A Newsletter concerning the
Mission and Ministry
of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN
Vol. 53 June
2004
No. 6
“As one family, we lovingly proclaim Jesus Christ.”
FROM YOUR PASTOR, David M. Young
Dear Friends in Christ Jesus:
It seems like just yesterday, I was beginning my service to you as Pastor of
St. John’s. However, I’m writing this letter to you preparing for the 1st
Anniversary of my installation as your pastor. A lot has happened in the
ministry of the church since the day that I stood in front of you and confessed
that I would uphold the sanctity of the Holy Scriptures in my ministry to you. I
do pray that I have been faithful to God, Holy Scripture, and the office to
which you have called me to meet your spiritual needs as your pastor.
My prayers also include your acceptance of what has been preached and taught.
For if I have been faithful to my calling, you have heard the Gospel of Christ,
the grace and love of Jesus, and the forgiveness of sin and sins, no matter how
or what those sins may be.
One of the messages that has also been preached and taught has been our need
for confession of those sins. The word “confession” in the Biblical sense
literally means “to say the same thing.” When we confess our sins, we agree with
God, and affirm that we have been behaving “opposite” of what God has willed for
our lives. The concept of confession that we often neglect is the kind of
confession where we acknowledge sin and guilt in our lives in light of what God
has revealed to us.
So often we allow unconfessed sin in our lives to control us. We allow the
guilt and shame of what we may have done to eat at us, making us feel worse each
time the memory of what we have done pops into our minds. We’re also reminded of
it when someone throws it up in our faces. Do you know that this guilt can lead
to an abundance of other problems? It can lead to emotional problems that
manifest themselves in ways such as addiction, anxiety, depression, stress, and
apathy. These emotional problems can lead to physical problems, such as ulcers,
high blood pressure, heart disease, or even bringing someone to the brink of
suicide!
Satan is behind our guilt and shame. He’s called the “accuser of the
brethren” who tries to uphold his influence among us by bringing false charges
against Christians, with the desire to weaken our Christian faith and witness
and injure the cause of the Gospel by which we are identified. He knows that if
he can make us feel guilty and ashamed, then we will hide from God, like Adam
and Eve did in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). He knows that we can ask God to
forgive our sins and remove our guilt (Psalm 32:5), even our hidden sins
(Psalm 19:12–13). He knows that God can cleanse us from all sin (Psalm
51:2) because Jesus Christ has taken away all the guilt (Romans 3:23–24)
for those who trust in Him. But if Satan can keep us from confessing that sin;
acknowledging our sinfulness before God, than we will remain
slaves to the sin itself, and becomes slaves to Satan.
For us as Christians, Satan’s charges are always false. Why? Because when we
acknowledge our sins before God, and believe and trust that Jesus Christ paid
the penalty for our sins, we are forgiven those sins! We are reconciled with God
and our neighbors who we may have sinned against. In the eyes of God, “if we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9). The prophet Isaiah (1:18)
tells us that even though our sins stain us like scarlet, “they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Confessing our sins is the hard part. Receiving the absolution, that we are
forgiven, pardoned for our sin, freed from the grip of Satan, is the part that
we need to hear! We need this declaration of forgiveness. Absolution may be
viewed as the way we sinner’s find forgiveness. Biblical teaching shows that
only God forgives sin, purely by the grace given to us through the death and
resurrection of Jesus, his Son. And the means of God’s grace can only be found
today by proclamation of the Gospel found in His Word and in his Sacraments. The
church is the place to go to receive such absolution.
But why go to church when we can just close our eyes and ask God to forgive
us? Or why not just go to a friend to get whatever’s bothering us off our chest?
Well, there is more to confession than merely talking out our problems or
unloading a burden on a friend. And there’s more to absolution than just good
advice. We need forgiveness. We need the peace and consolation that only
Christ can give us!
So, how do we receive absolution after we confess our sin? As I mentioned
above, the church is the place to come to hear the Gospel, confess our sins and
receive absolution. We begin our worship every Sunday by corporately making the
confession of our sinfulness and corporately receive absolution by the
proclamation I make as your pastor. We hear the forgiveness of Christ’s Gospel
read and proclaimed in the sermon. We receive absolution when we come to the
altar with repentant hearts and receive Christ’s body and blood at the meal He
instituted for our forgiveness, offered to you each Sunday.
