July/August 2010
We have a pastor!!! Praise the Lord! Pastor Troy Ehlke was approved by the
congregation last Sunday for a call to
Message
from Pastor Pete: Dear St.
John Members and Friends, greetings from your Interim Pastor in the name of our
Lord Jesus! Thank you for the many ways
you have welcomed and encouraged me in my first experience in Interim ministry.
I'm having a good time. And now we know the length of this term, about 7
more weeks. As I said earlier, it is my intention to be here with you and
for you until your new Pastor arrives.
Most of you already know: The congregational vote was cast on June 27, overwhelmingly
in favor of extending a Letter of Call to the Rev. Troy Ehlke to be Pastor of
this congregation! Thanks be to God! It was a great
congregational meeting, and I've been to a lot that weren't! There's a fresh wind blowing here. The
Call Committee and Church Council have done an excellent job and deserve
everyone's appreciation.
Now may the Spirit continue to be at work in this process in our preparation
(spiritually and otherwise) to receive Pastor Troy and his family and to
partner with him in his ministry. As I write on July 6, "the
paperwork is underway" to make all of this official.
In the meantime, I'm looking forward to our annual "Homecoming Summer Service."
Sounds like fun! Old St. John friends and new, gathering around Word,
Sacrament and some of your favorite hymns . . . a good ol' fashioned church
covered dish dinner . . . a favorite men's quartet singing during the meal time
. . . great fellowship. Don't miss it! Please do invite friends, neighbors, former
members to come with you.
I'm offering a New Member Class on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am beginning July
11. In addition to new members, I encourage current members (new and old)
to join with us. Why? A good review of some Lutheran Christian basics,
getting to know some prospective new members, and I'll get to know
you better, too. We'll meet for several weeks.
If you're traveling this summer, worship on Sunday! Bring back your bulletin,
we love to see where people have been and how things are done elsewhere.
In Christ's love, Pastor Pete
Worship: Worship
the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalms
100:2
Homecoming Worship Service: Mark your calendars now for Sunday, July 18 as we celebrate Homecoming Summer Sunday. Worship will be at 10:00 a.m. We want to sing some of your FAVORITE HYMNS in our worship service that day. Please suggest three of your favorite hymns: old favorites and/or new favorites that will add to the joy of our worship together. Complete the flyer at the end of the newsletter or call the church office with your choices. We will use the three hymns getting the most “votes.”
Then lunch begins at 11:30 in Schaeffer Hall. Please bring a covered dish enough to feed your family plus 4 extra adults. Drinks will be provided. Come enjoy a day of worship, fellowship, music and great food!
A through G Salads or Vegetables
H through R Meat or meat casserole
S
through Z Desserts
Summer Worship: Our Sunday morning worship service at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday School for both adults and children at 9:00 a.m. continues! The Coffee/ Fellowship time begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues until after the 10:00 a.m. services. This is an effort to bring our church family together to worship at one service as we praise God and His many blessings during the summer months. This will also give our wonderful volunteers some much needed rest.
Ushering: HELP NEEDED with ushering on Sunday mornings. Job description: Arrive 15 minutes prior to service. Hand out bulletins, collect the offering and help facilitate members going for communion. This is a commitment for 1 month. For more information, contact Dick Schneeberger dschnbrg@aol.com, 407-628-8208 or Jim DeMark at jdemark@cfl.rr.com, 407-897-366.
Invite Someone To Worship: Remember to invite friends to church throughout the year including the summer. Take an opportunity to personally ask a friend, neighbor or relative to come with you to worship to hear the words of Jesus and be spiritually fed for life’s journey.
Christian Education:
Summer Sunday School: Sunday Salad Theater! Now starring “VeggieTales.” I'm BLT (boss, lettuce, tomato) along with BTB (big tall broccoli) and the fantastic Candied Yams and Sweet Taters! We are looking forward to a summer of movies, fun, fellowship and of course some light snacks! All ages are encouraged to attend. You may be surprised how entertaining “VeggieTales” can be...yes parents even for you! Come check in at our ticket booth, grab some snacks at our concessions and find a seat. Afterwards we will explore the stories more with activities such as puzzle sheets, interactions and hopefully laughter.
Middle School (6th – 8th) will meet
in room 110 with leader Barbie Schessler and are studying Characters from the
Bible.
High School (9th – 12th) will meet
in the Youth House with leader Tom McRee and are studying Faith
Connections.
Young Adults:
The young adult group is searching for a leader for the summer. For more information please contact Christian
Oliver at 321-354-8798 or Louise Oliver at louiseoliver@cfl.rr.com.
Adult education: Pastor Zieg will begin a new member class on Sunday, July 11. Besides prospective new members, he encourages other adults (of all ages) to attend. The class will be a review and discussion on the basics of being a Lutheran Christian. A good time to get to know our Interim Pastor, and for current and new members to become acquainted. The class will meet in Room 103 at 9 a.m. for 4 to 5 weeks.
Children's Ministry:
Galatians 3:26: “All of you are God's children because of
your faith in Christ."
Faith Builders, Inc.: All
new missions! All new top secret clues! All new fun! FBI is recruiting agents at
(Psst, Agents: Something a top agent really needs is a great memory. If you can remember the secret password from last year, tell Agent Glenn on 9/16/10 for a top secret prize.)
