News and Notes...
Friendly Rider:
Anyone desiring to use Friendly Rider on Sunday morning to attend worship services, just call and tell them your destination. There will be no charge to you.
Financial Secretary:
We are still looking for someone to fill one of the Financial Secretary positions. This is not a huge time commitment. See Carol S. or Pastor for details.
Audi Tech:
(This is a fancy name for the person who runs the Power Point on Sunday morning.) We are in DESPERATE NEED of people to help in this area if we're going to be able to continue to have Divine Service on screens. See Josh S. or Pastor for more details.
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Stitch & Chatter Quilters
The Stitch & Chatter quilters have quilts for sale. These quilts are located in the fellowship hall and are tagged with prices and the approximate sizes. Checks can be made out to Stitch & Chatter and left in the church office or mailed to the church.
Most of the quilts made by Stitch & Chatter are donated to missions, the Empty Stocking Fund, fire victims, and members who might be in need of them.
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Lutheran Island Camp Registration
Our congregation pays the registration fee for any youth from St. John who wishes to attend Lutheran Island Camp.
For a positive change in your life, plan to attend
Lutheran Island Camp this summer!
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The St. John women's Christmas luncheon was held on Saturday, December 7. The theme was "The Manger & The Mount: Angels and Nails" Over fifty ladies and girls attended the event which included devotions on the Angels of Christmas and A Christmas Nail. Singing and door prizes preceded the delicious salad luncheon.
Board of Elders:
Ecclesiasters Chapter 3:1-8 says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
For me, time is a precious gift, but at times it also feels like an enemy. More often than not, I feel that time is slipping away faster and faster each year. Unfortunately, the clocks keep ticking and there's nothing we can do to stop it or slow it down, no matter how much we try or wish that we could. Time also creates priorities and a priority of mine this year was to find a way to read and understand the Bible a bit more. I make time for many other things throughout the day, so why not make a little time for God, too?
I listen to a lot of podcasts while at work, because it helps to pass the time when doing the more monotonous things about my job. With that, I recently stumbled across a show that walks through the Bible over the course of a year. What a great concept! Each daily episode provides a quick way to get a bit more acquainted with scripture and hear a message that ties it into today's world. The moral of the story is...make time for the things that matter most to you. If it's important, you will find a way to make it work. God gave us the gift of time, and it's what we choose to do with our time that matters.
Dana U.
On behalf of the Board of Elders
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Board of Evangelism:
There are several instances during the ministry of Jesus that he charged his disciples to tell no one about what they had seen or heard. For example, Jesus asked his disciples in Mark 8: 27-30 how people identified him as well as how the disciples identified him, Peter replied (v. 29) "You are the Christ." Jesus told them to tell no one about Him. Jesus also told Peter, James, and John to tell no one what they had witnessed when he healed a twelve-year-old girl (Mark 5:41-43) or the spectacular scene on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:3-9). The time was not right for "telling" until Jesus' ministry was complete and He had risen from the dead.
Because we live in the post-resurrection era, the time IS right for telling. Jesus' last command to his disciples before He ascended into heaven was "Go tell." We read in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
With His help, let us winsomely and boldly share with others the gospel of Christ. Our neighbors, as well as all people across the world, need to hear the good news more than ever before!
Greeting Card Ministry
Be sure and check out the new selection of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and various Greeting Cards available for sale in the library. Napkins are available as well.
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