To My St. John's Friends, Thank you for the many useful things in the Christmas bag. The snacks were my favorite, especially the cookies. I really appreciate you thinking of me. Thanks, Charlie Horman To Our Friends at St. John’s Lutheran Church: Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Our mission and ministry of free access to high quality healthcare would simply be unattainable without your gracious giving! Have blessed holidays! Justin

God bless everyone at St. John’s! Thanks for your prayers. Thanks so much for the wonderful Christmas gift. We have been taking something from the basket every day. Love, Keith and Judy Fletcher Dear St. John’s Lutheran Church,

Merry Christmas and many, many thanks! The

boxes of treats and toiletries was a very

welcome and appreciated surprise. My sailors

and I felt very blessed to receive them as we

set sail for a Thanksgiving out to sea. So

thoughtful, and the bracelet from Ali and Kate

was awesome! Keep doing your good works! You

make a huge difference!

LT Mary Strade

1 - Sally Griffin 9 - Delbert Kiehl

1 - Karen Stangel 19- William Forsythe

3 - Tristin Stangel 20- Linda Catterlin

6 - Jim Perry 20- Ginny Miller

8 - Aaron Shively 22- Jason Kellar

Member Spotlight: Fletcher Metz

Fletcher Metz grew up on a sheep farm outside of Covington and lived there until he was about seven. After his parents divorced and his mom remarried, they moved a couple times but still live out in the coutry just outside Covington. Fletcher is a senior at Covington High School but attending Upper Valley Career Center where he

is fast tracking the environmental occupations programs. After graduation, he will go straight to Ft. Benning, Georgia to join the army. He has already officially enlisted. He will be a 19 Delta (MOS) Cavalry Scout. Fletcher says he has wanted to join the army his whole life. Fletcher knows that these are his last few months before being thrust into the real world, and he is trying to take advantage of it. He is spending as much time as possible with family and friends. His family recently took a vacation to Florida, and Fletcher found himself soaking up the moments. Fletcher has also been very active in 4H for nine years, and he is working hard to complete the program. He has shown sheep, rabbits, and turkeys. He has also done woodworking and camp counseling. He says that he enjoyed raising turkeys the most. In his free time, Fletcher enjoys playing his guitar. He also plays paino, trumpet, baritone. He also runs track and cross country. He loves to run. Fletcher also has a love for adrenaline sports. He loves rock climbing, roller coasters, zip lining, spelunking, snorkeling, and cycling and anything else for a thrill. He is an outdoorsman as well. Fletcher enjoys hunting and fishing and hopes to do some trapping. Fletcher was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Troy. After their pastor retired, the family found their home way to St. John’s. Their family really enjoys our church. Fletcher describes it as “comfortable and indescribably nice.”

February 2020

The Voice

PRAYER LIST

HOSPITALIZED, RECOVERING AT HOME, and OTHER PRAYER CONCERNS

Jerry Catterlin Marian Fenner Uta Schroder Phyllis Drieling Jim Perry Leon Hollopeter Roger Colby Jack Besecker Erica Hollopeter Judy Fletcher Sally Griffin Linda Iddings Flory Family Helen Kellar Luella Roeth Ann Horman Bill McKibben Harold Roeth Janice Meyer Kathy Short Laura Schmidt Matthew Hahn

IN EXTENDED CARE

Charlie Horman (Brookdale- Troy) Linda Morrow (Cincinnati) Barb Besecker (Versailles Health Care Center)

