IN THE CENTER RING July 2019 Love always trusts. [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Our sermon texts for June pointed us to trust in God. Such a trust becomes love for God, respect and honor to him. Now God wants us to love others. By God’s definition, that love must always come with trust. What kind of life is a life without trust? Our society is built on the lack of trust. Since the Fall into sin it has been so. Although we lived a carefree life as children, as we grow older, we now know better and struggle to trust like the rest. Why are there police? Why do we learn to watch what we say and follow the cultural dictates? And why are we so horrified when people we are supposed to trust fall into sin? Marriages have fallen apart as trust waned between two sinners. Great and grievous sins are growing in our society, abuses of many kinds, rampant sexuality—even on our phones—and violence from frustrations. As trust wanes, we don’t listen to another. That is a very glass-half-empty outlook. We Christians admit this situation when we confess our own sins. We must apply that truth to ourselves. Each of us is not as trustworthy as our God and Christ his Son. Then as Christians, Christ constantly points believers to joy that can be found in Christ. Christ lives in our fellow Christians; therefore, we need to trust Christ by trusting each other. This seems to be a canyon-wide leap! How in this world can we trust others as we trust Christ? Once we trust in God, an enigma of faith grows for our hearts—God wants us to love others. God himself in our verse creates one major characteristic of love: trust. God wants us to always trust others. From our sinful nature we get the idea that we are mad if we trust a sinful human being. Sinful humans have hurt us. Yet God persists, if you want to have good relationships and long-lasting joy, trust your fellow Christian because Christ lives in him. We are faithless in God if we cannot love. Love demands trust. Trust allows our whole lives to be in the hands of another. Trust risks being hurt. Trust allows for mistakes because trust also needs the truth and the truth is only seen in contrast to the sin and falsehood. It is like the mother who hears, “I hate you” from their disciplined child and then a few minutes later gets a hug from the same child. We need to love like that mother, too. Trust builds good relationships and carries us to new heights with our God. Christ Jesus always resolves the conundrum of faith. God loves. God trusts. God even trusts human beings. He knows each of us. He knows the trials we have had and he knows the trials we have failed. Still he allows our trials to strengthen us. Christ went through the worst trials, trusting his heavenly Father to the highest degree. He endured the ridicule and evil talk of sinful men, even his own disciples at times, and by following God’s truth he overcame them all. He endured the cross for us. He demonstrated that he still loved us, despite our sinful failings which made the cross necessary. He was hurt. But through his pain, his greater goals produced his gracious truth, the forgiveness of sins through faith. He took that leap and loved people enough to go through the hurt to find the eternal joy. By the power of the Spirit we can come to trust. God carried us as he took the great leap for us from unbelief to belief. God now asks us to experience his love even further. He asks us also to trust one another. Without that trust, we cannot overcome Satan. Without that trust, we cannot overcome the world. Without that trust, we do not live the life of love God intended from the beginning. It means there will be offences and hurts. It also means in great contrast, there will be building up and growing stronger until we all reach unity in the faith and the greatest joy in heaven. Take that leap especially with your fellow Christians, by the power of the Spirit. Pastor Timothy P. Kuske
Our sermon texts for June pointed us to trust in God. Such a trust becomes love for God, respect and honor to him. Now God wants us to love others. By God’s definition, that love must always come with trust.
What kind of life is a life without trust? Our society is built on the lack of trust. Since the Fall into sin it has been so. Although we lived a carefree life as children, as we grow older, we now know better and struggle to trust like the rest. Why are there police? Why do we learn to watch what we say and follow the cultural dictates? And why are we so horrified when people we are supposed to trust fall into sin?
Marriages have fallen apart as trust waned between two sinners. Great and grievous sins are growing in our society, abuses of many kinds, rampant sexuality—even on our phones—and violence from frustrations. As trust wanes, we don’t listen to another.
That is a very glass-half-empty outlook. We Christians admit this situation when we confess our own sins. We must apply that truth to ourselves. Each of us is not as trustworthy as our God and Christ his Son.
Then as Christians, Christ constantly points believers to joy that can be found in Christ. Christ lives in our fellow Christians; therefore, we need to trust Christ by trusting each other. This seems to be a canyon-wide leap! How in this world can we trust others as we trust Christ?
