St. John’s Lutheran Church

380 Keny Blvd.

London, OH 43140

The Chimes

Christ in us, the hope of glory! August 2018

Pastor Larry Baker 614-257-8560 740-852-1522 stjohnslondon@sbcglobal.net www.stjohnslondon.org

Daylight Bible Group Tuesdays 10:15AM

Fall Festival Meeting August 14 6:00PM

Care Group August 23 6:30PM

Call Process I have not been involved in the call process and I am not sure what has been done but I’d like to share my own insights. Often a congregation is asked to self-evaluate and determine where and how they want to continue ministry. It is often difficult to step back and look at self and can be helpful to have an outsider’s viewpoint. Allow me to share my observations from the few months I’ve been here. You have a fine facility that can be utilized in many ways. The question is–will you allow it to be utilized. You are friendly, welcoming people. Will you welcome all? You offer varied worship styles. Will you continue that approach and even improve on it? You are, as many ELCA congregations, 1. Aging (not many young folks/families and 2. Mostly Caucasian.

Will you grow in a way that allows you to become more diverse? You have members with many talents. Will you exercise those talents for the Kingdom of God?

Some personal self reflection during this time would be good for all of you. I hope your council does some corporate examination as well. Shalom, Pastor Larry

Let me share with you how my convoluted mind works. This missive is for the August newsletter. August makes me think back to the term and therefore to Gaius Caesar Augustus. In Roman times Gaius thought himself to be a god and dictator and adopted the title Caesar Augustus. But then along comes a man named Jesus who is quite complex but certainly humble. And then we jump ahead a bit and read what Peter (and Paul as well, elsewhere) tell us. 1 Peter 2:17 (NRSV) 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers.

Fear God. Honor the emperor. What? Honor Caesar? Yes indeed but we also jump ahead to a fellow named Dr. Martin Luther who not only agrees with Peter and Paul but expands upon this concept as well (at some length, I might add). And that of course brings us up to current times. Should we pray for our political lead-ers? Yes, of course. Does that mean we always agree with them or endorse their ideas and conduct – not at all. Politics and faith are never separated. Our beliefs shape how we live out our lives. The cross is founda-tional for us. Hope you enjoyed seeing how I got to this point. Enjoy the august month of August!

Pastor Larry D. Baker

Children’s Sunday School Children’s Sunday School is held at 10:45 each Sunday morning. Enjoy Bible stories, crafts, games, snacks and great fellowship.

Bible Study Groups

St. John’s offers several opportunities for Bible Study.

Sundays 10:00 AM Spirit led topics Join this group as we discuss an array of Christian topics from current events to “God moments.”

Sundays 10:30 AM Galatians.

Tuesdays 10:15 AM Book of Psalms Join us as we read, study, and discuss the Psalms.

St. John's Sunday School

To be a Sunday School teacher is to set an example of believers in truth, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. We would be so grateful if you would answer the call to teach God's word to the young, won-dering minds of St. John's congregation- you are more appreciated than you know.

A week by week lesson is already in place and all you have to do is share the good news with the kids in attendance! A craft and supplies will be provided each week for your convenience.

To volunteer 1 Sunday or more per month, please visit our Sunday School Electronic Volunteer link at:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0448a5a823a3f94-stjohns

Care Committee, August 23rd - 6:30 PM

Interested in learning about the Care Group? It’s not difficult. You send birthday, anniversary, get well, etc. cards to a few families. The church furnishes the cards. It’s nice to be remembered and you‘ll feel good for doing the remembering! Please join us on Thursday, August 23 at 6:30 PM in Luther’s Café. Questions, please see Debbie Ball or the church office.

Schilling Scholarship

Schilling Scholarships will be awarded to our college students on August 5th at the 9AM & 10:45 AM services. The scholarships are awarded to help offset the cost of the students’ tuition or books. If you applied for a Schilling Scholarship in March, please plan on attending church on August 5th.

Change Jar

Can you guess how much money was in the change jar? Fill in your name with the amount of money you think was collected. The chart is posted on the bulletin board by the kitchen.

