ST JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH AND
CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL 655 Wayne Avenue, Defiance, Ohio 43512 December 14 & December 15, 2019 Third Sunday in Advent
PASTOR MEWS’S SERMON “Master or Mastered?” Matthew 11:2-15
COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION when taking communion, the tan-colored wine cups are alcohol and the purple-filled cups are non-alcoholic.
THE FLOWERS are placed on the altar to the glory of God in memory of Tony Homan by Shirley Homan. SATURDAY
CHURCH SERVICE TIME CHANGE – That is correct! The Elders have determined to move the Saturday service start time to 5:30 p.m. beginning January 2020. Please share the news! This will be on a 6 month trial period so we are able to assess its change across the seasons. Thank you all for your votes, comments and recommendations. They are appreciated.
ALTAR FLOWERS – there are openings for altar flowers in 2020. Please call the church office to schedule.
CHRISTMAS ENSEMBLE -will practice in the balcony on December 16, 19 & 23 at 3:30-4:00 p.m. All instrumentalists are welcome. Contact Connie Warncke at 419.956.2283. We plan to play Christmas Eve preservice at 5:00 p.m.
REALM
Realm Connect is a real ministry tool. Realm Connect is an online ministry tool designed for real time connection. It will help our church connect with you and you connect with us. Starting in February 2020 you will receive an email to join the closed St. John Realm Connect group. Further details will be in the monthly Epistles and the weekly bulletins.
BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES – see calendar for schedule of times
- IN-DEPTH BIBLE STUDY 1 “Law and Gospel”- This week’s focus is “The proper understanding of Sacraments and their use.” Class meets Tuesdays 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Room.
- “GENESIS” BIBLE STUDY – Class gathers each Thursday morning from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Room. All are WELCOME! The topic is “The Book of Genesis”. Bring yourself and all else is provided. This week, Genesis 13 “Abraham and Lot.”
- WINTER “LIFE WITH GOD” (LWG) begins January 13, 2020 and will meet through March 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes are team taught by Pastor Luhring and Pastor Mews and are for anyone who desires to become a new member, is interested to learn more about the Christian faith or just renew their faith. We ask each member to attend once every 5 years.
“BUILT ON THE ROCK” SEMINAR – “Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation” is presented by Ted Korber, renowned author and leader who has years of experience in church consultation. Real life stories from actual case work inspires and encourages. The ideas are not just great theory, but practical and fruit bearing. The workshop is presented in 5 one-hour sessions. It will take place Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 8:30 – 3:30 p.m.
ALL ARE WELCOME! SJL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS – The school Christmas programs are scheduled for December 15. The preschool program “Someone Has a Birthday” at 2:00 p.m. and the K – 8 program “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” is at 3:30 p.m. Please make plans to attend the programs. Everyone is welcome!
SPELLING BEE – The St. John School Spelling Bee will be held December 18 at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come observe the bee!
BASKETBALL NEWS – St. John Lutheran School boys’ team will be playing at Holy Cross on December 16 at 5:00 p.m., at home on December 17 at 5:00 p.m. playing St. John Freedom and 19 at 5:00 p.m. playing Trinity. Please come and cheer on our Tigers.
SCRIP – The last day to order Scrip cards is Tuesday, December 17 in order to receive them in time for Christmas. There will be no orders during the weeks of December 23 and December 30.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – The school has two big events happening in the New Year – the 4th Annual Cupcake Wars and the 6th Annual Fund Event “An Evening with Friends!” The Cupcake Wars is scheduled for February 22 and “An Evening with Friends” is March 7 at the VFW. More information will be available soon.
FAMILY CARE DRIVE – The Napoleon Harley-Davidson store located at 862 American Rd. Napoleon is collecting personal care items for the Ravens of Defiance. Now through December 18, they are asking for donation of the following: toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, Kleenex, Comet, sponges, deodorant, body soap, shampoo, liquid hand soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products and washcloths. All items are to be dropped off at the Napoleon Harley Davidson store.
LADIES AID will meet for a Christmas Cookie Exchange in the Fellowship Room on December 19 at 2:00 p.m. Guests are to bring 2 dozen cookies to share for the exchange. Janet Koch will present the program “Mary”. Nancy Baldwin is hostess chair. Suggested items for the food pantry are disposable razors. All women of the church are welcome to attend. Please join us! LADIES AID will be selling noodles this weekend in the lower hallway. Please visit us and purchase your holiday supply! Thank you for supporting our missions.
ACTIVE MILITARY – Please provide an updated address for any active military in order to send cards and care packages during the holidays. Please call the church office or send an email to csecretary-sjl@defnet.com.
2020 OFFERING ENVELOPES- Your 2020 offering envelopes are in your church mailbox in the lower hallway. If you did not get a box and would like to have a box, please put OE 2020 by your name in the attendance book. You can call the church office or email at sjl@defnet.com as well, we will make sure you will receive a box. Thank you.
COOKIE WALK – Cookie Walk is Sunday, December 15 at 1:30- 3:30. Youth are asked to help from 1:00- 4:00. The Youth Christmas Party will follow at 4:30.
YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY will be on December 15 from 4:30-6:40 p.m. The kids can bring a white elephant gift to exchange and a snack to share.
CROSS TRAINING- Grades 1-8 will gather this Wednesday, December 18 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. All worship from 7:30-8:00 p.m. for the Advent worship unless the child attended worship as a student at SJL.
PORTALS OF PRAYER for January – March are available. Pick yours up today.
PASTOR MEWS new phone number is 419.670.5014.
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Saturday, December 21, 6:30 p.m. Senior Choir Cantata Tuesday, December 24, 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. Senior Choir Cantata Wednesday, December 25, 10 a.m. Service-Communion Tuesday, December 31, 6:30 p.m. Service-Communion
ATTENDANCE
6:30 a.m. 40
8:00 a.m. 81
9:30 a.m. 144
11:00 a.m. 90
Total 355
– Worship Services –
Traditional Services
Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Sunday, 8:00 and 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Service
Sunday, December 15
8:00 a.m. Worship- Communion
9:30 a.m. Worship- Communion
11:00 a.m. Worship- Communion
1:00-3:30 p.m. Cookie Walk 2
:00 p.m. Pre-School Christmas Program
3:30 p.m. K-8 Christmas Program
4:30 p.m. Youth Christmas Party
Monday, December 16
3:30-4:30 p.m. Best Practices Meeting
4:00–6:20 p.m. Girl Scouts
5:30 p.m. Boys BB Game (A) Holy Cross
6:30 p.m. Finance 1
6:30 p.m. Cub Scout Christmas Party
Tuesday, December 17
9:30-11:30 a.m. Food Pantry
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Spelling Bee Practice
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Tuesdays @ 2
2:00 p.m. Bible Study 1 – “Law & Gospel”
5:00 p.m. Boys BB Game (H) St. John Freedom
6:30 p.m. Adult Basketball 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts
6:30 p.m. Sr. Choir Practice in Sanctuary
Wednesday, December 18
9:00 a.m. Mom’s In Touch at Tim Hortons
1:00 p.m. Advent Service
2:30 p.m. Spelling Bee
3:30-5:00 p.m. Boys BB practice
5:30 p.m. Hand Bell practice
6:30 p.m. Cross Training
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
7:30 p.m. Advent Service
Thursday, December 19
9:00-4:00 p.m. Clothes Closet
9:00 a.m. 4th Grade Chapel/Grandparent Visitor Day
9:30-11:30 p.m. Food Pantry
10:00-11:30 a.m. Bible Study “Genesis”
2:00 p.m. Ladies Aid 5:00 p.m. Boys BB game (H) Trinity
7:00 p.m. Parish Planning Meeting
Friday, December 20
6:30-7:30 a.m. Iron Men’s Bible Study
10:00-2:00 p.m. Clothes Closet
2:30 p.m. Early Dismissal
Saturday, December 21
12:00 p.m. Angel Tree Delivery
6:30 p.m. Worship- Sr. Choir Christmas Cantata