 Parish Education would like to invite you to their Annual Sweetheart Breakfast on Sunday, February 12, from 8-10 a.m. Tickets are available through families of the congregation, before and after worship and in the church office. The menu will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, applesauce and beverage. Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. Proceeds from the breakfast go towards activities for the Sunday school families. If you have any questions, please see Carol Ploch or any Parish Ed Committee member.
Donations are also needed for the breakfast. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex if you can help.
SUPER job St John’s!!! Our Super bowl of caring collection for food and cash was a huge success! We collected 211 pounds of food and $269 in cash. All was donated to the Hall Township Food Pantry.
It is time for the men of St. John’s to get together for dinner. We will have a steak and potato supper on Sunday, February 26th from 5-7. All men, all ages, are invited to gather for fellowship and food. A $5 donation will cover the cost of dinner. Hope to see you all there. A signup sheet is in the narthex.
While doing your spring-cleaning remember to save any usable plant containers and bring them to the church office for the WELCA Plant Sale on April 28 & 29.
“Lessons for Today’s Disciples” is the theme for the Northern Illinois Synod retreat. In addition, this year the retreat will be held on March 24 at St. John’s. If you are unable to attend that one, the retreat will also be offered on April 14 at LOMC. The Bible Study will be led by Valora Starr. These retreats are for women age 20-?. Forms are on the table in the narthex.
HAND BELLS will meet on Saturday, February 18th and again on Saturday, March 3rd. High School/College hand bells will be from 3:45-4:30 p.m. followed by youth hand bells from 4:30-5:10 p.m. Final two practices before we perform. Hope to see everyone there!!
8th grade lock in will be on Friday, February 24th. We will meet at church at 8 p.m. We will be done at 8 a.m., the following morning. We will have food, movies, food, fellowship, food, games, food, Sleep??????? Bring a friend(s). Sign up on the bulletin board outside my office (nursery). Also, be sure to pick up a release form and return it to Jeff Whalen.
Are you ready to be Challenged!?!?!? On Saturday and Sunday, February 18th and 19th we will kick off Mardi Gras at St John’s. The youth will be assisting with both services and will provide refreshments and treats after both services. We ask that you prayerfully consider challenging yourself to contribute to the youth gathering in New Orleans. We have the incredible opportunity to send 17 teenagers to New Orleans for the 2012 youth gathering; “citizens with the saints”. That is an incredible amount of teenage disciples going to study, learn and prepare to share God’s message to the world. Lori and I have a challenge to the congregation. We will take a special collection starting February 18th thru February 26th. We will match dollar for dollar up to the first $1000 we raise that week. Please pray about it, and be challenged to give generously.
Jeff and Lori Whalen
The YACHT Club has planned an event! They invite everyone from the congregation, along with their friends, to join them on Saturday, March 24 for dinner followed by Comedy night at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl. Watch for more information.
The OWLS, Older, Wiser Lutheran Seniors, will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at The Right Spice on Thursday, March 22, at 5:00 p.m. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex.
Mark your calendars, if you haven’t yet – April 28 – “A Garden Affair”. Garden talks by experts, cooking demo using garden ingredients, plant and yard art sales, etc. Some committee members are going to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. Would you like to go too? Next “Garden Affair” meeting will be Thursday, February 16, at 7 p.m. in the Liefeld Lounge.
The Salad Luncheon committee wishes to thank all of you that provided recipes for the Salad-Cookie Recipe Booklet and supplement. The booklet and supplement will be sold at the Salad Luncheon on April 19. We appreciate your cooperation and willingness to take the time to jot down the recipes that you made for the 2011 luncheon.
ASH WEDNESDAY 7:00 P.M. February 22, 2012
Service of Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
Ash Wednesday is so called because it traditionally has been a time of imposing ashes on the foreheads of Christians as an ancient practice and symbol of God’s judgment upon sin which seeks to destroy the goodness of life. The sign of the cross made on our foreheads echoes our baptismal anointing when we were marked with the cross of Christ forever. Together we repeat each Sunday morning these words as we prepare for Holy Communion: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again”.
Ash Wednesday again calls us to a place and a time to confess our sins and to hear the redemptive words of God in Jesus.Though we are plagued by sin, Christ by his death and resurrection has overcome sin. What is dark, dreary and hopeless in your life has no lasting power over you. No disappointments have power to defeat you. Lent is a journey of renewal and hope. Both humbly and confidently we come before the Lord who out of pure love and mercy has chosen a path of suffering and death to redeem and save us. The words of God through the prophet Joel: “Return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:13)
Pastor Kenyon
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
“People of the Passion”
On Wednesday during Lent we will be welcoming various pastors from the South Conference of the Northern Illinois Synod congregations. Four pastors from our area congregations will be leading our midweek services. This “round robin” format gives you the opportunity to hear the word of God and meditate upon the scriptures and messages which will be presented in a variety of ways. Please take time to warmly greet and welcome each visiting pastor.
February 29 – “Mary Magdalene”
Pr. Tammy Anderson, Immanuel, Earlville
March 7 – “The Centurion”
Pr. Garry Briesacher, Trinity, Ottawa
March 14 – “Pontius Pilate”
Pr. Tim Kenyon, St. John’s Peru
March 21 – “Judas”
Pr. Dan Stalker, St. Paul’s, Streator
March 28 – “Peter”
Pr. Kris Zierke, Our Savior’s, Seneca
The men’s group, assisted by St. John’s youth, will be serving a simple supper prior to each service beginning at 5:30 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken. The offering will be given to the high school youth for their trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer in New Orleans.
Congregational Resourcing Event will be held on Saturday, March 10 at Kishwaukee College in Malta. Brochures are available on the table in the narthex. The Congregational Resourcing Event is an excellent annual learning opportunity for the Northern Illinois Synod. Around 600 congregational leaders and members of NIS congregations gather for worship with a message from Bishop Wollersheim, a keynote address, lunch, and a chance to choose from dozens of workshops on various topics. Look and see what might interest you. A sign-up sheet will be put out in February.
Any high school student (or current 8th grader) who is interested in singing in the ELCA youth choir of North America 2012-2013 please see the flyer on the bulletin board in the Narthex. This choir will sing this year in Chicago with members from North America and Germany. In the summer of 2013, the choir will travel to Germany to sing at area churches and castles near Wittenberg. We already have one member interested in participating.
THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS SYNOD is sponsoring a trip to Tanzania, July 26 – August 8, 2012 (14 days). This is an open invitation to travel to the North Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Our synod has a strong partnership with the North Central Diocese. There are two grand purposes for the journey: to visit and learn from some of the educational institutions within the North Central diocese; and to visit our companion parishes (including Babati Lutheran, St. John’s companion congregation) making and renewing face-to-face contact with our Christian sisters and brothers in Tanzania. The cost is $4119/person. For further information, please see the brochure, which is posted on the south bulletin board, or contact Rev. Gary Erickson at clerol@verizon.net or by phone at 815-758-3203.
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