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Page 1 November 2018 Voice
St. John’s Lutheran Church Serving the Lord for 115 years December 2019
The True Meaning of Christmas
What is the true meaning of Christmas?
Well, depending on the person you ask,
the meaning of Christmas could gather
many different answers. Generally, in
popular culture it seems that Christmas
has two meanings. The first group of
popular culture’s meaning of Christmas,
is a season rooted in “Churchie lan-
guage” of doing good deeds for either
family, friends, neighbors, co-workers,
or the downtrodden in our communities
and around the world. For the Second
portion of Secular or popular cultures,
the meaning Christmas is rooted in the
commercial cultural holiday we observe
in America that is all about what getting
more of the latest and greatest stuff for
family, friends and ourselves. Doing good
things for our neighbor and getting stuff
is nice. If these two secular meanings are
the true meaning of Christmas, then to
be honest, Christmas would only be a
shallow holiday that is focused on how
we can feed our narcissism with doing
fake kindness and not really helping oth-
ers, focused only on our good feelings,
exercising our sinful nature of buying the
things that we covet of our neighbors,
breaking the ninth commandment.
The true meaning of Christmas for
Christians is that Jesus came in weak-
ness in order that we may be made
strong! On Christmas, we remember
that our Heavenly Father kept His
promises He made to His people to
send to the world a Savior. This Savior,
Jesus Christ, did not come by might of
an army, Jesus came to the world as a
helpless baby born of the virgin Mary.
He came humble, innocent and weak
to eventually grow and take the sin of the world
and die, and three days later, rise conquering sin,
death and the devil. Jesus came in flesh, not to
condemn the flesh, but to save it. Christmas is
the celebration of the gifts of hope and salvation
that Christ brought to the world for you! What
wonderful news this is!
I pray you, your family and all who you love, to
have a blessed Christmas with wonderful time
spent together and a few nice gifts that you share
with each other. Most of all, I pray it is filled with
peace, comfort and joy that comes in Christ, Je-
sus who came to give you the eternal gift of sal-
vation and life!
In Christ Jesus Our Lord,
Pastor Ben Hollingsead
Page 1 November 2018 Voice
2019 CONFIRMATION SCHEDULE
December 4th @7:00 PM
December 11th @7:00 PM
December 18th @7:00 PM
January 8th @6:30 PM
January 22nd @6:30 PM
February 5th @ 6:30 PM
February 19th @6:30 PM
February 26th @7:00 PM Ash Wednesday
March 4th @7:00 PM
March 11th @7:00 PM
March 18th @ 7:00 PM
March 25th @7:00 PM
April 8th @ 6:30 PM
April 22nd @ 6:30 PM
May 6th @ 6:30 PM
May 13th @6:30 PM Last Session of the Year
May 16th @ 9:00 AM Confirmation Rehearsal with Photos
Confirmation Sunday May 17th @ 9:30 Service.
DECEMBER ADVENT SCHEDULE:
December 4th 11AM & 7PM
December 11th 11AM & 7PM
December 18th 11AM & 7PM
Christmas Eve-December 24th 4PM & 10PM
At these services, we will hear beautiful Advent hymns and will hear a three week Bible study series titled “The Word Made Flesh.” In this study, we will learn about Holy Scripture, Christ’s birth and God’s Word for our lives today.
CONGREGATION EGG BAKE: Egg Bake will continue to be on the first Sunday of every month through the winter months. Anyone willing to help out in providing an Egg Bake, please let Barb Peterson know: 763-670-1533 Thank you.
Do you like to sing or play an instrument? St. John's singers are looking for new members. All ages are welcome!
Contact Lynn Graber at 612-390-2689 or Sue Lein at 651-402-5480
November Baptisms:
We join the parent, Heidi Stene, in the joy of the baptism of her son, Lincoln Gardner, on November 3rd, 2019.
&
We join the parents, Brian Weiss and Jessica Chase, in the joy of the baptism of their children, Nathan Chase, Brantley Chase and Clayton Weiss, on No-vember 24th, 2019.
WATCH YOUR STEP:
Now that winter is here - please walk carefully on the
sidewalk/parking lot. Ice will be with us for the next 5 months (Roughly).
