CHI RHO December, 2018

Submissions

are

requested by

the

19th of the

month

preceding

publication.

The Chi

Rho is

published

monthly by

St. John.

PASTOR

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. …for a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of host will do this.

With the first Sunday in December the season of Advent has arrived! Advent is a wonderful time to bring together and celebrate our story of faith in biblical times, the here and now, and love forward with great anticipation of life as it will be in the fullness of time.

It is important that we are connected to the biblical story of faith. How the prophets spoke of the birth of the Savior. Watching and waiting for years. Pre-paring and anticipating through so much of history. And, it is important to know that throughout the world Christians are preparing, anticipating and waiting for the coming of Christ.

We have condensed our vision of preparing, watching and waiting to four short weeks. Our hardships and struggles are often limited to being over-scheduled and under-focused. But, for the people of Israel, it was many, many years of waiting and watching. Their time of waiting was challenged by great hardship, false hope and wondering.

Each Sunday in Advent a candle on the Advent wreath will be lit, reminding us of our watchfulness of the coming of the Lord. Connecting us to our story of faith, giving voice to our part of God’s unfolding drama. God’s great love for us, sending Jesus as an infant reminding us that peace will reign and that the eternal light will shine brightly.

Pastor Becky

St John Lutheran Church Council Meeting

Oct 15, 2018

The meeting was called to order by President Duane Kurtin. Members present: Duane Kurtin, Ronnie

Persky, Imogene Morris, Darrell Marek, Lenard Steglich, Gayle Bielss, Justin Young, Ricky

Ramthun, Frank Smalley, and Donna Dawson. Council opened with the Lord’s Prayer.

Secretary Report: The minutes from the Sept 17, 2018 council meeting were reviewed by council

members. Darrell Marek made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, Lenard Steglich seconded

the motion and the motion carried.

Treasurer Report: The report from Sept were reviewed and discussed by council members. Darrell

Marek stated the budget for 2019 will be presented at the Nov meeting. Lenard Steglich made a

motion to accept the minutes as presented, Justin Young seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Pastor Report: no report

Property Committee: Ronnie Persky reported the organ installation will be completed this week and

the organists will receive training on Sat. There will be a dedication for the organ at a later date. We

received a bid from Alan Shepherd for replacing the air conditioner in the recreation hall, $4900 for

single replacement and $9400 to replace both. Justin Young will present a second bid. Both bids

will be brought to the congregational meeting for a vote. Lenard Steglich stated the area behind the

altar will need to be repainted. We will ensure replacing gutters has taken care of the leaks before

repainting. Frank Smalley stated need for playscape for the children. He will try to get info on costs.

Youth Committee: no report

Stewardship Committee: Pat Stroud sent report that she had made a trip to Family Promise this week

with donations. She also requested any special dates for the upcoming holidays from Family Promise.

Worship Committee: Gayle Bielss reported they will have a meeting this week to plan the rest of the

year.

Membership Committee: no report

Parish Ed Committee: Ricky Ramthun reported all Sunday School classes have been set up and youth

are attending. There are monthly youth socials planned.

Old Business: The budget for 2019 will be presented at Nov meeting. There will be 3 new council

members needed for next year and a new president as Duane Kurtin and Ronnie Persky will be

stepping down. The nominating committee will present new members at next congregational meeting

to be voted on. There was discussion about the organ dedication. Ronnie Persky asked that $500 be

set aside to be used for guest organist, refreshments, etc. He will speak to Dottie Kneten about possi-

ble date. Imogen Morris made motion to accept amount of $500 to be used for the organ dedication,

Frank Smalley seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Membership Committee: no report

Parish Ed Committee: Ricky Ramthun reported all Sunday School classes have been set up and youth

are attending. There are monthly youth socials planned.

Old Business: The budget for 2019 will be presented at Nov meeting. There will be 3 new council

members needed for next year and a new president as Duane Kurtin and Ronnie Persky will be

stepping down. The nominating committee will present new members at next congregational meeting

to be voted on. There was discussion about the organ dedication. Ronnie Persky asked that $500 be

set aside to be used for guest organist, refreshments, etc. He will speak to Dottie Kneten about

possible date. Imogen Morris made motion to accept amount of $500 to be used for the organ

dedication, Frank Smalley seconded the motion and the motion carried.

New Business: Duane Kurtin stated the signed covenant document for the interim pastor had not been

received back at this date after being sent to the synod. There was discussion of rental of church for

use by non-members. Duane Kurtin will investigate further, and council will discuss further at a later

date. Council members discussed employee compensations, decisions will be made at Nov meeting

when budget available. The next congregational meeting will be Dec 9th to present budget and new

council members. Ronnie Persky made a motion to accept this date, Lenard Steglich seconded the

motion and the motion carried.

