A message from The pastor - St. John Lutheran Church · 2019-11-29 · A message from The pastor...
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A message from The pastor St. John Journey november 2013 (Excerpt from Martin Luther’s Christmas Sermon 1543) The inn was full. No one would release a room to this pregnant woman. She had to go to a cow stall and there bring forth the Maker of all creatures because nobody would give way. Shame on you, wretched Bethlehem! The inn ought to have been burned with brimstone, for even though Mary had been a beggar maid or unwed, anybody at such a time would have been glad to give her a hand. There are many of you in this congrega- tion who think to yourselves: “If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to help the baby! I would have washed his linen! How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!” Yes you would! You say that be- cause you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem. Childish and silly thoughts are these! Why don’t you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve Him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ Himself. We look back in such a romanticized way. Just as Luther says in this sermon if only I had been there things would have been different, there would be room in the Inn, room would have been made for the Christ child to be born. Joseph and Mary would not have had to settle for a cattle stall. BUT REALLY, would things be different. Sure, we know the story now, it was the baby Jesus Mary was carrying. But they did not know that in the first century Bethlehem, if only they had known. We know the story. We know the promise that this Christ child carries for each of us, but does it change our lives in any way. Does it make life easier or does it make life harder? Does it free us to serve and to see Christ in those around us and even in our- selves. Advent is a time for a new beginning, new start, a time to get a handle on what it means for us to be a faithful believer of Jesus Christ. It is a time for us to take in- ventory of our heart and our soul and to see are we making room for Christ. Peace, ` Pastor Scott
Transcript of A message from The pastor - St. John Lutheran Church · 2019-11-29 · A message from The pastor...
A message from The pastor
St. John Journey
november 2013
(Excerpt from Martin Luther’s Christmas Sermon 1543)
The inn was full. No one would release a room to this pregnant woman. She had to go to a cow stall and there bring forth the Maker of all creatures because nobody would
give way. Shame on you, wretched Bethlehem! The inn ought to have been burned with brimstone, for even though Mary had been a beggar maid or unwed, anybody at such a
time would have been glad to give her a hand. There are many of you in this congrega-tion who think to yourselves: “If only I had been there! How quick I would have been to
help the baby! I would have washed his linen! How happy I would have been to go with the shepherds to see the Lord lying in the manger!” Yes you would! You say that be-
cause you know how great Christ is, but if you had been there at that time you would have done no better than the people of Bethlehem. Childish and silly thoughts are
these! Why don’t you do it now? You have Christ in your neighbor. You ought to serve
Him, for what you do to your neighbor in need you do to the Lord Christ Himself.
We look back in such a romanticized way. Just as Luther says in this sermon if only I
had been there things would have been different, there would be room in the Inn, room would have been made for the Christ child to be born. Joseph and Mary would not have
had to settle for a cattle stall. BUT REALLY, would things be different. Sure, we know the story now, it was the baby Jesus Mary was carrying. But they did not know that in
the first century Bethlehem, if only they had known.
We know the story. We know the promise that this Christ child carries for each of us,
but does it change our lives in any way. Does it make life easier or does it make life harder? Does it free us to serve and to see Christ in those around us and even in our-
selves. Advent is a time for a new beginning, new start, a time to get a handle on what it means for us to be a faithful believer of Jesus Christ. It is a time for us to take in-
ventory of our heart and our soul and to see are we making room for Christ.
Peace, ` Pastor Scott
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St. John’s Financial Summary
St. John is on track to finish 2013 with a balanced budget. Thank you for your generous giving!
Thank you also to St. John’s members who have turned in your pledge cards for 2014. Having your pledges makes the budgeting process much easier for the Finance Team and Council.
For those members who have not turned in your 2014 pledge cards, it’s not too late! We would very much still appreci-ate receiving your pledges.
December Notes: December 8: Installation of Congregation Council
Congregation Meeting between the Worship Services
Dedicate and Consecrate New Stoles
5:30 PM Service of Healing and Prayers around the Cross
December 12, 7:00PM: Pastor Scott will lead a Taize Service at
Jubilee House followed by a soup meal.
December 21, 7:00 PM Congregation Christmas Gathering at the Suhrbiers’
December 24: 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship
St. John's Financial Summary
October 2013
0
25,000
50,000
75,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
175,000
200,000
225,000
250,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Month
$
Income to Date Expenses to DateProjected Income Projected Expenses
Budgeted Income = $226,300
Budgeted Expenses = $224,400
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The St. John Quilters are meeting on Tuesdays at 9:30AM. Come out and enjoy the fun, fellowship, and sewing (no experience necessary). They will only meet Dec. 3rd and 10th this month. The lucky owner of the auctioned quilt is Debbie Kluttz.
Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study.
The Tuesday afternoon Bible Study is continuing at 1:00PM on Dec. 3rd and 10th. Bring a bag
lunch at noon and enjoy fellowship beforehand.
St. John Choirs
The 11:00 Choir will continue to rehearse at 10:15AM on
Sunday mornings.
The 9:00 Choir will rehearse at 7:00PM on Wednesdays, with
instrumentalists asked to arrive at 6:30PM.
All interested singers are welcome—no experience (or ability to read music) is required—just come and
make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!
St. John Ladies Book Group 2014
Jan.26 hostess is Katie Gifford ( we are still doing pot luck appetizers)
book chosen is Guests on Earth by Lee Smith
discussion leader is Carole Ann Rosen
February 23 Hostess is Brenda Murphy
book is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hasseini
discussion leader TBD
March date TBD
Book is: The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore
hostess and discussion leader TBD
April date TBD
Book: The Lemon Tree by Sandy Talon
hostess and discussion leader TBD
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Announcing the Bishop's 100 Malaria Net Challenge! Because Bishop Mauney looooooves the churches of the Virginia Synod, he is offering 100 HUGS (think Hershey's chocolate, please) to any and every congregation or parish that raises enough money to purchase 100 Malaria Nets (100 nets @ $10 apiece is $1,000). As an added incentive, the church or parish that raises the most money for the Malaria Initiative per active member (using your 2012 membership numbers) will receive one big KISS (please think chocolate, again) from the Bishop. The HUGS and KISS will be presented at the Synod Assembly in June 2014. We will count any do-nations from your congregation that are made between Reformation Sunday this year, October 27th through World Malaria Sunday, April 27th, 2014. So collect up those donations and send them to the Synod Office marked for the Malaria Campaign, or give on-line under "Bishop's 100 Net Challenge."
Please make check to: St. John Lutheran Church, marked Malaria Fund. If cash please note so we
can get a count.
VETERANS CHRISTMAS CARE PACKAGE This is a project to give Christmas gifts to local homeless veterans at the VA
Medical Center in Johnson City and at shelters in the Tri-Cities area. Needed
items are: knit caps, gloves, scarves, fleece blankets, socks, hygiene items, puz-
zles and games, notebooks, Bibles, and candy.
If you want to help out local veterans this holiday, check this out. If you need
someone to deliver it to one of the pick-up sites, bring it to THE CHURCH and
place by the Kiosk boxes by 5:00 pm on Monday, Dec 9.
For more details you can check this website:
http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_d5b7ee7c-4b36-11e3-9880-001a4bcf6878.html
Holiday Gathering Jim & Dianne Suhrbier will host an adult Holiday Gathering, on Saturday, December 21, beginning at 7:00 PM. Take a break from hectic holiday schedules and enjoy a relaxing evening of fellowship, please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. The Suhrbiers live at 17746 Old Jonesboro Road, in Abingdon. See Jim or Dianne or call 628-1311 for directions.
St. John Journey
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decemBER Stewardship
Lectionary Readings for the Month
Dec. 1
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44
Dec. 15 Isaiah 7:10-16
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
Dec. 22 Isaiah 7:10-16
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
If you cannot serve on your scheduled day, please make arrangements with another
person and call the office to let the secretary know.
