dated materialsnov 12, 2016 · graul, pam castle, susie brace, gayle woodgeard, pam wittenberg,...
TRANSCRIPT
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. Postage PAID
Permit No. 10 Grove City, Ohio 43123-3297
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
3220 Columbus Street
Grove City, Ohio 43123-3297
614/875-2314
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
DATED MATERIALS
DECEMBER, 2016
JOIN US FOR WEEKLY WORSHIP
Traditional Service: Saturdays at 6:00pm, Sundays at 8:15am & 11am
Contemporary Service: Sundays at 10:45am
Sunday School: Sundays at 9:30am
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH STAFF
Donald R. Allman, Senior Pastor 871-0060
Scott Ness, Associate Pastor 483-1046
Ray A. Rosenthal, Visitation Pastor 991-0906
Elaine Bennett, Dir. of Lay Ministries 539-0148
Julia Bolton, Organist 465-7512
Patty Eggleton, Secretary 875-2314
Michael Esposito, Business Manager 875-2256
Diana Imbrock, Youth Director grades 7-12 271-5775
Doug Jones, Custodian 539-9839
Susan Abbott Locey, Bell Choir Director 208-8215
Janice Miller, Recorder 875-2314
Parish Nurses: JoAnne Keller 875-8255
Kim Easterday
Gary Pecuch, Youth Ministry Coord./Confirmation 875-4867
Laurie Pecuch, Youth Director grades K-12 620-2669
Deb Reeves, Stephen Ministry 277-0567
John Schuder, Minister of Music 254-3310
Karen Whyte, Librarian 878-9392
Janet Wittenberg, Children’s Choir Director 277-0228
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL
Officers: David Dye, President; Teresa Orahood,
Vice President; Beth Katterhenrich, Secretary;
Kathy Wilkins, Treasurer.
Members-At-Large: Joel Baughman, Aaron
Clark, Tom Lang, Tammy LeValley, Jody Shockley,
Kevin Stenerson and Neva Warren.
CONGRATULATIONS TO couples joined
in Holy Matrimony at St. John’s:
Taylor von Lohr and Allison Miller von Lohr
on October 15.
Cody Hall and Kayla Bausch Hall on October 22.
BAPTISMS Congratulations to Leonard & Jennifer Mitchell on the
baptism of their son, Thomas, 10/30 at the 8:15am traditional service .
Congratulations to Nick & Megan Grossman on the baptism of their daughter, Abigail, 11/06 at the 10:45am contemporary service .
Our Christian sympathy goes out to the friends and family of Betty Landes, who passed away,
Nov. 7, 2016.
All who mourn are in our prayers.
I would like to thank Howard Linder, Nancy and Carl Kinman, Keith and Jane Stenerson,
Bonnie Swanson, and Jan Rosenthal, for helping me October 11, at the L.S.S. Food Pantry. We served 83 people and donated 154 items.
Thank you to the St Johns congregation for their continued support since my stroke
July of 2015. I received many visitors and cards from the congregation as well as meals and financial support during my rehabilitation. Some of you even drove me to and from therapy when I was restricted from driving. Words cannot express my appreciation for those that donated mon-ey which made it possible for me (a self- employed person with no disability coverage) to remain in my home and pay my expenses until Social Security disability started six months after my stroke. Unfortunately Social Security disability income combined with limited work abilities
prompted me to make the decision to sell my current home to cover outstanding medical debt and aid in my living expenses until I'm fully employed again. I'll be relocating to Reynoldsburg to help with my aging mother. Thanks again everyone! Jane Lewis.
THANK YOU SARAH CIRCLE members for preparing chili for Faith Mission this month: Jan Rosenthal, Jo Anne Keller, Sandy Hayes, Margie Kennell, Carol Mackey, Jane (and Keith) Stenerson, Betty Lewis, Vi Davis, Judy Johnston, Mary Lou Mauch, Nancy Miller, and Donna Linder. God bless you!
A BIG THANK YOU - Thanks to the people that donated items to L.S.S. I took 106 Items down. Barb Armentrout.
