Since the earthquake in Haiti one month ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to which we belong, has received over 27.000 gifts totaling more than $4.2 million dollars to support humanitarian relief efforts there. Christine Jackson-Skelton, the ELCA Treasurer has also received an additional $320,000 in matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the largest fraternal insurance company in the U.S.A. That translates into $4.6 million dollars given by Lutherans to help in this costly disaster. Perhaps it heaps the pile, too, to know that these funds are handled through the already established staff of the ELCA so that every penny given goes directly to that effort.
The challenges in Haiti are compounded by poor infrastructures and poor living conditions before the earthquake. Lutheran relief was already given to Haiti, and now even more aid goes to supply food, medicine, emergency shelter, drinkable water, sanitation materials and psychosocial services for the vast amount of grieving, suffering and losses there. St. John's has certainly heard the need and responded generously with over $2,000 donated in special offerings, $600 raised by Sunday School classes, and an un-totaled amount of financial support paid directly to Lutheran Disaster Relief. If you would like to make a contribution, remember that 100 pennies of every $1.00 given to this fund goes directly through the ELCA to Haiti relief. Thank you for your generous hearts.

Pastor Dale

PASTOR'S COLUMN
EAGLE SIGHTINGS

Invisible but extremely significant is the fact that from our new Church Council 80% of the representatives are currently involved in Bible study of some sort. Those who aren't in a present study are not shabby representatives by any means. They have life issues and timing that prohibits regular communal study like many of our members, no doubt. But the importance of meaningful Bible study in leaders' lives is that being filled with the Spirit comes connected with a study of God's Word. The two are inseparable! St. John's is at a place where we are weighing our programmatical ministries against members' spiritual needs. It's a constant process of eliminating program that no longer serve a need with introducing new programs.

We reluctantly transferred our friend, Lucille Ladenberger from the Church Militant on Saturday, February 6. Lucille and Ray had been married for 71 years and she would have turned 91 March 15. We extend our sincere sympathies to Ray and his family.

What God is to the world, parents are to their children. Are you teaching your children to pray? It's a gift for their life time, but remember, children do what they see parents doing.

Turn your clocks forward the evening of March 13th for day light savings time!

I've been asked to teach "Lutheran Ethics" to the Synodical Diakonia this spring. That entails some preparation in reading Ordinary Saints by Robert Bennie and Martin Luther's book, The Ethics of Martin Luther translated by Robert Schultz. For more information about the diakonia program, talk with Carole Dancy or Pastor Peterson.

Our Vision Statement

St. John's Lutheran Church celebrates God's Word with God's People living God's Great Commandment through His Great Commission. Our vision focuses on growing and strengthening four key areas of church life: family ministries, small groups, Bible studies, Stewardship & Outreach.
(Matthew 22:37-40 and Matthew 29:19-20)

Senior Choir

The Sr. Choir needs a few good voices to sing with us for Palm Sunday at the 8am service and Easter Sunday at the 7am sunrise service. If you cannot commit to be a regular member of the choir at this time and want to sing for these two services please come to practice around 6:20pm on Wednesday nights, March 17, 24 and Thursday, April 1. The choir normally sits in the choir loft during the service however we want members to be able to sit with their families so we will only be in the loft at the beginning of the service for the anthem. We practice every Wednesday at 6pm in the sanctuary, so join us at practice or talk with Susan. You are welcome!

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 28: LYO Pancake Breakfast @ 9 am
April 1:     Maundy Thursday Worship @ 7pm
April 2:     Good Friday Worship @ 7 pm
April 4:     Easter Sunrise Service @ 7pm
April 4:     Contemporary Easter Worship @ 10:30am

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS:
Scholarship packets will be ready March 15th. Look for them on the Information Booth. Applications are due back to the Church Office by April 15th. Thank you.

SPRING FLOWERS FOR EASTER
Order forms will soon be in the Narthex and at the Information Booth for a variety of potted plants to add beauty to our sanctuary this Easter. This year you may choose from Easter Lilies, Mum, Tulips, Begonias and Kalanchoes. The cost is $10.00 for each plant. Orders are due in the office by Sunday, March 21st.

FREE CONCERT
A 50-voice women's winter choir, directed by Celeste Faber of LaMoille, will present a free concert on March 14th at 2pm at Zion Lutheran Church/Clarion, Lamoille. This choir is composed of women of all ages from the surrounding area.
Everyone is invited to enjoy this uplifting concert composed of lively songs, many of which are spirituals. If you can't attend on March 14th, the same concert will be given at St. John's Church on the Hill, Princeton, on March 7th and St. Matthew's Lutheran, Princeton on March 21st, both also at 2pm.