Once we trust in God, an enigma of faith grows for our hearts—God wants us to love others. God himself in our verse creates one major characteristic of love: trust. God wants us to always trust others. From our sinful nature we get the idea that we are mad if we trust a sinful human being. Sinful humans have hurt us. Yet God persists, if you want to have good relationships and long-lasting joy, trust your fellow Christian because Christ lives in him.
We are faithless in God if we cannot love. Love demands trust. Trust allows our whole lives to be in the hands of another. Trust risks being hurt. Trust allows for mistakes because trust also needs the truth and the truth is only seen in contrast to the sin and falsehood. It is like the mother who hears, “I hate you” from their disciplined child and then a few minutes later gets a hug from the same child. We need to love like that mother, too. Trust builds good relationships and carries us to new heights with our God.
Christ Jesus always resolves the conundrum of faith. God loves. God trusts. God even trusts human beings. He knows each of us. He knows the trials we have had and he knows the trials we have failed. Still he allows our trials to strengthen us. Christ went through the worst trials, trusting his heavenly Father to the highest degree. He endured the ridicule and evil talk of sinful men, even his own disciples at times, and by following God’s truth he overcame them all. He endured the cross for us. He demonstrated that he still loved us, despite our sinful failings which made the cross necessary. He was hurt. But through his pain, his greater goals produced his gracious truth, the forgiveness of sins through faith. He took that leap and loved people enough to go through the hurt to find the eternal joy.
By the power of the Spirit we can come to trust. God carried us as he took the great leap for us from unbelief to belief. God now asks us to experience his love even further. He asks us also to trust one another. Without that trust, we cannot overcome Satan. Without that trust, we cannot overcome the world. Without that trust, we do not live the life of love God intended from the beginning.
It means there will be offences and hurts. It also means in great contrast, there will be building up and growing stronger until we all reach unity in the faith and the greatest joy in heaven. Take that leap especially with your fellow Christians, by the power of the Spirit.
Pastor Timothy P. Kuske
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OFFICIAL ACTS
Funerals
Margaret Jensen Born September 16, 1923
Died May 24, 2019 Funeral May 30, 2019
Bernice Biech
Born September 12, 1921 Died May 30, 2019
Funeral June 2, 2019
Evan Sorge Born September 19, 1937
Died June 12, 2019 Funeral June 18, 2019
Adult Confirmations
Phillip Showers Danielle Showers
Statistics as of June 17, 2019
Confirmed members 872
Baptized members 196
Total members 1,068
St. John’s Media Ministry
Balance 20 May 2019 $5,395.97
Contributions $ 775.00
Disbursements
WRPQ $ 840.00
Radio Phone Line $ 15.00
Balance 24 June 2019 $5,315.97
The Month of Compassion Project has ended. We have been very thankful for the congregational members who in love, presented requests or donations to the project. Realizing that “love one another” was an attitude we can continue to emphasize here at St. John’s was obvious and rewarding. May we continue to place “building one another up” as a top priority! Funds were distributed to answer the requests.
Thank you to Everyone!
Thrivent Action Committee (TAC)
Principal and Early Childhood
Director Calls Returned
Timothy and Rachel Gustafson returned their calls to St. John’s School as Principal and Early Childhood Director/3K teacher.
July Special Envelopes
Capital Improvements/Infrastructure
In the Center Ring
is a monthly publication of St. John’s Lutheran Church
Members present - David Grant, Eric Korthals, Todd Halvorson, Bob Horstmann, Gayland Leatherberry, Dave Parchem, Tom Tiedt, Jeff Thieding, Pastor Kuske, Deacon Tramp. Also present Scott Manis.
