Blessings to you in the Name of Christ! “You are My Son!” God spoke these words to Jesus as He came up from the Jordan waters of His baptism. God speaks these same words to you upon your baptism. Your old Adam, drowned in those waters, would be a death situation for you unless you would be rescued. By His death on the cross, Christ has died for you, and now by that baptism, gives you life in His name. God created light and separated light from darkness on the first day of creation. By baptism, He calls you into His marvelous light and places you in His church, where He separates you from the world of unbelievers. Now you live in Christ and for Christ!
 

Romans 6:1-11: Stewards live in a special fellowship with God because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This new life by God’s grace involves using all that we are and have to honor God and bless others.
 

"We lose more babies through abortion every year than the total fatalities in all of the wars in which we have ever participated, commencing with the French and Indian War and including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I, and Gulf War II. What’s wrong with religious people who are not making this their paramount issue?" Dr. Richard Land, president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission This "Life Quote" is from Lutherans For Life

“The Last Things” is the title of the Sunday morning Bible class beginning this week. “What happens when we die?” While man does not like to talk about death and dying, it is necessary to know what God has to say about it. Come and be prepared when that question is asked of you. Know what other religions are saying about death and especially of the return of Jesus on the Last Day. All these topics are of importance, even as we see that day approaching. This class meets between Sunday services in the Cafeteria. Come and enjoy the hospitality of our Parish Fellowship Board. Be pleased to join them in hosting on a Sunday or two! We thank them for their willing service!
 

At the close of our second service on Sunday, we will ask God’s blessings for David and Beth Hoeppner as they will soon travel and begin their task as missionaries in India, serving as educational consultants for some 80 Lutheran Schools in the India Lutheran Church. We will be supporting them in this coming year with our mission offerings.

This is the organizational meeting for all boards. All board members, new and old, are encouraged and expected to attend. We will have a brief meeting followed by individual board meetings. During these meetings, meeting schedules will be decided and board officers will be chosen. Please attend this important meeting at 7:00 PM in the cafeteria.

Our services next weekend will emphasize ‘Life Sunday’ as part of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s stance on the sanctity of life. While we treasure the life God gives in birth, there are those forces even in our own country who would promote the death of the unborn. What does the Christian say to those who wrestle with the issues of abortion? Lutherans for Life, a Recognized Service Organization of the LC-MS, offers help to those having questions about these issues.

Mark your calendars for the next LILY Event on February 6, 2009, from 6-12 PM. This year the theme is “The HeART of the Matter.” We will be featuring a live auction, silent auction, raffles, dinner, drinks, and a DJ. Tickets are now available in the school and church offices.

If you are unable to attend this year but would like to contribute, we will be hosting an eBay auction the week before, with the auction ending the night of the event. We will be putting together the bulletin board in the school, by the church office, that will have suggestions for auction items. If you have items that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the bookkeepers office or call Tammy Vandercar.

Mark your calendars and plan on attending our “Every Member Sunday,” the weekend of January 24-25, 2009, when we urge all our members to be in attendance that weekend. It will be a time to renew our commitment of membership at St. John’s and renew our confirmation vows. Following the 10:45 A.M. service, at noon, there will be a pot luck dinner to gather and fellowship with each other. Please mark your calendar for that day of renewal, fellowship, food and fun.

Please bring your favorite hot or cold dish to share. You may bring it to the kitchen before church in order to keep it hot or cold.  Remember to take your empty dish off of the serving table before you leave. Please don’t bring any serving utensils. Anyone willing to help before or after the meal, please report to the kitchen. Watch future bulletins for more information.

Many thanks for your cards and calls of sympathy at the death of my father-in-law, Henry Kamrath. We are comforted in Christ, the Key of David, who opened heaven for him at his baptism, and has closed Henry’s path to misery and suffering. Also, thank you for allowing Rev. Ralph Sielaff to step in for me and lead you in worship during my absence. Your hospitality for him and his daughter was greatly appreciated. –Pastor Brauer, Sandy, Michelle, and David Brauer.

Jim and Arlene Hacker made a donation to the Door Fund in loving memory of her father, Elmer Roempagel, whose birth date is January 11.

Mrs. Helen L. Smith made a donation to the General Fund in loving memory of her husband, Roy V. Smith, whose death date is January 14.

Mr. And Mrs. David Jelke and family made a donation to the General Fund in loving memory of Roy V. Smith, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whose death date is January 14.

Landa, Roland, Todd, Nick and Brett Hamilton, and Julie Moyer made a donation to the General Fund in loving memory of Roy V. Smith, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whose death date is January 14.

1/12/2009 (Mon.) Pastor Brauer’s Day Off 7:30a-Wom. Ex. Class-GYM 7:00p-WLC Rehearsal-MR

1/13/2009 (Tues.) 1:30p-Circle 8-LL 7:00p-ALL BDS MEET-CAF 7:30p-Parish Fel.-CHO 7:30p-Youth Bd.-YR 7:30p-Social Min.-7th 7:30p-Stewardship-8th 7:30p-Trustees-MR 7:30p-School Bd-6th 7:30p-Elders-LL

1/14/2009 (Wed.) 7:30a-Wom. Ex. Class-GYM 8:00a-Chapel 10:00a-Matins 10:30a-Wed. Warriors-LL 1:30p-Circle 7-LL 6:00p-Confirmation Class-LL

1/15/2009 (Thurs.) 2:30p-Brownies #204-YR

1/16/2009 (Fri.) 10:30a-Bible Study-LL

1/17/2009 (Sat.) 8:00a-Banner Com-4th 6:00p-Worship

1/18/2009 (Sun.) 8:00a-Worship/Communion 9:15a-Fellowship Coffee-CAF 9:30a-Sunday School-CHLL 9:30a-Youth Bible Study-YR 9:30a-Bible Study-CAF 10:45a-Worship

Rev. Ronald A. Brauer

Susan Rosselli

6:00 PM Jim Peters

Mark Jerndt

8:00 AM Roger Schuster

10:45 AM Paul Tibbs

Mark Jerndt

Dorothy Levandoski

Ruby McMahon

The Altar Flowers this week were sponsored by the congregation.

Mitchell Burton, Ron Eigenmann Jr., Jason Eigenmann, Mark Moellman, Barry Ryan, Chaplain Jim Rice, Kevin Schoof, Jacob Sims, Andy Watson, Eric Wykowski and Jeff Zeizig

(Omitted from online version)

New Year’s Eve 38

Sat., 6:00 PM: 66

Sun., 8:00 AM: 99

10:45 AM: 122

St . John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church & School (LCMS)

TO OUR VISITORS: We extend a warm welcome to the assembly of believers gathered to worship with us at St. John’s! First time visitors, please sign the visitors section of the pew pad located at the end of the pew. Please include your name and address. We want to know who you are! For your convenience, restrooms, first aid, telephone needs and a nursery room for children ages 5 & under are provided in the church basement under the Narthex. God bless your worship!

PETITIONS, INTERCESSIONS, AND THANKSGIVING PRAYERS before worship can be found in Lutheran Service Book, inside front cover and beginning on page 305.

Opening Hymn: LSB 405 “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord”

Introit

Gospel Reading (Please rise for the Gospel reading)

Sermon Hymn: LSB 596 “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized”

Sermon: “A Death and Life Situation”

Text: Romans 6:1-11 and Mark 1:9-11

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