e-Skinny
March 16, 2018

Envelope fund raiser.

We've gotten them to Belle Plaine, KS, but they need to get to Houston (and home again). There are a few envelopes left and the donations can be brought in to the office or put in the offering plate.  We're doing great; this is very encouraging for our youth.     
      
   
         Church Service Schedule: 
Church 8 & 10:15 a.m.
  Wednesday Lenten Services 4:30 and 6:15 p.m.

March 18         No Sunday School Spring Break 
March 21         Lenten Services:   A man gives his Donkey 
March 25         Youth Palm Sunday Breakfast 
March 27         Women's Bible Study 
March 29         Maundy Thursday services 4:30 and 6:15 p.m. 
March 30         Good Friday Tenebrae service 7 p.m. 
March 31         Family Board's Easter Egg Hunt 
April 1             Easter Sunday Services  6:30, 8 and 9:30  a.m. 
April 6             Waterloo Black Hawks game  
April 8             Noisy Bucket Sunday  
April 29           Ladies Luncheon  11:30 a.m.         
   
        
Wednesday Night Supper March 21 menu:  Cheesy Enchiladas, pea salad, applesauce and Eclair dessert.
    
Lenten Special Offering
The glass box that will be in the Narthex starting February 11th is for your Lenten Offering.
Please consider an extra gift of at least a dollar a day during the approximately 40 days from
 Ash Wednesday to Easter.
 
     March is Soap Month
We are asking Sunday School Students to bring soap to class each Sunday in March.

REMINDER: Those students attending a Lutheran college who would like to receive an EPIC grant must notify the church by May 1st.
St. John scholarship applications for non-Lutheran colleges are available from Kathy in the office. Email her at khoeft@stjohncharlescity.com . Completed applications should be emailed to the office by April 1st.

Help wanted! The Finance Board allocates 8% of the thank offering it receives to worthy causes, groups, charities etc. at the end of every calendar quarter.  We are looking for suggestions from the congregation as to where we could designate the thank offering.  Please call the church and provided your suggestions to either Kathy or Linda, or put your suggestion on the back of an offering slip.  

 
 Lenten / Holy Week / Easter Services          
               
 March 21 4:30/6:15 p.m.
 A Man Gives His Donkey
        by Wayne McClintock

March 25         Palm Sunday  8 and 10:15 Services
March 29         Maundy Thursday services 4:30 and 6:15 p.m.
March 30         Good Friday Tenebrae service 7 p.m.
April 1              Easter Sunday services 6:30, 8:00 and 9:30 a.m.


                        
St. John youth will be going to the
2018 Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas
June 27 - July 1st!
The Youth Board is sponsoring a fundraiser to help pay for the six of us who are going to the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX. This is an amazing experience for those attending and because of all it offers, the cost is considerably higher than one of our regular mission trips. We need to raise money for the six of us and the bus driver to stay at the hotel in Houston for five nights, we will need approximately $900 for bus fuel, we have to pay the Gathering registration fees, and we'll need to eat!
Please prayerfully consider taking an envelope off our donation wall and filling it with at least the amount listed on the front of the envelope. (Checks can be made out to St. John Lutheran) Please return filled envelopes by April 15th. Thank you so much
for your support!
  Laurie 

from Janet :    At the right you can see a convention flyer from 1955.  My uncle went to this one.  I went to one around 1970.  We are both long standing active members of this congregation.  There is something to be said for the effect such an experience can have on a youth and their future in the church.  This is an investment in our youth. Please help empty the envelope board and let's get them to Houston.   

YOUTH PALM / PASSION SUNDAY BREAKFAST
March 25th - from 7:00 - 10:30 a.m.

