newsletter

St. John Lutheran Church

Winter Park, Florida

February 2010

Worship: Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalms 100:2

Ash Wednesday: Services for Ash Wednesday, February 17, will be held at noon and 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Wednesday Lenten Services: Beginning Wednesday, February 24, a 7 p.m. service will be held in the sanctuary using the Holden Evening Prayer Service.

Choirs: Both the 9 a.m. and 11:10 services are looking for more voices to help sing praises to God during the services. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings in the Sanctuary (celebration choir) and in the choir room (9:00 a.m. choir).

Christian Education:

New Member Class: A new member/inquirer's class will be held on February 21 and February 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the lounge lunch will be provided. Please call Harriett in the church office if you would like to attend or need more information.

Christian Education Meeting: For Sunday School and VBS meeting on Monday, 02/08 at 7 p.m. in the Parent/Teacher's Lounge, room 205.

Parent/Teacher's Lounge is now open in room 205! Special thanks to Kristen Bornman, Jana and Steve Whitney, Anita Bornman, and Eric Anderson for their donations and work on the project. Also, thank you to Edie and Roger Herota and Pastor Mel and Mary Jacob for their donations.

First Communion Class: A one day event on Saturday, 03/20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students 2nd grade or age 7 years and up and their parents. Parent or other adult must attend with child. The children will receive First Communion during the Maundy Thursday April 1 at the 7 p.m. service. Contact Harriett Frey in the church office (407-644-1783)if you and your child plan to attend.

Children's Sunday School: The December rotation unit was about the beginning of the 12 tribes of Israel. We studied the life of Abraham's grandson, Jacob. Theme: "I am with you." Scripture of the day: "Remember, I will always be with you." Bible Basis: Genesis 25:19-33:20. There was a lot of excitement in the Drama/Music room as students took on the assignments of theater technicians to get our actors into costume and create "Publicity Stills." Photographs are on bulletin board near Lounge (thank you Judy Heidmann!) During Advent, the children learned the meaning of the Hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and Ransom Captive Israel."

In January our Service Project was the Fla/Bahama Synod: PIGS AND PASTORS PROGRAM, for Haiti. We did not know at the time just how important it was going to be. The Sunday School offering was collected into piggy banks and will be presented during the children's sermon on Feb. 7, Global Mission Sunday. The new Rotation unit looked at the life of Joseph. Theme: God at work in difficult times. Scripture of the day: "God sent me ahead of you to save peoples lives." Bible Basis: Genesis 35:23-47:31. In the Drama/Music room we watched a movie of Joseph's life on the "big screen," while students enjoyed popcorn and punch! We talked about how the students make a difference in feeding the hungry through the Sunday School offerings, the Pigs and Pastors Program and Souper Sunday (02/07)
Classes are being challenged to bring in canned goods for Souper Sunday to create a mountain of foods stuff on our Worship Center in 209!

Vacation Bible School: Calling all you young buckaroos (just finished kindergarten students through 6th grade). Join the Faith Round up at the Chi-ro (Ky-Roh) Ranch. Mark your calendars for 06/21 to 06/25. Adult and youth (grade 7 and up) wranglers are needed! Please contact Anita Bornman 407-299-4532 anitabornman@gmail.com if you have any western clothing or decorations that we could borrow. Does anyone do rope tricks? Tune up your guitars and come play with us! "Yippe Ky-yea, Ky-ro!"

Directors For VBS Needed Now! We need two volunteers willing to lead this year's VBS. Please contact church office if you are willing to lead us in our reaching out to the community and sharing the Good News!

ADULT EDUCATION:

Sunday mornings: Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a Galatian? Do you know where to find the country on a map? Please come check it out in the new adult class being lead by Tom Steidley in room 103.

Also, Karen Schneeberger and Brenda Dornbusch continue their Sunday School class in room 206. All the talent, gifting, and creativity you possess was in God’s imagination and placed in you by God Himself. In each of the 6 video sessions, Erwin McManus provides biblical and practical teaching that will challenge you to allow God to transform your character to be more like His. Session topics: Life Without Limits, Transformation, Humble Courage, A Generous Heart, Perseverance, and Path of Servant hood.

Children's Ministry: “Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6

St. John Combined Children’s Choir rocks! Don’t miss this opportunity to join your friends in singing to the Lord! All children, ages 4 – 4^th grade meet on Wednesdays, 6:30 pm, in room 115 where we sing, play chimes, and have noisy fun while sharing God’s love. Adults, are you feeling low? Come be a welcomed visitor to our choir any Wednesday; you’ll almost certainly have a few belly laughs!

