GOOD NEWS FROM S

October

2016

SUNDAY WORSHIP

9:00 am

Sunday School

9:15am—10:00am (during the school year)

Holy Communion

1st & 4th Sunday

PASTOR

Gail Sowell Office Hours: 9am-1pm

Tuesday-Friday

(And by appointment)

SECRETARY’S HOURS

Monday-Friday

9:00-1:00

ADDRESS

W1000 Hwy N

Edgar, WI 54426

PHONE/EMAIL

715-352-2524

EMERGENCY PHONE

715-352-2492

stjohnelca@gmail.com

WEBSITE

www.stjohnelcaedgar.org

Items for print MUST be

submitted by the 20th of

the preceding month.

NEWS FOR ALL

JOHN

Mission Statement: Getting to know Jesus and making Him known through our Worship and Serving.

Pastor’s Ponderings

Sabbath—day of rest—the seventh day of the week, the day to

celebrate completion. According to Jewish law, no work is to be

done on the Sabbath. Every seventh day has always been Sabbath;

for farmers, every seventh year has been a time to let land lie fal-

low or at least be planted in different crops. People, animals, and

land all need to be renewed regularly.

ELCA pastors are encouraged to take a sabbatical every seventh

year of full-time call. In 2006, after serving seven years at Calvary

in Green Bay, I took a three-month sabbatical. During most of that

time I lived in Brooklyn, NY, with an Arabic Lutheran pastor and his

family, working part-time at Salam Lutheran Church. My desig-

nated “project” was to write a devotional booklet on the Psalms;

however, another project, a Lenten devotional, got in the way and

ended up being written first. I self-published both books on my

return to Green Bay.

On August 23, 2009, I began serving at St. John. The Council has

approved my request to take a modified sabbatical from Novem-

ber 1st through January 31st. During these three months I’ll con-

tinue to lead worship and respond to emergencies, but I will NOT

hold office hours, make regular visits, or attend any meetings. My

project is once again a devotional book, which has been in my

heart and mind but struggles to come forth while I work full-time.

� Since I have no computer at home, I’ll be writing at

church almost every day—so I ask you to please respect my

need for “time off.”

� I’ll respond to a written, emailed, or phoned message, but

I ask you please not to contact me unless it’s a true

emergency.

� St. Stephen, I’m not on sabbatical from you, just from

St. John. (Continued on next page)

Page 2 GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN Good News!

Pastor’s Ponderings Cont.

I’m looking forward to this “time off” to gain a change in perspective, enjoy more in-depth Bi-

ble study, and produce a devotional which perhaps will help others find a deeper relationship

with God. —Pastor Gail

The winning tickets of the PACKER RAFFLE were drawn on Sunday, Sept. 4!

Bob Anderson—1st place: 2 game tickets for Sunday, Oct. 16 for the

Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys football game

Walter Thurs—2nd place: $50 Fleet Farm Gift Card

Pastor Gail— 3rd place: $25 Cenex Gift Card

Judy Trawicki—4th place: $25 Walmart Gift card

Much appreciation to ALL who supported this effort to help fund the refurbishing of our

Stained Glass windows by buying and/or selling tickets. *SPECIAL THANKS to Barb Borchardt

for all of her behind the scenes efforts to make this fundraiser successful!

A check for $6001.00 was presented by Barb Borchardt and (Son) Terry Borchardt to Pastor

Gail and Steve Robers (Council President)

for the Stained Glass Window Fund

at St. John.

Pictured (L to R) Steve Robers,

Terry Borchardt, Barb Borchardt,

and Pastor Gail

A Free-will Offering was received for

the flood victims in Louisiana. A total

of $475 was collected from the con-

gregation and these funds were

MATCHED by Pastor Gail.

A goal of $30,000 was set for the fund

before work would begin. With the

addition of the PACKER RAFFLE funds,

the Window Fund is over $33,000!

Thanks to ALL who have helped to

meet and EXCEED that goal!

Good News! GOOD NEWS from ST. JOHN Page 3

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

The Sunday School’s Rally Sundae was September 11.

