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The Mission
The Journal of St John’s Reaching Farther
St. John’s Lutheran Church and School
Week of February 15, 2015
Central America Mission Trip
Pastor Bruening
p.bruening@sjlagrange.com 708-354-1690 x213
Find out More—Wednesday, February 25!
Following St. John’s desire to be “Witnesses
in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the
ends of the earth,” [Acts 1: 8] we want to
pursue the last of these with a Mission Trip
to Central America. I have made about 15
of these trips over the past years and they
are helpful to the people of developing
countries as well as being helpful in
broadening one’s understanding of the
many living conditions in the world .
2.)
A Teaching Team that would run a
Vacation Bible School normally for over
100 children.
If we have the right personnel we could
send three teams:
3.) A Construction Team that would work in
coordination with Habitat for Humanity
in building a new home for a family,
often for people whose homes have
been destroyed by mud slides.
1.) A Medical Team where we would setup a clinic at a Church and see people
normally from rural villages.
We will meet on Wednesday, February 25
following the 7p Lenten Worship Service in
the Heritage Room. Come and see how you
would be able to participate.
Sunday Morning Adult Study
St. John’s Prayer Chain
Biblical | Challenging | Relevant
Sunday Morning Adult Studies 9:25a
Caroline Craig
carolinecraigsjlc@gmail.com 708-372-7758
The Gospel of St. Mark
SUNDAY’S The Heritage Room
Leader: Pastor Bruening
In the three year cycle we are
in for the scripture readings,
this year the focus is on the
second Gospel. The symbol
for the Gospel is the winged lion because
the Gospel is a Gospel of action. The Greek
word
“εὐθὺς”
(euthus)
translated
“immediately” or “just then” or
“straightway” is used (42) times in the
Gospel inviting us to be people of action for
Jesus Christ.
We will also be looking at the significance
that geography plays in this Gospel and the
impact that should have on us today as we
are in ministry.
Impacting Culture
SUNDAY’S The Library (2nd Floor of School Building)
Leaders: Andy and Sue Kunz
We will discuss aspects of our culture and
explore the ways in which we reach people
in our surrounding community. Our study
concludes this week with: Fresh Ways to
Connect with the Gospel. Is it true that in
spite of their passion, knowledge, love, and
careful scholarship in defending the faith,
evangelicals seem powerless to convict,
engage, and transform the secular world?
If so, what can we do about it? Join us at
9:25a in the School Library on the second
floor.
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
A Prayer Chain is a way for people to gain
assistance in prayer for any problem. It is
also a way for any person to act on God's
command to love one another (John 13:34-35).
Prayer is a way for us to reach out of
ourselves, to put aside our loneliness and
pain for the sake of another. Our mission is
to partner with the Holy Spirit and each
other through prayer to impact our church,
our community and the world for Jesus
Christ. I am looking to start a Prayer Chain.
For those of us who are more comfortable
with technology, prayers will be shared via
email or texting; for those whom
technology is too impersonal, a phone tree
will be created. When a parishioner wishes
to start a prayer request, she/he can
contact Caroline Craig @ 708-372-7758
(texting
is
OK),
or
email
carolinecraigsjlc@gmail.com. Prayers from
Daily Requests or given to Michelle LaVelle
will also be included unless labeled
confidential. Once you contact me, I will
share some general information regarding
prayer chains. Prayers do NOT need to be
for Members of St. John’s only. Prayer
requests will be as specific as the person
requesting the prayer. Jesus teaches us that if we
agree on anything and ask in faith it will be granted
(Matthew 18:19). "I tell you, ask and you will
receive..." (Luke 11:9, Matt. 7:7).
If you have any questions, please contact
Caroline Craig (708) 372-7758 or
carolinecraigsjlc@gmail.com
2015
LENTEN WORSHIP and SUPPER SCHEDULE
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
10:45a and 7p
Imposition of Ashes and
Holy Communion will be offered
Wednesdays
February 25—March 25
10:45a and 7p
Palm Sunday, March 29
8a and 10:45a
Maundy Thursday, April 2
12p and 7p
Good Friday, April 3
12p and 7p
EASTER SUNDAY
April 5
8a and 10:45a
Join us for food and fellowship beginning
Ash Wednesday in the School Gymnasium
at 6p for our delicious Lenten Suppers
hosted by St John’s Ministry Groups. A
suggested donation of $8 per adult; $4 per
child (5-12 yrs) or $20 per family is
welcomed.
