St. John Lutheran Church March 2017________________________________________________________________________

Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home

e-mail: dpool@stjohn-clinton-ia.orgWeb Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org

________________________________________________________________________

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible Study

Colossians: Profound FaithWe continue our study this month on the New Testament book of Colossians. This is a great time to get involved. No previous Bible study experience is necessary. You may simply come and listen as we discover the preeminence of Christ in all things. Let’s grow in knowledge and wisdom in the ways of Christ in our lives. We might just find that our faith is truly profound. Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

March 5: Colossians 1:24-29: Mature in Christ.March 12: Colossians 2:1-5: Wisdom and Knowledge.March 19: Colossians 2:6-15: Human Tradition.March 26: Colossians 2:16-23: Asceticism.

Sunday Lenten Sermon Series

Beginning March 5, Pastor will be preaching a new topical sermon series on Sundays called The Art of Living by Faith, drawn from our Lutheran Catechisms. A number of themes are woven through these sermons to accent the way in which faith defines us and shapes our lives. Join us on Ash Wednesday at 1:30 or 7:00 p.m. for a special preview of this series.

Lenten Rotation

St. John is again participating in the Pastoral Lenten Rotation with our sister LCMS congregations on the Wednesdays of Lent beginning after Ash Wednesday. This means you will have the privilege to hear from guest pastors on Wednesdays. Pastor Pool will be away on Wednesday evenings preaching in nearby churches. Services will continue to be at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. Pastor’s youth confirmation class will meet Saturday mornings from 9:00-10:00 a.m. (March 11, 25, April 1, 8). Our sermon series is called The Lord’s Supper: The Salutary Gift. Please come out to get to know the pastors from our sister congregations!

March 8 – Pastor Redhage (Lowden)March 15 – Pastor Anderson (Grand Mound)March 22 – Pastor Preus (Clinton-Trinity)March 29 – Pastor Dodgers (Charlotte)

The Large Catechism on the Third Commandment

As we prepare for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we have been giving special attention to The Large Catechism of the 16th century. I am convinced this is one of the best resources for sound doctrine and Christian life. This month I would like to turn our attention to the third commandment. Although many see this commandment as a demand for rest, or even as a call to Church attendance, it is much more than that. It is a call for us to value God’s Word, preached and read. The Word of God is what makes a person, a Church, or a day holy for you.

This is the simple meaning of the commandment: People must have holidays. Therefore, such observances should be devoted to hearing God’s Word so that the special function of this day of rest should be the ministry of the Word for the young and the mass of poor people. Yet the resting should not be strictly understood to forbid any work that comes up, which cannot be avoided.

So when someone asks you, “What is meant by the commandment: You shall sanctify the holy day?” Answer like this, “To sanctify the holy day is the same as to keep it holy.” “But what is meant by keeping it holy?” “Nothing else than to be occupied with holy words, works, and life.” For the day needs no sanctification for itself. It has been created holy in itself. But God desires the day to be holy to you. Therefore, it becomes holy or unholy because of you, whether you are occupied on that day with things that are holy or unholy.

How, then, does such sanctification take place? Not like this: sitting behind the stove and doing no rough work, or adorning ourselves with a wreath and putting on our best clothes. But as said above, we occupy ourselves with God’s Word and exercise ourselves in the Word.

Indeed, we Christians ought always to keep such a holy day and be occupied with nothing but holy things. This means we should daily be engaged with God’s Word and carry it in our hearts and

upon our lips. But as said above, since we do not always have free time, we must devote several hours a week for the sake of the young, or at least a day for the sake of the entire multitude, to being concerned about this alone.So let’s do what Luther suggests this commandment requires of us. Let’s occupy ourselves each day with the Scriptures. Let’s gather each week, devoting a day to gladly hearing and learning His Word. In this way, God blesses us with His own holiness. What a gift!