Yet there may be times when the burden or circumstances may require you to
confess privately. As your Pastor, I want you to know that Private Confession
and Absolution is ALWAYS available to you, whenever you seek to
confess those sins which you know and feel in your heart, especially those that
trouble you. Private Confession and Absolution with your pastor may not sound
“Lutheran.” The idea of absolution conjures up pictures of dark confessional
booths and clichéd penitential formulas chanted with no true repentance. But it
is not an archaic practice. It is Biblical. In 2 Sam. 12:13 David confessed to
the prophet Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The
Lord has taken away your sin.” The proclamation that I make that your sins
are forgiven is not my word. Because I’ve been called and commissioned by
Christ, mediated by you, the members of St. John’s, when you receive your
pastor’s absolution, it as if it is from God Himself. Luther tells us not to
doubt it but “firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in
heaven.”
Dear friends, there is no one as lonely as someone alone with their sin. But
through confession and Holy absolution, Christ wipes out that loneliness. Christ
is present in our worship. Christ is present when your Christian brother hears
your confession. And Christ is with you in your pain. He speaks through the
mouth of your pastor, your Christian brother, to erase your guilt with the word
of His forgiveness; and in that word there is healing and peace. It is the
healing and peace of Christ.
May God grant you His grace and mercy in assurance that your confession has
been heard and your sins forgiven. May God also bless me with many more years in
ministry and service to you in His name.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
St. John’s Lutheran School
Principal’s Report
I. Calendar of events:
6/1 Perfect church attendance for the year Escalade and lunch 11-1:00
6/2 Grade 3 to Navy Pier....Public school last student day..
Grade 7/8 to Field Museum
Pre-kindergarten Graduation 6:30 gym
6/3 Teacher workday...remember no cards out to anyone who owes money...that
includes PS and PK
6/4 Awards day, dismiss at 12:30 No buses at dismissal or in morning
6/5 Grade 8 Graduation 7PM church service, all should attend
10/14 Chapel with Doug Larson...this is a Thursday
10/20 Wheel of Wisdom
II. CURRENT ENROLLMENT
As of 5/11/04 is 167 compared to 162 at this time last year.
A School year ending devotion from the principal entitled:
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
We see the light at the end of the tunnel, you the eternal optimist or
pessimist or realist (that's me)...many meanings...I suppose literally it
implies sun shining at the end of a tunnel...Metaphorically it might mean we are
passing from darkness or a difficult and time consuming situation to a time of
rest or to a light of hope of better things to come...the burden is lifting and
we wait for something less stressful. Teachers see this light this time of year
as days are counted down to the euphoric last day of school...and the light is
bright...and we realize that it...is a TRAIN...coming our way.
We are 50 or 60 going on whatever age in whatever direction and we remember when
we were younger wondering what we would be when we grow up. Sometimes we may
still wonder what we will really do when we grow up...And when we were somewhere
in our 30's...thinking that our present condition was merely a rough patch...and
now we know...that phase has been and is...our life. We have things we like to
do sometimes to distract us from our life...which in effect is to enhance our
life. I pick up numerous football mags and study the draft for months before the
football draft and analyze the caliber of it for months after the draft and
finally anticipate and hope for the culminating restructured favorite team (Vikings)and
the games that are to come....we wish, we dream, we hope, we seek comfort from
God, His word and those wonderful distractions with which he has gifted us.
Through the eyes of Saul in Acts 26:13 at midday O King I saw on the way a light
from Heaven, brighter than the sun shining around me and those who journeyed
with me...so at the end of the tunnel we too can see the light as did Saul...the
light of the Lord that leads us to Him.
III. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
1. The results for our recent Academic Bowl are as follows: Seven teams
from various Lutheran schools competed on May 1 in our 3rd annual Academic Bowl
sponsored by Jan Martinsen with help from Mrs. Krider, Mrs. Will, Mrs. Bremer
and various parents. ***3rd place went to the team from Trinity of Crown
Point...2nd place went to the St. John's LaPorte team comprised of Annamarie
Gerick, Heather Macher, Sam Bublitz, Ellen Hough, Brody Shoffner...1st place
also went to St. John's LaPorte team comprised of Matthew Stearns, Emily Jones,
Adam Tharp, Nick Wilczewski, Zach Wisniewski.
2. National Lutheran School Accreditation year one update has been
completed and sent to the District and to St. Louis along with the $225 fee
for retaining accreditation. We were able to accomplish 2003-04 items. The most
important ones remaining include funding to hire ancillary teachers to provide
more plan time...and of course the ventilation problem in the school. ....A new
HVAC system for this building with or without windows that open would be
nice...though in my report I did say that we purchased a ventilation fan and the
trustees repaired an exhaust fan in the gym which have helped some.