There was a special time of commissioning our Sunday School

teachers during the service. The people of St. John pledged their

support, prayers and the celebration of our children as they begin

this new term. Following the service there was a tasty time of enjoying “build your own”

sundaes. Our dedicated Sunday School teaching staff for 2016-2017 includes:

Co-superintendents—Bonnie Bargender & Lavone Runge

Michelle Hollatz & Morgan Mueller 4K

Vicky Finke Grade 1

Bonnie Bargender Grades 2 &3

Marianne Mueller Grades 4 & 5

Lavone Runge Grades 6, 7, 8

Substitutes/ Helpers—Lana Strasser & Niaomi Treankler

Remembering the Saints: If you’ve ever lost a loved one.

At the beginning of our All Saints Day worship on November 6th, we’ll light a

candle for every name submitted, family or friend. Please print the name of your

loved one clearly, and if you wish, print your own name and the relationship between you.

This is a beautiful and moving way to celebrate the light of lives now departed. Fifty candles

or more make a lovely scene on the altar! Please have your memorials in by Sunday, October

I (we) ___________________________________wish to honor:

Name(s): __________________________________

Relationship:_______________________________

Please turn in to office by Sunday, October 30th.

Additional forms are

available on the

table on the Narthex.

There will be a PRE-Quarterly meeting on October

16 after the service.

The QUARTERLY MEETING will follow on October 23.

At that time there will be an election of Officers.

Please plan to join us for BOTH important meetings.

Council President (3 yr. term)

Council Vice President (3 yr. term)

Council Treasurer (3 yr. term)

1-Trustee (3 yr. term)

1-Cemetery Board member (3 yr. term)

1-Deacon (3 yr. term)

3-Finance Committee members

Reformation Sunday is Oct. 30th.

Garrison Treankler will be

Confirmed that Sunday too!

Page 4 GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN Good News!

Reflections from Rose

I want to thank everyone for their thoughtful prayers, cards and words of

encouragement following the death of my sister-in-law, Judy. We always

called her “Bugs” because she LOVED the older cartoons (Bugs Bunny etc.)

and she could wiggle her ears!

Jeff, my husband, is the youngest from a family with 10 children. Judy was one of the

three youngest, and left this earthly life behind FIRST out of the 10. It was a hard fare-

well. Jeff was always very close with her, as was our family. She was a great prayer

partner, a wonderful cook, an avid crafter of a wide assortment of things sewn &

crocheted as well as the one who mended the things that were out of my league (like

zippers). The guys in my household are very hard on zippers. Judy had just returned

something she’d put a new zipper in for Jeff 3 days before she died. We’ve already had

a jacket zipper bite the dust since Judy’s departure, and we told Brock (my Grandson)

he was simply out of luck. God really touched my heart this week through his word,

during my daily devotions.

One of the Bible readings this week was Psalm 137: 1-6. In this passage, the exiled

Israelites are groaning and weeping because of the taunts of their captors and because

they are FAR from home; strangers in a strange land.

The writer of my devotionl later suggests that as Christ-followers we resemble these

exiles, strangers in a strange land. Paul declares that “our citizenship is in heaven”

(Phil. 3:20) and Jesus told Pilate that his “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18: 36).

So, sometimes we may weep as we watch the news, when we encounter cruelty or

brokenness, when our friend receives a cancer diagnosis, or when we stand at the grave

of a child thinking “this is not how it’s supposed to be”. Our tears are an appropriate

response of someone whose citizenship is in heaven. They are tears of alienation and

being far from the Garden for which we were created, and the New Jerusalem which is

our destiny.

But we can be encouraged as we hang on to the promises of Jesus. “I have told you

these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

This is temporary and glory is ahead! In the in-between time, we can walk closely with

God, (it’s what we were designed to do), focus on whatever is good, lovely, excellent

and praise worthy, (Phil. 4: 8) and let God use us to encourage other sojourners along

the way. Now, about these zippers...

Good News! GOOD NEWS from ST. JOHN Page 5

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Next Bible Study—Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 1pm.

Next General meeting—Wed. Nov. 2, at 6:30pm

Page 6 GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN Good News!

