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A Newsletter concerning the
Mission and Ministry
of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN
Vol. 56 October 2007 No. 8
“As one family, we lovingly proclaim Jesus Christ.”
From Pastor Young:
Once again, October brings to us the celebration of the Reformation of the
Christian church, the idea that the Gospel takes salvation and eternal life and
places them firmly in the hands of the One who gives it, our Lord Jesus Christ.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast”
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, even among many Christians, this viewpoint about God’s
grace is as unpopular today as it was when Martin Luther and the reformers
reminded the church of it almost 500 years ago.
Our “Old Adam”-the sinner in us-always wants to be in charge over God. He
tells us God’s grace is too good to be true and that you must “do” something to
earn or justify it. But you were baptized into Jesus Christ-you have all the
grace you need for your salvation and eternal life!
Many religions are built on the idea that if you follow the rules, do acts or
deeds to make you stand out in the eyes of your “god” or if you behave morally,
than your god will like you better and you will have a better chance of going to
heaven. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with living morally or obeying God’s
laws; you don’t need to be follower of Jesus Christ to do that. But that has
nothing to do with grace, forgiveness, and the salvation that only God freely
offers! Your faith as a Christian, brothers and sisters, lets you know that out
of pure love God sacrificed everything,-even his only begotten Son-to save you
forever from sin, death, and from the lies, traps and deception of false gods
who lead you away from the Triune God’s good gifts.
You HAVE BEEN (past tense) saved from sin, death, and punishment. You
ARE (present tense) saved by the Christ who gives you life and gives it
to you in abundance. And that grace given freely by God WILL BE (future
tense) accounted to you as your “good works” when Jesus returns to judge the
living and the dead on the day of Reckoning and Resurrection!
So what did the Reformation tell us we could “DO?” Well,
YOU need only be YOU; a blessed, loved, child of God who can give
yourself up to the grace-filled world. You can respond in love by giving
yourself, your time, your talents, your possessions to serve God by bringing
that grace to those who do not know the Gospel message. You “DO” for God by
prayer and worship; You “DO” for God by talking with friends and family about
Jesus; you “DO” for God when you “DO” for others by loving and serving them as
God loves and serves you!
Friends, increase and strengthen your faith by spending time in God’s Word
and by worshipping and praying to the living God. Faith alone will compel you to
“DO:” not for your salvation, but for the salvation of others.
Faith alone. Grace alone. Scripture alone. Enjoy your salvation!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Young
From Pastor Brauer:
Continue in What You Have Learned from Christ
“Orange Juice: It’s not just for breakfast.” You’ve heard that slogan in
advertising this Florida drink. By encouraging healthy drinking of this juice at
times other than the traditional meal at breakfast, the producers hope to
increase sales.
Recently at St. John’s, you have seen a similar approach. Consider:
“Stewardship: It’s not just about money.” The weekly inclusion of the
“Stewardship Moments” in the bulletins strives to inform us what true
stewardship involves. Stewardship is more that just money. It’s more that just
your money. To say that stewardship involves only money would
short-change our life in walking the path of faith.
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted
with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). This is from the Epistle Reading
for October 21, the focal point of our Stewardship emphasis this year.
You trust the Holy Scriptures to instruct you in your salvation in Jesus. May
God continue to bless your faith as His word is taught in its truth and purity,
and as the baptized child of God, live holy lives according to it. Martin Luther
expresses that in the meaning of the First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer. We
pray that God’s name is kept holy in us, in all that we think, say, and do. We
cannot make God’s name holier; rather, we defile that holy name by our sinful
actions of thought, word, and deed. We pick and choose which of God’s Word we
wish to hallow, and it is no longer God whom we worship, but rather ourselves.
Where idolatry is the visible form of our wickedness, the source of that
wickedness lies in our failure to fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
That’s First Commandment language!
God sees and knows our failures. He knew Adam and Eve’s faults in the Garden
the moment they ate of the fruit of that one tree. They tried to hide their
shame and sinfulness, but it didn’t work. In Acts chapter 5, Ananias, together
with his wife Sapphira, presented their gifts at the Apostles’ feet, claiming it
to be their offering. But God knew otherwise. They lied, and you’ll have to read
about what happened to them for their deceit.
