PASTOR'S LETTER
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Jesus taught them saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe* in God, believe also in me.” John 14: 1
Have you ever thought about the difference between having faith in something and believing in something? The words, while similar, can help us understand our Christian life and walk.
This summer while Pastor Daniel and I were in Mississippi, we heard a local pastor in his weekly television broadcast highlighting some of these differences. He talked about how he had faith in eating a healthy diet. He had faith that having dinners with more fruits and vegetables was good for his heart and his waistline. He talked about having faith that his cholesterol would be lower with more whole grains in this diet. But he BELIEVED in southern cooking! He believed in the comfort of soul food, of ribs slathered in rich sauce and greens braised with pork fat. He said that his belief in southern cooking was strong. That even though his faith in healthiness was being supported and urged by his wife, sometimes he would find his car heading toward E&L BBQ just west of downtown in Jackson. His belief in southern cooking outweighed his faith in healthiness.
What do you believe? I believe that a winter without snow is not really winter. I believe that I am in the minority when I say that I like winter and that “snow” is my favorite season. But I also have faith. I have faith that when it gets cold, the furnace will continue to run. I have faith that good folks like Bob Page will be out clearing roads and making them safe for us to travel. My beliefs are what I know to be true from my experience. I have lived through a few “winters” without snow. It is just not how a girl from International Falls, Minnesota should spend December through March. My faith is about that in which I hope. It is informed by my experiences but as yet has not happened.
In our scriptures, Jesus’ called to believe is simple. He says, “Believe in God, believe also in me.” It is a command that leaves no room for debate. He connects it to a promise about what God is going to do for us in the future. He calls us to believe, saying that God’s house has many mansions and that he is going there to prepare a place for us. Here is where faith comes in. We listen to a beautiful word of a mansion on high and walk forward in__faith__in earthly homes that are often in need of repair.
One of the gifts of the church to us is our confession of faith, The Apostles’ Creed. As we confess, “I believe in God…I believe in Jesus Christ…I believe in the Holy Spirit…,” we are naming and claiming our convictions as God’s people. We are making a statement about what we understand to be true and genuine about God and his work in the world. In Luther’s explanation to the third article of the creed, The Holy Spirit, he says:
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
In this confession, we are saying, “I believe”, yet we also understand that we are asking God to help us. God calls us to believe and creates faith in us through the gift of the Spirit. God calls us to trust in his good and gracious will and gives us the Spirit who guides our lives to that end.
The Gospel of Mark (9: 14-29) tells a story about a father who comes to Jesus because his child is possessed by an evil spirit. The father pleads with Jesus for help telling him all that they had done in the past to heal his child. The father says “If you are able” please, help my son. Jesus replies, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
We are a people who walk in faith. The father’s cry is our cry, it is our prayer. We have faith in a future lived in the glory of God, we believe that we are blessed to be God’s children living into this promise, yet something holds us back. We can call it doubt or wonder or like the father in Mark’s Gospel, we can pray, “I believe, help my unbelief!”
As you walk through these days that God has given you, may the Spirit guide your days and your nights toward the light of Christ. May you believe that God is doing great things for you. And may you have the faith to see it through.
Pastor Kristin Ostercamp
Adult Bible Study
On February 27th we will be starting a new series of Ray Vander Laan's videos. This series is entitled "With All My Heart". The first session is called 'Build Me A Sanctuary". Please come and join us and enhance your faith walk as we gain a greater understanding of the lessons God wants us to know. We will meet at the home of Claudette and Dwayne Rehfeld, 1214 East 7th Street from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. If you have any questions or need a ride, call 345-2507.
Explorers
Wednesday, February 8, 4:10-5:00
H2H Update
February 1 Supper/Class
“The Forgiveness of Sins”
February 8 Supper/Class*
“Resurrection and Eternal Life”
February 15 Family Date Night*
February 22 Ash Wednesday Worship
February 29 Mid-Week Worship
Small Group Time
*Please note the date change.
MEN’S MINISTRY UPDATES
Have you resolved to read the Bible more in 2012? Join one of our weekly Bible studies and open up God’s Word!