3. The St. John's Annual Parking Lot sale is Saturday June 19, 2004 from
8-1:00 pm. The cost to rent a spot is $5.00
4. Kindergarten graduation is Friday, 5/28 at 7:00 pm in the gym. Pre
kindergarten graduation is Wed., 6/2 in the gym at 6:30...
5. Grade 8 graduation is Saturday evening service at 7:00 on 6/5/04. My
father, Rev. Del Wippich will be the speaker for that event. Reverend
Wippich will conduct Sunday services as Pastor Young will be on vacation.
6. And finally...a grateful thank you from the school, the
administration,
the teachers and other working staff to all the volunteers who help make
this church and school operate. It is the Lord's will that we be here...please
continue to give of your time, talents and treasures.
LAST WEEK SCHEDULE: 6/1/04-6/5/04
Tuesday 6/1-Limo and lunch for perfect church attendance kids 11-1:00..
Wednesday 6/2-no chapel today......Gr. 3 to Navy Pier, Gr. 7/8 to Field
Museum, PK graduation practice in gym 8-10:30, no recess in gym. PK grad 6:30
gym
Thursday 6/3-no school-workday..
Friday 6/4-dismiss at 12:30...PTL provides lunch.....8th grade practice
graduation in church (see last day schedule below for more info)
Saturday 6/5-8th Grade Graduation at 7:00 church
LAST DAY SCHEDULE:
8:10-8:45...Closing service in chapel.
8:45-9:30. .Awards for K-3 in gym.
9:30-10:00... 8th grade graduation practice at church...
10-11:00. .Gr 4-8 Awards in gym.. K-3 on your own...
11:00 ..Pizza lunch brought to classrooms
12:30...dismissal of K-8 ...no bus service...there will be no daycare...
ALL ABOUT…
Rio Light
My name is Rio Light and I am the preschool/daycare director at the
school. I have joyfully finished my sixth year at St. John’s School. I am
married to Michael and we have two daughters. Kali graduated from the eighth
grade this year at St. John’s and will begin High School at La Porte in the
fall. Abbey has been at St. John’s since Pre Kindergarten and will enter into
the fifth grade this fall. St. John’s has been a blessing to our family both in
the school and the church.
Many of you know that we have experienced trials in the past few years. In
March I celebrated the second year anniversary of the surgery that literally
saved my life from ulcerative colitis. For two years it was a physical and
mental struggle while it attacked my system. I found myself drawing closer to
God than I could ever imagine. I was reminded that
God takes even the smallest events in our lives and turns them into beautiful
moments. Our children fearfully watched me struggle. This was the most difficult
part. God also took their faith and we watched it blossom as they learned to
trust God.
This past August, Michael was diagnosed with cancer. I will never forget the
day he was diagnosed. The three words “you have cancer” ripped through our lives
in a matter of seconds. I struggled with the normal questions we have during a
tragedy. Looking back I see the amazing power of God in our lives. It was that
dark moment that He took us all in His hands and gave us the blessing of unity
with each other and our Lord. Michael had a stem cell transplant in February. It
was one of the most difficult tasks to watch him go through this process. Yet
God revealed his healing hands again and never left our side. On Friday, May 14,
2004, Michael was declared in a state of REMISSION. The one word “remission”
brought peace, joy, and celebration in our lives! Isn’t it amazing how simple
God’s love is., and yet when we travel through the journeys in our life we are
so blind to his truth? The one word “Savior” can transform our lives if we only
trust in Him.
We will all experience the highs and lows in life. I treasure the highs, but
I also know the lows in life open our eyes and hearts to God’s precious gifts in
our daiy routine. I have often pondered that if I could, would I change the
chain of events in our lives these past years? I say without hesitation that I
would not. If it weren’t for the ulcerative colitis or the cancer we would have
missed out on so many blessings; the people that have touched our lives, the
moments that have touched our lives, and the faith that has grown beyond our
imagination.
David Hoeppner
My experience with Christian education started in LaPorte, and has now
returned full circle, something I never envisioned happening. I was born in
LaPorte to Tony and Ruth Hoeppner and became a baptized member of St. John’s
Lutheran Church. I went to St. John’s Lutheran School on A Street from
Kindergarten thru 8th grade and had teachers named Hahn, Witte, Koth,
Rosenau, Himmler, Habenak, Garske, and a first year teacher named Orv Ulmer. I
was confirmed in our present church by Pastor Reinke.
