St. John Lutheran Church November 2017________________________________________________________________________

Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home

e-mail: dpool@stjohn-clinton-ia.orgWeb Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org

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November Services of Worship

November 5 – All Saints’ Day (celebrated) Holy Communion will be celebrated.

November 12 – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Stewardship I Our Christian Stewardship

November 19 – 24th Sunday after Pentecost Stewardship II Holy Communion will be celebrated. 2018 Faith Promises received.

November 22 – Thanksgiving Eve – Divine Service, 7:00 p.m.

November 23 – Thanksgiving Day – Divine Service, 9:00 a.m.

November 26 – Last Sunday of the Church Year

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyEcclesiastes:

Finding the True Purpose of Life

We continue our study in November on the Old Testament wisdom of King Solomon found in Ecclesiastes. Join us for a journey into the meaning of life as we look at the successes and failures of the wisest man who has ever lived. Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your Bible. Everyone is welcome!

November 5: Ecclesiastes 5:1-20: God and WealthNovember 12: Ecclesiastes 6:1-11: Never SatisfiedNovember 19: Ecclesiastes 7:1-13: Better Days?November 26: Ecclesiastes 7:14-29: Wicked Schemes

Remember to set your clock back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 4. Daylight-Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 5.

The Danger of Gossip

The Lord loves when we use our speech for the good of others. As we are reminded in Proverbs, “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.” Crooked speech is talk that isn’t true, or godly, or in the best interest of our neighbor. This would include outright lying, and even hypocritical living, but one of the most obvious examples of this is gossip.

Gossip is sometimes hard to recognize. It is often couched in a religious concern. But if we boil it down, gossip is saying anything about someone in the company of others that you don’t have the courage to say to them personally. Gossip is inappropriate speech about the failings of others—real or imagined.

So we know what it is. And we know not to do it. But I want to give you four ways to redirect it. Gossip is something that we should not entertain. We shouldn’t listen to the gossip of others. We should bring it to an end, especially in the life of the Church.

First, don’t be a gossiper yourself. Don’t practice talking about others in inappropriate ways and people will begin to notice. Your lack of gossip will mean that you are not a safe place for gossip.

Second, redirect others’ gossip with a simple question about the intent. “Have you spoken to them about this concern?” And if that doesn’t work, “I don’t think you should share this with me if you’re not prepared to share it with them.”

Third, the Church has to be prepared to call gossip what it is. Gossip is sin. St. Paul is pretty clear on the severity of this sin (2 Cor. 12:20). It is not to be tolerated because it can be so destructive to the body of Christ. If we care for the reputation of others, and for the reputation of the Church, we won’t give any room for crooked speech.

Finally, fill your speech with the Word of God. Especially this time of the year, when we celebrate Thanksgiving, there are so many better things to talk about than the failings of others. Psalm 69 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Filling your speech with praise demonstrates a far better use for words.

So with the Psalmist we declare, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

- Pastor

Our Christian Stewardship

Sunday, November 12, is the first of two Sundays at St. John Lutheran Church with a Stewardship emphasis. During the week of November 13, you will receive a special mailing including your Faith Promise (pledge) card for 2018.

Since your promise of support toward the mission and ministry of St. John congregation is between you and God, a sealed pledge is used. These individual faith promises will be received at our services on Sunday, November 19.

Board of Elders

The Board of Elders will meet on Monday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Stewardship

The Board of Stewardship will not meet in November.

Board of Education

The Board of Education will meet on Monday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Board of Evangelism

The Board of Evangelism will meet on Tuesday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m.

Voters’ Assembly

Our Voters’ Assembly will meet on Monday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to the Voters’ Assembly. Come and get involved in the work of the Church.

Board Meetings

Check It OutIn Our Church Library

The Ride of Your LifeBy

Mike Howerton

We can all remember the first time we learned to ride a bike. That terrible thrill when we first realized our dad had let go of the seat and we were on our own. That first crash. The skinned knees. The life of a Christian is a lot like that. We want to experience the freedom we’re promised, so we take a risk, a leap of faith and sometimes we fall. But just like our dad running alongside of us, God is always there, equipping us, encouraging us, and comforting us. Laugh and smile as you recall your own experience.

Wrestling for My LifeBy

Shawn Michaels[the legend and the faith of a superstar]

Now retired after 25 years in the ring and looking back on his career and his life of faith, Michaels offers fascinating perspectives on what it means to make tough decisions and how to follow God, when it’s not easy and how trying to be a good person can be even harder than breaking a ladder over a competitor’s head.

Gold Through the Fire[family video]

At 17, Peter Smyvlov performs a daring escape out of the Soviet Union that frees him from the religious persecution that still imprisons his family. This a heartwarming movie with a challenging message for all age groups.

Revelation Bible Study with Pastor

Join us for this ongoing small group Bible Study on the 1st and

3rd Tuesdays at either 9:30 a.m. (Classroom 1) or 7:00 p.m. (Fellowship Hall). This study is for men, women, and teens. There is no cost. No previous Bible study experience is necessary. Bring your Bible.

November 7: Philadelphia and Laodicea: Revelation 3:7-22 November 21: A Throne in Heaven: Revelation 4:1-11

Ladies Aid

Ladies Aid will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, November 3 at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Pool will be leading the Bible study. Hostesses are Janet Peters and Helen Niebuhr. We have many items on our agenda to cover. All Ladies Aid members are encouraged to attend.

Mary Martha

The Mary Martha meeting will be Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Bible study will be led by Pastor Pool. The 2018 altar duties sign-up sheets will be available. Sallie Pool and Carol Stuedemann will serve as hostesses. All ladies are invited to attend.

Quilts for Lutheran World Relief

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. All ladies are invited to help us!

Food Pantry Collection November 5

Donations of nonperishable food items, paper, and soap products may be brought to the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, November 5, for the food pantry collection at the Victory Center. These items will be distributed to the unemployed of the community.

Movie Night: The Case for Christ

Join us for this compelling drama about faith, doubt, and answers. Thursday, November 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There is no cost. Snacks are provided. Hosted by the Board of Evangelism.

Do you shop at Amazon.com?

AmazonSmile will make a donation to St. John each time you make a purchase. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/42-6005460 to register your account. After registering your Amazon account,

start each purchase at smile.amazon.com.

Church Office HoursMonday thru Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Pastor Pool is out of the office on Thursdays. Angie is normally in the office all day on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. She is only in the office during the morning on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Carol Stuedemann is volunteering in the church office on Tuesday afternoons. If you stop in during office hours and one of us is not available leave us a note or leave a message on the church voicemail, 242-5588, and we will be sure to get back to you.

Thanksgiving Baskets

The Board of Evangelism is coordinating Thanksgiving Baskets in November. The baskets will include a turkey or ham, provided by St. John, and other traditional non-perishable Thanksgiving foods, such as boxes of mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries and corn. They will go to people in the community who are in need of special help during this holiday season. We are limiting the number of baskets to 10.

What can you do to help?

1. Donate non-perishable food items;

2. Submit a name to the church office of a neighbor, coworker or friend to whom you would like to donate a basket (please include the number of family members);

3. Help assemble or deliver baskets Saturday, November 18 at 9:00 a.m.

Christmas Eve Children’s Service

St. John Sunday School students will be starting practice for the Christmas Eve Children’s Service during Sunday School on December 3. Please notify your Sunday School teacher if your child will be participating in the program so they can help assign parts and teach songs. Attendance during December will be very important for those participating in the Christmas Eve Service.

Higher Things

Our annual Higher Things youth conference will take place in Northfield, Minnesota on July 3-6, 2018. Registration forms are now available in the Fellowship Hall. Please sign-up immediately if you plan to attend! Registration is just $100. The deadline was October 29, but space may still be available if you let us know right away! The Church will help raise funds for the

rest of the cost of the conference! Confirmed youth and college students are welcome to attend.

Fellowship Club Project

A basket will be in education building from November 12 through December 8 for gifts for the University of Iowa Hospital patients. Packages should be gift wrapped with a note attached as to what age or gender person the gift is suitable. The gifts will be taken to our Lutheran chaplains in Iowa City for distribution. This project is sponsored by the St. John

Fellowship Club. Everyone in the congregation is invited to participate.

New Altar Flower Chart

The 2018 Altar Flower Chart is on the bulletin board in the church entryway. You may reserve a Sunday to place flowers on the altar by signing the chart. This may be done in memory of someone; in celebration of a birthday, wedding or anniversary; or as a gift of love. If you would like information on cost and how to go about ordering flowers for church, please call Angie at the church office.

Are you a Snowbird?

If you are planning to be gone over the winter months, please contact the church office and get Angie Stewart your temporary address information. We will make sure to send you the monthly newsletter while you are away and will also mail your bulletins every few weeks.

Advent: Behold the Light!

Mark your calendars now for our Wednesday Advent Services beginning December 6. Services are each Wednesday at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. leading up to the celebration of the incarnation of Christ on Christmas Day. Will you join us for a few quiet moments in this busy season to behold the true light that has come into the world?

Thanksgiving Dinner

We are not hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner at church this year because of our Reformation Oktoberfest. We encourage members of the congregation to be especially aware of those in

our midst who would enjoy the fellowship of your home this Thanksgiving.

November Birthdays & Anniversaries

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

Happy Birthday to: Marvel Jackson, who will be 97 on Nov. 6. Ruth Johnson, who will be 91 on Nov. 7.Connie Koehn, who will be 85 on Nov. 8.Norma Hammer, who will be 85 on Nov. 13.Robert Hill, who will be 86 on Nov. 14.George Struve, who will be 89 on Nov. 22.Gene Niebuhr, who will be 91 on Nov. 24.Marian Enwright, who will be 89 on Nov. 28.Luella Anderson, who will be 92 on Nov. 29.

Happy Anniversary to:Steve & Angela Black, 30th wedding anniversary on November 20.

We list birthdays 80 and above and anniversaries for year one and every five years thereafter unless we receive a request not to do so.

Private Communion Calls

Pastor Pool makes his visits to those in nursing homes throughout the month. Those at home who would like to receive a communion visit are asked to call Pastor at the church office, 242-5588, to schedule a convenient time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN NOVEMBER

Early

Elders: Rick Eizenga Dave Reynolds

Ushers: Brent Pladna Gary Lueders Jon Meyermann Craig Miller

Nursery Attendants (Late)5 – Heather Becker

12 – Barb Bialas

19 – Sandy Bovis &Moriah Stewart

26 – Anna Krueger

Recording

5 – Paul Wenzel12 – Darlene Paysen19 – Paul Wenzel26 – Darlene Paysen

Late

Elders: Tom Hardersen Jim Kophamer

Ushers: Wayne Becker Keith Doucette Dakota Ebensberger

Acolyte Schedule5-Early – William Schemers5-Late – David Graham

12-Early – Ben Poland12-Late – Aaron Becker

19-Early – Sam Reynolds19-Late – Kaleb Bovis

26-Early – Zachary Poland26-Late – Elder

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: NOV. 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Angie Stewart, and get her the information by November 20.