Faith Builders, Inc.: FBI is recruiting agents at St. John! All kids, ages 4 – 4^th grade, have been selected to be part of an elite corps. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to rendezvous each Wednesday, 7 – 8 pm, at FBI Headquarters (room 115) and be prepared for fun, games, laughter, and more, while investigating God’s Word and Building Faith. Galatians 3:26 “All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.”

CIA (Christians in Action): For grades first through fourth. A once a month fellowship event starting with Bible Study and pizza and then a fun outing (movie, go carting, putt-putt golf, bowling, etc.).

Youth Ministry: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Busch Gardens: St. John youth will travel to Busch Gardens on Monday, 02/15 (President's Day). We will be leaving at 8 a.m. and returning by 9 p.m. Watch the bulletin for more information.

Youth News: The ski trip was wonderful-no youth injuries! Youth ministry held a car wash on Wednesday, 01/10 along with a candy sale and raised over $600 for Haiti.

Super Bowl Party: Come join the fun at the Super Bowl Party held at the youth house on 02/07 beginning at 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share and cheer on your team.

Super Bowl Subs: The youth will be making subs on Super Bowl Sunday morning. Order forms are available in Schaeffer Hall and on a table outside of the Narthex as well as in Sunday's bulletin. Please order by Wednesday, February 3. Can be picked up following either Sunday service. Donations benefit the 2010 youth mission trip.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner: The youth are sponsoring a pancake dinner on Tuesday, 02/16 beginning at 5 p.m. in Schaeffer Hall. Again, donations benefit the 2010 youth mission trip.

Confirmation: Classes meet in room 209 at 6:30 p.m. with Pastor Bill and then break into their groups at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Pastor Bill in the church office.

Preconfirmation: Classes meet in 110/115 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Pastor Bill in the church office.

Young Adult Ministry: Bible study held every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. in the youth house, led by Pastor Bill.

Outreach/Serving/Volunteering:

St. John Nursery: We are looking for some happy, dedicated members who would like to volunteer to be in our church nursery during 9 a.m. or 11:10 Sunday services. For more information, please contact Connie Hagerman in the church office, 407-644-1783, Connie@mysj.org or Karen Schneeberger, 407-628-8208. Qualifications include:

Love children, reliable and willing to complete a CPR Class (at church)

Summer Sunday School: The quest for Summer teachers has begun! We will use the Veggie Tales DVD Library for our Curriculum this year. It has a site to down load games, crafts and activities. Please contact Pastor Bill (407-644-1783) if you would like to teach, but can't make a year long commitment. Summer Sunday school is planned for 06/07 to 08/30.

Substitutes needed! Help is needed on an occasional Sunday to substitute for one of our Sunday School shepherds, helping transport students to their classroom, take attendance, staying during the lesson and then back to dismissal room for parent pick up.

Sharing a Ride: We have several members who would like to attend Sunday services and special events held at St. John. However, they either do not have transportation or do not drive in the evening hours. Please call Jennifer Johnson if you can help provide a ride to someone who lives in your area.

Wednesday night dinners: Come join the laughter, fun and fellowship with the kitchen team to help with our Wednesday fellowship dinners. Please contact Jennifer Johnson if you can help.

Communication:

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 407 366-6473 home to book your date.

Addresses, phone numbers and Emails: To make sure that the church office has your correct phone number and address, please call the church receptionist to verify your information. Also to cut down on postage expenses, we are trying to utilize email as much as possible. If you have an email address, please also give the church receptionist that information as well.

Fellowship: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

Super Bowl Party: Come join the fun at the Super Bowl Party held at the youth house on 02/07 beginning at 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share and cheer on your team.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner: The youth are sponsoring a pancake dinner on Tuesday, 02/16 beginning at 5 p.m. in Schaeffer Hall. Again, donations benefit the 2010 youth mission trip.

Wednesday night dinners: Our Wednesday dinners are a wonderful time for fellowship! Dinner served from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Also, our nursery is open during the dinner and classes.

February 2 February 17 Ash Wednesday - no dinner

Beef brisket (4 Rivers) and rolls

Macaroni and cheese

Salad and dessert

February 10 February 24

Pulled pork (Bubbalou's) Rotisserie chicken (Athena's)

Baked beans Baked potato bar

Salad Salad

Dessert Dessert

Reservations are a must so we can order enough food for each dinner. Cost will be $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, contact Jennifer Johnson.

Beta Chi Sigma: "Blessed Cancer Survivors" All cancer survivors are welcome. We are a group of ladies who started meeting about five years ago. Sadly but gladly we keep adding new members. Our next meeting is 02/27 at 12:30 at Bob Evans near 436/17-92 in the Sam's Warehouse parking lot. We lunch together and share our stories. Please come join us for fellowship and support.

St John Lutheran Church - Winter Park, Florida