From Pastor Young:

Welcome! The light of Epiphany shows us our sin, even as it shows us our Savior. On our own we can never measure up to God’s standards. We are driven into the arms of Jesus, depending on His grace for our healing and salvation. To whom else would we go? He has the words of eternal life!

The Sunday School will host the Second Annual “Chili Challenge” today at noon in the school cafeteria. Tickets are $5.00 per person at the door for all you dare to eat. (Hot dogs for kids.) Awards will be given for various categories of chili with FUN for all!!! Desserts are needed — bakers are encouraged to prepare and donate something delicious to top off the chili. Come join the FUN and B.Y.O.R. (Bring your own Rolaids.) All proceeds go for teaching materials

Building Bridges of Friendship, a program of member conservation. The Board of Elders cordially invites you to attend a 20-minute presentation of this new program Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm in the school cafeteria. The Building Bridges program will also be presented at 9:30 a.m. Sunday Bible Class.

This program is designed to minister, in a practical manner, to members when they become lax in their attendance at worship services. The key is to become aware of a member’s absenteeism at an early stage. Volunteers are needed for lay staff coordinators, volunteers for the printout and mailing of post cards, volunteers for telephoning and personal contact callers. Following the presentation, you will be welcomed to assist in any area of your choice. Training would follow thereafter at a later date. No strong-arm tactics will be employed. This is simply an invitation to come and listen.

Contribution statements for 2005 are available for pick up in the Narthex before and after all weekend services through the week end of February 26; thereafter they will be available in the church office.

Contribution envelopes for 2006 are available in the church Narthex.

Building Bridges of Friendship, a program of member conservation. The Board of Elders cordially invites you to attend a 20-minute presentation of this new program Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm in the school cafeteria.

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

Lastly, please be sure to put your NAME and your NEW ENVELOPE NUMBER on the outside of your “Sowing Seeds” envelopes. With the new year and most people having new envelope numbers, we want to make sure all pledges are credited to the correct account. Thank you!

From the Board of Parish Fellowship:

National Lutheran Schools Week is commemorated between March 5 and March 10. As part of the celebration on Sunday, March 5, we will honor our school faculty and paid staff with a reception between services during the Fellowship Coffee Hour. Please come to show your appreciation for the many years of dedicated, professional service these employees have extended to our Lutheran Day School. While every school employee is being honored, special recognition will be given to Sharon Butler and Karla Eigenmann, 15 years; Julie Stelter, 20 years; Dave Wippich, 25 years; and Marlene Will, 40 years of service.

Our "Chocolate Fest” fellowship coffee hour was outstanding. We encourage more members to attend Bible Study to become enriched with God's word. Come, join us this week and every week thereafter -- bring your Bible and become a regular attendee.

Plan now for the “Mint Fest” March 12, between services, as usual. We know there must be some unusual recipes using mint. Ladies, peruse your recipes and let Linda Peters, 393-3496 or Marilyn Sawyer, 362-6069 or 362-3726, in the church office, know what you will bring that day. All donations are appreciated.

With the Lenten season upon us, it also means our Wednesday evening worship services, beginning March 8, will be preceded by the delicious soup suppers prepared and served by the ladies of Parish Fellowship. We will have a variety of homemade soups to choose from, sandwiches, fruit, a light dessert and beverages. Serving will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. A free- will offering will be accepted to support our youth servant events.

One Board and a Circle have already offered to prepare soups, sandwiches and/or to assist our Board in any way they can. Anyone else, individual or Board, willing to help out should contact Linda Peters at 393-3496 or Marilyn Sawyer at 362-6069 or in the church office at 362-3726 to coordinate their efforts with the Board of Parish Fellowship.

An important meeting of the Activities Committee will be held on Monday, March 6, at 1:15 p.m. in the Ladies Lounge. All Circles should be represented.

Our long-awaited fish fry will be March 24, 2006, 4— 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Because the price of fish has increased, our ticket prices this year are $6.75 in advance and $7.75 at the door. Tickets for children under 12 are $3.50. Carry outs will be available and as usual, pie will be available at extra cost. Tickets are available in the church office.

Much preliminary preparation work must be done, such as filling cups with cole slaw, scrubbing and wrapping potatoes for baking, wrapping tableware with napkins, breading fish, ticket sellers, ticket takers and greeters. Finally, we need clean-up people — individuals responsible for cleaning tables and folding them along with the chairs for storage; and last, but not least, vacuum the gym floor so it is presentable for the next activity on Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. Set aside some time to help with the above tasks, then call Dawn Crum at 324-2985, Paul Tibbs at 369-8658 or Marilyn in the church office at 362-3726 to ask how you can help to make this a successful fish fry. We need many hands! Volunteer today!

Delicious pies are needed from our expert bakers. Bring a couple pies to the school during the afternoon of March 24. If you have any questions, please call Annette Williams at 326-8017.

Hi! I’m your offering envelope. Thank you for taking me to church regularly. Your gift helps your church do the work of preaching, teaching, baptizing, and making disciples. You know I need your help by placing inside me your offering for the week and faithfully bringing me to church. God continues to give you all that you need to support your body in this life. He has given you His Holy Word to instruct you in managing His gifts. I am one of His servants to help you do just that. Please continue to remember to use me and to pray for your fellow members at St. John’s. Thank you again!

Matt Nelson has a new telephone number: 219 363-7050. Please make note of it for future reference. Thank you.

Ash Wednesday, March 1 — Imposition of Ashes 7 p

National Lutheran Schools Week, March 5 — March 10

Soup Suppers Wednesdays, March 8 through April 5, 5:30 p

PTL Disco Dance, March 17, 6 p

Aluminum Can/Scrap Iron Collection, March 18, 9:30-10:30 a

Fish Fry, March 24, 4-7 p

Steven’s Puppets, March 28, 1 p

Pastor: Rev. David M. Young

Pastor: Rev. Ronald A. Brauer

Organist: Susan Rosselli

Director of Music Matt Nelson

Altar Guild: Dawn Crum, Deanna Murray, Pauletta Schuster

Elders on Duty: 7:00 PM: Jim Sherwood

8:00 AM: Greg McConnell and Dave Surma

10:45 AM: Ron Scherer

The flowers on the Altar this weekend were sponsored by the Newspaper Stuffers in loving memory of departed members.

(Omitted from online version.)

WEEKLY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE