The Light of St. John’s January, 2018

“See, I am doing a new thing!” Isaiah 43:19

Thanks to Christmas, we all end the year with new things – new toys for the kids,

new clothes to wear, and new pounds on our bodies. We also start the year off with

new things too – a new calendar on the wall, new bills to pay, and new resolutions

for the days ahead.

Everybody likes new things, including God. God’s word continually speaks of

newness. The Bible begins with the story of God creating a new world, and it ends

with God’s plans to create a new heaven and a new earth. We ourselves are a new

creation, as we put off the old self and put on the new one. God especially likes to

do new, fresh things in the lives of his children. He desires to teach us new truths

about Himself and provide us new opportunities for ministering to others.

But often we try to hold onto the past. We don’t want to let go of what is comfort-

able and familiar – the same old way of thinking and doing things. And when we

hold on too tightly to the past, we sometimes miss out on the new and exciting

things that God has planned for us. The Bible story of Lot’s wife being turned into

a pillar of salt warns us against holding on too tightly to the past.

One of the greatest promises contained in God’s word is found in Lamentations

3:22-23, which tells us that God’s love and mercy is new every morning, and great

is God’s faithfulness. As I reflect on the life of our congregation, I am reminded of

all of the new ministries in our church. We have an active Sunday School with

many children. We have an exciting youth group. We have many new faces in

worship each Sunday, and I look forward to where God is taking us together as a

church family.

A good way for a child of God to celebrate the New Year is to let go of anything

that is hindering our walk with God. Then we’ll be free to live each day expecting

new, fresh things from the One who promises, “I am making everything

new!” (Revelation 21:5). With the beginning of the New Year, let us embrace all of

the newness that God brings into our lives. Look for new and exciting things in

your life and the life of the church in 2018. God’s goodness and mercy is new

every day.

Blessings,

Pastor Terry

Serving In January

Kitchen:

Altar: Donna Havemann

Ushers: Brandon Telschcow

Debby and James Schumacher

7th

14th

Donnie & Beverly Blinka

(in honor of Charlotte’s birthday)

(in memory of Mary Maresh)

21st

Debby and James Schumacher

(in memory of Charlotte Jurek)

28th

Flowers

Please pray for our

soldiers, the shut-in, the lonely, those in need of healing: Dennis Hejtmancik,

Marvin Laffere, Mark Broesche, Cole Ohrt, Tammy Chandarlis, Baby Carleiona Marylynn Caldwell, Adele Zboril, Gladys Kocurek, MaeDel Cowan, Jake Cedidla, Fontaine Wilhelm, Gayla West, Joel Pertl, J.D. Lambrecht, Kim and David Harden, Martha O’Roark, Jeannie Bradshaw, Dena Doonan Matcek, Sophie Pampell, Lisa Mcguinnes, Tracy Roberson, Eldie and Theresa Koehler, David Dawson, Lou Francis Mohon, Sharon Beseda, Barbara Sablatura, Robert Collins, Jeff Krueger, Patricia Tarnowski, John Pruett, J. W. Zalmanek, Jack Stifflemire. Prayers for the family of Mary Roberts, Mary Saunders, Clara Poehl, James Edward "JE" Cohn and Hattie Christensen and all families of who are morning the loss

of loved ones during this Holiday Season.

Sign Up Time!

A year has once again passed by

and it is time to plan for 2018.

Your volunteer efforts are greatly

needed in several ways at St.

John’s. Volunteers are needed

for:

Altar Flowers each Sunday -

They can be fresh cut or pot

plants and can be placed in honor

or memory of a loved one.

Altar Service – prepare the com-

munion trays for worship ser-

vices on the first and third Sun-

days. If you have not done this

before, we will have another

member assist you and provide

some training.

Ushers – Serve as the welcoming

smile at the front door, distribute

weekly bulletins, light and extin-

guish candles and take up offer-

ing are the main duties of the

ushers. The lead/head usher each

month is one of the council mem-

bers and they will provide you

with instructions.

Kitchen Hostess – Serve as the

kitchen hostess each month on

the pot luck Sunday. Main duties

are making drinks, heating food,

setting out paper goods and clean

up detail afterwards.

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of your presence

and your guidance as we face the future. We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead

of us — but you alone know what it holds for us, and only you can give us the strength and the wisdom we

will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into your hand, and to trust you and to

seek your will for our lives during this coming year. Amen

Thank you for the gift basket, ear muffs, and scarf. I appreciate your

kindness and thoughtfulness. Thanks to Pastor for visiting.

God Bless,

Jimmie Laffere

St. John’s Lutheran Church family,

Thank you so very much for all the words of encouragement, support,

the prayer blanket and especially the Harvest Meal Donations. We are

truly blessed to be a part of such an amazing church family. The out

pour of love and generosity has been overwhelming. W cannot express

how much you all mean to us and Bo and I thank God for each of you.

May God Bless you for the kindness you have shown us.

With Love,

Bo, Kellie, Macey, and Wyatt

Church Council and Church Family, Thanks for the Christmas Gift. I

appreciate your generosity. St. John’s is blessed with a great family. I

love you all. Hope you had a Blessed Christmas and have a Happy New

Year.

Katherine Korth

The gift bags for the children with oranges, apples, and

other goodies has been a tradition of St. John’s for decades.

Thanks to those who prepared and provided for the items in

the bags. It is always a treat for the children.

Thanks to those who baked and /or purchased items for the Sunday

School Bake Sale which was held on Sunday, December 10th.

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Sunday School held its

Christmas Party on Sunday,

December 3rd at the

Westwood Movie Theater in

Brenham, Texas

What a fun evening at the

movies watching ‘The

Star’ with our Sunday

School group! St. John’s

is so blessed to have all

of these kiddos as part of

our church!!

