OUR MISSION:
To proclaim the Gospel,
administer the Sacraments,
and to reach outward into the community and world to help people know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
WORSHIP SERVICES
8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
BIBLE TIME FOR
ALL AGES
9:15 AM
Important Dates
September 5, L.W.M.L. Meeting
September 12, Rally Sunday
September 17, Mustard Making 9am
September 19, Organ Concert
September 26-30 Oktoberfest prep. See calendar for details.
My dear fellow missionaries,
Starting on September 6, the community of believers at Saint John is going to begin a Bible study called the Light of Life. It is a study of the Gospel of Saint John which is intended to provide each person that participates in the forty-two-day individual Bible study a Bible-reading experience aimed at strengthening and aiding each participant in an intentionally meditational and prayerful way.
This study will help you approach Holy Scripture not as a textbook of Christian facts, but as the living Word of God. Most importantly, this study will help you to look at God’s Word in an entirely new way, through the lens of Jesus.
The study is not dated, so if you are unable to start on September 6, you can start on a different day. I am sure the study will challenge you, as it has me. But, while it will challenge you, it will also uplift you in your faith, as it has done for me.
The individual Bible studies are available on the table in the Narthex. The cost of each booklet is five dollars.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Rhoads
From the President
Once again it is time for Oktoberfest, our largest mission fundraising event. I would like to remind you that the proceeds in the past have benefitted several mission projects. Funds have been used in Uganda to drill a well, purchase oxen for gardening as well as buying @ 5 acres of land to grow food on. We have helped support a mission church and school in Panama as well as supporting local children and women’s shelters.
Sign-up sheets will be going up shortly. I encourage all who are able to volunteer their time to this wonderful outreach and mission project. It's a lot of work but it's a lot of fun.
William C. Noffke.
President
From the Elders
I hope your summer was enjoyable, and I also hope you are beginning to look forward to the fall season. We have some new and exciting areas of ministry coming up, and also Oktoberfest is just around the corner. Make sure you take advantage of a Bible Study or two, volunteer to help in an area of ministry that interests you, and make plans to help out in some way with Oktoberfest.
See You at Church, Dennis Smith
IN SERVICE FOR SEPTEMBER
Altar Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elaine Kersh
Organist & Music Director . . . . . . . .Jason Sims
SEPTEMBER 5 8:00 10:30
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Elder
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Reader
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E. Harrison
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Acolyte
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Usher
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J. Frederick
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W. Boortz
G. Trotter
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Greeter
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M. Working
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D. Rainey
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Nursery
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SEPTEMBER 12 8:00 10:30
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Elder
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Reader
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L. Spradley
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J. Kersh
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Acolyte
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Usher
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G. Trotter
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W. Johnson
T. Lovdahl
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Greeter
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M. Working
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D. Canfield
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Nursery
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SEPTEMBER 19 8:00 10:30
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Elder
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Reader
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W. Noffke
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J. Songy
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Acolyte
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Usher
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W. Noffke
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C. Shofstall
B. Coll
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Greeter
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M. Working
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B. Schneider
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Nursery
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SEPTEMBER 26 8:00 10:30
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Elder
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Reader
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J. Cubley-Smith
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Acolyte
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Usher
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J. Hagen
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M. Keyl
S. Songy
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Greeter
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M. Working
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Nursery
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Birthdays
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Cindy Aubin
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9/1
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Lisa Parker
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9/1
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Doris Canfield
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9/2
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Carolyn Rueh*
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9/5
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Zaylee McMichael*
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9/6
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Logan Lovdahl
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9/7
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Reagan Lowey
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9/7
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Harvey Hamm
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9/9
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Elijah Noffke
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9/9
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Barbara Hughes
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9/10
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Brittany Wildes
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9/10
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Edmund Gorman
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9/11
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Laura Johnson
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9/14
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Brendon Wastvedt
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9/15
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Jaymie Noffke
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9/17
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Jeanne Wildes*
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9/17