St. John Journey
Dec. 29
Isaiah 63:7-9
Hebrews 2:10-18
Matthew 2:13-23
Dec. 8
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:4-12
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Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 22 Dec. 29
Assistant
Minister Ray Whitner Charles Sansing Steve Kluttz Ray Whitner No
Lector Linda Garnett Joel Rosen Dave Morris Debbie Kluttz 9:00
Usher Bob Wolfe Cheryl Carrico Cheryl Carrico Bob Wolfe worship
Altar Guild Kelly Read Louise Sansing Carole Ann
Rosen JeanHarley today
9:00AM service
11:00AM service
Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Dec. 15 Dec. 22 Dec. 29
Assistant
Minister Beth Hiltebeitel Joan Shaver Ed Davis Ken Croghan
Edie
Hiltebeitel
Lector Edie Hiltebeitel Bill Spencer Linda Brumleve David Bonham Beth
Hiltebeitel
Acolyte Reagan Honaker Chris Dixon Henry Davis William Gifford Chris Dixon
Reception Joan Shaver The Spencers Edie Hiltebeitel The
Bonhams
Counters Gary Halverson
Parker Keen
David Bonham
Helen French
Gary Halverson
Richard
Brumleve
David Bonham
Parker Keen
Gary
Halverson
Helen French
Ushers The Meachams The Spencers The Giffords The Honakers The Keens
Altar Guild Edie Hiltebeitel Rana Daston Carol Halverson Helen French Edie
Hiltebeitel
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St. John Journey
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
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3 9:30AM Quilters 1:00PM Bible Study
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6:30PM
musicians 7:00PM 9:00 choir
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6
7
8 Advent 2
9:00 AM Worship
10:00AM Cong. meet-
ing
11:00AM Worship
5:30PM Service of
Prayer and Healing
9 7:00PM
Evangelism
11
6:30PM
musicians 7:00PM 9:00 choir
12
13
14
15 Advent 3
9:00AM Worship
10:00AM SS
11:00AM Worship
12:30PM Secret Pal
Luncheon
16
17
18
6:30PM
musicians 7:00PM 9:00 choir
19 7:00PM Council
20
21 7:00PM
Holiday
Gathering
@Suhrbier’s
22 Advent 4
9:00AM Worship
10:00AM SS
11:00AM Worship
23
24 7:00PM Christmas Eve Wor-ship
25 Merry Christmas Office closed
26
27 28
29 1st Sunday of
Christmas
10:00AM Worship
30
31 New Year’s Eve
December2013
10 9:30AM Quilters 1:00PM Bible Study
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1 Advent 1
9:00AM Worship
10:00AM SS
11:00AM Worship
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St. John Lutheran Church
807 E. Main St.
Abingdon, VA 24210
Phone: 276-628-6215
E-mail:
http://www.stjohnabingdon.org
We are a community of believers, gathered by the Spirit, washed in Baptism, marked with the cross of Christ, nourished by Word and Sacrament, called to respond to God's gifts of grace, and set apart as disciples of Jesus Christ for a life of learning, witness, and service.
St. John Lutheran Church
807 E. Main St.
Abingdon, VA 24210
Address Service Requested
Staff
G. Scott Homesley
Home Phone: 276-739-7740
Cell Phone: 276-525-5801
Joan Shaver, Parish Secretary
Office hours 9-12 Tuesday-Friday
Council
Bill Spencer Jim Lovett Marshall Hatfield
Helen French Carol Halverson Kelly Read
Debbie Kluttz Tammie Kroll Charlie Garnett
Linda Brumleve, Financial Secretary
Steve Kluttz, Treasurer
St. John Lutheran is a congregation of the Virginia Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The Rev. Mark S. Hansen, Presiding Bishop, ELCA
The Rev. James Mauney, Bishop, Virginia Synod
December 2013
