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Saint John Lutheran Church Bellevue, Iowa

A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Growing and responding Every Day as disciples of Jesus

September 2020

Pictures within this newsletter can be viewed in color by going to our website

saintjohnlutheran.net

Weekly Worship

Saturday - 5:00 pm Sunday - 10:00 am

~ ARK ~ Education with

Children (Preschool—age 4 Through 5th grade)

Friday 3:20—5:00 pm Starting date to be

determined

~ Confirmation ~ 6th - 8th Grade

Wednesday 6:00-8:00 pm

Starting date to be determined

~ Church Phone ~ 563-872-5849

~ Email Addresses ~

Office stjohn@iowatelecom.net

Pastor sjpastor@iowatelecom.net

~ Website ~ Saintjohnlutheran.net

~ Our Facebook ~

Saint John Lutheran church - Bellevue, Iowa

ARK Is Suspended Through December

Confirmation Gathering is Suspended

Through September See inside

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What’s God Up To?

Ever since COVID-19 appeared and the continued unrest in communities seeking justice and reform, I have been wondering, “What’s God

Up To” It doesn’t help that this past week, I began reading through the book of Job. The book begins with God uplifting Job as being an upright person who fears God and turns away from evil. Satan questioned God if Job would continue to be faithful if all Job’s blessings and good life was taken away. It would appear to me that God was willing to bet that Job would remain upright and faithful. And so God allowed Satan to put Job to the test. Personally, I don’t like this picture of God in the story of Job. I cannot imagine God allowing the hardships that Job had to bear at the hands of Satan. Maybe that is why so many want to blame God for their hardships. They want to believe that God would intervene and spare us from the pain. So, why doesn’t God intervene? I wish I had the answer to that question. As I have moved through the book of Job, I discovered that Job is wondering why or what is God up to anyway. Even in the midst of his suffering, Job continues to hold to his faith in God. He knows that God has the ultimate power to end his suffering and/or to renew his life. Now, I am not ready to assert that God has allowed the pandemic, the unrest, or our personal sufferings to test our faith. But if that was the case, like in Job, that would mean that God has confidence in us to remain faithful no what happens. I hadn’t ever thought how confident God is with me. I have thought about how much God loves me. But I haven’t imagined God being willing to ’bet’ on me. Maybe, it’s because I’m not confident enough in myself to be that faithful to God in times of extreme hardship. I would like to think I would be. I guess, during these difficult and changing times when we are seeking to have life return to ‘normal’, the question should not be, “What’s God up to? ,” but rather, “What Am I up to?” Are we striving to remain faithful? Are we being faithful witnesses to our friends, co-workers, and neighbors? Will others see in us why God is so confident in our faith?

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LOOK WHO’S HAVING A BIRTHDAY...

Bentley Budde-Heiar ........ 9/1 Kathryn Sauser ................ 9/1 Cherie Heister .................. 9/3 Landon Merrick ................ 9/3 Dustin Ploeger ................. 9/3 Izabella Claussen ............ 9/4 Miranda Felderman .......... 9/4 Nicole Giesemann ........... 9/4 Kelly Griebel .................... 9/4 Henrick Herrig .................. 9/5 Bella Penniston ................ 9/5 Angie Kilburg ................... 9/6 Dennis Felderman ........... 9/7 Ronald Schroeder ............ 9/7 Tanna Schwartz ............... 9/7 Todd Giesemann ............. 9/8 Levi Livermore ................. 9/9 Alex Sieverding ................ 9/9 Anthony Both ................. 9/11 Nathan Both ................... 9/11 Nicole Both .................... 9/12 Jordyn Mohr ................... 9/12 MaKenna Putman .......... 9/12 Brennan Ries ................. 9/12 Jenny Back .................... 9/13 Breanna Cooper ............ 9/13 Ashley Schlecht ............. 9/13 Joseph Ernst .................. 9/14

Members Celebrating their 80+ Birthdays!

