St. John Lutheran Church
This Week's News ~ January 22, 2016
 

In this Issue

Quick Links

St. John Calendar 

Chancel Choir Schedule

 

 

This Week at St. John
Friday, 01/22
9:45 am Friday Bible Academy
Saturday, 01/23
5:30 pm Evening Worship
7:00 pm Epiphany Party!
Sunday, 01/24
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
9:00 am Early Worship
10:10 am Adult Sunday School
10:10 am Youth in the Kitchen with Mrs. Pam
11:00 pm Late Worship
2:00 pm White Pine Service
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Monday, 01/25
10:00 am Quilters
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
Tuesday, 01/26
7:00 pm Chancel Choir rehearsal
Wednesday, 01/27
 
Thursday, 01/28
8:00 am Men's Breakfast 
9:10 am Bible Study Fellowship
7:00 pm Confirmation Class
Friday, 01/29
9:45 am Friday Bible Study
Saturday, 01/31
5:30 pm Evening Worship
Sunday, 01/31
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
 9:00 am Early Worship
10:10 am Adult Sunday School
10:15 am Youth in the Kitchen with Mrs. Pam
11:00 pm Late Worship
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Happy Birthday!
Jan 22
Brian Farrell
 
Harold Galloway
 
Jillian Dresden
Jan 23
Joshua Stenson
Jan 24
Judie Mahle
Jan 25
Zachary Vaupel
Jan 26
Sharon Murlick
 
Carl Ozar
Jan 28
Susan Green
Jan 29
George Anderson
Jan 30  
John Gordon
 
Jackie Craig
9:00 AM
Lay Assistant:
Karla Halvangis
Reader:
Karla Halvangis
Communion:
Dennis & Judie
  Mahle
Screen/Sound:
Halvangis/ Pellerito
 family
 
 
11:00 AM
Reader:
Marlene Dale
Screen/Sound:
Ed Kramer
Acolyte:
Emily Stanek
Coffee Host:
The Hagen family
Altar for 
  January
Shirlee Korte,
  Brenda Shelton,
  Carol Sterling
Counters:
Kris O'Brien,
  Nathan Pellerito
The New Church Directories Are In!
Pick up Your Copy
in the Narthex
Did you know there's also a directory on the St. John website?  Here's how to get there:  Go to www.stjohn-elca.org. Click "Member Login" near the bottom of the home page. Type in the password which is 23225Gill (capital "G", no spaces). If you have trouble remembering it, just look up to the header and there it is in our address!
 

Please check your listing and email us at [email protected] if you want changes.

We do have snow removal service, but they do not come out unless there is at least 2" of snow on the sidewalks. Every door of the church is supplied with a SHOVEL and a container of ICE MELTER. You are invited if you are able to take 5-10 minutes to help clear the sidewalks if they are covered after which you may spread some ice melter if needed. This will help share the burden and perhaps save someone from falling.
 
Together, we can make it safe for everyone.  THANK YOU!
Commemorations
This Week
Monday, January 25
Conversion of Paul
The week of prayer begun by the remembrance of Peter's confession now comes to an end as we recall the pivotal moment in the life of the other pillar of the early church, the apostle Paul. His encounter with the risen Christ turned him from persecutor of the followers of Christ to one of their leaders.

Tuesday, January 26
Timothy, Titus and Silas
missionaries
These three early Christian men were missionary companions of the apostle Paul. Timothy became bishop of Ephesus, Titus bishop of Crete, and Silas was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi until they were delivered by an earthquake
 
Wednesday, January 27
Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe
witnesses to the faith
Women as well as men were important Christian leaders from the beginning, as demonstrated by these coworkers of the apostle Paul. Lydia, a seller of purple goods, lent her home for a church; Dorcas was known for charitable works; and Phoebe was a deacon in the church at Cenchrae.
 
Thursday, January 28
Thomas Aquinas
teacher
One of the most brilliant and creative theologians in the church's history, Aquinas worked to bring together scripture and the philosophy of Aristotle. A member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Aquinas was also a hymnwriter.

Epiphany Party this Saturday
St. John Collecting Bottled Water
for Salem Lutheran in Flint
Please bring cases of bottled water and large bottles of water (for cooking) to St. John this weekend and next to help our brothers and sisters in Flint affected by the water crisis. Donations will be taken to Flint the last week of January.
 
