Epiphany—Missions—Life—Every Member Sunday. All these fill the month of January at St. John’s. Each week sees some important facet of the life of our congregation. Each week sees additional opportunities to be part of the worship and community life. Who would think that January winters in Northwest Indiana were colorless and mundane?

The first Sunday in January will be observed as the Second Sunday of Christmas, leading off this calendar year. The story of Jesus in the Temple at age 12 is the only narrative of Jesus’ life between the nativity accounts and His public appearance to be baptized by John in the Jordan at age 30. Mary’s lament, “Son, why have you treated us so?” came after a frantic three-day search. Jesus would be found in the Temple, where He said of being there, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Mary and Joseph didn’t understand; they were tired and exhausted after all that searching, but their search ended in the Temple. That is why we must start this year in the Temple. Rather than be torn apart by the economy, the weather, the sorry situation of things in our community and world, let us sit with the teachers as Jesus did, listening to the instruction of God’s Word, studying that life-giving Word, and be fed at His Holy Meal.

January 11 will be observed as a special Mission Sunday. The Gospel lesson is the Baptism of our Lord, always observed on the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Not only do we talk about baptism and the Holy Trinity, but we also talk about the importance of getting the Word out. That is what Dave and Beth Hoeppner will do as education consultant in India. We will have a special ‘send off’ for them at the 10:45 A.M. service that morning.

January 17 and 18 will be observed as “Life Sunday.” Each year, countless thousands of abortions occur. The Christian knows the sanctity of life as God designed it, yet there are those who do not honor what God says about the life of the unborn. Add to that those who are elderly who are confined to nursing care facilities. There is also the guilt that is carried by those who have aborted their unborn baby. How does the Church minister to such people? What message can we take to those affected? Questions like these will be the focus of that weekend.

The last Sunday in January is our “Every Member Sunday” where we encourage all our members to be in attendance that weekend. A pot luck dinner is planned for noon that day, and will give you a chance to try out that new recipe. A hymn-sing is also being planned for later that afternoon, singing some familiar favorites as well as introducing a couple new ones from the Lutheran Service Book. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you for that meal.

As always, January comes when winter is upon us. I always encourage members to be in worship each week. But weather may also play a factor in the safe passage to church. If you are not able to attend worship, the service is usually recorded and broadcast on WLOI (1540 on the AM dial) at 11:00 A.M. ‘Worship for Shut-Ins’ is another fine television program that proclaims the Gospel message. See the cover page of this newsletter for more information. As always, your financial support of the Church is needed as even though you may not be in attendance, the expenses of the Church need to be paid. Please mail or bring your offering to Church when you are unable to make it. If you have yet to pick up your 2009 offering envelopes, they are available in the narthex of the Church.

Lastly, thank you for your continued prayers, your words of encouragement, your greeting cards and your thoughtful gifts. May God grant you health, safety, and peace this year 2009.

Pastor Ron Brauer

Matthew 11:28-30

From the Board of Stewardship “Wait Until Next Year!”

Ernie Banks, a former Major League star shortstop, played his entire career (1953-1971) with the Chicago Cubs. During his career he was selected to the All-Star game eleven times, named the League’s Most Valuable Player two times and .in 1977 elected into Baseball’s hall of fame. Two of his more famous nicknames included “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine.” During his long career the Cubs never won a world championship, but at the end of each season of his great career he would say, “Wait until next year!” When that next year came around Ernie would play each game with excitement and enthusiasm. His catch phrase was, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, let’s play two!” The world championship never came, but that did not dampen Ernie’s excitement and enthusiasm for life and for baseball. Ernie was playing the game for more than a championship; he enjoyed the game for the game’s sake.

When we were reflecting on our many failures and shortcomings as we moved toward the end of 2008 we may also have said to ourselves, “Wait until next year.” Well, whether or not that was the case, it is now the “next year!” With God’s help we can look forward to 2009 with the same kind of excitement and enthusiasm that Ernie Banks displayed year after year. That’s possible because of the assurance of forgiveness we have as a result of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf. The past is gone, a new year has come and we can move forward with enthusiasm and excitement because God’s Holy Spirit is within us to help us to will and to do those things that are evidence of our being the children of God.

As God’s redeemed stewards we look forward to this new year of grace and the many opportunities to use all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes. It is helpful for us to remember that we live out our stewardship in cooperation with and encouragement from our fellow redeemed stewards. We are never in this work alone. While it is true that our stewardship is a personal response to God, it is always to be lived out within our community of faith, specifically our congregation. Perhaps we can have the same spirit and enthusiasm that Ernie Banks had for baseball but instead of saying, “It’s a great day for a ballgame…let’s play two,” we can say “It’s a great year for being God’s stewards, let’s do twice as much!”

May God bless us as His redeemed stewards and help us throughout this year to freely and joyfully serve Him and His kingdom with all that we are and have. LCMS Stewardship Resources

Principal’s Page

1/5 School Resumes

1/11 Christus Chorus sings-8:00 AM Service

1/15 Grades 2-3-Planetarium field trip

1/18 King’s Kids sing-10:45 AM

1/19 No bus

LaPorte Public Library presents Abe Lincoln (200^th)

1/21 Eat in classroom (Senior Potluck)

1/28 1/2 Day

2/6 LILY Event-Silver Palace-6:00 PM

3/23 STEVEN’S PUPPETS: “Wizard of Oz”-1:00 PM

Lang Arts: 94.83% (State: 71.5%) Math: 87.6% (State: 75.6%) Science: 89% (State: 60.5%)

We scored 100% passing grade in grades 5-8 math the last 4 years prior to this year. Our low score in math was 61% and our high score was 100%. More tests will be taken in the spring of 2009 when we will attempt to improve on our fall scores. Out of 14 grade level scores, we surpassed the state at 13 levels!

social on 12/14/08. The concert was a fantastic voice to God! Thanks to Mrs. Rosselli and school staff and the children for all the hard work and great singing.

libations and a DJ.

If you are unable to attend this year but would like to contribute, we will be hosting an EBAY auction the week before with the auction ending the night of the event. We will be putting together the bulletin board outside the church office in the school that will have suggestions for auction items. If you have items that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the bookkeeper’s office or call Tammy Vandercar.

Any tangible goods (excluding meals) you contribute or collect for the auction that sell for $500 or more will bring you a 50% of sale price tuition remission. If you have no children in the school, you may credit the family of your choice for the 2009-10 school year.

Thanks:

A RESOUNDING THANK YOU to all of our staff, faculty, committees, parents, volunteers, sound techs and ushers, and decorators who helped make our Christmas concert possible. This is a large effort that takes many hands and hearts to bring together. Thanks also to all our singers and readers who performed, and to all of you who came and were a wonderful audience for them. God's blessings to every one of you for a wonderful Christmas filled with the joy of our Savior's love. Sue Rosselli

Offering Envelopes:

The offering envelopes for next year are now available for pick up in the Narthex. Your envelope number has probably changed, so please do not use your new envelopes until January. If you have any questions concerning your offering envelopes, please call Ron Scherer or Linda Peters.

Also, anyone wishing to make a donation to be included on their 2008 contribution statements, should turn it in by December 28.

http://www.stjohns-lpin.org - copyright 2000-2010 - St. John's Lutheran Church, La Porte, IN. All rights reserved. Contact the church at: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350, or call us at 219-362-3726.  For questions, updates or comments regarding this web site contact St. John's Web servant, debra@dreamercreative.com.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®.  NIV ®.   Copyright ©  1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society ®.  Used by permission.   All rights reserved world-wide.