Freddie Thielen

September 6

JoAnn Schlecht September 7

Donna Felderman

September 13

Willard Felderman September 17

Alyxandria Gleason ........ 9/14 Bently Ernst ................... 9/15 Sidney Fondell ............... 9/15 Ben Giesemann ............. 9/15 Aviana Herrig ................. 9/15 Ashlee Jess ................... 9/16 Koleson Merrick ............. 9/17 Toby Giesemann............ 9/18 Benjamin Daugherty ...... 9/19 Chris Ernst ..................... 9/19 Lacey Ruden .................. 9/20 Tim Giesemann ............. 9/20 Derek Hammann ............ 9/22 Adrian Humphrey ........... 9/22 Dawn Prichard ............... 9/22 Alex Putman .................. 9/24 Ryan Putman ................. 9/25 Grant Hammann ............ 9/26 Eric Ruggeberg .............. 9/26 Bryce Bonifas ................. 9/27 Chase Medinger ............ 9/27 Gary Seiler ..................... 9/27 Kylie Ernst...................... 9/29 Doug Griebel .................. 9/29 Erin Mohr ....................... 9/29 Penelope Ploeger .......... 9/29

Celebrating Her 90+ Birthday!

Betty Jacobs September 3

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Pastoral Acts & Rite of Passage

Married - July 31

Ben Giesemann & Joslyn Zimmermann

Grave Side Burial - August 14

George Wagner Died: July 31, 2020

Funeral - August 18

Ivan ‘Ike’ Keil Died: August 12, 2020

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An Invitation from Pastor Paul

HOME COMMUNION for

Elderly/At Risk Members

With COVID-19 and wanting to remain safe, I can understand why members are not comfortable about attending worship. I can also understand that there are those who have missed receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Therefore I am extending this invitation. If you are an elderly/at risk member who would like to have the pastor bring Holy Communion to your home, please call the church office (872-5849) and request/schedule a home communion visit. Pastor Paul will bring communion with wearing a mask/shield and practicing physical distancing. If it is a nice day, perhaps we can be outside. The home communion visits will be scheduled for late morning or in the afternoon.

WHERE’S THE PICTORIAL DIRECTORY?

Good question. We are sorry for the long delay in receiving the church’s pictorial

directory. Because of the COVID-19, the publisher was down for several months. We have recently received the proof copy and are hoping that the directories will be shipped in the coming month. Again, we are sorry.

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THE GIFT OF GOD’S WORD

Kindergarten Youth Receiving a Spark Story Bible

Sunday, August 30 at 6:00 Once again, we will be presenting the “Spark

Story Bible” to our baptized children who will be entering Kinder-garten this school year. The “Spark Story Bible” has 150 of the most popular bible stories. We believed that it is important for our children to start hear-ing and reading the stories that are in the bible at a young age. We also believe that these stories need to be heard in the home as well as at church during ARK - our elementary Christian edu-cational ministry. It is our hope that the parents will take time to read a story each day to their child. As the child learns to read, then they can read these stories over and over.

6th Grade Confirmation Youth Receiving a Student Bible

At their Orientation Meeting Sunday, September 13, at 6:00

In the past, our church would present a bible to our third graders. When we decided to give the Spark Story Bible to the Kindergarten youth, we made a change from presenting a gift bible to third graders to presenting a student bible to those students entering confirma-tion. This Lutheran Student Bible includes many helpful aids, along with Luther’s Small Catechism in it. We believe that this bible will be helpful during confirmation and beyond.

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ARK WILL NOT RESUME IN SEPTEMBER

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic that is still active, Saint John has decided to suspend ARK for at least the Fall semester. We believe that the safety and health of the youth and our community members is our utmost priority. With averaging 75 youth weekly in the past, we could not envision providing adequate space for safe physical distancing. We are hoping and praying that ARK can resume in the near future.

NEW ARK MONTHLY FAMILY RESOURCE BOOK

WILL BE MAILED OUT TO FAMILIES Because we believe in the value of ARK and having our ARK students learn about the bible stories, Pastor Paul has prepared a monthly Family Resource Book. This resource was prepared with the intention that the parents and children would spend some time together learning the stories in the Bible that would have been presented at ARK. There is one story per week for each month. This Family Resource Book for September was mailed on August 25. There will be extra copies available at the church. If you know of a family that might benefit from this educational resource, come and pick one up for them. Perhaps the family might want to use it for a family devotion after a meal when the family is all together.