Sad to say, we fail in our efforts of stewardship, especially when it comes
to money. Perhaps we have looked at the wrong starting point. God took care of
our needs and continues to do so. We confess God created the heavens and the
earth. That’s Apostles’ Creed language. We also believe that Jesus purchased and
won each of us from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with gold or
silver, or MasterCard ™, but with His holy precious blood and His innocent
suffering and death. That’s Redemption language. By His Spirit, through Word and
Sacrament, we live, and move, and have our being. That’s Sanctification
language, walking in the path of righteousness for the Savior’s sake.
Jesus has restored us to our Father in heaven. There is joy in heaven when
sinners repent. That includes each of us as we repent and believe the Gospel of
forgiveness. Now, continue in what we have learned in Christ Jesus. We learn
that we are His. We learn that we are to be His caretakers, managing the gifts
He has given us, and by that managing, giving God the glory due Him. He gives us
our very bodies to live our lives for Him. He gives us talents and abilities by
which we can work and provide for our survival. He gives us time to manage,
setting that time for the Sabbath when we come to receive again His blessing. He
puts into our pockets and checkbooks and stock portfolios all that is needed,
not only for our life, but also for the work of His Church. Our joy is to bring
that portion faithfully as our offering each week.
This year, our Stewardship Board invites us to “Grow in Christ.” As baptized
children of God we can take our stewardship ‘One Step Up’ from what it was
previously. Amidst the challenges of our earthly economy, God calls us to faith,
to trust in Him above all things. Our stewardship can only start with that
premise. “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).
The pledge card is a declaration of our faith, making known to God how we would
be blessed by Him in the coming year to assist with the mission and ministry at
St. John’s. It’s more than simply money; it’s about trust in God and the life He
gives you in Jesus Christ.
Stewardship: It’s not just about money. It is your whole life.
Pastor Ron Brauer
Matthew 11:28-30
Message from The Board of Stewardship
October 31 is celebrated by many people as Halloween Day. For us Christians
October 31 marks quite a different occasion and is celebrated as Reformation Day
to commemorate the reformation of the church that God accomplished through such
notable church leaders as Dr. Martin Luther.
The traditional Gospel reading for Reformation Day comes from John 8:31-36
and opens with these words of Jesus: “If you hold to my teaching, you are
really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you
free.” God used the Lutheran Reformation to free his people from many of
the abuses and false teachings of the 16th century church. Nearly 490
years later we still enjoy spiritual freedom by God’s grace through faith in
Jesus Christ as taught in the Holy Scriptures, the true and reliable Word of
God.
That freedom carries over into our lives as God’s stewards. “Christian
stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s
family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s
purposes,” is the way we as Lutherans have defined Christian
stewardship. As God’s stewards we are freed from the burden
of having to do good works in an attempt to gain our salvation and instead
freed for living a new life as joy-filled people of God.
Mature Christian stewardship is a joyful response to God’s love in Christ!
St. Paul said it so well in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: “Remember this: Whoever
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. And God is
able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having
all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Isn’t it marvelous to know that we have such a great and generous God who
provides us freely with so many blessings for our enjoyment and use? Isn’t it
great to know that we have been freed in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit
for joy-filled living and giving? What an incentive to joyfully and responsibly
manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes! There is no better
life on this side of heaven!
Principal’s Page
From Mr. Wippich:
I. School Calendar Items:
10/3 9:45 AM-2:15 PM 4th grade fieldtrip to fairgrounds
10/4 2nd grade fieldtrip to Garwood's
3rd grade fieldtrip to Bailly Homestead
10/5 Fall fundraising sale begins (runs through 10/15)
6:00 PM—PTL Movie Night-Gym
10/9 No bus, public school is out
10/10 Symphony—K-3rd grade leaves at 9:05 AM for a 9:30 AM show
4th-8th grade leaves at 12:20 PM for a 12:45 PM show
10/17 7:00 AM—Muffins for Moms-Caf.
All sales items due
10/18 No school
Parent Teacher conferences 12:00 PM-8:00 PM
10/19 No school
10/24 1:00 PM Wheel of Wisdom-Gym
10/31 7:00 PM Donuts for Dads-Caf.
II. Enrollment
Preschool-8th Grade-127
III. Other Information
1. A committee is working on refurbishing the school computer lab. It is
outdated and only partially operational. We request your donations to help
finance this project. We estimate this project to cost approximately
$15,000. If you are able to donate money to this project you may utilize a
Thrivent Gift Plus Match where you could donate $600 and we will get $300
more in matching funds. If you are able to do this or give a more
substantial contribution, please call Mr. Wippich at
362-6692. Thank you for your help.