“Let everything that lives sing praises to the
Lord. Praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6
Youth Ministry: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Wednesday Summer Fun continues: Please either check the bulletin each Sunday or call the church office for information on what the youth group will be doing each Wednesday this summer.
Pumpkin Patch Volunteers Needed! In an effort to get organized for the pumpkin patch, we are asking for help to spearhead, coordinate, and/or volunteer to make the pumpkin patch another year of success! This fund raiser brings in most of the youth's money. We need everyone's participation! Please contact Louise Oliver and let her know if you're available to help. She has the details of where the help is needed. She can be reached at louiseoliver@cfl.rr.com, or by phone at 407-898-6292. Please contact her for more information, and sign up!
Stewardship:
What is Scrip? Scrip is a fantastic
program that enables you to help
Automatic
Giving: The summer
travel season is here and now is the time to consider automatic giving. The
program helps eliminate the worry if you remembered to mail in your
contribution while you are away. Nothing
could be simpler than using “Simply Giving”. There is no cost to the member but
a 2 % fee is charged each month to
Outreach/Serving/Volunteering:
Sanctuary Flowers: Please sign up on the Flower Chart outside the Narthex to dedicate flowers for the Chancel. Your $50 donation will be placed in the St. John Flower Fund. Thank You.
Communication:
Want a copy of
the sermon? Each week copies of the sermon are typed and
placed in a box in the hallway outside the Narthex for anyone to pick up, or
you can receive it via email by contacting Linda Matson at lindamatson1@mac.com. The sermons are also available to listen to
on the
Myrtle Murphy And Midge Holbrook (affectionately known to us
as “The M&M's) have been members of
Eagles' Wings Retreat Center Available: If you, your family, your scrapbooking group, your girl scout troop, etc., would like to go enjoy mother nature and spend time in God's country amongst his creation, there are many weekends available throughout 2010 for your retreat. Please spread the word to anyone you think might want to use the retreat center. Please email Tina Regan at TinaRegan@cfl.rr.com or call her at home (407 366-6473) to book your date.
Addresses, phone numbers and Emails: PLEASE call the church office (407-644-1783)
and make sure we have your correct address, phone number and email address. To
cut down on postage expenses, we are trying to utilize email as much as
possible.
Fellowship:
Thrivent Night At The
Also a Tailgate Hot
Dog Lunch before the game, and Chartered Bus to the game is also
available. 12:15 p.m. at Prince of
Blessed Cancer Survivors: Beta Chi
Sigma - (Blessed Cancer Survivors) will begin meeting quarterly. Next meeting
is August 28, 9:30 at Ke Ke's on
Ahoy! Calling all cruisers! As a fun &
fund raiser
Volunteers: Please see the attached volunteer sheet for some of our critical needs. Also, we need people to help with the set up, serving and clean up for Homecoming Sunday (July 18).
Sunday
School coordinator needed! A volunteer to oversee our Christian Education
program on Sunday mornings is needed as Anita Bornman is retiring from the
position. Also need: Shepherd for
Bible Believers (K-2nd), Shepherd for Young Disciples ( 3rd- 5th), 2 volunteers
for offering collection, and a hostess to unlock, turn on A/C and music videos
and greet students and guests before Sunday School. Please contact
Jennifer Johnson if you can help.
Rides To Church: Do you need a ride to church or know of someone who does? If so please contact Jennifer Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, RJohnson2109@centurylink.net or 407-645-3380.
Thank you: A special thank you to Tom Steidly for teaching an Adult Sunday School class for so many years. Well done good and faithful servant! Also thanks to Kim Goswellen and family for leading Summer Sunday School for our children!
Thank you to our choirs and choir directors. Ed Bornman and Jeremy Burnum, and
to Jana Whitney and
all who donated refreshments for our the God and Country Service and all who helped to make the day such a success! Our veterans, military personnel and their families were richly blessed.
HOMECOMING SUMMER SUNDAY
Please invite your family, friends, and former members
What: Worship,
fellowship, music and great food
When: Sunday,
July 18
Worship service 10 a.m.
Lunch 11:30 a.m. Schaeffer
Hall
Food: Please bring a covered dish enough to feed your family plus 4
extra adults. Drinks will be provided.
A
through G Salads or Vegetables
H
through R Meat or meat casserole
S
through Z Desserts
Music: Favorite
hymns during the service and the
Quartet "The Four Pals" during lunch.
Volunteers are needed to help with set up,
serving,
and clean up. Please call the
church
office if you can help.
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1.
2.
3.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Sound and Lighting: Operate the sound and lighting system for Sunday services.
Church nursery: Staff the
nursery during Sunday morning services and special events.
Weekly Yard Work: Mow
and edge the grass around the church and trim the bushes as needed.
Web site: Someone familiar with web designing who can
update and keep current our website.
Scrip gift cards: Coordinate the
selling of gift cards on Sunday mornings and coordinate the ordering and
delivery of cards.
There are also other opportunities
including ushering, greeting, lay readers, choir members, teachers (adults,
youth and children), special events coordinator, newsletter, office help,
landscaping, building maintenance and more. .
Some of the more critical needs are listed above. We ask that you prayerfully consider where
God is calling you to serve at
Yes, I can help with
Name: Phone:
Email:
(Please put in the offering plate
or send to the church office)