E-Vine December 17, 2015

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This Week’s Memory Verse

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”~Zephaniah 3:17

This Sunday:  We often fail to understand just how scandalous God’s love for us is, and how radical it is that God would show that love by lowering Himself to be born in human form.  Using the story of Hosea, this week’s sermon emphasizes how doggedly God pursues us, in spite of our unfaithfulness.

• First Reading Hosea 3:1-5
• Second Reading Hebrews 10:5-10
• Holy Gospel Luke 1:39-56

• Christmas Worship
  • Christmas Eve
    • December 24 4:00 PM – A Christmas celebration for children and families based on “Charlie Brown Christmas.”  (This will not be a Communion service)
    • December 24 7:00 PM   – This celebration of the Savior’s birth will be a Communion service.  The Worship Band will be leading the singing.
    • December 24 9:00 PM  –  This celebration of the Savior’s birth will be a Communion service with traditional hymns and carols.  The Sanctuary Choir will be singing at this service.
  • Christmas Day –9:30 AM  – The Sanctuary Choir will also be singing at the Christmas Day Communion Service.
  • New Year’s Eve – 7:00 PM Communion Service

• No Children’s Church this week.

• Love and Logic:  Beginning January 15^TH, we will be offering a parenting class called “Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun: Creating Happy Families and Responsible Kids” This is a video/discussion type class for parents of young children.  “When parents start Love & Logic in their children’s early lives, they dramatically up the odds that the teenage years will be fun instead of frantic. Parents will learn a practical set of tools to help raise super kids!  We will meet on January 15, 22, 29, February 5 from 8:35-10:15 AM.  Pre-registration is necessary because we have to order a workbook for each parent/couple participating. The cost is $15 payable to St. John’s Lutheran School. We would like to limit the class to 15 people so space is available to the first 15 to pre-register with Janis King.

• Offering Envelopes:  ease pick up your 2016 offering envelopes in the Narthex after December 6^th.   Note the change in color.  Once 2015 is over, please dispose of your 2015 envelopes as the numbers may change in 2016.  Please remember to use your envelopes each Sunday to assist our wonderful counting team as they process our tithes and offerings.   If you would like offering envelopes and are not currently assigned them, please call Christy in the Church Office.  Thank you!

• Poinsettias: If you wish to contribute toward poinsettias and Christmas trees, please use the envelopes provided in the pews.  Thank you!

• Best Practices Conference:  You are invited to join Pastor Mike, Pastor Mark, Janis King, Sam Troemel and Tim & Christy Kramer in attending the 2016 Best Practices for Ministry Conference at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix.  What is the conference about? This is a conference for both church workers and lay people.  It focuses on sharing practical info on what works along with transparency on what doesn’t work in parish ministry, in addition to uplifting worship, fellowship and encouragement. For a list of planned speakers, topics and sessions, please check out the conference website. http://www.cclphoenix.org/bpm_az.html.  This is a “free” conference, meaning that there is no registration fee. The host congregation provides free meals for the duration of the conference.  We have some funds available to defray some of the cost on transportation and lodging.  If you are interested in participating in this conference, or would like additional information, please contact the Church Office.   We encourage you to do so soon because the conference is quickly filling up.

•  Christmas Cookie Bake Sale:  The high school youth group will be accepting Christmas cookie donations to be sold after services on December 20^th.  E-mail Youth Ministry Director, Sam Troemel at Samuel@stjohnslutheran.net to make arrangements to donate cookies.  All funds will go towards the 2016 National Youth Gathering

• Aaron Comfort Dog Visits:  If you would like to request a visit from Aaron, please contact Tim or Christy Kramer @ 255-0119.  For an update on his activities, please check out his Facebook page at AaronComfortDog.  

• Chili Cook-Off…  Don’t miss the first Annual Chili Cook-Off on January 31^st!  This event will be sponsored by the high school youth group in an effort to raise funds for the 2016 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA.  Congregation members, friends, and family are invited to enter their chili into this contest.  Please contact Youth Ministry Director, Sam Troemel, for more information on rules and registration.  He can be reached via e-mail at Samuel@stjohnslutheran.net.

• Campus Security:  Please remember to check that doors are properly closed and locked as you leave the room you are using.  Thanks for helping us take care of our campus.

• Mission India:  Please keep our Mission India Literacy trainer in your prayers.  As announced in church, we have met the goal for financially supporting our trainer for this year.  But we are still collecting support for Mission India, which will go toward supporting other literacy trainers.  To support this ministry financially, please make out your check to St. John’s.  You can use the designated offering envelopes or write on your check that it is for Mission India.  For more information about our partnership with Mission India and the opportunity to change lives and draw them to Christ, click here and see the display in the church entryway.

• Abide Daily Devotion: How do I let Scripture guide my prayer life?  How can I let Jesus direct what I pray for each day?  The Abide Devotion, written by Pastor Mike, is a daily devotion designed to address these concerns.   You can click here for more information and to subscribe to receive the devotion in your email each morning.