Opening Prayer and Devotion – Pastor Kuske opened with a devotional from 3 John. Work together for the truth. Reach out to each other to work together. Old Business Improving communications Jeff Thieding – June, Eric Durkee – July. Website Redesign – no updates. Budget Committee – basically the same budget as last little with some costs escalations and removed a second full-time pastor from the budget. 2019-2020 total budgeted expenses at $893,508 (2018-2019 was $938,640) and total budgeted revenue at $904,050 (2018-2019 was $ $944,719). Motion to recommend the proposed budget to the congregation carried. New Business Membership Changes – Motion to accept Phillip and Danielle Showers (Kayden and Carter) through BIC into membership carried. Pastor’s Report - BIC class: Deacon has and is getting after 3 K parents for outreach BIC. Shut-in visits - I am still doing a few every month. Pastor V. has been a real blessing! When we get a new Principal I should be able to do more. School issues: Getting a date to meet Principal Rank. Trying to get a meeting together to go over policies that have not been re-ratified by the teachers and by the school board. Hoping to a bunch of those at one meeting this summer. Adult Discipleship: Welcome Home program, they have lots of good materials already done for us and am looking to implement this. Catechism: Gathering next year’s class. Still finishing revamp of Catechism class to match a school room. Borrowing Resolution – committee is in process of developing operational parameters for the committee’s function and administering the loan. Safety Plan – Motion to recommend presented safety plan to congregation carried. Elder Report Action Items President Report (Grant) - Working with Deacon Tramp on our website options. Looking at SquareSpace or Wix. Worked on the safety plan for the church, this was submitted to council for review. Have there been any discussions on an AED for the church? The cost is about $1505. Working with the Worship committee to
transition the camera to a digital system. This will need to be done by the end of June. The church weather radio has been purchased. School Board – WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit June 25-27, at Kalahari Resort. WELS Christian Educator for Special Education Conference, August 6, 2019, Pewaukee, WI. Computer equipment and software needs. Pastor spoke to J Comp rep. Will also contact company in Little Chute. Request proposal for a plan to update equipment and software. Will issue contract if necessary. Summer Camp and Child care staffing - need to hire additional help. Bob Hovey will post ad. Pastor will follow up on Welcome email with pictures of staff to parents. Moved and seconded that foot wear is required at all times while on St John’s property, no exceptions.. Deacon will email all parents concerned. 2019-2020 Staffing and Contingencies - Bob Hovey will place advertisement for an aide and childcare staff. Evangelism (Halvorson) - Working on Fair Booth details with sign-up sheet in narthex. It would be nice if each council member and/or School Board member took a shift. Ideally, we would have some kids and youth to help. Assembling materials for the booth. Looking at WELS site for additional handouts and will purchase some items from Time of Grace. Property (Parchem) - Summer volunteer project list includes: sand/ pea gravel/ mulch/ playground, clean classroom windows, paint classrooms and storage shelving in Janitor's room in school, new kitchen track light above serving area at school, pressure wash annex deck (to stain), tree trimming and men’s urinal bathroom work at church. Playground equipment repair recommended, Property is looking for funds through Thrivent. Property approves the purchase of a new Kitchen Dishwasher and will be replaced through the school lunch program. Boiler room maintenance: will be serviced in August. The following Contractors have been contacted about start dates-Bell Tower (Statz Restoration) will start the main project the week of June 24th - weather permitting. Concrete leveling on front east side of church (Badger Basements) will be here on July 22nd. Sanctuary lights phase 2 - globe conversions to LED Action Electric will start later in the fall, no set date as of yet. Front door repair/replacement Carpenter Glass is done, currently reviewing keyless entry systems now that the new doors are installed. Action Electric has been contacted to assess electrical needs for the system. Elimination of built-in gutters; Review by Loan Oversight Committee pending, a budgetary number not to exceed $24K was approved by council and congregation. Motion to approve sign proposal as recommended by property committee carried. Worship (Tiedt) - Copyright and licensing report was submitted by David Grant. There are some things we may put on our web site. Organ update. From discussion
4
with Mark Snyder it appears the situation with our organ has been in existence for a number of years. Parts are worn and no replacements are available. Mark to keep his radar up with his circle of repair and supply people, but makes no promises. Blower replacement was also mentioned, not an immediate type repair. Replacement would run around $10,000. Sarah Durkee to send hand bells out the week of June 2nd, 2019 as they need to be there by June 17th, 2019. July 4th, 2019 Thursday night service to be cancelled. Mission Festival Sunday is Sunday June 23rd, 2019. Professor Paul Nitz and family will be guests. This will be during our regular Sunday Service, pot luck lunch following. Charles Bonow will give an Organ Concert on July 11th and July 14th 2019. This will be during our regular service times. There will be a door offering for the organist. Rachel has contacted the new Hymnal committee and received the list of hymns and those what might be dropped. The organists are meeting to go over these list and work on introducing new hymns to the congregation. Elder Replacement – Motion to recommend Scott Manis to congregation for Spiritual Growth elder carried. Financial Report – YTD expenses greater than revenue by $4,596.98. Revenue up by approx. $8k YTD and expenses up by approx. $23k YTD with a YTD deficit at $20,379.47. Motion to approve presented financial report carried. Motion to adjourn carried. Closing prayer by Pastor Kuske. Respectfully submitted, Eric Korthals, secretary
Church League Softball
Monday Nights
Pierce Park
Church Picnic - Sunday August 25
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Mission Congregation, Richland Center
Bethlehem Lutheran will be holding its first official service on Sunday, September 29th! Please come to show your excitement and support for them and to welcome this congregation into our WELS family.
