This Week @ St.John

Rally Sunday, September 10, 2017 Sunday School children enjoyed donuts
before learning about God's gift of wisdom to King Solomon found in 1 Kings 1:3 and His offer of wisdom to us found in James 1:5

• TUES 9/12- 6:30pm Rural Ministry Meeting
• WED 9/13- 3:30pm Confirmation
• 6:30pm Reformation Walk Dress-Rehearsal
• SAT 9/16- 6:00pm Worship at St. Paul, Triple-Parish
• SUN 9/17-  8:45am Sunday School & Bible Study
• 10:00am Worship with Comminion
• 11:00am Mission Dinner (Free Will Offering)
• 1:00pm Reformation Walk

Many volunteers have decorated St. Johns' to resemble medieval Germany in preparation for the'Reformation Walk.' Come visit all ten stations to learn about the history of our denomination and how God used this humble monk to bring the church back to the Biblical truths of Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone through Christ alone for God's Glory Alone.

One of the 'Reformation Walk' actors portrays Martin Luther nailing his '95 Theses' to the bulletin door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany in 1517.

This Week @ St.John

The new slide at the St.John playground

• MON 9/4- Offices Closed; Happy Labor Day
• TUES 9/5- 6:30am Men's Bible Study
• 4:00pm LWML 
• WED 9/6- 3:30pm Confirmation Classes resume
• MENTORS- Especially because we may be blessed with new students who come from non-member and un-churched families, we're seeking adults (couples or singles) who would take confirmation students under their wing, pray for them regularly and encourage them in their faith. See more details in the Sunday bulletin. If you would be interested, please let Pastor or the church office know. Thank you.
• 7:00pm ReformationWalk cast rehearsal
• SAT 9/9- 6:00pm Worship with Communion at St. Paul
• SUN 9/10- "Rally Sunday" Sunday School resumes, teachers installed, 5th Graders will receive copies of Luther's Small Catechism which they can use in Confirmation classes and 1st Graders will receive Bibles.
• 8:45am Adult Bible Class
• 10:00am Worship
• 11:00am Finance Board Mtg.
• 1:00pm Pastor preaching at Denison Care Center
• 2:00pm Pastor preaching at Eventide
• 2:45pm Pastor preaching at Silveridge
• TUES SEP 12- 6:30pm Rural Ministry Meeting  held here at St.John, The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the future of ministry in in this area, including small rural congregations like our neighbors in the Ricketts Triple Parish, as well as those like our own and St. Paul Ute.
• SUN SEP 17- Mission Lunch & "Reformation Walk"
  
  
• MEETING OUR NEEDS- Please notice in the weekly bulletin the "WEEKLY REPORT" on offering, The first amount is what was received in offerings the previous week ($1,863.09). The number in parentheses ($3,588.47) represents how much is needed to meet our budgeted needs including things like utilities, insurance, and maintenance. God wants us to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:6-7); this report isn't included in the weekly bulletin because our situation is dire or to create guilt, but to remind us that prayer, participation, attendance and giving are all part of "stewardship." We are all called to be stewards of God's church, and the time, talents, and resources He has blessed us with.
  
  We ARE the church, not just customers of the church. You ARE St.John, Charter Oak. Please attend regularly, invite your family and neighbors to too. Please ask God how He can use you as a more active participant. Would that be as simple as attending Bible class or serving as a greeter, usher or acolyte? Or something more involved like helping with Sunday School, Confirmation or VBS? Would you like to become a part of LWML, quilting or helping provide for funeral meals? Perhaps God can use you on the altar committee, church council or as a trustee or elder?
  
  Ask God how He can use your time, talents or treasure. See what God can do through you, how you can not merely attend church but BE the church and thereby help share the with open arms, the love of Christ.
  
  If you're open to serving on a committee or as an officer, please speak to Brian Pautsch or another member of the Nominating Committee. If you'd like to discuss ways in which you can contribute financially to the ministries of St.John beyond the offering plate on Sunday mornings, please speak with Treasurer Becky Dorale. Or talk with Pastor Merrill about anyways in which God can use you as a steward of the gifts He's given you.
  
• HURRICANE HARVEY HELP- Sunday, September 10 we will be taking a free-will door offering for those affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. We will send the funds to the LCMS~IDW district office and 100% of the money will be sent to Texas and Southern LCMS districts. Checks should be made payable to "Iowa District West Disaster Relief." Let's remember our brothers and sisters whose lives have been uprooted by this storm. You may also give online to LCMS World Relief at www.lcms.org/givenow/disaster.

THRU THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

September 3	Psalm 140-142, 1 Corinthians 14:1-20
September 4	Psalm 143-145, 1 Corinthians 14:21-40
September 5	Psalm 146-147, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
September 6	Psalm 148-150, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58
September 7	Proverbs 1-2, 1 Corinthians 16
September 8	Proverbs 3-5, 2 Corinthians 1
September 9	Proverbs 6-7, 2 Corinthians 2
September 10	Proverbs 8-9, 2 Corinthians 3
September 11	Proverbs 10-12, 2 Corinthians 4

This Week @ St.John

 While repairs & remodeling continue in the Northeast (bell tower) stairway, please use the elevator if you need to get to the balcony for any reason. Thank you.

• WED AUG 30- 7:00pm Confirmation Orientation Meeting for students & parents. Confirmation Orientation for all 5th-8th graders and their parents in the fellowship hall. Schedules & other materials will be handed out. Please plan to attend, this meeting is mandatory.
• SAT SEP 2- 6:00pm Mission service (Triple Parish) at Mission Central's barn just East of Mapleton
• SUN SEP 3- Adult Bible Study resumes at 8:45AM
• 10:00am Worship with Communion (Fall time-schedule resumes)
• SUN SEP 10- "Rally Sunday" Sunday School resumes, teachers installed, 5th Graders will receive copies of Luther's Small Chatechism which they can use in Confirmation classes and 1st Graders will receive Bibles.
• SUN SEP 17- Mission Lunch & "Reformation Walk"

MEETING OUR NEEDS- Please notice in the weekly bulletin the "WEEKLY REPORT" on offering, The first amount is what was received in offerings the previous week. The number in parentheses ($3,588.47) represents how much is needed to meet our budgeted needs including things like utilities, insurance, and maintenance. God wants us to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:6-7); this report isn't included in the weekly bulletin because our situation is dire or to create guilt, but to remind us that prayer, participation, attendance and giving are all part of "stewardship." We are all called to be stewards of God's church, and the time, talents, and resources He has blessed us with. 

We ARE the church, not just customers of the church. You ARE St.John, Charter Oak. Please attend regularly, invite your family and neighbors to too. Please ask God how He can use you as a more active participant. Would that be as simple as attending Bible class or serving as a greeter, usher or acolyte? Or something more involved like helping with Sunday School, Confirmation or VBS? Would you like to become a part of LWML, quilting or helping provide for funeral meals? Perhaps God can use you on the altar committee, church council or as a trustee or elder?

WORSHIP SCHEDULE- 10AM Worship resumes in September. Adult Bible class resumes September 3 and Sunday School for PK-6 will resume September 10 at 8:45am. 7-8 grade Sunday School will resume September 17.

CONFIRMATION NEWS-  

• MEETING WED Aug 30, 7:00PM Orientation Meeting 
• CLASS WED Sep 6, 3:30pm Confirmation Classes resume
• URGENT- Since we are blessed with 18-20 students in the 5th/6th grade class, we are seeking second teacher so that we can break it into two smaller groups.
• MENTORS- Especially because we may be blessed with new students who come from non-member and un-churched families, we're seeking adults (couples or singles) who would take confirmation students under their wing, pray for them regularly and encourage them in their faith. See more details in the Sunday bulletin. If you would be interested, please let Pastor or the church office know. Thank you.

As part of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, members of several area churches, including St.John will bring 16th century Wittenburg, Germany to life in Charter Oak, Iowa, Sunday, September 17. Come see Professor Luther nail his 95 Theses to the Castle Church doors, see Johannes Guttenburg operate his new invention, the printing press, help Katie (eventually Luther) and her fellow nuns escape the Emperor's henchmen in fish barrels, and hear Friar Johann Tetzel try to convince you to buy indulgences to keep you our of purgatory!

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR-

August 27  Psalm 120-122, 1 Corinthians 9

August 28  Psalm 123-125, 1 Corinthians 10:1-18

August 29  Psalm 126-128, 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

August 30  Psalm 129-131, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

August 31  Psalm 132-134, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

September 1 Psalm 135-136, 1 Corinthians 12 September 2 Psalm 137-139, 1 Corinthians 13 September 3 Psalm 140-142, 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

September 1 Psalm 135-136, 1 Corinthians 12
September 2 Psalm 137-139, 1 Corinthians 13
September 3 Psalm 140-142, 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Reformation Walk

This Week @ St.John

MON-SAT. JUNE 12-17- 6:25AM Pastor Merrill hosts 'Thy Strong Word' (for Triple Parish) on KDSN 107.1FM/1530AM.

• MON 6/12- 9:00AM Reformation Walk Meeting
• TUES 6/13- 6:30AM Men's Bible Study
• WED 6/14- Pastor leaves for vacation; will be back in the office June 19
• SAT 6/17- Sorry, no worship at St.Paul, Hanover Township this week
• SUN 6/18- 8:00AM Adult Bible Class; 'A Man Called Martin' Episode 3
• 9:00AM Worship with Communion; Rev. Winterrowd, guest preacher

• OCT 29, 2017; CIRCUIT REFORMATION SERVICE- 2017 is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. St. John, Charter Oak will be hosting the Circuit's observance of the anniversary. We need a committee to plan a supper for after the service. If you'd be willing to serve on this committee (or even chair it) please let Pastor or the church office know. Thank you
• REFORMATION WALK- As we prepare to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, St.John Charter Oak is planning a special observation of this milestone and is asking our friends in the circuit if anyone is interested in participating.
  
  Concordia Publishing House (CPH) released a special resource to help congregations with their Reformation Anniversary celebrations. 'Reformation Walk' immerses participants in the sights, sounds and flavors of the Reformation era. Participants visit ten stations to experience the story of Martin Luther and learn how his work and writings started a movement that would change the course of history. They will meet Luther's parents and other guests, make pretzels, learn some German, play a game and more. This active events will really bring history to life.
  
  Plans are being made for September. If you are interested (or know someone who would be) in being an actor in one of the ten stations or helping or participating in other ways in the day's events, please call Linda at 678-3312 by June 30. Scripts are two pages or less. Time commitment would be the day of the event plus some conferencing with the Reformation Walk Team for a few hours in the week prior to the event.
• CONCORDIA CUBS WEEK- at Camp Okoboji is July 16-22. This is a camp for those who have completes 3rd-6th grades. Activities include Bible study, crafts, sports, swimming, evening recreation time and campfire devotions. Pick up forms in the office. Returning Cubs can get a discount this year by bringing a friend- ask Pastor for more information.

• CAMP OKOBOJI BIKE CHALLENGE- Pastor Merrill is once again riding in the Camp Okoboji Bike Challenge on Saturday, June 24. The challenge is to raise funding for the second phase of the DISCOVER Project, the building of the new Crafts/Retreat Center. The first phase of the project has been completed and was dedicated May 28. The goal for the bike challenge is to raise another $5,000 total for the second phase. Pastor plans to ride the 50 mile loop again. If you would like to sponsor him, either with a set dollar amount to a per-mile pledge, please fill out the form in this month's newsletter or ask for one in the church office. St.John's LWML gave $50 to support Pastor's Bike Challenge. We challenge 10 members or organizations to step-up with at least $50 of support too!
• REMINDER OF SUMMER WORSHIP TIMES; Beginning in June, Adult Bible Study at 8AM, Sunday Worship at 9AM. Remember too that usually (this week is an exception), if camping or work schedules make it hard to attend Sunday worship, the Triple Parish offers 6:00PM worship on Saturday evenings.

• VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL- Mark your calendars, Register your children, VOLUNTEER to help!  July 30-August 3, 6:00-8:30
  All children ages preschool (potty trained) - grade 6 invited
  Free brown bag snack @ 5:45 each evening
  Call or text Bethany @ 269.5970
  or Linda at 678.3630
  Volunteers Needed, Call Bethany

THRU THE BIBLE IN A YEAR CHALLENGE:

June 12	Ezra 3-5, John 20
June 13	Ezra 6-8, John 21
June 14	Ezra 9-10, Acts 1
June 15	Nehemiah 1-3, Acts 2:1-21
June 16	Nehemiah 4-7, Acts 2:22-47
June 17	Nehemiah 7-9, Acts 3
June 18	Nehemiah 10-11, Acts 4:1-22
June 19	Nehemiah 12-13, Acts 4:23-37