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St. John Lutheran Church November 2016________________________________________________________________________
Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home
e-mail: [email protected] Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org
________________________________________________________________
November Services of Worship
November 6 – All Saints’ Day (celebrated) Holy Communion will be celebrated.
November 13 – Stewardship I Our Christian Stewardship
November 20 – Last Sunday of the Church Year Stewardship II Holy Communion will be celebrated. 2017 Faith Promises received.
November 23 – Thanksgiving Eve – Divine Service, 7:00 p.m.
November 24 – Thanksgiving Day – Divine Service, 9:00 a.m.
November 27 – First Sunday in Advent
November 30 – Advent Service – 1:30 & 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served after the service.
Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyJames: Mandate & Mission
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
In the tradition of Proverbs, James, the brother of our Lord, writes this early epistle to explain the life of faith that follows the saving work of Christ. This study will be very practical. There is no cost. Bring your Bible or grab one off the shelf. No previous Bible class experience is necessary. We should all be in a regular Bible study. This is a great time to jump in with us!
November 6: James 2:1-13: The Royal LawNovember 13: James 2:14-25: Justified by Works?November 20: James 3: 1-12: A Restless EvilNovember 27: James 3:13-18: Wisdom from Above
Remember to set your clock back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 5. Daylight-Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 6.
Advent…Coming Soon
I try and talk about the Church year frequently. My desire for you is that the Church year becomes your year. We have calendars at school. We have fiscal calendars. Even sports teams have seasons. But instead of thinking and living exclusively within these calendars, I hope to get you to think about the times of your life within the life of Christ.
The liturgical year connects us to Christ. It gets us thinking about life in Christ. It takes us from His incarnation, to His mission to the world, to His cross, and to His resurrection. St. Paul gets this right in Colossians 3, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
On November 27, we begin a new Church year. Everything begins with Advent. In Advent, with quiet, subdued tones, we take a break from the busyness of life. Advent is reflective, and thoughtful, and even emotional. It marks our repentance and our expectation for the coming of Christ, and the Divine Service on Christmas Day. (And Christmas Day is on a Sunday this year, which is just wonderful!)
In Advent, we recognize we are one with the Old Testament saints who looked forward with great anticipation to the coming of the Savior. With Isaiah, we hope, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
And more than just in Advent, let the seasons and holy days of the Church be your own. Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Ascension, Reformation, and All Saints’ Day are our holidays. These are the moments that we celebrate and remember. They define who we are and what life is all about. This means, of course, that true life is all about Jesus. Again, as St. Paul tells us in Romans 11, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
Wednesday Advent services begin on November 30 at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. We will have four Wednesday Advent Services this year. An Advent devotional called Moments to Treasure written by Rev. Dale Meyer will be available soon.
Pastor
Our Christian Stewardship
Sunday, November 13, is the first of two Sundays at St. John Lutheran Church with a Stewardship emphasis. During the week of November 14, you will receive a special mailing including your Faith Promise (pledge) card for 2017.
Since your promise of support toward the mission and ministry of St. John congregation is between you and God, a sealed pledge is used. These individual faith promises will be received at our services on Sunday, November 20.
Board of Elders
The Board of Elders will meet on Monday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, November 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Board of Evangelism
The Board of Evangelism will meet on Tuesday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Board of Stewardship
The Board of Stewardship will meet on Monday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Board of Education
The Board of Education will meet on Monday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Voters’ Assembly
Our Voters’ Assembly will meet on Monday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to the Voters’ Assembly. Come and get involved in the work of the Church.
Board Meetings
Check It OutIn Our Church Library
Luther’s Works
Luther was a professor, theologian, former monk, scholar, author, Bible translator, and defender of the faith. But he was also a pastor, husband, father, and a good friend to many. Besides writing commentaries, theological papers, and letters to friends, his students and followers took careful notes of his university lectures, sermons, and later in life, even his dinner conversations.
Our church library is very fortunate to have a whole set of Luther’s Works. It is unfortunate that they are not used. There is some very interesting information in them. No one expects you to read and return these books in two weeks. Check them out for as long as you need them, or just read a chapter or two.
Kitty, My Rib
By E. Jane Mall
Katharine is no clinging vine. More practical about finances than her husband “Luther”, she is not above counteracting her husband’s generosity.
Here is the story of a marriage with an unromantic beginning. But it is soon surrounded and held together by a mutual bond of love and devotion.
Ladies Aid
Ladies Aid will meet in the fellowship hall on Friday, November 4 at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Pool will be our speaker. Hostesses are Adrienne Gabel, Janet Peters, and Helen Niebuhr. We have many items on our agenda to cover. All Ladies Aid members are encouraged to attend.
Ladies’ Evening Bible Study
Ladies Evening Bible Study will meet on November 1 and 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. All women are welcome to join us!
Mary Martha
The Mary Martha meeting will be Tuesday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. The 2017 altar duties and meeting refreshment sign-up sheets will be available. The meeting will include the 2017 election of officers. Hostesses will be Deanna Petersen and Debby Gosnell. All ladies are invited to attend.
