September 2015

St. John is called by Christ to be a Sanctuary that Welcomes and Serves All

Caring Conversations Our 2015-16 Life Long Faith Formation Emphasis

A year ago, our Faith Formation (then Education) team established a four-year pattern of lifting up the Four

Keys of strengthening the church-home faith formation connection. Last year, we emphasized Devotion, and

visited themes such as prayer and Scripture. While we will continue to lift up devotional practices, of course,

this year we will give special emphasis to Caring Conversations. Many times, you might have heard people

say (or said yourself) that “religion is a personal matter.” I guess that depends on what you mean by

“religion” and what you mean by “personal.” But for Christians, our faith, while very personal, in that God

knows, loves, and calls each of us by name, is not private or secretive. Christian life needs to be lived in

community, and the love of God is made incarnate in the love of Christ that his followers display to one an-

other.

It is our hope that we will have this mindset among the family of God at St. John, and strengthen it. We al-

ready have caring conversations taking place among St. John in many ways, both formal and informal. So

what else might a year of Caring Conversations have in store for us at St. John?

Aspects of Caring Conversations that we will give attention to include:

Sharing Faith

Praying for and with One Another

Relationships and Small Groups

Second Sundays (S2) – Read more in this issue about our new Sunday morning faith formation time for

families with children. Rather than the previous classroom model, parents and children will learn together as

families, and with other families, through fun activities and will take the learning home with them.

Small Group Formation – We have two “turbo groups” that continue to meet for study and discussion, and

in the course of the coming year we will invite others to participate in such groups.

Special Studies and Retreats – We will plan occasional events which are not based on congregational

business or planning (we have plenty of that already), but rather, ministering to your spirit, and inviting you,

as Jesus did his disciples, to “come to a quiet place and rest.”

This LLFF emphasis on Caring Conversations will call on us to be available to on another, to be willing to

know and be known by one another. For some that comes naturally, for others it’s challenging. But it is the

life to which God calls us. And for all of us, it is an opportunity for growth.

Pastor Bill+

2

THE VOICE

3

Sunday

September 20

Musical offerings from the choir and handbells in worship

Reception of new members

Recognition of those who have completed the Discovering Your Spiritual

Gifts course.

A time of food, celebration, and entertainment between services.

Join us for a festive celebration!

THE VOICE

4

THE VOICE

5

THE VOICE

Charles Fox Library Features Variety of New Titles

Our library now houses a number of new titles, acquired from the fine Bethle-

hem collection and through generous donations from members and friends. The

following is but a sampling of some of the works now available for your reading

enjoyment:

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, arguably the foremost Christian

intellectual of the last century

Speaking the Truth in Love: How To Be an Assertive Christian by Ruth

Koch and Kenneth C. Haugk, founder of Stephen Ministry

Executive Values in the Workplace

A Forgiving Heart: Prayers for Blessing and Reconciliation

Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life by Jordan’s Queen Noor

Truman by David McCullough

This Time Together by Carol Burnett

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

Girl Meets God

The Time of Our Lives and A Long Way From Home by Tom Brokaw

Firefly Summer and Evening Class by beloved Irish author Maeve

Binchy

We are currently planning a new, separate section of Martin Luther works, biog-

raphies and other materials as well as a Large Print section featuring a number

of novels by such popular authors as Nicholas Sparks.

As always, we welcome your ideas and suggestions and look forward to seeing

you in the library!

6

THE VOICE

Dorothy Speer Farmington Hills Inn 30350 W. 12 Mile Rd Rm 702 Farmington Hills 248-516-8648 cell cards and other mailings should be sent to: Dorothy Speer c/o Kenneth Monberg 33765 Hamlin Court Farmington MI 48335

Christi Diener 3098 Kirk Rd Vassar MI 48768

Bible classes return to St John beginning Thursday

September 17,2015

7

8

9

THE VOICE

A View from the Pew by Dennis Mahle

Maxine is a well-known cartoon character. You knew that sooner or later Maxine would get around to Jesus, and she did but I think the title should be Maxine Dumps on Satan.

Here she is ! MAXINE ON JESUS...

“Satanist's don't scare me. Run? Who me? Listen up. Greater is He within me, than

he who comes at me.

Ya know Satan is a Big Fat Liar Don't ya? He is headed for the Lake of Fire and Guess What? Misery Loves Company.

If Satan was an Angel and God made the Angels then how could Satan be stronger than God? Well, when God said brains some thought he said trains and got on the wrong track!

God made you. He loves you. He wants you to love him back. But it is your choice...Joy or Misery?

What's wrong? Are Ya Allergic to Love?