Ash Wednesday, February 18
Chili Dinner
Hosted by: Board of Elders
Wednesday, February 25
Baked Chicken Dinner
Hosted by: St. John’s Choir Members
Wednesday, March 4
Spaghetti Dinner
Hosted by: Board of Evangelism & Worship
Wednesday, March 11
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Hosted by: Congregational Care Committee
More delicious menu items
coming next week!!
Meet! Experience! Live !
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Children’s Ministry
Sherrie Smith s.smith@sjlagrange.com
708-354-1690 x 212
You’re Two Years Old!
Let’s Celebrate!
Sherrie Smith s.smith@sjlagrange.com
708-354-1690 x 212
Sunday School
Calling all Two Year Olds!
Sunday, February 15, 2015—9:25a
School Classrooms
Sunday, March 8—9:30a
Location: Nursery
On this Transfiguration Sunday, the Sunday
School students have studied the story of
“The
Transfiguration.”
In
the
Transfiguration, we see Jesus as the pure
and holy Son of God, whose perfect
righteousness is given to us through God’s
Word and Sacraments. Parents could ask,
“What did Jesus reveal to His disciples
about Himself in the Transfiguration? What
does God’s Word reveal to us about Jesus?”
Join us on Sunday, March
8th for a Celebration of
Being Two! This event will
take place at 9:30a. We are
inviting the families of two
year olds to a special
celebration. We will hear a
Jesus story, make an art project, sing, and
pray. There will be a time to talk with other
parents of two year olds and enjoy
refreshments. The two's will get to take
home a little Bible story book. Invite your
friends and neighbor children to this
Children’s Message
Leader: Sherrie Smith
Today is the day after
Valentine's Day, but
every day is about
God's love. We can use
the letters in the word
"love" to help us think about love. We
begin with the letter "L". Here we can find
an arrow pointing down. God's love comes
down to us. God sent His Son Jesus down
to earth for us. "O" is an eternal letter. We
cannot find the starting point or the ending
point - it just keeps going. God's love for us
keeps going. We can make an arrow
pointing up in the letter "V". This says that
we love God because He first loved us. We
can make arrows pointing outward in the
letter "E". We share God's love with others.
Every day is a day to remember that God
loves us. GOD IS LOVE!!
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
Youth Ministry
Kirsten Smith kismith683@gmail.com
Emily Jung crf_jungea@cuchicago.edu
High School Bible Study
Sunday, February 15—9:25a; Youth Room
Leader: Emily Jung
High School Bible Study will be continuing
their study in the Book of Philippians.
Come down to the Youth Room and join us!
Sunday Night Youth Group
Sunday, February 15—NO YOUTH GROUP TONIGHT!
Leader: Kirsten Smith
Thanks for coming to the awesome Lock-In
this weekend! Now go get some sleep!
First Holy Communion
Music Ministry
Sherrie Smith s.smith@sjlagrange.com
708-354-1690 x 212
Gerald Kuker g.kuker@sjlagrange.com
708-354-1690 x 222
First Communion Class—TODAY
February 15, 22 and March 1, 2015—9:30a—10:30a
School Classroom 202
This class is open to any 7th or 8th Grader
with a parent. Please let Sherrie Smith or
the Church Office know if you will be
attending these sessions.
Young Adult Bible Study
Kirsten Smith kismith683@gmail.com
TODAY—Sunday, February 15, 2015—2:30p-4p
Heritage Room
Leader: Kirsten Smith
Hey Young Adults! Today is the day! We
start our Young Adult Bible Study today,
February 15, 2015 from 2:30p—4p in the
Heritage Room. We will meet, get to
know one another, and pick a Bible Study
topic. I can’t wait to see you all there!
Festival Handbells
It is time to make plans for the Festival
Handbells to ring for Easter. For this
season, we will rehearse on Thursdays from
6:30—7:30p. This ensemble is open to all
High School age youth and adults. Reading
music is a prerequisite and you must be
available for all four rehearsals, March 5,
12, 19, and 26. We will not rehearse during
the week of Spring Break which is also Holy
Week, but will rehearse at a mutually
agreed upon time the day before Easter
Sunday, April 5th. Please contact Director,
Jerry Kuker with your questions and to
express your interest in participating. Jerry
needs to know TODAY, February 15th who is
participating.
Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League (LWML)
Pam Christensen bpchristensen@comcast.net
708-354-6977
Tuesday, February 24—7p
Heritage Room
Leader: Pam Christensen
The February meeting of
the Lutheran Women in
Mission will be held on
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 7p in the
Heritage Room. All women are invited to
join us for fellowship, refreshments and a
report from congregational member, Deb
Arfsten about her recent missionary
adventure in Slovakia. Please mark your
calendar for this event!
Meet! Experience! Live !
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St. John’s School
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions
Lynn Kahl, Principal
l.kahl@sjlagrange.com 708-354-1690 x 218
Michelle La Velle—Church Office Manager
m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com 708-354-1690 x 210
The Pencil Maker
Lynn Kahl, Principal
My article for this week was adapted from
something sent from the Northern Illinois
District office. Even children may enjoy
this parable.
It’s that time of the year again! If you are
interested in subscribing to the Lutheran
Witness or renewing your subscription,
please contact Michelle La Velle in the
Church Office. The cost for the (12) month
subscription is $15.96
A pencil maker told the pencil 5 important
lessons just before putting it in the box:





Everything you do will always leave a
mark.
You can always correct the mistakes
you make.
What is important is what is inside of
you.
In life, you will undergo painful
sharpening which will only make you
better.
To be the best pencil, you must allow
yourself to be guided by the hand that
holds you.
We all need to be sharpened. Let this little
parable encourage us to know we are
special with talents and abilities given to
us by God. He has a plan for each of us
that only we can accomplish. Like the
pencil, remember we are always guided by
God’s hand as we live out His plan and
purpose. “For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to
do.” Ephesians 2:10. Share this with your
children as you and they live according to
God’s plan. When discouraging times
come, remember we are in God’s hands.
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St John’s Lutheran Church and School
Congregational Directory
Michelle La Velle—Church Office Manager
m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com 708-354-1690 x 210
Update Membership Information
Does our Church Database have YOUR
family membership record correct? Here is
your chance to update YOUR record for our
annual Guide Book and Directory (if you
haven’t already done so). It is time for us to
update our database with any changes,
additions, or deletions that may have
occurred in YOUR family over the past
year/s. Have you changed your phone
number? Have you moved? Are you
preparing to move soon? Are all of your
children still at home and are they all
included in your membership record?
Do you want your record published? If you
have not already informed the Church
Office about changes to your records,
please call the Church Office so our
GuideBook is accurate. You’re cooperation
is greatly appreciated!
Cossitt Avenue School in La Grange will
hold its bi-annual clothing sale Saturday,
March 7th.
Twice a year, dozens of parent volunteers
transform the School Gym into a huge
clothing bazaar, with racks upon racks of
like-new, high-quality children’s clothing in
sizes infant to 16, tables of gently-used
shoes, rows of strollers and bikes, and a
room full of baby equipment. The money
raised
goes
towards
educational
enrichment and building improvement
programs. Many articles of clothing not
sold are donated to numerous charities in
the area.
The sale runs from 8a to Noon at the
School, 115 W. Cossitt Avenue. Adults only
from 8a—10a and children are permitted
only between the hours of 10a—Noon.
Select items are marked to half-off during
the last hour of the sale, from 11a—
Noon. Cash or check (with identification
only) are accepted.
In exchange for four hours of time,
volunteers can shop the popular “pre-sale”
on Friday, March 6th from 6p—8p. To sign
up for a volunteer shift, go to
www.cossittptc.org/clothingsal
February’s Mission Café donations will be
given to the Obaidi Family.