Sunday Night
Our evening group meets at 6:00pm at the church for prayer, fellowship and study.
February 5 No Meeting
February 12 Acts 2:1-41 Pentecost
February 19 Acts 2:42-47 Fellowship
February 26 Acts 4:1-31 Before the Sanhedrin
Tuesday Morning
Join us at 7:00am at the Dakota Diner for breakfast, fellowship, study and prayer!
February 7 John 7:53-8:11 Adulterous Woman
February 14 John 9:1-34 Blind Man Healed
February 21 John 11:1-44 Lazarus Raised
February 28 John 13:1-17 Washing of Feet
Women of the ELCA Notes:
Happy New Year to the women of St. John's.
We are off to a start of a brand new year. Wipe the slate clean and start over. Well...not really. We can't delete all of our activities in St. John's church or the Conference or the Synod. We have much going for us .... thanks to God's help in His Word. We can study that each day, actually, and also each month at our Circle meetings. Remember those of you who have yet to join a circle.....you would be most welcome. We are trying to reach out to those of you who have yet to be with us.
We did not have a Council meeting or general meeting in January so we will meet again in February. Circles will have met for January as you read this. Check your year book and your calendars for the February meetings.
Yarn is welcome for the St. Dysmas knitters in the Prison in Sioux Falls. Don't throw your scraps of yarn away. Put them in the container in the Church labeled for that.
The Quilters are busy on Tuesday afternoons in the church. Again, anyone can join that group to help tie quilts. Spread the word that Need's Anonymous is open on the first Saturday of the month with St. John's Men 'manning the store'. It was announced that the Methodist Men will be there on the third Saturday of each month. Good news.
Some sad news for us when we heard of the death of Constance (Connie) Larson. Many of us remember her from the work she did for our Conference WELCA and the Global Health ministries.
Dates coming up:
W/ELCA meeting Feb. 9, 2PM with Sarah Circle as Hostess. There will be installation of officers. Council will meet at 1:15 PM.
Joy Hagen
Quilting News
Quilting supplies are needed. Any old blankets or fabric we can use for backing would be appreciated. We are looking for TOPPERS (someone to join cut blocks into needed tops.) Talk to Joyce or Carol if you are able to sew pieces together. We appreciate our faithful group of quilters who gather every Tuesday afternoon. Willing hands have made a good amount of quilts this past year.
Joyce Wiemann & Carol McFarland
Suppers during Lent
We would like to be able to serve suppers during Lent, beginning February 29 through March 28, serving from 5:30-6:30pm. If you would like to host one of these Wednesdays contact Teresa in the church office.
Ministerial Act
Funerals
January 12 Catherine Cicely Page
17 Clarence Elroy Althoff (at Our Savior’s, Waubay)
27 Marlys Callen (at SunDial Manor, Bristol)
Gifts and Memorials December 2011
To the Glory of God
Dorcas Circle
In Honor of Judy Barber, Janet Hough, Luella Holden, and Ramona Helgeson
Hannah Circle
In Honor of the birth of Jesus, December birthdays and Geri Olsen’s birthday
Her Family
In Honor of St. John’s Lutheran Church Family
The Parks Family
In Honor of St. John’s Staff
Glenn & Joy Hagen Betty Lou Rohde
In Memory of Hildegard Bauman
Luella Holden Wayne & Lynda Klungseth
Carol Knispel Don & Becky Mahlen
Doug & Cindy Nelson Harvey & Joyce Wiemann
In Memory of Deloris Corbin
Irene Cavanaugh
In Memory of Joseph “Joey” Ewalt
Gibbs & Marilyn DeSpiegler Sharon Michlitsch
In Memory of Mary Jane Fiksdal
Don & Linda Fleeger Fritz & Donna Kwasniewski
Sharon Michlitsch
In Memory of George Graves
Kurt & Elizabeth Gravley and family
In Memory of Virginia Grosch
Gibbs & Marilyn DeSpiegler
Roger & Olive Grimsrud Sharon Michlitsch
In Memory of Marshall Likness
Evelyn Likness
In Memory of Esther Naessig
Harvey & Joyce Wiemann
In Memory of grandmothers Fern Dahlen, Millicent Freed, and Ruth Ostercamp
Daniel & Kristin Ostercamp
In Memory of Duane Podoll
Jan Bergan Robert & W. Bullert
Irene Cavanaugh Chuck & Virginia Chilson
Family & Friends Don & Linda Fleeger
Roger & Olive Grimsrud Orinne Hagen
Luella Holden Allen & Sharon Loe
Lowell & Jane Looyenga Sharon Michlitsch
Keith & Lucy Parker Betty Lou Rohde
Jerry & Kari Somsen Roger & Betty Stavig
Harvey & Joyce Wiemann
In Memory of Donald Whitlock
Harvey & Joyce Wiemann
2012 Chili with the Bishop
Join Bishop David Zellmer and members of the South Dakota Synod Staff for homemade chili, engaging conversation and bible study around our new synod vision "That All May Be Fed".