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Jeremy Noffke
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9/18
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Scott Chaney
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9/19
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William Kay
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9/20
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Todd Myers
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9/20
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Ken Rueh
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9/20
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Earl Dement
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9/23
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Joshua Noffke
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9/24
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Victoria Reed
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9/24
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Kenny Speed
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9/25
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Jone Bolte*
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9/25
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Jennifer Blair
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9/28
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Andrew Johnson*
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9/29
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Desiree Lowery
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9/30
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Wedding Anniversaries
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Mark & Barbara* Keyl, 33 years on 9/3
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Matt & Natasha* Geroux, 4 years on 9/16
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Jerry & Helga Herrington, 47 years on 9/18
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Joshua & Jaymie Noffke, 3 years on 9/29
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Baptism Anniversaries
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Helen Reeves
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9/1
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Dylan Cubley
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9/3
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Carolyn Masters
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9/11
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Harvey Hamm
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9/14
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Christian Bushardt
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9/16
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Debbie Geroux
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9/22
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Morgan Shields
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9/23
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Laura Johnson
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9/25
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Ryne Lovdahl
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9/29
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Memory Verse
Let the words of my mouth,
And the meditation of my heart be
Acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my strength,
and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
OKTOBERFEST October 2, 2010
Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 2nd. This is our largest fundraising event for St. John. It began as a congregational potluck 32 years ago, then friends were invited, and after a couple of years it was opened to the public. We serve nearly 1,400 plates of German potato salad, sauerkraut and brats or wieners. Homemade German and traditional breads and desserts will be sold in our Delikatessen. We also have homemade crafts in our Craft Room. In order to make this event a success, we need lots of donations and help from our Congregation. Please mark the week of September 26 - Oct. 2 on your calendar as this is a wonderful opportunity to support your Church and the Uganda, Panama, and other missions. Please get involved and find out what great friends you have here at St. John.
QUILT RAFFLE TICKETS
The Kaffee Klatsch Ladies have finished the Oktoberfest Butterfly Quilt! Everyone should have received one packet of 10 raffle tickets in their mailbox on Sunday, August 1. Please help us by selling them. For more tickets or to turn in the money & stubs, please see Lois, Darlene, or Allene.
GERMAN MUSTARD
We will be making our mustard on Friday, September 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Please bring a blender if possible. We should be finished by noon.
OKTOBERFEST WORK SCHEDULE
Sunday, Sept 26- a light lunch will be served right after late service, followed by bacon slicing and frying. Please bring an electric skillet and a sharp knife.
Beginning 8:30 a.m., September 27th
Monday-
Make sauerkraut and sort 650# of potatoes.
Tuesday-
Cook and peel potatoes. Make German potato salad
Wednesday-
Finish potato salad and set up rooms.
Thursday-
Day of rest (or baking)
Friday-
Bake strudels, decorate, make tea, final set up.
Saturday- Oktoberfest. Serving begins at 11:00 a.m.
Watch the bulletin for more details.
APPLE STRUDEL
August 29, after the Sunday Potluck we would like a few people to help chop the butter and mix up sour cream and eggs so we can start making the Strudel dough first thing Monday morning.
August 30 & 31, we will be making about 160 apple strudels. We will start at 9:00 a.m. Please bring your food processor and rolling pin. This is a great opportunity to learn how to make this delicious German pastry. Everyone is invited, as we need people to chop apples as well as mix and roll the dough.
Stewardship
“The Blessings of Honest Work”
On Monday, September 6, Americans and Canadians will observe “Labor Day,” a legal holiday set aside to honor labor. Work is often thought of as drudgery--something that you have to do to make a living. So we sometimes call work toil, a chore, an obligation, or even a necessary evil. The New World Dictionary does not agree with that, but holds work up as honorable and positive. Part of its definition goes as follows: “work is physical or mental effort exerted to do or make something and be involved in purposeful activity.”
The Bible takes an even higher view of labor. Labor is actually a gift from God meant to fill our hours and days with meaningful activities that honor God, respect His creation, and provide blessings for others and ourselves. It was God who put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). This work was given to Adam before the fall into sin and thus was a blessing from God. It is true that after the fall into sin, work became wearisome toil as the ground was cursed so that sinful human beings would have to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brows until their dying day (Genesis 3:17b-19). But, in spite of that curse, labor or work remains a blessing from God.
Dr. Martin Luther (who wrote much on the subject of vocation) believed that vocation was a calling, which encompassed the whole of the life of the believer, and was NOT narrowly defined as a job, trade, or even a religious vocation. Luther believed that the honest work of a janitor, maid or housewife was just as important and pleasing to God as the work of a president, pastor, teacher, doctor, scientist or any other vocation held in high esteem.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (NIV) reads: “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”
St. Paul in writing to the Ephesians and Thessalonians said: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NIV). For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV).
