St. John Lutheran Church March 2016________________________________________________________________________

Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home

e-mail: dpool@stjohn-clinton-ia.orgWeb Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org

________________________________________________________________________

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyThe Book of Daniel

Pastor’s Sunday study continues with the mysterious and challenging Old Testament Prophet Daniel. From life in Babylon to the end of the world, Daniel addresses dreams, revelation, persecution, and even a glimpse of the Gospel. We meet each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There is no cost. Bring your Bibles. Please join us!

March 6: Daniel 4:28-37: Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation March 13: Daniel 5:1-12: The Handwriting is on the Wall March 20: Daniel 5:13-30: Daniel and Belshazzar March 27: No Class on Easter Sunday

Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday, March 12. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 13.

Holy Week

Holy Week this year is the same time as Spring Break for the school district. A lot of people make plans for this time, when the kids are off school, spring is in the air, and the winter blahs are finally going away a bit. But think of Spring Break and Holy Week in a different way. We break from the normal. We celebrate and worship a bit more. We remember the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior for us. We get to see and hear about all the parts of the plan of salvation for fallen man, come to us in Christ and His Passion. Plan on joining us for all the different worship services during Holy Week. This is not the week to take a break from being in God’s House and in worship! This is the Week that saved the World.

March 20 – Palm Sunday – We will have Divine Service with Holy Communion and palm recessional at both 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. We start off Holy Week with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the people hailing him as King. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

March 24 – Maundy Thursday – Come worship the King, as Jesus gives us the Sacrament of the Altar in the Last Supper. The Body and the Blood of our Lord, given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins. We have worship services at both 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. Both services will celebrate Holy Communion and conclude with the stripping of

the Altar.

March 25 – Good Friday – We will have a Tenebrae worship service at both 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. This is a service of darkness. It is not a funeral for Jesus. We remember the death of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We see

the cross stand in triumph to the skies. Sing my tongue the glorious battle, sing the ending of the fray!

March 26 – Holy Saturday – On Saturday morning, we will meet in the church fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m.to set up for the Easter breakfast. Anyone who wants to help is welcome. We will set up tables, put out place settings, mix up eggs, decorate the hall, get everything ready for the Easter Breakfast, and

have a few good times in fellowship and conversation.

Anyone who enjoys singing and telling the great news of Christ’s resurrection can join us at 1:00 p.m. on Holy Saturday afternoon. We will meet at the church and go and spread the joy of Christ’s triumph in word and song. We visit the nursing homes and shut in members of the church. We go for a couple hours and then stop at Dairy Queen for some refreshment. It is a joy, music is provided, and we sing the familiar Easter Hymns.

March 27 – The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord – Easter Sunday – Come and celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Christ is Risen! We will have a Sunrise Divine Service with Holy Communion at 6:30 a.m. Immediately following the sunrise service, we will serve the Easter Breakfast. The menu is scrambled eggs, ham, assorted pastries, coffee, orange juice, and milk. It is free, and any donations given go to the cost of the breakfast and the extra going to the Youth Fund to help with expenses for Higher Things in July. At 10:15 a.m. we will have an Easter Festival Divine Service with Holy Communion. Both services are the same and the Adult choir will sing at both services.

There will be no Sunday school or Adult Bible class on Easter due to the Easter Breakfast.

Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead means everything to Christianity. It is a creedal statement for us – an essential confession of faith, “And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures.” The language of the creed here comes right out of 1 Corinthians 15:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

This whole chapter is worth your time to read. The resurrection is the Gospel. As St. Paul says in Romans 4, “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

In fact, if Jesus didn’t rise, we are wasting our time at Church. If Jesus didn’t rise, we are still in our sins. Either there is no afterlife or the afterlife is entirely bad news. In this sense, Christianity relies on a historical reality. If Jesus is still in the grave, then Christianity is a false religion that we can safely ignore.

