BRRRRRRRRRISK! Things were certainly cold and crunchy coming to the church Wednesday morning! The outside air temperature as reported on the dashboard of my car said “8 degrees”. That was on the South Hill. Out at the airport the official Spokane temperature dipped to 2 degrees just before 6:00 this morning. I had to feel for the kids standing at the bus stops waiting to be taken to school. None of them looked to me to be very joyful or exuberant…just cold! A question came up at the Tuesday morning Bible study at Yoke’s yesterday; “Will there be snow in heaven?” The obvious answer is no, as anyplace where it snows does not fit my definition of heaven. But there’s a flaw in my argument; I don’t get to define what heaven is, or hell for that matter (but I imagine there will be lots of snow there, that will never melt, even if there really is fire). No, God has already laid out the blueprints for my heavenly room/mansion, and I can trust that He will give me the proper, joyful and thankful, attitude about how it’s decorated and what the climate is like. God has also laid out the road map for me to get there, and it’s the same for everybody. Jesus frankly tells us: “I am the way the truth and the life; no one

comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The way to heaven is only through faith in Jesus Christ, who’s birth we celebrate next week. It’s a narrow path and a narrow door, but it’s the only one that leads to heaven. What is behind that door? God and the saints already in heaven only know, at least, for now.

~Pastor Brian~

ST. JOHN’S CHOIR CANTATA:

The award-winning St. John’s Choir is presenting our Christmas Cantata “I Hear the Prophet Callin’” in a special worship service THIS morning, December 18th at 10:00am. (note the special time!) There is just one worship opportunity this morning.

WORSHIP REMINDER: Due to the

Choir Christmas Cantata today, we will not have the Lord’s Supper in worship this morning. We WILL have the Lord’s Supper in the liturgy of the worship services on Christmas and New Year’s Days; Sunday December 25th and Sunday January 1st. Both services will be at 10:00am (only one service those two upcoming Sundays). We will resume our regular service schedule on Sunday, January 8th.

IN AND AROUND ST. JOHN’S

St. John’s Lutheran Church

sjlspokane.org

December 18, 2016

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ALBRECHT CHRISTMAS OPEN

HOUSE: The 2020th Annual Albrecht

Christmas Open House is set for this afternoon, Sunday the 18th of December, beginning around 1:00pm, or whenever people begin to arrive. Join us today for a time of Holiday food, fellowship and fun. The festivities “officially” last until 7:00pm.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Our worship services

on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th, will be the same as last year; We will gather to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus at 2:00pm and again at 6:00pm. Christmas treat bags will be given to all the children in attendance.

CHRISTMAS DAY: On Sunday,

December 25th, we will continue our nativity celebration in worship at 10:00am. The Lord’s Supper will be included in the Liturgy on Christmas Morning.

NEW YEARS DAY: As the New Year

begins on a Sunday we will be worshiping and welcoming 2017. Once again due to

the holiday there will be one worship service, with Holy Communion, at 10:00am that day; January 1, 2017. We will resume our regular Sunday worship schedule of 8:30 and 10:30am services on Sunday January 8th with a celebration of Epiphany and continue that schedule throughout the year.

NEW BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITY: The Eagle Ridge Women’s Bible Study is now on hold until after the First of the Year. Watch for details on its return in the weeks to come

BUILDING FUND: Unfortunately, we

are running behind on gifts and contributions directed toward paying off the mortgage taken on when we built our beautiful facility. As we near the end of the year please take a moment to consider helping to get us “caught up”. This is a good time to consider charitable giving for tax planning purposes.

I hear the prophet callin’…” Prepare the way of the Lord." ~Pastor Brian~

PRAYER LIST: Please notify the church

office to have your prayer needs listed, and for changes to our list.

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

…Erma Jean Widman, Carol Widman’s family member, for strength during her battle with lung cancer. …Sally Grunewald, a Widman family friend, who is battling cancer …The family of Richard Merritt (Widman friend) for comfort following his passing …Mel & Susan Beam, & Lindsey Wilbanks for strength, comfort, and direction after the recent loss of Lindsey’s husband Chris …Linda Rowley’s brother Larry who has throat cancer …Becky Kapelac’s daughter Alana and her child Georgia for help and healing …Hanan Nimri, close friend of Carol Schumann, who has breast cancer …Doug and Jenny Sprague for strength and healing following his surgery …Daniel Roseveare who has cancer for strength and healing …Jason Priest, Linda Rowley’s son, for healing and strength

…Minerva Hunt for healing and health …All active duty military, veterans, and their families.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY: We will end

our study of Ephesians tomorrow, December 19th, at 9:30am. Please read your last lesson and bring a salad to share. We will stay afterwards to help fill Christmas bags with goodies. These bags will be handed out for Christmas. Our study will resume on Monday, January 9, 2017, with a study on Proverbs. This would be a good time for more women to join us for our caring, sharing, and our study of God’s Word. We hope you will join us at that time.

MEADOWLANE CHRISTIAN

SCHOOL: The children of MCS will

begin their Christmas Vacation tomorrow, December 19th. School will resume Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday: 24 Rorik SKOTHAUG

Happy Anniversary: Irwin & Hilda GARBERG 12/21/1951 December 25 "What We Really Want" Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus What do you want this Christmas? Jesus is God's greatest gift to a sinful world. (Galatians 4:4-5)

A WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH December 11--18, 2016

SUNDAY

Fourth Sunday in Advent Lutheran Hour on KQNT 590 AM ...................................... Choir Christmas Cantata……………………………………. Fellowship Time………………………………………………. Albrecht Christmas Open House…………………………..

7:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m.

MONDAY MCS Christmas Vacation begins………………………..

Women’s Bible Study/Potluck Salad Luncheon………….. Girls Scouts Meet…….……………………………………… MCS Board Meeting…………………………………………

9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

TUESDAY Morning Bible Study at Yoke’s……………………………… 10:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Christmas Eve Worship Service…………………………. Christmas Eve Worship Service………………………….

2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

SUNDAY Nativity of Our Lord

Lutheran Hour on KQNT 590 AM ...................................... Christmas Day Worship with Holy Communion……….

7:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

SERVING NEXT SUNDAY

Pastor ………………………………………......Brian Albrecht Organist…..……………….…….…..…...…..….…Laurie Eash Children’s Message…………………………….Jason Alleman Altar Circle…Lanie Clouse, Gyda Marie Haynes, Carol Kyllo Lay Ministers……………Gyda Marie Haynes, Myron Molnau Counters………….……………Carole Anderson, Bud Ehrgott

Attendance & Offerings

Attendance 8:30am……....….63 Attendance 10:30am............216 Building Fund……….......$1,145 Offerings…………..….....$5,164