This Week @ St. John

Sun Aug 5 Sermon; 'Truly Heavenly Food' John 6:22-35
VBS2018 Closing; 'SplishSplash' Song by Pastor Merrill about Baptism

MON-SAT July 5-12, 6:25AM Pastor Merrill hosts 'Thy Strong Word' on KDSN 107.1FM/1530AM, FYI-We need funding to help pay KDSN for this program. If you would like to make a donation toward 'Thy Strong Word,' please let either the office or KDSN know. Thank You. Start your day off with this devotion on God's Word. http://www.kdsnradio.com

• AUG 6-10- Creation Museum Trip
• AUG 6-17- Pastor on vacation; If you have pastoral needs, please call the office 678-3630 & we can direct you to another area pastor
• SAT AUG 11- No worship at St. Luke, Ricketts
• SUN AUG 12- 9:00AM Worship; Guest preacher Rev.Andrew Johnson (Trinity, Manilla)
• 10:00AM Finance Board Mtg.

Be sure to visit & like our Facebook page and visit & subscribe to our YouTube Channel

• LWML COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES for COU students this Fall. Items needed include; Crayons (16 or 24); Scissors (blunt tip); folders; notebooks; Elmer's glue (4oz); pink erasers; Kleenex; dry-erase markers; Crayola markers; #2 pencils; colored pencils; black & blue ballpoint pens; highlighters; and backpacks. Many kids get the things they need to begin the school year but many don't. Help us give ALL kids a chance. There is a basket in the walkway for donations. Thank you. (FYI- this is where this year's VBS Mission Offering is going too)
• HELP NEEDED- Four children need clothing for school. Boy (1); Pant size 8, Shirt size 8-10
  Boy (2); Pants size 8, Shirt size 7-8, Boy (3); Pants size 5, Shirt size 5-6, Girl; Pants size 4-5, Shirt 4-5. If you can help please leave items with Linda in the church office.

VACANCY NEWS- Pastor Merrill continues to serve the vacancy at the Triple Parish (Immanuel, Soldier TWP/St. Luke, Ricketts/St. Paul, Hanover TWP). Voters of St. Luke, Rickets have voted to dissolve as a congregation.St. Luke will host Triple Parish services in August. The final two services as St. Luke as a congregation will be in September. 

Leaders from St. Paul & Immanuel have approached St. John about sharing Pastor Merrill. St.John Elders & Church Council members asked them to prepare financial plans. The three groups will have meetings throughout the Fall and have invited IDW President Rev. Steve Turner to offer guidance and advice as well. Please keep this process and all four of our congregations in your prayers in coming months.

• SUN SEP 16 - 2:00PM Service celebrating St. Luke, Ricketts' sixty-nine years of Ministry featuring Pastor Gene Ernst preaching and Pastor Tim Frank leading music. A time of food & fellowship will be held outside after worship. Come join our neighbors for this special service.
• SUN SEP 30- Official Closing with Iowa District West President Rev. Steve Turner offering a message of encouragement and officially decommission the building. There will be a catered meal following worship.

Thank be to our God and to our Lord Jesus Christ for His grace and blessing throughout the sixty-nine years of ministry He has granted to St. Luke as a congregation. Please keep the members of St. Luke and the community of Ricketts in you prayers.

This Week @ St.John

Pastor @ 'Concordia Cubs Week'  @ Camp Okoboji this week; For any pastoral needs, please call the office & Linda will direct you to the appropriate resources.

• SAT 7/21- Please deliver your RAGBRAI Pies to the Charter Oak Senior Center
• 6:00PM Worship with communion at St. Paul, Hanover
• SUN 7/22- 8:00AM Adult Bible Class
• 9:00AM Worship
• ALL DAY; Register's Annual Bike-Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) traveling through Soldier, Ute, Charter Oak and Denison. St. John selling homemade pie, bananas, iced tea, bottled water, & frozen candy bars in front of Senior Center
• Biker Blessings at the Arboretum at 10am, Noon, 2pm & 4pm

• HELP NEEDED- Four children need clothing for school. Boy (1); Pant size 8, Shirt size 8-10
  Boy (2); Pants size 8, Shirt size 7-8, Boy (3); Pants size 5, Shirt size 5-6, Girl; Pants size 4-5, Shirt 4-5. If you can help please leave items with Linda in the church office.
• SCHOOL LUNCHES- For three years now, St. John has been providing free lunches for the children of Charter Oak while COU school is closed for cleaning. We have the opportunity to do it again this year. This year there are 5 days the school will not be open for lunches- July 30- August 3. The first four days are the same as St.John's VBS. We're seeking volunteers to help with meals again this year. Children are always very appreciative and sometimes we even have guests from other communities. If you'd be willing to help with a meal for a day, please sign up on the counter in the church lobby or let Linda inn the office know.

VACANCY NEWS- Pastor Merrill continues to serve the vacancy at the Triple Parish (Immanuel, Soldier TWP/St. Luke, Ricketts/St. Paul, Hanover TWP). Voters of St. Luke, Rickets have voted to dissolve as a congregation.St. Luke will host Triple Parish services in August. The final two services as St. Luke as a congregation will be inn September.

• SUN SEP 16 - 2:00PM Celebration Service featuring Pastor Gene Ernst preaching and Pastor Tim Frank leading music.
• SUN SEP 30- Official Closing with Iowa District West President Rev. Steve Turner. Representatives of the Triple Parish met with St. John's Board of Elders on June 20 to discuss the possibility of forming a partnership with St. John. A report will be given at the July 12 Voter's Meeting and we will entertain the initial questions or concerns before we continue discussions with the two remaining congregations of the Triple Parish.Please keep the Triple Parish members and leadership in your prayers for God's continued guidance in this time of transition. Triple Parish services for the Summer months will be held 6:00PM on Saturday Nights.
• JULY- St. Paul, Hanover Township
• AUG- St. Luke Ricketts

Vacation Bible School (VBS)"Splash Canyon;
God's Promises on Life's Wild Ride" 

July 29-August 2, 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

Life is full of thrills and spills! We don't know what's around the bend, but God does! As Splash Canyon VBS God's children of all ages learn the good news that God is with us and keeps His promises to us on all of life's wild ride. As staff members for Splash Canyon VBS, you have fun and share the Splash Canyon message with kids. If you can help full time or part time, we have ways to be involved that fit your schedule and gifts. Please call Bethany Mallory at 269 -5970 for more information.

We appreciate your prayers for Splash Canyon VBS! Please ask God to bring children to our program so that they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior! Ask God to provide leaders and helpers for this important mission. Thank you!

Visit our NEW YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKnSxRLA32sh44z5nrLgiIA
St.John has begun posting Pastor's sermons on YouTube. If you haven't visited our new YouTube Channel yet, please like, subscribe, bookmark or share it today! If you have videos at or about St.John Charter Oak, please share them with us or tag us in them so that we can link to them or include them in our playlists. Thank you.

Take a look at our NEW tabs/pages on THIS website https://stjohncharteroak.blogspot.com
If you haven't visited our church website in a while, there's been some changes, including links to our new YouTube ministry and pages base on the LCMS three emphases of "Witness, Mercy and Life Together."Please visit, bookmark it, share it, or subscribe to it. There are lots of links to resources, information about us, and of course weekly news about what's going on.

'Like,' Follow, & Share our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/StJohnLuthCOIA
We also have our own Facebook page. If you're on Facebook, please take a look and "like" our page. Consider "sharing" the page or inviting friends to take a look. Lots of friends and family who are from Charter Oak but moved away seem to like it as a way to keep in touch, But guess what? It's a great (and simple/easy) way to share with open arms the love of Jesus to your friends and neighbors in and around our area!

This Week @ St.John

Pastor's Sermon on YouTube: 2018 JULY 1 "Bound Together in Christ's Love"Based on the 2018 Iowa District West (IDW) Convention theme verse, Colossians 3:12-17

• TUES JULY 3- 6:30AM Men's Bible Study
• 4:00PM LWML Meeting
•  WED JULY 4    Independence Day; Offices Closed      
• THUR JULY 5- 7:30PM Church Council Meeting
• SAT JULY 7- 6:00PM Worship with communion at St.Paul, Hanover TWP
• SUN JULY 8- 800AM Adult Bible S tudy
• 9:00AM Worship
• 10:00AM Finance Board Mtg.
• THUR JULY 12- 7:30PM Quarterly Voters Meeting

PLEASE NOTE: MEETING SCHEDULE CHANGES- The July church council and voters meetings will be held on Thursdays this month due to the Fourth of July holiday and the Charter Oak Achievement Days

SCHOOL LUNCHES- For three years now, St. John has been providing free lunches for the children of Charter Oak while COU school is closed for cleaning. We have the opportunity to do it again this year. This year there are 5 days the school will not be open for lunches- July 30- August 3. The first four days are the same as St.John's VBS. We're seeking volunteers to help with meals again this year. Children are always very appreciative and sometimes we even have guests from other communities. If you'd be willing to help with a meal for a day, please sign up on the counter in the church lobby or let Linda inn the office know.


RAGBRAI SUN July 22- Pie & Ice Cream Concessions Stand being planned. Volunteers Needed! Please contact Eugenie Friedrichs for details.


If you received a call from one of the St. John RAGBRAI Committee members about baking pies for our vendor booth, we want to thank you for your help. We appreciate it. We know that we will have the freshest, tastiest and most memorable pies in Crawford County on Jully 22. We also want to let everyone know who received a call but are unable to make pies, you can still help us with financial support. Please make checks payable to St. John Charter Oak and write "RAGBRAI" on the memo line and bring them to Linda in the office. Thank you.
Eugenie Friedrichs: Cell: 267 0408 e-mail: eh.friedrichs@gmail.com

ATTENTION ALL RAGBRAI PIE BAKERS:
• In order to create uniform pie size & depth and to eliminate the need to wash dishes, we have purchased disposable foil pie pans for you. Please pick up yours in the church lobby as soon as possible. 
• There is a sign up form next to the pie pans to let us know who you are and how many of what kind of pies you're baking. Thank you!


CAMP OKOBOJI- 
Christian Summer Camps. Registration forms available in the church office, or visit www.campokoboji.org for more information on the following camps:
July 8-14 Junior High Week
July 15-21 Concordia Cubs Week (Grades 3-5)
July 22-18 Youth Week (high school)

VACANCY NEWS- Pastor Merrill continues to serve the vacancy at the Triple Parish (Immanuel, Soldier TWP/St. Luke, Ricketts/St. Paul, Hanover TWP). Voters of St. Luke, Rickets have voted to dissolve as a congregation.St. Luke will host Triple Parish services in August. The final two services as St. Luke as a congregation will be inn September.

• SUN SEP 16 - 2:00PM Celebration Service featuring Pastor Gene Ernst preaching and Pastor Tim Frank leading music.
• SUN SEP 30- Official Closing with Iowa District West President Rev. Steve Turner

Representatives of the Triple Parish met with St. John's Board of Elders on June 20 to discuss the possibility of forming a partnership with St. John. A report will be given at the July 12 Voter's Meeting and we will entertain the initial questions or concerns before we continue discussions with the two remaining congregations of the Triple Parish.

Please keep the Triple Parish members and leadership in your prayers for God's continued guidance in this time of transition. Triple Parish services for the Summer months will be held 6:00PM on Saturday Nights.

• JULY- St. Paul, Hanover Township
• AUG- St. Luke Ricketts

Vacation Bible School (VBS)"Splash Canyon;
God's Promises on Life's Wild Ride" 

July 29-August 2, 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

Life is full of thrills and spills! We don't know what's around the bend, but God does! As Splash Canyon VBS God's children of all ages learn the good news that God is with us and keeps His promises to us on all of life's wild ride. As staff members for Splash Canyon VBS, you have fun and share the Splash Canyon message with kids. If you can help full time or part time, we have ways to be involved that fit your schedule and gifts. Please call Bethany Mallory at 269 -5970 for more information. 

