Thursday, December 28, 2017

Announcements

December 31, 2017

 

Devotional – “This Week in the Church Year“ devotional resource sheets are available on the back table for you to pick up.

 

New Years Eve Services will be held at Trinity, Algona on Sunday, December 31st at 7:00 p.m. and also at Immanuel Lutheran, Lotts Creek at 6:30 p.m. 

 

Special thanks to Karla Schutter for all the hard work she put in to the Christmas Eve Program.  Also, we wish to thank the students for such a great job of telling of Jesus’ birth, to the parents for bringing your children to practice, the Sunday School Teachers for their help with practice, the Board of Education as support and Marcia, Kitty and the choir for the special music. A big thank you to the Christmas Committee for the decorations and candy bags. 

 

Parish Messenger Articles are due to Linda Kerkove for the January/February edition due today.

 

Installation of all Officers will be held during the service on Sunday, January 7, 2018.

 

Pastor Chats will continue after the first of the year. 

 

First Quarterly Council Meeting will be held Sunday, January 14th following the service. The Voter’s Meeting will be on Sunday, January 21, 2018.

 

Annual Report Articles I am beginning work on the Annual Report now so please, start working on your articles and submit them to me as soon as possible. You can email them to me at churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org.  Also, changes in addresses, phone numbers etc. get those to me also. Rosann

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   Evergreen Decorations

Churches and homes are filled with evergreen garlands, trees, and wreaths during the Christmas season.  Evergreen wreaths have long been a symbol of peace, joy, and victory.  Evergreens, obviously, stay green even throughout the winter.  In this way they symbolize the unchanging nature of God and the everlasting life that is ours through Jesus Christ.

 

Did You Know: It’s not too late! Your partnership in LFS’ life ministry of pregnancy counseling and adoption, as well as marriage, family and mental health counseling for families and all pro-family, pro-marriage and pro-life efforts throughout Iowa is still needed - and still possible! Make a gift online TODAY, or any time before midnight TONIGHT and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $1000)! It’s easy to make a secure gift online through the LFS web site at www.LFSiowa.org. Look for the red button and the words “Today’s the Last Day”. Clicking that link will take you to the secure donation page. Thank you for your partnership all year, and especially today as we wrap up 2017 and look forward to what the New Year holds. From your brothers and sisters in Christ at LFS, a Blessed and Happy New Year!  Lutheran Family Service

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (December 31, 2017-January 7, 2018)

Today           8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Bible Class

                     9:00     am       Service (Holy Communion – 5th Sunday)                               

Wednesday  9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                                          

                                             No Religion School

Thursday       9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                  

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

                      9:00    am       Service  (Holy Communion)  Installation of Officers

                 

Greeters Next Week:         Melvin and Donna Haase

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for December      *Vern Koestler, Gordon Oleson & Joe Heyes

Elder for December:         Boyd Shipler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         Women’s Bible Studies during the school year on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) - Sunday Evening Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. in Fireside Room. We will be studying The Book of Hebrews

 

 

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Announcements

 

December 24, 2017

 

Christmas Eve Children’s Program will be at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon and Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion is at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. 

 

Adult Class – December 31, 2017 -  Topic:  “The Theology of our Favorite Christmas Hymns”

 

Devotional – “This Week in the Church Year“ devotional resource sheets are available on the back table for you to pick up.

 

Parish Messenger Articles are due to Linda Kerkove for the January/February edition on December 31st.

 

Funeral Service for Douglas Reimers will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. here at St. John’s. Visitation will be 1 hour before the service.

 

Pastor Chats will continue after the first of the year.  If you wish to have Pastor come before, please feel free to call and set up a time.   

 

Thank You for all the donations received for our adopted family. We also were able to adopt a second family at the last minute. We appreciate the support for these families.  Deb Steven & Karla Schutter

 

Amazon Reminder - When you are shopping on Amazon be sure to use   www.smileamazon.com first and choose the church so St. John’s will get a percentage credit back from amazon as charitable giving.

 

Annual Report Articles I will be starting to work on the Annual Report at the beginning of the new year. Please start working on your articles and submit them to me as soon as possible.   You can email them to me at churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org.  Also, changes in addresses, phone numbers etc. get those to me also. Rosann

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   Poinsettias

Poinsettias came to be associated with Christmas in Mexico.  There they are called the “flower of the blessed night (Christmas Eve).”  Their star-like shape reminds us of the star of Bethlehem.  Their red color reminds us of the blood Christ would shed for the sins of the world.  White poinsettias remind us of the purity of the baby Jesus who, being true God and true Man, was born without sin.

 

Building Healthy Families: Memorize and quietly pray this Scripture as a part of your Christmas worship as you open Christmas presents this year: “Thanks be to God for His Gift that is too wonderful for words!” 2 Corinthians 9:15. Together with you, we are celebrating His Most Wonderful Gift. A blessed Christmas to you and your family from the staff and Board of Directors of Lutheran Family Service of Iowa. Merry Christmas! 

Lutheran Family Service

 

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (December 24, 2017-December 31, 2017)

Today           8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Bible Class

                     9:00     am       Christmas Eve Service                                                                          

                      4:30     pm       Children’s Christmas Eve Program

Monday        9:00     am       Christmas Day Service (Holy Communion)

Wednesday 10:30     am       Funeral Service for Douglas Reimers

                                             No Religion School                                                                              

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

                      9:00    am       Service  (Holy Communion)

                 

Greeters Next Week:         Melvin and Donna Haase

Acolyte This Week:           Jacob Haase

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for December      *Vern Koestler, Gordon Oleson & Joe Heyes

Elder for December:         Boyd Shipler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         Women’s Bible Studies during the school year on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) - Sunday Evening Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. in Fireside Room. We will be studying The Book of Hebrews

 

 

 

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Announcements

December 17, 2017

 

Our Christmas Schedule:   Christmas Eve Sunday Service is at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday School/Adult Class at 8:00 a.m.; Christmas Eve Children’s Program will be at 4:30 p.m. and Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion is at 9:00 a.m.

 

Children’s Christmas Program Practices  will be today December 17th Dress Rehearsal from 3-5 p.m.; Wednesday, December 20th walk through for First Grade-LYF and Religion School will be from 5-6 p.m. Then we will eat and have Religion School until the 6:30 p.m. Advent Service.

 

Adult Class – December 24, 2017:   Topic:  “Artwork of the Nativity”

 

Devotional – “This Week in the Church Year “devotional resource sheets are available on the back table for you to pick up.

 

Parish Messenger Articles are due to Linda Kerkove for the January/February edition on December 31st.

 

Pastor Chats will continue after the first of the year.  If you wish to have him come before, please feel free to call and set up a time.   

 

Amazon Reminder - When you are shopping on Amazon be sure to use   www.smileamazon.com first and choose the church so St. John’s will get a percentage credit back from amazon as charitable giving.

 

Christmas Cards are available at the back of the church for purchase.  They are marked.  Please, leave your money with Mary Gifford or the church office.  There is also individual cards in the rack for $.50 each.

 

Annual Report Articles I will be starting to work on the Annual Report at the beginning of the new year. Please start working on your articles and submit them to me as soon as possible.   You can email them to me at churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org.  Also, changes in addresses, phone numbers etc. get those to me also. Rosann

 

Christmas Committee is still taking donations for the new tree, decorations and candy bags. You may donate by  marking an envelope and placing it in the offering plate.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   Christmas Trees

The origins of the Christmas Tree is the source of an interesting scholarly debate.  Several reputable scholars credit Martin Luther with decorating the first Christmas tree in his home.  Lights represent the starry sky, the star on top is the star that led the Magi, or an angel on top is Gabriel who announced Jesus’ birth.  One old tradition was to decorate the tree with red baubles to represent the fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, showing that Jesus’ birth began to reintroduce Paradise to creation.  

 

Building Healthy Families: Over the coming Christmas season we will spend more time together than usual with our families. As you gather, keep a watchful eye out for excessive negative talk including complaining, fault-finding, and passing on gossip. Sharing gossip and negative messages of gloom and doom is not only sinful and dishonoring to our Father, it also fosters a depressing atmosphere in the home (…and in the church). Instead, look hard for the positive and talk about it often! “Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…think on these things.” Philippians 4:8   Lutheran Family Service

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (December 17, 2017-December 24, 2017)

Today           8:00    am       Sunday School/Adult Bible Class

                      9:00    am       Advent Service                                          (Holy Communion)                       

