CONSECRATION SUNDAY IS COMING

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

On Consecration Sunday, we are asking our members to make their financial commitments to our church. Every member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily. We urge you to attend even if you are strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card. We will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards. We will make every effort to inform and inspire, everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship. Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

The Stewardship-Missions Committee

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Newsletter

Sand Prairie – Green Valley, IL

The

ParishScope

E GIVING: We are pleased to announce the introduction of an electronic option for making regular offerings. Contributions can now be debited automatically from your checking or savings account or processed using your credit or debit card. Our new electronic giving program offers convenience for you. You can find the link on the website, if you need help setting it up contact Eric Walker: 309-265-5958. Thank You.

ADULT INFORMATION CLASS: On Sunday, September 10th, an Adult Information class will begin at 9:30 in the chapel, led by Bill Krueger. This 12 week class is open to anyone wanting more information about the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It may be taken in preparation for membership, as a review, or simply to become better informed. Please invite an unchurched neighbor, friend, or co-worker.

WELCOME to the Sunday School workers for the 2017-2018 school year: Preschool-Kindergarten: Dana Friedrich and Wendy Juraco (Jenny Norman: crafts); 1st and 2nd grades: Norma White and Jody McFarlin; 3rd-5th: (substitutes at the present time); Crafts: Cherie Reagan and Mel Flier; 6th grade: Mark Simpson; 7th and 8th grades: Nicole Forsberg; High school: Adam Simpson; Adult Bible classes; Jim and Pat Fairchild and Pastor Chris; New member class: Bill Krueger; Officers: Judi Hicks, Stephanie Smith, and Lori Worner.

16th ANNUAL WPEO BIBLE DRIVE is in September. Their sole purpose is to collect as many Bibles and Christian materials to donate to Love Packages (located in Butler IL), who then ships them around the world. OUR CONGREGATION has been involved for many years in this program, but in case you’ve never participated, consider doing so now. Containers are in various places in the church, or simply leave on a table.

WCO NEWS Women’s Church Organizations

NEWS)

REBEKAH CIRCLE: Rebekah Circle will again be sponsoring the Advent By Candlelight event on Sunday, November 19th beginning at 5:30pm in the Church Fellowship Hall. We will be serving a cold sandwich plate & a dessert plate. Janine Fairchild, a host of WCIC91.5 will be sharing a short inspirational message. If you would like to be a hostess & decorate a table, please contact Christie Martis at martis@comcast.net or (309)264-4978. More details and registration to come.

EPIPHANY SOCIETY TIME TO MAKE NOODLES! The Epiphany Society will be making noodles for the Bazaar, which is scheduled for the 21st of October. The dates are Sept. 18th, Sept. 25th, & Oct. 9th. The sign-up sheet will be posted above the freezer in the kitchen after Sept. 7th. Lots of help will be needed!!!

CAMP CILCA WORKDAY: Our church will have a work day at Camp CILCA on Saturday, Sept. 30th. The projects Pastor Theilen has asked us to do are to resurface the beach docks and rebuild the swimming raft. There may be other projects as well. We will plan to leave the church by 8:00 AM and return around 3:00PM. Please email Charlie Berndt (cfberndt@itv-3.com) if you can help.

PARISHSCOPE DEADLINE: The ParishScope Deadline is September 18th. Please get your ParishScope news to the church office on or before that date.

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Sept 3 Jerry & Kelly Kerley Sept 4 Eddie & Kara Murray Sept 5 Lou & Bonnie Klockenga, Matt & Laurie Fuelberth Sept 9 Andrew & Jamie Baxter Sept 10 John & Barb Fuelberth Sept 13 Bill & Marlene Baker Sept 14 Greg & Cherise Friedrich Sept 16 Chuck & Sharon Wikoff, David & Merlan Shay Sept 22 Jared & Katie Shay Sept 28 Len & Diane LaLone

DEAR MEMBERS & FRIENDS OF Sand Prairie Congregation: We sincerely appreciate all your expressions of love, faith, and sympathy shared with our family during John’s years of illness and at his passing to eternal life. Thank you, all who sent cards and memorials, offered prayers & food, and lent helping hands along the way. Thanks to Bill Krueger for his faithful weekly visits, and Pastor Chris & Pastor Kevin for prayers, visits and caring spirit. We are comforted by each loving word spoken to us and every prayer on our behalf. The Family of John E Beck; Bonnie, Lisa, Scott & Son.

MIDWEST FOOD BANK DELIVERY will be on Thursday, September 14th at 10:30. Anyone interested in volunteering please contact the church office.

FOOD PANTRY NEWS: The Food Pantry will be held on Tuesday September 5th from 9:00am to 10:00 am.

FLOWERS FOR SERVICES: Please help us adorn the altar or pulpit each Sunday with your donation of flowers. You may sign up on the flower chart, which is currently located in the narthex.

GSLS NEWS

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND PLAN TO ATTEND! The Good Shepherd School Board invites EVERYONE to save the date and plan to attend our 37th Annual Jog-a-thon and cookout on Sunday afternoon, October 1, 2017! We will have specific details about times, the menu, prizes, etc. posted soon in our churches, school, and on our website. How can YOU help us to make this essential fundraiser a success? We ask you to pray that God will bless our efforts, to plan to attend the lunch and enjoy the wonderful cookout, and to generously pledge to our students, staff and supporters when they ask you to sponsor them, as they jog laps to raise money for our school’s budgetary expenses. Stay tuned for more exciting details, and please plan to join us!

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS Sept 1 Jan Fuelberth, Robert Arms, Mia Bozarth, Leigha Baker Sept 2 Bonnie Dodd, Caleob Vogel Sept 3 Sharon Larimore, Landon Robison Sept 4 Lawrence Catton, Bill Moore Sept 5 Nick W Friedrich Sept 6 Reg Flexsenhar, Diana Phelps, Nicholas Barth, Caelyn Armstrong, Luke Urish Sept 8 Jane Ladendorf, Victoria Weiland Sept 9 Rick Huse, Josh Norman, Aubree Jennings, Milov McDonald Sept 10 Trevor Carson, Samuel Weimer Sept 11 Don Schumm *, Davin Miller, Cody Weyhrich, Jake Holloway, Elijah Simpson, Eliya Sansom Sept 12 Madelline Barth Sept 13 Scott Friedrich Sept 14 Beverly Kitchell *, Madelyn Simpson; Nicole Foreman Sept 16 Grace Hoerr *, Jason Urish, Sept 17 Kenny Becker, Anthony Shay Sept 18 June Berndt, Gene Guengerich, Sept 19 Allison Huesers Sept 20 Christen Friedrich, Tyler Barth Sept 22 Marlene Jones *, Randy Struben, Natalie Wattles, Dylan Hicks Sept 23 Maggie Weimer, Noel Larimore, Kameron Wicks Sept 24 Tracy Harper, Jeb Larimore Sept 26 Sue Woodruff, Kathi Thomas Sept 27 Barb Nichols Sept 28 Jerry Shay *, Randy Barth, Cleo Sisco, Kyle Dodd, Benjamin Smith Sept 30 Bonnie Beck *Chris Pfanz, Autumn Evans “*” represent 75 or older

FLOWER CHART FOR SEPTEMBER

September 3rd Altar –Charlie & June Berndt in thanksgiving of God’s blessings. Pulpit – (Available)

September 10th

Altar –Bill & Marlene Baker in honor of their 58th anniversary. Pulpit – (Available)

September 17th Altar – In honor of George Fleckenstein’s birthday Pulpit – (Available)

September 24th Altar – The Frazier family in honor of Jim & Mable Hoyt Pulpit – Pat Hanley

SEPTEMBER GREETERS Sept 3rd 8:00am Mike & Denise Lutz 10:45am Josh & Jenny Norman

Sept 10th 8:00am Glen & Gretchen Evans 10:45am Joe & Susan Lay

Sept 17th 8:00am Mary Kay Lutz 10:45am Joe & Susan Lay

Sept 24th 8:00am Glen & Gretchen Evans 10:45am Josh & Jenny Norman

PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER:

HOMEBOUND : Rosalie Baker, Grace Fornoff, Marge Friedrich, Millie Friedrich, Ron Friedrich, Bill Furrow, Helen Leesman, Arlene Miller, Nancy Nannen, Josephine Ripper, Harold Toepke, Mardell Urish, Mary Urish

MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS: Donna Barth, Jack Breedlove, Reg Flexsenhar, Ron Friedrich, John Fuelberth, Galen Gathman, Dick Jones, Jerry & Kelly Kerley, Idella Lee (friend of Lottie Munter), Chuck Null, Lin Reaves, Julie Rich, Kay Schimmelpfennig, Janet (Timke) Thomas, Norman Tisdale, Todd Weiland.

BATTLING CANCER: Tammy Glass, Cathy Green, mother of Dawn Holloway, Jaxson Harper, Trisha (Saunders) McFarlin, Dude Meisinger, Chris Miller, Billy Moore, Fred Wernesman, Camilla Coy (daughter of Sandi Lutz).

MILITARY PERSONNEL: Travis Banks, Allison Barth, Charles Barth, Madeline Barth, Nicholas Barth, Drew Brown, Nathan Hoehn, Abby Lutz, Ben Lutz, Derek Lutz, and Tanner Zeck.

THANKS to those who helped with the Sunday School this past summer: Opening: Dan and Stephanie Smith; Music: Judi Hicks; Storyteller: Jamie Baxter; Crafts: Cherie Reagan and Anna Friedrich; Class leaders: Dana Friedrich and Jody McFarlin; High school: Sue Woodruff; Sub: Andrea Cantrall; Adult Bible classes: Pat Hanley and Jim and Pat Fairchild.

A WHOLE NEW WAY TO EXPERIENCE SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sunday School students will experience their Bible lessons in new ways this fall. They will visit Opening & Music where they open their ears and hearts to learn, Bible Lessons where they will hear a Bible story, activities where they will play games to reinforce the lessons & crafts where they can experience the story though an art project.

ADULT BIBLE CLASSES: Pastor Chris will begin a 3-week study on LABS (Lectionaries At Bible Study) on September 3. The 4th Sunday will be a class on “Stewardship”. Jim and Pat Fairchild are continuing the study of Hebrew in the Memorial room. An Adult Information Class for prospective members, and members who wish to review, will begin Sept 10th in the chapel.

I remember when I was a kid I so desperately wanted to grow. I would try to stand on my toes to give me that extra inch. If someone somewhere told me to eat something to grow I would. I wanted to control how much I would grow and the speed by which I would grow. Now, after awhile, I realized that my desire to control my growth was a bit silly. I could not control it. On the other hand, however, had I not eaten correctly, or any number of other unhealthy habits, I could have hindered my growth. I could have grown up malnourished or with other problems. I am thankful that my parents made me eat correctly and exercise and play. I didn’t always love it when they made me do those things, yet I appreciate them now.

On August 20th, we had our Rally Day here at St. John’s and revealed our theme for this next year: Growing in Faith Together, with the acronym “GIFT.” It can be challenging to talk about growing in faith. It can be hard to explain. Much like growing in height, it is something we can’t fully control. We can’t force ourselves to grow in the Lord faster. Yet, if we distance ourselves from God’s Word and from the fellowship of church we can hinder our growth. The illustration of a coal being removed from the fireplace that slowly becomes cool, is apt here. We cannot distance ourselves from the Lord and still grow in Him.

This is what made Rally Day, for me, so exciting. I know that we had a fun carnival with games and the like. It was a wonderful day and a wonderful time. However, what made the day even more wonderful, was all the people youth and adults that joined us for Church and Bible Class. It truly was a great example of us all growing in Faith together, by joining in the praise and worship of our Lord, and coming together to study even deeper the meaning of His Word.

We cannot force growth. The Holy Spirit causes us to grow, but we can surround ourselves with God’s Holy Word, and we can gather together to hear again God’s Word in church. I praise the Lord for all that God is doing here at St. John’s, and my continued prayer is that each and every one of us would continue to surround ourselves with God’s Word that we may ever Grow in Faith Together.

In Christ’s Love

Pastor Chris Sansom

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Sand Prairie 13443 Townline Road - Green Valley, IL 61534-9216

(309)348-3180 – Secretary@SandPrairieLutheran.org

www.SandPrairieLutheran.org

Pastor Chris Sansom

DCE Bill Krueger

School Principal Reva Simpson

8:00 am Traditional Worship

9:30 am Sunday School & Bible Classes

10:45 am Contemporary Worship

5:30 pm Wednesday Worship

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

Paid Green Valley, IL

Permit No. 1

September 2017