St. John Lutheran Church July 2016 _____________________________________________ ___________________________ Church Office: 563-242-5588 Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home e-mail: [email protected]Web Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org _____________________________________________ ___________________________ Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School will be July 18-22, 2016. Our theme this year is “Barnyard Roundup.” VBS is for children 4 years old or enrolled in St. John Sunday School or Preschool through those entering grade 7. Older children and adults are welcome to
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St. John Lutheran Church July 2016________________________________________________________________________
Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home
Vacation Bible School will be July 18-22, 2016. Our theme this year is “Barnyard Roundup.” VBS is for children 4 years old or enrolled in St. John Sunday School or Preschool through those entering grade 7. Older children and adults are welcome to volunteer as helpers. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for this exciting barnyard adventure!
We are still in need of two teachers for the 2nd and 3rd grade VBS classes. You do not need a degree in Biblical Studies to share the love of Christ with a child. In fact, you will learn quite a bit preparing these simple lessons for your class. It’s a win/win!! We already have 2 adult helpers willing to come alongside each teacher. Talk to Angie or Sallie to get teaching materials and leader devotion pages. Please consider helping!
V.B.S. Refreshments
We welcome donations of cookies and bars for refreshments for Vacation Bible School. Any kind of cookie is appreciated, but two of the favorites are rice crispy bars and chocolate chip cookies. These may be left in the church kitchen on July 17 or during the week of V.B.S.
V.B.S. Donations
A list of needed supplies is on the VBS registration table in the fellowship hall. If you would like to donate an item or two, write your name next to
the item and take the reminder slip that correlates to the number on the list. Donations should be left in Room 3 (copy room) by July 15. Thank you!
V.B.S. Classroom Setup
The church will be open for all teachers to set up and decorate their classrooms on Sunday, July 17 from 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Over the past few months, we have been getting to know our core values: biblical, confessional, liturgical, and missional. This month I would like to address what it means to be liturgical.
This value addresses what we do together as we gather weekly for the Divine Service. And what we do isn’t just a matter of taste or preference. The content of our service really matters. The Sacraments deliver grace to us. And we gather to hear the living voice of the Gospel and the whole counsel of God in Scripture, preaching, and every other component of what we do on Sundays.
We also recognize that style isn’t neutral. We pay attention to the mode and style of worship of the saints who have gone before us. We use a historic liturgy, doing what faithful Christians have done for centuries. We don’t emulate the modern rock concert or stand-up comedy. For us to be a liturgical Church means we recognize the need to be reverent in our services.
Our theology of worship comes from the Scriptures and our Lutheran confessions. Acts 2 reminds us of the nature of the Church as they gathered around the Word of God and the Sacraments, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Our Lutheran Confessions tell us that worship is receptive, “So the worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God.” This is why we call our worship the Divine Service. We recognize that God condescends to come down to us and meet our needs for forgiveness, life, and salvation. Christians need this grace throughout our lives.
And this is why we gather. The Church offers something that we can’t get anywhere else. This means that our practices should look different than everything else out there. We don’t exist to entertain. We are distinct. We are set apart. And we have our eyes fixed on Jesus who is really present in bread and wine; water and Word.
I hope to see you this Sunday!
Pastor
Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudySundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Character Matters
In July, we begin a new study called Character Matters which will include video clips from Dr. Joel Biermann of Concordia Seminary based on his book, A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics. This study is designed to begin a conversation about the role of character and ethics in the life of the Christian. Together we will dive deep into Scripture and ethics, and have a chance to discuss the most important aspects of life.
July 3: Character DefinedJuly 10: Justification and
Christian CharacterJuly 17: More than Law and GospelJuly 24: The Formation of CharacterJuly 31: The Reason for Character
Wednesday Summer Services
Join us in July and August on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. for summer Church Services. These services are simpler and different than Sunday mornings. We especially welcome those with difficult or busy schedules, but
everyone is invited. The Wednesday sermon series will be looking at the 10 Commandments through the lens of the Large Catechism.
Summer Sunday SchoolThis summer, we will have Children’s Summer Sunday School only on the first Sunday of each month. We will be watching a special video series called The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus with popcorn and prayers. On the other Sundays, we will not have Children’s classes. Both adult classes will continue to meet. Teens and kids are welcome to attend with parents. May this be a time when parents and grandparents take on that God given responsibility to teach their children the faith at home. Start working on the Small Catechism and grab a copy of My Devotions available in the narthex.
