Thursday, December 20, 2018

Announcement

ANNOUNCEMENTS and NOTICES

December 23, 2018

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Collect of the Day Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Baptism - Graham Harvey Dean Heyer, son of Rachel Feuring and Jesse Heyer, will be baptized into Christ following the service today.  Sponsors for Graham are Josh Heyer and Renee Blomstrom.  You are invited to stay and participate in the baptismal rite.

 

Lutherans In Africa Fund is still available now and in future years.  If you mark your envelope for an amount to be given to Pastor May the money will still be sent there.  Sorry I forgot to announce that at the Budget Meeting last week.  Thanks, Pam Reimers

 

Christmas CDs Available - Last year the faculty and students of the St. Paul's Music Conservatory in Council Bluffs produced a professional Christmas album.  These CDs are available to you free of charge thanks to a Thrivent Action Team donation.  Take one for yourself and take as many as you'd like to share this beautiful, gospel-filled Christmas music with family and friends.  If you'd like to support this ministry of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, feel free to make a donation on the back table.  Don't be shy about taking as many CDs as you'd like, we can always order more! 

 

Up-Coming Services at St. John’s - Children’s Christmas Eve Program will be held on Monday, December 24th at 4:30 p.m.   Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion will be at 9:00 a.m. on December 25th.

 

New Year’s Eve Service - St. John's is invited to give thanks for the past year and pray for the year to come with Trinity, Algona at their New Year's Eve Divine Service.  The service at Trinity will be Monday, Dec. 31 at 7:00 pm. 

 

Year End Articles for the Annual Report – Groups start working on your year-end articles for the Annual Report.   January is the month I will be working on them.  Please, send them to churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org or hand them in to the office.

 

The Blessings of Every Sunday Communion I’d like to schedule a special Bible study and time of discussion about the blessings of Every Sunday Communion some time other than Sunday morning.  If you are interested in attending please suggest to me a day and time that works best for you.   

 

January/February Parish Messenger articles are due to Linda Kerkove by December 30th.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy  - Phos Hilaron

The Phos Hilaron, or, Hymn of Light is a hymn composed in the 3rd Century which still sung by Christians today.  We sing this hymn during Evening Prayer (LSB 244). When we sing this hymn as the sun is setting we remember and praise the Joyous Light of Glory, Jesus Christ, who is the Light no darkness can overcome, who led Israel by a pillar of fire by night and who leads us by his Word which is is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  The words of the hymn are easy to learn by heart and make a great spoken or sung prayer every evening, especially in these darkest days of winter:

            Joyous light of glory: of the immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.  

We have come to the setting of the sun, and we look to the evening light.  

We sing to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

You are worthy of being praised with pure voices forever.  

O Son of God, O Giver of life: the universe proclaims Your glory.

 

Flocknote – If you haven’t already, please be sure to sign up for Flocknote using the flier in back. As winter arrives we want to make sure you receive your cancellation announcements in the most convenient way for you.  After our first few weeks of Flocknote many members have especially enjoyed the announcements, prayer chain, and “text on the text” features as well.  Remember that you can update your preferences at any time.

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (December 23, 2018 – December 30, 2018)

Today              8:00  am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                        9:00  am       Divine Service   

                       10:00  am       Baptism of Graham Heyer

Monday          4:30  pm       Christmas Eve Children’s Program

Tuesday          9:00 am       Christmas Day Divine Service (Holy Communion)                 

Sunday            8:00 am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                        9:00 am       Lessons and Carols Service (Holy Communion)

                    

Greeters Next Week:           Roger Lavrenz    

Acolytes:                             Peyton Marlow

Ushers for December:     *Tony Hatten and Joey 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.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) – Tuesday Evenings Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at parsonage.

·         Women’s Bible Study Monday’s: 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.