God’s redeemed people understand that Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes. Giving money to support the work of the church and other institutions, giving time to help with honest efforts, and using our talents to bring glory to God and blessings to others are all important parts of Christian stewardship. This truth is summed up beautifully in these words from 2 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV): “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
This Labor Day and every day give thanks to God for the blessing of work. Giving thanks for honest labor is something that Christian stewards can remember to do in their daily thoughts and prayers. So, enjoy whatever you are doing to observe Labor Day, and then continue your daily work with joy and enthusiasm.
OUTREACH
The calendar says that summer is growing to a close. Labor Day's last big vacation push is near, school is underway, and we will all be settling down into a new year. Let's remember to include God in the schedule. Let's remember that Bible Time is as important as public school. Make it possible for your children to invite and to bring their friends with them so they can share their experience with them. Check out the two adult classes yourself. Suggest ways the Church can better serve your family. The Church is only as ALIVE as each of us is ALIVE in the WORD. Before we pass judgment on our Church, let us ask ourselves what input have we made to make it pleasing to God? Outreach is planning to hand out crosses and welcome packets at Oktoberfest. We will also have a handout on general information about the church. There will be a looping video in the sanctuary to show the public the mission projects that the income supports. We are also working on an Organ Concert which will be held on September 19th, at 4:00 p.m . Mr. Paul Lee will be our guest organist. It is a joint event with Jason Sims, choir and Outreach. Put it on your calendar and invite your friends. This is an opportunity to reach out and introduce our Church to many Hattiesburg people, as well as enjoy the beautiful music from our new organ. A special thanks to those members who welcome members and visitors on Sunday morning. Please give thought and prayer to this service. It not only makes people feel that it matters that they came, but gives you the opportunity to get to know more of our members and visitors.. The "Sign-Up Sheet" is on the table. Serve the Lord with gladness; it will add joy to your day!
Parish Education Report
August 2010
Bible Time Group
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on September 19th. Bible Time has continued throughout the summer and attendance has been well above last summer. We are encouraged and are excited about the fall.
The tentative schedule for Bible Time in the fall is:
Rally Sunday on September 12th
Christmas program will be on December 12th, with rehearsal on December 11th
We plan on the Bible Time students singing for Mission Sunday on October 24th and November 14th, Consecration Sunday. Please mark your calendars.
Our curriculum is once again the basics of the Bible. We will learn how God speaks to us through the Bible.
We still need additional teachers. We have three regular teachers willing to cover one of three quarters of teaching and two substitutes. We have two classes with three quarters per class. We need three more teachers to commit to a quarter.
Youth Group
They will be reorganizing in the fall, so stay tuned.
Confirmation Class
The confirmation class will be taught by Mark Armstrong and Pastor. They are working on the schedule and a meeting with the students and parents is planned for class times.
Yours in Christ, Mark D. Keyl, Chair
L.W.M.L.
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
On Sunday, August 1st, L.W.M.L. "MITES" collected totaled $23.00. Thank you for your support of the Mission Projects of the Gulf States District and National L.W.M.L. Please keep these "MITE" projects in your prayers and continue to share the Gospel with your contributions.
The L.W.M.L. will resume its regular Business Meetings on Sunday, September 5th, with a short planning session immediately following the 10:30 a.m. worship service in the large Sunday school room. A light lunch will be served for members, families, and friends. I realize that this is a holiday weekend, but it is necessary to make plans for the up-coming Zone VI Fall Rally. All women are welcome and encouraged to attend. We need you!
Coming on Saturday, October 16th,
9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., the Zone VI (Magnolia) Fall Rally will be hosted by St. John L.W.M.L. The theme for the Rally is "People of God. . . In The Word". A registration Fee of $5.00 will be charged for lunch. The menu will be lasagna, salad, french bread, and dessert. Members will be asked to help with donations of breakfast pastries and desserts and to serve as hosts. Also, help will be needed for setting up, favors, and decorations. I cannot emphasis enough, how much we need every woman to take part in this event. Along with the usual "Rally" fellowship activities, Pastor Rhoads will lead us in an inspiring Bible study, As Zone Secretary, I was researching the records and discovered that the last time St. John L.W.M.L. was host to a Zone Rally was October 25, 1986, when Pastor Schaser was here - over twenty-four years ago! Zone VI consists of only six churches in the Gulf States District. I hope that every woman here will take this opportunity to participate in serving the Lord through the L.W.M.L. Though we are small, we are mighty in sharing the Gospel where He has placed us!. Please make plans to come and participate in this special day with your "sisters" in Christ. You are needed!
