Welcome in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ! “Increase our faith!” the disciples prayed. So do you every day. Sincere faith, founded on the Word of God, needs to be fanned into flame. Yes, there will be persecutions. Yes, there will be challenges to our faith from the devil, the world, and sadly, from our own lazy, fear-filled flesh. But each time we come to hear the Word of God and receive the Holy Sacrament, our faith is fanned to burn brightly so that others may see our good works of faith and thereby point others to God the Father in Christ. It is sincere faith that guides and inspires the Christian steward to do what is his duty.

Luke 17:1-10: As Christian stewards we are managers or servants of that which belongs to God. It is our duty to manage wisely and well, and even when we do, we do not merit any special rewards from God; we are only doing what we are supposed to do. In other words we practice good stewardship not in order to be saved, but because we are saved. (LCMS)

FROM THE BOARD OF PARISH EDUCATION

From the Thrift Shop: The Thrift Shop potluck is at noon on Monday, October 8, 2007, in the Ladies Lounge.

Can Recycling Day: The next can recycling day will be October 13, in conjunction with Market Day. Save your aluminum cans, steel cans and scrap metal and bring them to the school entrance from 9:00-11:00 AM. Please keep each item separate. Future can collection dates are February 23, 2008 and May 24, 2008; these too, are dates coinciding with Market Day. Proceeds will go to the Church Door Replacement Fund.

From the Board of Parish Fellowship: The Progressive Dinner is Friday, October 12. The deadline to reserve your place at the dining table is tomorrow, October 8. Place the reservation form in the offering plate today or turn it into the church office no later than 4:00 p.m. Monday.

Pastor Appreciation Day is Sunday, October 14, 2007. We will honor our pastors during Fellowship Coffee Hour (also our Apple Fest) after the 8:00 a.m. worship service in the cafeteria. We invite you to come and express your appreciation for their tireless dedication to this congregation.

His Word/Our Joy: Our next meeting will be next Sunday, October 14, at 6:30 PM in the music room. Everyone is welcome.

From the Activities Committee: The Annual Fall Festival will be held Thursday, October 18, in St. John’s Lutheran School. The Bazaar, featuring handcrafted items and baked goods, will begin at 9:00 AM and the luncheon begins at 11:00 AM, serving hot and cold food prepared by the members of St. John’s. Both events are being held through 1:00 PM Tickets are available from Imogene Dahl, the church office and Committee members at $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under 12. Ticket prices at the door will be $6.00 and $2.00 respectively.

The Committee has gift baskets featuring Tea, Picnic/Wine, Baby, Bath/Body, Kids’ Activities and Winter. The baskets will be displayed on:

October 7, after the 8:00 a.m. worship service near the cafeteria;

October 12, at La Porte Savings Bank between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.;

October 12, at the Progressive Dinner between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; October 14, after the 8:00 a.m. worship service at the Apple Fest and Reception for Pastors Young and Brauer. Tickets for the Theme Baskets and the Bazaar/Luncheon will be available at each of the above sites. Homemade baked goods will be offered at the bank only. Baskets will be awarded at the Fall Festival. No need to be present to win.

The Activities Committee needs hot and cold food dishes for the luncheon. No desserts, please. We need help in the kitchen for the luncheon. We also need manpower to set up on Wednesday, October 17 at 2:30 p.m. and take down Thursday, October 18 at 1:30 p.m. If you can help in any of these ways, please call Marilyn Boardman or Marilyn Sawyer.

The Fall Festival is a major undertaking! Once again, we need St. John’s member support with food donations, help to set up, kitchen and dining room help, diners, take down and vacuum.

We have been pre-approved for Thrivent funds. The more profit we make on the luncheon, the more St. John’s will realize from Thrivent.

Please support St. John’s Fall Festival. See you October 17 and/or October 18. Thank you.

Computers by Christmas: As many are aware, the school’s computer lab is in dire need of upgrading. A committee has been formed to evaluate the teachers’ and students’ needs, and those needs have determined how the new lab will be equipped. Approximately $15,000 will be raised to establish a new lab which includes computers, printers, and a multimedia station. The goal is to raise the money by Christmas, so that to start the new year, students will be able to use a top notch computer lab!

There are many ways to help! All proceeds from the Scrip gift card program for this year, as well as the Carson Community Days coupon book sales will be directed into the Computer Fund. St. John’s PTL has pledged $4,000 to start this campaign. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted! Please make checks payable to “St. John’s Lutheran PTL,” and in the memo section write “Computer Fund.”

Let’s work together to give St. John’s students a Christmas gift that will last for years to come! Please contact Nicole Schuster at 362-6223 or Maria Surma at 324-9711 for any questions regarding this effort.

More on “Computers by Christmas” campaign: Please help support our “Computers by Christmas” campaign by purchasing a Carson’s Community Day Coupon book. The cost of the book is just $5.00 and includes one $10.00 coupon and eight 20% off coupons. The coupons can be used at Carson’s Community Day on November 10, 2007. This is a great fundraiser for PTL because we get to keep 100% of the sales. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of new computers for the student computer lab in the library. Purchase your coupon book in the school office or contact Jennifer Parrette for more information.

Toys for Appalachian Children: The LLL is again partnering with the Orphan Grain Train and Thrivent to ship toys to poor Appalachian children. Please be a part of this loving project by donating good used or new (no stuffed animals please) toys. Boxes are located in the Church Narthex and by the Church Office. Please bring toys in by November 1. Thanks for considering this opportunity to touch some lives with Christian love.

Clay and Dana Alexander and Ed and Lois Diedrich made donations for new hymnals.

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Weekly Schedule

Pastor: Rev. David M. Young

Pastor: Rev. Ronald A Brauer

Organist Susan Rosselli

Altar Guild: Dolores Keller, Lori Rollins, Barbara Swanson

Elders on Duty: 6:00 PM: Jim Peters

8:00 AM Mark Jerndt, Roger Schuster

10:45 AM: Paul Tibbs

The Altar flowers this week were sponsored by John and Kathryn Schutz and Ed and Lois Diedrich in loving memory of Andrea, daughter and granddaughter, whose birth date was October 9.

Funeral: Jeanne Wendt departed this earthly life on Tuesday, September 25, and received a Christian burial on Monday, October 1.

WEEKLY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

Wed. 10:00 AM: 9     Sat. 6:00 PM: 87

Sun. 8:00 AM: 235    Sun. 10:45AM: 89

Total: 410

Offertory (page 192), Offering

Prayer of the Church

Service of the Sacrament (page 194)