                  3-5:00    pm       Children’s Program Practice

Tuesday        9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                                                      

Wednesday  9:00     am       Preschool

                 6-6:30     pm       Religion School

                      6:30     pm       Advent Service

Thursday       9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                                                      

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

                     9:00     am       Christmas Eve Day Service 

                      4:30     pm       Christmas Eve Children’s Program

Monday        9:00     am       Christmas Day Service (Holy Communion)

 

Greeters Next Week:         Roger Lavrenz

Acolyte This Week:           Jordan Blocker

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for December      *Vern Koestler, Gordon Oleson & Joe Heyes

Elder for December:         Boyd Shipler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         Women’s Bible Studies during the school year on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) - Sunday Evening Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. in Fireside Room. We will be studying The Book of Hebrews

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 07, 2017

Announcement

 

December 10, 2017

 

Advent Open House – Pastor Thomas, Hannah and Penny wish to invite you to an Advent Open House at their home at 609 E Kennedy St. Algona on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 2-5 p.m.  

 

Adult Class – December 17, 2017:   Topic:  “Praying the “O Antiphons”: O King of the Nations and O Emmanuel”

 

Adopted Family – Deadline for the Adopted family is today.  Gifts will be delivered immediately. If you need more time contact Deb or KarlaAny money/gift cards etc. give to Deb Steven or Karla Schutter.

 

A Special Offering Plate has been placed in the back of the church for a special free will donation to help defray the expenses of the Christmas Committee. (Decorations, candy bags, tree etc.)

 

A Special Voter’s Meeting will be held today to view and vote on the 2018 Budget and Slate of Officers.

 

Devotional – “This Week in the Church Year “ devotional resource sheets are available on the back table for you to pick up.

 

Children’s Christmas Program Practices  will be today December 10th from 3-4 p.m. and December 17th Dress Rehearsal from 3-5 p.m. ; Wednesday, December 20th Walk through for First Grade-LYF and Religion School, 6 p.m. Supper and 6:30 Advent Services. It is important to be sure to have children here for these practices.

 

Amazon Reminder - When you are shopping on Amazon be sure to use   www.smileamazon.com first and choose the church so St. John’s will get a percentage credit back from amazon as charitable giving.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath originated in eastern Germany prior to the Reformation. In its present form traditional Advent wreaths have three purple candles and one pink candle.  The purple candles match the paraments on the altar (which were traditionally purple during Advent).  The purple signifies the royalty of the coming King.  The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday. "Gaudete" means "Rejoice!" in Latin.  This Sunday features the Philippians 4 text: “Rejoice! [...] the Lord is near.”  The white candle is lit during the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25 to Jan. 5) to celebrate Jesus’ arrival in human flesh at his birth.  

 

Christmas Celebration in Lone Rock will be held on Saturday, December 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lone Rock Fire Station.    Come celebrate with us!!

 

Building Healthy Families: You have heard the saying, the family that prays together, stays together? A survey by the Barna Research Group indicates that this old saying is still true, not just for families but also for married couples. Research documents that couples who hold a shared belief system (including prayer and attending church regularly) have a significantly lower divorce rate than the general population. So just a little reminder in case you didn’t already know: growing in your faith is not only good for you and for your children, it’s good for your marriage! Lutheran Family Service

This Week at St. John’s  – ( December 10, 2017-December 17, 2017)

Today           8:00    am       Sunday School/Adult Bible Class

                      9:00    am       Advent Service                                                                           

                    10:00     am       Voter’s Meeting

                  2-5:00    pm       Open House at Pastor, Hannah & Penny’s Home in Algona

                  3-4:00    pm       Children’s Program Practice

Tuesday        9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                                                      

Wednesday  9:00     am       Preschool

                 6-6:30     pm       Religion School

                      6:30     pm       Advent Service

Thursday       9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                                                      

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

                     9:00     am       Advent Service  (Holy Communion)

                  3-5:00     pm       Children’s Program Dress Rehearsal Practice

 

Greeters Next Week:         Karla, John and Christie Schutter

Acolyte This Week:           Gabby Kelly and Jacob Haase

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for December      *Vern Koestler, Gordon Oleson & Joe Heyes

Elder for December:         Boyd Shipler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         Women’s Bible Studies during the school year on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) - Sunday Evening Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. in Fireside Room. We will be studying The Book of Hebrews