Pastor

Lenten Serving Schedule

Each year the congregation is divided into groups according to the church directory for Lent and Advent Services with one group serving after each service. Each family serving is asked to bring a plate or two of sandwiches, four dozen cookies, or a pan of bars. Otherwise a donation to purchase punch and coffee may be left in the marked container in the church kitchen.

The serving schedule is divided by those in the church directory as follows:

March 1 – Wayne Suehl to Twila Bethel

March 8 – Troy Bialas to Rick Eizenga

March 15 – Kevin Enwright to Jim Kophamer

March 22 – Lisa Koser to Craig Miller

March 29 – Ronald Mitchell to Mary Schmidt

April 5 – Higher Things Attendees & Families

From the Desk of Kurt Flathers, Director of the Board of Elders:

Lent is not a very joyful season of the church year. The hymns are more somber in tone, the altar has no flowers on it, the alleluias are missing from the liturgy, and it is quieter. Why is this, you might ask. It comes from us. Our sinful nature. During Lent, we look not only outward, but also inward to our sinful selves. As we say in our liturgy, “we are by nature, sinful and unclean.” God does not tolerate sin, at all. Nevertheless, out of His divine mercy and grace, He set up a plan for salvation. That plan was in Christ Jesus, His Son. Christ came down from heaven, was born of a woman, and born under the Law, to free us from the curse of the Law. His perfect life and innocent sufferings and death on the cross redeems us from our sins, and justifies us before God. When He spread out His arms on the cross, and was nailed to it, our sin was nailed to the cross. He showed us His love by all this, and gave us a white robe of righteousness, in place of our filthy rags. We, through the blood and water that flowed from His pierced side, are washed in Holy Baptism and brought to new life in Christ. By the Sacrament of the Altar, we receive His true Body and Blood, given and shed for us. God kept His word, by the Word made Flesh, and dwelling among us. Lent is a solemn time, but by it, we can rejoice in the forgiveness we receive and the joy of knowing that by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we have eternal life. Come and worship during these 40 days of Lent. Open your eyes, ears, and minds to the words God gives us by His suffering Son. Then, we can enjoy the Easter season! See you during Lent!

Board of Elders

The Board of Elders will meet on Monday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Stewardship

The Board of Stewardship will meet on Monday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Education

The Board of Education will meet on Monday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Board of Evangelism

The Board of Evangelism will meet on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Voters’ Assembly

Our Voters’ Assembly will meet on Monday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to the Voters’ Assembly. Come and get involved in the work of the Church.

Board Meetings

Ladies Aid

Ladies Aid will meet Friday, March 3 for the World Day of Prayer along with Trinity and all women from both churches who would like to attend. The Prayer Service will be up in the church proper at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Pool leading the service. A luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall. March 3 is our regular meeting day, we will have our meeting following the luncheon and clean-up.

Ladies Evening Bible Study

A new year of study begins!  Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. we will meet in classroom 1. Now would be a great time for anyone new to jump in. We are a low-key, friendly group who strive to speak the language of Scripture and live daily in our Baptism. Our lessons are begun and finished during class-time, and study materials are provided.  You are encouraged to bring your own Bible, however there are some available in the room for our use. 

Ladies' Evening Bible Study meets twice a month, first and third Tuesdays, at 7:00 p.m. in the conference room.  

Any questions can be directed to Sallie Pool.  

Mary Martha Soup Supper

All ladies are invited to attend the Mary Martha Soup Supper on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. St. John Mary Martha members and volunteers care for the church altar by preparing for communion and washing the silver after communion services, maintaining the altar candles and linens, and delivering the altar flowers to shut-ins. Please join us March 14 for good food, fellowship, and a chance to learn about our group.

Quilting Bee

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, March 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies interested in helping sew and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief are invited to attend.