Bethlehem Lutheran is also in need of volunteers to assist with our canvassing efforts in Richland Center. This will be the first opportunity after the opening service to reach out into the community. Praise and Proclaim Ministries is coming to assist outreach efforts in Richland Center, to train members and volunteers to carry out witness conversations, and to show how door to door canvassing can be an effective tool for connecting with your neighborhood and community.
This training is Friday and Saturday, October 11-12, 2019. Friday, October 11th will involve training and a meal in the evening, and Saturday, October 12th will be putting the training into practice by canvassing neighborhoods in Richland Center, advertising a Community Safety Night that will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd. Training for how to conduct follow-ups will also be held as well.
The goal is for all who attend to take the training acquired to not only help this weekend in Richland Center, but to take the training home and utilize it in your own congregation.
There is no cost to your congregation for this training. All that is asked is to come not only for the training on Friday, October 11th, but to assist with the canvassing efforts on Saturday, October 12th.
Praise and Proclaim has been assisting WELS congregations with outreach efforts and comes with recommendations from Western Wisconsin District Mission Board and the WELS Board for Home Missions. For more information about Praise and Proclaim, visit: praiseandproclaim.com.
If you can help us with these efforts, please let Pastor Lewig know as soon as possible, along with the number of volunteers that will be coming with you. For any further questions, contact Pastor Lewig at [email protected] or (608) 495-4905.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION: School registration for the 2019-2020 school year at St. John’s takes place in August! Student/Parent Orientation takes place August 19th and 20th. Parents should attend one of these to receive the latest information about the new school
year. The first day of school is Monday, August 25th. SUMMER SCRIP: During summer, scrip is sold after church most Sundays on the library level in the basement.
Vacation
Bible School
Vacation Bible School is being held at St. John’s School July 22-26, 2019 from 8 am to Noon. Registration forms are available in the church narthex. For more information or to register, call the church office 355-3870 or visit stjohnsbaraboo.org.
Volunteers Needed: We’re looking for some fun-loving, enthusiastic adult and youth volunteers to help with VBS and share God’s Word the week of July 22-26. We need volunteers to teach the lessons, crafts, music and serve snacks. We have a variety of flexible opportunities that require as little as a one-hour commitment to the entire week. To learn more or volunteer, please speak with Deacon Andrew Tramp or call him at 920-366-5352. There are signup sheets in the narthex.
St. John’s Ladies Aid Lutheran
High School Scholarships
St. John’s Ladies Aid Lutheran High School Scholarships have been helping our members pay tuition at WELS high schools since 2000. To date, we have awarded scholarships 87 times for a total of $29,500. Presently, the scholarship gives each recipient $500. If you would like to make a contribution to this fund, please make it payable to St. John’s Ladies Aid; scholarship envelopes are on the narthex desk. Your support is much appreciated.
Baraboo Food Pantry
July
Tuna and Mayonnaise
August
Jell-O and Pudding Mixes
*The Food Pantry also accepts personal care items
such as soap, toilet paper, and toothpaste.
Thank you to everyone for the prayers, cards, kind thoughts and memorial gifts following my father’s recent death and my mother’s hospitalization. Prayers are making such a difference! My family and I are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, caring church family.
We have a new Little Free Library (LFL)! It is located in the entry of the church, and it is ready for your use. We hope to have books for everybody and anybody, so please take a look. As you know, there is no checkout in the LFL, and books do not need to be returned—but they can be. You may add a book you have enjoyed at home also. Please give Phil Jauch a big thank you, as the library team has, when you see him. We appreciate all the thought and effort that he put into this project.
Following are some of the titles that have been added to the library in the last several months:
How to Connect with You Troubled Adult Children by Bottke
Bible Stories for School and Home
A Simple Way to Pray
Look Up from Your Phone so I can Love You by Vannieuwenhoven
This summer, we are working to relocate some topics, so please ask if you don’t find your favorites in the usual place. Take a book on vacation!
