This Week @ St. John

• TUE 2/4- 6:30AM Men's Bible Study
• 9:00AM Quilting at Immanuel, Soldiar TWP
• WED 2/5- 3:30PM Confirmation
• THR 2/6- 9:30AM Ricketts Bible Study
• FRI/SAT 2/7-8 Junior High CHAOS weekend at Camp Okoboji
• SAT 2/8- 1:00-4:00PM 100th Birthday Open House for Laura Langholdt
• 5:00PM Sunday School at St. Paul, Hanover TWP
• 6:00PM Worship at St. Paul
• SUN 2/9- 8:45AM Bible Class & Sunday School
• 10:00AM Worship
• 11:00AM Finance Board Meeting
• RIDES to CHURCH- If you need a ride to church please call the church office at 678-3312 & we'll send someone for you.
• LUTHERAN WITNESS- Time to renew subscriptions. $22.68/year. You may use the LW envelope in your box of offering envelopes.
• PICK UP YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPE BOX in the back of the church, using envelopes makes it easier for our Financial Secretaries to do their job. 
• COPIES OF THE 2019 ANNUAL REPORT are available on the counter between the Fellowship Hall and the Offices. Please remember to let the office know if your address has been listed incorrectly. Thank you.
• ANNUAL GIVING STATEMENTS for your taxes are available in the pink box on the counter.
• AN APPRECIATION COFFEE FOR ART BEECK in honor of his years of service as St.John's organist will be held after worship on Sunday, February 23.
• NEW SINGLE YOUNG ADULTS MINISTRY forming in Iowa District West for those in their 20s & 30s. First meeting February 15 at 2:00PM at the Stomping Grounds Cafe in Ames.
• LWML WINTER BRUNCH Sunday, February 16, 11:00AM-12:30PM in the Fellowship Hall, Pancakes, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Ham, Pateries & Beverages. Free Will Donation.

This Week @ St. John

• TUES JAN 9- 8:45AM Pastor at Circuit Pastor's Conference at Schleswig
• 4:00PM LWML Guest Day; Gary Thies will discuss new creation theater at Mission Central outside of Mapleton. Treats & Hot Cider will be served. ALL women are invited, not just LWML members.
• WED JAN 10- 3:30PM Confirmation Classes
• 7:30PM Church Council Meeting
• THRS JAN 11- Office closed inn the afternoon
• SAT JAN 12- 6:00PM Worship with Communion at St. Paul, Triple Parish
• SUN JAN 13- 8:45AM Sunday School & Bible Class
• 10:00AM Worship 
• 11:00AM Finance Board Meeting
• SUN JAN 21- LYF going to Drop Zone in Sioux City. $20 includes 90 minutes of jump time, one game of laser tag and a $10 game card. Grades 7-12 invited. Meet at church to leave together at 1:00PM. LYF Groups from St. Paul, Ida Grove & St.John, Battle Creek will be coming too. Please let Pastor know if you plan to come, so he can have a count.
• SUN FEB 18- LWML Annual Pancake Brunch after worship- Mark your Calendars!
• POINSETTIAS- If you purchased flowers for the alter this Advent season, you may take them home if you'd like. Thank you.
• LUTHERAN WITNESS RENEWS- Time to renew subscriptions to the 'Lutheran Witness.' The cost is $22.67/year
• YEAR-END REPORTS- Please submit reports to the office as soon as possible before the January Voters' meeting. Thank you.
• OFFERING ENVELOPES- Family boxes are available on the tables in the back of the sanctuary.
• TAX STATEMENTS- 2017 Offering/Donation Statements for IRS deductions are in a pink box on the counter in the breezeway between the offices and the fellowship hall.
• PORTALS OF PRAYER- Daily devotionals from Concordia Publishing House (CPH) are available free for Jan-March in the narthex (hallway in the back of the church) or on the counter in the walkway between the office and fellowship hall.
• ADULT INSTRUCTION CLASS- Pastor will be starting an adult information/confirmation class after the first of the year. This class is for those interested in membership, those who would like to know more about the Lutheran faith, and those who feel the need for review. If you're interested or know someone who might be, please let Pastor Merrill know.
• NEW OFFICERS 2018
  

WHY STOP NOW? Many of you took up Pastor's challenge to read the Bible in a year last year as part of the 500th anniversary of the reformation. There's no reason not to do it again? If you didn't give it a shot last year, there's no reason not to make it THIS year's New Year's resolution! Draw close to God and He will draw close to you (James 4:8) God says seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Let God transform you through His Word, even if you end up being "hit-and-miss," every day you spend time with Him, He will bless you!

• Consider these resources from Concordia Publishing House
• ONLINE reading plans at Bible Gateway.com
• Download a free app to your phone or tablet, where you can read for yourself, or have God's Word read to you, along with daily commentaries

This Week at St.John

• WED Feb.1- 3:30pm Confirmation Class
• THR Feb.2- 1:30pm LWML Meeting
• SUN Feb.5- 8:45am Sunday School & Bible Class
• 10:00am Worship with Communion (Mite Box Sunday)
• 5:00pm Super Bowl Party at Pastor's

BIBLE STUDY SURVEY- Please fill out the Bible Study Survey your received in your church bulletin on Sunday and drop it off in the Church office- or pick one up in the church office to fill out. Help us tailor studies that will best fit the schedules and interests of the congregation and make 2012 "The Year of the Word!"


PASTOR MERRILL'S SUPERBOWL PARTY- You're invited, Sunday, February 5 at 5:00pm. Please sign the RSVP Sheet in the church lobby, so that Pastor will know how much pizza & pop to have. Please bring a snack to share.

THANK YOU- to Barb Magill for serving as Recording Secretary for several years, and thank you to Alaina Gierstorf for volunteering to become our new Recording Secretary.

LWML PANCAKE BRUNCH- February 26th, mark your calendars!

OFFERING ENVELOPES/TAX STATEMENTS- Boxes of 2012 offering envelopes are in the back of the sanctuary for members to pick up. Statements of your 2011 giving, for your taxes are in the church lobby, under the 'Road to Emmaus' painting next to Room 101.

APOSTLES MOSAIC REMOVED- A portion of the large mosaic hanging in the church lobby was crumbling and fell off last week. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Bob & Annie Kroll, Don & Nadine Friedrichs, and Byron & Karen Weiss tried to take down the mosaic in one piece in hopes of repairing the artwork. Unfortunately it fall apart further. The shields representing the Apostles were saved. Ideally someone can re-purpose them somehow in the church or in the new addition. Please let members of the building committee know if you have any ideas.  This beautiful artwork has been a part of our church since 1971.

If anyone has any photos of the mosaic, please let Webmaster Ted Mallory know, so that he can scan it and post it here on the church website- Thank You!

PLANS FOR THE NEW ADDITION- Plans are hanging in the lobby. Please take a look. If you have any questions or concerns, please share them with the Building Committee: Bill Magill, Bob & Annie Kroll, Don & Nadine Friedrichs, Byron & Karen Weiss, Kevin & Shelli Pester, and Kevin Clausen.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT- Sun. February 12 at 6:00pm. The makers of 'Fireproof,' Sherwood Pictures present the 2011 film 'Courageous,' PG-13. Admission is free and there will also be free popcorn & pop. Watch as four police officers face a more daunting challenge when they take of their badges---fatherhood. Join us for a night of family, film, and fellowship- sponsored by the St. John Board of Education.