St. John Journal: Page 4

Ushers and Greeters

7:45 a.m. 10:15 a.m. January 1 Michelle Bruecker Mary Fritsch Greeters Becke Pennenberg Barb Verbeten Ralia Pennenberg Rozanne Bohrtz Carroll Treptow Nichole Meyers

January 1 Jacob Bruecker Josh Bohrtz Ushers Noah Pennenberg Ralph Bohrtz Monty Reynolds Kenny & Chris Lemke Don & Dave Treptow Ryan Lemke Ed Maass ********************************************************************* January 8 Michelle Bruecker Mary Fritsch Greeters Becke Pennenberg Barb Verbeten Ralia Pennenberg Rozanne Bohrtz Carroll Treptow Nichole Meyers

January 8 Jacob Bruecker Josh Bohrtz Ushers Noah Pennenberg Ralph Bohrtz Monty Reynolds Kenny & Chris Lemke Don & Dave Treptow Ryan Lemke Ed Maass ********************************************************************* January 15 Bea Ambrosius Faye Patoka Greeters Pat Vickman Aura Lee Gehl Brenda Pohlman Carol Just Betty Schmidt Les Schmidt January 15 Kevin Vande Hey Lloyd Patoka Ushers Chad & Jesse Schmidt Terry Sieker Steve Wierschke Richard Patton Bernie Vickman Bart Reschke ********************************************************************* Jan 22 & 29 Bea Ambrosius Faye Patoka Greeters Pat Vickman Aura Lee Gehl Brenda Pohlman Carol Just Betty Schmidt Les Schmidt Jan 22 & 29 Kevin Vande Hey Lloyd Patoka Ushers Chad & Jesse Schmidt Terry Sieker Steve Wierschke Richard Patton Bernie Vickman Bart Reschke ********************************************************************* January Altar Guild: Lou Ann Beard & Mary Fritsch

2nd Ryan Theunis 3rd Deb Schaeuble 4rh Ron Zahn Jack Zirbel 5th Kelly Clark 6th Kendra Pohlman 7th Weston Herlache Faye Patoka 8th Aura Lee Gehl Ron Laabs Lance Schroeder 9th Michaela Bowers Sara Verheyen 11th Brett Toseland 12th James Calaway Steve Johnson Amber Maass Chard Schmidt 17th Henry Ollila 21st Zaine Gehl Noah Pennenberg 22nd Brent Ritter 23rd Dawn Roder 28th Rodney Kussow Kane Schmidt Levi Schmidt 29th Karen Geiger Lawsen Leick 30th Taryn Kluess Dan Schmidt 31st Owen Laabs

Anniversaries 3rd Tom & Kay Neuman 13th Andrew & Tina DeMerritt 31st Phil & Erica Roberts

437 Turner St, Wrightstown WI 54180 Phone: (920) 532-4865, Email: stjohnwrightstown@gmail.com

January 2017

“What’s new?” Sometimes we ask that question because we’re genuinely interested in catching up with someone that we haven’t seen in a while – whether it’s a spouse who’s been away at work for 8+ hours or a parent or sibling or friend that we haven’t gotten together with for several months. Sometimes, though, we ask that question because it’s a quick and easy icebreaker, and we don’t really know what else to say.

How much “new” happens in your life? Do you frequently experience things that are new and exciting? Perhaps there have been some changes at work or home. Perhaps you’ve taken on a new hobby or started watching a new show on TV. Or maybe there’s a new addition to your immediate or extended family that’s really changed things up. Or maybe – and dare I say more likely – you’ve fallen into a rut. Do you find yourself using “same-ol’-same-ol’” or “same stuff, different day” (I know most people substitute a different word in that saying, but this is a pastor’s message in the church newsletter!) to answer those who ask you “What’s new?”

If you’re like most people, you yearn for something new. Part of us wants to and attempts to make commitments (we call them “resolutions” at this time of the year) that we’re going to make some needed changes. A little less of this and a little more of that. But the reason those commitments so often fall apart is because people fall back into the rut that they’re so comfortable living in.

That’s so true on a spiritual level, too. We have an old nature and we have a new. The old nature wants to drag us down the rut that we’ve been caught in since birth – the rut of sin and rebellion against God. And that old nature is perfectly comfortable and content to walk that path. The God-given new nature wants to pull us out of that rut and onto the way of holiness, but that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? We get so frustrated with the “same-ol’-same-ol’” life of sin and guilt – we want to make a change, we know we need to make a change – but we seem to experience more failure than success. Maybe it’s useless! Maybe we should just come to the realization that our spiritual life is going to be described by “same stuff, different day” and learn to deal with it.

