ST. JOHN`S ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC!! Sunday, May 31, 2015

ST. JOHN’S
EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rev. Joseph E. McInnis, Lead Pastor
Rev. Rhonda Pruitt, Pastor of Youth and
Family Faith Formation
Robert McConnell, Music Director and
Organist
Janis B. Wendel, Administrative Assistant
Efren Frausto, Custodian
1235 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
phone 847 251 1730
fax 847 251 5336
web stjohnswilmette.com
e-mail churchoffice@stjohnswilmette.com
Facebook St. John’s Lutheran Church
Wilmette, IL
MAY, 2015
St. John’s Lutheran Church is a caring place
where everyone can live, learn and grow together in Christ.
ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC!!
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Noon
Harms Woods, Grove #5, Skokie
(Parking lot is located by Harms Rd. & Old Orchard Rd.
Due to construction on Harms Rd., use Old Orchard Rd.
or Golf Rd. to access Harms Rd.)
Don’t miss this fantastic old-fashioned church picnic, complete with
GREAT FUN! DELICIOUS FOOD! AWESOME FELLOWSHIP!
Hamburgers, hot dogs, water and lemonade will be provided.
Please bring a side dish, salad or dessert to pass.
Games for young and old alike!
FAITH FORMATION CELEBRATION
“St. John’s Lutheran Church is a caring place
where everyone can live, learn and grow together in Christ.”
Our mission statement lets everyone know that we are a church focused on caring and on
living, learning and growing in Christ. With the end of another academic year of faith formation in
sight, let’s take this moment to recognize and celebrate some of the important ways that faith
formation happens here at St. John’s.
Of course, it all begins in WORSHIP and PRAYER. Nothing forms faith like regular worship and
prayer. Regular worship and prayer are foundational for us, and there is no substitute or better way to
live, learn and grow together in Christ.
But faith formation here at St. John’s takes on many other dimensions, too, and May is the
month we pause to recognize and give thanks to God for several of them.
On May 3, we celebrate the completion of another year of partnership with our local seminary
in providing quality field education experience for persons preparing for pastoral ministry in the
church. This year, we celebrate Ms. Megan Casper and Mr. Matthew Lawler as they wrap up a year of
living, learning and growing together with us. As they leave us, they will be missed. They have added
much to our own faith formation as well as that of our young people.
On May 10, the church joins with our nation in remembering and giving thanks to God for the
selfless love of our mothers and those who have been like mothers to us. Each year on Mother’s Day, I
am reminded of my own mother and grandmother and how instrumental they were in my faith
formation. I am also reminded of how instrumental the local congregation was in forming the faith
that they passed on to me, and so it goes on yet today.
On May 17, we bear witness to the faith of three of our young people upon the completion of
their confirmation instruction. There is perhaps no better example of faith formation in progress than
when they reach this significant milestone in their faith journey. All we need to do is look back and
remember where it began and how very far they have come, to be standing where they are today.
On May 24, we hope to receive some of our new friends and neighbors into our family of faith.
Watching the Spirit draw others into the life we share in Christ encourages and forms faith in us too. It
is a glorious testimony to the Spirit’s power at work in our midst - calling, enlightening and
sanctifying.
And finally, on May 31, we gather together in Harms Woods in Skokie for our annual church
picnic. As our baptismal liturgy reminds us, “Living together with Christ and in the communion of
saints, we grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God.” So, church family, fun and faith
formation go hand in hand.
I appreciate all these Sundays, because they illustrate in one month, several of the important
ways that, with God’s help, faith continues to grow deep and wide among us. It grows through the
faith formation of future pastors. It grows through the love and care of faithful mothers and extended
families. It grows through our confirmation instruction ministry. It grows through the addition of new
friends and families. And finally, it grows through our fellowship with God and one another.
Please join us every week this May as we recognize and celebrate another blessed year of faith
formation at St. John’s!
Pastor Joe
I Bet You…!