Church Council

LUTHER'S TABLE TALKS REVIVED

Martin Luther's most famous work, according to some, is entitled "Table Talks" which are quotes and teachings he gave in the evenings around the Pub's table where he gathered often with friends and students. They are casual, but often profound. Television has replaced community gathering in our culture, but there is an opportunity for us to gather for some "Luther Table Talks" during Lent, and I hope you will accept my invitation to join me. I won't be teaching and there's no draft beer being served, but there are some significant ministries I'd like to discuss with those interested. Refreshments will be light, conversation will be limited but lively, and you can still be home by 8:30 pm.

Wednesday, February 24, discussion centers on The Purpose of Life and the Purpose of the Church. Are we on target with the St. John's Vision Statement? Do we know our Mission as a congregation? How do purpose and mission impact ordinary daily life? Are we making a significant impact with or lives? How can we be more intentional about our life-goals, and still submit ourselves fully to God's guidance?

Wednesday, March 3, the topic discussion will be Youth Ministry. Should St.John's dare the Boundary Waters or work a Service Project? Do we encourage Youth to participate in ministry or fundraise for travel? Are we providing Youth tools for spiritual wellness? All parents will surely have something to talk about in this discussion.

Wednesday, March 10, the discussion will focus on Singles in our congregation. What is the role and significance of widows and widowers, and how are they nurtured at St.John's? Is the church safe C-Harmony for meeting others and is that something we should enhance? Are Singles treated like left-overs or brothers & sisters in the faith community? How do we minister to singes, or do we? There is a wide range of "single-ness" among members, but this is an important segment of our membership that often goes unattended. Join Us.

Wednesday, March 17 - Caring and Caregivers unite - Who Cares?...
Wednesday, March 24 - Do we minister to marrieds? To the divorced?

"THE STORY" TAKES A RECESS

During Lent the congregation focuses on "The Power of the Cross" and our attention is drawn to the 5:30pm Soup and Sandwich Suppers, 7pm Worship and 7:45 pm Table Talks. That means the 40-45 members/friends who are involved with The Story Bible Study are taking a recess for six weeks. Monday and Tuesday studies will resume on April 5 & 6 with chapter 8 as the pre-read material. This will be an appropriate time to join the study as we read about the Judges god anointed to lead the Israelites in those early years of occupying the Promised Land. Become part of the group on Mondays at 7pm or Tuesday at 10:30am.

HEAVEN'S KITCHEN
THANK YOU

A hot-plate warmed Heaven's Kitchen thank you to everyone who made this day of fellowship and sharing such a spirit-lead success! Thank you Vision Team for your tireless and enthusiastic efforts. Thank you to everyone who attended. The donations were so generous. Almost 200 people shared this meal together, then, like the Disciples, brought take-home to relatives, neighbors, shut-ins, people in need. We were able to provide a very nice amount of soul-warming food to the PADS shelter, boxes of food to the Food Pantry, and sizeable cash contributions to The Mendota Christian Food Pantry, Lutheran World Hunger, and a small fund to remain at the church for anyone who is hungry and comes to the parish for help. The cook-off entries were an exquisite treat, with top honors going to Lori Simonton's Chicken Lasagna, Runners Up Natalie and Ted Landgraf's Scotcheroos, followed by Mel Schroeder's Boston Brown Bread. The real winners were the hungry. God Bless you, St. John's! Thank you, thank you, all!!!



THE K-1 SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS INVITES YOU
TO HELP IN A SERVICE PROJECT

We are collecting "Sully Bucks" until March 23 to fill cards in order to earn $10 Sullivan's gift cards for the "Good Samaritan Fund". Our prayer is that God will take all of our "littles" and make it "MUCH". Large manilla envelopes will be placed in the Narthex and on the Information Booth in the Parish Hall for you to place your donations weekly. Thank you in advance for all of your help!!

Karen Goy

2010 Congregational Resourcing Event
BECOMING A MISSIONAL CHURCH
MARCH 20, 2010 - 8:30 am to 3:15 pm
        Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois

The Northern Illinois Synod's Congregational Resourcing Event is one of this synod's finest yearly events. Church council members, teachers, musicians, staff, volunteers, and leaders--just about everyone in a congregation--can take advantage of this learning event to strengthen skills, gather resources, network with others, and discover new ways to enhance congregational and individual ministries. Come, experience and bring home new ministry tools.
The Congregational Resourcing Event (CRE) will offer many varied educational workshop selections for you, your key congregational leaders, and other interested congregation members. Many groups, agencies, and institutions will have displays.
Please call St.John's ASAP if you would like to attend as the Registration deadline is March 1.