Or maybe not! Maybe we need to remind ourselves of the truth that “the LORD’s compassions never fail; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). Our sins may be repeated from one day to the next, but God’s forgiveness of those sins is always new and fresh. By the blood of his Son, he’s made us cleaner and washed us whiter than new-fallen snow. His gospel promises of mercy, love, and salvation may be changeless, but they affect us differently every time we hear them. And we never cease to delight in them!

On top of all that, God has promised us that a time is coming when we’ll be pulled out of the rut forever. Now, God’s promises stand alongside the pain and suffering. Then, pain and suffering will be non-existent. Now, the sting of sadness and death is overcome by the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Then, sadness and death will no longer be found at all – they’ll be swallowed up forever. Now, sin forces its way into our lives and relation-ships. Then, we will have glorified bodies and souls that won’t have any attachment with it whatsoever.

That’s what’s new! Live every day in the wonderful newness of life now, and look forward to the new life to come, won for you by Jesus!

“He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

In Christ’s Service and Yours! Pastor Mike Gehl

WORSHIP

SCHEDULE

Bible Classes

Sundays 9 am

1st & 3rd Wednesdays

7 am

Sunday Worship

7:45 & 10:15 am

St. John Journal: Page 2

Blood Drive at St. John Wednesday, January 4th, 2016

1 pm to 6 pm

Everyone who donates blood will re-

ceive a long sleeved T-shirt.

Please give the gift of life, please donate

blood.

Thank you.

Hello Crossword Puz-

zlers! “Christ’s Confessions”

Solution is here to the right. I

hope you all enjoyed it.

This month we have a

puzzle called “Christian Quali-

ties.” Have fun!

Apple Valley Food Pantry Donation Update

The January 2017 collection date for the pantry is Sunday, January 15th, 2017. The following list is items currently needed by the pantry for distribution: Toilet paper, paper towel-ing, napkins, dish & laundry soaps, toothpaste, adult & children's toothbrushes, cereal, canned fruits, jam, all crackers, and canned pasta.

Thank you and Happy New Year from Apple Valley Food Pantry.

St. John Journal: Page 3 S

un

M

on

Tu

e

Wed

T

hu

F

ri

Sat

1 H

ap

py

Ne

w Y

ea

r!

Wo

rsh

ip 9

am

2

Off

ice

Clo

sed

3

Ma

rth

a’s

Cir

cle

9 a

m

4

BC

7 a

m

Ch

ap

8:1

5 a

m

Blo

od

Dri

ve

1-6

pm

Ca

tech

ism

3:3

0 p

m

Ch

oir

Pra

ctic

e 7

:30

pm

5

Ha

nd

be

lls

Pra

ctic

e 7

pm

6

Ep

iph

an

y o

f O

ur

Lord

7

8

Wo

r 7

:45

& 1

0:1

5 a

m

BC

& S

S 9

am

Scr

ip o

rde

rs t

ak

en

BC

at

Za

hn

’s H

om

e 7

pm

9

Co

un

cil

Mtg

7:3

0 p

m

10

S

en

ior

Lun

ch

11

:30

am

11

Ca

tech

ism

3:3

0 p

m

Ch

oir

Pra

ctic

e 7

:30

pm

12

Ha

nd

be

lls

Pra

ctic

e 7

pm

13

1

4

15

W

or

7:4

5 &

10

:15

am

BC

& S

S 9

am

AV

FP

Do

n D

ay

16

Vo

ter’

s M

tg 7

:30

pm

17

1

8

BC

7 a

m

Ca

tech

ism

3:3

0 p

m

Ch

oir

7 p

m

19

Ha

nd

be

lls

Pra

ctic

e 7

pm

20

2

1

22

W

or

7:4

5 &

10

:15

am

BC

& S

S 9

am

Scr

ip o

rde

rs t

ak

en

23

2

4

LRP

Mtg

7 p

m

25

Ca

tech

ism

3:3

0 p

m

Ch

oir

7 p

m

26

Ha

nd

be

lls

Pra

ctic

e 7

pm

Brd

of

Ed

7:3

0 p

m

27

2

8

29

Wo

r 7

:45

& 1

0:1

5 a

m

BC

& S

S 9

am

WE

LS C

on

ne

ctio

n

30

3

1

St.

Jo

hn

Lu

thera

n C

hu

rch

an

d S

ch

oo

lS

t. J

oh

n L

uth

era

n C

hu

rch

an

d S

ch

oo

lS

t. J

oh

n L

uth

era

n C

hu

rch

an

d S

ch

oo

lS

t. J

oh

n L

uth

era

n C

hu

rch

an

d S

ch

oo

l

2017

Past

or

aw

ay a

t Past

or’s

Confe

rence