PHIL ISAACSON WRITES “Once again a big thank you to our wonderful church family for your prayers, visits, and
cards during my recent knee surgery. It meant so much to have Pastor Don and Janet Wittenberg provide prayer and scripture for healing and hope. I am so blessed!”
MARILYN WEISENBERGER WRITES: I would like to thank everyone for your cards, flowers, phone calls, prayers and visits to the hospital and Mill Run Gardens. I have been overwhelmed with your generosity. Thank you Pastor Allman, Pastor Ray and Janet Wittenberg. No one could ever know what a blessing it has been, that so many people prepared meals for us. A special thank you to the following people: Bob and Bonnie Swanson, Cy Larick, Ginny Bent, Christina Allman, Martha Graul, Pam Castle, Susie Brace, Gayle Woodgeard, Pam Wittenberg, Keith and Jane Stenerson, Rosie Turnbull, Pastor Ray and Jan Rosenthal, Betty Lewis, and last but not least, my daughter Lorina Allmon who has been there for me from day one. I am so blessed with family and friends. Thank you, thank you. I am done with therapy but still have a way to go. I hope to be back soon.
Our 4th Annual Veterans Luncheon had 97 Veterans and guests. Pastor Don did an excellent job of emceeing the program. Special thanks to Grove City Councilwoman Laura Lanese for presenting honors to our Golden Veterans. Thanks to Geor-gianna Overly for assisting with everything from decorating to making corsages and more, Jane and Keith Stenerson for run-ning the kitchen and serving a delicious meal! Steve Marcum for working so hard behind the scenes, Pastor Don, emceeing the program, Pastor Ray and Pastor Scott also helping with the program, Sue & Bret Zeszotek, for slides of the Veterans . Pastor Scott and Eli for sound system crew. Diana Imbrock and Laurie Pecuch and the teens who served and set up and tore down. Bill Graul doing a beautiful job singing the National Anthem. Special thanks to Jody Shockley for taking the group photo. Thanks for the wonderful food from the Ladies of the Elizabeth and Sarah Circles. Thanks to Grove City H.S. ROTC and the American Legion for taking part in the program. Thanks also to kitchen helpers and servers. That's what I call team-
work!!! Thanks to all!
Since we have been blessed with unusually warm temperatures, it is a little difficult to think about the cold winter weather, which is hiding just around the corner. Living in Central Ohio, we know it will be cold soon. Again we are asking for donations of winter coats, gloves, scarves and blankets for the mission church in Franklinton. Please leave your items in the church library. We make a trip every Sunday evening before their evening service and deliver the donations. Lost count of how many years we have been doing this project, but I am sure the recipients of these items to keep them warm in the past have not forgotten your generosity. Won’t you share your blessings with others.
WOMEN OF THE NALC Here’s a spiritual growth goal: join a Circle of friends. Elizabeth Circle meets the 1st Monday each month. Sarah Circle meets the 4th Monday each month. Joining our Circles is an easy way to make new friends and grow spiritually. Contact Nancy Miller at 277-8542, or Karen Grossman at 871-1024, for
more information.
Sarah Room 103-4 December 19 @ 7pm
Elizabeth (Home of Neva Warren) December 5 @ 6:00pm
CHRISTMAS CAROLING TO OUR HOME-BOUND MEMBERS AND FRIENDS will be Sunday, Dec. 4th. Meet us in the Family Life Center at 2pm. We’ll divide into groups and then go share songs and a small gift to our homebound members and friends. If you are able to drive for this event, please talk to Laurie Pecuch (614) 620-2669. Thanks so much!
Would you like to learn how to acolyte? Talk to Laurie Pecuch. We have several Saturday evening spots open and also at the 11am traditional worship service. It’s a wonderful way to serve.
SCRIP GIFT CARDS make great gifts! Every purchase you make earns a rebate that can go towards the general summer camp youth account – or if you have a youth going on a summer church trip then rebate monies can go towards your very own youth camper. Scrip rebates tend to be between 2% and 6%, depending on the retailer.
Order forms can be obtained from the youth office door and are placed the first Tuesday of the month. (i.e. Dec. 6, Jan. 2)
The turn-around time to get your cards is within the week.
Consider purchasing Scrip gift cards through St. John’s for your Christmas shopping.
You can order almost any gift card imaginable.
(Adventure Club, Faith Trek, Explorers, and Energizers) will not meet in
December to give families time to spend together at church, school, and
at other special family functions. Hope you can join us Christmas car-
oling on the afternoon of Dec. 4th, and for the Christmas program on Dec.
11th. Youth Groups will resume again in January, when school resumes. If
South-Western City Schools cancels school due to bad weather, we also will
not meet that night.
Looking Ahead: Jan. 8 and Jan. 15 are Learning Event days for Catechism. If you
have a student in catechism, be sure to read Gary’s weekly email to you. Thank you!
Winter Jam and High School overnighter is Jan. 21 – 22. Talk to Laurie about details.
“Stuffed With Love” Stuffs over 570 Hearts with His Love! It was with tears and prayers that over 285 stuffed animals were sent to
the children of Mexico on Thursday, November 3rd. The first half had al-
ready been donated to the Bed Brigade to brighten the hearts of the
children receiving a bed for the first time in their lives. High-school jun-
ior Alli Kozman has always had a servant’s heart and wanted to make a dif-
ference in the lives of children both here and across the world. That love
for children gave birth to the “Stuffed with Love” ministry and it soon
became a family affair as she elicited the help of her sister, Abby and
her mom, Kelly. Alli’s high-school friends pitched in as well to make Alli’s
dream a reality. Well done good and faithful servants!
CONFIRMATION CLASS LOVES COOKIES
Did you know that parents can make Sunday morning awesome
for their son or daughter just by bringing in cookies? They don’t
even have to be homemade cookies – any cookie will do! The 7th
and 8th grade class loves cookies and loves adults who can come
and spend an hour with them on Sunday mornings. The class is
led by Gary Pecuch. He shares the bible story and bible point of
the day, then the class breaks down into small groups for an activity or discussion…it’s very
hands-on, often entertaining, and the students leave with a working knowledge of the word
of God. Parents (and any other adult who just loves middle school students) this is a won-
derful opportunity to be a part of your son or daughter’s faith walk. Talk to Laurie Pecuch
about how you can sign-up for cookie time!
Adventure Camp and Upper Camp date is set for 2017. It
will June 23 – 25, 2017 at Greenwood Lake Conference and
Retreat Center. Our theme will be Maker Fun Factory: Creat-
ed by God, Built for a Purpose. Camp information will be
available February 1st.
Congratulations Golden Veterans!!! Our 4th Annual Veterans luncheon was held Sunday, Novem-
ber 6.
Approximately 97 Veterans and guests attended. Three Gold-
en Veterans were honored this year, Robert Seese, Robert
Swanson and Arthur"Bob"Brofford.
Grove City Councilwoman Laura Lanese gave these Veterans
their awards.
* Congratulations to Robert Seese who enlisted in the Army
Air Corp on August 4, 1943 entering the service at Fort Benja-
min Harrison, Indiana. He then received his assignment to the WWII Pacific Theater with the 39th Bombard-
ment. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corp on August 4, 1943 entering the service at Fort Benjamin Harrison,
Indiana. He trained stateside at Fort Jefferson, Missouri; Lowery Field, Colorado; and Smoky Hill Army Air
Field, Salina, Kansas. He then received his assignment to the WWII Pacific Theater with the 39th Bombard-
ment Group, 61st Bombardment Squadron on the Island of Guam. He was married to Nancy and had 3
children. He is a life long resident of Grove City.
*Congratulations to Robert Swanson who joined the Marines in the 1960s first in San Diego, then El Torro
and then jump school at Fort Benning, Ga. He attended explosives school at Camp LeJeune, jungle training
in Puerto Rico, spent time in Viet Nam and made 23 jumps. Corporal Swanson served his country and has
remained a proud Marine for almost 60 years. Once a Marine – Always a Marine. Bob has been a member
of St. John's for 40 years, he has served as Cantor which is a special honor for him. He had 2 children and 5
grandchildren. He married Bonnie in 1997, and gained 6 more grandchildren!
*Our last honoree is Arthur "Bob" Brofford. He joined the Navy in 1951. His first assignment was on the
USS Winston as Seaman Recruit 3c.This was during the Korean War. His next assignment was to
COMPHIBPAC ( Commander, Amphibious forces, Pacific Ocean). .The Admirals flag ship was the USS MT
Olympus. He received the Navy Good Conduct Award, Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Award and the
National Defense and Armed Forces Reserve Medals.
Back in the states Bob married Nancy Ett and had 5 children; Elaine, Robert, Karl, Eric, and Thomas.
Bob later married Lois Rouff in 1979. They were married 30 years when she passed 2009. Bob has been a
member of St. John's for 26 years.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY “WRAPPED IN PRAYER” SHAWL MINISTRY! St. John’s “Wrapped in Prayer” shawl ministry first met in November of 2007 and gave its first prayer shawls in December of that year. In the past nine years, we have given a total of nearly 1600 shawls to individ-uals and groups like the Bed Brigade. God has truly blessed this min-istry! We can not thank you enough for the support and donations we have received from you. We meet on the second Saturday of each month and would love to have you join us. If you have questions or know of anyone who would appreciate a prayer shawl, please contact Nancy Kinman at 614-875-8155 or Glenda Allman at 614-871-0060.
DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE BLESSED BY RECEIVING A PRAYER SHAWL? Please call Nancy Kinman at 875-8155. WRAPPED IN PRAYER SHAWL MINIS-TRY will hold its next monthly meeting on Saturday, December 10 in Rooms 103 & 104 from 9:00am-11:00am. Everyone is welcome. Bring your knitting/crochet materials and any completed shawls to be blessed with prayer. We would be happy to teach anyone interested to knit or crochet. Please join us!
For more information call Glenda Allman at 614-871-0060 or Diana Imbrock at 614-871-3854.
The deadline for the January Eagle is December 10.
Email announcements & articles to [email protected] or leave a handwritten copy in the church office.
Christmas Cookie Sale coming………
On Saturday, December 17th from 9 a.m. – Noon in rooms 103-104, we will be holding our annual Christmas
Cookie, Fudge, Buckeye, and Peanut Brittle Sale. We are asking for homemade items only. Again this year, you will be able to choose your own cookies for your platter. We will have prepack-
aged plates also if you would prefer those. Baked goods can be dropped off by 9 a.m. on Friday, December 16
th in the Family Life Center Kitchen.
If you don’t want to bake but want to help in other ways, we are in need of the following items: 10 ¼ green and red plastic plates and large plastic Christmas trays and/or platters.
Volunteers are also needed to help prepare our cookie plates on Friday, December 16th and help with our
sale on Saturday, December 17th.
If you are available either Friday or Saturday, please mark the salmon insert in the bulletin or you can call Sue Sutton, 539-9544 or Suzie Brace, 871-3201.
Proceeds from our sale will go to the Kitchen Fund.
Bed Brigade Holiday Blitz! Come Join Us for this special Day!
We have a CRAZY long wait list with Bed Brigade. And we need some extra help to get a handle on
it. Sooo… we are planning an exciting day to deliver over 40 beds. Yep 40 beds in one day. Mark your cal-
endars and visit our page at SignUpGenius.com to sign up for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10. We will have
several teams delivering to a couple families each in the morning and then again after lunch. You can join for
either morning or afternoon or both depending on what fits for your day.
We need you! Two ways to sign up… go to the web http://www.signupgenius.com/findasignup and search for
the signup by entering the email [email protected]. Then choose the signup labeled 'Bed Brigade Holi-
day Blitz'. OR you can just email me using same email and I'll send you an invitation with link directly to it.