Be careful out there!!
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Page 1 November 2018 Voice
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ACOLYTE LIST FOR NOV.-DEC. 2019
December 1st 8:00 Grace Johnson 9:30 Ariel Potrament
December 4th - Wednesday 7:00 PM Ariel Potrament
December 8th 8:00 Jillian Horsfall 9:30 Raechel Abress
December 11th - Wednesday 7:00 PM Nicole Robbins
December 15th 8:00 Bella Johnson 9:30 Emily Willing
December 18th - Wednesday 7:00 PM Emily Willing
December 22nd 8:00 Grace Johnson 9:30 Drake Siemonsma
December 24th
December 29th
8:00 Jillian Horsefall 9:30 Broox Gajeski
QUILTING BEE RAFFLE - TABLE
RUNNER & 4
PLACEMATS:
Ticket sales will start Sun-
day, November 24th
through December 15th.
Tickets are $1.00 per ticket.
Table runner and placemats
(with a Lord’s Prayer
theme) will be on display in the narthex.
Please support the quilters. To date, they
have created 30 quilts and all of those quilts
have been donated to local charitable organi-
zations and people in need. So far, costs
have been “out of pocket”. This fundraiser
will allow them to purchase additional mate-
rials so that they can continue to create beau-
tiful quilts for those in need within our com-
munity.
SABBATH SUPPORT GROUP!
Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 11 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”. Many of us carry burdens that weigh us down in life that can just fill us with grieve, anger and so many mixed emotions.
The next meeting will be Monday, December 16th, with Pastor Ben. At this Sabbath group, we will create a safe community for anyone who is going through hardship to come and lay down their burdens at the feet of Christ. We will have sharing times with scripture, music, prayer and other Christian resources that will hopefully leave all with the Sabbath rest of the Gospel that those with heavy burdens are looking for.
This meeting will take place the third Monday of every month at 4:00 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Ben.
BROTHERS, BREAKFAST and BIBLE
Calling men of St. John’s! Our next morning men’s breakfast will be December 17th at 7:00AM. It will be a great opportunity to share in fellowship while eating breakfast together at the Vil-lage Inn in Wyoming, MN. We will have a devotion to reflect on as a group. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Ben 651-323-3293.
POINSETTIA DONATIONS:
Anyone interested in making a donation for poinsettias for Christmas can make a donation now through De-cember 16th. Minimum donation is $5.00. There will be a donation box on the table under the “What’s Hap-pening” board.
ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL MEETING:
St. John’s annual meeting will be January 26th! It will be at 11 AM after second service.
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Page 4 December Voice 2019
Council Minutes: St. John’s Lutheran Church
Financial Report October 2019
Budget Offerings (4 Sundays) $ 13,350.56 Actual Offerings Received $ 9,340.00 Offering Budget Shortage $ (4,010.56)
Office Expense $ 36.00 Phone $ 81.00 Computer Operations $ 125.00 Advertising/Evangelism $ 28.00 Payroll service Fees $ 42.00 Insurance - Bldg-Liability $ 1,663.00 Worship Supplies $ 123.00
Administrative Exp. $ 2,098.00
Excel Electric $ 528.00 Gas $ 74.00 City Water & Trash $ 220.00 Custodial Supplies, Misc. $ 60.00
Building Expenses $ 882.00
Employee Salaries $ 10,557.00 Visiting Pastors $ 0.00 Work Comp. Ins. $ 244.00
Total Salaries $ 10,801.00
Christian Outreach $ 0.00
Total Expenses $ 13,781.00
End of Month Total $ (4,441.00) (offerings minus expenses)
Check Book Balance $ 87,796.00 Liabilities $ 0.00 Actual Cash Balance $ 87,796.00 Dedicated Accts. Balance $ 90,472.00 Church Acct. Balance $ (2,676.00) N. Branch School Rental Balance $ 4,580.00 Gen. Offering Bal.: Year to Date ($ 34,557.56)
If you have any questions regarding this report, please call Patha Vue Treasurer at (651) 313-3165
Thank you!