Cash donations are also welcome. For more information and ways to help, click here.
Congregational MeetingPlease plan to attend the Annual Congregational Meeting of St. John Lutheran Church on Sunday, February 7, beginning at 10:00 am (immediately following the 9:00 am service), and adjourning no later than 10:50 am. Reports for 2015 will be received. We will also consider a new capital campaign to begin in the near future. All active and confirmed members are encouraged to attend. Please remember, we need you to attend. It is important we have enough present to constitute a quorum for conducting business.
Epiphany Sermon Series 
"Called to Community"
  • January 9/10: God's Vision for the Church
  • January 16/17: Spiritual Growth and One-Another Care
  • January 23/24: Reaching Out
  • January 30/31: Community: 
    An Unexpected Family;

    Guest Preacher ~ Ms
    . Janice Locke
  • February 6/7: Living Out God's Vision in Today's Church

Pastoral Visits
If you or a loved one is in the hospital and would desire a visit from one of the pastors, please call the church office at 248-474-0584 to let them know.  Please be sure to let us know which hospital they are in and under what name they were admitted.  HIPPA rules prevent hospital staff from providing information on patients, so if we don't have correct details, it can be very hard to get to them.  Pastor Bill and Pastor Lauren are committed to being available to those who need a visit for any reason.  Please do not hesitate to ask.
Prayer List

Please take a look at the Prayer List, especially the one for family and friends. Some of these names have been on the list for well over six months and probably there have been changes in their status. Unless we are notified that a name should stay on the list it will be cleared on January 31. Contact Marie in the office, [email protected]. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Home Blessings
throughout the Epiphany Season
The season following Epiphany is traditionally a time for the blessing of homes for another year, recalling the visit that the magi made to the Holy Family's home. if you would like Pastor Bill to visit your home for a service of blessing for the coming year, please contact him to schedule a time. He will be happy to accommodate you.
 
Saturday, February 13th
11:30 am - 2:30 pm
 
Sign up now and get your favorite recipe together!
 
Entrance fee is $10.00
 

Small Groups Are Coming!

 

This Lent, starting February 17th, 2016 for 5 weeks we will be launching our new Small Group Ministry.
 
Come and Grow in your faith and experience closer personal connections within our church family. Each small group will consist of approximately 8 members and 1 facilitator. Options for day, evening, and weekend groups will be available. The small groups will meet on a weekly basis for approximately an hour and a half and will consist of a 10 minute Animate DVD with a journal resource that gives thought provoking questions and ideas about faith practices. We are very excited to be able to offer this new experience to the whole congregation.
 
Come and grow with us. Signups and availabilities will be announced soon.
We have come to a crossroads here at St. John in regard to our Funeral Luncheon ministry. I have been here 27 years, and as far back as I can remember, this important ministry has been offered and very much appreciated. The problem now is that many of the women who make this ministry possible have been the same women who made it possible 20+ years ago, and although the spirit is still willing, the body is...well, not so much.
 
So what we need to find out is if there is anyone out there who wishes to join us in continuing to offer this comforting and renewing service. You need not be a gourmet cook, or to cook at all, as far as that goes. The only qualifications are a willing spirit and a reasonably able body. The rewards are beyond measure.
 
Please contact Marlou Grudt at 734-464-8814, Joanne Hagen at 248-474-8521 or Patty Oates at 248-473-0816 or [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration. Patty Oates

Pastor Lauren's Sabbatical

In August 2015, St. John Lutheran Church and Pastor Lauren were awarded a Clergy Renewal Sabbatical Grant. You may be wondering exactly what that means. Here's a small article about the purpose of sabbaticals for pastors.  

YouthquakeTraverse City
Friday, March 4
through
Sunday, March 6
Ashleigh Altemann can provide more details. Here's the signup form.
What's Up in the Gym?
Thanks to a generous gift from our Bethlehem friends, our gym renovation project has begun.  We'll have new flooring, new lighting, and new acoustical paneling.  Our new gym will be a blessing to the whole community!  Thank you Bethlehem Lutheran Church!  
All the details are here.