The good news is that He did rise. And we have proof! This isn’t something we are just supposed to believe with blind faith. We have eyewitnesses who wrote their accounts of Jesus’ resurrection. It is a central ingredient in each New Testament Gospel. And these men were willing to be beaten, imprisoned, and even martyred for the truth of the resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus means that we also will rise from the dead in Christ. Our bodies will not stay in the ground. We believe in “the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” This is our blessed hope. We even confess that both believers and unbelievers will rise. St. Paul says, “there

will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust,” some to everlasting life and some to everlasting condemnation.

As Easter Christians, we focus on the resurrection. It means everything to us. So, let’s talk about it. Talk with your kids and grandkids about it. Remind them that this is what Easter is all about. And this is why the better title for Easter is The Resurrection of our Lord.

And next time you are at a deathbed, or a funeral, or a visitation, talk about the resurrection. So many times at these moments we allow our culture to fill our mouths with meaningless platitudes. When you are comforting someone at the death of a believer, point them to Jesus. Point them to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. This is our hope! Jesus is risen and we shall arise!

Pastor

Lenten Rotation

St. John is again participating in the Pastoral Lenten Rotation with our sister LCMS congregations on the Wednesdays of Lent. This means you will have the privilege to hear from guest pastors on Wednesdays and Pastor Pool will be away on Wednesday evenings preaching in nearby Churches. Services will continue to be at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. Pastor’s youth confirmation class will meet Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. during Lent. Our sermons will revolve around the hymns of Lent. Please come out to get to know the pastors from our sister congregations!

March 2 – Pastor Redhage (Lowden)

March 9 – Pastor Traphagan (Stanwood/Bennett)

March 16 – Pastor Preus (Clinton-Trinity)

Lenten Serving Schedule Update

We have updated the serving schedule for the remaining Wednesdays of Lent. The families that were scheduled to serve on March 2 & 9 will serve as previously scheduled but the families scheduled for March 16 will not be serving until Advent. The youth that are attending the Higher Things Conference in July and their families will serve after both services on March 16 and we will be taking a free will offering to help with the expenses of their trip.

The serving schedule for the remaining Wednesdays of Lent is as follows:

March 2 – Karen Reed to Paul Specht

March 9 – Richard Stahl to Tara Woods

March 16 – Higher Things Attendees & Families

Higher Things

We have 11 youth and 3 adults going to the Higher Things Youth Conference this summer in Cedar Falls, IA. We are excited to have so many go! But we could use your help. The cost per person is $375. Would you consider giving a gift to help our young people go? Thrivent Choice dollars directed to St. John Lutheran Church are also

helping us. Direct those choice dollars today.

Board of Elders

The Board of Elders will meet on Monday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Evangelism

The Board of Evangelism will meet on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Board of Stewardship

The Board of Stewardship will meet on Monday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m.

Board of Education

The Board of Education will meet on Monday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Voters’ Assembly

Board Meetings

Our Voters’ Assembly will meet on Monday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. All are invited to the Voters’ Assembly. Come and get involved in the work of the Church.

Ladies Aid

Trinity Lutheran Church will be hosting the annual World Day of Prayer service on Friday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m. All women of the congregation are invited to attend. There will be a luncheon following the service provided by the LWML ladies groups from Trinity. Ladies Aid will meet at Trinity Lutheran Church after the luncheon. Please RSVP by March 1 with Claudia, 563-259-0901, or see her after church. 

Ladies Evening Bible Study

A new year of study begins!  Tuesday, March 15, at 6:00pm we will meet at Rastrelli's for dinner and a special time of visiting. Now would be a great time for anyone new to jump in. We are a low-key, friendly group who strive to speak the language of Scripture and live daily in our Baptism. Our lessons are begun and finished during class-time, and study materials are provided.  You are encouraged to bring your own Bible, however there are some available in the room for our use. 

Ladies' Evening Bible Study meets twice a month, first and third Tuesdays, at 7:00 pm in the conference room.  

Any questions can be directed to Sallie Pool.  

Mary Martha Soup Supper

The Mary Martha Society will meet this month on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. for a soup supper in the fellowship hall at

church. Following the supper there will be devotions, a business meeting, and cards. All ladies are welcome to attend.

Quilting Bee

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies interested in helping sew and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief are invited to attend.