God came into this world took on flesh, Died for you, & Rose again to give you life in

a new World.” Cya in the Pew .>)))))))))>

10

THE VOICE

Sunday September 13

Early service

9:00 am Late service

11:00 am

ATTENTION ALL DING-A-LINGS! Time to start setting up your fall and winter calendar! Chancel Bells will have our first meeting/rehearsal Thursday, September 3rd at 6:30 PM. The first ring on our schedule will be on Sunday, September 20th, RALLY DAY! We are still in need of two more ringers to complete our full group. If you or someone you know would like to ring, even if you/they have no experience, please call me and we can set up some extra rehearsals and get you com-fortable coming into the main group for regular practice. Please know that most of us are not Master Musicians. We love handbells and present the playing of them as an offering of praise to enhance worship services for us all. If you would like to join in this offering please come September 3rd and see where you can fit in. We have duplicate bells for 2 1/4 octaves which can supply up to 8 more ringers with a spot to ring. So you can see, there is a spot for you! If Thurs-day is not a good night for you or you prefer daytime practices, we can have afternoon practices any day but Wednesday and most Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. I am blessed with a fairly flexible schedule at this time so I can work with yours. For now, it is Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Call if you cannot come that day, but still would like a part assignment. 248-514-0702 This is a cell phone so please send a text message if that is more convenient. The home number in the directory is disconnected and no longer in use. JoAnn Adams

St John Bible Academy Friday’s starting September 25

9:45 am

11

THE VOICE

Attention Veterans!

St. John would like to honor you for your service on Veterans Day. If you would like recognition for your service, please contact Marie in the church office. We need you!

12

THE VOICE

OBITUARY former Bethlehem Lutheran Church members.

13

THE VOICE

9/1 Eunice Gould. Carole Goebel , Alan Trimner

9/2 Lillis Raylean, Carolyn Holland , Christi Diener

9/4 Frank Blaker, Dustin Goshorn

9/6 Sarah O’Brien, Megan Lasley

9/7 Kelly Monico, Valerie Christopherson, Matthew Switzer

9/9 Mary Bennett, James Roberts, Lauren Savanyu

6/10 Marlene Dale, Millie Whitbeck, Nolan Kelly

9/11 William Murlick, Anita Palarchio, Kevin Blazaitis

9/12 Ashley Dunn

9/13 Daniel Johnston

9/14 Earl Hagen, Thomas Taepke, John Bell

9/15 Karen Wright

9/18 Dick Rudorffer , Minnie Svenson, Pamela Shapiro, Dylan Kirsh-

Carr

9/19 June Orrand, Audrey Riley, Meghan O’Brien, Dakota Kelly,

Andrew Stenson

9/21 Cheryl Berling, Caroline Kirsh-Carr

9/22 Carl Kangas, Keith Blazatis, Robert Nielsen

9/24 Jonathan Fleeman

9/26 Eric Kramer

9/27 Buffy Lind, Kristin Gerhard, Brian Gaughan,

9/28 Amy O’Brien

9/29 Pauline Malila, David Elias 9/30 Beverly Kirsh

14

Prayer Concerns Members: Jim Atkinson; Ruth Ann Atkinson; Fred Aebersold; Selma Ballach; Sandra Borsvold; Brent Canup, Shirley Dabich; Martha Erickson; Eunice Gould; Jim Grudt; Marge Haarala; Matt Haarala; Maria Hill; Kim James and family; Jordis Johnsen; Donna Judd; Tammy Kilpatrick; Evelyn Kivi; Beverly Kirsh; Connie Lunski, Senora Major, Dagmar Malstrom; Milda Mattila; Lillian Nie-mi; Jodi Oulette; Eva Paulson; Jessica Ward; Noreen Rudorffer; Gladys Saari; Pam Shapiro; Joan Simonson ; Dorothy Speer; John Stenson ; Marion Suckow; Howard Skovlund; Diana Ternes; Betty

Waber; Elve Wiggins; and Ellen Zatolokin.

Brandon Wellbaum (Judd); Adam Craig; (The Craig Family); Ben Klimczak (Brundage); Matt Ferris (Hogrefe); Jim Peaugh ~USN Chaplin; Jacob Stan-ton (Stanton); Staff Sgt. Michael J. Kalabsa (Kilpatrick); Seaman Paul Ludlam (Kilpatrick); Jacob Smith (Kelly); Zach Bishop (Godfrey); McCoy Sloan, (Kirsh-Carr), Brandon Blake (Kirsh-Carr), Evan

Whitbeck, Todd Truan (Bosanko).

Please take a close look at the list, and inform the Church Office if there are any changes. Many Thanks to Pat Gransee and Marlou Grudt for sending out cards to the people on our prayer concerns list. If you have someone on the list to whom you would like a card sent,

THE VOICE

Friends, and Family: Jeff Gross (Adams): Tom Healey (Blaker): Ken Laatsch, (Blazaitis); Diana Swoope, Earlene Reeder (Cook): Taylor Janssen (Craig); [Marineuza Santos, Larry Drier, Elise Sperstad, Yvonne Donahue (Grudt)]: Dennis Hagen (Hagen); Genie Mayes (Hill): Kathy Best (Johnsen): Heather Kilpatrick, Lexi Meyer (Kilpatrick): [Jane Barsch, Don Larimer, Carole Doll, family of Paul Weisbrod, Chip Franklin, Pastor Katherine Kolodziejczyk, Pastor Bruce Kjellberg. Leslee Niethammer, Oliver Alm (Kirsh-Carr)]: The Lu-ther Family, 8/13 (Korte); Julia Heath (McDowell): Dianne Hayes (Kurmas, Urevig, Nelson); [Brennan Harvath, Suzann, Maddy and Nick Trevisan, Marie Bossio, Rich and Kathy Sorom (Nelson)]: Laurie Walton (Niesyto): Judy Miller (Oates): Carky Schulz (O’Brien); Dan Cramer (Sailus): Susie Smith (Sellers); Mark Bennett, Jenna Birch, Merrily Boertmann, Mary Bosanko, Craig Cowell, Mike Gibbs, Cindy Hill, Laura Rickert, Amanda Shelton, Tom Siedlaczek, and Anita Zimmerman.

15

THE VOICE

SU

ND

AY

M

ON

DA

Y

TU

ES

DA

Y

WE

DN

ES

DA

Y

TH

UR

SD

AY

FR

IDA

Y

SA

TU

RD

AY

1

2

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

3

6:3

0p

m H

an

db

ell

s r

eh

ea

rsa

l 7

pm

Wo

rsh

ip

4

5

11

:30

am

Welc

om

e

Pa

rty

5:3

0 p

m W

ors

hip

6

9:0

0 a

m D

YSG

Work

shop

10:0

0 a

m W

ors

hip

4:0

0 p

m A

A

7

Off

ice

Clo

se

d

10

:00

am

Qu

ilte

rs

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

8

1:0

0 p

m B

loo

d D

rive

1

:00

pm

P

rayer

Sh

aw

l M

inis

try

6

9

8:0

0 a

m R

HG

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

10

8:0

0 a

m M

en’s

Bre

akfa

st

10:0

0 a

m I

nw

ard

/Outw

ard

6

:30

pm

Ha

nd

be

lls r

eh

ea

rsa

l

11

12

5

:30

pm

Wo

rsh

ip

7p

m B

irth

da

y P

art

y

1

3

9:0

0 a

m W

ors

hip

1

1:0

0 a

m W

ors

hip

2:0

0pm

White P

ine

4:0

0 p

m AA

1

4

10

:00

am

Qu

ilte

rs

No

on

Sta

ff M

eeti

ng

7

:00

pm

Bo

ard

Me

eti

ng

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

1

5

16

8:0

0 a

m R

HG

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

1

7

8:0

0 a

m M

en

’s B

rea

kfa

st

9:0

0 a

m B

SF

9:3

0 a

m F

low

er

Arr

angers

6

:30

pm

Ha

nd

be

lls r

eh

ea

rsa

l

1

8

1

9

5:3

0p

m W

ors

hip

20

9

:00

am

Wo

rsh

ip

11

:00

am

Wo

rsh

ip

4:0

0 p

m A

A

2

1

10

:00

am

Qu

ilte

rs

No

on

Sta

ff M

eeti

ng

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

2

2

1:0

0 p

m P

rayer

Sh

aw

l M

inis

try

23

8:0

0 a

m R

HG

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

24

8

:00

am

Men

’s B

rea

kfa

st

9:0

0 a

m B

SF

6:3

0p

m H

an

db

ell

s r

eh

ea

rsa

l

25

9

:45 A

M B

ible

Aca

dem

y

**

VO

ICE

AR

TIC

LE

S D

UE

!

26

5

:30

pm

Wo

rsh

ip

27

1

0:0

0 a

m W

ors

hip

2:0

0 p

m W

hite P

ine

4:0

0 p

m AA

28

1

0:0

0 a

m Q

uil

ters

N

oo

n S

taff

Me

eti

ng

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

29

10:0

0 a

m F

arm

ingto

n

Musi

cale

Exec.

Bd.

30

8:0

0 a

m R

HG

7:0

0 p

m M

en’s

Bask

etb

all

For

the m

ost

up-t

o-d

ate

cale

ndar,

ple

ase

go t

o o

ur

websi

te a

t s

tjohn-

elc

a.o

rg

16

Non-Profit Org. U.S.POSTAGE

PAID Farmington Hills, MI

Permit No. 220

And / or Current resident

This issue was mailed on August 27

St. John Lutheran Church 23225 Gill Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48335

St. John Lutheran Church 23225 Gill Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335

248-474-0584

email: om@stjohn-elca.org ~ www.stjohn-elca.org

Pastors Lauren and Bill Kirsh-Carr

BOARD MEMBERS Jackie Craig John Dresden Catherine Federspill Janice Locke Diane Rinehart Donna Ten Have

LEADERSHIP TEAM Resource ~ Ed Kramer Education ~ Lynn Lasley Community ~ Worship ~ Troy Nelson Outreach ~ Stella Weller Service ~ Bill Halvangis

The Staff at St. John is here to serve you. If you have questions or concerns, please give us a call; we will be happy to talk to you.

STAFF Troy Nelson ~ Director of Music and Worship Marie Cook ~ Office Manager Larry Urevig ~ Resource Coordinator Stella Weller ~ Dir. of Community Outreach Christian Matjias-Mecca ~ Organist/Pianist JoAnn Adams ~ Handbell Choir Marge Sellers ~ Ministry Associate