FRIENDS & RELATIVES OF MEMBERS Paula Hahn (daughter-in-law of Richard & Gloria Hahn) Kennedy Kraft (granddaughter of MaryAnn Francis) Thelma Archer (friend of Jim Perry) Joyce Gilbert (friend of Jim Perry) Marilyn Helke (friend of Colbys) Fran Maynard (friend of Colbys) Ethel Besecker (friend of Colbys) Darlene Wise (friend of Jim Perry) Bernice Davis (cousin of Jim Perry) Bridget Simon (friend of Jim Perry) Owen Gauntt (friend of Dawn Flory) Shirley Sheffer (friend of Dawn Flory) Bob Bruyere (uncle of Charlie Bruyere) Kenton Stacy (grandson of Wanda Stacy) Howard Chaney (friend of Jim Perry) Lester Smith (friend of Jim Perry) Jack McCoy (friend of King family) Larry & Tracy Laub (friend of Jim Perry) Joel Miller (Connie Adams’ brother-in-law) David Moss (friend of Levi, Brandy, & Tyrus Hahn) Mr. & Mrs. Tom Burlieson (friends of Jim Perry) Mary Littlejohn (friend of Jim Perry) Andrew Purvis (grandson of Pattie Perry) Joanne Schmidt (mother of Jim Schmidt) Harley Stephan (cousin of Brooks King) Joan Will (cancer-aunt of Laura Schmidt)

FAMILY & FRIENDS IN THE ARMED FORCES Brandon Moyer – Navy, Pyndell AFB, Florida Jon Osterman- Army Cory Purvis- Army, in Alaska (Pattie Perry’s grandson) LT Mary Strade- deployed, USS Bainbridge (sister of Laura Schmidt) Jerrid Stangel- Army Tristin Stangel- Marines, Keesler AFB Faith King- Army- Bravo 1-134th Field Artillery, Piqua, Ohio (niece of Brooks and Briana King)

SCRIPTURE

Sunday, February 2, 2020

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8 Psalm: Psalm 15 (1)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Sunday, February 9, 2020

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12] Psalm: Psalm 112:1-9 [10] (4)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

Sunday, February 16, 2020

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or

Sirach 15:15-20 Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8 (1)

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

Sunday, February 23, 2020

First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm: Psalm 2 (7) or Psalm 99 (9)

Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Ash Wednesday, February 26, 2020

First Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or

Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm: Psalm 51:1-17 (1)

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Have courage for the great sorrows

of life and patience for the small ones;

and when you have laboriously

accomplished your daily task, go to

sleep in peace. God is awake.”

-Victor Hugo

Call Update from Church Council

Not a whole lot has changed since my last update. The synod continues to search for an interim pastor for us, and, in the meantime, I continue to work with them to keep us in supply pastors. I find it very interesting to see different styles, not only of the sermons the supply pastors give, but also the children’s sermons, etc.

Our call committee is in place, and council will be meeting with them to explain responsibilities. With the exception of our one council representative, these folks act independently of the council, studying the names, biographies, etc. of the nominees that the synod presents. The committee must act quickly when a nominee is presented to them because with so many pastoral openings and such a shortage of nominees, other churches and their call committees are looking as well. We pray for guidance for these folks and thank them for their service to our church.

I also want to thank everyone who has stepped up to take on additional responsibilities during this time of change, from folks taking over advent services, volunteering to teach confirmation classes, picking hymns, extra work for our church secretary, to everything else; there is too much to list!! I feel any prospective pastoral candidate will look at this and realize that St. John’s is not a needy, “wait around to see what happens” church, but an active vibrant church, full of disciples of our Lord, looking for someone to work alongside us in God’s praise!

Thank you.

Kevin

Note: We will be having midweek Lenten services.

Youth!

The next Youth Coffee hour will be Sunday, February 9th.

Please plan on joining us. We would love it if you could bring

something to share.

Save the Day: First Communion and Confirmation will both

be on Sunday, April 5th (Palm Sunday). Please plan on

joining in celebrating these monumental faith steps for

some of our Youth!

CedarMania is approaching! Mark your calendars for

March 21st, 2020. It is all day fun, faith-filled day for

students in grades 6-12. If your child is interested in

attending, please contact Laura Schmidt by February 9th

so we can get registered.

Congratulations to Libby and Sophie for their stellar

performance in Marysville, on January 12th at the OAC

Cheerleading State Championships! Libby's squad earned

second place and Sophie's team took third (and she

perfected her back tuck skill!)

Billy V. Leistner, 92, Covington, passed

away peacefully on Sunday, January 5,

2020, at Brookdale of Troy. He was

born April 5, 1927, in Miami County, to

the late Phillip and Mamie (Sutherland)

Leistner. Bill married Frances M.

