THE LAMPLIGHTER...... OF ST. JOHN’S

Monthly Newsletter of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bridgewater (LCMC)

8805 Austin Road, P.O. Box 13, Bridgewater, Michigan 48115
Pastor Drex Morton
Sunday School, 9:15 a.m.; Worship, 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion
Mission Statement: Dedicating ourselves to God through Prayer & Study, Fellowship & Service..

March, 2015 -

Dear St. John’s Faith Family,

(I surely like the sound of that.) I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you on Ash Wednesday. Despite the inclement weather and impending wind chill warnings and occasional snow squalls, a number of us gathered together in worship.

I especially was touched by the rousing congregational singing, reflected in a superb choral anthem, “Lamb of God.” Several folks told me, “We like to sing!” And that was self-evident.

As we begin a season of Lent together, I was reminded of the symbol of ashes as I prepared during recent days. Ashes remind us that we were formed from the elements of the earth and that the seasons of temporal life for us each are all too brief. I was reminded that I need to make the most of every moment, and I hope you will as well. There is much more to be said about that, but I will save more reflection on the rapid unfolding of life for another time.

As I shared last evening during our Ash Wednesday worship, I am privileged and honored to serve among you. I spoke the following from some of my notes….

This year the reception of ashes and the imposition thereof is marked for me by

another beginning…

In this beginning, I kneel with a humble heart to be embraced by a flock

who have called me to be their shepherd,… To be such, I have to recall

with great humility that it is not merely I whom they have called. Oh,

they have called me by name, but I’m merely a clay vessel, a “cracked pot.”

It is the LORD whom they seek, and if I am to reflect the LORD, I must

remember that it is not I but Christ within me that is of any worth. I must

never forget that anything I might undertake must reflect and refract the

direction of the Triune God and the mystery of the ONE who always offers

us (each) a fresh start and…beginnings…with reckless abandon…

We can do many things together, but I pray that the LORD will direct us specifically to champion and undertake those things which will be most fruitful for us to share the self-giving love of Jesus which sets the captive free…

Invite those whom you know who might need a Touch from the LORD to join us…

Psalm 34:8 invites us to invite others…

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in

Him…” (NIV)

Serving joyfully alongside you, +Pastor Drex

THIS ‘N THAT………..

NEWS FROM LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF…………

We recently received your gift of $ 1,000.00 to Lutheran World Relief. Thank you! I’d like to share a story of the great work your gift will support:

Sevn once struggled to support his family on his farm in Kenya’s notoriously dry Makindu district. The region has a rainy season during which the Makindu river bed fills with water, but farmers didn’t have a good way to capture that water. This made it difficult for Sevn to grow food to eat and sell year round.

With your gifts, you provide lasting solutions for farmers like Sevn. With local partners, we worked to install a sand dam – a structure built onto a dry river bed that captures water-filled sand and holds it in place. Now, Sevn and his family have a source of water for growing crops year round and, because of the sand dam, he can afford to send his children to school and they no longer struggle with chronic hunger.

That’s just one example of how your gift changes lives around the world. On behalf of LWR, our partners and those we serve, please accept my thanks for your generous support and partnership. May God bless you!

Warm Regards, Daniel V. Speckhard, President and CEO

From LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF MICHIGAN………………………..

Please allow me to express the gratitude of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan for St. John’s Lutheran Church Bridgewater generous donation of $ 2,125.00. LSSM appreciates your members’ commitment to serving people as an expression of the love of Christ. Your congregation’s contribution allows LSSM to provide much needed services to the thousands of children, homeless families, older adults, persons with disabilities and refugees we serve. Each of these individuals would personally thank you if they could, but instead I will thank you on their behalf.

Your support is one way we further our shared ministry of Serving people as an expression of the love of Christ. Again, thank you for your confidence in LSSM you’re your caring for others.

Cordially, Richard Martin, Chief Advancement Officer.

EUCHRE ROUND ROBIN/FAMILY GAME NIGHT……………………

Euchre Round Robin/Family Game Night will be Saturday, March 21st from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Round robin euchre, dominoes, board games and supervised games for children will be available. Snacks will be provided. Invite your friends, family, neighbors to this community event. Come out of the cold and into the fun!!! Sponsored by St. John’s Men’s Group and Outreach Committee.

KENYA LIVING WATER MISSION……………………………………..

Doreen Haist is in Kenya, and will be returning February 24th. WOW! Your gracious donations of toys to fill a suitcase for the orphans – filled 2 suitcases! Thank You! Also, Thank you to the Fellowship Circle for their donation of $ 1,000.00 to Doreen for her trip. Also, to the family of Bill Lutz, for his memorial donation of $ 500.00 to purchase another cow! We now have enough funds to purchase 4 cows! And to everyone else who donated so graciously to Doreen and Living Water Ministries. Your generosity is over-whelming! Doreen, we can’t wait until you return and share with us your experiences in Kenya!

More, THIS ‘N THAT………..

REMINDERS…………

  • Weekly Bulletin News – needs to be in the church office by Friday, 9:00 a.m.
  • To reserve the basement and/or pavilion and/or reserve tables & chairs to be taken outside of the church – you need to contact Betty Weidmayer, Office Secretary. You can contact her by email, – church office phone, 429-7434, home phone (734) 665-9942 or leave a note in her office door box, or talk to her (but make sure she writes it down!) She will check it out and get back with you as soon as possible – and will mark it on our master calendar located in the library. Requests are on a first come/first serve basis. Thanks!
  • Our Website – – Check it out! Our monthly Lamplighter and Calendar is now on the web, along with other announcements. We invite you to see what we are up to at St. John’s. Our new website will be adding upcoming events throughout the year. From community events to special holiday services, we welcome you all!!!!! Remember, there are forms by the office door – for you to take and add to our website. We welcome your news! Complete and return to Wendy Aho.