St. John’s HELPER

St. John’s United Church of Christ

1513 West Street

Rosenberg, Texas 77471

Church Office: 281-342-5159 Fax: 832-759-5548 Church Email:

Church Website: www.stjohnsunitedchurchofchrist.org

Rev. Daniel Haas, Minister Cell phone #801-368-1180

January 11, 2017 Rev. Donald Kolkmeier, Pastor Emeritus

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at St. John’s United Church of Christ

“What is Worship All about Anyway?”


When we gather for worship at St. John’s United Church of Christ the form changes all the time. Sometimes the choir will put on a cantata or we have will guest musicians come in. Sometimes we keep the kids in the sanctuary and have some extra fun. Sometimes we mix different languages. Finally the order of worship is radically transformed on the first Sunday of every month for Holy Communion.

There is no right or wrong way to worship. Styles and orders evolve, and ours comes from a unique set of historic connections. Over the next few weeks we will explore the elements of our worship service. The adult Sunday School class will touch on lessons that speak to the focus that we are going to practice any given Sunday during worship. This is an experience in blowing things out of proportion.

On January 15 our theme will be “Praise the Lord!” The Sunday School will work on lessons around Doxology and Praise. Then follows a so-called “contemporary service”. No bulletin. Songs projected on the wall and no liturgy. It’s gonna start with a long period of upbeat worship and praise. There will be prayers and a biblical message but the main focus is on praise.

On January 22 we will be back to bulletin and an almost normal service. The theme “I believe” sends the Sunday School into the ancient creeds of the church. In traditional worship the creeds were the response to the sermon, the congregation’s assent to God’s spoken Word. Since this Sunday is also our election of church officers, we will especially focus on the priesthood

of all believers that is so central to our Protestant faith.

On January 29 we will unearth a thing that we tend to shove to the side: Looking at our sinful nature. The Message is: “You are forgiven”. But forgiveness can only be received after the confession of sin. We limit this practice to communion Sunday. In traditional worship this is how every service starts: Humbling yourself and allowing God to pick you back up. Sunday School will focus on the sacraments that are signs of forgiveness and restoration.

On February 5 I will be leading Confirmation Camp at Slumber Falls. The Rev. Jennifer Veres-Schrecengost has agreed to come back and lead this service focused on Holy Communion.

On February 12 I will be visiting family in Germany. The Rev. Marilyn Fiddmont will focus on stewardship and giving. The worship element to highlight is obviously the offering.

On February 19 our theme is “Be blessed”. This is about receiving and being a blessing. For Sunday school it’s about the Benediction. When we step into worship, we don’t walk into a place that we own. Most of it may feel familiar, but when we dig deeper into different parts of the service we are drawn into a much richer reality. Let us grow over the next few weeks as we stretch our hearts and minds in worship.

Blessings,

Rev. Daniel Haas

Offering for January 1, 2017

Unrestricted Income

General Fund ………….. $2,790.00

General Fund income is used to pay our congregation’s operating expenses. We must receive $3,175 each week in unrestricted giving to sustain our annual budget of $165,108

Month to Date for unrestricted: $2,790.00

Restricted Income-January 1, 2017

Benevolence …………………….. $197.00

Improvement Fund……………… $ 82.00

Restricted Income is money given for a specific purpose. It is never used to pay our church operating expenses.

Offering for January 1 $3,069.00

Attendance for January 1, 2017

Church Attendance 52

Offering for January 8, 2017

Unrestricted Income

General Fund ………… $1,741.00

General Fund income is used to pay our congregation’s operating expenses. We must receive $3,175 each week in unrestricted giving to sustain our annual budget of $165,108

Month to Date for unrestricted: $4,531.00

Restricted Income-January 8, 2017

Benevolence …………………….. $60.00

Restricted Income is money given for a specific purpose. It is never used to pay our church operating expenses.

Offering for January 8 $1,801.00

Attendance for January 8, 2017

Church Attendance 63

Preparing for Sunday, Jan. 15

Scripture: Psalm 139

Sermon: “Praise the Lord”

THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS

Requesting Prayer for Themselves:

Denver McFarland

Requesting Prayers for Others

Brittany Burbridge by Karen Sikes

Nathan Gaskamp by Florence Gaskamp

Nelda Gutowsky by Florence Gaskamp

Gary Harbes by Melba Ashley

Stan Kubelka by Kathy Kubelka

David Kveton by Alice Prosise

Sharon Loesch by her family

Emma Lee Marek by her family

Ginger Pawlek by Gloria Himly

Wolfgang Schmidt by Angelika Schmidt

Kara Schmith by Michelle Gutowsky

Sara Schoditsch by June Weiss

Rebecca Schulte by Gloria Himly

Darlean Swallers by Diana Beck

Sarah Weimer by Petra Weimer

Adult Sunday School

The Adult Sunday School class meets at 9:00 a.m. and typically ends around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the Disciples Classroom. All are invited and welcomed to attend and share in discussion of various weekly topics. Lessons are led by Leo Niemeyer, and this week’s discussion will be on the Doxology and Praise.

