Welcome! As we celebrate our family in Christ Jesus here at St. John’s, those who hear Jesus teach recognize that He does so with an authority that gives Him power, even over the unclean spirits. As we celebrate “Every Members’ Sunday,” may the authority of Jesus rule and guide our worship this day!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Due to popular demand (praise God!) by those who work during the week, we will beginning a Thursday evening Bible study for those who can’t get to Sunday morning Bible study or the other morning Bible studies that we have throughout the week. Beginning Thursday evening, January 26^th, a Bible study will begin, led by Luke Vandercar. The first topic will be a Biblical study of marriage. The Bible fellowship will begin at 7:00 pm in the Youth Room and run to 8:30 pm.

NOTE: young children are welcome! There will be things for them to play with while we gather. For further information, please contact the church office.

The Youth Group is now meeting every other Wednesday evening in the Youth Room. The next meeting will be February 1. Meetings are from 6-7 pm and include Bible Study and a planning session for monthly events. All St. John’s Youth of high school age are invited to participate. Please bring your Bible and a friend!

The Voters Meeting will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2006 in the school cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. There will be a motion from the Church Council to remove names presented by the Elders from our membership roster.  Plan to attend.

Order your football sandwiches — $6.00 per sandwich or four sandwiches, two liter of pop and chips for $25.00. Order forms available in the Narthex of the church, the school and church offices. Pick up sandwiches after each church service February 5.

The Evening Circle has Pecans, Chocolate Covered Pecans and

Chocolate Covered Pecan Caramel Clusters for sale. They are just $7.00 a bag. For more information, call Deana Murray at 362-8084.

The 2006 LILY (Leaders Involved in Launching Youth) Event::

Come one, come all to our 2^nd Annual Lily Event! It is a dinner, silent auction and dance held at the Silver Palace to benefit our church and school. The date is Friday, February 17^th and starts at 6:00 p.m.

There are many benefits to the evening in addition to the fundraising effort that we hope everyone will take advantage of. There is great food, including desserts and midnight snacks as well as an open bar. We will have many fun and interesting auction items to bid on and a great band to dance to after the auction is complete. (This year we have rented both rooms of the Silver Palace so that there is adequate space to browse the auction items.) We will also have a photographer on hand to take keepsake pictures of you and your spouse/friend/group in a designated area of the smaller room…for free!! So bring your friends and neighbors to this community-wide event supporting our church and school.

Anyone having auction items for the Lily event may drop them off in the church lower level between Sunday Services from now through the end of the month. If you have any questions or need to arrange a different time for drop off or pick up, please call Julie Sinclair at 326-0585.

Tickets are $25.00 per person and include dinner, non-alcoholic drinks, dessert, midnight snacks, and photograph. Tickets are available at the church and school offices and from members of our various boards. If you have any questions please call Julie Sinclair at 326-0585.

We pray for Gods blessings on our efforts to fulfill our mission to reach, lovingly, to all people and to provide them with the means to develop and sustain a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the leading of the Spirit. See you there!!

Building Bridges of Friendship — You are cordially invited to attend a 20 minute presentation of this member conservation program Sunday, February 29 at 2:00 p.m. in St. John’s School cafeteria. Following the presentation, you will be welcomed to assist in the program in the area of your choice. No strong-arm tactics will be employed. This is simply an invitation for you to come and listen.

The Newspaper Stuffers are still stuffing every other Saturday.

In 2005, we gave over $10,000 to the General Fund and other church/school organizations.

We are in need of additional workers from 10 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays. Our next Saturday is February 4, followed by February 18, March 4, March 18. and every other Saturday thereafter. If you can help or be a stand-by, call Karen Piper at 362-8070.

Contribution statements for 2005 are now ready for pick up. They will be available in the Narthex before and after all weekend services and in the church office throughout the week.

Contribution envelopes for 2006 are available in the church Narthex..

“Sowing Seeds” envelopes are available in the church office.

We need your help! Please make sure to put your NAME and your NEW ENVELOPE NUMBER on the outside of your “Sowing Seeds” envelopes. With a new year starting, and most people having new envelope numbers, we want to make sure all pledges are credited to the correct account. Thank You!

It is amazing that the Lord has given us 70 years of proclaiming the Gospel message through music at the Civic Auditorium. We have truly been blessed and pray that so has the community. Yet, many things our world have changed. It is time for the music dept. to make a change as well. The choir, pastors, and I have discussed and prayed in length about the change we feel that Lord is leading us to make…In December of 2006 the 73^rd Annual Walther League Christmas Concert will NOT be held in the La Porte Civic Auditorium. Instead, we share the gift of Christmas music in our sanctuary. We hope and pray that this will be a new ministry to both our community and our church family. There will also be other changes that will be announced at another date. We ask for your prayers and support while we work through this transition. Thank you and God’s Blessings, Matt Nelson

The choir is in need of some storage place for the acoustical shell used in our concert. If you may have some space in a pole barn or shed, please contact Matt Nelson at 380-9030.

Hand bells: We have a great need for more hand bell ringers. Minimal musical ability is needed. We meet on Wednesday evenings for about one hour. If you are interested, please call Matt at 380-9030.

Landa and Roland Hamilton and Todd Hamilton & family have made a donation to the school HVAC fund in loving memory of Carrie Hamilton, daughter, sister and aunt; and also Jeff Bunton.

Helen L. Smith has made a donation to the school HVAC fund in loving memory of her granddaughter, Carrie Hamilton.

Mr. And Mrs. David Jelke & family made a donation to the school HVAC Fund in loving memory of Carrie Hamilton.

The death date for Carrie Hamilton and Jeff Bunton is January 31

Ash Wednesday, March 1             Fish Fry, March 24

Pastor: Rev. David M. Young

Pastor: Rev. Ronald A. Brauer

Organist: Susan Rosselli

Director of Music Matt Nelson

Altar Guild: Ruby Stephansen, Marilyn Boardman, Dorothy Levandoski

Elders on Duty: 7:00 PM: Mark Jerndt, Jim Peters

8:00 AM: Mark Jerndt

10:45 AM: Paul Tibbs

The flowers on the Altar this weekend were sponsored by Landa & Roland Hamilton and Todd Hamilton & family in loving memory of Carrie Lynn Hamilton, daughter, sister, and aunt; and also Jeff Bunton whose death dates were January 31.

Baptisms: We rejoice with Sean Patrick and Christine Louise (Harrell) Astin on the new life and salvation given to their daughter Isabella Louise Astin and her father, Sean Patrick Astin on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 through Holy Baptism.

Funerals: Robert W. Boardman returned to the Lord on January 21 and received a Christian burial on January 25, 2006.

Marsha Rehlander returned to the Lord on January 22 and received a Christian burial on January 28, 2006.