St. John Lutheran Church February 2016________________________________________________________________________

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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Ash Wednesday and Lent

On Ash Wednesday February 10, we begin the Lenten season. The color of the Church is purple, fixing our minds on repentance and the crucified King. The tone is subdued, we don’t sing or say alleluias during Lent, saving them for the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord. The season invites us to form better habits, especially Bible study, prayer, service to others, and giving. Some will fast during Lent, but we do so privately and quietly (Matthew 6:16-18). We have additional Wednesday services during Lent at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. We do all of these things in response to the cross and for the glory of God. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality because of the curse of sin, that “we are dust and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:20). Following the service, Pastor will offer the rite of the imposition of ashes. They are applied with the sign of the cross to point us to the passion of the Christ and the hope we have in Him.

How to Make Worship Kid-Friendly

I read a great article recently with the above title. You can find the whole thing here:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ponderanew/2016/01/18/making-worship-kid-friendly/

This article suggested that traditional, liturgical worship is exactly what our kids need. I would suggest it is what our teens and adults need as well. Worship style is not just a matter of taste. It’s about content and continuity with the Church that has come before us. And it has real implications for the future of the Church. And notice that I said need rather than want. We don’t always know what is good for us.

“To be honest, I see a generation that is crying out for the sustenance that traditional worship can bring. For boundaries, for beauty, for connection to something bigger that themselves. Their faith is parched for corporate worship that will last, that will sustain…One of the lies of contemporary commercial worship is that modern entertainment is the only way to engage the fleeting attention span of our youngest worshipers.”

Now, liturgical worship is demanding. It is like learning to dance (and by that I don’t mean the kind of dancing that happens at prom). It takes time and energy to learn by heart the rhythm of the service. But everything worth doing places demands on us. And teaching our kids to participate by example offers eternal benefits.

It is possible to truly engage our kids with liturgical worship. It will demand something of parents, teaching their kids the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, practicing at home, and involving them in the whole service. And it will demand something of the congregation, gladly welcoming the involvement of children and the little bit of extra sound that may bring.

It is easier to give in to the pressures of entertaining them with services that are loud, showy, and visually stimulating. But, “In making the Church entertaining, we’ve dug a massive hole and thrown our children into it.” We will always lose the entertainment battle.

Liturgical worship requires us to engage with God’s Word – to engage with Christ. And it creates a new culture for the Church – a culture that is not a cheap knock-off of what the world is doing at the moment. It offers us a real alternative. It offers us the biblical practices of the Church: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).

So join me in worship this week. Bring your kids and grandkids. Hand them a hymnal. Show them where we are in the Service folder. And teach them by example to sing, chant, listen, kneel, and pray. Show them how important this is by your attendance and your participation. See you Sunday!

Pastor

Youth Ushers

Each month on the second Sunday of the month, our confirmed young people are serving the congregation as ushers. But we need you to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall.

Facebook

Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyThe Book of Daniel

Pastor’s Sunday study continues with the mysterious and challenging Old Testament Prophet Daniel. From life in Babylon to the end of the world, Daniel addresses dreams, revelation, persecution, and even a glimpse of the Gospel. We meet each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There is no cost. Bring your Bibles. Please join us!

Feb. 7: Daniel 3:1-18: An Image of Gold

Feb. 14: Daniel 3:19-30: A Fiery Furnace

Feb. 21: Daniel 4:1-18: Nebuchadnezzar is Dreaming Again

Feb. 28: Daniel 4: 19-27: Daniel’s Interpretation

Vacation

The Pool Family will be on vacation from February 11-16.

Lenten Rotation

St. John is again participating in the Pastoral Lenten Rotation with our sister LCMS congregations on the Wednesdays of Lent beginning after Ash Wednesday. This means you will have the privilege to hear from guest pastors on Wednesdays and Pastor Pool will be away on Wednesday evenings preaching in nearby Churches. Services will continue to be at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. Pastor’s youth confirmation class will meet Saturday mornings (Feb. 20, 27, March 5, 12, 19). Our sermons will revolve around the hymns of Lent. Please come out to get to know the pastors from our sister congregations!

Lenten Serving Schedule

Each year the congregation is divided into groups according to the church directory for Lent and Advent Services with one group serving after each service. Each family serving is asked to bring a plate or two of sandwiches, four dozen cookies, or a pan of bars. Otherwise a donation to purchase punch and coffee may be left in the marked container in the church kitchen.

The serving schedule is divided by those in the church directory as follows:

February 10 – Harlan Dell to Sue Ingwersen

February 17 – Darrell Jackson to Sylvia Lorenzen

February 24 – Barbara Lueders to Katelyn Raymond

March 2 – Karen Reed to Paul Specht

March 9 – Richard Stahl to Tara Woods

March 16 – Dawn Adamiec to Ken Decker

Ladies Aid

Ladies Aid will gather on Friday, February 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Mary Boyer, Janice Edwards, and Mary Eizenga will be serving as hostesses.

Ladies Evening Bible Study

Ladies Evening Bible Study will not meet in February.

Mary Martha

Mary Martha will not have a meeting in February. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 8 for the annual Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m.

Quilting Bee

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, February 18 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies interested in helping sew and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief are invited to attend.

Fellowship Club Potluck

St. John Fellowship Club will meet on Tuesday, February 2 at 6:00 p.m. for a potluck supper at the church. Please bring food to share. The beverages and table service will be furnished. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Presidents’ Day

The Church Office and Preschool will be closed on Monday, February 15 for Presidents’ Day.

Higher Things

We have 11 youth and 3 adults going to the Higher Things Youth Conference this summer in Cedar Falls, IA. We are excited to have so many go! But we could use your help. The cost per person is $375. Would you consider giving a gift to help our young people go? Thrivent Choice dollars directed to St. John Lutheran Church are also helping us. Direct those choice dollars today.