(Barker) Leistner on December 24,

1947; she preceded him in death on

March 20, 2018.

Bill will be missed and remembered by his three children and

their spouses, Dan & Kathie Leistner of Covington, Susan &

Bruce Michelson of Johnstown, and Michael & Penny

Leistner of New Paris; six grandchildren, Mark (Nichole)

Leistner, Michelle (Callen) Vanderhoff, Martin (Kristen)

Leistner, Megan (Andrew) Wagner, Mason (Chelsea)

Michelson, Coy Leistner and Josh Leistner; six great-

grandchildren, Daniel, Owen, & Samuel Leistner, Dawson &

Deacon Vanderhoff, and Oliver Leistner; and many nieces

and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandson

Matthew Leistner; great-granddaughter Noelle Leistner; and

six siblings.

Bill was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of

Covington and retired as a truck driver for General

Highway. In his retirement, he worked as the Covington

Park Superintendent. Bill was a member of the former

Stillwater Grange and Teamsters union. He enjoyed square

dancing, camping, woodworking, and playing sports in his

younger days. He built his own home on North Pearl Street

from the foundation up, and lived there for 67 years. Bill will

be remembered as a hard-working man who loved and cared

for his family.

A Non-traditional Blessing

May God bless you with discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live from deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and to change their pain to joy.

May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

If you have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless you with:

happiness—because you will know that you have made life better for others

inner peace—because you will have worked to secure an outer peace for others

laughter—because your heart will be light

faithful friends—because they will recognize your worth as a person.

These blessings are yours—not for the asking, but for the giving—from One who wants to be your companion, our God, who lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen.

Sister Ruth Fox, OSB Benedictine Chaplain for the Catholic Students at Dickinson State College

Join Us for the Annual Fastnacht Feast Tuesday, February 25, 2020 4:30 to 7:00 pm

Dine-in or carry-out

We will be serving chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green

beans, homemade rolls, our famous homemade donuts, and more!

Just for Laughs A young man just earned his driver’s license and asked his

devout and rather strict father to borrow the family car.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” his father said. “Bring up your

grades, read the Bible a bit more, get your hair cut, and we’ll

talk about it.”

A month later, the son asked again. “Son, I’m proud of the

way you’ve brought up your grades and studied the Bible, but

you didn’t cut your hair.”

The son smiled and replied, “I’ve been thinking about that.

Samson had long hair. Moses and Noah had long hair. Even

Jesus had long hair.”

“Yes,” his father admitted thoughtfully, “and they walked

everywhere they went.”

Bishop Eaton issues pastoral message on death of Herbert Chilstrom 1/19/2020 12:00:00 AM

Dear Church,

With sadness I bring you the news that Presiding Bishop Emeritus Herbert W. Chilstrom died at home early this morning. His wife, Pastor Corinne Chilstrom; his son, Chris Holt; and family were with him.

Bishop Chilstrom was the first presiding bishop of the ELCA. Many of you knew him in those early days when the ELCA was just getting started – there was no furniture at the Lutheran Center, files were in boxes, phones were on the floor, and the skeleton staff worked on card tables and folding chairs. He was once told by a corporate executive sitting next to him on a plane that this was no way to start a corporation and it would never work. Thirty-three years later we are still here, entrusted with the ministry of the gospel and serving the neighbor.

I can’t imagine the uncertainty and chaos of those first months, but all I know we were filled with hope for this new church the Spirit had brought into being. And I know that Bishop Chilstrom served out of the conviction that it was God’s will to raise up an ELCA witness to the gospel, and with God, all things are possible.

I remember Bishop Chilstrom saying once that his mother told him: “Herb, you might be the only Bible some people read.” It was her way of telling him, and his way of telling us, that we are living witnesses to the grace of God.

Bishop Chilstrom chose “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!” (ELW, 873) to be the sending hymn at his funeral. Verse five announces:

At last the march shall end;

The wearied ones shall rest;

The pilgrims find their home at last,

Jerusalem the blest.

