The First Sunday in Advent
PASTOR MEWS’S SERMON
“Why Doesn’t God End COVID”
Isaiah 64:1-9
THE ALTAR FLOWERS in honor of Abby Lenhart’s birthday given by Jerry & Nancy Call.
THE PIANO FLOWERS are in honor of Pastor Luhring’s retirement.
ALTAR FLOWERS Our 2021 Flower Calendar is available, please contact the church office to sign up. There are many dates still available. The dates available in January are as follows: January 9/10, January 16/17, and January 30/31.
ANNIVERSARY CARD Ron & Marilyn Burke will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on December 16. Please help them celebrate by sending cards. Their address is 602 Wood Cree Ct., Defiance, OH 43512.
FOOD PANTRY CHRISTMAS BAGS On Monday, November 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Room we will be putting 60 bags together. Please come and help join in the fun!
OFFERING ENVELOPES The 2021 offering envelopes are in your church mailbox. If you did not receive a box and wish to have one, please email sjl@defnet.com. Also, families who have envelope numbers in 2020 over 325 will have a new number in 2021.
PRAYER LIST CHANGES Friends in Christ, we will be praying in church every week for immediate concerns, additional prayer for birthdays, anniversaries, school families and special prayers for friends and families of our congregation. Beginning the first week in December we will pray for strength and healing for ongoing concerns. Then on the second week, we will pray for those in care facilities. Then on the third week, we will pray for the men and women in the military. Then on the fourth weekend we will pray for friends and family members. We ask that all members please keep the church office informed of specific prayer requests and updates about their loved ones for their families in these categories. Prayer requests can be made by calling Danielle at 419.782.5766 or emailing her at csecretary-sjl@defnet.com.
SIMPLY GIVE Meijer of Defiance is featuring St. John Lutheran Food Pantry until Saturday, January 2, 2021. Please pick-up a $10.00 scan card in the church office and take it to the Defiance Meijer store to be scanned and add $10.00 to your receipt to be given to St. John Food Pantry as Meijer gift cards at the end of the campaign. Meijer will double your contribution on Tuesday, December 1 and Saturday, December 12, 2020.
CROSS TRAINING Starting on December 2, all our Cross Training students will be attending the Wednesday Advent services as a group. We will start classes right at 6:30 p.m. and then we will head down to church at 7:25 p.m. to participate in the service. Parents will then pick up their child after church dismisses. Feel free to reach out to DCE Intern Cassidy at holeso-sjl@defnet.com with any questions.
SHOP WITH SCRIP Looking for ideas to gift your student’s teachers? There are many businesses with $5 and $10 cards available to purchase. Also, you can get your BIGGBY® COFFEE fix and earn 7% for St. John Lutheran School. Find a drink that is as unique as you, hand crafted with love by a friendly barista. Plus, give the gift of BIGGBY® this holiday season with a BIGGBY® COFFEE gift card. Place your order with our bookkeeper, Krystle, at 419.782.5766 ext. 112. Orders placed by 11 a.m. Tuesday will be available Thursday afternoon.
2020 ENDOWMENT FORM is available in the church office for projects to be submitted for the Endowment Fund member’s consideration. Requests are due by December 1.
ANGEL TREE The Angel Tree is officially up out in front of the Church office! Please grab an Angel off the tree and brighten up someone’s Christmas. When you take your angel off the tree, please fill out a tracking card as well and put that in the wrapped box located next to the tree. Each Angel Tree gift should be of $20 value – the angel card will also help you with gift options. We ask that you please return your gifts to the Church office no later than December 13 along with your angel card attached to the gift. This helps us know who the gift is for and which family we need to give it to. Thank you!
2020 ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH ADVENT SERVICES based on Isaiah 40:3. “PREPARE YE!” This year we will take cues from the Psalms as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. These four weeks assist our hearts to prepare room for His everlasting love. December 2020 Schedule, services are held at 1:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 2, “Prepare Ye, Ponder.” Psalm 48:9.
Wednesday, December 9, “Prepare ye, Pray.” Psalm 69:13
Wednesday, December 16, “Prepare Ye, Praise.” Psalm 30:4
Wednesday, December 23, “Prepare Ye, Proclaim.” Psalm 145:6
WINTER 2021 LIFE WITH GOD begins on Monday, January 11. BLUE forms are available in the church office or will be found inside the December Epistle. We ask all members to attend one class every five years.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Sunday November 29 NO YOUTH MEETING
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
ATTENDANCE
Nov. 14. 5:30 p.m. 42
Nov. 15, 8:00 a.m. 47
9:30 a.m. 36
– CHRISTMAS SERVICES –
Saturday, December 19 by the Senior Choir, 5.30 p.m.
Thursday, December 24 at 3:30, 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. “Prepared-Peace”
Thursday, December 24 at 8:00 p.m., St. John Lutheran Senior Choir
Friday, December 25, 10:00 a.m., “Prepared and Proven”
with Holy Communion
WEEKEND SERVICES 5:30 PM SATURDAY,
8:00 AM, 9:30 A.M. AND 11:00 A.M. SUNDAY
December 5 & 6, “Watch”.
December 12 & 13, “The Day”.
December 20, “Establish”.
December 26 & 27, 2020, “Names of an Heir”
NEW YEARS’ EVE SERVICE 5:30 P.M.
Thursday, December 31, 2020, with Holy Communion,
“More than conquerors”