Lifetouch Photo Directory
We are doing a new picture directory! You can sign-up for your photo session now at our website: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org. You may also sign-up at Church any Sunday in July. Pictures will be taken August
2-6, 9-10. You will receive a free 8x10 and a photo directory for your participation. No additional purchases are necessary. Friends and family are also welcome to participate!
Board of Elders
The Board of Elders will meet SUNDAY, July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees will meet Monday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Board of Stewardship
The Board of Stewardship will meet Mon., July 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Board of Education
The Board of Education will meet Mon., July 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Board of Evangelism
The Board of Evangelism will meet Tues., July 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Voters’ Assembly
Board Meetings
Our Voters’ Assembly will meet on Monday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to the Voters’ Assembly. Come and get involved in the work of the Church.
Ladies Aid
Ladies Aid will meet on Friday, July 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Pastor Pool will be our speaker. Mary Jo Nelson and June Hardersen will serve as hostesses.
Ladies Evening Bible Study
Ladies Evening Bible Study will meet on July 5 and 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the church. All women are welcome to join us!
Mary Martha Potluck Picnic
The Mary Martha Potluck Picnic will be Tuesday, July 12
at 6:00 p.m. in the St. John Fellowship Hall. Members are asked to bring a dish to share. The meat, beverages, and table service will be furnished. After the meal, we will play cards and “Dirty Bingo”. Each member is asked to bring a wrapped gift to be used as a prize. Altar volunteers and guests are welcome to join us.
Quilting Bee
The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, July 28 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.
Food Pantry Collection – July 3
Donations of nonperishable food items, paper, and soap products may be brought to the fellowship hall on Sunday, July 3 for the food pantry collection at the Victory Center. These items will be distributed to
the unemployed of the community.
Office Closed
The Church Office will be closed on Monday, July 4 in celebration of Independence Day.
Save the Date
The St. John Church Picnic is August 28 this year. We look forward to seeing you there!
Facebook
Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.
Check It OutIn Our Church Library
Smittywith
Mira Sorvino, Peter Fonda, & Louis Gossett Jr.[Family Video]
Everyone needs a friendly paw. Mischievous thirteen-year-old Ben is sent to his grandfather’s farm for the summer, where he crosses paths with a lovable mutt named Smitty.
The Letter Writer[Family Video]
A rebellious and troubled teenager receives an old fashioned letter in the mail from an unknown source.
Billy[Video]
A video about the early years of Billy Graham’s life.
Share and Take Turns
& Be Polite and Kind
by Cheri J. Meiners
Two new children’s books donated by Gene & Gerri Rall.
Preschool Registration
The preschool is accepting students for the 2016/2017 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. We have extended our hours of operation to 8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $120.00 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.
Higher Things
The Higher Things Youth Conference is coming soon! We leave Tuesday, July 5 at 8 a.m. and return on Friday, July 8 in the evening. Please pray for our young people as they take time to get grounded in God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions. Gifts to cover the cost of our trip are still appreciated. Thrivent Choice dollars directed to St. John Lutheran Church are also helping us. Direct those choice dollars today.
From the Desk of Bill Ross...
Dear Friends,
This month, July 9-14, I will be attending the 66th Regular Convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I will be a voting delegate and will be there with over 2,000 other people.
The convention book is almost 500 pages and the nomination book for those wanting to hold office is almost 150 pages. There will be many meetings, speeches, discussions and votes. It may be very interesting, or very boring, I just don’t know. But what I do know is that this is our synod, our church, our faith and beliefs.
What this convention means to me is that we are there to keep our synod strong and true to God’s word. I will vote in the best interest of our synod and our faith. I ask that you pray for me and all the delegates at our convention, so that we do what God wants us to, and be strong in His word.
Happy Birthday to: Lois Meyermann, who will be 87 on July 2. Ken Ketelsen, who will be 88 on July 7.Edward Baasch, who will be 86 on July 12.Helen Niebuhr, who will be 89 on July 20.Sylvia Lorenzen, who will be 81 on July 21Carla Scott, who will be 89 on July 22.Bill Martzahn, who will be 91 on July 26.
Happy Anniversary to: Wes & Carol Stuedemann, 55th Wedding Anniversary on July 9.Kevin & Camil Dell, 25th Wedding Anniversary on July 13.
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 now 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 anytime at the church office, 242-5588, to schedule.