Quilts for Lutheran World Relief
The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. All ladies are invited to help us!
Food Pantry Collection November 6
Donations of nonperishable food items, paper, and soap products may be brought to the fellowship hall on Sunday, November 6, for the food pantry collection at the Victory Center. These items will be distributed to the unemployed of the community.
Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.
Do you shop at Amazon.com?
AmazonSmile will make a donation to St. John each time you make a purchase. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/42-6005460 to register your account. After registering your Amazon account, start each purchase at smile.amazon.com.
Church Office HoursMonday thru Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pastor Pool is out of the office either Thursday or Friday. Angie is normally in the office all day on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. She is only in the office during the morning on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Carol Stuedemann is volunteering in the church office on Tuesday afternoons. If you stop in during office hours and one of us is not available leave us a note or leave a message on the church voicemail, 242-5588, and we will be sure to get back to you.
Thanksgiving Baskets
The Board of Evangelism is coordinating Thanksgiving Baskets in November. The baskets will include a turkey or ham, provided by St. John, and other traditional non-perishable Thanksgiving foods, such as boxes of mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries and corn. They will go to people in the community who are in need of special help during this holiday season. We are limiting the number of baskets to 10.
What can you do to help?
1. Donate non-perishable food items;
2. Submit a name to the church office of a neighbor, coworker or friend to whom you would like to donate a basket (please include the number of family members);
3. Help assemble or deliver baskets Saturday, November 19 at 9:00 a.m.
St. John Thanksgiving Dinner
Join us on Sunday, November 13 for a Congregation Thanksgiving Dinner at 5:00 p.m. The Board of Evangelism has volunteered to prepare and serve the meal but we could still use help setting up the fellowship hall on Sunday morning after church and washing dishes and cleaning up after dinner.
The turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, beverages, and table service will be provided. Guests are asked to bring one dish to share. Those for whom cooking is more difficult are invited to be our guests. A free will offering will be received to help cover the costs of the dinner.
Christmas Eve Children’s Service
St. John Sunday School students will be starting practice for the Christmas Eve Children’s Service during Sunday School on December 4. Please notify your Sunday School teacher if your child will be participating in the program so they can help assign parts and teach songs. Attendance during December will be very important for those participating in the Christmas Eve Service.
Fellowship Club Project
A basket will be in education building from November 13 through December 7 for gifts for the University of Iowa Hospital patients. Packages should be gift wrapped with a note attached as to what age or gender person the gift is suitable.
The gifts will be taken to our Lutheran chaplains in Iowa City for distribution. This project is sponsored by the St. John Fellowship Club. Everyone in the congregation is invited to participate.
New Altar Flower Chart
The 2017 Altar Flower Chart is on the bulletin board in the church entryway. You may reserve a Sunday to place flowers on the altar by signing the chart. This may be done in memory of someone; in celebration of a birthday, wedding or anniversary; or as a gift of love. If you would like information on cost and how to go about ordering flowers for church, please call Angie at the church office.
Are you a Snowbird?
If you are planning to be gone over the winter months, please contact the church office and get Angie Stewart your temporary address information. We will make sure to send you the monthly newsletter while you are away and will also mail your bulletins every few weeks.
November Birthdays & Anniversaries
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !
Happy Birthday to: Marvel Jackson, who will be 96 on Nov. 6. Ruth Johnson, who will be 90 on Nov. 7.Connie Koehn, who will be 84 on Nov. 8.Norma Hammer, who will be 84 on Nov. 13.Robert Hill, who will be 85 on Nov. 14.George Struve, who will be 88 on Nov. 22.Gene Niebuhr, who will be 90 on Nov. 24.Marian Enwright, who will be 88 on Nov. 28.Luella Anderson, who will be 91 on Nov. 29.
Happy Anniversary to:Tyler & Amanda Dell, 1st wedding anniversary on November 14.
We list birthdays 80 and above and anniversaries for year one and every five years thereafter unless we receive a request not to do so.
Private Communion Calls
Pastor Pool makes his visits to those in nursing homes throughout the month. Those at home who would like to receive a communion visit are asked to call Pastor at the church office, 242-5588, to schedule a convenient time.
THOSE WHO SERVE IN NOVEMBER
Early
Elders: Rick Eizenga Dave Reynolds
Ushers: Ronald McGauvran Gary Lueders Jon Meyermann Craig Miller
Nursery Attendants (Late)6 – Kristi LaShelle
13 – Peter & Tara Sirna
20 – Heather Becker
27 – Barb Bialas
Recording
6 – Paul Wenzel13 – Darlene Paysen20 – Paul Wenzel27 – Darlene Paysen
Late
Elders: Tom Hardersen Jim Kophamer
Ushers: Bryce Petersen Randy Housenga Harlan Dell Kevin Dell
Acolyte Schedule6-Early – Elder6-Late – Nicholas Frett
13-Early – William Schemers13-Late – Elder
20-Early – Elder20-Late – Kaleb Bovis
27-Early – Maya Martha27-Late – Elder
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: NOV. 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Angie Stewart, and get her the information by November 20.