Thanks to the generous donation of

a LIMO for the youth group to ride in

to the Live Nativity in Independence

on December 17th. The beauty of

the Live Nativity and the Limo ride

made it an experience for the Youth

to remember for a life time. Thanks to those who

made this possible for the youth.

St. John's Lutheran Youth Group is open to all children in 5th grade and

above. Monthly get togethers are held which include supper, fun and

devotion time. Quarterly outings such as going to the movies, bowling

and other places are also held. It is typically held at St. John’s Lutheran

Church on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The goal of

St. John’s Youth Group is to provide a faith-based support system for

the children as they face challenges of being teenagers in today’s

society.

THANKS to the leaders who provide this meaningful ministry to the

youth of the St. John’s! You are greatly appreciated!

On Sunday, December 17th the worship

service was led by the youth of

St. John’s.

The Christmas Program was also held during the worship service on

December 17th. Thanks to all the children for their presentations and to

the parents of the children. Thanks to all the teachers for organizing

the Christmas program.

Sympathy is extended to

the

Love Family

on the loss their loved one,

Ricca Ann Love

March 25, 1929 - December 1, 2017

Ricca Ann Love, 56, of Caldwell,

Texas, daughter-in-law of Johnnie

and Lynne Love went to be with her

Lord on Thursday, November 23,

2017. Ricca was born in Phoenix Ari-

zona on August 10, 1961 to Gailllard

"Spike" and Betty Miller. She

graduated from Caldwell High School

in in 1979. Ricca was a carrier for

the Bryan / College Station Eagle

newspaper for 19 years. She was

dedicated to her work and loved her

friends there. She enjoyed cooking,

singing and especially loved spend-

ing time with her family. Ricca

touched many people's hearts in this

world with her tender love and kind-

ness. She will be deeply missed by

everyone who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her

parents; and a brother.

Ricca leaves to cherish her

memories, her loving husband of 25

years, Jeff Love; and seven beloved

children, Miranda, Johnnie, Mandy,

Brittany, Gretchen, Sterling, and

Jessica; siblings, Debbie & Coco;

aunt, Peggy Strong; numerous grand-

children, nieces, nephews and many

friends.

Ladies it is

that time of

year. We are

scheduled to

do the Birthday

Party at St. Joseph Manor

Nursing Home on January 11,

2018 at 2:30 p.m. There will be

30 to 35 residents to serve. We

will need cookies and people to

help serve. Cookies can be left

at the church (but let me know)

so I can pick them up. (If you

are unable to attend)

Thanks,

Katherine Korth

979-219-1603

Chili Supper

Benefitting Relay for

Life

Hospice Brazos Valley

Hosted by

Deanville Volunteer

Fire Department

Friday, January 5, 2018

Sympathy is extended to

the

Saunders Family

on the loss their loved

one,

Mary Fances Saunders

March 25, 1929 - December 1, 2017

Mary Frances Saunders, age 88, of

Caldwell, Texas, passed away on De-

cember 1, 2017. She was born in Omaha,

Texas, to parents Hiram and Mary Sue

Joyner.

Mary is survived by her children; Vicki

and Jim Shaw of Holly Lake Ranch,

Texas, Jay Saunders of Waco, Texas,

Candyce and Darwin Witte of Caldwell,

Texas, Kim and Laura Saunders of Aus-

tin, Texas, Penny and Wayne Hahn of

Rapid City, South Dakota, Robin and Nita

Saunders of Round Rock, Texas, and Ja-

mie Saunders of Austin, Texas; siblings,

June and James Johnson of Mount

Pleasant, Texas, Dot Hartman Hamilton

of Greensboro, North Carolina, Sylvia

and Jim Spencer of Omaha, Texas, and

Freddy and Cheryl Joyner of Omaha,

Texas; and numerous grandchildren,

great grandchildren and great-great-

grandchildren. She was preceded in

death by her parents, her husband

Jimmie Saunders; and brothers Wiley

Joyner and Sonny Joyner.

The family received visitors on Tuesday,

December 5, 2017, from 10:00 AM to

11:00 AM, with a funeral service at 11:00

AM, all at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks

Funeral Home. Interment immediately

follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks

Memorial Park.

(Grandmother of Codi Freeman)

Sympathy is extended to

the

Roberts Family

on the loss their loved

one,

Mary Elizabeth Roberts

December 24, 1926 - December 25, 2017

Services for Mary Elizabeth Roberts, 91,

of Caldwell were set for 10:00 a.m.,

Saturday, December 30, 2017 at St.

John’s Lutheran Church in Deanville,

with Rev. Terry Moon officiating. Inter-

ment followed at the church cemetery.

Visitation was held from 6:00 to 8:00

p.m., Friday, December 29, 2017 at

Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell.

Mrs. Roberts passed away on

December 25, 2017. Mary was born

December 24, 1926 to Samuel Brown

Moore and Irene (York) Moore in Free-

stone County, Texas. She married Ollie

Frank Roberts on November 23, 1946.

Preceding her in death were her parents

and step-father E.J. Beck.

Mary is survived by her husband Ollie

Frank Roberts of Caldwell; special fam-

ily, James Walter & Debby Schumacher

of Deanville, Bobby Lee & Bonnie

Schumacher of Deanville, Jeanette &

Jim Peed of Deanville; sister-in-law,

Evie Lemm of Conroe, numerous

nieces, nephews, and other family and

friends.

Mary was a member of St. John’s

Lutheran Church in Deanville for the

past 20 years. She enjoyed canning,

crocheting, knitting, and reading her

Bible. Mary loved animals and was an

avid reader.