CANS! CANS! CANS!

We are in need of 46 oz. juice/soup cans that are 12” high and 4” in diameter. These cans are used to deliver the altar flowers each week and our supply is running low. Your extra cans may be left on the counter in the kitchen.

St. John Preschool Now Enrolling

The preschool will begin accepting students for the 2016/2017 school year on February 1. We will continue to have a multi-age classroom setting with 3 year olds attending 3 days per week and older children attending 5 days per week. We have extended our hours of operation to 8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $120.00 for 1st year students and will be free for 2nd year returning students. Contact the church office, 242-5588, for more information or enrollment forms.

Note for Thrivent Members

Many thanks to our Thrivent members who so generously direct their “Choice Dollars” to our preschool, Christian Aid Fun, and congregation. We ask that you continue to do this.

In the past, each local congregation also received funds that could be used for various congregational or member needs. This opportunity has been replaced by “Thrivent Action Teams.”

Each Thrivent member is now eligible to take action on a cause they care about. The individual member puts together a team to assist in the endeavor. One would apply for $250.00 seed money. Your team would then have 90 days to complete the project. This could be a fundraiser, one-time service activity or educational event. (An example would be our Christmas food boxes.) Each Thrivent member can submit 2 applications per year. Opportunities abound to be of service to our congregation and community at large.

If you would like to lead an “Action Team” and need further information on how to proceed, please contact Joyce Martinez, 242-5456. If you are call upon to be a member of an “Action Team,” please respond with, “Of course, I would be glad to help.”

LIVE GENEROUSLYCheck It Out

In Our Church Library

Behold the Lambby

Pamela J. Nielsen

An introduction to the signs and symbols of the church

Today, when God’s people see an image of a lamb with a victory flag, they understand that this is a symbol of Jesus, who died on the cross. You may already know many of the symbols used to tell the Church’s story of salvation because they are found in many places in our church. In “Behold the Lamb,” the author explores the various symbols used in the Church. You will learn what the different symbols represent and how they are used.

He Still Moves Stonesby

Max Lucado

(A Five-Time Divorcee)(A Despondent Cripple)(A Sister at a Funeral)

(A Father in an Emergency)

Max Lucado invites us to relive these stories with him. To be reminded that the God who spoke still speaks. The God who came still comes.

Author Max Lucado

Max Lucado is an accomplished story teller, a master of poetic prose, a thoughtful and insightful observer, and the author of many best-selling books for both adults and children. We have many of his books in our church library.

Preschool Update

We will begin our month with a few short studies on Groundhogs Day, Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day. After that we will begin our next large investigation of Winter.  We will investigate the weather, snow, ice, and how people and animals survive and play during the

winter months. There will be plenty of science and art to go along with the great books we will be reading this month.

During Bible Time we will be learning more about our Savior, Jesus.  We will learn through book, song and rhyme about the calling of the disciples, the blessing of the children and some of the many miracles he performed.

Our preschool continues to bless our children and their families everyday even as they bless us.

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca

Brochures

The new Summer Camp 2016 brochures for Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca are on the guest book stand in the church entryway. The brochure includes a registration form and information about the programs and date selections.

Camps include: Beginner Camp, Explorer Camp, Discovery Camp, Horse Camp, Sports Camp, Wilderness Camp, Pathfinder Camp, Adventure Camp, Trailblazer Camp, Projectile Camp, and Challenge Camp.

Discounts

Remember to register early! Those who do will receive a discounted rate – see the brochure for more information. There is also a discount for families with three or more children attending full-week residential camps. Is your family new to Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca? If so, you may qualify for the Family’s First Camper scholarship.

Camperships

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca camperships are available to baptized members of St. John congregation: $150.00 camperships for a five-day program, and $50.00 camperships for a three-day program. To reserve a campership call the church office, 242-5588.

For more information about Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, or to register, go to www.campiodiseca.org.

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca

February Birthdays & Anniversaries

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

Happy Birthday to: Gene Rall, who will be 89 on Feb. 1. George Andresen, who will be 88 on Feb. 1.Gerri Rall, who will be 84 on Feb. 2.Catherine Thomsen, who will be 88 on Feb. 10.Carole Lueders, who will be 81 on Feb. 17.Glen Gray Jr., who will be 82 on Feb. 25.

Happy Anniversary to: Dan & Sallie Pool, 25th Wedding Anniversary on Feb. 9. Wayne & Joyce Suehl, 20th Wedding Anniversary on Feb. 12.Tom & Phoebe Soenksen, 1st Wedding Anniversary on Feb. 14. Jeff & Sharon Niebuhr, 15th Wedding Anniversary on Feb. 17.

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 now 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 time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN FEBRUARY

Early

Elders: Kurt Flathers Rick Eizenga

Ushers: Jay Mueller

Youth Ushers: February 14

Nursery Attendants (Late)

7 – Heather Becker

14 – Barb Bialas

21 – Sandy Bovis & Moriah Stewart

28 – Natalie Jackson

Recording

7 – Darlene Paysen14 – Paul Wenzel21 – Darlene Paysen28 – Paul Wenzel

Late

Elders: Troy Bialas David Becker

Ushers: Jerry Morden Dale Schroeder Peter Sirna

Youth Ushers: February 14

Acolyte Schedule7-Early – Elder 7-Late – Parker Sirna

10 – Ash Wed. – Elder

14-Early – Elder14-Late –Jacob Jackson

17 – Lent - Elder

21-Early – Elder21-Late – Joseph Simpson

24 – Lent - Elder

28-Early – Elder28-Late – Elder

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