St. John StaffSt. John StaffSt. John StaffSt. John Staff

Pastor Jennifer L. KieferPastor Jennifer L. KieferPastor Jennifer L. KieferPastor Jennifer L. Kiefer pastorjenk@gmail.compastorjenk@gmail.compastorjenk@gmail.compastorjenk@gmail.com

Vicar Janice LockeVicar Janice LockeVicar Janice LockeVicar Janice Locke

jlocke1359@gmail.comjlocke1359@gmail.comjlocke1359@gmail.comjlocke1359@gmail.com Tyler Lentz Minister of MusicTyler Lentz Minister of MusicTyler Lentz Minister of MusicTyler Lentz Minister of Music

Carl Anderson, Evening Praise Carl Anderson, Evening Praise Carl Anderson, Evening Praise Carl Anderson, Evening Praise

MusicianMusicianMusicianMusician

Office ManagerOffice ManagerOffice ManagerOffice Manager Wendy MurdockWendy MurdockWendy MurdockWendy Murdock

CustodianCustodianCustodianCustodian

Chuck RodabaughChuck RodabaughChuck RodabaughChuck Rodabaugh

St. John Lutheran Church

460 Riley St. Dundee, Michigan 48131 Office: (734) 529-3218

1 - 800 - 273 -TALK (8255)

The Chimes of St. John September 2020

Hebrews 10:24-25

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;

that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep may rest in peace.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:

your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight

of ev'ry people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping;

that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.

Amen

Happy Birthday!Happy Birthday!Happy Birthday!Happy Birthday!

1

Pastor Jen

2

Juanita Boldt

3

Kenneth Jaworski

Kelli Ford

4

Linford Price

5

Mindy Gove

8 Ellen Smith

9

Randy Price

10 Ryan Liedel

13

Rebecca Bizonet Michael Price Ryan Harmer

Jeremy Townsend

16 Elizabeth Horkey

Brynn Cusac

17 Jeanette Brockman

21 Tyler Smith

23

Diane Price Donna Schultz James Schuler

24

Andrew Scholl Nathan Scholl

25

Ryan Poley Bryce Groves

27

Kelsi Capaul

28 Dana Federer

29

Melinda Hettinger Darlene White

Happy Anniversary!Happy Anniversary!Happy Anniversary!Happy Anniversary!

2 Richard and Glenda Peters

3

Tim and Wendy Murdock 6

Michael and Christine Price Terry and Jessica Cusac

8

Steve and Laurie Redfern 9

Richard and Melinda Hettinger

10

Don and Colette Korican Chris and Jen Kiefer

Ken and Gail Dermanelian

14 Gary and Patricia Liedel

16

Wilbert and Judy Sieler

21 Bill and Christa Branum

24

Jeff and Linda Sontag

Many thanks to the St. John Prayer Shawlers for their dedicated work in creating my graduation afghan! I love the colors—it is so beautiful.

I appreciate the prayers that went into as well.

Thank You So Much!

Love, Meg

The rest of the hours of the week were spent at the hospital meeting with pa-tients and their family members. These meetings included responding to trau-ma events in the ER, praying with patients and their family members at the end of a patient’s life, responding to requests for spiritual care from patients and staff, and general rounding on the floors to meet and offer care to patients and families.

We were also responsible for planning and leading some prayer/worship ser-vices. While the chapel was closed for in-person worship (due to Covid-19), we held services in the chapel daily at noon that were broadcast on the hospi-tal TV on the chapel channel. I really enjoyed planning and leading these ser-vices as it gave me an opportunity to be creative. I had the chance to use Broadway musical numbers as songs to illustrate the message for one service and I learned some newer Christian music. We also led a spiritual group on the Behavioral Health Unit every Sunday morning. We had the chance to in-teract with patients who were experiencing mental health problems and it was great to see their progress from week to week. The CPE experience is really focused on learning about ourselves and what we bring with us into our interactions with others. We learned about our per-sonal “baggage” so that we could become more aware of our own issues and how they might affect our interactions with patients and family members. It was a wonderful experience and I know that I learned a lot. I am now back in the swing with classes – this semester I am taking Systemat-ic Theology, Lutheran Foundations, The Story of the Early Church, The Story of Jesus (New Testament), and Introduction to Preaching.

I am looking forward to starting my internship with St. John and thank you in

advance for your participation in my development in ministry.

In Peace,

Vicar Janice

Greetings!

It is so good to be back within the fold of the St. John family though I felt your prayers for me over the summer months! Pastor Jen suggested that you might be interested in hearing a bit about what I have been up to this summer;

Well, first of all, I will tell you that I have not been on vacation! �

On May 26 I started a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) that is re-quired for all seminarians in the ELCA. CPE is the opportunity to learn and experience the role of Chaplain in a setting other than a church. I spent my summer – 40 hours a week – at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland for my CPE unit. I was one of two “CPE interns” at that site. My fellow intern was a seminary student from Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University. We are in very different places in life – she is a 23-year-old “pipe-line” seminarian (she went directly from her undergraduate program into seminary) whereas I am a not 23-years-old and I am a second career student. Despite the difference in our ages and stages in life, we became close friends and colleagues. In addition, because the Covid 19 virus caused so many changes, the CPE program did something unique – it included us newbie in-terns with other CPE students at different places in their experience (one 2nd unit student and 2 residents in a 1-year CPE unit). Usually groups are at the same level of experience to create a learning cohort. I was grateful for the chance to learn from the others in my unit. The unit last-ed 10 weeks and consisted of weekly individual supervision meetings with our educator and weekly day-long classes in which we shared our experiences with patient and family interactions, received instruction on topics such as the role of the chaplain in an interdisciplinary team and how to be present for a person in spiritual need or distress.

