From Pastor Young:

It is Advent, and we prepare our hearts not only for the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, but we most specifically prepare ourselves for His 2^nd Advent, the time of or our Lords’ return in glory to judge both the living and the dead. Yet, the question still remains in our world: Who is Jesus Christ? This question is as old as the incarnation of the Son of God. Given the long and rich history of the Christian church, it is surprising that it is still asked, and it is equally surprising that various answers are still being given. You would think the debates would have stopped and the matter settled.

The debates continue because we live in a day of increasingly watered-down Christianity, when churches ask what kind of theology people want and which teachings will prove successful or popular. Jesus has become many things other than the Savior of the world, the one who died on the cross to win the forgiveness of sin in order to satisfy God’s demand for justice. Unfortunately, to some He is no more than a problem solver, a teacher of morality, an example of “good, clean living.” To others He is someone who can provide us with a life of success and prosperity, with a sense of security in a time in our times of fear and doubt, and worse yet, a “genie” who can be accessed from His bottle when we need something.

Our Advent season, which precedes the celebration of our dear Savior’s birth, has the answers to the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” This Advent, we once again hear the preparation for the arrival of the Messiah who would save His people and the world. I invite you to allow the prophets Isaiah and John the Baptist to prepare your heart for God coming to us in Jesus, the baby of Bethlehem and the man of Golgotha who comes to bear our punishment and be our Lord and God! I invite you to listen in our Advent hymns and worship how God came into our human flesh, not to terrify us with His majesty, but to come to us in our sin and weakness, in our living and dying! “Who is Jesus Christ?” It is simply this: “Jesus is Lord!” He is the King of all kings and the Lord of life, who, as Martin

Having moved to La Porte and driving around town during this winter, I learned that I am now a qualified participant in the La Porte Winter Olympics. I am a bronze medal contender for the 100-mile Pothole Dodging competition. I say bronze medal as I still hit a few once in a while. This competition between machine and road will continue until the holes are filled. Remember to call and thank the La Porte Street Department for filling in these nuisances when they do.

Our Midweek Lenten series this year will focus on Personalities of the Passion. The imposition of ashes and the Lord’s Supper will be offered in our Ash Wednesday service on February 9. In the Wednesdays to follow, we will hear from Adam, Nicodemus, Barabbas, Pilate, the one thief on the cross, and Judas Iscariot. Plan now to attend these Midweek Lenten Services each Wednesday at 7 pm from February 9 through March 16.

Connected with your Lenten meditations this year, a plan to Read the New Testament between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost is available. Approximately 3-4 chapters of the books of the New Testament is read each day, progressing from Matthew through Revelation. A checklist will be available in the narthex at church or at the office.

Our Sunday morning Bible Study on First Corinthians continues and is open to all; it is a ‘drop in’ class where you don’t have to have attended the week before. We’re glad you come at any time. The Wednesday morning class, meeting at 10:30 am in the Ladies’ Lounge, is studying Paul’s letters to two young pastors, Timothy and Titus. Another class for “Mothers and Others” meets Friday mornings in the ‘Youth Room’ from 8:30-10:00am. We are currently studying Proverbs and how they apply to life and parenting today.

A new Discipleship Class for new members will be started soon. If you or someone you know would be interested in these classes please call the church office to register.

Since my arrival in June of last year, I have made use of some of our Church Records. Sad to say, there is missing information about our members that would be easy to gather. There are also address corrections as some have moved. There are also telephone numbers that need to be updated. In not too few cases when I telephone members, I get the ‘three toned salute’ and that friendly voice from the telephone company saying “The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service.” It sends me back into the phone book looking for that member’s new number. Staying connected with our members here at St. John’s is an important aspect of pastoral care.

Information that is helpful includes your name, address, phone, birth date; baptismal date and location; confirmation date, location, and confirmation verse; if married, date of marriage and spouse (with maiden name) and children (with birth dates and baptismal dates). There will probably be some chilly days where you have all your winter projects done (and after you have finished practicing dodging potholes) that you could research this information and notify the church office. Parents of college students who have moved should also call the church office to let us know their location. We appreciate your helping us in this matter.

While these later paragraphs have dealt with some ‘clerical’ matters, they are important as your pastors seek to serve the members of St. John's Lutheran Church and School. It is with thanksgiving that we serve God’s people here. It is not with words of human wisdom that we speak but with the power of God. That power is wrapped in love in the person of Jesus Christ who came to you to redeem you. May His love be revealed to you as you celebrate this Epiphany season, and as you journey once again to His cross and ponder what He has done for you.

