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St. John's Lutheran Church and School
The Mission
The Journal of St. John's Reaching Farther
For the week of December 17, 2017
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Sunday Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
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Third Sunday in Advent
December 17, 2017
Sermon Series: "Preparing for CHRISTmas"
(Week Three)
"Prepare...by Pointing to Christ"
Pastor Ben Roberts
Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Holy Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
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"Preparing for CHRISTmas"
A Sermon Series based on selections from the
Gospels of Mark, Luke and John
Sundays, December 3, 10, 17 (8:00 & 10:45 a.m.) & 24 (10:00 a.m.)
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Christmas Day will soon be upon us all, and everyone will soon be scrambling to prepare for that day. Get the tree up…hang up the decorations…Christmas cards…shopping, baking, parties…the list seems endless! All of this “preparation” can distract us from preparing for “CHRISTmas”, when God’s Son comes to us wrapped in human flesh. Will this be a time of rejoicing? Or will this get lost in Christmas preparations that have us focusing on things that point away from the reason we even have a Christmas at all? In the midst of your preparations for Christmas, come, hear and experience the love God has for you in the Baby in the manger. Not only will God prepare you for the coming of His Son, but He will prepare your hearts to live for Him during this busy Christmas season.
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New Attendance/Prayer Request Card
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We will begin using the new card on Sunday and wanted to keep everyone up-to-date on the change. Although Pastor Ben will guide everyone through the new process on Sunday morning, here are a few helpful hints so you can be more prepared:
- To locate the card, turn to the last page of the worship bulletin. It has been created as a tear off section that can easily be detached and collected (see below).
- Each family unit is requested to fill out the front section of the card called the "Greeting Card". Please list all members of your family that are in attendance for worship.
- Prayer requests can be completed on the backside of the card.
- Once filled out and detached, the cards will be passed down to the left end of the pew.
- During the preparation of the Children's Message, an Usher will come by and collect the cards.
- If you requested a prayer, it will be prayed for during the "Prayers of the Church".
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Thursday, December 21
St. John’s School Christmas Worship Service
6:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 24
Fourth Sunday in Advent Sunday Worship
10:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24
Christmas Eve Family Worship Service
4:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service w/Communion
10:30 p.m.
Monday, December 25
Christmas Day Worship Service w/Communion
10:00 a.m.
Sunday, December 31
The First Sunday after Christmas Day Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
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End of Year Contributions
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In order for contributions to be credited for the 2017 year, they must be brought into the Church Office by December 31, 2017 or if mailed, postmarked by December 31, 2017. Checks with a December date, but given in January will be credited to 2018.
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During Christmas Break, December 26, 2017 - January 5, 2018
the Church Office will have shortened hours, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Church Office will also be closed on Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1.
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Year End Gift Opportunities
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With the tax year soon coming to a close it is not too late to make a contribution to St. John’s. If you are over 70 ½ you can fulfill your Required Minimum Distribution requirement of you 401K account by sending a portion of this payment to St. John’s. By donating your RMD to St. John’s you avoid paying taxes on this withdrawal.
If you have securities in a taxable account you can also transfer these to St. John’s. Your charitable contribution will be the Fair Market value of these securities. You pay no taxes on the gains on these securities.
In order to receive these tax benefits the cash from your RMD and the securities must both be sent directly to St. John’s.
Simply have your broker send the cash or securities to:
Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
Attention: Jim Paul (312) 269-0315
Specify the following:
Client: St. John’s Lutheran Church
DTC Number: 0793
For Account Number:
Call Jeff, Tom, or Bob [see below]; Jim Paul, or Starr Kimeck at (312) 269-0315
St. John’s will be notified upon receipt at Stifel.
Please consult your tax Advisor prior to executing this transaction.
Any questions? Contact:
Tom Braun
(708) 207-3720
Jeff Baker
(708) 446-9567
Bob Roth
(630) 247-1864
Thank you for considering St. John’s.
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Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
9:25 - 10:25 a.m. (Heritage Room)
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The Reformation in Broader Context:
Movements, Leaders, and Legacies
Leader: Kirk Farney
The Reformation in Broader Context: Movements, Leaders and Legacies
// Sunday, December 17, 9:25 a.m. // Heritage Room // Study includes video, lecture and discussion.
We will examine key pre-Reformation reformers of the 14
th
and 15
th
century, followed by a study of the Reformed movement, the English Reformation, the Anabaptist movements, and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. We will conclude with a brief review of post-Luther Lutheranism.
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Sunday School Families Go Caroling
Sunday, December 17 at 9:30 a.m.
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Christmas Carols at Meadowbrook Manor
// Sunday, December 17, 9:30 a.m. // Meadowbrook Manor, 303 S. 9th Ave., La Grange // We will meet in the back of the sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. and return to Church in time for the 10:45 a.m. worship service. What a great opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas!