Our fall sale begins on October 5 and runs through October 15. Profits
will help us fund enhanced learning opportunities for
students in science and music. Students will be selling various decorative
holiday items. We appreciate and thank you for your support of St. John’s
Lutheran School.
Update on Campbell’s Labels: The school is still
collecting Campbell’s
labels, and thank you to all who have sent them. They only take the UPC and
the lids of the specific products listed below. Thank You!
ELEGIBLE CAMPBELLS PRODUCTS
ITEM PROOF POINTS
Campbell’s Beans Products UPC CODE 1 Campbell’s Condensed 10 oz. Soups UPC
CODE 1 Campbell’s Condensed 26 oz. Soups UPC CODE 1 Campbell’s Low Sodium Soups
UPC CODE 1 Campbell’s Fat Free Soups UPC CODE 1 Kitchen Classic Soups (18-19 oz)
UPC CODE 1 Tom. Juices (12-64 oz., multipacks) UPC CODE 1 Camp. Spaghetti Os,
Any Shape Pasta UPC CODE 1 Campbell’s Ready To Serve Soups (plastic) LID 1
Campbell’s Soup & Recipe Mix (with the entire box bottom panel) UPC CODE 1
Campbell’s Condensed 10 oz. Soups (Specially marked packages only) UPC CODE 5
SpaghettiO’s®, Original (7.5oz.-26oz.) UPC CODE 1 SpaghettiO’s®, Meatball
(7.5oz., 26.25) (specially marked packages only) UPC CODE 1
Campbell’s Soup At Hand UPC CODE 5 Campbell’s Chunky Soups UPC CODE 1
Campbell’s Chunky Chili UPC CODE 1 Campbell’s Chunky Soups (bowls) UPC CODE 5
Campbell’s Chunky Chili (bowls) UPC CODE 5 Campbell’s Healthy Request Soups UPC
CODE 1 Campbell’s Supper Bakes UPC CODE 5 Campbell’s Select Soups UPC CODE 1
C. Select Gold Label Soups (carton) UPC CODE 1
Campbell’s Select Soups (bowls) UPC CODE 5 Franco-American Gravies UPC CODE 1
Pepperidge Farm Soups UPC CODE 1
Goldfish Crackers (bag, box or carton) UPC CODE 5
Pepperidge Farm Breads, Croutons,
Pepperidge Farm Cookies, Crackers,
Goldfish Cookies & Snack Mixes
(bag, box or carton) UPC CODE 1
Pep. Farm Frozen Garlic Breads, Cakes,
Turnovers, Dumplings and Puff Pastry UPC CODE 1 Swanson Broth, all varieties
UPC CODE 1
Swanson Canned Chicken UPC CODE 1 V8 100% Vegetable Juice, all varieties
(12 oz., 32 oz., 46 oz., 64 oz., multipacks) CAP 1
V8 Calcium Enriched 100%
Vegetable Juice (12 oz., 46 oz.) CAP 1
V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice (12 oz., 46 oz., 64 oz., multipacks) CAP 1
V8 Essential Antioxidants Juice (46 oz.) CAP 1
V8 Splash Smoothies (46 oz.) CAP 1
V8 V-Fusion 100% Juice (12 oz., 46 oz.) CAP 1
V8 Splash Juice Drinks, all varieties (16 oz., 64 oz.) CAP 5 Prego Pasta
Sauces (14-28 oz.) LID 1
Prego Pasta Sauces (46 oz. and larger) LID 1
Assistant Cook Needed:
The day school is in need of an assistant cook from Monday-Friday, from 10:00
AM-1:00 PM. We currently pay $6.00 per hour for this position. Please call the
school office at 362-6692 for details, or stop in the office for an employment
application. The position is open immediately.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Church Council Meeting will be Tuesday, October 23, and the next
Voters Meeting will be Wednesday, November 7.
From the Newspaper Committee: The Newspaper Committee is updating our
schedule to make it more convenient for you to obtain Al’s certificates/Kroger
cards. These are available on the 1st Sunday of the month in the school hall
after the 8:00 AM service, the 2nd Sunday in the Narthex after the 8:00 AM
service, most Sundays in the Narthex before the 10:45 AM service, and
Monday-Friday in the church office. Thank you for supporting the church and
school through this project. Feel free to stop in with questions that you may
have, or call Karen at 362-8070.