We appreciate your prayers for Splash Canyon VBS! Please ask God to bring children to our program so that they can know and grow in Jesus, our Savior! Ask God to provide leaders and helpers for this important mission. Thank you!

Visit our NEW YouTube Channel

This Week @ St. John

MON-SAT June 10-16, 6:25AM Pastor Merrill hosts 'Thy Strong Word' on KDSN 107.1FM/1530AM, FYI-We need funding to help pay KDSN for this program. If you would like to make a donation toward 'Thy Strong Word,' please let either the office or KDSN know. Thank You. Start your day off with this devotion on God's Word. http://www.kdsnradio.com

• SAT 6/16- 6:00PM Worship at Immanuel, Soldier TWP
• SUN 6/17- 8:00AM Adult Bible Class
• 9:00 AM Worship
• CAMP OKOBOJI- Christian Summer Camps. Registration forms available in the church office, or visit www.campokoboji.org for more information on the following camps:
• June 10-15 Girls (Grades 4-8) Sports Camp
• July 8-14 Junior High Week
• July 15-21 Concordia Cubs Week (Grades 3-5)
• July 22-18 Youth Week (high school)
• VACANCY NEWS- Pastor Merrill continues to serve the vacancy at the Triple Parish (Immanuel, Soldier TWP/St. Luke, Ricketts/St. Paul, Hanover TWP). St. Luke's voters assembly have elected to dissolve, this will be a gradual process including special services this upcoming September. Immanuel/St.Paul are discussing ways to continue including approaching other congregations in the Circuit such as St. John, St. Paul, Ute, St.Matthew Mapleton or Emmanuel, Schleswig. Please keep the Triple Parish members and leadership in your prayers for God's continued guidance in this time of transition. Triple Parish services for the Summer months will be held 6:00PM on Saturday Nights. Locations will rotate as follows:
• JUNE Immanuel Soldier Township
• JULY- St. Paul, Hanover Township
• AUG- St. Luke Ricketts
• TRIPLE PARISH VBS- June 24-28, 5:30pm-8:00pm in Ricketts City Park. 
• June 24-26 40th Convention of the Iowa District West, at Camp Okoboji. Theme: Colossians 3:14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
• June 27-30 LWML District Conventnion at Camp Okoboji. Theme: Colossians 3:14 "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
• RAGBRAI SUN July 22- Pie & Ice Cream Concessions Stand being planned. Volunteers Needed! Please contact Eugenie Friedrichs for details.

We NEED YOUR HELP & we NEED plenty of willing, 'kind souls' who are prepared to make a few HOMEMADE PIES.  We also need some more 'kind souls' who 'are prepared to help us out on the big way. Will you help us? All pies will need to be the type that are double crust or streusel topped with a fruit filling. Due to Food inspection Regulations we are not allowed to serve creamy or pudding pies, only fruity ones. eg. Cherry, Rhubarb, Apple, Peach, Blueberry, Strawberry Rhubarb etc. All the proceeds from our sales will go towards much needed church building repairs eg. fixing the cracks in the walls or towards new carpeting. Your help is wanted, Your help is needed, Your help is appreciated, Your help, helps our church! you can't help physically maybe you can help us financially. Donations can be made payable to St.John simply put RAGBRAI FUNDRAISING EVENT in the comments. Contact info: Eugenie Friedrichs: Cell:  267 0408 e-mail:   eh.friedrichs@gmail.com





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Vacation Bible School (VBS)
"Splash Canyon; God's Promises on Life's Wild Ride"


July 29-August 2, 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

Ricketts Triple Parish Vacancy

Pastor Frank has accepted a Call to St. Paul, Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, IA. His farewell will be June 12.

As Mapleton Circuit Visitor, Pastor Merrill will begin serving as the vacancy pastor for the Ricketts Triple-Parish June 13.

The Triple Parish will have a "Visitation Sunday" on June 19; that day they won't have their own worship services, but are invited to St. John, Charter Oak to celebrate our 135th Anniversary with us, coinciding with the city of Charter Oak's 125th Celebration Weekend.

This Summer there will be only one Triple-Parish Worship Service each Sunday at 10:30AM

• June 26 at St. Luke's in the city of Ricketts
• July at Immanuel Lutheran, Charter Oak Township
• August at Hannover Lutheran, Hanover Township

Triple Parish Confirmation Students are invited to attend Confirmation classes at St. John's in Charter Oak next Fall, although if it serves individual family needs, arrangements may be made with Immanuel Lutheran Church, Schleswig or St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton (pending their own vacancy). 

This Week at St.John

• Calling all Painters- If you can help paint the new Sunday School classrooms in the church basement either day or evening, please let the office know or sign up on the sheet in the lobby. Plans are to begin painting the end of this week. Thank You.
• Mon-Sat. July 17-24- 6:25AM Pastor Merrill hosts 'Thy Strong Word' (for Triple Parish) on KDSN 107.1FM/1530AM, FYI-We need funding to help pay KDSN for this program. If you would like to make a donation toward 'Thy Strong Word,' please let either the office or KDSN know. Thank You.
• Mon-Sat. July 17-24- Pastor Merrill  will be at Cub Week all this week at Camp Okoboji. If you need pastoral assistance, please call the church office or call Linda after hours at 712-267-3250. St. John members Lizzie Jepsen and Ellen Mallory will be attending camp this week too, please keep them (and Pastor, and all the campers & leaders) in your prayers. 
• Sat. July 24- 7pm Pastor Merrill preaches at St. Luke's (Triple Parish) in Ricketts
• Sun. July 25-  8:00AM Adult Bible Class
• 9:00AM Worship
• 2:00PM Ordination & Installation of Timothy Frank at St. Paul, Hanover Township (Triple Parish). Reception to follow at the Ricketts Community Center.
• Can you help VBS?- If you and a friend would be willing to help prepare supper for just one or two nights for Vacation Bible School, please contact either the church office or VBS Director Bethany Mallory. We have two nights covered and would like to have volunteers for all five nights.
  Also needed: large plants real or artificial to provide jungle atmosphere, and large stuffed or inflatable jungle animals or misc. props. BS. Please bring them to Room 101, or give Bethany or the office a call. All items will be returned after VBS, which will be July 31- August 4.

This week at St. John

• Mon. May 2- 8:30AM Kitchen Clean-up, everyone invited
• Tues. May 3- 6:30AM Men's Bible Study at St. John
• Pastor at Spencer & Paulina- Cub Week programs
• Wed. May 4- 9:00AM Ladies Bible Study
• 3:30PM Confirmation Students to Mission Central
• Thurs. May 5- 1:30PM LWML Meeting
• 6:00PM Cub Scouts Meeting
• Sat. May 7- 5:00PM Benefit for Jim & Nancy Jurgens at Charter Oak Community Building
  If you'd like to volunteer to help at the dinner or auction, please sign up on the memorial stand
• 7:00PM Pastor preaching at Immanuel, Soldier
• Sun. May 8- 8:45AM Christian Education Hour
• 10:00AM Worship Service- Sunday School awards distributed
• 11:00Am Finance Board Meeting
• 2:00PM Cub Scouts Meeting
• Triple Parish Vacancy Details- Beginning May 2, Pastor Merrill will be serving the vacancy at the Triple Parish (St. Paul Hanover, St. Luke Ricketts, & Immanuel Soldier Township). The Triple Parish expects to be assigned a candidate from one of the seminaries so the vacancy is expected to last 2-3 months depending on how quickly the candidate is able to be ordained and installed after graduation.
  
  During this time, the Triple Parish will have one service on Saturday at 7:00PM, altering between the three sites. Services May 7, 14, & 21 will be at Immanuel; May 28 at St. Luke. This will not effect the Sunday schedule at St. John at all. There will be a Thursday morning Bible Study at Ricketts at least through May.
  
  Pastor will also be responsible for hospital visits & shut-in calls for the Triple Parish, along with any funerals if they are necessary. He will attend monthly LWML & Men's Cub meetings as time permits, although St. John needs will take precedent.