Come be a part of the conversation at one of the following dates and locations:
· January 31 - 6:00pm Joy Ranch, Watertown (7 miles NW of Watertown on HWY 20)
· February 2 - 6:00pm Good Shepherd Lutheran, Aberdeen (1429 North Dakota Street)
We hope you and leaders from your congregation can join us. There will be plenty of food and conversation for all! For more information contact the Synod Office at 605-274-4011 or synod@sdsynod.org.
FINANCIAL REPORT for January 2012
Income
Dec 31 & 1 $ 6,440.01
7 & 8 10,884.00
14 & 15 6,103.00
21 & 22 3,871.94
Weekly budget for 2012 $4,941.25
CHURCH COUNCIL - Jan. 16, 2012
Present: T. Anderson, E. Gravley, M. Matthews, C. Nelson,
D. Rehfeld, J. Snell, B. Stulken, Rev. D. Ostercamp,
Rev. K. Ostercamp, T. Mikkelsen, L. Parker
Absent: N. Fosheim, M. Gusenius, B. Lux
COUNCIL NOTES: discussed SD Synod benevolence, health reimbursement, and Thrivent Investment; discussed music directors and accompanists payments; Feb. Mission of the Month will be Lutheran Campus Ministry, March - St. Dysmas, April - Natalie Fida and W/ELCA Thankoffering; reviewed 2012 proposed budget; discussed hymnals for Heritage; discussed membership review; discussed spotlights outside facing bell tower/steeple; discussed elections and committees; next meeting after annual meeting, then Feb. 13 or 14 at 7:00pm.
Electronic Giving
Since St. John’s Lutheran Church began offering our automated giving program, several members have chosen to participate. Many have told us how much they like the program for its convenience. They also mentioned how much they appreciate that their financial gifts to St. John’s continue even if they are out of town and unable to attend a worship service.
Perhaps Electronic Giving is a way to help you achieve your stewardship goal for St. John’s. You can sign up for Electronic Giving at any time by completing an authorization form. Contact the church office for more details or visit the Simply Giving Web site www.goSimplyGiving.com.
Sunday School News
As I sit down to write this article I am reminded that we only have three more months until the end of the school year! It’s amazing how fast this winter is going compared to last winter!
During the month of February, the Sunday School children will now be switching to New Testament lessons getting ready to celebrate our Savior’s death and resurrection. Specifically they will be studying The Prodigal Son, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, and The Last Supper.
On January 15 the kids were blessed to have Rachel Nelson from Lutherans Outdoors lead them in song during our closing time. They heard about all the different programs and camps that Lutherans Outdoors has and could take brochures to sign up for camp this coming summer. Last year we had 17 children attend camp and we are hoping for more this year! A big thank you to everyone who contributes to the campership fund which makes camp affordable for all the kids! It’s at camp that many kids really connect with Christ and start that personal relationship with Him! What a wonderful way to impact the Kingdom of God!
In Christ’s Service,
Shannon Garduno
Sunday School Superintendant
Thank you to Jason Snell and Brian Lux for your years of service on Church Council.