***in addition to going on the deliveries we will need help with Friday evening preparations and Saturday
Lunch…all of which can be signed up for on SignUpGenius. Thank you St. Johns!!
Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
Promise Keepers 7:00am Children’s Choir 5:15pm Cele. Ringers 6:30pm Dartball
2 Bulletin Team 9:30am AA 8:30pm
3 Bike Project 2pm Traditional Worship 6pm A.A. Serenity Seekers 7:00pm
7 BSF Women’s Chorale 6pm Chancel Choir 7pm Bible Study 7pm
8
Promise Keepers 7:00am Children’s Choir 5:15pm Cele. Ringers 6:30pm Dartball (away)
9 Bulletin Team 9:30am AA 8:30pm
10 Eagle Deadline
Red Cross Blood Drive 9am Prayer Shawl Ministry 9am Traditional Worship 6:00pm A.A. Serenity Seekers 7:00pm
14 BSF Women’s Chorale 6pm Chancel Choir 7pm
15 Promise Keepers 7:00am Card Ministry 9:30am Kitchen Team Mtg 10am Children’s Choir 5:15pm Cele. Ringers 6:30pm Dartball 7pm
16 Bulletin Team 9:30am OWLS 11:30am AA 8:30pm
17 Cookie Sale Chancel Choir 9:30am Sit Down Service of Comfort 1pm Trad Worship 6pm A.A. Serenity Seekers 7pm
21 Women’s Chorale 6pm Bible Study 6:30pm Chancel Choir 7pm ________________________
28 Women’s Chorale 6pm Chancel Choir 7pm
22 Promise Keepers 7:00am Children’s Choir 5:15pm Cele. Ringers 6:30pm Dartball 7pm _________________________
29 Promise Keepers 7:00am Children’s Choir 5:15pm Cele. Ringers 6:30pm
23 Bulletin Team 9:30am AA 8:30pm
___________________________
30 Bulletin Team 9:30am AA 8:30pm
24 Christmas Eve Program 5,7,9pm A.A. Serenity Seekers 7pm ______________________________
31 Trad Worship 6pm A.A. Serenity Seekers 7pm
Sunday Monday Tuesday
4 Trad Worship 8:15 & 11am Sunday School 9:30am Men’s Chorale 9:45am Contemporary Worship 10:45am Alaska Steering 12pm GSA 1826 12:30pm Christmas Caroling 2pm BSA 392 Leaders 5pm Adult Basketball 5pm IQA 6pm
5 BSF Leaders First Place 4 Health 1:30pm Elizabeth Circle 6:00pm Puppets 6:30pm
6 Scrip Deadline Quilters 9am Bible Study 9:30am OWLS Planning 12:30pm O.A. 6:30pm BSA 392 7pm Cub Scouts 7pm SW Historical Soc 7pm Healing Words Al-Anon 7:30pm
11 Trad Worship 8:15 & 11am
Sunday School 9:30am Men’s Chorale 9:45am Contemporary Worship 10:45am Christmas Dinner 5pm Christmas Program 6pm ______________________________
18Trad Worship 8:15 & 11am
Sunday School 9:30am Health Screenings 9:30am Men’s Chorale 9:45am Contemporary Worship 10:45am GSA 1826 12:30pm Adult Basketball 5pm IQA 6pm
_____________ 25 Christmas Day Men’s Chorale 9:45am Trad Worship 10am
12 BSF Leaders First Place 4 Health 1:30pm 4H Meeting 6pm Puppets 6:30pm Finance Team 7pm
__________________________________
19 BSF Leaders First Place 4 Health 1:30pm Puppets 6:30pm Respect Life 7pm Sarah Circle 7pm
__________________________________
26 OFFICE CLOSED
13 Quilters 9am Bible Study 9:30am Fat Quarters Guild 5pm OA 6:30pm BSA 392 7pm Cub Scouts 7pm Healing Words Al-Anon 7:30pm _____________________________
20 Beacons & Quilters 9am Bible Study 9:30am OA 6:30pm BSA 392 7pm Cub Scouts 7pm Healing Words Al-Anon 7:30pm
_______________________________
27 Quilters 9am Bible Study 9:30am OA 6:30pm Bed Brigade 7pm BSA 392 7pm Cub Scouts 7pm Healing Words Al-Anon 7:30pm
MEXICO MISSIONS
We have just returned from Mexico. The experience was challenging and even downright unpleasant at times. But it was also beautiful, exhil-arating, and heart filling. The end result, however, is something far greater and far more meaningful that any physical discomfort we experi-enced and makes it all worthwhile… yes, even with falling into some kind of cactus plant that I encountered. Ouch! Luis is a 14-year-old boy, one of the older boys. Last year he had a tough exterior on. He didn’t say much and wore a hooded jacket with the hood up most of the time. I know his time at the camp last year was special because he came back. This year he was wearing that same jacket with the name of his amiga from last year written on it…like he was ready to continue his journey with God this year at camp. By day two he was comfortable enough to take the jacket off. This was a big deal for him. It was a big sign that he was ready to open his heart to us and to God. He was engaged and became a positive member of his team. We saw many signs of growth like this throughout the week. It was such a privilege to see what God is doing and even a thrill to be part of that. The community of children from La Roca, Tijuana, are growing up knowing that they are loved and lifted up in prayer by the folks of St. John’s. They know that we keep coming back each year to see them and love them. We come year after year to remind them that they are precious and that, above all, God loves them and has great plans for them. It’s this relational aspect, this continuity, that is special. I believe that this is what has a profound impact on these children, their families, and their community. Thank you, St. John’s, for continuing to passion-ately support the Mexico Mission Trip. ----Jeff Stenerson, Mexico Mission Family 2016 I Thessalonians 2:7-8
“But we were gentle among you, just as a nurs-
ing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for
you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
Called: Missionaries for Mexico
Do you feel called to attend the annual family reunion in Mexico?
Once again, we are going to Mexico to love and serve
the children of La Roca, Tijuana.
The 2017 mission experience is July 21st – 31st.
If you feel called, please contact Diana at [email protected]
to register or with any questions.¡Gloria a Dios!
Transformation Zone July 9-14, 2017 If you are a high-schooler and interested in serving Jesus, helping area neighbors
and being transformed, have we got a camp for you! Transformation Zone! The
cost is only $125.00 for the week and space is limited. If you are interested,
contact Diana Imbrock for more information or give her your $50.00 deposit to
hold your spot. Hurry! Don’t be left out!
St. John’s Christmas Program/Dinner Theater!
Please plan to join us Sunday, December 11
th for a special Christmas
Celebration. This year’s program will feature The PEACE Puppet Minis-try, our Sunday School Students, and much more! Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. and the program will begin immediately following din-ner. Please bring a dessert to share when the program ends. We are also asking you to bring a canned good donation to support the local food pantry. All are welcome, so please be sure to invite friends, family and neighbors! Suggested dinner donations for adults is $6.00 and $5.00 for children. We can always use extra hands to set up and clean-up for this event. Please contact Elaine Bennett if you are in-terested in helping.
Christmas Decorators Needed!
The first weekend of December we will be decorating the church for Christmas. We have artificial trees that need to be assembled and strung with lights, garland to put up, wreaths to hang, etc. We could use all of the help we can get! If you would be able to give even an hour of your time to help beautify our church and set the mood as we prepare for the birth of our Savior, we would greatly appreciate it. Please contact Elaine Bennett at 446-0148 or [email protected] if you are interested.
Adopt-A-Family Drive In the hopes of helping to make the holidays a little brighter for some of our fellow members who may be struggling financially, we will be accepting monetary donations during the month of December for our annual holiday Adopt-A-Family drive. Envelopes will be available throughout the church and in the church office. If you or anyone you know of within the congrega-tion would like to be considered for Adopt-A-Family funds, please mark that on the salmon insert. The names are kept completely confidential. Also, if you are interested in delivering Adopt –A-Family goods, please note that on the salmon insert as well.
MEMORIAL GIFTS GIVEN AS OF NOVEMBER 6, 2016 Organ and Refurbishing Fund Given in memory of Betty Lewellyn by Wallace Lewellyn. Given in memory of Casper Frank Mellen, Jr. by Nancy Mellen. Given in honor of the birthday of Carolyn Throp by husband, Gary Throp. Given by Ron and Martha Pfeifer; and Ron and Neva Warren. Wycliffe Bible Translators Given for the ministry of Stephen and Rachel Katterhenrich by the Chapel Sunday School Class and the Wednesday Night Small Group.
The Christmas Quilt Sale is coming! It will be December 17, 2016 from 9 am-noon in rooms 103-104 and on Decem-ber 18, 2016 after each church service in the Link. We have hand-knotted quilts of different sizes. The money raised goes to Adopt-A-Family, The Grove City and LSS food pantries, the organ fund, and other church-related activities. The quilts make a warm Christmas gift. The cookie sale is during this time, also. The Beacons, the LSS Auxiliary #24, wish to thank every-one for their donations to help fill the 100 Christmas bags to be given to the children whose families use the LSS food pantry in the Great Western Shopping Center. We hope the bags bring a bit of Christian love and joy to the children. The mitten tree is up in the north entrance. Please fill the tree with warm mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks. The mitten tree will be taken down December 13, 2016.
. Your
warm donations will be taken to the LSS food pantry with the Christmas bags. Thanks for caring about people with cold
hands and feet. The date for the December Beacons’ meeting has changed. The December Beacons’ meeting will be the second Tuesday, December 13, 2016 and it will be a busy one. We will fill the Christmas bags and sort and count the mitten tree items from 9am to noon in rooms 103-104. In the early afternoon, we will take our dona-tions of Christmas bags and the mitten tree items to the LSS food pantry. Everyone one is invited to come and help fill the bags and count the mittens. Please come and visit. The Beacons collect just about anything from used large- extra large adult clothing to Prego and Camp-bell’s labels to used stamps to new shower curtains to bars of soap to cancelled stamps to all sizes of jeans to cat litter buckets to towels to used Bibles to apartment necessities such as bedding and small appliances to educational toys. Place your donations in the LSS cabinet in the link. Other non-requested items will be given to local thrift stores. We do not collect decorative items. Thank you for your donations to help others. The Quilters meet every Tuesday from 9am to 2pm in rooms 103-104. The Beacons usually meet with the Quilters on the third Tuesday to sort and bag clothes, cut and sort labels and stamps, and help with projects. Bring a sack lunch. All materials are provided. At the Beacons’ meeting, we take monetary offerings for the food pantries and for the Beacons’ general fund. The Tuesday meetings on December 20, 2016 and De-cember 27, 2016 have been cancelled. “Dear God, I don’t ask you to make my life easier in 2017, but I ask you to give me strength to face all my
troubles. Amen.” The Beacons wish everyone a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.
OWLS UPCOMING EVENT – DECEMBER 16th Please come celebrate Christmas with your friends at the OWLS Christmas Party! What a wonderful time of year when we cele-brate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the OWLS would like to invite you to join in our celebration. If you haven’t been to a meeting before – you’re missing out on a good time. We share our love for God and we look forward to visiting and extending the hand of Christian friendship to you. If you come regularly you al-ready know our programs are interesting and timely. So every-one – mark your calendars and plan to join your friends (old and new)!! For the past few years we have been blessed to be entertained by the homeschooled children’s band that meets and practices at St. John’s and that tradition will continue. We will also host a very talented group of singers from St. John’s. How exciting! And to wrap up our meeting we will join in singing our favorite Christmas Carols. We will enjoy a potluck before our speaker. Bring your favorite covered dish to share. Fried chicken will be provided. Our meeting starts at 11:30 am so please plan to arrive by 11:15 am. Use the salmon insert in the church bulletin to sign up or call the office to make your reservation. If you sign up and your plans change, please call the church office to cancel.