An Update from Vicar Janice

1 Joseph John

Kiefer Julia Groves

William Redfern Larry Lorenz Sophia Saren

2 Tamra Kruse

3 Brooke Harmer Dennis Winter

Jennifer Toburen Terry Cusac

4 Gloria Ternes Chad Heiden

5 Alice Bryson Luan Sedlar

6 Shane Schultz

7 Jessica Cusac

Morgan Kilbarger Kortney Russell

9 Laura Hanselman

12 Edward Ford

Cade Salenbien

13 Kerri Roof

14

Katherine Spaulding

16 Michael Groves

21

Katelyn Hall

Lauren Scholl

23 Alyssa Cousino

25 Hillary Straub

Gary Brockman

27 Kayla Hughes

Mikayla Maurer

30 Alex Dermanelian

31 Jess Bakos

David Groves

3 Robert & Pamela

Townsend 9

Gary & Jeanette Brockman 12

Paul & Marilyn Kanitz 14

Ronald & Vicky Ziesmer 20

Greg and Jessica Mason 25

Garvin & Mandy Kruse 26

Jeff & Katherine Spaulding 27

Chuck & Jodi Rodabaugh 29

Wayne & Sharon Jaworski

Happy Happy Happy Happy BOOthday!BOOthday!BOOthday!BOOthday!

Happy Happy Happy Happy AnniverSCARY!AnniverSCARY!AnniverSCARY!AnniverSCARY!

Front Cover

Text:

Song of Simeon, from Luke 3

when Mary and Joseph take 8 day old baby Jesus to the temple to be

blessed.

It is currently our Evening

Praise Canticle as we Cruise

through Corinthians.

The Front Cover Photo and photo

illustrating Pastor Jen’s address were taken at the

same time on the evening of

August 14. The rainbow glowed to the east as the

sun set to the west over TWMZ

Murdock Farm.

Happy Birthday!

2

Alicia Ziesmer Nancy Remaklus

4

Baleigh Schuler Megan Harmer

5

Julius Kruse 6

Harold Karm Jaren Peters

7

Logan Gray Rodney Garst

10

James Pool Sr.

11 Robert Townsend

12 Cade Salenbien

Greg Mason

13 Zachary Murdock Collin Salenbien

14

Brian Gove Keri Keinath

16

Roger Garst

18 Brayden Mason Doug Horkey

19

Mary Billau

25 Jodi Rodabaugh

26

Iva Laughlin

27 Steve Hughes

28

Nicholas Myers

Happy

Anniversary

18 Edward and Kelli Ford

19

Robert and Mary Billau

We give thanks and praise for your continued generosity in supporting

the ongoing ministries of St. John!

Even though we may not be worshipping in person, these ministries will continue to be performed to the very best of our ability.

Should you wish to make a donation, you can do so in the following ways:

Mail your donation to:

460 Riley Street Dundee MI 48131

Through our website: .

www.stjohndundee.wordpress.com

By texting the amount of your donation to: (833)554-0594

Your continued support of St. John will help ensure the continued vitality of this congregation.

Thank You!

St. John Church Council

The need is great, now more than ever! Please consider donating!

To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter code: STJOHNDUNDEE

Dear St. John,

Thank you for everything that was done for the family since Gummie’s passing. Pastor Jen was amazing and we totally appreciate all she has done. Tyler’s music was amazing at the memori-al. Thanks to Bev and all the ladies of WELCA for the food for the memorial luncheon. Plus, for all of St. John’s members – for their kindness and prayers during this time. We miss her terribly

but having such a wonderful family and friends makes it a little bit more bearable.

Thanks so much.

Mindy and all my Crew:

The Bush, Maurer and Gove Families

IN ADDITION, we’d also like to say:

Thank You, Prayer Shawlers, for Alex’s graduation afghan!

The Gove Family

Dear St John's Family,

Words cannot express how grateful we are for your pray-ers, words of encouragement and condolences at the loss of my father John Rzeppa, aka Big Papa. He was a dear

sweet man who loved deeply and included all of you in his daily prayers as well. He thoroughly enjoyed his visits to

St John's and was especially proud of his "favorite" Pastor.

Thank you for the many cards and memorials. A very spe-cial thank you to Chuck and Carl for the beautiful rendi-tion of "Amazing Grace" and the chiming of the bells for his 93 years on this earth. It was very,very touching and

we shall cherish that forever.

In Christ, Linda and Michael Renema and family.