St. John Preschool Now Enrolling

The preschool began accepting students for the 2016/2017 school year on February 1. We will continue to have a multi-age classroom setting with 3 year olds attending 3 days per week and older children attending 5 days per week. We have extended our hours of operation to 8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $120.00 for 1st year students and will be free for 2nd year returning students. Contact the church office, 242-5588, for more information or enrollment forms.

Food Pantry Collection March 6

Donations of nonperishable food items, paper, and soap products may be brought to the fellowship hall on Sunday, March 6, for the food pantry collection at the Victory Center. These items will be distributed to the unemployed of the community.

Facebook

Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.

Youth UshersEach month on the second Sunday of the month, our confirmed young people are serving the congregation as ushers. But we need you to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is in the fellowship hall.

Confirmation Day – May 1

On Sunday, May 1, at the 10:15 a.m. service, three young men of St. John will be received into communicant membership of the congregation. Those to be confirmed this year are: Jacob Jackson, Joseph Simpson, and Parker Sirna.

On Wednesday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. the confirmation students will participate in an oral exam followed by a reception. Family and friends of the confirmands are invited to the exam and reception.

Confirmation Meeting

Families of second year Confirmation students are asked to sign up for a meeting time with

Pastor Pool. The confirmand and at least one parent are expected to attend. Please call the church office to set up a time at 563-242-5588.

Check It OutIn Our Church Library

The Aprocypha

The texts of the Aprocypha are essential reading for filling in the 400-year gap between the Old and New Testaments. It is a key resource for understanding the New Testament’s background. This edition includes charts, maps, illustrations and a set of articles that will complement your reading of the Scripture.

We’re Not Blended We’re Pureedby

Diana Brandmeyer(A Survivor’s Guide to Blended Families)

These are humorous, real-life stories with clinically sound information on becoming a blended family.

SterlingThe Secret of the Lost Medallion

(A Family Video)

While at camp, Alex Sterling and his friends have stumbled upon an old journal left behind by his deceased grandfather. Their adventure takes them through caves, secret passageways, and river crossings.

In addition to the books in our library you will find current Lutheran magazines, catalogs, and other monthly publications. Stop by and read them while waiting for church or classes to begin, or take them home and return them when you have finished. (no check-out necessary)

March Birthdays & Anniversaries

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

Happy Birthday to: Lucille Dodd, who will be 99 on March 4. Darlene Schroeder, who will be 87 on March 13.Millie Martzahn, who will be 91 on March 17.Geri Kophamer, who will be 83 on March 17.

Happy Anniversary to: Denny & Patty Richter, 35th wedding anniversary on March 2.

Craig & Lori Eberhart, 35th wedding anniversary on March 7.

David & Tracy Reynolds, 20th wedding anniversary on March 15.

Troy & Tammy Lewis, 1st wedding anniversary on March 17.

We list birthdays 80 and above and anniversaries for year one and every five years thereafter unless we receive a request not to do so.

Private Communion Calls

Pastor Pool now makes his visits to those in nursing homes throughout the month. Those at home who would like to receive a communion visit are asked to call Pastor at the Church Office, 242-5588, to schedule a time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN MARCH

Early

Elders: Dave Reynolds Bill Ross

Ushers: Calvin Lange Jay Mueller Brian Wall

Youth Ushers: March 13

Nursery Attendants (Late)

6 – Jaime & Jennifer Kammerer

13 – Sheryl Jindrich

20 – Kristi LaShelle

27 – No Nursery – Easter

Recording

6 – Darlene Paysen13 – Paul Wenzel20 – Darlene Paysen27 – Paul Wenzel

Late

Elders: Russ Henningsen Jim Kophamer

Ushers: Bryce Petersen Randy Housenga Harlan Dell Kevin Dell

Youth Ushers: March 13

Acolyte Schedule

2 –Lent – Elder

6-Early – Elder6-Late – Parker Sirna

9-Lent – Elder

13-Early – Elder13-Late – Jacob Jackson

16-Lent – Elder

20-Early – Elder20-Late – Joseph Simpson

27-Early – Elder27-Late – Elder

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: MARCH 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Angie Stewart, and get her the information by March 20.