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High School Youth Bible Study
Sunday at 9:25 - 10:25 a.m. (Youth Room)
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BIG Questions, Biblical Answers High School Bible Study
// Sunday, December 17, 9:25 a.m. // Youth Room (located downstairs by cafeteria) // Mrs. Melissa Roberts will lead the study. Questions? Contact Pastor Ben
,
b.roberts@sjlagrange.com
or (708) 354-1690 x213
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How beautiful the Sanctuary looked for Easter and Pentecost with special plants adorning the Altar! The Altar Guild is thankful for all who purchased plants to enhance worship on these special Sundays. A member of the Altar Guild will be taking orders for Poinsettias to place on the Altar for the Christmas Services for the final Sunday, December 17 at the Connection Center in the church narthex. The price per plant is $14.00. You may take your poinsettia home after the services on Christmas Day.
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The Flower Chart for 2018 is now posted in the narthex on the left brick pillar as you walk into the sanctuary. You may sign-up for flowers for a special Sunday in 2018. Perhaps you want to remember a loved one; have a special occasion or anniversary; or thank God for blessings? Flowers are $42 for two arrangements. If you wish to sign up for a particular Sunday and someone else has already signed up, we invite you to sign up in addition to another person giving flowers – you can split the $42 cost with the person signed up or purchase an additional two arrangements for $42. Multiple floral arrangements to beautify the altar are always welcome! A member of the Altar Guild will contact you in advance for your dedication.
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Christmas Concert THANK YOU!
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Thank you to all that graciously gave their time and talent to help make our Annual Christmas Concert a wonderful event for all to enjoy! Your gift of baking cookies, serving, greeting, ushering, assisting in our Parking Lot, set-up, clean-up, and so on, is greatly appreciated by all and we thank you today and always for your service!
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Christmas Concert DVD or CD's
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Need a last minute gift idea? Looking for a good way to share the message of Jesus with a friend, neighbor or co-worker? Maybe you just want to listen again and again to the message of Jesus birth delivered in beautiful music by St. John’s choirs, handbells and orchestra. Why not order a professionally recorded DVD or CD of this year’s Christmas Concert
“Joy Has Dawned”
. Order forms are located at the Connection Center in the church nathex or call the Church Office, (708) 354-1690. DVD's are being sold for
$20.00
each and CD's for
$10.00
each and should available before Christmas Eve.
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St. John’s Concert Series – SAVE THE DATES!
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We are happy to announce our 2018 Concert Series. Mark your calendar for the following two upcoming concert events:
- The Stonegate Brass Quintet on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
- The Agape Ringers on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
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Parenting Bible Study: "Spiritual Parenting"
Sundays at 9:25 a.m.
(Nursery - Classroom 101)
Final class of this year
Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
(Heritage Room)
Early Risers Bible Study
Thursdays at 6:15 a.m.
(Heritage Room)
Men's Bible Study
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
(Heritage Room)
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Click the Calendar to view more events!
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Our coat drive has ended and we would like to thank everyone who participated in donating a coat to C T Baker Performing Art Center in Maywood, Illinois. We collected a total of 130 coats which is awesome. Thank you, Kathy Vervynck and Sue Cappa
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St. John's Varsity Basketball Tournament 2018
January 11-14, 2018
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I would invite you to help out with our St. John's Varsity Basketball Tournament. You can sign up to work a shift(s) at the tournament. You can buy an ad for our ad booklet. Go to the following site to sign up to work or buy an ad:
You can also make donations for the tournament at the donation board in the Church Narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Wykert at
t.wykert@sjlagrange.com
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(Click the logo for December TRIP Order news!)
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Photo Request from Church Office
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Our church database allows us to add photos to everyone's profile which gives us an opportunity to put a face to a name and better serve our members. We also have the capability to create a pictorial directory in house which is always helpful to our staff and new members. This means we need your help! If you would like your family/individual picture added to your profile, simply click below and attach your favorite photo to the email. Questions? Contact
Michelle La Velle
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December Mission Cafe Donations will benefit
St. Matthew's Soup Kitchen
, or "El Comedor Popular soup kitchen. El Comedor Popular soup kitchen was started in 1990. Presently, the congregation’s ministries connect with people from Germany, Poland, Italy, Mexico and lately Venezuela, all through El Comedor Popular. Please give generously to support this great mission so close to home.
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St. John’s has been a BEDS supporter for several years. BEDS large corps of volunteers, their dedicated staff and long term support of local faith-based communities, have helped thousands of homeless individuals and families come in from the cold and get back on their feet. Our local BEDS Plus is their “go to” resource for those among us in desperate straits.
Throughout the month of December we will be collecting new or “gently used” TWIN sheets and $5-$10 gift cards to JEWEL, Target OR Walmart.
Please hang them on the Christmas Tree in the Church Narthex and they will be collected weekly; place the sheets under the Christmas Tree. Thank you for your generosity.
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The La Grange Area Food Pantry item for the Month of December is: Pump Soap
Please drop off donations in the Church Narthex in the marked box for Food Pantry items. Thank you.
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Sunday Worship Schedule
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Fellowship 9:00 a.m.
Education 9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Worship Service 10:45 a.m.
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Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Office: (708) 354-1690
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Worship Attendance
Sunday, December 10 = 212
Sunday, December 10 (Concert) = 355
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