THE GOOD NEWSLETTER

200 South Main Street

Charles City, IA 50616-2751

Phone:

641-228-3397

Website: www.stjohncharlescity.org

“God’s Love in Action”

CHURCH STAFF Pastor, Interim: William Odermann Youth & Family Coordinator: Laurie Heidebrink Director of Music: Melanie Johanningmeier Parish Secretary: Kathy Hoeft Business Manager: Andrea DeVore Worship Assistant & Choir Director: Erik Hoefer Custodian: John Swiggum Custodian and Kitchen: Julie Heddens Director of Preschool: Whittney Nordmeyer Teacher: Carleen Laue

November 2015

The Sanctuary is receiving a new coat of paint! Starting November 16th the painters will be hard at work. Worship and any other activity held in the Sanctuary will be moved to the Parish Hall while the work is being done.

Pastor’s Note…

“God’s Love

in Action”

Two Months In … By the time you get this newsletter, I will have completed two months in the pastoral role. My, how time flies and moves on when one is busy! I thought it would be interesting to give you my two-month assessment here at St. John.

Awesome People – That’s how I’ve experienced you thus far! As I visit you in your homes and in the greeting line on Sunday morning, I have found my interactions with you to be refreshing and most enjoyable. You are my kind of people and I really enjoy you! Don’t change any of that – the new pastor will love that about you as much as I do!

Some Work to Do – There are a number of things to work on and improve. Communication among boards needed to get better and is already improving. You heard a report on church finances on Sunday October 18, which needed to happen. It would be wise to keep you updated more frequently and your council is committed to that. Once the self-study starts in January 2016, the majority of my time will be spent on that as I oversee, work with transition team members, and implement a temporary strategic plan to involve all of you in conversations to eventually complete a self-study. This will take some time and I am here to do the deal right, help you understand who you are and what your sense of mission is so we can help you call the right pastor. We (council and I) are also weighing the possibility of some constitution updates and/or changes. Now that council has copies of that and your by-laws, we can begin to assess the need for that. One item that stands out to me is the number of persons serving on the call committee, which is only six. I say, “only six,” because I feel you need more representation on that committee given your size and attendance. We will look into that as well. Because I have been sitting in on finance and stewardship meetings between or after worship, I have not had the opportunity to visit more boards and get a better sense for their mission and any changes that need to be made. With the confirmation service now complete and my feeling more acclimated to daily priorities, this can now be completed by the end of the year. With part-time pastoral help now gone or not returning, I am the only person. Once the budget and finances are reviewed, we can figure out how much extra help we can bring in to help with the pastoral load, confirmation, and visitation. This will be necessary since I take charge over the interim process involving the self-study, training and oversight of the call committee as well as the senior pastor role. As I mentioned to leaders in our last council meeting, a single pastor model for your congregation is not sustainable – it will take two ordained persons (interims) to handle pastoral, preaching, teaching, and visitation responsibilities. Summary – There is much to do and also more for me to learn and discover as my tenure moves ahead. Thank you for all your verbal and written gratitude and appreciation. Yes, it’s a big task, but I am up to it and I have great help and a wonderful staff. We will get this done and move you into the call process! Bill Odermann, Interim Senior Pastor

Stewardship and Thanksgiving In this season of thanksgiving, a sincere 'thank you' is in order to everyone who supports our congregation throughout the year with their attendance, service and regular financial contributions. For those of you who are interested, the church offers electronic giving options for making donations on a scheduled, automated basis. It's convenient for you, there are no fees and it provides much-needed financial consistency for the church. An authorization form is included in this newsletter or can be picked up in the church office.

“God’s Love

in Action”

POINSETTIAS: If you would like to donate toward the poinsettias for Christmas, please notify the church office at 228-3397.

Card Shower for Andrea DeVore! The process of hiring a new business manager is moving along. Soon, a candidate will be hired and Andrea will be able to retire. We don’t know the exact date but anticipate that it will be in November. It’s Andrea preference not to have a big “retirement party”. Andrea has devoted many years to St. John and the Deacons would like you to help us show our appreciation. Please join us in honoring Andrea with a card shower. Let’s shower her with congratulations, well wishes, or retirement cards. Cards can be sent to her home address: Andrea DeVore, 1508 Salzer St, Charles City, IA, 50616 Thank you!

Women’s Tuesday morning Bible Study/Fellowship will begin a new study on November 24th at 9:30 a.m. We will be studying Karen Kingsbury’s “The Family of Jesus”. This is a fictional view of six of the family members of Jesus, all anchored by Scriptural truth, creating a life-changing and unprecedented emotional connection to the Bible. This fellowship consists of video, Bible verses and discussion. Please contact Kathy in the office for more information.