Growing up, that was a regular phrase as the weather got warmer! Something about
the longer days and the fairer temperatures made everybody feel a lot more competent and
confident. There were wagers everywhere - “I bet you can’t beat me to the stop sign…”, “ I
bet you can’t pop a wheelie”, “ I bet you can’t do a 360”, “I bet you can’t blow a bubble”, “ I
bet you’ve never caught one that big!” We even try to outdo ourselves. We challenge
ourselves to lose weight before the summer so we can get back into old wardrobes; we want
the bigger garden, the cleaner house, the more organized schedule, and we want it better
than the last time we did it. Something about the sun gives us superpowers; or maybe it’s
simply the fact that we don’t have to wear boots and snow pants and coats, so we feel
unencumbered. We see challenges from sports teams - everyone wants the better player, the
bigger score. They want the more perfect season; they want the better win/loss ratio; they
want the championship. A little healthy competition and some good challenges make us grow.
It makes us better and improves our life.
So with all of this wonderful sun, weather and opportunity, I would challenge us to not
just grow in some areas of our lives but in all areas of our lives, including our spiritual lives.
We are again getting ready for confirmation, where we will challenge three wonderful young
people to take on the adventure of a lifetime. We will invite them, yes, even challenge them,
to take faith by the reins and explore until the wheels fall off! We will challenge them to join
leadership; we will challenge them to take responsibility for service in the world; we will
challenge them and invite them to take part in the life of the church here at St. John’s. I
wonder how they will challenge us. I wonder if they will see the SON inspiring us and
challenging us to better ourselves to a better faith?
There is an old song that says “you can’t be God-giving, no matter how hard you try.
For just as sure that you are living and the Lord is enthroned on high; the more you give the
more he gives to you. Just keep on living, because it’s really true, that you can’t be Godgiving no matter how hard you try!”
It’s an amazing thought that at the end of this competition God still comes out first and
we all tie for first! The challenge is not to unseat God from the number 1, but to strive after
God (who is the best) for a spot at the finish line. So let Jesus (SON) be your superpower. Be
better today than you were yesterday, living learning and growing together with others in
Christ’s love.
I BET YOU CAN’T! (Wink)
Pastor Rhonda
What Singing Together Teaches Us
Have you ever wondered why there are so many Biblical commands to sing?
Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! (Psalm 9:11)
Sing praise to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
(Psalm 30:4)
Sing to the LORD a new song. (Isaiah 42:10)
There are, I think, many reasons but the one I’d like to lift up this month is what
singing as a group teaches us about community. Singing in a choir or as part of a congregation
is a metaphor for how to be an individual in the midst of a community. All of our individual
voices, with their distinct colors and timbres, are needed, but we need to listen to and blend
with others. We need to bring our individual artistry and point to view, but we also need to
forge a unified musical conception. We need to recognize and rejoice in our individual talents
and roles, but we need to discover how these talents can best be used for the greater good.
Being a part of a community, especially a worshipping community, is not always easy. Finding
the right balance between individual self-expression and communal action is an unending
process. Singing together is one way that we can all learn how to better live, learn and grow
in Christ.
Peace and blessings,
Robert McConnell
Easter Breakfast Thank You
Tim and I would like to THANK EVERYONE for their donations of eggs, orange juice, milk and
coffee cakes for the Easter breakfast. We served an egg casserole with pork sausage and
cheese, French toast sticks w/syrup and scrambled eggs. Any and all extra coffee cakes have
been put in the freezer for future coffee hours. We would also like the THANK Kevin Clarke,
Bob Witt, Candace Witt Yurkonis, RJ Witt, Bob Smith, Buck Crist, Bill Kaspar, Cindi
Rachowicz, Larry and Nancy Wood, Al Swanson, Jan Rassenfoss, and Jan Wendel for all their
help in the kitchen and with set up/clean up.
Happy Easter,
Tim and Laura Witt
OUR ST. JOHN’S CONFIRMANDS – CLASS OF 2015
On Sunday, May 17, three of our young people will stand before God and their church
family to affirm their baptism and their faith in Jesus Christ. Each of them will be sharing
their faith statements during the service, based on their chosen Bible verses. As they prepare
for this important day, let us hold them in prayer, and let us also support them on their
confirmation day as they continue on their journey of faith.
Natalie Ruth Danielsen
Parents: Jeff & Kristen Danielsen
"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I
was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." Then the
king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the
den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because
he believed in his God.
Daniel 6:22-23
John Edward Fitzgerald
Parents: Ray Fitzgerald & Toril Johansen
"If you continue in my word, you
are truly my disciples: and you will
know the truth, and the
truth will make you free."
John 8:31b-32
Brett Russell Swanson
Parents: Jason & Casey Swanson
I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
PRIDE IN OUR PAST, FAITH IN OUR FUTURE
You will not find a campaign update in this newsletter. From now until its conclusion on
June 28, weekly campaign progress reports will be prepared and shared at our Saturday and Sunday
services. Please use the prayer card you received in church to pray daily for the success of our “Pride
in Our Past, Faith in Our Future” campaign.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the members of the Dream Team for the commitment of
their time and talent to Christ and this church. They were actively involved for over two years and
their commitment to excellence is one big reason we are where we are today. They are to be
commended. Please join us in recognizing them at the campaign kick-off event on Sunday, Apr. 26 at
5:30 pm. The Dream Team was Jeff Danielsen, Michel Hauser, Chad Johnson, Bill Kaspar, Luke
Rasmussen, Julie Seymour, Christi Wise and Al Swanson, Chair. Thanks be to God for all of them!
“Pride in Our Past Faith in Our Future”
YOUTH HANGING BASKET PLANT SALE
Order beautiful hanging baskets from
St. John’s Youth
One Color Basket (Petunias)
$24.00
Two Color Basket (Petunias)
$28.00
Three Color Basket (Calibrachoa, Verbena, Bacopa) $32.00
The youth will be taking orders between services and after the late service May 3rd and May 10th.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
HAPPY SPRING!!!! It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of the Sunday School year. It
has been wonderful to have Pastor Joe, Pastor Rhonda and Mrs. McInnis available to us for our Sunday
School opening each week. We will continue through the month of May with the following lessons:
Early Believers, Peter Heals, Lydia, Paul and Silas, and Paul and the Philippians.
Looking ahead: St. John’s will once again participate in the Wilmette Ecumenical VBS Camp.
This year, Trinity United Methodist Church (the church with the pumpkin patch) will be hosting VBS.
Campers are ages 3 to entering 4th grade. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for kids who
are in 5th grade and older. VBS will be held July 19-23. Please watch for more information on the
time.
If you are interested in working with the Sunday School team, please contact me @
wittt@sbcglobal.net or my home 847-564-9169.
Peace of the Lord,
Laura Witt
Sunday School Superintendent
WELCOME TO THE CIRCLE!
On April 12, six local high school youth were recognized for their service to God and
their faith community at the sixth annual North Shore Interfaith Leadership Award ceremony.
Our own Ms. Reilly Tangen was recognized in absentia for her service and leadership at St.
John’s.
The ceremony began with a heart-warming song led by a children’s choir from Trinity
United Methodist Church entitled, “Welcome to the Circle.” What a fitting symbol for the
inclusive ministry we share as faith communities living and serving together in Wilmette.
North Shore Interfaith Leaders
Reilly Tangen
WOMEN OF ST. JOHN’S
ALL women in the congregation are included in the Women of St. John's group. There are no dues,
meetings or other requirements for membership. Our primary goal is fellowship.
Join us for Quilting
Thursdays 5/14 & 5/28 from 10 am - 1:30 pm
Come for an hour or bring a lunch and stay the day!
Book Club
We are reading “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett
Join us for an always lively discussion on Sunday, 5/17, 3 pm in the Parlor.
** Watch for our next Happy Hour announcement! **
We need your ideas…
to continue planning activities! Have a suggestion?
Let Jan know at swanson127@comcast.net
HOW TO LEAVE A BEQUEST TO ST. JOHN’S
The question keeps coming up, “I would like to leave a bequest to St. John’s. How do I
do it?” Below, find the language that you should use to do so. It comes to us from Mr. Jim
Provenza, Lutheran attorney and friend of the congregation who specializes in preparing wills
and estates. Jim also suggests that designating a percentage is perhaps the best and simplest
way to go.
HOW TO LEAVE A BEQUEST TO ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
A PERCENT OF YOUR ESTATE
I leave ____% of my estate to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Wilmette, Illinois.
A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT
I leave $ __________ to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Wilmette, Illinois.
You need to insert one of these sentences in your will or trust, with the desired
percentage or dollar amount.
One final note. Be sure to list the name of the church as St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church Wilmette, Illinois. This is the legal name of our church and it must be
specified to avoid any delays or complications in probate.
As always, your thoughtfulness and generosity is appreciated, and a blessing that will
proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ for years to come. Alleluia!
EXTENDED MINISTRIES FUND
The Extended Ministries Fund met on March 23, 2015. We welcomed Suzanne Ditsler to our committee. Also in
attendance were Cindi Rachowicz, Margye Smith and Pastor Joe. We still need to add another member to our
committee. The committee solicited suggestions from the congregation on several Sundays. We decided to add
three missions and remove three.
It was reported that the total fund balance as of December 31, 2014 was $330,587. Since the fund is charged with
disbursing at least 5% of this value ($16,543), the following distributions for $17,000 were approved at the April 14,
2015 Council Meeting.
$1,000
Bethania Kids Centers aim to care for and train children from poor and needy families and to share
with them the love of Jesus Christ. In addition to the basics of a home, clothing, food, medical care
and education, children need abundant mercy, healing and the unconditional love that only God can
give. www.bethaniakids.org
$1,000
Concordia Place Concordia Place is located at 3300 N. Whipple and 3855 N. Seeley in Chicago. It
serves over 300 children, which includes programs for early learning, preschool, after-school, summer
camp, emerging leaders for teenagers, adult learning, wellness and fitness programs for seniors.
www.concordiaplace.org
$1,800
Education Project for Cambodian Children was suggested by Megan Caspar and her husband Tee,
who's village of Sdok Thlok in Cambodia, needs assistance to educate their children who live in
extreme poverty. Education is the key to ending poverty and suffering.
$1,200
ELCA Domestic Disaster Response In light of the recent tornadoes in the Midwest, we though it
timely to assist.
http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/blogs/ELCALutheranDisasterResponse
$2,000
Family Promise provides services for homeless families in transition. Their main focus is to help
families with children in need get back into permanent and sustainable housing and employment. By
working at our Day Center and through cooperating congregations they provide: temporary housing,
job placement counseling, assistance finding permanent housing, meals, and access to services
through our cooperating organizations. www.fpcnorthshore.org
$4,000
Holy Family Ministries is celebrating their 26th anniversary. It is an elementary/middle school
providing Christian education to 280 K-8 west side students and 55 pre-schoolers at their Little
Learners Academy, and an after-school and summer program. www.holyfamilyministries.org
$2,000
Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northwestern is located at 2204 Orrington Avenue in Evanston and
has played a key role in helping to develop many of today’s leaders in ELCA congregations LCMNU
shares in the mission “to invite people in academic settings to engage more deeply with the teachings
of Jesus Christ and the community that bears his name, so that they can discover and fulfill their
vocation as disciples.” LCMNU enables students to take leadership roles in planning worship
programming, service projects, educational programs, fellowship, and other events. More information
is available at www.lcmnorthwestern.org
$3,000
Mosaic at Bethphage Village located in Axtell, NB, consists of a school and residence for children
through adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Bethphage Mission was founded in
1917. In 2003, Bethpage and Martin Luther Homes consolidated to form Mosaic which service 3,500
people through agencies in 14 states and Great Britain. www.mosaicinfo.org
$1,000
Samaritan Counseling Center offers hope, healing and restoration to wholeness in a manner that is
professional, ethical, caring and accessible to all. They offer marriage, premarital, divorce, family and
group counseling. www.northshoresamaritan.org
$2,000
Shekinah Chapel is located in Riverdale and has a program called Simba Circle, aimed at AfricanAmerican young men. Yehiel Curry is ministering there and is currently a TEEM ministry candidate
preparing for ordination and to serve that particular call.
TREASURER’S ALCOVE
Below are the year-to-date figures for the general operations of St. John’s as
of March 31, 2015.
Income
Envelope & Loose Offerings
Other Revenues
Expenses
Benevolences
Salaries
Program Expenses
Property Maintenance
Year-to-Date Deficit
3-31-15
Actual
$57,408
5,875
$63,283
3-31-15
Budget
$48,427
5,825
$54,252
$8,043
59,154
8,221
23,307
$98,725
$8,333
55,945
10,697
13,320
$88,295
$(35,442)
$(34,043)
Income - Our Easter offerings and attendance were encouraging! Revenues were 17% over
budget, primarily because of envelope offerings. Pastor Joe continues to present us with
Thankful Moments in the ministries of St. John's, which are wholly attributable to your prayers,
participation and support. Thank you for continuing to make our Mission and Ministry a priority.
Expenses – We experienced yet another cold winter, additional updates to the Architectural
Designs, and an unexpected Worker’s Compensation adjustment. This resulted in our Expenses
being 12% over budget. Some extraordinary expenses occurred this quarter, including an
additional premium of $3,466 due to Traveler's insurance for our worker's compensation
insurance audit. This was a result of their misclassifying employee’s categories, which they had
been doing for several years. Going forward we can anticipate our premium payable in
November to be an additional $3,500. We've spent an additional $5,400 to refine and make
changes to the architectural plans with Groth Design Group. We've spent half of our gas budget
in only two months, even when we had raised the budget in line with last year.
Deficit – Our deficit is slightly above budget ($1,400) but your strong giving support helped us
cover the unexpected expenses. Let’s hope the year is filled with no more surprise expenses!
Cash - Our cash balance at the beginning of the year was $190,922. At the end of March, it is
$120,107. Items affecting our cash balance include 2014 benevolences and accrued operating
expenses, which were paid in January, capital campaign expenses and mortgage principal
payments.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
Here are highlights from the April 14, 2015 Council meeting:
o Master Plan – Pledges to date total $505,000 committed from 16 gifts (1/3 of the way
to our goal!) Kick-Off Sunday is April 26th, which includes a dinner event at 5:30 p.m.
Dream Team Appreciation will take place during this event. Commitment Sunday is
June 7th.
o The search for a new custodian is underway. Pastor Joe has begun interviewing
candidates.
o June 14th is the proposed date for the Annual Meeting.
o June 14th is also the date that our summer Sunday worship schedule begins, with one
service only at 9:30 a.m.
o Discussion on options for continuing the rummage sale took place. One of the options
was having a rummage store over a period of 4-6 weeks. For now, we need to schedule
a couple rummage sorts in order to discard items deemed unsellable, and then organize
items in boxes and identify items for sale on Craigslist.
o The new office copier is now in place. We will be saving over $40 per month with this
new copier.
o The nominating committee has a slate of candidates for the 2015-2016 Officers and
Council, nominating committee and 2016 Synod Delegates. The election will take place
at the Annual Meeting on June 14.
o MIC Sunday will be May 3, and will be the last Sunday for Matt Lawler and Megan
Casper. We will have a reception for them after the 10:30 service.
o Confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 17th. There are 3 confirmands this year.
o Some repairs around the church property have been made because of the recent rains.
o The Extended Ministry Fund will distribute $17,000 to various ministries this year.
o Treasurer’s Report – Offerings are up but so are expenses. The deficit through April is
$35,438 (total $30,485 with the apartment).
o The Women of St. John’s events continue to be well-attended. The next book review is
on May 22.
o Holy Week and Easter services went well, and included 3 baptisms.