Vol. 59    February 2010     No. 2

“In the name of the Triune God, St. John’s Lutheran Church proclaims repentance and forgiveness, equips the faithful, and cares for our neighbors.”

“The Mission of St. John’s Lutheran Church is…?”

Can you complete the statement? Or do you have to rummage through your purse or coat pocket, or retrieve a bulletin from the front cover of your Bible and reread it? Perhaps I’ll save you the trouble: “In the name of the Triune God, St. John’s Lutheran Church proclaims repentance and forgiveness, equips the faithful, and cares for our neighbors.”

Originally I was going to share with you the work of our Missions and Evangelism board, but with the news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I would defer to talk about how we can care for our neighbors. While the reports are still coming in from this small place on the globe, we are initially filled with fear to wonder if any of our people were in this area when the earthquake occurred. I have received emails from two sources, both with important connections with St. John’s.

The first is from our Indiana District President, Rev. Dan May. In an email bulletin, he calls on all members of our District to remember these people in our prayers. Rev. Dan May writes, “We have heard and will continue to hear the heartrending news from Haiti. As you know we have a significant presence in Haiti and have a seminary in this poor country. Concordia Theological Seminary (Ft. Wayne) has been working there for sometime, North East Regional Vice President Mommens is deeply involved with the mission work in Haiti and has made a number of trips to Haiti, presently we have a Deaconess (Alyssa Stone and her daughters) and a host of others have been or are involved in ministering to the people in Haiti.” He has asked that prayers be offered for the rescue and relief efforts in Haiti.

Alyssa Stone and her daughters were stationed some 80 miles from the epicenter of the quake, and are reported as safe, although frightened. Their buildings are more structurally sound than those in Port-au-Prince. The full impact of this earthquake in terms of injuries and deaths is still to be known, but estimates as high as 100,000 to 500,000 people may have perished.

In another email, we received word from Rev. Walter Volz from “Food for the Poor.” You may remember Rev. Volz visited us last June to tell of the work in much of the Caribbean Islands, including Haiti. He shared reports as follows: “FOOD FOR THE POOR workers in Haiti have been able to communicate some information to our home office in Florida now and we have learned the following:

The mission theme for this month would have been “Having a tender heart for the lost.” What better way to display that love than to consider your support for relief efforts for these people in Haiti. A number of ways is suggested, and gleaning through the above emails I would encourage and support the following:

1. Daily Prayers for the rescue and recovery efforts that will continue for sometime. Also prayers for families to connect with loved ones who were in the area a the time of the quake.

2. Financial support through our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod agencies, such as: LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Lutheran Church Charities, or the Indiana District. Monies received would be tax deductible and would be designated for this relief effort. For updates please go to the LCMS World Relief and Human Care website at: http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=891

3. Financial support directly to “Food for the Poor”, Earthquake Relief, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33097-9970. As above, your donation is tax deductible. For regular updates, check their website at www.foodforthepoor.org.

As was learned with the devastation in the Gulf States when hurricane Katrina hit, cash donations were by far the most effective in providing what was needed. While clothing and food are also essential, the transportation and handling of such would be a tedious task. However, agencies like our Human Care, the Indiana District, or Food for the Poor, are equipped to handle such need. They also coordinate efforts with local and global authorities (United Nations). While we can’t wish the disaster to go away, we can show love and support to these, the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters in need, and have a tender heart for those who are lost and who lost everything.

May God guide your heart to a faith-filled response!

Pastor Ron Brauer

Matthew 11:28-30

On February 17 we will join Christians around the world in observing the season of Lent. Lent is a deeply spiritual time as we reflect on the tremendous love and sacrifice of Jesus for us so that we might have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. The price of our redemption was overwhelming. As Dr. Martin Luther said in explaining the second article of the Apostles Creed “Jesus, my Lord, has redeemed me a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” As Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

Dr. Luther went on with his explanation to state that Jesus made this supreme sacrifice “so that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true!”

In Jesus we have been redeemed from all sins, including the sin of selfishly wanting to use all of God’s blessings for our own needs and wants rather than using them to His glory and the welfare of our neighbor.

Selfishness is not part of good stewardship! Here is a definition of good and godly stewardship: “God’s redeemed stewards, in cooperation with and encouragement from fellow redeemed stewards, freely and joyfully manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.”

Lent provides us with an excellent opportunity to reflect on what is really important and worth spending our lives and resources on. During this 2010 season of Lent may God’s Holy Spirit help us to understand that God wants to use us as instruments in His hands to touch the lives of others in ways that make an eternal difference. As we are led to accept this truth we will better understand what it means to use our time, skills and talents, and our financial resources in loving and sacrificial ways.

What a time of spiritual growth the season of Lent can be as we strive to spend our lives and resources on things that really matter and last beyond our lifetimes. God’s redeemed stewards want to make this world a better place because we have been here. May the love and sacrifice of Jesus so impress us that we will want to reach out in loving and sacrificial ways.

“God’s redeemed and maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all they do.”

We held our St. John's Spelling Bee, and our winners will now represent us at Kesling Middle School on Thursday, February 4.

The 3-4 grade winners were: 1st—–Linda Tharpe

2nd—Savannah Starr

3rd—Anna Foglesong

Alt.—Josh Grant

The 5-6 grade winners were: 1st—–Zoe Surma

2nd—Ethan Grant

3rd—Emma Foglesong

Alt.—Caleb Bublitz

The 7-8 grade winners were: 1st—–Kyle Meyer

2nd—Belle Schuster

3rd—Cassandra Nickerson

Alt.—Courtney Meyer

Basketball:
If you have not come to one of our basketball games, we still have several home game nights this month.