"Operation Christmas Child" shoeboxes are now available in the narthex (you can also purchase plastic shoeboxes which the children use for storage). These shoeboxes are filled for children around the world. We send these packages full of office supplies, clothes, toys, and other useful items for third world countries. Boxes should be returned by November 22. Possible items: note paper, pencils, plastic cups, toys, hair ties, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, crayons. NO liquid items.

Again this year, St. John is participating in The Angel Tree Project. The Angel Tags will be available for pick-up in church on November 22nd. The gifts should be returned to church on or before December 13th. Families will come to pick up the gifts on Saturday morning, December 19th.

The St. John Women’s Ministry is hosting “Cookies with Christ” on Sunday, December 6th. Come & enjoy a cup of coffee in fellowship after each service. Plates of cookies will also be offered for sale that day. Please prayerfully consider helping with the donation of a batch of cookies for this event. Cookies would need to be brought to the church on Friday December 4th or by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. December 5th. We would really appreciate some holiday-themed cookies. The sign up sheets will be in the bulletins on November 22nd & 29th or you can call the office at anytime. Thank you!

“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.” Psalm 149:1 YOUTH NEWS There will be a YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE at 5pm on Sunday, November 1, in the Parish Hall. This contemporary worship service is open to all middle and high school students in the community. There will be a meal for the students offered after worship.

BIBLES BEFORE BOOKS will be held on Tuesday, November 3, at Mr. and Mrs. Hoefer’s house, 2985 Wedgewood Estates. Arrive between 6 and 6:30am.

The St. John Youth will be holding a SOUP DINNER fundraiser after the Sunday School Christmas Program on December 13, at 11:30am. We will have homemade soups, chili, bread and dessert. CONFIRMATION Confirmation classes will switch to Session B on November 4, and some of the courses being offered to the 42 students enrolled are Lord, Change My Attitude, Becoming a Young Woman of God, Becoming a Young Man of God, and Psychics and Prophets. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM We currently have 19 kids attending the After School Program on Wednesdays. Registration forms are available in the church office. It’s not too late to come and join the fun!

The After School Program could use some donations of washable markers, colored pencils and snacks. The kids especially like muffins (mixes are fine), pudding cups, applesauce cups, and cheese balls/puffs. Thank you! PARISH EDUCATION PreK-2nd Grade Sunday School students will be SINGING on November 8 at the 10:15am worship service. There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on November 29, 2015 for Thanksgiving Break.

November is FOOD MONTH for Sunday School. We are asking all the students to donate a non-perishable each week to be donated to our local food pantry.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM will be December 13, during the 10:15 am worship service. There will be a soup/chili dinner afterward in the Parish Hall. FAMILY BOARD NEWS Wednesday, December 2, from 6-7pm in the Parish Hall will be the FAMILY ADVENT EVENT. Join us for the opportunity to do some parent/child crafts together!

Saturday, December 5, from 5:30-8pm, there will be an EWOK NIGHT. EWOK stands for Evening With Out Kids. We will be having an evening of free childcare, for those who sign up, here at St. John. Child care will be provided by our youth volunteers so parents can have an evening “out” or a quiet evening at home. Or maybe do some Christmas shopping? Watch the bulletins for more details coming soon.

Youth & Family

“God’s Love

in Action”

NOVEMBER 2015 Bulletin Stuffer: Josh Laue

Acolyte: November 1 – 29: Kristen George Communion Assistants/Banner Bearer/Crucifer

8:00 a.m. service November 1 – 29th: Sami Heyer November 1 – 22nd: Amy Titus

November 29th: Cassie Schiesher 10:15 a.m. service

November 1 & 15: Christian Kreger & Cassie Schiesher

“God’s Love

in Action”

St. John will host a non-denominational service for the youth of our community at 5:00 pm on the first and third Sundays of each month starting

November 1st in the Parish Hall. This service will be led mainly by youth and will include praise and worship music, a brief message delivered by an

adult, and a meal following the service. All 6th - 12th graders are welcome!

Parents of post-high school students: Please keep the office updated with any address changes!

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM This year the Christmas program will be Sunday, December 13th DURING THE

10:15 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE. At 11:30 a.m., following the program, there will be a soup/chili fundraiser lunch in

the Parish Hall. There will be homemade soups/chili, bread & dessert.

The annual mission trip to Chicago is coming! Dates will be December 27th – 30th. Watch the bulletins and the December newsletter for more information.

NOVEMBER IS FOOD MONTH! Sunday School students are asked to bring a non-perishable food item every Sunday in

the month of November. The food collected will go to the local food box.

St. John Christian Preschool hours are:

MWF: 8:30 -

11:30 A.M. 12:30 -

3:30 P.M. MW: 3 yr. olds 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

********* TTH 8:30 –

11:00 A.M.

OUR GOD IS AWESOME! We continue to feel the blessings of God’s amazing love each and every day in our preschool center. We are surrounded by eager learners who are not only looking to have excellent educational experiences, but also friends who are looking to start a walk with Jesus or to continue down that path with our Lord and Savior! October began with BEAUTIFUL weather, which allowed for our friends to have a couple visits from our Charles City Fire Department. The Tuesday-Thursday friends were able to meet Sparky the Fire Dog while the Monday-Wednesday-Friday friends were able to see the “insides” of a fire truck and even got to sit in the driver seat of the fire truck! Thanks to Sparky, Fire Chief Eric Whipple and Firefighter Darin Uetz for taking time out of their busy schedules to visit all 3 of our classes. October was an extra long month, which gave us extra time for extra fun! We talked about the colors, red/yellow and black/white. We also learned about the letters O and A and even got to play OUTSIDE almost every day! We talked about Fire Safety and finished our Color Unit. We worked on patterns, opposites, and matching; all of which are essential in reading and math skills! We ended the month with a couple fun days: trips to the library and our annual Costume Days. Our older friends even got to go on a field trip to the “Apples on the Avenue” apple orchard! We got a tour of the orchard and each friend got to pick 5 apples off the trees to take home! It was so much fun! As we enter November, we schedule perhaps one of the most exciting days for our older preschool friends. Our new Monday-Wednesday-Friday friends will be receiving their very own Bible! They receive this Bible on a very special day, All Saint’s Day. It is a wondrous site to behold when each little one realizes that they are receiving a treasure all their own. We offer many thanks to our congregational members who provide donations through gifts or memorials throughout the year. Those dollars fund this amazing portion of our preschool ministry. To make sure that our Bibles don’t become decorations, we ask our MWF friends to bring their Bibles back to preschool on Mondays so we can “read” the story together.

In Christ, Whittney Nordmeyer

Want to meet & mingle with other Women of Faith? Consider joining the St. John Women’s Ministry. They meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. It is very informal & new members & ideas are always welcome!

Second number listed is home team. Games start at 7:30 p.m. The Baptist will host the tournament on February 8, 2015. 1 Methodist Paul Homeister 319-276-3087

Brandon Siemons 641-257-9892

2 Immanuel Arlan Laube 319-278-4836 3 Baptist Brian Marlette 319-231-0837 4 CC Lutheran Dennis Sande 641-228-4113 5 Pleasant Hill Richard Laube 641-228-6706 6 Pleasant Valley David Lehman 319-276-4766 7 Clarksville Luth. Larry Voigts 319-278-4247

8 Nashual Luth. Wes Wolf 641-435-2205

Jeremy Wolf 641-330-7410 641-330-5875

Contact the office at 228-3397 if you would like more information on Dartball Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 18 Dec 2 1-2 4-1 6-1 8-1 3-4 6-3 3-8 2-3 5-6 8-5 5-2 4-5 7-8 2-7 7-4 6-7

Dec 9 Jan 6 Jan 13 Make up Dates 1-3 5-1 1-7 Dec 16, 23 5-7 7-3 3-5 Jan 20, 27 4-2 2-6 8-2

8-6 4-8 6-4

Tournament Hosts 2015 – 16 Clarksville Luth. 2016 – 17 Immanuel 2017 – 18 CC Lutheran

DO DAY QUILTERS will meet November 12th

at 9:00 a.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet November 17th at

4:00 p.m.

The Parkinson’s support group will be meeting November 5th at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall at St. John. All meetings are open to the public. Contact Carol Quade at 330-3268 or 228-5053 for more information.

Recycled with Love card making will meet November 9th at 1:00 p.m. at St. John.

SAVE THE

DATES

“God’s Love

in Action”

Daylight savings time ends NOVEMBER 1st!

Women’s Bible study Meets November 10th & 24th.

ALTAR GUILD – NOVEMBER Donn & Cherie Schafer

S T J O H N

D A R T B A L L

November Birthdays 6th Yvonne Regel 7th Wayne Ellertson 12th Ileene Christensen 19th Eldon Rademacher 19th Wilma Handt 19th Gladys Kellogg 22nd Sue Baron 24th Carol Chestek 26th Esther Meyne 28th Lorna Carey

November Anniversaries November 3, 1950 Myron & Clarice Leraaen November 4, 1962 Jim & Carol Tyler November 8, 1951 Alvin & Shirley Davidson November 8, 1959 Skip & Myrna Ward November 14, 1956 Allen & Diane Cross November 16, 1957 Bill & Arlene Hollar November 16, 1958 Dean & Doris Toebe November 21, 1954 Herbert & Vera Hinz November 29, 1963 Richard & Marcia Oleson November 30, 1962 Bob & Bev Friend

“God’s Love

in Action”

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER NOV 4: Chili, potato soup, grilled cheese sandwich, bread pudding