Frank Smalley made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Gayle Bielss seconded the motion and the

motion carried. The council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Dawson

St John Lutheran Church Council Secretary

30650 State Hwy 95 P.O. Box 70 1 mile north of Email st.john.bartlett@gmail.com Bartlett, TX 76511 Bartlett on State Highway 95 Web www.stjohnbartlett.org

Phone 254-527-3341 Office Hours: Fax 254-527-4522 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. M-Th

STAFF: Pastor Becky Sogge 612-718-9151 beckysogge@yahoo.com Organist Debra Caldwell 254-947-0647 1021stretch@centurylikn.net Secretary Glena Hood 254-718-7340 (cell) st.john.bartlett@gmail.com

COUNCIL OFFICERS: Home Cell E-mail President Duane Kurtin 527-3898 dkurtin@gmail.com Vice President/Property Ronnie Persky 527-4344 231-5302 persky848@aol.com Secretary Donna Dawson 657-3048 913-8783 donnadawson@embarqmail.com Treasurer Darrell Marek 527-4521 760-8329 aprildarrell1987@att.net Financial Secretary Sharon Koonsen 657-2568 sharonkoonsen@earthlink.net

ACTION TEAM LEADERS: Home Cell E-mail Property Lenard Steglich 527-3632 512-461-1983 lenard.steglich@yahoo.com Property Justin Young 718-9680 catfish9680@gmail.com Property Frank Smalley 493-7987 Franklin.Smalley@bswhealth.org Worship/Music Gayle Bielss 527-4424 718-5390 newslady01@sbcglobal.net Parish Education Ricky Ramthun 254-493-8615 ramthun61888@cemturylink.net Membership/Fellowship Imogene Morris 657-2280 imogene.morris@tisd.org Youth Kristi Dague 254-642-0318 913-1072 UT1990@hotmail.com Stewardship/ PR Pat Stroud 254-541-4389 pfstroud@yahoo.com W-ELCA Rachel Burklow 512-352-3197 W-ELCA Debra Caldwell 947-0647 760-8692

OFFERINGS FOR MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

Date Attendance Offering

Nov 4th 85 $3,210

Nov 11th 61 $2,348

Nov 18th 82 $3,104

Nov 25th 70 $2,222

Year to Date Totals $ 129,258

Order your Poinsettias

It’s time to help beautify our sanctuary with the gift of a Poinsettia. This year

we will have White Poinsettia in gold wrap.. Each plant is $12.50. To order a

plant, please fill out this order form and place it in the offering plate with your

payment or give it to the church secretary.

Deadline to order is December 10th

.

Please Print:

YOUR NAME __________________________________________________________

Phone and/or Email Address ______________________________________________

Number of Plants ____________________ @ $12.50 ea = $ _____________________

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bulletin Wording:

In Loving Memory of _____________________________________________________

In Memory of ___________________________________________________________

In Honor of ____________________________________________________________

To the Glory of God _____________________________________________________

Other _________________________________________________________________

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bulletin Wording:

In Loving Memory of _____________________________________________________

In Memory of ___________________________________________________________

In Honor of ____________________________________________________________

To the Glory of God _____________________________________________________

Other _________________________________________________________________

Plants not picked up will be taken to our sick & homebound.

WELCA at work!

Colors of the Christian Church Year TODAY WE ENJOY our congregation's newest paraments, featuring the blue of this Advent Season. These special paraments were the gift of one church member, Ella Kramer, widow of Harvey Kramer. The Kramer’s and their only son, who sadly predeceased them as a young man just starting his military career, were longtime church members here. Near the end of her life, Mrs. Kramer personally answered a long-held prayer of the St. John Altar Guild and many other church members: to have a set of virginal blue Advent paraments for use during this special season of the church year. In the past, St. John and most other churches used purple paraments for the seasons of both Lent and Advent. More recently, considering that Advent is a season of preparation and hope, in contrast to the repentance so characteristic of Lent, the Church has suggested that the color for the season should not be purple, with its mood of solemnity and somberness, but blue to better evoke this time of hopefulness. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in its 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship first listed blue as the preferred color for Advent, while leaving purple as an option. For those of us who knew and worshipped here with Ella, the blue beauty of this set of paraments is not only symbolic of this hopeful season of Advent, but additionally offers a lovely reminder of their quiet and always unassuming giver.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

IS DECEMBER 16 MARKED ON YOUR CALEDNAR? That’s when our 135th Anniversary worship service will be celebrated, beginning at 10:30 am. What an exciting time to be part of God’s family worshiping at St. John!

Sunday, December 16, 2018, marks 135 years to the day that St. John Lutheran Church was established by German farmers from the Holland-Bartlett area, drawing members from throughout the surrounding towns and countryside to worship together since 1883.

We will be honored to welcome all current and former church members, with special recognition of those in the 1950-1959 Confirmation Classes.

The Rev. Erik K. J. Gronberg, PhD., as Bishop of our North Texas-Northern Louisiana (NT-NL) Synod, will officiate.

Following the service, there’ll be plenty of time to catch up with old acquaintances and make new ones as St. John families reconvene in the Teinert Recreation Center for more fellowship — and a tasty barbecue lunch. Current members are asked to bring a side dish — NO desserts OR entrees, Please. And everyone is asked to pitch in and help however they can, especially by including St. John-Bartlett in prayer as we reflect on the blessings of the past and look forward in faith to the challenges and opportunities God has planned for our future.

