Epiphany-Saturday, January 6, 2007

Baptism of Our Lord-Sunday January 7, 2007
 

Epiphany Welcome: You, like the Wise Men, have seen His star and have come to worship Him. It was with exceedingly great joy that the Wise Men came. Why? Was it because they had traveled for so long and finally got to their destination? No, it was because the light of the Gospel had been shined upon them. It is that same Gospel that shines on you, showing you Jesus, the one born King of the Jews as well as the King of the Gentiles.

Baptism of Our Lord Welcome: Baptism--God immerses us, one-by-one, into the death and life of Jesus Christ. Baptism--God, in advance of the Last Day, utters His final verdict upon us: not guilty! Baptism--God incorporates us into the body of Christ and, therefore, into one another. Today we echo the call of John the Baptizer to repent and believe as we prepare for our Lord's coming. Thus we prepare our hearts for our God who comes with comfort and tenderness, having paid for our sins. Here is your God! God bless your celebration!
 

A new Bible Study begins this morning! “The Devil” begins this morning at 9:30 am. All who attend will receive a copy of “GOOD NEWS,” issue 26, which will serve as our study guide for this very enlightening look at the great deceiver and how he works in your world today. All are invited!

Pancake Breakfast: The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders invite you to attend a pancake breakfast on January 14, after the 8 and 10:45 am services. The proceeds go towards defraying the cost of their trip to Washington D.C. this May. Come and enjoy fresh eggs, sausages, pancakes, juice, coffee and milk. Tickets can be purchased in advance ($6.00 for adults, $4.50 for children 4-12) from any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, and the church and school offices

Sunday School: Sunday School will resume next Sunday at 9:25 am in the church lower level.

Activities Committee: The Activities Committee will meet on Monday, January 8, at 1:15 pm in the Ladies Lounge.

From the Finance Committee: Year-end financial statements are ready and will be available in the church office for those wanting one. Contact Linda Peters or Ron Scherer with any questions.

Contribution envelopes are still available for pick-up in the church basement. Please note that your envelope number may have changed.

Upcoming Church Meetings: Please mark these important meeting dates on your calendar:

Tuesday, January 9, 7:00 PM—All Boards Organizational Meeting-CAF

Tuesday, January 16, 7:00 PM—Church Council-MR

Wednesday, February 7, 7:00 PM—Voter’s Meeting-CAF

Please be prepared to submit membership information and a meeting schedule for your board to the church office following the organizational meeting.

Circles, Committees, Organizations: All groups that use our facilities for meetings or functions, please turn a 2007 schedule in to the church office as soon as possible. Also, if your Circle or organization meets off of the premises but would like your meeting to be listed in the calendar, please turn your schedule in as well.

Newsletter: Please have any items for the February Newsletter turned in to the church office by Wednesday, January 17.

“His Word, Our Joy”: We invite everyone to join us at “His Word, Our Joy” this month. We will meet on Sunday evening, January 21, instead of the second Sunday in January. We will continue our focus on the

Beatitudes along with learning some new songs and a time for prayer. We meet in the music room for about 45 minutes, starting at 6:30 pm. Young and old, teenagers and children, families and couples and singles—we fellowship as a family as we sing praises to our Savior.

From the Board of Parish Fellowship: St. John's 150th Anniversary celebratory events start January 2007. Every Member Recommitment Sunday is January 28, 2007 (this is not a football Sunday). Following the 10:45 a.m. worship service, we will have a noon potluck. Every family is asked to bring a dish or two of generous proportions to enable us to have enough food for everyone. You may bring your dishes of food to the kitchen before the service to keep cold or hot. Please bring table service for your family. Beverages will be provided.

The 2006 Adult Confirmands will be recognized and honored at this time as well.

Most importantly, it is the kick-off for St. John's 150th Anniversary. You will learn of the celebration plans during 2007 as well as the theme, logo, and anniversary hymn that best depicts this year-long celebration.

Can Collection: The 150th Anniversary Committee is sponsoring two upcoming can collections to help fund our Anniversary Celebrations.

They will coincide with Market Day dates. The next two dates are Saturday, January 27 and Saturday, March 24. There may be additional dates announced at a later time. Please drop cans off in the parking lot between the school and church on those Saturday mornings between 9 am and 11 am. Thank you for your continued support!

From the Willing Servants: The Willing Servants (Funeral Dinner Committee) would like to thank all the ladies for their time and dishes of food, so generously donated this past year. Unfortunately, our calling list is being depleted, and we are always looking for new people to help. If you are currently not on our Calling List and would like to help in this labor of love, please call Jo Borg at 326-6089 or Louise Mellenthin at 324-9257. Without your help we cannot function.

From Luke Vandercar and Jim Peters: Are you a “Shadetree” Mechanic for God? Are you interested in using your mechanical skills to serve our congregation? Would you like to learn more about how stuff works? St. John’s is going to be starting a new fellowship hour that will allow you to do these things. We are interested in helping people get their “small engine” equipment ready for spring, i.e. lawn mowers, weed eaters, roto-tillers, etc. We will also do light work on vehicles, oil changes, brakes, tire rotation, etc. To start, we will meet once a month at a time and day to be determined. All big and little kids who like to get their hands dirty are invited! Please contact Luke Vandercar or Jim Peters if you are interested, or if you have a project you need help with.

Board of Missions & Evangelism: The next board meeting will be on Saturday, January 13.

Jimmie and Arlene Hacker made a donation to the Stained Glass Window Reglazing Fund in loving memory of her father, Elmer Roempagel, whose birth date is January 11.

1/8/2007 (Mon.) Pastor Brauer’s Day Off 7:30a-W. Ex. Class-GYM 1:15p-Activities Com-LL 7:00p-WLC Rehearsal-MR

1/9/2007 (Tues.) 7:00p-ALL BOARDS MEET-CAF

(Organizational Meeting)

1/10/2007 (Wed.) 6:30a-Men/Mission-PYO 7:30a-W. Ex. Class-GYM 8:15a-Chapel 10:00a-Matins 10:30a-Wednesday Warriors-LL 1:30p-Circle 7-LL

6:00p-Cat. Class-LL

1/11/2007 (Thurs.) 8:15a-Mothers/Others-YR 2:30p-Girl Scout #234-YR 5:30p-Daisys-YR 7:00p-Trustees

1/12/2007 (Fri.) Pastor Young’s Day Off

7:30a-W. Ex. Class-GYM 10:30a-Bible Study-LL 1:30p-Ladies Aid-LL

1/13/2007 (Sat.) 10:00a-Missions & Evangelism-LL

7:00p-Worship/Communion

1/14/2007 (Sun.) 8:00a-Worship Pancake Breakfast-CAF (after service) 9:30a-Bible Study-CHAPEL 9:30a-S. School 10:45a-Worship/Communion

Pancake Breakfast-CAF (after service)

Pastor: Rev. David M. Young

Pastor: Rev. Ronald A. Brauer

Organist: Susan Rosselli

Altar Guild: Marilyn Boardman, Dorothy Levandoski

Elders on Duty: 7:00 PM: Jim Peters

8:00 AM Mark Jerndt, Roger Schuster

10:45 AM: Paul Tibbs

The flowers on the Altar this weekend were sponsored by the congregation

(Omitted from online version.)

Sat. 7:00 PM: 93

Sun. 8:00 AM: 74     Sun. 10:45 AM: 106    Sun. 7:00PM 40