Ponderosa...provided by Ponderosa.

ALL ABOUT DAVE WIPPICH

My name is David Wippich, and I am currently in my 23rd year of service here at St. John's Lutheran Church and School. I am the principal of the school and am in my third year in that capacity. Initially, I accepted a Divine call to serve St. John's in the fall of 1981 I began my teaching career as the 5th grade teacher and Athletic Director. I served in that capacity until 1995. From that time until 2000 I continued to serve as the 5th grade teacher and assisted in many areas. My duties now include meeting preparations for the board, council and voters...physical ed instruction in grades 3/4 and 5/6 and religion instruction on Pastor Young's day off and a myriad array of scheduling and coordinating events throughout the school as we communicate Christ and connect with our church and community.
I attended a small Lutheran elementary school in Southern Minnesota and went on to attend Amboy-Good Thunder High School in Minnesota. I graduated with honors in 1976 and successfully completed 4 years of college prep courses, athletics, music, theater and declamatory competitions. I went on to attend Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. I graduated in 1980 with a degree in elementary education with a concentration in Biology/Life Sciences and a minor in Political Science. In 1989 I earned a Master's Degree in elementary education and graduated with Highest Distinction Honors. I currently hold an instructional life license in the state of Indiana and a long term sub license in the state of Minnesota.
My wife, children and I reside in La Porte; our families reside primarily in Minnesota and California. I have been married to my wife, Robin for 21 years and we have two children, Justin age 17... a junior at LPHS and Caitlin age 13, an 8th grader here at St. John's. I was born in
Robbinsdale, Minnesota, on April 1, 1958. My wife was actually born in Honolulu. My family consists of 2 brothers, 4 sisters, and my father, who all reside in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. My mother was called to the Lord on 12/31/98, as she succumbed to a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. My wife's family consists of 3 brothers and 1 sister, and her parents who all reside in various areas of California from San Diego to the Northern highlands. Of course our family vacations consist of visiting relatives in Minnesota and taking a road trip to California every two years.
My outside interests are mostly related to following sporting events. I used to be involved in a participatory manner until 1989 when I destroyed my right knee playing football with the youth group in the gym. I am no longer able to participate in competitive events, but I do manage to golf a couple times a year and maybe do some fishing and occasionally play some tennis on a limited basis. I also occasionally sing at weddings and other events upon request when time allows.
I was led to the ministry by God at a young age and have been fortunate to become established here at St. John's Lutheran Church and School. I have been able to utilize my God given abilities in the classroom, on the athletic fields by coaching and instruction...and through administrating, planning, and organizing athletic events and programs for the school.
I am grateful that God has provided my physical needs, and that he has blessed my ministry. Many times over the years, I have been reminded of my confirmation verse...John 15:5..."I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. " And I daily think of the words Florian Felts told me upon my installation, "The Lord will Bless your ministry," as I leave my house, where on the wall is a cross given to me by the faculty in 1981...that states..."The Lord Bless You and Keep You." To God be the glory.

Voter’s Meeting St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Chuck Link. Pastor Young led the assembly in prayer.

Minutes from the August 6 meeting were read. A correction was made stating that contemporary worship will be held on the first and third Sundays and traditional worship on the second and fourth. The minutes were approved as corrected.

Dave and Beth Hoeppner were welcomed as new voting members

Jim Crum presented the following ballot for elections: Vice-President, Jim Crum, Secretary, Penny Nelson; and Trustees, Don Kessler, Scott Tharp, and Chris Fronk. Jim Crum nominated Dale Fischer for the office of treasurer and Jeff Scherer as assistant treasurer. A motion to accept the ballot as presented was made, seconded, and passed.

The following board appointments were announced: Elders, Scott Childress and Terry Page; Mission and Evangelism, Laura Lee Snyder; Parish Education, Bea Shelby, Julia Livinghouse-Ryan, and Joan Scherer; Social Ministry, Nancy Winn and Deanna Murray; Youth Board, Candy Gonzales and Gail Johnson.

Pastor Young reported the following:

Dave Wippich elaborated on the report presented elsewhere in this newsletter. In addition he announced that All State Academic Soccer Awards had been given to former St. John’s students Brian Crum and Tod Lowery.

Jeff Scherer presented the attached report.


 

Upcoming Events at St. John’s

Our 70^th annual Christmas Concert will be here before we know it! It is scheduled for Sunday, December 7 at 4:00 pm in the Civic Auditorium. Wow….that’s all that I have to say! We are going to perform a cantata titled “Christmas Is Jesus”. It is by far one of the best pieces of music that has recently been published. We will also be using an orchestra for the performance of the cantata. Unfortunately, the orchestra will cost money. For many of the musicians that will be playing, this is how they make a living. The chorus, as you know, is a not-for-profit organization. We have asked many businesses in the La Porte area to help

cover the costs by sponsoring the instrumentalists. We would also like to ask you to do the same. The average cost of a musician is $100.00. If you would like to make a donation, please send it to the church office. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call Matt Nelson at 362-7317 or 380-9030. We hope to see you ALL in the auditorium on Dec. 7^th. Bring a friend that needs to hear the true meaning of Christmas!

From the Herald-Argus "Stuffers":

The Herald-Argus stuffers are in need of workers for Mondays and Saturdays. Our summer helpers are returning to warmer climates! On Mondays we start at 6 a.m., but some workers come later at 7 a.m. On Saturdays we work 11 a.m.-1 p.m. If you can't help every Monday or every other Saturday, perhaps you could be on the "on call" list. The money we make goes to various church programs and to the general fund. For more information call Karen Piper at 362-8070.

No reports

There was no new business

A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn.

The meeting was closed with the Lord’s prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Penny Nelson, Secretary

The Board of Social Ministry would like to thank everyone for their continued donations of food. We have been delivering 10 food baskets each month. In addition, monetary assistance has been given to many individuals.

From the Board of Trustees:

The original heating system in our church which has served us for nearly 50 years has failed. This forces us to replace the boiler with a new heating and air-conditioning system that has been approved by the Voters Assembly. This also involves updating the wiring system. The boiler has been patched once again in hopes it can heat the church for services until the forced air heating system, that is now in the process of being installed, can take over. Contributions are now being accepted for this much needed improvement at St. John's. The trustees thank you for your help and understanding during this transitional period. Thank you.

H & G Plumbing & Heating has removed the air handler and will start to dismantle the boiler. Some of the smaller furnaces have been delivered to H & G and will start to be installed immediately. The trustees have accepted a bid from Express Electric who is expected to start right away. We are anticipating a Christmas completion. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Hill at 325-9081.

It is already time to start thinking about Christmas decorations. If you would like to help us, the Altar Guild, by purchasing poinsettias, the price is $10 each. You can make your check payable to St. John's Flower Fund and drop it (or cash) off at the church office or hand it to Kathy Page, Joan Scherer or Sherrill Lee. Also, please let us know if you will be picking up your plant immediately after the 2nd service on Sunday, December 28, or if you would like to donate it.

The Activities Committee wishes to thank everyone that participated in making the Fall Bazaar and Luncheon a success. We received $1128.29 from the luncheon. The Activities Committee donated it to the Church Heating & Cooling Fund, which resulted in a $500 gift from Thrivent Insurance. Thanks again for your support.

The Stewardship Committee will be handing out "Advent Devotions for Stewards", a devotional pamphlet for the first 24 days of December. We will also be mailing pamphlets out to those unable to attend church services. Happy Holidays and God's Blessings to you from the Board of Stewardship.

The Thrift Shop now has a good supply of winter and holiday clothing. New Christmas items are being added each week. Come in and browse and you'll be surprised what you can't live without

Beginning November 29, the 2004 Contribution Envelopes will be available for pick up in the church lower level. Some numbers have been changed from 2003. If you have any questions please call Head Teller, Ron Scherer at 326-1142.

The books in the Activities Room are looking for readers and for a librarian. They are looking for YOU!

What! You are not in a Bible Study? We are on a mission to find YOU a class! Please check the list of available classes, or propose studies that would be of interest to you. Grow in the knowledge of Him who loves you beyond human understanding!