Thank you to those currently serving on Church Council and to those serving as officers for 2012:
Elizabeth Gravley - President, Nick Fosheim - Vice President,
Terry Anderson - Treasurer, Cindy Nelson - Secretary, Doug
Hansen, Eloise Hortness, Maryann Gusenius, Mike Matthews,
Dwayne Rehfeld, and Brian Stulken
Books of the Bible – Part Two
Matthew, Mark and Luke and John tell what Christ did in every place;
Acts shows what the apostles did, and Romans how we’re saved by grace.
Corinthians instructs the church; Galatians shows us faith alone;
Ephesians true love, and in Philippians God’s Grace is shown.
Colossians tells us more of Christ and Thessalonians of the end;
In Timothy and Titus both are rules for pastors to attend.
Philemon Christian friendship shows; then Hebrews clearly tells all
The Jewish Law prefigured Christ. (and these epistles are by Paul)
James shows that faith by works must live, and Peter urges steadfastness,
While John exhorts to Christian love, for those who have it God will bless.
Jude shows the end of evil men, and Revelation tells of heaven.
This ends the whole New Testament, and all the books are twenty-seven.
(author unknown, shared with the newsletter by Erma Knutson)
This We Believe
2012 Mid-Week Lenten Worship Series
You are invited to join us on Wednesdays during the season of Lent for a worship series based on the Apostles’ Creed. Supper will be served at 5:30 with worship following at 7:00.
Wednesday, February 29
“God, Our Father”
Wednesday, March 7
“Jesus, Our Redeemer”
Wednesday, March 14
“Holy Spirit, Our Sanctifier”
Wednesday, March 21
“The Church and the Saints”
Wednesday, March 28
“The Call to Life”
Hymnals for Heritage Village
The church council recently approved an initiative to purchase new hymnals for our Saturday evening services at Heritage Village. We will be ordering the cranberry-colored Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pew edition, similar to the copies that we have at St. John’s. The new hymnals will allow for better planning back and forth between services and for a broader range of hymns on Saturday.
You are welcome to make a gift to the church in honor or in memory of a loved one. The cost is $30 per hymnal. This price includes both the imprinting for our congregation and the nameplate for the dedication. Please share the way that you would like each nameplate worded – e.g. In memory of/ in honor of … given by …. Thanks!
MISSION OF THE MONTH
The Mission of the Month for February will be Lutheran Campus Ministries.
The mission of Campus Ministry in the ELCA is to invite people in academic settings more deeply into Jesus Christ and the Community that bears His name, so they can discover and fulfill their vocations as disciples. It gives young people who are away from their home congregations a church home.
Many young people from St. John’s and our other area churches are very actively involved in their campus ministries. Many have gone on outreach trips over their vacations to disadvantaged areas and ministered to people through various projects.
The campus ministries your gifts will support include:
Lutheran Campus Ministry in Aberdeen,
University Lutheran Center, Brookings,
Lutheran Campus Ministry, Rapid City and Black Hills State at
Spearfish,
The Luther Center in Vermillion.
We hope to have one of our young people speak to us in February about their campus ministry. You are invited to set aside a special offering for this vital work.
ALTAR COMMITTEE
IN FEBRUARY
Leone Brown
Marlys Clausen
Lois Lux
Gene Gaikowski
USHERS IN FEBRUARY
Joel Sinner - head usher
Arnold Anderson
Alfredo Garduno
Shannon Garduno
Doug Hansen
Lynne Hansen
Allen Loe
David Sandve
FEBRUARY GREETERS
5: Jeff & Joni Bauer
Jordan, Jaiden
12: Bob & Joyce Coynce
19: David & Joy Johnson
22: Danny & Michelle Valsvig
Tanner
26: Wayne & Lynda Klungseth
29: Wayne & Lynda Klungseth
FEBRUARY
ACOLYTES
5: Marcus Block
Jayden Hortness
12: Faith Shoemaker
Haley Rithmiller
19: Mike Gravley
Damian Coon
22: Sami Chastain (6:45pm)
Zoey Eberline
26: Tanner Valsvig
Jayden Hortness
29: Taylor Sinner (6:45pm)
Katie Sinner
FELLOWSHIP SERVERS IN FEBRUARY
5:
Volunteers
12:
Needed
19: Betty Hesla
26: