Saturday Worship and Holy Communion 5:30pm

Sunday School 9:00 am
Sunday Worship and Holy Communion 10:15am

They're going fast... and according to the St. John's Youth Facebook page, they only have 24 butter braids left. Don't miss out! Please see one of the youth or pay Eloide in the office. The cost is $12 each.

PASTOR’S NOTES: As a young teen I was introduced to a wide variety of name brand guitars. One such maker of guitars was “Epiphone”. Having been raised in the church I recognized immediately the similarity between the words Epiphone and Epiphany. I wondered if this company had any particular affiliation with the church. Upon doing some research, I came to realize that this guitar company originated in Greece in 1873. That explains a great deal as the Epiphone Company chose to use a play on the Greek word (Epiphany) which the church folk knew well. The Epiphone Company gave this definition of their company name meaning: “a sudden inspiration frequently presenting itself as supernatural in origin”.

One of the wonderful festivals of the church is called “Epiphany” and it is most commonly celebrated on January 6 of each year. These days which precede Epiphany (Dec. 25-Jan. 6) the church recognizes and celebrates as the 12 days of Christmas. As the twelve days of Christmas end, the season of Epiphany moves the focus on God’s revelation of the divine to Jesus as the one true light of the world, a light to all nations. The story of the Magi coming with gifts to Jesus indicates that Christ the light is come for all people of all nations. This revelation calls each of us in our daily lives, and as members of Christ’s church, to see and proclaim Jesus to others as the one true light which overcomes the darkness of sin and points to salvation.

Some weeks ago I came across this story in one of our church subscriptions: “Picture a man stumbling along in a heavy fog, completely disoriented. Then, off in the distance, he sees the light of one small lamp. Its glow is sufficient neither to burn off the fog nor to illuminate the obstacles that might be on the ground between the man and that lamp. Still, it is a steadily burning lamp. Something within the man prompts him to believe that if he heads toward it, he will be going in the right direction. That “something” we call “faith”. While heading toward the lamp, he finds another lost man whose eyesight is so poor he can’t see the lamp. The first man takes the second by the hand and helps him toward the lamp also. The act of reaching out to another we can call “love.” And the lamp that draws him? It’s called “hope”. (The Wired Word, Newsletter Newsletter, used by permission)

We are people of hope and are witnesses to the light. For God has chosen to call you into faith through the gift of baptism. We are called to live in light of Jesus, loving one another both in word and deed. We are called to invite others to meet this Jesus who is come into this world that they might experience the joy and promises of Jesus. Together we have much to attend to as we share the good news of Jesus with others in 2012.

Thank you all for your partnership in making Christ known.
Pastor Kenyon

Director of Children & Family Ministries:
Carol Ploch Phone:815/223-1144 or 815/202-3338

Director of Youth Ministries Jeff Whalen
Ph:815-674-7722

Church Council
Kay Marincic – President
Mike Adams – Vice President
Sue Flaherty – Secretary
Susan Koepke – Treasurer

Council Members: Tim Armstrong, Carol Eckwall, Janice Hammer, Matthew Hammer, Bob Huston, Kay Raineri

Finance: Susan Koepke, Ken Koepke, Mike Adams, Greg Yuvan, Dave Kromphardt.

Worship & Music: Sue Flaherty, Barb Kromphardt-Choir Director.

Parish Education: Carol Eckwall, Lori Whalen, Steve Wrobleski, Jami Sebastian, Kathy Ricci, Carol Ploch

Building & Grounds: Bob Huston, Gregg Flaherty, Roger Sines, Mary Lamps, Rod Anderson, Ilene Shaw, Lloyd Schrowang, Carole Wenzel, Clarence Wenzel.

Stewardship: Kay Marincic, Stacy Newell, Ilene Shaw.

Social Ministry: Janice Hammer

Endowment: Susan Koepke, Pr. Sue Eckhoff, Dave Hunt, Jan Delvallee, Pastor Kenyon.

Youth: Kay Raineri, Don Anderson, Tanya Zulkowsky, Jane Krysiak, Kristin Wrobleski, Kelly Poremba. Abney Bernardini, Riane Wrobleski, Breanna Zulkowsky.

Evangelism: Dave Kromphardt, Theresa Ellerbrock, Sue Komarek, Betty Roegner, Linda Windy.

Harbeck: Susan Koepke, Kay Raineri, Linda Hoelter

Personnel: Mike Adams

Green Team: Susan Koepke

Choir Director: Barb Kromphardt
Youth Bell Choir Directors: Jeff & Lori Whalen
Organist - Pianist: Pam Engels
Pianist: Rachel Garthe
Office Secretary: Eloide Pinter
Custodians: Jim & Melody Miller

A big thank you to Rod Anderson for refinishing the table in the Liefeld Lounge. You did a beautiful job.

WELCA Board Meeting – Monday, February 6, – 6:30 p.m.

Ladies Game Day is Sunday (Feb 12) at 1:00 p.m. Bring your friends and enjoy a relaxing afternoon socializing and playing games.

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.

Ladies are you tired of hauling around a heavy suitcase filled with non-essentials while traveling? Would you like to learn how to pack for a 10-day vacation taking only a carry-on? Join WELCA on February 6 at 7:00 p.m. for an informational and fun evening. Refreshments. Contact Sue Weber if you have any questions.

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.

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.

Susan G. Komen 3-Day: Is anyone is considering participating in the 3 day breast cancer walk? There are several meetings being held in the Chicago area with one of the closest in Naperville on February 1st. Call the church office to find out who might be attending this or other meetings to learn. The website is The Susan G. Komen 3-Day: What is the 3-Day?

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.

Waltham Elementary School Trivia Night: Saturday, February 11 at Senica's Oak Ridge - six to ten adults per team. Signup sheet is in the narthex.

The Fair Trade Coffee/Tea cabinet is always open and available for you to purchase your coffees, teas, and cocoa. Also, available are a delicious assortment of chocolate candy bars. Two new candy bars are now available – Milk Chocolate Toffee Crunch and Milk Chocolate Crunchy. Thank you to everyone who supports this ministry.