On Sunday, October 17, St. John L.W.M.L. will celebrate L.W.M.L. Sunday, with the members participating in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. There will be no monthly business meeting that Sunday due to the "Rally" on Saturday, the day before. All women are encouraged and welcome to join this wonderful organization. Watch the Sunday bulletins for more information on up-coming events.
Until next month ... Serve the Lord with Gladness!!!
Shirley Thone, L.W.M.L. President
Dear members of St. John,
Because of your generous contribution. Lutheran Braille Center 205, will be able to off-set the cost of producing Braille Bibles for the next twelve months. Each center is expected to be self-supporting and your being our ministry partner in this mission has made this possible. Work Center 205 has thirty-eight volunteers and produces, on average, 65 books of the Bible a month which are mailed to the visually impaired throughout the world. Thank you for helping us to bring light to those in darkness and “Helping People Touch the Promises Of Jesus.”
Yours in Christ,
Alice Gamble for
Lutheran Braille Workers
Work Center No. 205
Poplarville, MS
Council Minutes
August 17, 2010
Attending: Pastor Rhoads, Willie Noffke, Dennis Smith, Jerry Hagen, Doris Schneider, Bob Schneider, and Nancy Kaul
President Willie Noffke called the meeting to order and Pastor Rhoads opened it with prayer.
The agenda was approved as submitted.
Minutes from July were not presented for approval.
Financial Report – General offerings for July were $16,408.75. Net Designated Funds, $10,702.94; Net July expense, $14,108.16; Net Income for July, $2,300.59
Pastor’s Report – Rudy Schaser has asked permission to vary the use of St. John’s contribution to With God’s Little One’s mission work from the original intention, as those needs are currently being met. The Council voted to allow Pastor Schaser to use the funds as he best sees fit.
Special services being planned include: New Consecration Sunday, Nov. 14, Thanksgiving Eve, and Advent.
Mark Armstrong will assist with teaching the Confirmation Class on Sunday mornings. Pastor will also meet with them after church or at another time.
A need has developed for babysitting on Sunday mornings from approximately 9-12. The church may need to hire someone.
The newly formed group for young adults is doing well.
Six Lutheran college students have been identified, with possibilities for forming a group.
New Business: None
Board Reports:
Elders – George Trotter has been appointed as an elder to replace Joe Parker, who has moved from the area. Some minor reassignments for Deacons and Deaconesses have been made.
Fellowship – No current activities. Parts are on order to repair the stove before Oktoberfest. A potluck lunch will be held on August 29th.
Finance – Written report was submitted.
Outreach – An organ concert is being planned for Sept. 19, at 4:00 p.m., featuring Paul Lee.
Parish Education – A written report was submitted. The Board of Education will meet on Sept. 19th. Bible Time attendance has been well above last summer. Rally Sunday is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12; Christmas Program, Dec. 12, with rehearsal on the 11th. Additional teachers are needed for Bible Time. Students will sing on Mission Sunday, October 24 and New Consecration Sunday, Nov. 14th.
Stewardship – Planning is underway for New Consecration Sunday to be held on November 14th. A guest speaker has been secured and a catered dinner will be held at the church.
Trustees – A leak in the ladies’ room has been fixed and a water heater replaced. It was noted that Express Lawn Services, newly contracted to maintain the church grounds is doing a good job.
Old Business:
Oktoberfest - Saturday, October 2nd. There has been a slight increase in meat prices, but ticket prices will not be raised this year.
Building Fundraiser Update – Follow-up letters were sent to members (giving units) who did not respond to the first letter. This resulted in pledges from 53 member units and 3 one-time gifts from friends. Pledges for the four-year period total $121,805.
Announcements:
A Voters’ Assembly meeting will be held on November 21 for the purpose of approving the 2011 budget. Council members should be preparing their budget requests now for discussion at September and October meetings, with Council approval in October.
There being no further business, the meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
The End.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.