CONNECT ... in Worship
Sunday Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
First Sunday after Christmas Day
Sunday, December 30, 2018
"God has Heard, the Story of Simeon"
Pastor Mark Stapleton

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15
Epistle: Colossians 3:12-17
Holy Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
New Sermon Series
"Epiphanies: Shining The Light On God's Work In Our Midst"
Begins Sunday, January 6, 2019
The word “epiphany” can have many meanings. It can mean “appearance”, which leads us to the celebration of Epiphany, where the Magi were led to the Christ by the star shining in the sky. In recent times, however, the word “epiphany” can mean “an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure”. This is when you come to a realization of something that had been previously under wraps.

What if the story of the Magi in Bethlehem revealed an “epiphany” to us? What about the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan river? What about the wedding in Cana? What about the synagogue in Nazareth? Could these stories contain “epiphanies”, shining light on what God in Jesus Christ was doing back then…and today?

In this 4-week series, we will be exploring these biblical narratives, shining the light on the work God was doing then…and the work He reveals that He is doing among us today.

1/6: Epiphanies…in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12)
1/13: Epiphanies…at the Jordan (Luke 3:15-22)
1/20: Epiphanies…in Cana (John 2:1-11)
1/27: Epiphanies…in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
St. John's 2019 Lent Devotional
7 Days
One Week That Changed The World
Our yearly Lent Devotional Sign-Up display will be set-up for next Sunday, January 6, 2019. Look for more information in next week's Mission.
2019 Altar Flower Sign-Up Chart
The Flower Chart for 2019 is now posted in the church narthex on the left brick pillar as you walk into the sanctuary. You may sign-up for flowers for a special Sunday in 2019. 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.  
GROW ...in the Word
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
No scheduled class on Sunday, December 30
New Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
"More Than the Message"
Begins Sunday, January 6 at 9:25 a.m.
Heritage Room
Join Pastor Ben during the Adult Bible Study hour as he “test drives” a potential resource to be utilized with St. John’s upcoming Small Group ministry!

Ever heard a message from the pastors that you wanted to dig more into? Ever want to take the “message” of the message and apply it directly to your life in a specific way? Ever want to share your insights into the passage of the Bible that the pastors preached on Sunday with others needing the benefits of your insights? Then come to Adult Bible Study from 9:25-10:25 a.m. in the Heritage Room, where Pastor Ben will be giving a “message-based” study. Don’t worry! Whether you have heard the message or not, you will dig deeper into the passages the pastors have preached on, apply the teachings of both the passages and the pastors, and apply those to your lives today. This will be a 4 week study based on the sermon series in January, “Epiphanies”. Come and join us!
Calling All Sunday School Kids!
Sunday, December 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Music/Choir Room

Have you ever taken a ride on a camel? We'll be going on a long trip by camel from far away Persia to Bethlehem in Sunday School - that's what the Wise Men did when they followed the star to see Jesus. We still have some celebrating to do after our Birthday Party for Jesus last week - our Names of Jesus Paper Chain is decorating the library, and our Wise Men puppets will be there to play a game with us. Come join the fun!
Session 12: Monday, February 4, 2019
Session 13: Monday, February 11, 2019
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Room
Our topic for Session 12 is "Heaven" ...What is heaven like? Are the near death experiences reliable descriptions of heaven? What does the Bible say?

Our topic for Session 13 is "What Do I Live for Now?" ...Why moving forward is a necessity and a process. Why peace and pain will always coexist.

Questions? Contact Marnie Smith at  marnie_rev@comcast.net  or call (630) 440-6542.
Weekly Bible Studies
Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Class

The Tuesday Women's Bible Study will be on Christmas break until January 8, 2019. We will resume reading One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World . We will be reading chapter eight on that day.
Early Risers Bible Study
Thursdays at 6:15 a.m.
Heritage Room
Men's Weekly Bible Study
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Heritage Room
SHARE ...with Your Service
Raising Your Outreach Temperature
For the month of December , the Evangelism Committee invites you invite a friend or neighbor to attend our Annual Christmas Concert and go caroling at Meadowbrook Manor with Sunday School or another caroling event that shares the joy of Christ's birth with those you meet.
Mission Cafe Coffee Hour
December's Mission Café donations will benefit the BEDS Shelter Operations. Winter is here and the BEDS emergency overnight homeless shelters have opened throughout Southwest Suburban Cook County. On an average night, they give 60 people experiencing homelessness warm meals and safe places to sleep. Last year, our shelters reached 306 people over the course of 224 days for a total of 13,516 nights of shelter. We relied on volunteers to set-up, cook, clean, and supervise shifts each night, and we would love to have you join us this year! Additionally, we are always in need of supplies for the shelters.