Fall Festival Meeting

Please join us on Tuesday, Aug. 14th at 6PM in Luther’s Café for the Fall Festival meeting. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

St. John’s Fall Festival October 6th - 11AM - 9PM Volunteers and Entertainment Needed!

Planning is underway and we need many volunteers. If you or your fam-ily and friends would like to show your talents, please sign up in Luther’s Café. We need many entertainers. If you

have information about entertainers we could contact, please give the committee (Dale Widen, Diane Miller-Ryan, Debbie Vecchiarelli) the information. Without your help, we cannot make this event possible. This is a wonderful opportunity to share with the community what a great place and wonderful congregation St. John’s has.

Health Ministry

St. John’s Health Ministry will be doing monthly blood pressure checks the first Sunday of each month where you can have your blood pressure checked in Luther’s Café at 10:00 am.

Save Your Pop Tabs St. John’s is collecting pop/beer tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

Matthew 25 Ministries

Thank you to everyone who is participating in the Matthew 25 Ministries. We are still collecting prescription medicine bottles for 3rd world countries where doctors have nothing to dispense medication in. Please continue bringing in your medicine bottles and don’t forget, we need the labels removed.

H.E.L.P. HOUSE /Food-thru-Faith

The HELP House and Food-thru-Faith are in need of your help. If each family would pick up a few extra items while shopping, it would help tremendously. Place your donations in the box marked “H.E.L.P. House” or basket marked “Food thru Faith” at the church entrance. During June, Food-thru-Faith served 31 families which included 57 adults and 17 children for a total of 74 people.

Food thru Faith is especially looking for tea bags, canned potatoes, jiffy corn bread mix and jelly. The Help House is especially looking for deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap & shampoo.

Kroger Community Rewards Have you enrolled?

Let’s get our share of $1,250,000 quarterly from Kroger Community Rewards Program! St. John’s is signed up with Kroger to earn Community Rewards. By enrolling and using your Kroger Plus card when you shop at your local Krog-er, all proceeds will go to our Ekedahl Fund.

To enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program, please visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com click on “Columbus, OH” and click on “Enroll” to register for the first time or call 1-800-KROGERS.

Once account is activated, sign in and choose St. John’s Lutheran Church as your organization (90432).

Lutheran World Relief Soap Project

It’s July! My how time flies. We only have three months to collect wrapped bars of soap before the LWR truck arrives! We need to pick up the pace because right now we’re lagging in numbers! I know that we can do it, be-cause last year we beat the previous year. Give it your best. Please drop off your wrapped bars of soap in the bas-ket at the church entrance.

School Supplies Needed

In order to help with the cost of our students school supplies, we are collecting supplies for our chil-dren. If you would like to donate, a school supply donation box will soon be located on the table next to the kitchen doors. A list of supplies needed for each grade will also be available.

St. John’s Vacation Bible School

“Shipwrecked” Who says being “shipwrecked” isn’t fun??? We had an amazing first day being “shipwrecked” at St. John’s VBS! There were approximately 37 children and 20 adults. Pastor Larry led the adult bible study while many others volun-teered with story telling, crafts, water games, preparing fun snacks and more! The children learned a few new songs and dance moves too!

This Month

Mon. 8/1 5:30 VBS Tues. 8/2 5:30 VBS Wed. 8/3 5:30 VBS Tues. 8/14 6:00 Fundraising Tues. 8/14 7:00 Council Thur, 8/23 6:30 Care Group

Attendance and Finance

Needing our prayers:

Lois Newman, Derek Miller, Issy Freeman, Adley Absten, Grannie Kelly, Dave Fisher, Chris Brill, Luke Benner, Fred Rousculp, Bill Streit, Richard Benish, Sharon Hostetler, Anita Boiven, Sonia Hazlett, Royce Cooley, Gary Seckel, Janet Phillips, Mary Komives, Karen Morris, Pam Smathers, Audrey Penn, Debbie Lee, James Akers, Kim Mallia, Ed Kaufman, George Maurer, Bob & Linda Geesling, David & Michelle Janesse, Louis Johnson Jr. family, our soldiers: Logan Reese, Brian Weiner, and John Bisha.

Attendance Averages for the Month of August

2005- 121 2006- 142 2007- 136 2008- 153 2009- 165 2010- 166 2011- 158

2012- 142 2013- 140 2014– 143 2015– 129 2016– 110 2017– 110 2018– ?

Attendance Averages for the Month of July

2005- 131 2006- 123 2007- 142 2008- 140 2009- 163 2010- 144 2011- 177

2012- 152 2013– 143 2014– 135 2015– 122 2016– 108 2017– 98 2018– 88

Weekly Schedule

Sunday 9:00 Traditional Worship 10:00 Coffee Hour 10:00 Adult Sunday School 10:45 Adult Sunday School 10:45 Contemporary Worship 10:45 Children’s Sun. School 3:00 DD Service Tuesday 10:15 Daylight Bible Group 7:00 Yoga

Church Council Brynne Adkins Sharon Dillion Tim Amling Keith Languell Kelly Cooley Scott Spohler

Leaders

Elizabeth Lassel: Prison Ministry Diane Miller Ryan: Disabled Min. Deb Ball: Care Group Leader Deb Ball & Melonie Fisher: Altar Guild

Prayer Requests

If you have a prayer request, please pick up a prayer request card in the church office. In agreement with the HIPAA Law, a prayer request should not be published without the person’s knowledge.

Finance Report June 2018 Birthdays and Anniversaries

August

5. Debbie Carter 9. Mary Burke 14. Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Ball 16. Khara Cunningham 18. Betty Thompson, Herb Hazlett 19. Tonya Blain 20. Mr. & Mrs. Mark Browning 21. Debbie Larkins 22. Bobbi Rafferty, Mr. & Mrs. Derek Fisher 25. Victoria Patrick, Anne Paysen, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Toy 26. Mr. & Mrs. Tom Jasper 27. David Moller 28. Valerie Eades 29. Deb Vanderpool 31. Milt Boerger

Total: June Actual YTD Actual

Income $16,060 $96,564

Expenses $11,551 $101,343

Pos / (Neg) Net cash flow $4,510 ($4,779)

Worship Assistants for August Ministry August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26

Acolyte 9:00 10:45 3:00

Keith Languell Anna Spohler Shaundra Sayre

Al Datz Chloe Cunningham Shaundra Sayre

Jakob Friend Aodhan Kelly Shaundra Sayre

Andy Wood Josh Stekli Shaundra Sayre

Communion Assistant

9:00 10:45

Elmer & Charlene Olsen Dorene Browning Kelly Cooley

Gary & Ruth Peters Gene Noble Dana Fisher

Tim Amling Keith Languell Nancy Penix Jeanne White

Marty & Elaine Komives Mike & Dawn Johnson

Lector 9:00 10:45

Karen Streit Scott Spohler

Mark Erbaugh Josh Stekli

Sharon Dillion Brynne Adkins

Bobby Wood Dana Fisher

Usher 9:00 10:45 3:00

Dave & Melonie Fisher Gene Noble Rich Paysen Jeff Horn Charlie Elliott

Kate Sparks Marian Fisher Diane Miller Debbie Henneman Jeff Horn Charlie Elliott

Tom & Linda Jasper Scott & Leigh Spohler Jeff Horn Charlie Elliott

Nancy Hodosko Sharon Dillion Dale & Teri Widen Jeff Horn Charlie Elliott

Greeter 9:00

Marty Komives

Al Rings

Tom Jasper

Jeff Blain

Power Point 9:00 10:45 3:00

Vici Geer Will Cooley Rebecca Bell

Fran Datz Wyatt Eades Rebecca Bell

Liz Lassel Dalton Cunningham Rebecca Bell

Mark Erbaugh Anna Spohler Rebecca Bell

Offering Caregivers

Kelly Cooley Scott Spohler

Tim Amling Keith Languell

Brynne Adkins Kelly Cooley

Sharon Dillion Nancy Hodosko

Sunday School

Altar Guild Nancy Hodosko

Nancy Hodosko

Sharon Dillion Nancy Hodosko

Sharon Dillion Nancy Hodosko

Altar Flowers Carol Waggoner George & Liz Lassel Tim & Dorothy Amling Keith Languell

Eternal Flame Carol Waggoner Bill & Ruth Blain Bill & Ruth Blain Bill & Ruth Blain