CONNECT ... in Worship
Sunday Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 2, 2018
"You're so Emotional!: Joy"
(Sermon Series FINAL WEEK)
Pastor Mark Stapleton

Old Testament: Psalm 33
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7
Holy Gospel: John 16:16-24
When it comes to our emotions, we often feel (no pun intended) that they can be either a great gift…or a great curse. For Christians, emotions can be troubling, frustrating and untrustworthy. Some emotions seem deeply spiritual; others can appear downright sinful! Yet, they are part and parcel of our everyday experience of being human. And the writers of the Psalms knew this. Reading through the Psalms means reading through a vast trove of emotions, all of them centered on life with God and the world we live in. In this sermon series, “You’re So Emotional!”, we’ll be looking through some of these Psalms. We’ll see how they not only express the emotions we feel…but how God shapes them in ways that glorify Him and keep them from harming us and others.
New Sermon Series Begins September 9th!
“STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND:
Thriving in a World Where You’re Not Welcome”

Let’s face it: the “good ol’ days” are gone, or going fast. Church attendance and membership is declining among many congregations. The Church no longer holds a prominent place in the prevailing culture. Instead, we are on the margins. Many people are unaware of the Christian story, indifferent to it and, increasingly, hostile towards it. We live in a “Post-Christian” culture. As we look out at the surrounding culture, we perceive that we are strangers…strangers living in a strange land.

This was the situation for the readers of Peter’s first letter. They found themselves “strangers and exiles” in the first-century Roman Empire. They were facing slander and abuse for their faith in Jesus. But Peter’s words in his letter are words of hope, courage and faithful witness to those they were called to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

1 Peter is also God’s Word to His Church today living as “strangers and exiles”, giving us the same hope and courage in the face of the “strange land” we live in. In this sermon series, “Strangers in a Strange Land”, we will be looking at the new situation we find ourselves in, at the challenges we face, and especially at the ways the Lord shapes our life by His grace and salvation in such a way that those who observe these “strangers” would “glorify God on the day of visitation.”

9/9: Strangers in a Strange Land (1 Peter 1:1-9)
9/16: Distinctive Strangers (1 Peter 1:13-21)
9/23: Caring Strangers (1 Peter 1:22-2:3)
9/30: Honorable Strangers (1 Peter 2:9-14, 18, 3:1-2, 7)
10/7: Answering Strangers (1 Peter 3:8-17)
10/14: Hopeful Strangers (1 Peter 4:12-19)
GROW ...in the Word
GriefShare Special Seminar: "Loss of a Spouse"
Monday, September 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Heritage Room
Our Fall GriefShare Sessions will begin with a special two hour seminar, "Loss of a Spouse". The death of a spouse brings a unique kind of pain. People who are widowed haven't just lost a loved one, they've lost an entire lifestyle.

If you, or if you know of someone who is grieving the loss of their loved one, please invite them to attend this special seminar. Register by contacting the Church Office at churchoffice@sjlagrange.com  or Marnie Smith at  marnie_rev@comcast.net  or call (630) 440-6542. A light supper will be served. Free-will offering.
Sunday Morning Parenting Bible Study Kick-Off
Saturday, September 15 - 3:00 p.m.
(Hemminger's House)
Did you realize that your children are like "arrows in the hands of a warrior?" Find out more...Join us in the Nursery on Sunday, September 16 at 9:25 a.m. for "FamilyLife's Art to Parenting: Aiming Your Child's Heart Toward God."

In addition...let's gather at the Hemminger House on Saturday, September 15 at 3:00 p.m. for a BBQ Kick-Off! Bring your kids and a favorite dish to share...we will provide the meat and drinks!
CONNECT New Member Class
Sunday, October 7 from Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Room
Interested in membership at St. John's? Want to know more about what St. John's is all about? Click on the button below for details, or pick-up a form at the Connection Center in the narthex.
Save the Date!
Advent Tea
Saturday, December 1, 2018
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
More details to come!
Weekly Bible Studies
Early Risers Bible Study
Thursdays at 6:15 a.m.
(Heritage Room)
Men's Weekly Bible Study
Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
(Heritage Room)
We are now studying the Book of Nehemiah, a record of construction and controversy which takes place at the end of the Exile and sets the stage for the arrival of the Messiah. We are following Warren Wiersbe's "Be Determined: Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition", covering roughly one chapter every week through the end of August. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Fredrickson at jon_fredrickson@yahoo.com
SHARE ...with Your Service
Raising Our Outreach Temperature
Every follower of Jesus has an outreach temperature. This impacts the way we live and interact with those who are far from God. Using a scale of one to ten, one would be a heart that is cooled off where we walk past opportunities to let the light of Jesus shine; a ten would represent a season where Jesus’ light is shining, we speak of our faith often and share stories of what God is doing in our lives, and share the Gospel naturally. With the Holy Spirit to guide us, let’s individually raise our temperature one degree to grow and increase our passion to reach out to others who are spiritually hungry and thirsty. (adapted from Kevin G. Harney’s book on outreach for churches) The Evangelism Committee will share an idea each month in the Mission pages to help us raise our outreach temperature.

This month set a goal to ask someone:  How can I support you in prayer?
St. John's 3rd Grade Class Invites You to FMSC!
St. John's 3rd Grade is going to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora on Thursday, September 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If any church member would like to join us, you can sign-up online at fmsc.org .  Our group code is 1504058. Questions? Contact Julie Strasser at j.strasser@sjlagrange.com
L.W.M.L. News & Events
Every lady at St. John's is considered to be a part of the Lutheran Women in Mission, and each of you is welcomed to attend our meetings. The September meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m., in the Heritage Room.  We will have a lot to discuss that evening. The LWML Northern Illinois District Convention will have just taken place from September 21-23; so delegates Pam Christensen and Rebecca Hemminger, along with others who will have attended, will be excited to give a report.

The month of October is national LWML month. During our September meeting we will also be making our plans for sponsoring a church outreach throughout the month of October which will include a collection of goods to be donated to the B.E.D.S program, which is an outreach to many homeless people in our area.

We will also organize our plans for sponsoring the annual Honey Sunday on November 4, which offers a terrific support to the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in South Dakota. This place has offered help to over 300,000 children who have been neglected/abandoned by families. More of this history will be included in our October Mission.

Ladies, we hope you can be with us on Tuesday, September 25!

Volunteer to Host Coffee Hour!
Serving Coffee is a great way to have fellowship with St. John's family and bring a smile to everyone's faces by providing them with hot coffee and treats! If you think you may be interested in hosting a Sunday Morning Coffee Hour, click the link below to register for a Sunday that best fits your schedule. Thank you for serving!

MUSIC NEWS
Thank You Summer Special Music
A very special thank you to all of the singers and instrumentalists that provided our Summer Special Music these last three months. Amazing talent to Worship together and Glorify God. “Share Your Talent” is an ongoing Special Music Program at St. John’s. If you did not have an opportunity to get involved this past summer, please contact David Lincoln at 708-354-1690 ext. 222, or email: d.lincoln@sjlangrange.com
 
June 3: Accapella Ensemble from First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, Illinois
June 10: Rachel Streufert, flute
June 17: Dalyne Shinneman, organ
June 24: Katie Westfall and Dalyne Shinneman, clarinet; AnnLaura Tapia, organ
July 1: Christina Lass-Moore, flute
July 8: Marnie Smith and Liz Willig, vocal
July 15: Natalie O’Brien, vocal
July 22: Barbara Kellert, vocal
July 29: Grace Roberts, piano
August 5: Patrick King, trumpet; Madeline Wilkins, vocal & guitar; Grace Roberts, piano
August 12: Kristen Stapleton, vocal; Peter Wykert, organ
August 19: Men’s Ensemble (Mark Behnke, Jon Fredrickson, Gintas Kriauciunas, Rick Lange); Dana Shinneman, piano
August 26: Cameron Wilkins, vocal and guitar
September 2: Natalie O’Brien, vocal
SCHOOL NEWS
3rd Grade Eagles in Action Project:
La Grange Area Food Pantry
3rd Grade is collecting chapel offerings for the month of September for La Grange Area Food Pantry. Throughout the school year, we will purchase items from our chapel offerings collected in September to donate to the food pantry. There are collection bins located in the church narthex if you would like to donate.

  • Are you able to deliver the items that are collected each week maybe once a month, twice a month, or for a whole month? Contact j.strasser@sjlagrange.com Thank you for considering this service opportunity. Donation drop-off times are Mondays at 8 a.m, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. or Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m.

  • The Pantry in need of regular sized canned goods that a family can use (not restaurant-sized containers) especially canned corn and canned beans, and non-food items which are not covered by food stamps.

  • Each month we have a featured item to shop for in addition to the regular items that can be donated.

We look forward to serving God through our Food Pantry donations, and helping people in need in our community. Thank you for helping us share Christ's love.
Sunday Morning Mission Cafe
Mission Focus for September:
L a Grange Area Food Pantry
September's Mission Cafe collection will be partnering with the 3rd Grade class as we raise funds for the La Grange Area Food Pantry.  

The Food Pantry opened its doors in 1999 under the leadership of Pastor Raymond L. Giddens.  In the beginning the pantry served approximately 100 families per month and now serves approximately 300 families, that is 500-700 individuals, all from the greater La Grange community without regard to race, creed, color or religious affiliation. The Pantry distributes more than 5,000 pounds of food a month. Thank you in advance for your generous donations!!!
The La Grange Area Food Pantry item for the Month of September is: SHAMPOO

Please drop off donations in the Church Narthex in the marked box for Food Pantry items. Thank you.
TRIP Program
September is here! Time to start shopping for cooler weather clothing to get ready for Fall! If you just plan on dining out or treating yourself, take time to evaluate your shopping needs and order your TRIP cards...click on logo above to learn more!

Upcoming order dates: September 4, 10, 17 & 24
CHURCH OFFICE NEWS
Church Office Closed
The Church Office will be closed on Monday, September 3 in observance of Labor Day. Have a blessed holiday weekend with friends and family!
St. John's Memorials Committee Financial Report
At the April Congregational Assembly, a report was given for the Memorials and Gifts Committee, which explained that an accounting of the Memorials Fund and the Gifts Fund was being conducted and was nearing completion.

This analysis identified considerable amounts that had not been tracked and designated over the past 12 years. This process had now been completed and the Coordinating Council has approved uses for these funds.

The attached Memorials Report for FY 17-18 identifies the memorial gifts given this past year, as well as the transfer of funds resulting from the review, and the funds remaining in the Fund, $10,843. This process will allow the Memorials and Gift Committee to manage the funds on a current basis. If you have questions, please contact Harlan Hirt, Congregational Secretary at hdh_39@sbcglobal.net
Items for Sale
One hide-a-bed sofa, brown faux suede with two throw pillows $150 or best offer; a washer (1995 Kenmore, heavy duty, 70 series with agitator) and dryer (2010 Maytag Centennial) for $200 or best offer.

Contact Julie Strasser for more details, j.strasser@sjlagrange.com
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.
Church Office
Office: (708) 354-1690 x210
Worship Attendance
Sunday, August 26 = 238