Dear beloved friends, Thank you so much for all your love and support at the death of Big Pa-

pa. I am so grateful that you had the opportunity to know him and that he got to know and worship with you every once in a while. Thank you

for the cards and prayers and, espe-cially, to Carl and Chuck for the

beautiful memorial video they creat-ed for my family.

In Peace, Pastor Jen

Congratulations, St. John High School Grads!

Meg Murdock and Al Gove

Graduation for the Class of 2020-at-Large looked very different than in past years at high schools, colleges, vocational programs and other learn-

ing institutions nationwide. Here at St. John, a small outside, socially distanced ceremony was held on June 7 to present our 2020 High School

Seniors with the traditional afghans created by our Prayer Shawlers.

Thank You, Ladies for your beautiful work!

Editor’s Note:

We wish a collective St. John set of prayers and congratulations to Brad Scholl who graduated from University of Toledo, Medical College

of Ohio/Mercy St. V’s Medical Center with a BS in Nursing!

Best Wishes, Brad!

Since the onset of the Covid-19 virus in March, the St. John Staff has

stepped out of the box and into your iPhone and laptops to offer Prayer Services, devotionals and Sunday worship despite pandemic. We hope that

these platforms have enriched your faith life and helped all of us to feel more connected to God and each other during this time of quarantine and social

distancing.

As we progress through this time of pandemic, it is now clear that offering up a virtual option for worship will remain with us in the future.

To that end, we are seeking to raise $5,000 which would allow us to pur-

chase, and have installed, the equipment needed to do a quality and reliable livestream of worship services.

We are all looking forward to the time when life at St. John returns to a

familiar state of pre-Covid normalcy. However, even then, this equipment will continue to serve us as a permanent ministry tool for our faith life at St. John. Further, any and all members who feel so called will be able to par-

ticipate in the ongoing development of this Media Ministry that may be root-ed in pandemic, but will grow and flourish as we pray for a virus free future!

If you are interested in contributing, please make sure to include "livestream

equipment" in the memo line of checks or make a note on your offering envelope.

Thank You!

Confirmation will be held on Sunday, September 13. The Confirmands will share their Faith Statements on the lawn at 945a, weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, Confirmation will take place in the Sanctuary with immediate

families only in attendance. Faith Statements will be live streamed or recorded and available later on that date.

God Bless Our Confirmands!

Ivy Lang Ele Lang

Faith Stahl Hailey Knox Lindsey Roof

Collin Salenbien

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, St. John Lutheran Church Council decided to postpone the start of Sunday school till the first of the year. Kerri Roof will be doing weekly lessons starting September 27, 2020, on the Facebook page each week.

Please join her at

Kids of St. John Dundee Also, with the postponement of Sunday School, First Communion class has also been postponed for fall of 2020 and is tentatively rescheduled for fall of 2021.

Christian Education Update

Al, pictured above with his parents, Brian and Mindy, graduated from Milan High School and is currently working in a machining internship and will attend Washtenaw Community College this fall to complete his CAD/CAM Certification.

Meg Murdock graduated from both Monroe County Middle College and

Monroe County Community College, and is working at Ida Vet Clinic while pursing

her degree in Veterinary Technology through Penn Foster University.

From Pastor Jen...

My dear friends,

Normally, at this time of year, I expound upon my love of fall and of the new beginnings found within in this amazing season.

This year, though, things feel different. And I am sure my saying this surprises absolutely no one. We are living in a weird time of uncertainty and unusual circumstances with the pandemic. We find ourselves, as a nation, increasingly tense. School looks different, sports look different, church looks different.

Nothing looks like it is supposed to right now and it. Is. Exhausting.

As the Holy Spirit is one to do, however, we have been given text after text after text this summer that speak to the need for Sabbath, which is something that we desper-ately need if we are going to be able to continue to work together to bring back the beloved community and “run with endurance the race set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1b).

Here are some of the stories we have heard:

Jesus invites we who are weary to lay our burdens down and find our rest in him.

Jesus goes off the deserted place and finds life and love through the community that surrounded him with love as he was mourning the death of John the Baptist.

Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray and is later revealed as God in the calming of the storm on the sea of Galilee.

Elijah is reminded – twice – on his journey to the mountain of the Lord, to have a snack and a nap so that he can keep going.

As the beloved community, we are called together as the body of Christ to continue to show up for each other, in big ways and little ways. But unless we take the time to care for ourselves, we will run out of steam, burn out, and be unable to care for others in healthy ways. So as we enter this new season and this new school year with so much already so different. Don’t forget to take the time to care for you. Have a snack, take a nap, put yourself in quiet time, stay hydrated, grab some fresh air now and then. Find a therapist is that helpful for your mental wellbeing. We need you and we need you healthy if, as a community, we are going to endure the next leg of the race ahead of us.

Let us pray,

God of rest, you created the Sabbath as a time of rest after the work of

creation. Help us, who are co-creators with you, to find rest and renewal so that we may continue to endure the next leg of the race set before us.

Bless parents and teachers, school administrators, staff and students as they

begin a new school year. Protect them and keep them in your love and give them all that they need to stay well and find your peace.

Amen.

In Christ’s Love, Pastor Jen