Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sunday worship will be at 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM in the sanctuary.

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28
Sermon: Pastor Niezwaag

Rally Sunday will be September 7, 2014
10 a.m. in Central Park

There will be registration for both Sunday School for ages 3 years old - 8th grade, and for the After School Program for ages 4 year old - 5th grade. Sunday School will be 9:05 a.m. -10:00 a.m. beginning September 14.

Lunch will be served after late worship: hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, salads, bars & lemonade.

Bring your backpacks!

We will be "Blessing the Backpacks" on Rally Sunday so all students and all school staff, sunday school teachers, confirmation leaders, after school program instructors, and St. John Christian preschool staff, should plan on bringing their school bags that morning to be blessed. There will also be a meal and games following worship.

September 7, 2014, is "God's Work. Our Hands."
The idea for "God's work. Our hands." Sunday is this: ELCA members are called to put their faith into action by engaging in service activities in their neighborhood and community.
Some of the service activities planned for St. John members are writing letters to soldiers, yard work for those needing assistance, and collecting donations for and assembling "Something of My Very Own" bags for children going into foster care.

SUGGESTED PROJECTS
"Something of My Very Own" bags-Many children who are removed from their homes and placed in foster care arrive at their foster home with little more than the clothes on their backs. We are asking for donations of new or gently used backpacks, small and new or gently used stuffed animals from smoke-free homes, and children's clothing and pajamas to assemble "Something of My Very Own" bags for the case workers to bring with when removing a child to foster care.

Letters to Soldiers- We will have a writing table set up for anyone who wishes to sit down and write a letter to a soldier serving in our military. We will take care of mailing the letters for you.

Yard Work- There are always yards that need more attention than the owner is able to provide. We will be helping by picking up sticks, weeding, etc.

Have you signed up yet? There is still time!

Parish Communications board members will be in the gathering space (Narthex) to sign you up for your photo directory again next Sunday.

You can still sign up online - by visiting the link below, you can call the church office, and parish communications will be booking times on September 7 & 14.

You only get a directory if you have your picture taken.

Do you ever see people at church and wonder what their name is? St. John is producing our every five year pictorial family album. There is no cost to be part of the directory, and you will receive a complimentary 8 x 10 portrait and directory for having your picture taken. Your photo session will be approximately one hour.

Photos will be taken these dates

Thursday, September 25
Friday, September 26
Saturday, September 27
Photos in September will be taken in the Parish Hall. This will accommodate anyone who has a difficult time maneuvering steps.

Wednesday, November 12
Thursday, November 13
Friday, November 14
Saturday, November 15

Wednesday, November 19
Thursday, November 20
Friday, November 21
Saturday, November 22
Photos in November will be taken in the choir room. There is handicap accessibility from the Gilbert Street entrance.

If we fill the November dates we will offer an additional photo shoot dates - November 6 - 8.

You can RESERVE YOUR PHOTO TIME NOW.
Online sign up - CLICK HERE

How else can I sign up
Parish Communications board members will be in the gathering space (Narthex) to sign you up for your photo directory

Sunday, September 7 - after each worship service
Sunday, September 14 - after each worship service
or you can call the church office at 641-228-3397

If you have questions please e-mail Justin DeVore, Director of Communications

September 7 - Rally Sunday Worship 10 am at Central Park Blessing of the Backpacks during worship and meal following
September 7 - God's Work, Our Hands (ELCA Service Day) We are having multiple service opportunities this day, so after worship and the meal, we WILL "go in peace and SERVE the Lord!"

September 10 - Confirmation Orientation 6pm 7th, 8th, and 9th Graders AND a parent/guardian

September 14 - First day of Sunday School 9:05 am
September 14 - Confirmands Meeting 11:20 am For 10th Graders who will be confirmed October 12.
September 14 - Time &Talent Auction 12:30pm We would really like to have you involved so please be thinking about how you can contribute. Maybe you could donate an evening of babysitting, or a couple of hours of yard work or light housework, or a few sessions of reading aloud at nursing homes, playing an instrument at a nursing home, or an hour of playing Checkers or Uno or Kings in the Corner with someone who needs a partner. However you choose to donate--- your time and talent donation is appreciated!

September 17 - Confirmation begins 6 pm

September 20 - Plates of Plenty Community kitchen at St. John.

Be watching for more information on these activities, and for information on additional upcoming activities.

If you have any questions, call me at 228-3397, or stop by my office and say hello!

Blessings,

Laurie Heidebrink
Youth and Family Coordinator

After School Program begins Sept. 17

Registration for the St. John After School Program is on Rally Sunday after Praise in the Park.
The After School Program is for kids age 4 (if they have attended preschool) through 5th grade and is held from 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning September 17.

The St. John Bus will be available again this year so you can sign up to ride the church bus. The bus will drive from your school to St. John each Wednesday. Sign up for the bus at registration.

Calling all 3-year-olds

First Step is an orientation event for three-year-olds who will begin Sunday School at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church this year. It will be at 4:00pm on Saturday, September 13, 2014 downstairs in the Sunday School area. All three-year-olds are invited to attend with a parent to help make this milestone event in the child's life easier. Please contact Laurie at
228-2468 ext. 173 to let us know if you plan to attend.

Sunday September 14, 2014
11:30 light lunch (free will offering) and
12:30 Auction

Funds to Repair or Replace the Church Bus
Many people don't know that the Church Bus has very little budget. It has required quite a bit of repair over the years and just underwent significant repair in the hope that replacement would not be necessary. The general budget can not handle too much of this so we are asking for your help to make this Talent Auction a resounding success.

Here are some of the items up for sale on September 14.

We ask that you let the church office know as you decide on your talent so that a running list can be made and posted of your talent offering. Let's make this a fun and successful event showing God's Love in Action right here at St. John.

YOGA will begin on September 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This class is led by Pastor Niezwaag. Cost: free will donation.

Latin Style Fitness will be starting September 4 at 6:00 p.m. Contact Pam Lessin for more information at 220-1077.

Sunday School rooms are looking for working CD players for each of our classrooms. We have a new curriculum that features a music CD in the lesson. If you have a working CD player you would be willing to donate to the church, please contact Laurie at 228-2468 ext. 173.

In this portion of the weekly email we will acknowledge significant life events of our St. John community. Please let us know when you are celebrating the birth of a child, a marriage, accomplishment, new job or other news worth sharing. Contact the e-skinny or call the church at (641) 228-3397.

Each week in the e-skinny we will have the current prayer list available for download. We invite you to keep the list at hand and pray for those who are on it. To access the prayer list please click on the link below and the list will download to your computer.

Click here for this week's

St. John Prayer List

I would like to thank St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and everyone in this congregation for the opportunity to serve you and the ministries of this church.

I recently accepted a new full time position with the Charles City Community School District working in the Central Office as Information Specialist. My responsibilities with the school include being a communications director, coordinator for the local access cable channel and some bookkeeping.

However this means that I will no longer be able to continue my role as Director of Communications for St. John. I have started my new role at the school. I also am still working at church to fulfill my commitment until Sunday, August 31.

I sincerely appreciate this congregation's willingness to say yes so many times when I called or asked for help. I'm incredibly proud of the ministries St. John accomplishes together and look forward to the new ideas and ministries we will continue to accomplish as we live out God's Love - In Action.

Marcia, Hannah, Jonah and I will continue to see you each Sunday. Thank you again for your encouragement for my family and me.