Help Needed: The Newspaper Stuffers need your help! Due to illness
and with extra work for the holiday season, we are short of people. We need to
have 11-12 people each time or we will no longer be able to do this job. Our
next work day is Saturday, October 13, from 10:00 AM to about 12:30 PM. We work
every other Saturday and the schedule is in the church calendar. Even if you can
only help once a month, we need you. For more information contact Karen Piper at
362-8070 or Ellen Heidel at 362-5694. Thank you!
From the Board of Parish Fellowship: Pastor Appreciation Day is
Sunday, October 14, 2007. We will honor our pastors during Fellowship Coffee
Hour (also our Apple Fest) after the 8:00 AM worship service in the school
cafeteria. We invite you to come and express your appreciation for their
tireless dedication to this congregation.
The Board of Parish Fellowship is planning its Fall Progressive Dinner
Friday, October 12, 2007. Please see the
information located further on in this newsletter.
Can Recycling Day: The next can recycling day will be October 13, in
conjunction with Market Day. Save your aluminum cans, steel cans and scrap metal
and bring them to the school entrance from 9:00-11:00 AM. Please keep each item
separate. Future can collection dates are February 23, 2008 and May 24, 2008;
these too, are dates coinciding with Market Day. Proceeds will go to the Church
Door Replacement Fund.
From the Activities Committee: The Annual Fall Festival will be held
Thursday, October 18, 2007, in St. John’s Lutheran School. The Bazaar, featuring
handcrafted items and baked goods, will begin at 9:00 AM and the luncheon begins
at 11:00 AM, serving hot and cold food prepared by the members of St. John’s.
Both events are being held through 1:00 PM.
Tickets are available from Imogene Dahl, the church office and Committee
members at $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under 12. Ticket prices at
the door will be $6.00 and $2.00 respectively. Questions about tickets may be
directed to Imogene.
The Committee has gift baskets featuring Tea, Picnic/Wine, Baby, Bath/Body,
Kids’ Activities and Winter. They will be displayed on October 12 at the La
Porte Savings Bank, where tickets for the drawing, bazaar tickets and baked
goods may be purchased. Baskets will be awarded during the Fall Festival.
Booth space is available to church organizations, individual members, or
outside vendors. For more information on booths, see page 11 of this newsletter
or call Karen or Judy. Any questions regarding the Bazaar, contact Marilyn.
The Activities Committee is in need of food dishes and help in the kitchen
for the luncheon. We also need manpower to set up, Wednesday at 2:30 PM, and
take down, Thursday at 1:30 PM. If you can help, please call Marilyn Boardman or
Marilyn Sawyer.
St. John’s 150th Anniversary Committee Report: St. John’s
150th Anniversary Committee held its wrap-up meeting Thursday,
September 21. Pastor Ron Brauer opened with devotions and presided as he has
throughout the planning stages for the celebration. For this, we thank him for
his guidance in planning and organizing this event.
In review, the committee felt Pastor Meyer’s visit was well received by the
congregation and visitors alike. The worship service, dinner, program and clean
up went smoothly. Thanks to Lisa Schreiber, our official photographer, for
covering the event. The La Porte County Herald-Argus insert was concise and
beautifully displayed. Thanks to Marlene Will for getting it together and
working with The Herald-Argus.
The CD of the Anniversary worship service and DVD of St. John’s history is in
process of fine tuning and will be available soon at a minimal cost. Proceeds
will go to the General Fund.
Dale Fischer, St. John’s Treasurer, reported that the 150th
Anniversary Fund after expenses left a balance of approximately $5,000.00. After
discussion, the 150th Anniversary Committee decided to donate:
$1,000.00 to the Indiana District Missions Fund earmarked for start up of
new congregations.
$1,000.00 to establish a St. John’s Church Door Replacement Fund. Our
church doors are in desperate need of replacement not only for appearance sake
but mostly for security reasons. Contributions from members of the
congregation given as a memorial or as a gift will be welcome in the coming
months.
$3,000.00 (approximate balance) to St. John’s General Fund.