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Confirmation News Living in Faith … Walking our Talk …

Doing God’s Work

In-Person Confirmation Gathering

Is Suspended at least through September

With COVID-19 virus still active and readily able to spread, it was decided to suspend in-person gathering for our confirmation students. We believe that safety of the students and our adult leaders need to our utmost concern. We have several tentative plans for Confirmation. These plans depend upon the status of COVID-19 in our school and community. If we feel that we can safely gather, we will begin with gathering by grade once a month beginning in October. If there appears to be no threat through December, we will begin gathering all three grades in January, and resume Confirmation as in the past. We are also planning to incorporate Zoom gatherings during the fall semester for the purpose of large group fun activities. Worship/Sermon Notes: Confirmation students will still be expected to complete and submit Worship/Sermon Notes on-line.

6th Grade Confirmation Orientation Meeting

Sunday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m.

9th Grade Confirmation Youth Preparing for the

Rite of Confirmation Meeting

Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 for the ninth grade youth who have completed Confirmation and who are desiring to be confirmed.

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2021 Mission Trip

The 2020 Mission Trip was can-celled this summer. We are hoping that Next Step Ministries will be able to have sites open for 2021 and that it will be safe to take our Mission Trip next summer.

Right now we are scheduled to go to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota during July 11-17. We have reserved 18 places. The 2021 Mission Trip is open to all confirmation students who are in 7th and 8th grade. It is also open to those stu-dents who are 9th grade and were not able to participate this year. If you are interested in reserving your spot on this exciting mission trip adven-ture, contact Pastor Paul.

WELCA MEETING

WELCA will have a meeting on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall with masks and social distancing required. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the annual Fall Luncheon and Bazaar. The group will also plan the 2021 calendar and budget.

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2020 GRADUATING SENIORS RECEIVED THEIR QUILTS

Because of COVID-19 and the suspension of activities at the church, the presentation of the quilts to our graduating seniors from Bellevue High School was delayed. In August, Pastor Paul was able to deliver these beautiful quilts to the graduates. We want to thank the quilters for their time and creative effort in designing and assembling each quilt. Each quilt was made with the student’s preference for colors and interests in mind.

Not pictured are Lisa Dixon, and

Alex Putman

Paxton Felderman

Nicole Dempewolf

Jamison Spann

Marcus Anderson Zach Roeder

Luke Giesemann

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Thank You To Our Volunteers Who Maintain our Grounds

We want to thank the following volun-teers who weeded and mowed the church property: Kyle and Kaden Guenther, Gloria Sagers (weeding); Tate Giesemann, and Pastor Paul (mowing).

We also want to thank Ryder Mi-chels and Pastor Paul who did some brush clearing at the Lodge to open up the view to Christian Valley. Early this summer Mark and Beth Rogge also did some brush clearing.

Do You Enjoy Jigsaw Puzzles?

The church was recently given a few jigsaw puzzles, and they are available for anyone to borrow. You can also consider doing a ‘puzzle exchange’, or you can donate some old puzzles so that we have a larger inventory to choose from. The puzzles are on the shelves in Ann’s office. Feel free to stop in anytime to pick one up!

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IN-PERSON WORSHIP ATTENDANCE REMAINS STEADY DURING COVID-19

With 13 weeks of in-person worship during the pandemic, our average weekly attendance has been 32 which is 72% less than last year. We have had 92 individuals who have attended at least once, and our average age of those attending is 56 years.

During this time of COVID-19 with worship attendance being low, we are so grateful for all who continued to support Saint John through ‘e-Offering’ or sending your offering in the mail. This church has been blessed with faithful and generous givers.

