The St. John Lutheran Church

Volume 39 — Number 02

February 2019 Jottings

“We lift up Jesus Christ in our lives, our

church, and our community.”

Pastor Michael’s Musings February 2019 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” --- Matthew 7: 7-8 (Warning, satire ahead.)

February is the month of Valentines Day when we celebrate that very human emotion known as love. Oh, I know, it all started with St. Valentine who was in prison and he sent little letters out to all-and-sundry about how he felt the love of God in his heart and how this love overflowed to all others. Yes, yes, I know. But then comes the immortal lyrics that were sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn in the early 70’s (released November of 1970); that wondrous hit called “Knock Three Times.” I share the refrain with you now…

“Oh, my darling

Knock three times on the ceiling if you want me Twice on the pipe if the answer is no

Oh, my sweetness Means you'll meet me in the hallway

Mmm, twice on the pipe means you ain't gonna show.”

Remember when you used to travel around in your Ford/Chevy whatever (because Japan hadn’t come overseas with their cars yet), in the dusty, hot summers of the early 1970’s, your AM radio cranked up high to W.I.R.L. listening to the golden tones of Tony Orlando singing along with Dawn (actually two women) swooning through the speakers atop your rear dash right below your W.I.R.L. Car

Star Sticker? Well, that was part of my childhood, and if you were living in the Peoria Area around that time, either you, or somebody like you, might have experienced those sultry and crazy summers of so long ago.

What I like about the kind of love expressed in “Knock Three Times” is how you can’t count on it. You know, you just never know whether the girl downstairs is going to respond to Tony’s love, and he doesn’t know either, so he just has to try again and again and hope for the best. He’s really out on a wire in this one. And of course, the impersonal response from the girl is really refreshing too. All she has to do is pound on the ceiling panels or the steam radiator pipes and she never has to see the guy face to face. That’s just how all good relationships should be. None of this face to face talking stuff anymore. “I’m too busy, not interested, unsure of your various loyalties in all sorts of social matters…You know, just knock three times and I’ll see how I feel.” What a great modern way to express love to one another. It’s very much with our times.

See, the problem with St. Valentine, as he wrangled away in prison, was his problem of being vulnerable and somewhat naïve in his expressions of love. He dared to try to love everyone, regardless of whether they were his jailer or visiting family. The door to his cell was open all the time, he surely welcomed a visitor no matter what. Let’s face it, he was sort of Christ-like in his love, and that just doesn’t seem to work anymore. It’s just too dangerous to love in a Godly way like that. In all things moderation, we might say, there need to be limits to what we do and say these days, and especially in how we care for one another.

No, when one thinks about loving one’s fellow human beings, it is practi-cal to only be with the other birds that chirp as we chirp and think as we think. Af-terall, there’s only so much love to go around, and we don’t want to make the mis-take of caring for the wrong people.

So, I’m gonna crank up that classic hit from the 70’s “Knock Three Times” and let Tony, and the two girls known as Dawn, set me straight. And then the next time I go to pray, I’ll wonder if God is truly listening to me, or whether he’s gonna bang twice on the pipes.

Pastor Michael wants to remind you of the

Informal Worship Service on February

27th @ 6pm. There will be 3 new guitar

songs, a Power Point Sermon, and Holy

Communion. Please join us for this

inspirational and fun evening!

Volume 39, Issue 02 February 2019

The following item was contained in the story “99 Ways to Add Healthy Years to Your Life” in the February issue of the AARP Bulletin:

A 2016 study followed 74,534 women for 20

years. Those who attended religious services more than once a week enjoyed a 33% lower mortality rate than those who skipped church.

So, this is a valid, scientific reason to go to

church, not just on Christmas and Easter, not just once-in-a-while, not just for weddings and funerals, not just when a relative’s baby is being baptized, not just when the weather is JUST RIGHT (not too hot, not too cold, not snowing, not raining), and not just when you find yourself with nothing else to do on a Sunday morning, but regularly, like every week if possible! With Lent coming next month, we’ll also have the change to do the “more than once a week” worship mentioned in that study. This applies to everyone, not just women, but men, women, parents kids, everyone.

Your spiritual health is as important as your

physical health. Stay in shape. Pray, sing, worship, commune, fellowship. You might just live a longer and better life as a result!

First, I want to thank all those who com-mented on last month’s column! It means a lot to know that people are actually reading this.

Many times, the Lenten season starts in

February, but this year, it doesn’t start until March. Ash Wednesday is March 6th. It’s not too early to ask you to PLEASE reserve the Wednesdays in Lent for Lenten Worship. There will be Lenten potluck suppers before, with menus to be published next month describing the foods that will be supplied as part of the Lenten themes.

Following the suppers, we move to the

sanctuary for a short NON-communion service that usually lasts about 45 minutes. Pastor uses ROLE PLAY to present his “sermon”, so they are very entertaining as well as educational and inspiring. Next month I’ll also reveal what characters will be “visiting us” for those services.

But, for February, we are still in the

Epiphany season: the season of LIGHT. The lessons throughout the month are chosen to inspire us and motivate us to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. They also encourage us to be peacemakers, which was good advice 2000 years ago, and is even better advice today, in this uncertain fragmented world. We’ll hear the “Beatitudes” on Feb 17th, which pretty much chastise those who are not showing peace and love towards God’s people.

A monthly column with all the noise that is news about Music & Worship

at St. John Lutheran Church

Lent? Nope...not yet! Live Long,

And Prosper

Worship

If I were to choose one word to describe the scripture lessons in February, that word would be GLORY, because they all speak about the “Glory of the Lord”.

The word “Glory” appears 348 times in the

Bible; starting in Exodus 14 and continuing through almost every book, ending with the next-to-last chapter of Revelations.

In musical terms, we might be more

“familiar” with “Hallelujch” or “Alleluia”, but “Glory” is found in 22 hymns in our hym-nal. Those songs span the entire Liturgical year:

ADVENT: ELW 240, “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” calls Jesus the “King of Glory” in verse 3

CHRISTMAS: ELW 275, “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

EPIPHANY: ELW 313, “O Lord, Now Let Your Servant” which is based on the vers-es of “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace...for I have seen your salvation, and the GLORY of your people Israel”.

LENT: ELW 320, “The Glory of These Forty Days”

HOLY WEEK: ELW 324, “In the Cross of Christ, I Glory”

PALM SUNDAY: ELW 344, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

EASTER: ELW 376, “Thine Is The Glory”

HOLY TRINITYL ELW 410, “All Glory Be To God On High”

REFORMATION: ELW 705: “God Of Grace, and God of Glory”

ALL SAINT’S DAY: ELW 426, “Sing With All the Saints in Glory”

CHRIST THE KING: ELW 432, “The

Until Next Month... Here’s a reason to come to church regularly,

and invite others:

“Then he brought me by way of the north gate

to the front of the temple; and I looked, and lo!

the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the

LORD; and I fell upon my face. ”

from Ezekiel 44:4 (NRSV)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the Glory)

Donald L. Bauer Director of Music

Joyful Noise—February 2019 Page 2

GLORY! head that Once was crowned with thorns

is crowned with glory now”

BAPTISMS: ELW 451, verse 3 says

“Glory be to God the Father, Glory be

the Christ the Son, Glory to the Holy

Spirit…”

COMMUNION: ELW 492,, verse 1

says “in my God I glory forever…”

What’s New in Sunday School? During the month of February, our teachers will introduce, and our students will

learn from the Book of Matthew about the importance of faith in the story of

The Storm, the Centurion’s Servant, and the Healing of the Two Blind Men.

Later in the month, the story of Jesus Blessing the Children will highlight that

everyone has purpose regardless of age.

In addition, keep collecting your tickets! There are lots of great items to

purchase in the Sunday School Office.

The Adult Class is beginning the new year studying author Max Lucado’s book

titled Life Lessons from Romans. Copies have been purchased for individual

reading and if needed, more can be ordered so please consider attending. Adult

Sunday School has been moved to the conference room and generally starts at

9:30 a.m. so you have ample time to get your coffee and donut.

As a reminder, all elementary aged children and adults are welcome and

encouraged to attend each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. to learn about Jesus and His

message of Salvation.

John Wetterauer

Sunday School Substitute Teachers are

Needed… Have you ever considered teaching Sunday School? Parish Education is

seeking individuals that would be interested in substituting when needed. If you

are interested, or would like additional information before committing, please con-

tact John Wetterauer @ 691-0434.

FEBRUARY SUNDAY MORNING ASSISTANTS

Worship Assistants for Sunday (02/03/19)

Assisting Ministers: 8:00 a.m. Open 10:30 a.m. Open Ushers: 8:00 a.m. Diane Hill / George Bontz 10:30 a.m. Rob & Kate Pierce Greeters: 8:00 a.m. Randy & Patty Riley 10:30 a.m. Ralph & Sherry Mulvaney / Scott Pflederer Reader: 8:00 a.m. Alice Bledsoe 10:30 a.m. Alice Bledsoe

Worship Assistants for Sunday (02/10/19)

Assisting Ministers: 8:00 a.m. Open 10:30 a.m. Open Ushers: 8:00 a.m. Bonnie Phelps 10:30 a.m. Sandy Behrends Greeters: 8:00 a.m. Ralph & Gail Peters 10:30 a.m. Shirley Schmitt Reader: 8:00 a.m. Sandy Behrends 10:30 a.m. Sandy Behrends

Worship Assistants for Sunday (02/17/19)

Assisting Ministers: 8:00 a.m. Open 10:30 a.m. Open Ushers: 8:00 a.m. John Grafelman / Bill Bontz 10:30 a.m. Denny Dougherty Greeters: 8:00 a.m. Pat McGrew 10:30 a.m. Brent & Kendra Bruninga / David & Jody Bontz Reader: 8:00 a.m. Marilyn Hartseil 10:30 a.m. Marilyn Hartseil

Worship Assistants for Sunday (02/24/19)

Assisting Ministers: 8:00 a.m. Open 10:30 a.m. Open Ushers: 8:00 a.m. Pepper Bauer 10:30 a.m. Gary Schuster Greeters: 8:00 a.m. Bob & Pat Janssen 10:30 a.m. Eric & Sue Jones Reader: 8:00 a.m. Rick Allen 10:30 a.m. Rick Allen

Homebound List (as of January 24, 2019)

Jay Baumgardner Swan Special Care Center Anita Heuermann Heddington Oaks

109 Kenwood 2223 W. Heading Ave.

Cbampaign, Il. 61824 West Peoria, Il. 61604

Anna Bontz Autumn Accolade Alice Johnson 20307 N, Elmore Rd.

13516 Townline Rd. Room 314 % Carol Cowser Laura, Il. 61451

Green Valley, Il. 61534

Debra Look Timber Ridge

Art Campen 4169 King St. 2125 Veterans Rd.

% Carrie Campen Denver, Co. 80211 Morton, Il. 61550

Jeffrey Campen Lennox Guest Home Helen Piscaglia John Evans SLC

2875 W. 33rd Ave. 1329 Executive Dr.

Denver, Co. 80211 Pekin, Il. 61554

Wendy Campen Aperion Care Toluca Dorothy Reader 3921 S. Granville St.

101 East Via Ghiglieri Bartonville, Il. 61607

Toluca, Il. 61369

Suzanne Rogers 5810 W. Overland Pass

Jackie Farrar Cornerstone Rehab Bartonville, Il. 61607

5333 N. Galena Rd.

Peoria Heights, Il. 61614 Eleanor Rosenbohm 4400 W. Cathy Circle

Peoria, Il. 61615 Deloris Graber Heddington Oaks 2223 W. Heading Ave. Room 218 Berneda Smith Westchester Harbor

Peoria, Il. 61604 630 Whittier Dr. Apt. 208

High Point, NC. 27265

Shirley Harken Courtyard Estate Room 320

Peoria, Il. 61604 Carolyn Wertz 13750 National Ave. Apt. 211

West Berlin, Wi. 53151

Thelma & Carl Hartseil Snyder Village

404 Flag

Metamora, Il. 61548

Announcements: Evangelism Committee: The Evangelism Committee will be meeting on Thursday, February 28th, at 6:00pm. ATTENTION: Please join us for a fun Cross Fyre Valentine Party on February 17th at 6:00pm. Altar Flowers: Altar Flowers are now coming from the florist arranged in plastic 18 ounce cups (like SOLO, etc.). The cups will fit into the liners. Donors, please take your flowers home in the cups only. Leave the liners for use the following week. DO NOT TAKE THE LINERS HOME!! This will elimi-nate the need for your returning liners and florist running out of them. Questions?? See Dee or Wilma. Thanks for your help with this new method of displaying our beautiful flowers. Installation of Church Officers and Sunday School Staff: On Sunday, February 3rd, we had the Installation of the Church Officers and Sunday School Staff. The Church Officers are: Elder (2year): Danelle Geraci and Jane Rosenbohm Deacon (2year); Robert Pierce and Teri Sammis Deacon (1year): Tom Tate Trustee (3year): Andy Look and Roger Shafer Financial Secretary (3year): Patti Thornton Recording Secretary (1year): Sue Jones Auditing (3year): Elvessa Severt Child Care Board (3year): Jane Rosenbohm and Elaine Shafer Evangelism (3year): Joan Resler Nominating (3year): Parish Ed (3year): Becky Sanders, Sarah Winborn, and Danette Grafelman Synod Delegates (1 year): Mark Ingram, Gail Peters, Ralph Peters, and (Alternate) Seth Miller We thank God for the ministry of all these individuals and pray that God work through talents they have been blessed with! Adult Bible Study: Pastor Michael’s Bible Study on Romans has begun. He is teaching from Max Lucado’s Book on Romans. Stop by at 9:30 in the sanctuary for the first class and let him know what you think. Booklets should have arrived and are available. There will be more details during class. Please feel free to join the class and if you need a book ordered, please let Pastor know. Making Offerings Easier: Did you know you can make your offering automatically from your check-ing or savings account? Vanco Payment Solutions, a division of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, offers this service. You choose the frequency of the transfer, the fund you contribute to and the amount. A statement is sent to the church and your contribution is recorded in Shephard’s Staff, just like your weekly offering envelopes. St. John has been using Vanco Payment Solutions for several years and it works well! Please contact Patti Thornton at 264-2303 or pthorton@unland.com if you would like more information. Thank you, Patti Thornton Bible Study: The next two Job Bible Studies will be February 6th and February 20th from 7-8pm in the meeting room by the elevator. The one planned for January 30th has been cancelled because of informal worship service that night. If you have any questions, please call Jane Rosenbohm at 309-645-9009. Thank you: We would like to thank everyone for thinking of us over Christmas with your prayers and cards. Thanks to Pastor Michael for all his visits, they were very much appreciated. God Bless, Eleanor Rosenbohm & Carol Langjahr

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