St. John Lutheran Church

This Week's News ~ September 9, 2016
 

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This Week at St. John
Friday, 09/09
8:30 am Friday Guys
Saturday, 09/10
  
Sunday, 09/11
THE 17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10:00 am Worship Service
11:00 am Rally Day!
2:00 pm MediLodge Service
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Monday, 09/12
10:00 am Quilters
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
7:00 pm Men's Basketball
Tuesday, 09/13
1:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry
Wednesday, 09/14
6:30 pm Chancel Choir
7:00 pm Men's Basketball 
Thursday, 09/15
8:00 am Men's Breakfast 
6:30 pm Chancel Bells
Friday, 09/16
8:30 am Friday Guys
Saturday, 09/17
 
Sunday, 09/18
THE 18th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10:00 am Worship Service
11:00 am High School Sunday School
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Happy Birthday!
Sept 09
Mary Bennett

James Roberts

Lauren Savanyu
Sept 10
Marlene Dale

Millie Whitbeck

Nolan Kelly

Rileigh Williams-Hargrave
Sept 11
William Murlick

Anita Palarchio

Kevin Blazaitis
Sept 12
Ashley Dunn

Sharon Krist
Sept 13
Daniel Johnston
Sept 14
Earl Hagen

John Bell

Thomas Taepke
Sept 15
Karen Wright
Sept 16
Petra Beierling

Karryn Mahle
Sept 18
Dick Rudorffer

Minnie Svenson

Pam Shapiro

Dylan Kirsh-Carr
10:00 AM
Lay Assistant:
Karla Halvangis
Reader:
Karla Halvangis
Communion:
Fred Ternes,
   Karen Ternes
Slidemaster:
Elaine Pearson
Soundboard:
Chris Fischer
Coffee Hosts:The Janik family
Altar for 
 September:
Donna Judd,
  Diane Brundage,
  Marilyn Kurmas
Counters:
Karla Halvangis,
  John Bell
Good News
Via de Cristo
A Method for Christian Renewal
Via de Cristo is a three-day weekend experience for Christians who seek more joy, purpose, and meaning in their lives. It is for those who desire to grow in their faith and learn more about prayer, Bible study, and sharing their faith with others.
                    
Upcoming Weekends
Men's Weekend #59
October 13 - 16, St Clair Shores MI
 
Women's Weekend #59
October 20 - 23, St Clair Shores MI
 
Men's Weekend #60
April 20 - 23, Ottawa Lake MI
 
Women's Weekend #60
April 27 - 30, Ottawa Lake MI
 
For additional information see: Pr. Bill, Kevin O'Brien, Bob Stricker, Ed Kramer
Chancel Flowers    
This week's chancel flowers are given in celebration of Andy & Marilyn Kurmas' 50th Wedding Anniversary!
Friday Bible Academy returns!
Fridays at 9:45 am
beginning October 7th

Join us as we study
the Book of Ruth.

Read all the details here.
Coming Back this Fall!
  
Thanks to all who participated and welcome in advance to those who will consider participating in the fall!
 
Please see Kevin O'Brien, Pam Shapiro or Janice Locke if you have suggestions, questions or comments.
 
Growing together in Christ
Your Small Group Ministry Team
Commemorations
This Week
Tuesday, September 13
John Chrysostom
Bishop of Constantinople, died 407
John was a priest in Antioch and an outstanding preacher. His eloquence earned him the nickname "Chrysostom" ("golden mouth"). Appointed bishop of Constantinople, seat of the empire, he criticized corruption in the court. As a result, he was exiled by the empress.
 
Wednesday, September 14
Holy Cross Day
Helena, mother of Constantine, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and found what may be the actual site of Jesus' crucifixion. Her son built two churches there, and the dedication of one of them gave rise to this celebration of our Lord's victory on the cross.
  
This Sunday!
Join the Celebration following the 10:00 am service as we kick off another year of Faith Formation, featuring:
  • a brief time of S2 learning
  • a Pot-luck Picnic
  • a Classic Car Show
  • and a Clown!

Please bring a dish to pass.  All are welcome!

What Time do You Want to Worship?     
        
We will continue worshipping all together at 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings at least until Pr. Lauren returns from her sabbatical. Going forward, we would like to take a fresh look at our worship schedule. You can help by giving us your input!
 
We would like to schedule our worship services to be most convenient for the greatest number of our members, so we need to know what days and times YOU prefer to worship.
 
Please complete a brief survey at this link on or before September 30. All confirmed members of your household are invited to complete the survey. There also will be paper surveys distributed at worship on Sundays through September.
 
Thank you for participating in this survey and providing your input!
Thank You, Shoppers!  
 Lutheran World Relief
Congratulations and Thank You! We have all of the school supplies we need, and everything we need for the Personal Care kits, except:
  • bath-size towels (approx. 52" x 27", lighter weight, dark colors preferred, used to wrap the other items)
  • sturdy wide-tooth combs
  • SOAP, SOAP AND MORE SOAP!  Additional soap will be distributed where needed, over and above the kits.  We can always use more soap!

If you can't shop, you can provide the funds and our shoppers will do it for you! Make your check payable to "Women of St. John" with "LWR Kits" in the memo line, and leave it in the "Women of St. John" mailbox in the office.  THANK YOU for your support.

We Are Found!
Rescuers diligently searched for the lost.  Cheers went up and tears of joy fell when someone was found alive! Though it has been 15 years since 9/11, there are many who carry with them today the images of searching for the lost in the mountain of debris at Ground Zero and the joy when someone was found.
 
