St. John's Lutheran Church and School
The Mission
The Journal of St. John's Reaching Farther
Week of December 16, 2018
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Sunday Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
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Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 16, 2018
"The Gift of JOY"
(Week 3 of 4)
Pastor Ben Roberts
Old Testament Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7
Holy Gospel: Luke 7:18-28
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Advent Sermon Series
"Christmas Presence: Gifts We Receive, Gift We Give"
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Christmas is a time for sharing gifts. Some gifts we want; others…not so much. But one common element seems to run through every gift we receive and give: these gifts are something APART from us. A toy…A screen…A piece of clothing…An appliance…they are handed to us, we open them up, smile (or frown) and…eventually put away, forgotten, or no longer matter.
But what if the gift we could give people was US?
What if the gift we could give people would NOT be put away, forgotten or no longer matter?
What if the gift we could give them was not a toy, a screen or a piece of clothing…but HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE?
What if we could give them the gift…of JESUS?
- We will look at Jesus riding into Jerusalem, giving the gift of HOPE.
- We will look at John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, giving the gift of PEACE.
- We will look at Jesus responding to John’s disciples, giving the gift of JOY.
- We will look at Mary coming to see Elizabeth, giving the gift of LOVE.
- And, in turn, we will discover how Jesus gives us these gifts…and encourages us to give them to everyone…by BEING THE GIFT!
12/23: The Gift of LOVE (Luke 1:39-56)
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Midweek Advent Sermon Series
"A Baby Changes Everything"
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
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Once a child is born into the lives of a mother and father, things change in an instant. You no longer can just go out to dinner and a movie. It’s no longer just the “two of us”; now you are a family. And, gradually, this baby becomes woven in the fabric of your very lives. What a challenge! What a joy! What a blessing!
It is no different when that baby born is Jesus Christ. Based on the popular Christmas song “A Baby Changes Everything” sung by music superstar Faith Hill, this series will explore the lives of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds and how the baby Jesus changed their lives…and how He changes ours as well.
12/19: A Baby Changes…Your Life (Luke 2:8-20)
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Midweek Advent Suppers & Worship
Wednesdays, December 19
Supper at 6:00 p.m.
Worship at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a light supper at 6:00 p.m. in the School Gymnasium before Worship on at 7:00 p.m.
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Christmas Concert - THANK YOU!
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 us and we thank you today and always for your service!
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Christmas Concert DVD’s or CDs
Need a last-minute gift, sharing the message of Jesus, for your friend, neighbor or co-worker?
Please consider ordering a professionally recorded DVD or CD of the 2018 Christmas Concert
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
featuring beautiful music by St John’s choirs, handbells and orchestra.
Pre-orders for the concert are available: Video DVDs for $20 each and Audio CDs for $10 each. Click this
registration link
, print your order form and drop-off your check or cash order in the DVD order box at the Connection Center at the church narthex. The Christmas Concert DVDs or CDs will be available for pick-up before Christmas Eve for your listening enjoyment.
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Last Sunday to Order Poinsettias
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It is a long tradition at St. John’s for the congregation to place poinsettias on the Altar at Christmas. Although poinsettias thrive in tropical regions, their brilliant red flowers and green leaves make them popular for Christmas. The poinsettias may be planted outdoors in the warm season of Chicago where they may grow into a bush several feet tall. A member of the Altar Guild will be in the church narthex this last Sunday, December 16, to take orders for poinsettias to be placed on the Altar for the Christmas services. Plants are $14.00 each and may be taken home after the Christmas Day service.
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2019 Altar Flower Sign-Up Chart
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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.
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St. John's Concert Series - SAVE THE DATE!
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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.
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Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
"The Challenge of Islam (Part Two): Defending the Christian Faith
Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 9:25 a.m.
Heritage Room
Leader: Pastor Ben Roberts
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Christmas Caroling at Meadowbrook Manor
Sunday, December 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Come join the Sunday School families as they Christmas carol at Meadowbrook Manor. We will meet in the back of the church at 9:30 a.m. Or meet us at Meadowbrook Manor,
339 9th Ave, La Grange.
Parents, friends, EVERYONE is welcome to join us!
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Session 11: Lessons of Grief - Part Two
Monday, December 17 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Heritage Room
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Who you are now that your loved one is gone, why noone grieves perfectly, and what grief can teach you about relationships.
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Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Class
Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m.
Heritage Room
We are currently reading,
"One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World"
. If you would like more information regarding the Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Class, please contact Lynn Kahl at (312) 890-0020 or at
lynnkahl50@gmail.com
Early Risers Bible Study
Thursdays at 6:15 a.m.
Heritage Room
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Men's Weekly Bible Study
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Heritage Room
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No class December 20 or January 3
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SHARE
...with Your Service
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Raising Your Outreach Temperature
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Please collect and donate the stamps that you receive on Christmas card envelopes. If you receive a postcard and you are willing to donate it, please leave the stamp on it and donate the entire card. (Of course you can blot out your name and address.)
Put them in the yellow
Stamps for Missions
envelope that hangs on the wall near the desk in the church narthex. These stamps actually get sold to stamp collection companies, and several hundred dollars are raised that way to support LWML current mission projects.
Thank you for your stamp donations! Enjoy a blessed and merry Christmas!
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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!
Interested in Hosting a Sunday Morning Coffee Hour?
Sign-up below!
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Opportunity to Help St. John's School
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The Board if Education is looking for 4-5 people to help with research and data entry to build an electronic Alumni database. This list of names, addresses and email addresses will make it easier to keep our Alumni up to date with the successes, plans, and needs of our School. The time commitment can be as much or as little as you would like.
Needs are:
1. Enter names and addresses into Excel spreadsheet.
2. Research former students, to find current name/location (social media, Google search)
Volunteers of any age are welcome. Volunteer Hours may be eligible for Service Hours for School Projects. Please contact Mrs. Teri Lyn Mannes if you are able to help,
t.mannes@sjlagrange.com
Even if you are not able to help, please provide any information you may have, regarding names and addresses of Alumni with whom you may still be in contact. Thank you!
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Varsity Basketball Tournament Help Sign-Up
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Volunteers are needed to help with
St. John's Annual Basketball Tournament!
Please click the button below to sign-up!
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TRIP Program
Click the TRIP logo to learn more!
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If you are shopping for Christmas, or New Year's, or updating your wardrobe for the Holiday 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: December 17, January 14 & 28
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Weekly Report from Board of Finance
Weekly Statistics on Congregational Giving to St. John's Lutheran Church & School
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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
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Weekly Worship Attendance
Sunday, December 9, 2018 = 189
Midweek Advent, Wednesday, December 12 = 49
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GIFT APPEAL UPDATE
G
iving
I
n
F
aith
T
ogether
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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 9: $28,680 has been received. We are indeed well on our way! Look for weekly updates in The Mission.
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Electronic Giving Available
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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:
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Go to church page
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Giving tab
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Sign in or Sign up
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One time donation
- No need to set up account
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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.
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Sunday Worship Schedule
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Education 9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Worship Service 10:45 a.m.
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Church Office
Office: (708) 354-1690 x210
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