Pastor Ron Brauer

Principal’s Report

Mission Statement: The Mission of St. John’s Lutheran School is to joyfully celebrate the good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

2/2 Parent night at LPHS for grade 8

Voters Meeting 7:00 PM

2/4 8th grade registration LPHS 8-9:00

Fish grade 4 12:15-1;00 PM

2/5 Grades 4-6 tournament

2/7 Spell Bee grades 3-4 cafeteria…8:15-9:30 AM

Spell Bee grades 5-6 12:45-2:00 cafeteria…7/8 in classroom

2/9 Ash Wednesday

2/11 Midterm

Grade 3 to Chocolate Factory 10-2:15 PM

Dance/dinner at Silver Palace

2/12 7/8 grade tournament

2/14 No school unless snow make up day…if school…no bus

2/16 Pizza Hut 4-11PM

2/17 1/2 day in service to TBD

2/18 School practice Spelling Bee 1:15 PM in gym

Midterm grades out—– 8^th registration 8-9:00

2/23 Kings Kids sing at 7:00 PM Service

2/24 District Spell Bee Kesling 6:00 PM (kids at 5:30)

3/5 Math contest in Valpo

3/6 Opening service 10:45 NLSW

3/7-11 NLSW

3/10 Health Fair during NLSW 3/6-11 6:30-8:30..

3/16 Pizza Hut 4-11PM

3/22 Steven’s Puppets 1:00 PM, Beauty and the Beast

II. School Enrollment

Pk pm 11 3rd 16

Pk am 10 4th 11

Ps pm 13 5th 16

Ps am 4 6th 10

K 19 7th 15

1st 19 8th 5

2nd 19 Total 168

1. Major Item to take note of: LILY-Leaders Involved in Launching Youth…The Board of Education came up with this acronym to signal special fund raising events supporting the school. This inaugural event will be a dinner, dance and auction held on 2/11/05. We are selling 400 tickets to this event and collecting items to auction during the silent auction. Please purchase your tickets for $25 each or $200 for a table of 10 from board members, the principal, or the church or school office. If you are able to make further monetary donation…please bring or send to the school office to the attention of Mr. Wippich at 111 Kingsbury Ave, La Porte, In 46350….calls may be directed to the office at 362-6692. Please see this newsletter for further information regarding this event.

2. National Lutheran Schools Week will be celebrated March 6-11 with the NLSW church service being conducted on 3/6/05 at 10:45. We will hold a Health Fair on 3/10 from 6-8:00 in the gym. If you have a health expertise topic for display and presentation please call Jan Martinsen at the school…362-6692

3. Mr. Wippich has written various Title Grants through the school system during the last two years and through the fall of 2006 to benefit the school by $32,000. These grants have and are providing funding for teacher professional development and conference expenses that the church has paid for in the past. Some are rather small grants that help us purchase various needed items and other larger grants provide the opportunity for us hire personnel to tutor children in K-3 in reading and math.

4. Honor Roll for the second quarter is as follows: Realize that to earn an A- in our school you have to attain a 94%.

Honorable Mention: an 8.5 GPA out of 12 (A+) points possible.

Grade 5: Sam Bublitz, Brody Shoffner, Renate Wiltfong, Zach Wisniewski, Taylor Kneifel, Ellen Hough

Grade 6: Kerry Cooley, Heather Macher, China Gehrmann

Grade 7: David Brauer, Andrew Childress, Rachel Lehker, Emily Wilczewski, Jacob Williams

Grade 8: Ashley Glassman, Bekah Langham

Grade 5: Skyler Short, Nicholas Wilczewski, Abby Light

Grade 6: Hannah Looney, Kathryn Scherer

All A’s:

Grade 6: Annamarie Gerick, Matthew Stearns

5. Family Activity Night...FAN is January 28. It will begin with Valentine construction from 6-6:45 AM in the gym, followed by a movie. Pizza and sodas will be available for purchase.

6. Basketball tournaments are coming up on February 5 for grades 4-6 and February 12 for grades 7-8. Admission prices are $4 for adults or $6 per family. Our teams play at 9 and 10:45 AM on both of those days. We hope to see you in attendance to support our Athletic Fund and to cheer our teams on.

7. Super Bowl Subs: Send in your order for a sub sandwich, with your student, to the school office by February 1. You may pick up your sandwich Sunday February 6 after each church service. If interested, please see the church or school office for an order form.

8. Pizza Hut Nights February 16 and March 16. Your purchase provides a 20% kickback to fund our mission trip coming up in May of 2005. Since

June of 2003 we have collected $2815.17 to help defray the cost of the trip

The last three collections were: $281.87, $150.96, and $137.20. We have four more collections that count for this trip. Please help us by eating pizza! Remember, a paper towel dabbed on a piece of pizza will eliminate 30% of the fat content!