Church Council

The Church Council will meet on Monday, January 16 in the Disciples Classroom.

Year-End Committee Reports

All year-end committee reports are due into the church office by Monday, January 16.

Congregational Meetings

The annual Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, January 22 when election and installation of new church positions will take place. The Nominating Committee has submitted the following names for consideration:

Council:

President-Elect Paul Gutowsky

Secretary Patsy Kubes

Treasurer Margie Krenek

Building/Grounds John Eixmann

Member-at-Large Leo Niemeyer

SCC Delegate Ron Gutowsky

Spiritual Council Janet Enax

Daniel Dunton

Nominations will be taken from the floor from anyone wishing to be considered for any of the above church positions.

Chili Supper

Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. when the Men of the Brotherhood will be serving a chili supper in the Parish Hall. Please remember that a sign-up sheet is the Narthex for this Sunday to RSVP or you may call the church office (this will help the men know how much food to prepare). Please bring a dessert to share with others and bring a hungry appetite.

Kroger’s Card

Remember to re-register your Kroger’s card each year so that a portion of your spending is given back to the church through the Brotherhood. The more that register their Kroger’s Card each year, the more that is donated back. A percentage of each of your expenditures is donated back to the Brotherhood to further help with our church as special projects come up.

Offering Envelopes

The 2017 boxed sets of offering envelopes have been placed in the Narthex for your pick up. Boxes are filed numerically and alphabetically, for the most part. Most people’s number stayed the same as in 2016 but there are the occasional cases where someone was assigned a number that does not follow the alphabetical spelling of their last name. So if you do not see your name where it should normally be, please scan each box and if you still do not see your name then please contact the church office. There are a few unassigned boxes at the very end and if you have not been receiving a box but would like one, then please take one numbered between 96 and 100 and write your name and address on the sheet of paper on the table. You do not have to be a church member to use these offering envelopes.

Correction to January Calendar of Events

Please note that the Family Ministry Team will be visiting and serving Communion to the residents at Cambridge on Wednesday, January 11th instead of January 18th as printed on the January Calendar of Events.

Mature Adults

The Mature Adults will meet at 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, January 17th for an afternoon of fellowship, refreshments and games. Please mark your calendars and come join in the fun. For more information contact Alice Prosise.

Calendar

For Sunday, January 15, 2017

Lay Reader: Janet Enax

Flowers for Altar: Patsy Kubes

Greeters & Ushers for January

Sandra Croft Bailey, Bob Ray,

Kerry Gerken, Christina Woodard

Lay Readers for January

Karen Sikes, Sandra Croft Bailey,

Janet Enax, Tom Gaskamp,

Michelle Gutowsky

Altar Flowers for January

Women’s Guild, 1/1 & 1/8

Patsy Kubes, 1/15

Karen & Ron Sikes, 1/22

Ella & Lawrence Schmidt, 1/29

January 15, 2017

Rev. Daniel Haas delivers the morning

message entitled, “Praise the Lord”.

Looking Ahead

Adult Sunday School-9:00-9:30 a.m.

Bible Study-2nd and 4th Tuesday

Confirmation Class-2nd & 4th Sunday

Choir Rehearsals, Wednesday @ 7pm

Church Council, 1/16

Mature Adults, 1/17

Chili Supper, 1/19

Parish Hall Rental, 1/21

Congregational Meeting, 1/22

Boy Scout Court of Honor, 1/22

Bible Study, 1/24

Parish Hall Rental 1/28

Thought for the week:

“Prayer is the cure for a weary soul, a confused mind and a broken heart.”

“Enroll” your Kroger’s card with the Brotherhoods Community Rewards Program. Go online and use #84302 as the organization number.

Link to Kroger’s Community Rewards website: https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards

(On your computer push Control and click your mouse at the same time while hovering the mouse over the above link and it will take you directly to the Kroger registration page.)