The Mission - St Johns Lutheran Church La Grange

The Mission
Offerings of the People
This Week at St. John’s
Pastor: Reverend W. Philip Bruening
Worship Leader: Mark Stapleton
Organist: Gerald Kuker and David A. Lincoln
Choir: Senior Choir—8:00 a.m.; Accompanist: Dana
Shinneman
Altar Guild: Sharon Broz and Marie Fukar
Sunday, January 24
8:00a—Worship Service
Sanctuary
9:25a—Adult Bible Study Hour
Heritage Room
9:25a—Sunday School Education Hour
Music/Choir Room
10:45a—Worship Service
Sanctuary
12:00p—Youth Group
Youth Room (Basement)
12:00p—All School Open House
School Building
Coffee Hour Hosts: Second Grade Students Online
Mission Trip
Monday, January 25
No Scheduled Church Events
Serving at 8:00 a.m.
Acolyte: Rachel Wykert
Elder: Jim Paulsen
Ushers: *Ken Fukar; Wayne Kardatzke, Mark
Kenning and Tim Walsen
Tuesday, January 26
7:30a—Jubilee Handbell Rehearsal
Sanctuary
10:15a—Women’s Prayer Group on Tuesday Heritage Room
1:00p—Fall GriefShare Session
Heritage Room
6:30p—Board of Education Meeting
Heritage Room
7:00p—Board of Evangelism Meeting
Church Office
7:30p—Men’s Basketball Practice
School Gymnasium
Serving at 10:45 a.m.
Acolyte: Alyssa Raschke
Elder: Bruce Smith
Ushers: *Rick Noerenberg; Dave Meador, Glenn
O’Brien, Matt Strubbe and Frank Vondra
Wednesday, January 27
7:40a—SJLS Children’s Prayer Ministry
8:20a—SJLS Chapel Service
9:50a—SJLS Early Childhood Chapel
7:00p—Senior Choir Rehearsal
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
Music/Choir Room
Thursday, January 28
6:15a—Early Risers Bible Study
7:30a—Joy Handbell Rehearsal
2:30p—Echoes of Praise Rehearsal
6:30p—SJLS Winter Sports Award Night
Heritage Room
Sanctuary
Music/Choir Room
School Gymnasium
Friday, January 29
6:30p—SJLS PTO Family Game Night
School Gymnasium
Altar Flower Dedication: The Floral Arrangements
have given to the Glory of God at the Altar by Ron and
Ruth Gallman in memory of Ken, Jason and Christian
Gallman.
Worship Attendance:
Last Week Sunday [01/17] = 206
Saturday, January 30
No Scheduled Church Events
“The Mission” is the weekly journal of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School. Our Mission is to engage the people we live, work
with and meet along our way in such a way that they,
Meet Jesus, Experience the support of a Church, and Live as disciples!
St. John’s Lutheran Church and School | 505 S Park Road, La Grange IL | 708.354.1690
Website: www.sjlagrange.com | Email: churchoffice@sjlagrange.com
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
The Journal of St. John’s Reaching Farther
St. John’s Lutheran Church and School
Laboratory for Love
Lynn Kahl, Principal
l.kahl@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x218
Lutheran Schools can be called Laboratories
for love. What an apt description of how
we differ from the public schools. Our
entire premise for existing is to serve as a
School where educational excellence
happens in an atmosphere where
we
can
Meet
Jesus,
Experience the support of a
Church and Cchool, and
learn to Live as disciples.
Our classrooms not only
allow us to teach
religion. Living together
as Christians who are at
the same time saints and
sinners, gives us plenty of
opportunities to practice law
and Gospel, grace, and mercy.
The students here at St. John’s
know that God loves them and loved them
so much that He was willing to sacrifice His
Son to redeem all people. Now we are free
to love and serve God and our classmates.
We express our love for God as we engage
in Eagles in Action Service Projects which
serve our neighbors, and as we live and
learn together in our classrooms. We are
free to pray together for our needs and the
needs of our friends and those in the
neighborhood through Prayer Walks.
Week of January 24, 2016
When conflicts or problems arise, as they
will in a sinful world, we are free to deal
with the children or adults involved through
the eyes of grace and mercy.
Consequences may also be involved, but
there is always resolution through
forgiveness.
The teachers and I feel very
blessed to work in a School
where Christ is at the
center of our classrooms.
We feel blessed to work
with
parents
and
students
who
understand this and are
happy to be here. We
feel blessed to serve a
congregation where the
members are committed
to this Mission of our School
as it serves as an extension of
the Mission of the Church. Praise
be to God!
Tour the School this Sunday from Noon to
2:00 p.m. at our Open House. Bring a
family with you to see St. John’s Lutheran
School!
First Holy Communion Class
Daily Prayers
Pastor Philip Bruening
p.bruening@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x213
Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My doors, waiting at My doorway.
Proverbs 8: 34
First Holy Communion Spring
Session
Sunday, January 24, 2016
February 28, March 6, 13—9:25-10:20 a.m.
Location: Sanctuary
Leader: Pastor Bruening
We will have our Spring
Session of our First
Communion Class on
Sundays, February 28
and March 6 and 13.
This would occur during
the Sunday School Hour
in the Sanctuary. We will meet from 9:25
a.m. promptly til 10:20 a.m. to allow the
Choir to come in and practice before
services.
I will then meet personally with all of you
in the week following the 14th so that we
can schedule First Holy Communion to be
on Maundy Thursday, March 24, 2016.
th
This is open to all students 5 Grade and
older who have not been through the
class. Any 8th Grader who has not been
through the class is required to take this
class in order to make their Confirmation
since we do cover Communion in the
Confirmation Classes.
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
Please join us for the Fourth Annual
Soup & Bread Event benefitting
BEDS Plus
Sunday, January 31, 2016
3:00—7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn William Tell Banquets
6201 Joliet Road
Countryside, Illinois 60525
Tickets are available online
www.beds-plus.org
Prayers for Health
Prayers of Comfort
Jane Bell
Lisa Buck (friend of member)
Duane Buttell
Nancy Geis
Gene Goetz
Ed Hannemann
Pops Little
Raul Patino
George Polacek
Joyce Tracy
Steve Wolf
Louise Wozniak
Thanks and praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
compassion and the God of all comfort.
Please share with us the names of those
who are grieving and mourning that we
may intercede for them.
Carry Each Other’s Burdens
$25.00—Individual Ticket
$50.00—Family of Four Ticket
We welcome everyone to join us as we
continue to support BEDS Plus in our
community and assist in their Mission to
help individuals stabilize their lives through
housing and supportive services.
Their Soup and Bread Event is a great way
to show your support! Join us for this cozy,
family friendly gathering! For additional
information, please call 708.354.0858 x2
Prayers
Praise
Thanksgiving
and
Juanita
Eunice
Elizabeth
Ella May
Christian
We welcome you to share the joys in your
life so that we can all thank our gracious
Lord and celebrate together.
Names included in the “Prayers for Health” will be posted for up to three weeks, at which
time they will be removed. All requests and updates for Prayer Requests can be given to the
Church Office by email, m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com or phone, 708.354.1690 x210.
Meet! Experience! Live !
11
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions
Weekday Bible Studies
Michelle La Velle, Church Office Manager
m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x210
Biblical | Challenging | Relevant
Various Days / Times
It’s that time of the year again! If you are
interested in subscribing to the Lutheran
Witness Magazine or renewing your
Lutheran Witness subscription, please
contact Michelle La Velle in the Church
Office,
m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com
or
708.354.1690 x210. The cost for the (12)
month subscription is $15.96 Deadline is
Wednesday, February 24, 2016.
Articles for The Mission
are due Wednesday by 12:00 p.m.
and can be submitted to
Michelle La Velle, m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com
or by calling the Church Office
708.354.1690 x210
The Church Office reserves the right to edit
submissions for length and/or writing style.
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
The Journey Begins!
The Second Graders are ready to go on their
Online Mission Trip. They will begin their
journey this week!
The children have been collecting Chapel
offerings that will be sent directly to LHM–
Guatemala. They will be able to see how
their Mission dollars will spread the Good
news of salvation through Jesus Christ to
the people of Guatemala. They will also
make “Friendship” bracelets to send to the
children in the area of Guatemala they
visited during their ‘online trip’
What an exciting opportunity for them to
engage with students and help them
witness first-hand the important role of
global Mission and Ministry. Thank you for
your generous contributions throughout this
month.
May God bless our faculty, our students,
their families and church families "Bring
Christ to the Nations - and the Nations to
the Church."
Women’s PRAYER on Tuesdays
Tuesday, January 26—10:15 a.m.
Location: Heritage Room
Leaders: Cheryl Farney and Rebecca Schiltz
Tuesday, January 26—1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Leaders: Marnie Smith; 630.964.6542 and Beverlyn
O’Connor
Location: Heritage Room
This Tuesday will be the last of the Fall
Sessions Series. We will discuss, “What
Do I Live for Now”.
We will be starting a new series of
GriefShare Sessions right away. Some
participants joined us late and have
requested starting over. So, beginning
February 2, 2016 we will start over with
the GriefShare Curriculum. Workbooks
will be available for $15.00.
We welcome all new participants to this
caring, helpful, Biblically based grief
group. Though all sessions are lessons in
themselves, sequential viewing of videos
and discussion is preferable.
Join Cheryl Farney and Rebecca Schiltz on
Tuesday mornings for Fellowship, Bible
Study and Prayer. We meet every Tuesday
morning from 10:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in
the Heritage Room. We are currently
studying "Fervent" by Priscilla Shirer. Her
book was inspired by the recent feature
film "War Room." All ladies are welcome!
Early Risers Bible Class
Thursday’s—6:15 a.m.
Location: Heritage Room
THE COFFEE POT IS ON! Come join the Early
Risers Bible Class! We meet every Thursday
morning beginning at 6:15 a.m. in the
Heritage Room. This is a great opportunity
to get into the Word before you start your
busy day. All are welcome!
We will meet, as before, from 1:00—2:30
p.m. on Tuesdays in the Heritage Room.
Please register in the Church Office or
with of the facilitators, especially so we
have enough workbooks.
Meet! Experience! Live !
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St. John’s Church Council Highlights
Andy Kunz, Council President
churchoffice@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x210
January Council Meeting
Highlights

Meeting held Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Several 2016 Dates Set!
calendars for the following:
Mark your
 January 31—Reception honoring Jerry
Kuker for his service these last two
years

 April 24—First Regular Congregation
Meeting; approve the 2016-2017FY
budget
 September 11—Rally Sunday
 September 18—Special Congregation
Meeting; Initiate the process to Call
a new Pastor
 September 25—130
The Mission/Vision Task Force will be
meeting one more time before making
their recommendations on the Vision
and Mission statements for St. John's.

The School Marketing Committee has
been working hard in preparation for
the Open House on Sunday, January
24th.

The Stewardship Board is working on a
Stewardship program for 2016-2017
and
will
be
developing
recommendations for recipients of
money contributed to Designated
Charities.
Anniversary of
the founding of St. John's Lutheran
Church Celebration
20—Second
Regular
Congregation Meeting; Elections


4
Tom Braun was approved as a Director
of the St. John's Lutheran Church
Foundation. Watch the Mission for
news on the Foundation.
Board of Parish Education has begun
work on VBS. The popular course
"Making Children Mind Without Losing
Yours" will be repeated this Spring.
Dates, times and other details will be
in the Mission.
St John’s Lutheran Church and School
The Deficit Reduction Task Force will be
meeting within the next few weeks to
give their recommendations to the
Council to address our June 2016
projected deficit of $100,000 to
$110,000.
Good news!
Church
contributions are up 6% for the first six
months of our fiscal year.

th
 November
Caring Ministries has all the Wednesday
evening Lenten
meals
planned
beginning with the Elders serving chili
on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. Also
planned is the lunch at Noon on
Maundy Thursday and an Easter
morning Breakfast.
Opportunities to Serve
Be an Usher!
Contact Person: Ken Fukar
kenfukar@sbcglobal.net
There is a need for Ushers for the 10:45
a.m. Worship Service on Sundays. If you
would like to help by serving as an Usher,
please
send
an
email
to
kenfukar@sbcglobal.net. This is a great
way to meet people and to serve in St.
John’s Ministry.
Be an Acolyte!
Feeling grateful? One of our greatest
blessings at St. Johns is our Acolyte
program. Do you enjoy seeing these sons
and daughters of our congregation joyfully
serving the Lord? Have you known some
of them since they were little ones? Our
acolyte program is a gift to us all! It allows
our Youth to serve in meaningful and high
profile roles during our services. It allows
us to watch them grow into wonderful
young men and women and it keeps them
engaged with their Church. If you are
interested in being an Acolyte, please
contact the Church Office, 708.354.1690.
Interfaith Career Network
How to Fortify Your Job Search
Tactics
Thursday, February 4—7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
St. Cletus School—Room 201
700 W 55th St
La Grange, IL 60525
Join us on Thursday, February 4 from 7:009:00 p.m. for an evening with Mike Vogel,
Director of Sales and Agency Relations with
Indeed.com. Mike trains business clients
with indeed.com to develop new strategies
to attract the future innovators they need
to take their business to new levels. Mike
will share his ideas on utilizing LinkedIn,
Indeed, Glassdoor and other sites to
improve your chances in the ever-evolving
job market. Take this opportunity to learn
from an industry professional who develops
innovative recruitment strategies for
companies how to improve your job search
strategies. This meeting will be in the St.
Cletus School Building, Room 201, 700 W.
55th Street in La Grange. Look for the ICN
sign outside and use the flag pole entrance.
These meetings are open to everyone and
there is no cost to attend. For further
information, please visit our website at
www.interfaithcareernetwork.org.
Meet! Experience! Live !
9
St. John’s Invitational Varsity
Basketball Tournament
Tom Wykert, 4th Grade Teacher
t.wykert@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x232
Thank You! Thank You! Thank
You!
I would like to thank everyone who
contributed to our tournament this last
weekend. Because of your help and
dedication it was a great success.
Thank you to all who donated money and/
or items for our concession stand. Thank
you to all who donated to our ad booklet. I
appreciate all who gave of their time to
work at our concessions, our admissions
table, our scorer’s table, to set up, and to
clean up.
I want to compliment everyone, players,
coaches, parents, staff, and fans, and other
workers on your wonderful example you
were for St. John’s in your hospitality and
your sportsmanship.
It did not go
unnoticed by people from the other
schools—Mr. Wykert
Honorable Mention
Walther Christian Academy
Melrose Park, Illinois
Graduate of St. John’s
Lutheran School, Mya Kirksy,
class of 2013, made the
“Principal’s List” for the
second quarter at Walther
Christian Academy. God’s blessings to you
Mya!
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
Principal Call Committee Update
The seven members of the Call Committee
have been meeting regularly since
November and have reviewed several
candidates recommended by either the
Northern Illinois District, or congregational
members. We have scheduled several
interviews for this week and will continue
the selection process until we find a
qualified candidate whose experience and
expertise fits the unique needs of St. John’s
Lutheran School. Please continue to pray
for the Principal Call Committee, asking that
the Lord guide our decisions and lead us to
our new Administrator.
St. John’s School PTO News
Debbie Cloutier, President
pto@sjlagrange.com 630.321.0427
PTO Fundraising Idea at FIVE
BELOW
The PTO is “short” two Fundraisers this
year: Market Day was dissolved and the
decision was made last year to offer the
Mixed Bag Fundraiser every other year.
Five Below offers a Fundraiser for nonprofit organizations that sounds pretty
easy, but we need a helping hand to
organize it. If you are interested in
coordinating this (or another) Fundraiser
for the PTO, please contact Debbie Cloutier
at the contact information listed above.
Thank you for your consideration!!
Foundation Announcement
Survey Says!
Church Office
churchoffice@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x210
Church Office
churchoffice@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x210
Coming Soon—St. John’s Lutheran
Church and School Foundation!
The Statement of
Purpose for St.
John’s
Lutheran
Church and School
Foundation is “to
enhance, uplift, and
support the Mission
of
St.
John’s
Lutheran Church and School, through the
acquisition, management and distribution
of financial resources”.
Following our congregational vote
approving the establishment of a
Foundation, our Council has appointed a
Board of Directors, and the organizational
work has begun.
Our State and Federal applications are
being processed, and we will be prepared
to present our Foundation to the
congregation very soon. We are called as
God's stewards to be both generous and
wise, and we look forward to expanding
our Ministry through this great program.
St. John’s Lutheran School has been
approved for a Lutheran School Consulting
Service visit on February 2 and 3, 2016.
LSCS provides diagnostic services designed
to strengthen and revitalize Lutheran
Elementary Schools so that God’s children
will be well served and His kingdom
expanded.
Our Consultant, David Florine, will do an
assessment of our School and make
recommendations for improvement.
As part of the info-gathering process, we ask
you to
submit
responses
to
a
comprehensive survey that covers many
aspects of School life.
Congregation members are encouraged to
complete
this
survey
at
https://
www.surveymonkey.com/r/60525
The
deadline to complete the survey in
Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
Thank you so much for your help in assisting
in a meaningful and insightful LSCS visit.
For more information, speak with one of
our Directors: Tom Braun, Tom D’Amico,
Jeff Baker, Dalyne Shinneman, Bob Roth,
or Andy Kunz.
Meet! Experience! Live !
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Children’s Ministry
2016 Altar Flowers
2016 Women’s Retreat
Sherrie Smith
s.smith@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x212
St. John’s Altar Guild
Office: 708.354.1690
Rebecca Schiltz and Katie Pece
r.schiltz@sjlagrange.com 708.354.1690 x210
Children’s Message
Sunday, January 24, 2016—8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
Leader: Pastor Bruening
Thank you Pastor!
Join us in Sunday School!
Sunday, January 24—9:25 a.m.
Location: Music/Choir Room
“The Visit of the Wise Men,” as told in
Matthew 2, is the Bible story in Sunday
School today. This Bible story teaches us
that the Savior came into the world for the
salvation of all people. Just as the Wise
Men came to Bethlehem to see the Savior
and honor Him, so we come to church to
see the Savior in His Word and
Sacraments. With these gifts, He both
honors and blesses us. Consider
discussing, “How are we sometimes like
Herod? How are we like the Wise Men?”
Youth Group
Kirsten Smith
kismith683@gmail.com 708.354.1690
See you today!
Sunday, January 24—12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Leader: Kirsten Smith
Location: Youth Room (Downstairs)
There is Youth Group this Sunday (TODAY)
from Noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Youth
Room. There will be games, snacks, and
we will be starting the book of Jonah. I
would love to see you all there.
6
St John’s Lutheran Church and School
Ash Wednesday Worship
February 10—7:00 p.m.
Worship w/Holy Communion and
Distribution of Ashes
Wednesday Midweek Lenten
Worship Services
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
(February 10—March 16, 2016)
Lenten Supper Schedule
Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
School Gymnasium
2016 Flower Chart
St. John’s Annual Women’s Retreat
St. John’s Altar Guild
Friday, February 5—7 to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 6— 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge
1200 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
The Flower Chart for
2016 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
2016. Perhaps you want to remember a
loved one; have a special occasion or
anniversary; or thank God for blessings? A
member of the Altar Guild will contact you
in advance for your dedication. Flowers
are $42.00 for two arrangements.
Our Theme for 2016 is:
“Joy in Friendships”
We are very excited to have
Author and Speaker of
Proverbs 31, Amy Carroll!
Free-will Offering
Ash Wednesday—February 10
Annual Chili Dinner with all the trimmings!
Wednesday—February 17
Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy,
Vegetables and Tossed Salad
Wednesday—February 24
Baked Ham w/Scalloped Potatoes,
Vegetables, Tossed Salad, Bread,
Rolls and Butter
130th Anniversary Celebration
September 25, 2016
On September 26, 1866, St. .John’s
Lutheran Church chartered after
completing the first school building
the previous week. Plans will be
under way to make this a significant
Anniversary Celebration. At this time,
mark your calendars to set aside this
date!
Join us on February 5th & 6th for a
weekend of fellowship,
faith and fun!
Reservations can be made on
www.sjlagrange.com
Registration closes on February 1st!
REGISTER TODAY!
Meet! Experience! Live !
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