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A Stewardship Devotion

Story Stewards

Take heed . . . lest you forget the things your eyes have seen . . . . And teach them to your children and your grandchil-dren. —Deuteronomy 4:9 Many people take great care to make sure their resources are used well after they die. They set up trusts, write wills, and estab-lish foundations to guarantee that their assets will continue to be used for a good purpose after their life on earth is done. We call this good stewardship. Equally important, however, is being good stewards of our life story. God commanded the Israelites not only to teach their chil-dren His laws but also to make sure they knew their family histo-ry. It was the responsibility of parents and grandparents to make sure their children knew the stories of how God had worked in their behalf (Deut. 4:1-14). God has given each of us a unique story. His plan for our lives is individualized. Do others know what you believe and why? Do they know the story of how you came to faith and how God has worked in your life to strengthen your faith? Do they know how God has shown Himself faithful and has helped you through doubts and disappointments? The faithfulness of God is a story that we have the privilege to pass on. Record it in some way and share it. Be a good steward of the story that God is telling through you.

How great, O God, Your acts of love! Your saving deeds would now proclaim

That generations yet to come May set their hope in Your great name. —D. DeHaan

A life lived for God leaves a lasting legacy.

[This devotion came for “Our Daily Bread” Written by Julie Ackerman]

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Weekly Worship Attendance & Offerings

Weekend of Sat. Sun. Total General Fund

Offerings

August 2 13 16 29 $3,929.50

August 9 22 19 41 $1,712.50

August 16 15 16 31 $2,990.50

August 23 24 13 37 $659.50

TREASURER’S REPORT General Fund Balance—7/29/20 $13,208.97 Income: General Offerings 9,292.00 Cemetery Custodian Reimbursement 500.00 Interest & Misc. Income 2.58 Amazon Smiles Donation 16.36 Funerals 100.00 Lodge Rentals 300.00 Expenses: Budgeted Expenses (12,931.94) General Fund Balance—8/25/20 $10,487.97

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Saint John Council Minutes August 18, 2020

Present - Pastor Paul, Marty Ploessl, Mary Hinke, Ann Skoff, Raquel Clausen, Terry Dempewolf joined the meeting by Zoom. Absent - Ryan Humphrey, Jon Thoms Called to order by President Marty Ploessl at 6:31 pm. Opening Prayer led by Pastor Paul. Agenda - MSC to approve agenda. Council Minutes - MSC to approve council minutes of June 16, 2020. Reports - MSC to accept the Financial Reports for June - July, 2020. MSC to take $20,000.00 from the Designated Funds checking account and purchase an 18-month Certificate of De-posit at 1.0% interest. Correspondence - None Action Taken by E-mail Vote - none OLD BUSINESS Worship Review - Pastor Paul passed out a summary of worship attendance since the re-opening of the church. Attendance is currently only 28% of the same time last year. Zoom Update - The church purchased a one-year subscription to the meeting site. If any church group wishes to meet by Zoom, they need to contact the church office to schedule it. Giving App - The option of giving an offering via cell phone will be included with the Fall Stewardship Campaign. Church Sign - Pastor Paul shared some thoughts about the church sign, including the need to be able to make changes to the information on the sign, the size of the sign, and the possibil-ity of obtaining a second bid. MSC to have the Building Commit-tee review the current bid and get a second bid. The bid needs to be presented to the council by October meeting.

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Pictorial Directory - After several attempts, Pastor Paul was able to reach Lifeline last month. He was told that the company had been shut down due to the Covid-19 virus, and are currently op-erating with a skeleton crew. They assured him that we will be receiving a final proof of the directory soon. NEW BUSINESS - New Members - MSC to accept Jason, Amber, and Braxton Gil-more as new members. Synod Assembly - This year’s assembly was held online. Rev. Amy Current was elected to be the new bishop, and will be in-stalled in October. Education - Pastor Paul outlined plans for youth education during the Covid-19 virus. Coaching Middle School Football - In light of the Covid-19 pan-demic, Pastor Paul has concerns about assisting with middle school football this year. The council would prefer that he not coach, but it is ultimately his decision. He stated that he probably will not coach. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm. Closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Next meeting: Wednesday, September 16, at 6:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Ann Skoff