For the month of December, all donations to the Mission Café will help support BEDS shelter operations, mostly through the purchase of shelter supplies, including the Sock Donation Tree. Your donations will help provide items like paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, zip lock bags, bedding, powdered drinks, decaf coffee, snacks, etc. You are also most welcome to drop-off shelter supplies at our center at 9601 E. Ogden Avenue in La Grange. Thank you for supporting the BEDS Plus mission!
Coffee Hour Host Sign-Up
January & February 2019
If you are interested in Hosting Sunday Morning Coffee Hour, click the button below to learn more! Thanks for serving!
Food Pantry Item for the Month of December:
Pump Soap

Donations can be dropped off in the church narthex near the Connection Center.
SCHOOL NEWS
Varsity Basketball Tournament Help Sign-Up
Volunteers are needed to help with
St. John's Annual Basketball Tournament!

Please click the button below to sign-up!
TRIP Program
Click the TRIP logo to learn more!
If you are shopping for New Year's, or updating your wardrobe for the new season, don't forget to order your TRIP cards! To learn more, click on the TRIP logo above!

We will be placing TRIP orders for your shopping needs on these upcoming dates: January 14 & 28
CHURCH OFFICE
Christmas Break Church Office Hours
Monday, December 31, 2018 - Friday, January 4, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
CLOSED Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Weekly Report from Board of Finance
Weekly Statistics on Congregational Giving to St. John's Lutheran Church & School
Anyone wishing further information on Congregational giving or the Church’s overall financial situation is invited to contact either Bob Roth, Chair, Board of Finance, or Jeff Baker, Congregational Treasurer, through the Church office, churchoffice@sjlagrange.com or (708) 354-1690 x210
Weekly Worship Attendance
Sunday, December 23, 2018 = 211
Christmas Eve (4:30) = 300
Christmas Eve (10:30) = 147
Christmas Day = 118
GIFT APPEAL UPDATE
G iving I n F aith T ogether
We are well on our way!!

The GIFT appeal is for $120,000 over and above regular contributions to close our projected budget deficit by March of next year. From November 25 through December 23, 2018: $39, 702 has been received. We are indeed well on our way! Look for weekly updates in The Mission.
Tax Planning and Charitable Giving
Some of you may be planning your charitable giving for the end of 2018 and looking ahead for tax efficient ways to contribute in the New Year. We’re here to help!

Anyone can contribute to St. John’s by using the VANCO website. Go to the Church website, scroll right and click on “Giving.” The last of the entries in the drop down menu will take you to VANCO. You can make a onetime gift or set-up recurring contributions. It’s an easy way to contribute, especially if you travel frequently.

A second approach is to contribute securities directly to St. John’s. Contributing stock(s) in this way gives you a tax deduction for the full value of the stock contributed without declaring any taxable gain.

A third strategy applies if you are over 70 and 1/2 and have an IRA account. You can direct all or a part of the Required Minimum Distribution to St. John’s or to several nonprofit charities. This distribution has a number of tax advantages. The weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, dated December 8-9 ran an informative article on page B5. Possibly your library would have a copy!

You should talk to your Tax Advisor for more details. Additionally, we are available to answer your questions:

Bob Roth: (630) 325-7305
Jeff Baker: (708) 446-9567
Tom Braun: (708) 207-3720
Electronic Giving Available
The Board of Finance has established a way for you to make electronic donations to St. John’s Lutheran Church, using software provided by Vanco. The procedure is fast, easy and secure. You can set up either a onetime donation or a set of recurring donations. 

A onetime donation is for a specific date, and amount and fund to be credited.

A recurring donation is a set of donations for dates in the future. These will be sent to St. John’s on the dates you decide, in the amounts you decide and the funds you have decided to be credited.

These automated donations insure that the first fruit you have planned to give to St. John’s are received by St. John’s as you have planned, even if you are on vacation. This saves you the problem of writing out individual checks on weeks you are away.

Recurring donations can be changed or deleted at anytime up to three days of the future date of the donation. You can even do a combination of recurring and one time donations. You can make a onetime donation to the GIFT program, or Christmas, or any other holiday which does not fall on a Sunday.

It is easy to sign up for this program:
·          Log into sjlagrange.com
·          Go to church page
·          Giving tab
·          Sign in or Sign up
·          One time donation
  • No need to set up account
·          Recurring donations
Set up your account
  • YOU decided the amount
  • You decide the frequency
  • You decide the funds to be credited
  • Can be changed up to three days prior before the donation is to be paid.

GIFT Program is included as a choice.

The attached explains the process of setting up your electronic gift giving.

Any questions on this process be can addressed to, Tom Braun at tjbraun54@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
St. John's Concert Series - SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, January 27, 2019
4:00 p.m.

Come join us at our Hymn Festival featuring organists from the "Fox Valley Chapter of the America Guild of Organists". Each hymn will be introduced featuring narrator, Jane Holstein.
Sunday Worship Schedule
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Education 9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Worship Service 10:45 a.m.
Church Office
Office: (708) 354-1690 x210