Four hundred fifty (450) new Lutheran Service Book hymnals have been
purchased through generous donations by the congregation in commemoration of the
150th Anniversary or as a memorial to a loved one. This phase has
provided enough hymnals in the church to use for worship, and an additional 150
hymnals in the future would fill the nave and balcony. Donations on a continuing
basis are welcome to fulfill this need. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
The 150th Anniversary Committee members included Louise Mellenthin,
Imogene Dahl, Mary Jo Uebele, Louise Yozman, Karen Piper, Orv Ulmer, Richard
Rutz, Dawn Crum, Terry Scherer, Bob Keller, Greg McConnell, Dana Alexander,
Marilyn Boardman and Marilyn Sawyer. A subcommittee donated their time, talent,
and treasure to the Independence Day Float. This group consisted of Greg and
Rhonda McConnell, Ron and Marilyn Boardman, Dan and Linda Tarnow, Jim Peters,
Bob Keller, Clarence Spear, and Jill Tharpe. Clarence not only provided the barn
in which to build and store the float, he provided the flat bed to build it on
and he drove the tractor to pull the float down Lincoln Way. Other contributors
included Richard and Renny Rutz, Hilda Danitschek, and all those who donated
towards the food and baked pies and cakes for the banquet. If we did not include
your name we ask your forgiveness and thank you doubly.
To all those listed above, to members of the various Boards, and to many St.
John’s members, at no cost to the Anniversary Fund, truly exhibited the meaning
of giving of their Time, Talent, and Treasure to construct the Independence Day
Float, the banners, the decorations, the supplies and delicious food.
Additionally, many worked tirelessly to make our grounds so beautiful – extra
special it seemed. Thanks again.
A special "Thank You" to Jocelyn Bell and Merlyn Jones who made our church
and school sparkle for the occasion. Also thanks to Linda Woodruff, Marilyn
Sawyer, and our office volunteers who assisted in the printing of our service
folders and sent letters of invitation.
The “Official” end of the 150th Anniversary will be celebrated the
Sunday of Fulfillment, November 25, 2007, when we’ll sing the Anniversary Hymn
one more time.
Pastor Brauer thanked the committee for its dedication to the planning,
organizing, and successful culmination of St. John’s 150th
Anniversary Celebration. We then closed with The Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Sawyer
Lily Event Report: The final numbers are in and our total income was
$16,807.87, expenses were ($7,957.87), profit was $8,850.00.
The committee decided that 10% of the proceeds would go to the Scholarship
Program, in which two recipients this year are Karen Eigenmann and Sarah Chlebek.
The remainder went to the General Fund.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make Lily Event 2007 a success!
Thanks to all who attended, we are grateful for your continued support.
We are currently forming committees for Lily Event 2008. If you are
interested, there is a sign-up sheet in the hall near the church office.
Attention Altar Guild: The next cleaning day will be November 15 at
8:00 AM, and our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 5, after the 7:00 PM
service.
From the Thrift Shop: The Thrift Shop Staff invites everyone to come
in and check out all the new fall merchandise now on display and ready for
purchase.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL
BOOTH APPLICATION
OCTOBER 18, 2007—9:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.
CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS BOOTH SPACE FREE
INDIVIDUAL CHURCH MEMBERS $10.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
KAREN at 362-8070 or JUDY at 362-6390
OR DROP OFF THIS FORM AT THE CHURCH OFFICE
NAME ___________________________________
PHONE __________________________________
DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS __________________
_________________________________________
Fall 2007 Progressive Dinner
The Board of Parish Fellowship is having its Fall Progressive Dinner
Friday, October 12, 2007. We will meet in the Ladies Lounge at 6:00 p.m.
for hors d’oeuvres.
We have a "new twist" this fall. At 6:45 p.m., we will "journey
through the hallway" to the school cafeteria with the host families for the
entree for groups of eight people. The host may choose whatever
he/she wishes to prepare and bring it to the school cafeteria. The host
arranges with other members of the group to provide the appetizer, salad, rolls,
butter and dessert. Each host will have a table for his/her guests; and,
table service will be provided.
Depending on the number of guests, we will either stay in the cafeteria or
return to the Ladies Lounge for dessert and more fellowship.
This is always an enjoyable evening, and not a "couples only" gathering.
Groups will consist of a mixture of old friends with a chance to meet and make
new friends.
Please complete the following to indicate your willingness to attend and/or
host a party of eight in the school cafeteria for the entree.
*******************************************************
NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS PLANNING TO ATTEND:
_______________________________________________________
TELEPHONE:___________________________________________
WILLING TO HOST: YES______
Please return this form to the church office or place in the offering plate
no later than 4:00 p.m. Monday, October 8.
Breaking News!
The Cookbook sponsored by the Family Circle, to raise funds for the
refurbishing of the “Brides Room” in the church, are on their way!
They will be unveiled and ready for purchase at the Fall Festival. Purchase
price is $13.00.
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