2018 St. John Lutheran Church WELCA Quarterly Activity Directors

Fall (October-December): Peggy Kurtz, Joey Saverse & Jocelyn Ramthun

Winter ( January-March): Cynthia Gersbach, LaVelle Glaser and Sharon Kurtin

Looking Ahead

December 1st. . . . . . . . . .Christmas Ornament Exchange

December 5th. . . . . . . . . .Advent Services & Choir Practice

December 9th. . . . . . . . . .Congregational Meeting and Children’s Christmas Program

December 12th . . . . . . . . Advent Services & Choir Practice

December 15th . . . . . . . . 135th Anniversary Set-up in TRC after 5:00 pm

December 16th . . . . . . . . 135th Anniversary and Confirmation Reunion 10:30 am Honoring 1950—1959 Confirmation Classes

December 19th . . . . . . . . Advent Services & Choir Practice

December 24th . . . . . . . . Will O’Bell Sing-Along at 10:00 am — Everyone is invited.

Christmas Eve Services @ 7:00 pm

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WE

LC

A A

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or

k!

WELCA at work!

Mark December 16 on your calendar. We will be celebrating St John's 135th anniversary. In this celebration the 1950-59 confirmands will be recognized. We will serve a meal after service of bar-b-que brisket provided by the Holland SPJST. Side dishes will be provided by the members of the St. John congregation. We are asking that St John members sign up to help with the following:

1. To bring a side dish

2. To set-up for the meal

3. To help serve the meal

4. To clean up after the meal

Sign-up sheets will be in back of church. Dessert will be provided by Sharon Kurtin. Thank you.

Pat Stroud

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Girlfriend’s in Christ Bible Study

Our next Bible study meeting will be Saturday, December 15th @10:00 am. We will be studying Mary.

Joey Saverse

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Family Promise

I want to thank everyone for providing supplies for Family Promise this November. On Monday,

November 19th, we delivered your donations of 6 bags of groceries and two turkeys. They had a

good dinner thanks to the members of St. John. Thank you for all your help.

After December 1st, I should have more information about who is going to be spending Christmas at

Family Promise. I would like for us to provide a little extra for the children who will be there during

that time. So please keep that in mind and watch the bulletins for more information. I plan to make

a delivery on December 19th. Thanks again for all your help.

Pat Stroud

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Advent Fair

These totals are tentative. We still have some invoices to come in. Currently, we are showing a total of $14,949.97, with Cheesebraids $2,720; Meals $4,069; Desserts $275.97; Country Store $1,024; Silent Auction $1,210; Live Auction $3,140; Yard Long $650; Christian Cash Club $1,850; and Pickle Guess $11.00. A big “Thank You” to all who worked so hard to make this a great event.

Christmas is coming!!

Let's warm up our vocal chords so we're ready to sing all those carols!

Following our Advent Services on December 5, 12, and 19 we’ll practice some beautiful songs to sing on Christmas Eve.

See you then! Dotty Kneten

SUNDAY SCHOOL

We offer Sunday School to children age 2 up to Adults at 9:15 am each Sunday! We would love to

see more attendance each week. We have great fun each Sunday learning about God’s Word. If

you have not attended a class recently, please stop by and see the things happening in our classes.

Bring along a friend and introduce them to our family here at St. John.

The Sunday School classes will be presenting a Christmas Program during worship services on

Sunday, December 9th.

We are hoping to create goody bags for all children in church that Sunday. If you would like to make

a contribution, please contact Sharon Randig at 512-713-4433.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Dedication of New Organ Console

A dedication service for St. John’s new organ console will be held on Sunday, January 20,

2019 at 3:00 pm. Special music is planned for the event. Stay tuned for more details.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAER

Each day add an item to a box. On Christmas Eve, donate the contents to a Food Bank

December 1 — box of cereal December 13—canned beans

December 2 — peanut butter December 14—box of crackers

December 3 — stuffing mix December 15—package of rice

December 4 — boxed potatoes December 16—package of oatmeal

December 5 — macaroni & cheese December 17—package of pasta

December 6 — canned fruit December 18—spaghetti sauce

December 7 — canned tomatoes December 19—chicken noodle soup

December 8 — canned tuna December 20—tomato soup

December 9 — dessert mix December 21—canned corn

December 10—jar of applesauce December 22—canned mixed vegetables

December 11—canned sweet potatoes December 23—canned carrots

December 12—cranberry sauce December 24—canned green beans

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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December, 2018

•To Gather as God’s

People

•To Grow Spiritually

•To Go Empowered by

the Holy Spirit

•To Share the Gospel

You’re Always

Welcome at St. John

Lutheran Church…

Sunday Mornings

Sunday School 9:15am

Worship 10:30am

Join Us and Bring a Friend!

St John Lutheran Church

P O Box 70

Bartlett, TX 76511

Our Mission