The
Obaidi
family
has
been through a
lot in the years
prior to their
arrival in the
U.S. They fled
Iraq for Syria and spent about 6 years there.
When it became increasingly dangerous in
Syria, they returned to Iraq, but soon
realized that they needed to find a better
place for their family. The process finally
culminated in their arrival in the U.S. about a
year ago. They are so thankful for all that St.
John’s has done to assist them, and look
forward to visiting our church in the near
future.
We thank you again for your support!
The Mayor Thursday night Small Group
Articles for The Mission are due Wednesday
by Noon and can be submitted to Michelle La
Velle, m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com or by calling
the Church Office (708) 354-1690 x210
The Church Office reserves the right to edit
submissions for length and/or writing style.
Meet! Experience! Live !
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This Week At St. John’s
Offerings of the People
Preacher: Reverend W. Philip Bruening
Worship Leader: Mark Stapleton
Organist: Gerald Kuker
Choirs: Senior Choir—10:45a
Accompanist: Dana Shinneman
Flautist: Adam Behnke—10:45a
Children’s Message: Sherrie Smith
Altar Guild: Karen Herman and Marie Fukar
Altar Flowers: The Floral Arrangements are
given to the Glory of God at the Altar in
thanksgiving to God for many blessings
received during the 44 years of Christian
marriage of Jim and Beverlyn O’Connor
Coffee Hour Hosts: The Preston’s and Peg
Hartnett
Serving at 8:00a
Acolyte: Frances Zaloudek
Elder: Dick Seeman
Communion Assistants: Mark Behnke, Jim
Paulsen and Rick Lange
Ushers: *Pat Mallahan, John Babirak, Otto
Osterland, Jerry Safranek and Art
Schroeder
Serving at 10:45a
Acolytes: Jon Kane and Maggie Moriarty
Elder: Marty Haugen
Communion Assistants: Jeff Baker, Jim
Fredrickson and John Zylstra
Ushers: Chuck Enokian, Jim Moriarity and
Wally Pidde
Worship Attendance:
Last Week Sunday [02/08] = 262
February 15-February 22, 2015
Sunday
8:00a Worship w/Holy Communion
9:25a Adult Bible Study—The Gospel of Mark
9:25a Adult Bible Study—Impacting Culture
9:25a Sunday School
9:25a FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS
9:25a High School Bible Study
10:45a Worship w/Holy Communion
2:30p YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY BEGINS
Monday
PRESIDENT’S DAY
**CHURCH & SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED**
7:00p Church Council Meeting
Tuesday
7:25a Jubilee Handbell Rehearsal
3:15p SJLS Bread Baking Class
4:00p SJLS Coed JV BB Game vs Immanuel, Hillside
(HOME)
7:30p Basketball Group
Wednesday
ASH WEDNESDAY
7:25a Joy Handbell Rehearsal
7:40p Children’s Prayer Ministry
9:50a ECH Chapel Service
10:45a Ash Wednesday Worship Service w/
Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion
6:00p Lenten Supper—CHILI DINNER
7:00p Ash Wednesday Worship Service w/
Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion
8:00p Senior Choir Rehearsal
Thursday
6:15a Early Risers Bible Class
6:30p SJLS Amazing America/Americans
7:45p Volleyball Practice
Friday
7:00p Recovery Group Meeting
Saturday
Sunday
NO EVENTS SCHEDULED
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
8:00a Worship Service
9:25a Adult Bible Study—The Gospel of Mark
9:25a Sunday School
9:25a FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS
9:25a High School Bible Study
10:45a Worship Service
2:30p Young Adult Bible Study
6:00p Youth Group
“The Mission” is the weekly journal of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School. Our mission is to engage the people
we live, work with and meet along our way in such a way that they,
Meet Jesus, Experience the support of a church, and Live as disciples!
St John’s Lutheran Church and School | 505 S Park Road, La Grange IL | 708-354-1690
www.sjlagrange.com | Facebook: sjlagrange