Rejoice! Give thanks and sing!

Through tears, but in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection, we rejoice.

Peace,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Results from Muffins and a Mission

The organizations we will support with our Felger Outreach Money this year

-Health Partners Free Clinic (Troy) -Family Abuse Shelter (Troy) -ELCA Immigration and Refugee Services -ELCA World Hunger

Observing Ash Wednesday By Ray Hollenbach

Ash Wednesday is about preparation, and

the beginning of preparation at that. All of the

Lenten season is focused upon preparation for

Easter. Ash Wednesday is about how we can

begin those preparations. It is “to make a right

beginning of repentance,” as the Book of

Common Prayer puts it. We are reminded of “the

need which all Christians continually have to

renew their repentance and faith.”

Ash Wednesday is the day when the journey

toward Easter begins. I would like to suggest that

Ash Wednesday helps us begin our preparation

for Easter in three ways: by teaching us to mourn

the past, to examine the present, and to look

forward toward an inspiring future.

Jesus reminds us that repentance (true regret)

can include sackcloth and ashes. The ashes from

last year’s palms remind us that although we may

have received Christ enthusiastically at the

beginning of our Christian walk, we have perhaps

lost our first love.

What better call to return to our first love than to

be marked with the ashes of our past

enthusiasm? These ashes also remind us that the

original celebration of Palm Sunday gave way to

the crucifixion less than a week later. Psalm 51 is

an excellent reading for Ash Wednesday. It is a

Scriptural guide to repentance.

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Council Minutes January 8, 2020

Present: Kevin Marten, Scott Gephart, Holly Turner, Kaitlyn Flory, David Larson, Mindy Gearhardt, Chad Reese, Derek Shively Brandy Hahn, Rick Longenecker

1. St. John’s Profile Work Session 2. Devotions – Devotions were led by Dave 3. Elevator Service Contract Update – At the December meeting

council approved changing contracts from Kone to Otis. Since that time, we found out that we actually have a 3-year rollover contract from 1996 with Kone and we just started our 3-year contract with Kone. Therefore, we will continue to use Kone.

4. Financial Reports – Our spending is down because we are not currently paying a full-time pastor. Holly moves to accept the financial report, seconded by Chad. Motion carried.

5. Committee Reports a. Evangelism – On January 26 will be the Muffins and a

Mission in lieu of Sunday School b. Worship & Music – Advent services went well. In

November there was a meeting with Altar Guild members and Assisting Ministers to discuss the roles of the members during communion and if anyone has noticed any discrepancies in the binder. Since the meeting Rick has updated the binder located in the sacristy.

6. Old Business a. Narthex Restroom Flooring Quotes – new floors will

be installed around March 16. Rick will be on site when they install the floors.

b. Thrive Campaign – Council updated new members on the campaign

7. New Business a. Election of Officers

President Kevin Marten

Vice President Mindy Gearhardt

Financial Chair Dave Larson

Secretary Holly Turner

b. Committee Assignments

c. Sunday School Superintendent position – Council has discussed that there is not a need for a superintendent. Sunday School teachers will take attendance and put the slips in the secretary’s mailbox.

d. Property – gold trim has been installed on the carpeted stairs, and a flood light has been installed overseeing the handicap parking lot and ramp

e. Organ – The loft of the organ does not get good airflow therefore creating vast changes when the weather changes. The company that services the organ suggested that we add humidifiers to the furnaces that go up to the sanctuary. Rick called the HVAC company and to add 2 humidifiers to the furnaces it would cost $1725. Dave moves to accept the project, seconded by Mindy. Motion carried.

9. Adjournment –Holly moves to adjourn, seconded by Brandy. Motion carried. Council closed with the saying of the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted by,

Holly Turner

Property Chad Reese & Scott Gephart

Worship & Music Holly Turner

Evangelism David Larson & Derek Shively

Stewarship Mindy Gearhardt & Kevin Marten

Christian Ed & Youth Kaitlyn Flory

Social Ministry Brandy Hahn