This past summer I went to Luther Park Bible Camp. When I went there,

Lauryn and Dylan were there. We had lots of fun there and I’m

considering going again.

On a daily basis, we would do “Alpha” and then go to Worship. After Wor-

ship, we would go get breakfast. After that, we would go do our morning

activities. (Our favorite activity was “gaga” ball). Then we went to lunch.

After lunch, we did our later activities, then we would go to Worship,

dinner, and then a fun game. After a full day, we would have a campfire.

After that, we would have “Omega”, then we would go to bed.

I liked going to Camp Luther thia past summer. My experience there was

great. My favorite part was the activities and meeting my Counselor and

all my new friends. Another was Worship. They had fun songs and

dances, and skits.

I strongly suggest that if someone would want to go to camp, they

should go to Camp Luther.

Thank you for sending me to Luther Park Bible Camp this summer. I had

good laughs, great fun, and learned about God there. I had an amazing

time!

Thanks!

—Skylee Manecke

I did a lot of fun stuff at Bible camp. I learned new songs and tons of fun

outdoor games too. I went swimming, hiking, played football, gaga, and

lots more too. I liked how everyday we went outside and did something

physically active. It was way more fun than I thought it would be.

I enjoyed meeting new people and friends also.

This is my summary of what I did at Bible Camp.

Thank you so much for submitting these articles Skylee &

Dylan! It’s so much fun to “hear” your thoughts about

your Bible Camp experience. Thanks for sharing!

Good News! GOOD NEWS from ST. JOHN Page 7

It’s time to adopt a window and begin

planning what you might like to put in it to

help decorate in anticipation of the birth of

our Savior. Advent begins November 27th

(the Sunday after Thanksgiving).

It would be wonderful if each Sunday

School class would choose a window, and

perhaps other groups (Choir, Altar Guild,

Council) would like to do this as well.

Let’s have some fun, and spread some joy!

A Note from the Choir . . .

The Choir has begun practicing after the service on Sunday mornings. It’s time to begin pre-

paring for all the special services that are ahead. We would be so happy to welcome new

members. No experience is necessary, so even if it’s something you’ve never tried before (but

you’re able to carry a tune), come and give it a try. Join us, as together we

joyfully sing praises to our God!

My goodness gracious me! Or should we say, “Our goodness gracious us”? Everywhere we look there are mice! We have it on the best authority that Pastor Gail received a lovely hand-drawn card from a friend on her way to Los Angeles, and there were 3 mice on it! And we also heard that Pastor Gail read a “darling” book to her grandsons—a book about mice! (How can a BOOK be darling? It’s us MICE that are darling!) It was called Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores, and all 3 of them are mice, and there’s also Boris and Cloris, and they’re also mice! And then comes the scary part—when she finished the book about the mice, the next book she chose was about a HUGEHUGEHUGEHUGE cat, Read to Tiger. What do you think, can we trust Pastor Gail with our “darling” lives???? But there’s still good news! (Isn’t that what “gospel” means?) There’ll be FOOD at St. John on October 9th! A potato and buttermilk pancake breakfast. So there’s bound to be some crumbie-crumb-crumbs for us. Thanks, people, for remembering your Church Mice!

Adventures of the Church MiceAdventures of the Church MiceAdventures of the Church MiceAdventures of the Church Mice

It’s time to start taking bids for snowplowing! If you, or someone you

know is interested, please submit a bid in writing to the church office or to

Steve Robers or one of the other council members. Thanks!

See Inside for Articles:

Page 1 Pastor’s Ponderings

Page 2 St. John Family News

Page 3 Family News (cont.) /PRE-Quarterly & Quarterly

Meetings/ Remembering the Saints

Page 4 Reflections

Page 5 St. John Women of the ELCA

Page 6 From Our Youth

Page 7 Adventures of the Church Mice

Christmas Windows/ A Note from the Choir

Please remember to check your bulletin

for updates. If you would like to have us

e-mail the Newsletter to you, please let

us know.

GOOD NEWSGOOD NEWSGOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS St. John Lutheran Church ELCA W1000 Hwy N

Edgar, WI 54426

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Www.stjohnelcaedgar.org