1. shopping
2. gifts

CHI RHO
The Chi
Rho is
published
monthly by
St. John
Submissions
are
requested by
the
19th of the
month
preceding
publication.
Inside this issue:
A Word from the
Pastor
1
Important Dates/
2
Birthdays
Stewardship/Council
3
WELCA /NEWS
4-5
Asst. Schedule /
Calendar-January
Purple
Asst. Schedule /
Calendar-February
Pink
January 2015
In December and January of every year, we celebrate our Lord’s
birth with the season of Christmas. It can be a special and stress free
time where we think nice thoughts, enjoy abundant relaxation, have
plenty of excess money to buy all sorts of nice things for family, and
where we get everything we want under the Christmas tree. If anyone
reading this newsletter has ever had a Christmas like that, please tell the
rest of us how you pulled it off.
For many, Christmas is a special time of year but it can also be
very stressful. In fact, when we look to Scripture, we find that the first
Christmas was just that. Mary and Joseph were on a journey to
participate in a mandatory census in Joseph’s ancestral home, Bethlehem.
Mary was well along in her pregnancy and has to travel well over half of
Israel on the back of a donkey. As they arrived, she went into labor.
Because of the high volume of travelers for the census there was no room
to rent. Mary’s labor and delivery room was likely a dark, damp, and
smelly stable which they shared with the owner’s livestock. Now that is
the picture of stress.
The season can be similarly stressful for our families and our
church. Usually, its financial strain that causes the most worries.
Christmas is a time when we want to buy gifts for our family. We want
them to have nice things and to feel loved and special, but we only have
so much to spend. Christmas is also the end of a budget year, when
financial shortfalls become evident at church, and we worry how to
balance and approve next year’s budget.
For this Christmas season, when the financial squeeze starts, and
it begins to feel stressful like giving birth in a stable, just remember that
God loves us. Jesus laid down all he had, his whole life, for our sake.
On the cross he gave us God’s love unconditionally. He redeemed us and
made us all the beloved children of God. Jesus shows us that we are
already special and loved, and we need not search for those things under
a Christmas tree. God will also provide us what we need for our
ministry here at St. John Lutheran.
Therefore, this Christmas season even if you couldn’t afford to buy
every gift your family desired, or are worried about the 2015 budget,
remember who you are and remind others of who they are. We are the
redeemed children of the Almighty God. We are made so by God’s love
and sacrifice for us at the cross. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas,
and may your holiday journeys in the New Year be safe and blessed.
See you in worship! Pastor Joe Woodward
3rd…WELCA Officers meeting @ 9:30am
4th…Sunday School & Confirmation @ 9:15am
Worship @ 10:30am
5th...Will-O-Bell with Communion @ 10am
1
Sharon Randig
Jerry Smalley
3
Greyson Huber
5
Sharon Kurtin
Myrtle Wood
7
Emily Dague
8
Robert Steglich
9
Lynn Stroud
Amanda Thaler
14th…Men’s Bible Study (Lois&Jerrys)@7:15am
10
Rachel Burklow
15th..Piecemakers @ 1pm
16
David Bielss
Jane Motl
17
Nathan Dague
20
Earl Marsh
23
Megan Spinn
27
Terri Crum
Jason Young
21st..Men’s Bible Study (Lois&Jerrys)@7:15am
29
Amy Young
22nd..Piecemakers @1pm
30
Weston Rafay
25th..Sunday School & Confirmation @ 9:15am
31
Sandra Jones
Garrison Rafay
Dominoes @12:30am
Reports Due into Office
7th…Men’s Bible Study (Lois&Jerrys)@7:15am
8th…..Piecemakers @ 1pm
11th…Sunday School & Confirmation @ 9:15am
Worship @ 10:30am
12th..Dominoes @12:30am
13th….American Legion Meeting @7pm
18th...Sunday School & Confirmation @ 9:15am
Worship @ 10:30am
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
WELCA Meeting & CHILI LUNCH
19th.. Dominoes @ 12:30pm
Church Council Meeting @ 6:30pm
20th..Women’s Bible Study @10am-(Esterleen Fischer's Home)
Worship @ 10:30am
26th..Dominoes @ 12:30pm
28th..Men’s Bible Study (Lois&Jerrys)@7:15am
Crafting @ 9am
29th..Piecemakers @1pm
If your birthday is not on the
list or if it is on the wrong day
please let the office know so
that we can correct it.
30650 State Hwy 95
P.O. Box 70
Bartlett, TX 76511
1 mile north of
Bartlett on State Highway 95
Phone 254-527-3341
Fax 254-527-4522
Office Hours:
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. M-Th
Email stjohn-elca@sbcglobal.net
Web www.stjohnbartlett.net
STAFF
Pastor
Joe Woodward
Organist
Garland Kneten
Secretary Sherry Kell
COUNCIL OFFICERS
President
Vice President/Stewardship
Secretary
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
254-289-4454 (cell)
527-4235 Hm
512-913-5900 (cell)
HOME
Weldon Kurtz
Darrell Marek
Rick Fleming
Janice Atchison
Sharon Koonsen
ACTION TEAM LEADERS
Property
Youth
Property
Evangelism
Worship
Public Relations
Parish Ed
Membership/Fellowship
W-ELCA
Cemetery
657-2588
527-4521
983-2050
527-3142
657-2568
HOME
joewoodward7@gmail.com
gkneten@sbcglobal.net
stjohn-elca@sbcglobal.net
CELL
231-1082
Cedalia.kurtz@live.com
760-8329
jmarek@vvm.com
217-3462 rpjfleming@yahoo.com
721-8477
janice2054@att.net
sharonkoonsen@earthlink.net
CELL
Steven Wentrcek
718-3106
stevenw1572@msn.com
Kristi Dague
642-0318
913-1072
UT1990@hotmail.com
Lynn Stroud
541-4390
jlstroud56@yahoo.com
Jay Don Gommert 982-4915
721-0050
jaygommert@yahoo.com
Joann Zieschang 527-3948 512-563-3591
jazz1281@gmail.com
Gayle Bielss
527-4424
718-5390 newslady01@sbcglobal.net
Sharon Randig
527-3287 512-585-9481 srandig@bartlett.tx.ed.net
Jennifer Starke
718-6215
starke.jennifer@yahoo.com
Pat Stroud
541-4389
pfstroud@yahoo.com
Nelwyn Persky 527-4344
231-5296
nel1s@aol.com
Walt Saverse
770-8381
waltsaverse@gmail.com
OFFERINGS FOR MONTH OF DECEMBER
Date
Attendance
Offering
December 7, 2014
90
$4029
December 14, 2014
99
$3078
December 21, 2014
104
$2635
December 24, 2014
250
$1207
December 25, 2014
32
$20
December 28, 2014
72
$1545
647
$12,514
December Totals
Just a reminder:
WELCA appreciates every member of our congregation and is grateful for your support.
Thank you all for reading this information, and for everything you do in the name of Jesus, our Lord.
GOD WORKS THROUGH OUR HANDS . . .
W-ELCA
. . . we are thankful for another successful year and wish everyone every blessing in the coming new year.
*****************************************
Coming Up!
Thursdays . . . . . . .1:00-3:00 p.m. PieceMakers work on Lutheran World Relief Quilts
Jan 20 Tuesday . . 10:00 a.m. Morning Bible Study & Lunch at the home of Esterleen Fischer
Annual Chili Lunch . . . . . .
January 18
Annual Congregational Chili Luncheon & WELCA Meeting. Everything is set for our delicious annual congregational chili lunch on Sunday, January 18 - y'all come! And we hope as many WELCA
members as possible will make plans to stay for our important meeting to set our 2015 calendar and
budget. The Lord has blessed us with a fruitful year, but there are many needs, so this is our opportunity to prayerfully consider how we can best serve our Lord in the coming year. Thank you for planning to attend.
AT
P.S. Thanks to the gentlemen who always stick around to help clean up -- we appreciate you very
much!
Mark your calendars for January 20! As we begin the New Year, Esterleen Fischer has invited us
all to her home on Wednesday, January 20, for the month's WELCA Bible Study, with lunch to follow.
NOTE the starting time change to 10:00 a.m. Please plan to bring a salad or dessert, and stay for
lunch.
Incoming Officers. A joint meeting of the 2014 and 2015 WELCA officers is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 3, in the TRC. Agenda includes reviewing year-to-date expenses in order to draft
a proposed 2015 budget, and developing a proposed 2015 calendar, including ideas for committee
chairwomen and quarterly coordinators. MANY THANKS to our 2014 officers for all their prayer, time
and energy devoted to our organization:
WORK!
Co-chair
Pat Stroud & Nelwyn Persky
Vice President
Karen Davis
Co-secretary
Sue Marsh & Dotty Kneten
Treasurer
Sharon Koonsen
Thanks, as well, to our incoming officers and their promise of leadership for our 2015 year of service:
Co-chair
Sandra Jones & Nelwyn Persky
Vice President
Sharon Kurtin
Secretary
Linda Ferguson
Treasurer
Judy Gersbach
Christmas Ornament Exchange Brunch Recap. Over 30 members and guests shared a joyous
morning at the 12th annual Ornament Exchange on December 6. Thank you all for the wonderful
ornaments, yummy recipes and special memories! Now: as busy as the holiday season gets, it's not
too early to mark your calendar for next year's Exchange, on Saturday, December 5! We would love
to have every member attend -- with a guest.
Advent Fair Results. Thank you again!
Gross Receipts
$18,003.25
Expenses
Turkey Dinners (501)
$400.52
666.09
Total Expenses
1,066.61
Net Income
$16,936.64
*****************************************
Letter of Thanks. We recently received this letter of thanks for our Good Gifts contribution.
This year (2014) was our first venture into supporting the ELCA Good Gifts program.
December 1, 2014
Dear St John Lutheran Church,
Thank you for your recent gift of $10.00 to support the mission and ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) through ELCA Good Gifts.
With your help, the ELCA is sharing the gospel, starting new congregations, preparing leaders,
working to overcome malaria, fighting hunger and so much more. Your gifts are truly transforming lives.
Together, we do more than we ever could alone. With our hands, we do God's work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ's name throughout the world. Thank you for
your partnership. And thanks, again, for your generous support. It is deeply appreciated.
In Christ,
Christina Jackson-Skelton,
W-ELCA AT WORK
Cheese Braids
Executive Director, Mission Advancement
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Welcome New Members:
Courtney Janke, Casey Hernandez,
Carl & Brenda Kessler
New Church Council Members:
Debra Martin, Walt Saverse,
Mila Wegner, Duane Kurtin,
Dorothy Marwitz, and J.R. Gersbach
Please mark your calendar for
January 18th @10:30am.
The annual report will be
given to the congregation and
committees will be formed.
Address Service Requested
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
Permit #7
Bartlett TX
76511
St. John Lutheran Church
30650 State Hwy 95
P. O. Box 70
Bartlett, TX 76511
Congregational Meeting with
Annual Report
January 18, 2015 @ 10:30am
WELCA Meeting & Chili Dinner
After worship
Join Us and Bring a Friend!
January 2015
Worship 10:30am
Sunday School 9:15am
To Share the Gospel
as We Serve
To Go Empowered by
the Holy Spirit
To Grow Spiritually

To Gather as God’s
People
OUR MISSION
Sunday Mornings
You’re Always
Welcome at St.
John Lutheran
Church…