The youth will be hosting a Palm/Passion Sunday breakfast this year & not an Easter breakfast. This will allow them to enjoy Easter with their families! The youth will be making & serving the breakfast
Menu: eggs, ham, hash browns, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, juice, milk, and coffee (Free will donation)
 
easter-egg-dye.jpg
Family Board's Easter Egg Hunt
 
Saturday, March 31, 9:00 a.m.
St. John Parish Hall
Children up through 5th grade & their families!
Crafts, activities & egg dyeing
(Donations of wrapped Easter candy by the congregation would be appreciated!)                  
   
hockey-player.jpg
Waterloo Black Hawks Hockey
Friday, April 6th
Pizza at the church at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall & we will leave at 5:50 p.m.
All St. John youth & families are invited to join us!
(4th grade & younger will need an adult to accompany them) Cost: $15.00 & sign up and payment due by Sunday, April 1st.
Questions? Call Laurie at 228-3397
 
Prayer Shawls are available for distribution.

We have 2 totes that are filling up, but very few shawls going out.  This is an opportunity for you to take one to someone you know that has an illness, sadness in their life or a personal crisis.  They are stored in the Associate pastor's office and can be checked out during office hours.  We just keep track of who is receiving them so we don't double up. 
Shawls (and some laprobes) are available that are suitable for a woman or man. 

A note to the Home Communion group:  This would be a good addition to your visits, especially to a new person on your list.

   
Noisy Bucket Sunday is Coming! 

- Tired of carrying around that loose change or having it lay around the house?  Bring it all to church on Sunday, April 8th, when the Stewardship Board will be hosting a "Noisy Bucket" offering.  This offering will be taken separately and apart from the traditional offering and all coins (or dollars if you prefer) will be collected in tin buckets and gathered in one large bucket at the front of the church.  All the "noise" received will go to Bible Camp Scholarships. Kids young and old can enjoy this giving and fun event.  Let's see if we can fill the buckets.

                    
A special thank you to Rhonda Schmidke for framing a large historical photo for the church to enjoy.  It is one we found while going through the records.  You will see it hanging above the glass case in the Narthex.  It is of the white wooden church that was previous to the one we worship in today.  Also visible is the old parsonage which many of us remember.  We think it was of a Luther League convention being held at the church.
The photo was a remarkable find and she did a wonderful job on it. 
My apologies for the poor photo, you will have to see it for yourself to appreciate it. 
 
MEET AND GREET FOR PASTOR RUSS AND SUSAN
    
Dates have been selected by Pastor Russ for the Meet and Greets! If you would be interested in being a host/hostess, please stop by and reserve your time. The signup sheets** for our hosts will be available through Sunday March 25.
Specific dates, times and gathering locations scattered throughout the months of April, May and June will be available after March 26th for those of you that plan on attending a Meet and Greet. Select the date you would like to attend and get it on your calendar.** This is the perfect opportunity to get to know Pastor Leeper and Susan a little better. It is also their desire to get to know members of St. John on a more personal level and learn a little more about life in Charles City, IA! Renew and seek out new friendships, invite those that might be looking for a church home or someone that might like to come back - this should be a lot of fun!
 
**Schedules will be in the narthex during church services or in Kathy's office during the week.                    
 
 
Sunday School for Adults & Seniors is for you!
   Sundays 9:15 - 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel.
Study God's Words & Fellowship. 
Please join us.
  
          3/18  No Sunday School         
          3/25     Thy Word by Erik Hoefer
          4/8      Youth Engagement by Becky Meyer
          4/15     Sweet By and By - by Greig Grimm

 
Save the Date! 
The Family Board will host a Ladies' Luncheon on April 29th at 11:30 a.m.  Watch the Bulletin and April Newsletter for more information. 
  
 
PODCASTS NOW AVAILABLE
Unable to come to Sunday worship? Would you like to listen to the service? If so, go to the St. John website. www.stjohncharlescity.org
under the Watch & Listen tab click on podcast & choose the date of the service you would like to hear!
 
 
 

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
641-228-3397
e-skinny@stjohncharlescity.com 
Editor:  Janet Petefish