Nov 11: BBQ meatballs, twice-baked potatoes, glazed carrots, fruit bowl, chocolate cake Nov 18: Turkey, dressing, whipped potatoes & gravy, squash, corn, pumpkin bars

St. John book club meets on November 23rd at 7:00 p.m. The November book is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Memorials have been given in memory of: Reverend Richard Trost Weddings: October 3, 2015 Michael Knoke & Samantha Ross

NOVEMBER FUNERAL CALLERS & HELPING HANDS:

CALLER – Arlene Thomas HELPERS – Betty Ball, Sue Baron, Karen Hagarty, Julie Heddens, Vera Hinz, Leona Howe, Linda Hughes,

Laura Janssen, Amy Johnson, JoAnn Knowlton, Jackie Moon, Dorothy

Parson, Ann Prichard, Diane Sande, Edna Stott, Arlene Thomas, Meg Tjaden, Lola Vest, Brenda West,

Joyce Wood ***************************** Thanks to our October caller, Jeanne Hansen and to all who helped provide

food or helped serve.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Susan Ayers Brian Ross

2 Laura Janssen Angie Tudor

3 Sharon Tieskotter Beverly Waddell Myrna Ward

4 Saeli Chase

5

6 Yvonne Regel

7 Wayne Ellertson

8 Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer Susan Tibbitts Cal Wood

9 Selma Marth Charles Waddell

10 Kayla Kellogg

11 Jeanne Edson Teagan Prigge

12 Bruce Delap Brady Hanson Anna Herbrechtsmeyer

13

14 Glenn Johlas Nancy Johlas Emersyn Miller

15 Alex George Dennis Griffin Michael Laue Rick Regel

16 Cameron Lessin MaKenna Schmiedel Nicholas Wegner Lonnie West

17 Daniel Lantz Diane Melrose Dylan Parsons

18 Chad Kellogg Anika Miller Suzie Ross Brock Wells

19 Mark Davidson Wilma Handt Gladys Kellogg Rose Lamprecht Eldon Rademacher Lorna Scrimger David Watson

20 Laura Lonergan Brian Schmidtke

21 Isaac Wink

22 Sylvia Frascht Gary Marth Deb Montagne

23 Sue Baron Bill Bledsoe Riley Quade

24 Carol Chestek Keith Ferch

25 Beth Caspers Graham Hansen Addison Lantz

26 Esther Meyne Beverly Selvig

27 Steven Barr Carrie Koenigsfeld Wendi Ward Romaine Wells

28 Sandra Marth

29 Richard Lacour Melissa Vance

30

Full Beaver Moon – November This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.

In November the full moon will be on the 25th.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Daylight Savings Time ends All Saints Sunday 8:00 a.m. Worship/Comm 9:05 a.m. Education hour 10:15 a.m. Worship/Comm 9:15 a.m. Deacons 9:15 a.m. Youth 11:30 a.m. Parish Ed 11:30 a.m. Stewardship 5:00 p.m. Youth Worship

2 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts

3 6:00 a.m. Bibles Before Books 8:45 a.m. CC Mom’s group 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness 7:00 p.m. Building & Grounds 7:00 p.m. Women’s Ministry

4 Wednesday Night Schedule 6:00 p.m. Communication board 7:30 p.m. Dartball at St. John

5 1:00 p.m. Parkinson’s support group 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness

6 7

8 8:00 a.m. Worship 9:05 a.m. Education hour 10:15 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Family board

9 1:00 p.m. Card making at St. John 5:15 p.m. Finance 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts

10 9:30 a.m. Women’s Bible study 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness 7:00 p.m. Council

11 Wednesday Night Schedule 7:30 p.m. Dartball at Methodist

12 9:00 a.m. Do Day Quilters 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness

13

14 4:00 p.m. Bouska & Klaffke wedding

15 8:00 a.m. Worship/Comm 9:05 a.m. Education hour 10:15 a.m. Worship/Comm 5:00 p.m. Youth Worship

16 6:00 p.m. Cub scouts 6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts

17 8:45 a.m. CC Mom’s group 4:00 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support group 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness 6:30 p.m. Preschool board

18 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Wednesday Night Schedule 7:30 p.m. Dartball at St. John

19 6:00 p.m. Latin style fitness

20

21

22 8:00 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Education hour 10:15 a.m. Worship Last day to return Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

23 6:00 p.m. Cub scouts 7:00 p.m. Book club

24 1:30 p.m. Assemble newsletters

25 NO activities

26 Office Closed Happy Thanksgiving!

27 Office Closed

28

29 8:00 a.m. Worship 10:15 a.m. Worship

30 6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts 6:00 p.m. Girl Scouts

Wednesday Night Schedule: 3:30 p.m. After school 5:00 p.m. Supper 5:30 p.m. Carol Choir 5:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble 6:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Trinity Choir