Colossians Wednesday 10:30 a.m. LL Pastor Young

Grades 5-8, Bible Impact Friday 2:35 p.m. YR S. Foglesong

”Men with a Mission” Saturday 8:00 a.m. LL B. Trowbridge --Wkly Script Readings

The Sunday School thanks Geri and Mike Lemke and Jamie Michaels for being such a blessing in the life of the Sunday School program and in the lives of the children that participated in their classes. We miss you already! Most grateful thanks to Chris Fronk and Rhonda Mc Connell for stepping in to fill their shoes. Thank You Lord for all these willing workers.

Our 70^th annual Christmas Concert will be here before we know it! It is scheduled for Sunday, December 7 at 4:00 pm in the Civic Auditorium. Wow….that’s all that I have to say! We are going to perform a cantata titled “Christmas Is Jesus”. It is by far one of the best pieces of music that has recently been published. We will also be using an orchestra for the performance of the cantata. Unfortunately, the orchestra will cost money. For many of the musicians that will be playing, this is how they make a living. The chorus, as you know, is a not-for-profit organization. We have asked many businesses in the La Porte area to help cover the costs by sponsoring the instrumentalists. We would also like to ask you to do the same. The average cost of a musician is $100.00. If you would like to make a donation, please send it to the church office. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call Matt Nelson at 362-7317 or 380-9030. We hope to see you ALL in the auditorium on Dec. 7^th. Bring a friend that needs to hear the true meaning of Christmas!

A Christmas Service in the German Language:

The 19th Annual “WEIHNACHTSGOTTESDIENST” will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road in South Bend (corner of Auten and Laurel). A time of fellowship will follow the service. For more information, please phone the church office at 574-271-1050. Alle sind eingeladen.

On December 14, the Sunday School will be Christmas Caroling to our St. John’s shut-ins. If anyone is interested in caroling, please join us in the Sunday School lower level. We will go caroling from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. After caroling we will be having a pizza party in the school cafeteria. Please join the Sunday School for an afternoon of spreading Christmas Joy. In Christ, Rhonda Mc Connell, Sunday School Superintendent, 369-1245.

Take a walk through history on your way to Bethlehem with Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, Shepherds and Fellow Citizens. Stop in villages on the way to see the vendor’s wares and taste their food. But, be alert, the guards may stop your family and ask you to produce your “papers”. You will be well rewarded at the end of your trek, when you will get to see the Newborn King! You can experience all these things and more at the BREMEN HOLY WALK. It takes place on December 19 and 20, Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, call 1-574-546-2042 or 574-546-2667. Or, you may ask Terry or Renee Scherer at 325-8831.

On December 21 at 3:00 p.m., there will be an ALL GERMAN CHRISTMAS SERVICE at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Michigan City. Pastor David M. Albertin will be conducting the service and there will be refreshments afterward. For more information, you may call the church at 219-872-4419.

Chilly anyone! Then warm up with a hot bowl of chili at our Chili Supper! It will be held on Friday, January 30, from 4-7 p.m. at St. John’s School Cafeteria. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. Dinner will include chili (all you can eat), cornbread, fruit, cake and a beverage. There will also be tickets available for a Children’s Hot Dog Meal (hot dog, chips, cake and drink) for $3.00. Tickets go on sale after Christmas.

Each week in church, we pray for those members recently hospitalized. Prayers have also been requested for the many other members who are no longer able to attend our services or need our assistance. The following is a list of our brothers and sisters that are in local nursing homes we need to remember in our prayers:

Martha Darsch, Louise Huge, Richard Garrison, Marie Schwinkendorf, Robert Struss, Emil Assman and Virgil Tibbs.

Frances Grisamore, Barbara Hagenow, Mildred Ludwig and Betty Tesmer.

Jean Assman, Regina Demzien, Cleda Giese, Mildred Sramek, Raymond Sramek and Oda Mae Tieman.

Russell and Helen Brown.

Harold Kelling, Norman Kiff and Robert Richter.

Charles Nickel

From the Herald-Argus "Stuffers":

The Herald-Argus stuffers are in need of workers for Mondays and Saturdays. Our summer helpers are returning to warmer climates! On Mondays we start at 6 a.m., but some workers come later at 7 a.m. On Saturdays we work 11 a.m.-1 p.m. If you can't help every Monday or every other Saturday, perhaps you could be on the "on call" list. The money we make goes to various church programs and to the general fund. For more information, call Karen Piper at 362-8070

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