Feb. 8—–4th-6th Girls, 6 PM & 4th-5th Boys, 7 PM

Feb. 18—4th-5th Boys, 6 PM & 6th-7th Boys, 7 PM

Feb. 23—4th-6th Girls, 6 PM & 7th-8th Girls, 7 PM

We also have tournaments here on Saturdays, February 6 and 19.

Come and support out teams!

Snow Days:

School WILL be in session on Friday, February 12 to make up for the second day school was cancelled due to the weather. Our next snow make up day is scheduled for Monday, February 15. We are off that day UNLESS we get another school cancellation before that day. If we do, then school will be in session on Feb. 15.

We now have a new copy machine in the office due to the $6000 anonymous donation. We thank you so much for your kindness and support that will help keep our school running to the best of its abilities. We are coming up with several ideas on how to spend the rest of the donation that is still available.

Every Member Sunday: The last Sunday in January is designated as “Every Member Sunday.” We encourage all our members to be in attendance at one of the three services that weekend. In each service we will renew our confirmation vow and reaffirm our membership at St. John’s. Can we have attendance that weekend of greater than 400? We also invite all to join us for a Sunday (January 31) Pot Luck meal in the School Gymnasium. A short program and door prizes will follow the meal before we clean up tables and chairs and return home. Bring a dish to pass, your own table service, and join us! (You may bring your hot or cold dishes to the kitchen before church, and we will keep them hot or cold for you.) And if you can’t bring a dish to pass, come anyway, for there is often more food available, thanks to God’s almighty hand.

Lenten Worship: Our Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, with services at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM, both with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion. Our 2010 Lenten theme is:

On Ash Wednesday, we gather to hear “The Pardoning Word.” These are the first words from the cross we hear Jesus speak as He implores God to forgive us. During following Wednesdays, we will hear:

The Promising Word

The Faithful Word

The Compassionate Word

The Suffering Word

The Dying Word

Maundy Thursday, The Remembering Word

Good Friday, The Fulfilled Word

Easter, The Vindicated Word

From the Board of Parish Fellowship: Lenten soup suppers will begin on Wednesday, February 24. This year we will serve between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. With serving ending at 6:00 PM, it will allow us more time to clean up and make it to church by 7:00 PM. The menu will consist of a variety of soups, sandwiches, breads, crackers, fruit, beverages, and a light dessert. Come, enjoy a delicious meal and fellowship until it’s time to go to the church service.

LILY Event: Due to the lack of ticket sales, the LILY Event, scheduled for February 12, has been cancelled. If it is rescheduled, details will be included in future bulletins and newsletters.

Door Fund and New Doors: As of January 19, we have collected $48,100.50 of the approximately $ 60,000.00 needed for the new church doors. Two new doors have been installed in the chapel and more are in the works. (We are hoping to have them all in by Easter!) Make sure to check them out! Thanks to all who have donated to the door fund so far.

Our 2010 Missions: The Northwest Indiana Mission to Hispanics’

The Burmese of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dave and Beth Hoeppner-India and Lutheran Ministries Media (Worship for Shut-Ins). Please remember these missions in your prayers and through your monthly Mission Offerings. We also support the Indiana District and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

2009 Contribution Statements: Contribution statements for 2009 have been mailed out. If you have any questions about your statement, please contact Linda Peters or the Church Office at 362-3726.

Can Recycling: Keep saving those cans. Our next Can Day will be on February 13. Thanks again to all who participated and to Joy Griffin for all her work.

Fish Fry: Our Spring Fish Fry is being sponsored by the Trustees and directed by Dawn Crum. They, along with numerous volunteers, are

planning the fish fry for Friday, March 26, 4:00-7:00 PM. We are looking for sponsors to offset the cost, and our goal is as follows:

15 sponsors who donate $100.00 each for a box of fish,

If you can help with a donation or services, contact Linda in the Church Office at 362-3726. Tickets will be available soon. Watch future bulletins and next month’s newsletter for more details.

Please Help: Have you changed your address, phone number or marital status in the past few years? Have the adult children left your home to start their own? If so, please inform the Church Office so that we are able to update your records. Also, if you have been left off of the monthly birthday list, please call us, it is because we don’t have your birth date in our records. It would also be appreciated if you would let us know of any misspellings of your name or address. Thank you so much for your help!

Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. “Worship for Shut-Ins”

Summary Sheets February 2010

by Rev. Paul E. Shoemaker, Emanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, IN

The Disciples "left everything and followed Jesus". It is hard to imagine leaving everything to follow Jesus but that is what we are called to do.

Jesus is the perfect example as He left everything to give us eternal life.

by Rev. Jay Mason, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, NM

Transfiguration Sunday; Valentine's Day:

I. Who is Jesus? . . . Hot topic in Jerusalem

II. The Transfiguration

1. Jesus' appearance

2. Elijah & Moses

3. God spoke to disciples

III. So What?

"Standing and Withstanding Temptation"

by Rev. Karl Frincke, Concordia Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Jesus was tempted mightily for us. He defeated the devil. As a result we can defeat temptation.

by Rev. James Elsner, Prince of Peace, Hudson, IN

We have been stubborn - especially as children. But a similar attitude in spiritual matters crushes one for eternity! God in His grace calls us from this sin and gathers us to Himself through Jesus

Worship for Shut-ins is on digital cable, channel 138 at 11:30 AM, DirecTV channel 377 at 10:30 AM, or on-air with a converter box on channel 46-1 at 10:00 AM. It may also be viewed anytime on-line at www.worshipforshutins.org.

Don’t forget that our weekend services are rebroadcast at 11:00 AM each Sunday on WLOI, 1540 on the AM Scale

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.