Whether in the rubble of an earthquake, the aftermath of a tornado, the devastation of a hurricane or the search for a lost child, rescuers rejoice when the lost are found safe and sound. Jesus tells us that the angels of God will rejoice in the same way over one sinner who repents. That's why Jesus meets and eats with sinners. All are worth finding - even the religious leaders, who are sinners too.
 
If there is great joy when someone is found, then there is also great sorrow when someone is not. Many still carry the pain of having lost a loved one on 9/11 who was never found. Many around the world have lost a loved one who has never been found to war, natural disaster or other tragedies. Many grieve someone who seems lost in their sin - perhaps even themselves.
 
The promise in Jesus is that we are never so lost that we can't be found by our loving Savior. Even in death, Christ carries us to life. Jesus meets us in our grief to comfort and heal us. Daily, Christ searches to find us in the dust of our sin and wipes it away with His very own body and blood.
 
We all need rescue from sin, death and the powers that seek to destroy us. And in bread, wine, water and word, Jesus finds us again and again. Taste, see and hear today: our rescuer comes to save us!
Tuesday,
September 20, 6:30 pm
We are expanding our understanding of TNT to be truly inter-generational. We want people of all ages, 3, 9, 30, 90, kids or no kids, to feel welcome to come as we gather as an extended family. Also, we have felt a need to gather more often than once a month, so we will gather twice a month now.
 
Join us for our first TNT of the fall, when we will have a Movie Night! Be Kind Rewind is a lighthearted movie about a community working together to save their local video rental store. Danny Glover plays Mr. Fletcher, who owns the corner store in Passaic, New Jersey on a block facing gentrification. Facing the prospect of losing the building, Fletcher leaves the store to his assistant Mike (Mos Def) so that he can figure out a plan to save the business. Jack Black plays Mike's best friend, Jerry, who accidentally erases all the tapes in the store while Mr. Fletcher is away. Mike and Jerry come up with their own plan to save the business - remake the movies that were erased.
 
Age appropriate for tweens (11-12) and older, Be Kind Rewind is rated PG-13. The movie is relatively mild in terms of questionable content (two or three uses of a certain word beginning with s, and a brief conversation about "getting action"). Overall it is just a sweet movie that's a little silly but not stupid.
 
Dinner for the evening will be Swedish meatballs and noodles with a vegetable side. Vegetarian meatlessballs will also be served. Dinner for the evening will begin at 6:30, movie will start at 7:00. The movie is 101 minutes. If you plan to attend, please sign up on the sheet in the narthex or let Ashleigh know directly (email: [email protected], phone/text: 248-227-2918). Doing so is not required, but encouraged. :) The event is open so please extend an invitation to friends, family, neighbors, nice people you want to get to know better.
 
Links you may find useful:
Attention Singers!
Welcome to a new season for the Chancel Choir!
 
Our next rehearsal will be
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:30 pm
 Join the Choir
The schedule for the remainder of the season will be published soon. Come join us to make a joyful noise, and bring a friend!
Attention Ringers!
Rehearsals have begun! 
We gather on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm.  We have openings for new ringers!  Contact JoAnn Adams for more information:
248-514-0702 (Text messages OK) or email: [email protected].  
  
We are told in the Psalms: "Make a Joyful noise unto the Lord." We surely do that! See YOU Thursdays!
We Listened to You!
 
Stewardship for All Seasons
In June, we voted at a congregational meeting to give the board authority to engage a new campaign. We have completed our "Let It Go, Let It Grow" campaign, and while that campaign bore much fruit, it is clear that we need to continue with a special emphasis on our vision for the future and the resources necessary to accomplish that.
 
Some of us voiced concerns about undertaking another campaign, and they are valid concerns. Essentially, they have to do with sustained growth in stewardship. "After we raise some funds during another three-year campaign, then what?"
 
I am pleased to tell you that these concerns have been heard, not only by St. John leaders, but by Pastor Mike Ward, who has been guiding us in the consultation process. Pr. Ward has helped us determine a different course for our campaign than that which we had originally assumed.
 
Read the rest of Pr. Bill's letter here.
Songs for the Sabbath
A Hymn Festival
Saturday, October 15 ~ 5:00 pm
 
John Bell of the Iona Community in Scotland will lead a hymn festival of songs celebrating God's gift of Sabbath - a time set aside for us to rest and find sanctuary from the demands of the world. All are welcome! Admission is Free, and refreshments will follow.
 
More detail here.

If you can provide food or help with setup, serving or clean-up for refreshments after the Hymn Festival,  please contact Janet Henkel [email protected].
Adult Sunday School returns!
Sundays at 11:10 am, beginning October 9th
with the year-long study:
Christianity and Islam
led by Pastor Bill

Christianity and Islam is a unique study for a unique time. Each session covers a major area of the world's two largest religions, comparing and contrasting them in a way that brings greater understanding of each. This study is especially for adults who have little knowledge of Islam other than what they have seen in the news or heard in political rhetoric or provocative speech. This study aims at providing a general understanding of the differences and similarities between these two great religions.

Read all the details here.
  
   September 12 ~ Confirmation Class begins
   September 20 ~ TNT returns
   October 7 ~ Friday Bible Academy returns
   October 9 ~ Adult Sunday School returns
   October 10 ~ Pastor Lauren returns
   October 15 ~ John Bell Hymn Festival