St. John Preschool Now Enrolling

The preschool is accepting students for the 2017/2018 school year. We will continue to have a multi-age classroom setting

with 3 year olds attending 3 days per week and older children attending 5 days per week. Our hours of operation are from 8:50 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $120.00 per month for 1st year students and will be free for 2nd year returning students. Contact the church office, 242-5588, for more information or enrollment forms.

Food Pantry Collection March 5

Donations of nonperishable food items, paper, and soap products may be brought to the fellowship hall on Sunday, March 5, for the food pantry collection at the Victory Center. These items will be distributed to the unemployed of the community.

Facebook

Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.

Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday, March 11. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 12.

Higher Things

We have 11 youth and 4 adults going to the Higher Things Youth Conference this summer in Valparaiso, IN. We are excited to have so many go! But we could use your help. The cost per person is $375. Would you consider giving a gift to help our young people? Or help cover the costs of our adult volunteers. Thrivent Choice dollars directed to St. John Lutheran Church are also helping us. Direct those choice dollars today.

Confirmation Day – May 7

On Sunday, May 7, at the 10:15 a.m. service, two young adults of St. John will be received into communicant membership of the congregation. Those to be confirmed this year are: Christine Frett and Nicholas Frett.

On Wednesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. the confirmation students will participate in an oral exam followed by a reception. Family and friends of the confirmands are invited to the exam and reception.

Hospitalization

Please be sure to mention St. John Lutheran Church if you are admitted at Mercy Medical Center, Clinton. Your pastor wants to visit you when you’re hospitalized, but the only sure way for him to know is for you or a family member to call the church office, 242-

5588. If you would like pastor to visit, but not have your name announced on Sunday, your request will be honored.

Check It OutIn Our Church Library

This Is Most Certainly Trueby

Janet Martin

For the Lutherans who didn’t stray far from the church basement this book will bring back memories of growing up and for those who strayed or were outside the fold it will make you understand what makes Lutherans do the things they do.

This humorous little book is a dictionary of words and definitions like accept, one of the Lutheran virtues. No matter what it is, just accept it and get on with life, i.e. “snap outta it.” Commune 1. What Lutherans do at the altar 2. Where hippies who went bad at Lutheran colleges went to live. Singing It’s the same as breathing for most Lutherans.

The Lutheran Confessions Series(3 Little Study Guides)

Luther’s Catechisms

The Formula of Concord

The Augsburg Confession and Its Apology

These three little books enable you to apply doctrine to your life and offer practical suggestions for taking the lesson out of

the classroom and into the world.

March Birthdays & Anniversaries

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

Happy Birthday to: Lucille Dodd, who will be 100 on March 4. Darlene Schroeder, who will be 88 on March 13.Millie Martzahn, who will be 92 on March 17.Geri Kophamer, who will be 84 on March 17.

Happy Anniversary to: Carl & Ruth Johnson, 65th wedding anniversary on March 2.

Ray & Lisa Bormann, 20th wedding anniversary on March 15.

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 time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN MARCH

Early

Elders: Dave Reynolds Bill Ross

Ushers: Jay Mueller Brian Wall Calvin Lange Wesley Melchin

Nursery Attendants (Late)

5 – Kristi LaShelle

12 – Pete & Tara Sirna

19 – Heather Becker

26 – Barb Bialas

Recording

5 – Darlene Paysen12 – Paul Wenzel19 – Darlene Paysen26 – Paul Wenzel

Late

Elders: David Becker Jim Kophamer

Ushers: Bryce Petersen Randy Housenga Harlan Dell Kevin Dell

Acolyte Schedule

1-Ash Wed. – Nicholas Frett

5-Early – William Schemers5-Late – Elder

8-Lent – Elder

12-Early – Elder12-Late – Christine Frett

15-Lent – Elder

19-Early – Maya Murtha19-Late – Elder

22-Lent – Elder

26-Early – Elder26-Late – Kaleb Bovis

29-Lent – Elder

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: MARCH 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Angie Stewart, and get her the information by March 20.