After graduation from LaPorte High School, I attended Concordia Teacher’s
College in River Forest, Illinois. My first teaching experience was as an intern
teacher before my senior year of college. For one year I taught a class of 39
fifth graders on Staten Island, NY. I found out I enjoyed teaching and finished
my schooling at Concordia. Upon graduation I was sent to Hong Kong as an
educational missionary. I taught in Concordia Anglo-Chinese Secondary School. I
taught religion, English, and world history to Chinese students who had to learn
in English. Most students failed in a school where a seventh grade class started
with 500 students and
5 years later only 50 students remained. I only stayed for my two-year
contract and returned to teach in Woodburn, Indiana.
While in Woodburn I was the coach of the 5& 6 boys and girls basketball
teams, the 4th thru 8th boys’ wrestling team, and all boys
and girls track teams. I was a 5th grade homeroom teacher for
religion, reading and math, but also taught social studies and physical
education to all students in grades 5 thru 8.
After teaching there18 years I received a call to teach at Hong Kong
International School in Hong Kong. I accepted the call and taught there for 14
years where I was one of eight sixth grade teachers. Our school there was made
up of four different buildings and we had 2600 students. I taught religion,
language arts, social studies, and some math. I helped coach middle school track
and was the girls’ 7&8 grade basketball coach.
Last year we decided that it was time to return to the United States and
announced our decision in November when asked to extend for another two years.
In May we received word that we were being extended the call to teach at St.
John’s in the very grades my wife and I had indicated were the ones that were
our first choice.
Moving back and owning our very first home has helped me understand what a
money pit a house can be and has led to an appreciation of how many leaves God
has put on trees. My thumb is worn out now that I have cable TV with so many
channels to watch, since in Hong Kong there were only two English stations and
they played American re-runs that were several seasons behind what was going on
in the US. Besides my work, I love to eat almost any kind of food, watch college
basketball, read, and travel to places rich in natural beauty or history.
My two daughters have been exposed to the world along with their parents, and
have come to realize that the true joys in life come through service to others.
I am a proud parent when I tell others about how Michelle is working for the
Lutheran Church to help improve the lives of the poor in Kumming, China; and
that Sarah is a traveling nurse that works with kids that have cancer.
Throughout my years of teaching God has richly provided me with students that
make life interesting and challenging, parents who want their children to use
their God- given talents, wonderful Christian colleagues to teach with, and the
opportunity to grow and learn in a variety of communities – each of which has
its own special gifts. How blessed I am to have become a Lutheran school
teacher.
Voter’s Assembly Meeting
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
May 12, 2004
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Jim Crum. Pastor Young led
the assembly in prayer.
Pastor Albertine from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Michigan City spoke to the
assembly about Duneland Lutheran High School.
The minutes from the February 17, 2004, meeting were read and approved.
The following motions were presented from the Church Council:
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to accept the treasurer’s report as
presented.
Matt Nelson made a motion to immediately cease giving funds to WLOI for the
broadcasting of the show “Woman to Woman” due to the fact that production of new
episodes has not occurred in almost two years ($1,440). The motion was seconded
and passed.
Matt Nelson made a motion to immediately suspend funding to the Lutheran Hour
until this Voters’ Assembly feels we are able to financially support that
ministry as well as our own ($2028). The motion was seconded and following a
brief discussion passed with a show of hands vote.
Beth Hoeppner announced the upcoming musical by all of the school children on
May 20, at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Dale Fischer announced the need for applicants for a part time bookkeeper.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
From the Board of Public Relations: If you are interested in adding an
advertisement to our current St. John’s Business Directory, please contact any
member of the Public Relations Board or the Church Office.
Prayer Chain: Our church’s prayer chain has been used for many years for
offering up prayers of need and thanksgiving for members and others. Callers on
the prayer chain are called with prayer requests and then pass the requests on
to the next link in the chain. It is time to update our list of callers. If you
are interested in being a part of the prayer chain, call Penny Nelson (362-7317)
or Monyean Hahn (362-8390). We will be updating the list in early June.
From the Board of Stewardship: Our members have had many steps to climb
over the past few years. We have another step to climb for our Heating and
Cooling Fund. We, as a board, would like to inform you of our progress once a
month, with your help and God’s Blessings, through a poster with a thermometer
on it in the Narthex of the church. We can visually watch it climb together!
Thank you for your continued help.
From the Church Secretary: All boards and organizations, please remember
that we will only have one newsletter for the combined months of July and
August. Please have all news and announcements to the Church Office by June 18.
Thank You.
