St. John Lutheran Church

This Week's News ~ September 16, 2016
 

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This Week at St. John
Friday, 09/16
8:30 am Friday Guys
Saturday, 09/17
  
Sunday, 09/18
THE 18th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10:00 am Worship Service
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Monday, 09/19
10:00 am Quilters
12:00 pm Staff Meeting
7:00 pm Men's Basketball
Tuesday, 09/20
1:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry
6:30 pm TNT - Movie Night!
Wednesday, 09/21
7:00 pm Men's Basketball 
Thursday, 09/22
8:00 am Men's Breakfast 
6:30 pm Chancel Bells
Friday, 09/23
8:30 am Friday Guys
Saturday, 09/24
 
Sunday, 09/25
THE 19th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10:00 am Worship Service
11:00 am High School Sunday School
2:00 pm MediLodge Service
4:00 pm AA Meeting
Happy Birthday!
Sept 16
Petra Beierling

Karryn Mahle
Sept 18
Dick Rudorffer

Minnie Svenson

Pam Shapiro

Dylan Kirsh-Carr
Sept 19
June Orrand

Meghan O'Brien

Audrey Riley

Dakota Kelly

Andrew Stenson
Sept 21
Cheryl Berling

Caroline Kirsh-Carr
Sept 22
Keith Blazaitis

Robert Nielsen
Sept 23
Krysta Scheel
Sept 24
Jonathan Fleeman
Sept 25  
David Dilland
10:00 AM
Lay Assistant:
Tom Bosanko
Reader:
Fred Ternes
Communion:
Diane Rinehart,
  Donna TenHave
Slidemaster:
Elaine Pearson
Soundboard:
Chris Fischer
Coffee Hosts:The Blazaitis family
Altar for 
 September:
Donna Judd,
  Diane Brundage,
  Marilyn Kurmas
Counters:
Bill Davis, Larry Craig
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    
The flower chart is in the caf�.  Please sign up to remember a loved one or celebrate a special occasion!
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
Friday, September 16
Cyprian
Bishop of Carthage, martyr, died ~ 258
Cyprian served as a bishop during a time of great persecution of Christians. He insisted on receiving back those who had left the faith under duress. He also provided medical care during a severe epidemic..
  
Saturday, September 17
Hildegard
Abbess of Bingen, died 1179
A mystic who was widely influential within the church, Hildegard advised and reproved kings and popes, wrote poems and hymns, and produced treatises in medicine, theology, and natural history. She was also a musician and artist.
  
Sunday, September 18
Dag Hammarskj�ld
renewer of society, died 1961
A Swedish diplomat, Hammarskj�ld served as the second Secretary General of the United Nations until his death in a plane crash while trying to negotiate peace in present-day Zambia. His journal, published as Markings, revealed the depth of his Christian faith.
  
Tuesday, September 20
Nelson Wesley Trout
bishop, died 1996
A native of Ohio, Trout served parishes in several parts of the United States before being elected bishop of the South Pacific District of the American Lutheran Church, the first African American Lutheran to serve in such a capacity.
  
Wednesday, September 21
Matthew
Apostle and Evangelist
Matthew (or Levi) was a tax collector in Capernaum for the Roman government. Tax collectors were frequently despised for dishonesty and for assisting the occupiers. Jesus nevertheless showed love for them, and chose Matthew to be a disciple.
  
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:
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.

Who's Your Master?
 
Someone once said you can tell what's important to you by looking at your checkbook or account statement. There might be some big-ticket items on the list, but the most frequent items might tell the bigger story. What are the small things that add up over time? What are the patterns of spending that indicate what you value?
  
The same could probably be said for your calendar. What do you spend your time on and what does that say about what holds value for you? Who or what do you serve? Who or what is your master? An even more important question to ask might be what kind of a master do you want to serve?
  
Time and wealth are not very forgiving masters. They aren't ultimately interested in your welfare or anyone else's. To chase after these masters, no matter how successfully, is to run into a dead end. There's never enough time to do it all. There's never enough money to do it all.
  
However, the God who created time and provides for our every need is forgiving beyond measure and interested in you to the point of sending Jesus to die for you. To serve God is to experience a richness in this life that bubbles up to a life without end. To use your gifts, resources, and skills in service to this master is to invest in returns that are priceless not just for you, but for the world. According to Jesus' parable for today, God can use your creativity, and even shrewdness, to benefit others and accomplish God's mission.
  
May worshiping in the Spirit's presence today free you to use your time and resources for the Master's purpose.
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.
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].
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!
Attention Singers!
Welcome to a new season for the Chancel Choir!
 
Our next rehearsal will be
Thursday, September 29 (time TBA)
 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!
  
   October 7 ~ Friday Bible Academy returns
   October 9 ~ Adult Sunday School returns
   October 10 ~ Pastor Lauren returns
   October 15 ~ John Bell Hymn Festival
   October 22 ~ Trunk or Treat!
   November 20 ~ Honoring Local Heroes
   December 10 ~ Christmas Party!