St. John’s Childcare Summer Camp
We are currently looking for some members of our community who are willing to help our children go on an unforgettable journey with our Lord. Tell children about your jobs, hobbies, talents, travels. Summer camp themes include science, technology, environment, animals, music, math, and lots more. Please contact Connie Toyoda-Bell if you are willing to volunteer an hour or two of your time and God-given talents this summer to help our children explore the past, present and future. Childcare cell: 608-963-5919 Email: [email protected] Connie’s cell: 608-963-9314
Sauk County Fair Booth Sign-up sheets for volunteering at the St. John’s Church & School Fair Booth July 10 – July 13 are available in the narthex. We need people to stay in the booth for two-hour shifts, hand out trinkets and information about St. John’s, and talk to interested people about the church and school.
Charles Bonow Organ Concert
Thursday July 11 and Sunday July 14, organist Charles Bonow will present his festival worship service concert, “Our Life in Christ,” here at St John’s during our regular worship times. This service concert by means of the Word of God and song, will accord us an edifying hour of worship focusing on our life as chosen and redeemed children of God. The presentation of these service concerts is Charles Bonow’s ministry and means of support for himself and his family. A Free-will offering for the Bonow family will be received following the service.
2019 Lifest: Party with a Purpose
Lifest takes place July 11 – July 14 in Oshkosh, WI. You can purchase tickets for the 4-day Christian music event or for a single day. There are also options for group rates and on-site camping.
Generosity Days Fair 2019
Thrivent Representative Jay Larson is sponsoring a Generosity Days Fair on Saturday, August 10, from 10 am-3 pm at the Sauk County Fairgrounds. Admission is a donation of school supplies or a nonperishable food item, which will go toward the Backpack Project and our local food pantries. This event is meant to bring community members closer together. Local charities and non-profit groups from Sauk County and the Baraboo area will be participating to build awareness and raise funds. There will be food, games, and live, local music!
St. John’s will have a table set up, so if you would like to help out, we’d appreciate it! For more information about the Generosity Days Fair, or if you would like to help participate in any way, you can email [email protected], visit us on Facebook at Baraboo Generosity Fair, or call Cindy at 920-344-0455.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Mission Congregation, Richland Center
Bethlehem Lutheran, a new WELS mission church in Richland Center, will be holding its first official service on Sunday, September 29th! Please come to show your excitement and support for them and to welcome this new congregation into our WELS family.
Oberammergau
Passion Play Trip
June 2020
Retired WELS pastor, James Humann, invites you to join and fellow WELS members on a June tour to the 2020 Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. The dates are June 12 - 22, 2020. This world-famous play depicts the life of Jesus from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday and is presented only every ten years. The performance begins in the afternoon and ends in the evening. This eleven-day tour includes not only first-class tickets and accommodations in Oberammergau, but also the beautiful Rhine Valley of Germany, the medieval and picturesque cities of Heidelberg, Rothenberg and Munich in Germany, Lucerne in Switzerland and Paris in France.
For a colorful brochure with the price and daily itinerary, e-mail [email protected]. If you prefer a hard copy, also include your mailing address. Space and Passion Play tickets are limited. Early registration is encouraged.
This is a copy of the front-page of St. John’s quarterly parish newspaper, the St. John’s
Herald, dated January, February, March 1937. This copy of the newspaper was found in the
collection of church history at church.
Based on the volume and issue
number, we figure the St. John’s
Herald perhaps began in 1934. This
4-page paper detailed attendance
and membership, fiscal reports for
the church and synod, church
records (baptisms, marriages,
deaths), memorials, and budgets. It
also gave details on committee
members and contained faith-
based articles.
Do you have photos or other
documents from our church’s past?
As we prepare for the 150th
anniversary of St. John’s Lutheran
Church in 2023, we’d like to add to
our collection of church history.
If you’d like to share your historical findings with us, please bring your photos/documents to the church office. We’ll make digital copies and return the originals to you.
Simplified Report for May 2019
April Budgeted Actual Last May
All Revenue 70,639.67$ 63,104.82$ 60,516.05$
Expenses 78,219.92$ 73,158.57$ 74,001.23$
Net Operating Gain or Loss (10,053.75)$ (13,485.18)$
Fiscal Year to Date Budgeted Actual Last Year
All Revenue 804,391.29$ 819,474.33$ 811,610.99$ 0.97%