This past fall the new President of Concordia University River Forest was chosen. Although Dr. John Johnson, former president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis was selected, one of the top three candidates for this position was a former student and member of St. John’s, Dr. Timothy Peters. Tim grew up in La Porte. He and his family were members at St. John’s. His mother Carol, was active in the quilters circle and his father Al helped in many ways.

Tim graduated from St. John’s in 1965 and La Porte High School in 1969. He then attended Concordia, River Forest for his teacher training. He and his wife Becky then received calls to teach at Immanuel in Mt. Vernon, New York before moving to California where he served as principal at Redeemer in South Gate, started Concordia Lutheran School in Cerritos, and then served as principal at St. Paul’s in Orange.

Ten years ago, Tim received a call to Concordia University in Irvine as a professor of education. He now serves as the Dean of the School of Adult Studies, where he oversees programs for adults to earn their bachelor’s degree and coordinates international educational programs.

He earned his master’s and doctorate from Pepperdine University. His wife, Becky, is also a professor of education at Concordia. They have two children and two grandchildren. Brad and his wife Michelle and their two sons live in Salem, Oregon. Katie is a physical therapist in Palm Springs, California.

Tim reflected that it was his influence of the dedicated Lutheran teachers at St. John’s that encouraged him to become a Lutheran educator. He hopes that St. John’s continues to influence the youth to follow that calling.

Note: Alfred Peters, Tim’s father, has just moved back to La Porte and is looking forward to attending church here at St. John’s as one of our members again. He lives near Fox Park and is in need of transportation to church. If you can help please contact the church office.

Not being able to worship at church on a regular basis has caused me to reflect on a time in my life when I saw no need to go and worship at church, and I am so ashamed. I was one who thought I will go when I am not so busy, besides, Sunday is my only day off. I thought you only go to church when you are having problems. Basically I despised the preaching of God’s Word and mocked God by thinking I know what’s best for me.

I see now that by not going to church, I missed out on gifts such as Holy Communion and especially God’s Word. I tried to find my hope in people, places and things, not even for one minute realizing I was being deceived by the devil. In church, we receive all that we need for strength, hope, joy, peace, but especially the saving message of Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died for my sins and for that of the world, and I want to go to church and learn more about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and take advantage of all the gifts God gives me the privilege to receive. God told us to not forsake the gathering together for a reason. You never know when your faith will be tested, and do you want to fall into the arms of someone who is Christ centered, or rely on your own wisdom to pull you through?

I also made the excuse not to go to church because I knew people who did, that did not act very friendly outside of the church. I was lost and didn’t understand that the gift of God’s Word is most important, and not who I do or don’t like. If I am not going to church because things are not being done the way I think they should, I am only hurting myself. I am so glad God is long suffering!

Now that I have children and realize they watch way more of what I do rather than what I say, my husband and I teach them by going to church on Sunday and stressing the importance of hearing God’s Word. Outside of church we try to put into practice the things that we confess inside the church. We teach them our liturgy so they can follow along in church and are a part of the service, because we believe that faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God causes us to grow in knowledge and grow to love Him even more.

The long and short of it is that I took God’s grace and turned it into a gift with no benefit, and it is hard to look back on those days. Then I went to church and learned that I missed out on the blessings God had for me. In God’s mercy, He showed me my sin and then forgave me and restored me to blameless. So, I stand on the promise of God that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. I also thank God for the pastors who rightly preach and teach the Word of God, so that we can go and make disciples of all nations.

I also was someone who wondered why I needed to give money. I now realize that I should give because it is a response to His love. The money, talent or time are all gifts from God, that he gave as a trust to me.

Giving these gifts to the church helps the church stay in operation, enabling the Gospel to be preached in God’s house by faithful pastors who are ready and eager to do what God has called them to do.

I really miss church, as you now understand. There is really no other place I would rather be. When those doors are open to hear the Word of the Lord, that is where I want to be, after all, I am in the house of one who laid His life down for mine. The devil works hard to destroy our faith, so hearing the preaching of God’s Word will make our faith stronger to resist the devil. Church is a gift not to be taken for granted, as the message preached there saves us from an eternity in hell.

The Lord be with you.

Danette Michaels

A quick debriefing of my trip to Sri Lanka:

Early morning on January 9th, I arrived in Colombo after a long flight (Chicago-Detroit-Paris-Colombo) where I met up with my teammates Herb Hoefer, missionary and teacher; David Wesche, doctor; and Deborah Wesche, nurse. We were sent by LCMS World Relief and Human Care to survey the area and access where LCMS World Mission can help. It was a good team.

Herb, our fearless leader, had already set up a van for the day to take us down the coast. We checked into our hotel and, after a brief rest, headed for Galle. We drove by upturned railroad tracks and scenes of mass destruction. We stopped at a refugee camp along the coast. After the disaster, people fled to schools, churches, mosques and Buddhist temples near their homes or to the homes of their relatives. The government already had data on the local population and where homes were located. Therefore, the refugee camps are well-organized.

This camp was very clean, people seemed content and everyone assured us that there was plenty of food and water. Everyone that we talked to in all the camps and everyone who had been to other areas said the same thing. The immediate response seems to be going very well. Of course there are some problems with sanitation with so many people using so few toilets, but food and water seem adequate. Hygiene and good health behaviors were already an integral part of the Sri Lankan way of life. The health education that has been provided by the government and NGOs in the past has led to positive health outcomes for people affected by this disaster. Because the government already had good population data, there are lists of every family who is at the camp along with their health status. Families that are living with relatives are also assigned a camp and can go there to pick up food and other basic necessities that are being distributed.

We went to the village where the train overturned, which many of you have probably seen on TV. We talked to many people about their experiences and about the best ways to be of help. There were many posters of missing people that tugged at my heart. Everyone in the village had experienced great loss. Many people have lost loved ones, their homes and their livelihoods. People are impatient to get their lives back. However, there is a feeling of hopefulness. Everyone had heard of all the donations pouring in from Sri Lanka and from around the globe. So people are impatient to see these donations helping to rebuild their lives.

The next day we went to Batticaloa via Kalmuni. We drove all day. The next morning, we went to Kalmuni where our driver was from. It was a Muslim community. Everything was also well-organized here and all of the village leaders helped us to understand a great deal about the current situation and about possible economic development programs that would be appropriate and effective in Sri Lanka. We hope to go back and help with an economic development program in the future. We ate lunch with our drivers’ family. His mother’s house used to have three people living there but now there are 54! They treated us to a delicious meal. The Sri Lankan people are wonderfully friendly, smiling and great hosts!

The area around Kalmuni was heavily damaged. Schools and hospitals were demolished. An entire government housing scheme had been washed out to sea. In talking to people, stories came out both of survival and of loss. The first wave was much smaller than the second and there were about 20 minutes separating them. However, we were told that in this village, the first wave knocked many people off their feet and sucked their clothes off of them. People were then too embarrassed and ashamed to run outside because they had no clothing, therefore, many people were still in their homes when the second wave hit.

We continued on to Batticaloa where we met up with a local Lutheran pastor there. He runs a home for girls and has a small congregation. His home and church were not affected but the home for girls did flood, causing property damage. It is amazing to see the affects of the tsunami so far away from the ocean. Many children in the home for girls lost their fathers during the fighting between the government and the Tamil Tigers. There is still a shaky ceasefire and we drove through many army bunkers and checkpoints during our time there. So the situation in many places in Sri Lanka is still a touchy one.

We also met up with a pastor who had lost his oldest daughter, his home and his church. Many members of his congregation had also been affected. We will be helping him as well as the home for girls. We went to visit them at the refugee camp where they were staying. There are no words that can express your sorrow when you meet someone who has experienced such loss.

We met with the government and NGO’s in Batticaloa. They seem to have things well planned and under control. The hard part is patience as rebuilding is a lengthy process.

We returned to Colombo and met with the Lanka Lutheran Church leaders. They have a strong plan for rebuilding an area and are already participating in immediate disaster relief efforts through distribution of basic needs and counseling. Hopefully we can continue to support them in their efforts.

Throughout the trip, people were so kind. When they heard we were there to help rebuild after the tsunami, many people gave us discounts, encouragement and thanks. It was an amazing trip and encouraging to see the hope present in the Sri Lankan people and the large outpouring of money and love that has been given by people around the world.

Individual year-end contribution report slips for 2004 are available on week ends in the church narthex. During the week, slips may be picked up in the church office Also, boxes of contribution envelopes for 2005 are available for pick up in the church basement.

Thanks to John Compton, Fred Krause, Charlie Link, Sr., Harold Schroeder, Jack Wuggazer, Jim Peters, Jim Sherwood, and Chuck Dickman for counting money, and to Larry Heidel, Corinne Kalsow, Mary Krause, Dorothy V. Levandoski, and Carol Strauss for posting the results throughout the year. A special “thank you” to Fred and Mary Krause, who after 20 years of this service, will pass their duties along to Jim and Linda Peters. Cal Wolfe, Financial Secretary

Ron Scherer, Head Teller

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