E-Vine December 4, 2015

This Week’s Memory Verse

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  ~1 Corinthians 1:7 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 This Sunday:  Who gets top billing in our Christmas celebrations? Santa Claus or Jesus? Too often, the two morph together into a magical Santa Claus deity that comes just to grant our wishes. We tend to confuse magic and miracle, craving a magical, holly-jolly holiday rather than an experience of the miracle that God came to earth in such a humble form.

• First Reading Isaiah 9:2-7     
• Second Reading Philippians 1:2-11        
• Holy Gospel Luke 3:1-21  

• Children’s Church teachers this week:  Sarah Knutson & Jenny Gass

• Called to Glory:  Our sister in Christ, Joan Bubenheimer, was called to glory on November 24^th.  A memorial service will be held at St. John’s on Saturday, January 23^rd at 11:00 AM.  (Please note the change of date.)

• You are Invited!!!   The Go Fish Guys from Vacation Bible School at St. John’s Lutheran are coming back to help us kick off the Christmas season with a special Advent celebration.  Your child won’t want to miss out on the songs, dances, stories, pizza, craft, game and themed snack which are all part of this special time together.  Parents are provided the gift of time as we encourage you to simplify this holiday season.  Here’s a link for the registration form. It can be emailed back to jenny_gass@yahoo.com, dropped off  in the school office or preschool.  Space is limited so do not delay!  Friday, December 4^th 5:00-8:00 PM  Open to current preschoolers through 5th grade.   Registration form is attached.

• Christmas Open House:  You are invited to a Christmas Open House at Pastor Mike and Teresa’s home on Saturday, December 5 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm.  Join us for a cup of Christmas Cheer! (1701 Monarch Drive.

• Health and Healing Service:  Next week’s Advent Midweek service (Wednesday at 7:00 PM) will focus on the power of God’s Word to bring healing in the midst of physical ailments, strained relationships, and other difficulties and challenges in life.  An extended period of time for community and personal prayers will be a part of the service, as well as anointing with oil.   A soup supper will precede the service at 6:00 PM in the Parish Hall.

• 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.

• Happy Birthday Aaron Comfort Dog:  We are taking the opportunity of Aaron’s birthday to help us celebrate our Comfort Dog Ministry and what the congregation is doing through this ministry.  Join us this Sunday for a reception after each service.

• 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, please 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.