Food Pantry Let us all remember to donate food items into our Food Pantry. Local food shelves are always in need of non-perishable food
items to help the less fortunate. Also, don’t forget paper needs like baby formula, diapers, soap, toilet paper, etc... are always
needed. Buy one item for yourselves, but also buy one for the Pantry. Christian Outreach Committee will see that the items are
delivered to the local food shelf.
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Page 5 December Voice 2019
MONTHLY MEETINGS:
Youth Dec. 1st, after second service
Little Angel Preschool Board meeting Dec. 3rd @ 6:30 PM
Evangelism Dec. 3rd, 6:30 PM
Worship & Music Dec. 5th, 6:30PM
Safety Team Dec. 2nd, 7:00 PM
Christian Outreach Dec. 9th, 6:00 PM
Missions Dec. 9th, 7:00 PM
Council Meeting Dec. 16th, 7:00 PM
WORK CREW WISH LIST:
Wednesday work crew is in need of a 12’ to 16’ aluminum exten-sion ladder.
If you can help, contact the of-fice at 651-462-5115.
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH-CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE:
The “Christmas Giving Tree” is up and paper ornaments are a gift request for a “Christmas gift.”
The handwritten gift request is for someone in need in our community.
The typed out gift request is a request from Pajama Pride.
Please take an ornament or two and return it by 12/9/19 with the paper ornament attached to the gift.
THANK YOU so much for putting a Christ-mas smile on someone’s face and may it put Christmas joy in your heart!!
Page 1 November 2018 Voice
WE WISH EACH ONE OF YOU A BLESSED DAY AND PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
DECEMBER WILLING WORKERS FOR CHRIST
Each of you should use whatever gift you have re-
ceived to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s
grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
ACOLYTE 8 AM 01 Grace Johnson
08 Jillian Horsfall 15 Bella Johnson
22 Grace Johnson 29 Jillian Horsfall
9:30 SERVICES
GREETERS 01 08 15 22 29
READERS 01 08 15 22 29
USHERS 01 08 15 22 29
LAY SHEPHERD 01 NO
08 LAYSHEPHERD
15 DURING
22 ADVENT 29
ACOLYTE 9:30 AM 01 Ariel Potrament 08 Raechel Abress
15 Emily Willing
22 Drake Siemonsma 29 Broox Gajeski
FELLOWSHIP HOST 01 08 15 22 29
8 AM SERVICES GREETERS 01 08 15 22 29
READERS 01 08 15 22 29
USHERS 01 08 15 22 29
LAY SHEPHERD 01 NO
08 LAYSHEPERD
15 DURING 22 ADVENT
29
ALTAR GUILD
Set Up Clean Up Set Up Clean Up 01 Cindy Johnson Sharon Jaworski 08 Loreen Beckett Evie Dockham 15 Cindy Johnson Cindy Johnson 22 Cindy Johnson Sharon Jaworski 29 Cindy Johnson Evie Dockham
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Page 1 November 2018 Voice
Page 8 December Voice 2019
Non-Profit Organization
Postage Paid, Permit #3
Stacy, MN 55079
The Voice of St. John’s St John’s Lutheran Church P. O. Box 308 31075 Genesis Ave. Stacy, MN 55079
Return Service Requested
Church Office: 651-462-5115
Pastor Ben Hollingsead Cell: 651-323-3293
Inside This Issue: Pastor’s Article
Events/Announcements
Acolyte list Dec./Advent schedule
Confirmation Schedule
Willing workers/Calendar
Little Angel Preschool news
IMPORTANT DATES FOR DECEMBER:
Monday, Dec. 16th; Christmas Program
@ 6:00 PM - ALL are welcome to attend.
December 23rd - January 1st; NO SCHOOL
January 2nd - First Day back!!
LITTLE ANGEL PRESCHOOL PAINT AND SIP NIGHT
When: December 6th, 6:30 pm Where: Lent Town Hall
33155 Hemingway Ave, Stacy
Cost: $30
(Includes all materials, light snacks and beverag-es - If you want to bring your own alcohol you must be
21)
Registration and Payment due by December 1st.
Please call Lisa 763-438-7932. When you register you will automatically get entered into a drawing for a gift basket. You will have an opportunity to purchase more tickets at the event. All proceeds from this night will go to Little Angel Preschool.