2017 offering envelopes are available in the Overflow These are dated for 2017, so please do not use them until the first Sunday in January, and discard any remaining 2016 envelopes. Online giving is a reliable, consistent, convenient, and easy way to contribute to St. John’s. This can be done through our website, stjohnsgc.org. Just click on “Gifts” at the top left-hand side of our home page. Thank you for your faithful financial stewardship to St. John’s ministries!
CALLING ALL OWLS!
INVITATION TO JOIN THE OWLS Have you retired recently? Are you looking for a club, group, etc. to get in-volved in to share your love of God? The Older Wiser Lutheran Seniors at St. John’s would like to invite all members to join the fun and share the Chris-tian fellowship at our monthly meetings. An OWL might be a little older in age but we are very young at heart. There isn’t an age requirement but you must be old enough to enjoy the friendship and fellowship of others from St. John’s. We are a very active group that meets the third Friday of every month for ei-ther a potluck lunch at the church or an outing to visit different interests around the area.
Give a meaningful gift this holiday season. Donate blood.
American Red Cross Blood Drive St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Saturday, December 10 2016 9:00am—1:00pm
To schedule an appointment call 1-800-RED-CROSS
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA SALE As in previous years, the Sanctuary of St. John’s will be filled with the beauty of red poinsettias as we celebrate the coming of the Christ Child. Each plant will be in a 6.5 inch pot and is available for purchase. The cost of each poinsettia will be $7.50. You may place an order by sending a completed form along with your check to the office, or placing it in the offering plate. Make checks payable to St. John’s and mark “For Poinsettia Order.” The flow-ers may be taken after our Christmas service on December 25
th.
Orders must be received no later than December 19th.
Please check one: ___ I will be picking my flowers up by December 30th. ___ I wish to donate my flowers to shut-ins. Phone No. __________________________________________ (In case of questions) No. of poinsettias _____________ $7.50 ea. =___________ Method of payment (mark one) Cash _______ Check ________ Name(s) of person(s) ordering: Given by: (list how you wish names to appear in service fold-er - i.e. The Davis Family, or Art and Frieda Davis) In Honor of: In Memory of:
The Eagle
DECEMBER, 2016
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3220 Columbus St., Grove City, Ohio
614/875-2314 www.stjohnsgc.org
Is God really worth it?
The word worship comes from English worth-ship. It mean that which is worth being wor-
shipped. It has to do with acknowledging the one who is worthy of our praise. So is God worth
it? Is He truly worthy of our giving of our time each week to gather to honor and praise Him?
These might sound like silly questions to one who is faithfully attending a service of worship each
week, but our culture challenges the worthiness of God. Even among those who claim to be
Christian, over half will be absent from worship on any given Sunday. Churches will be packed
for Christmas and Easter, but there are plenty of empty seats the rest of the year. So how do we
know that God is worth it?
In our society worth is often determined by the investment of time and money. We spend our
time and money on those things or people that have the greatest worth for us. I am writing this
during the World Series. Tickets for the games are listed for sale on the internet starting at a thou-
sand dollars for standing room only, regular seats for about four thousand and going as high as
seventy thousand for luxury box seats. People are paying three hundred and fifty dollars for park-
ing spaces. They skip work and some travel great distances to attend. At the games they raise
their voices in praise and follow “liturgies” that have been used for decades.
You may say, “Well the World Series is special, it doesn’t happen all the time.” That would be
true, but look at the way we value any entertainer or sport star. Millions of dollars of worth is be-
stowed on them. They are some of the highest valued people in our society. We gather at their
performances and honor them with our cheering. They are praised in the media and given tro-
phies. Their images are framed and hung on walls or shared on the internet. Are they worthy of
such worship? What do they truly do for us? What do they produce for our society that makes
them worthy?
During the Advent Season (the four weeks leading up to Christmas) we will be taking a look at
worship. We will ask the “W” questions: Who, What, Where, Why, and When. As we prepare to
once again celebrate Christmas, let us get ready to worship the only one who is truly worthy.
Pastor Don