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Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the November 21, 2019 Church Council meeting.

The Council approved the Proposed 2020 Budget for the Annual Meeting.
The Council reviewed St. John’s Constitution update to be presented at the Annual Mtg.
Retired Lutheran Pastor David Hagemann will be the guest preacher on Dec. 7th/8th.
The Call Committee reported that the most recent candidate did not work out. Steve Florschuetz and Richard Althaus met with Bishop Clements.
The Church Council, Call Committee, and Team Chairpersons will meet on December 5th.

Finance Report Year To Date thru October 2019:
Budgeted Regular Offerings $267,500
Actual Regular Offerings $250,478

Budgeted Income $284,287
Actual Income $286,097

Budgeted Expense $310,062
Actual Expense $247,756

December Scriptures
for Worship

December 1: First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 2:1-5 The prophet foresees God’s reign of peace.
Romans 13:11-14 Paul compares the advent of Christ to the dawn of the new day.
Matthew 24:36-44 The Christ will come suddenly and unannounced. Stay awake!

December 8: Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 11:1-10 The royal line of David will be restored in the coming of the Messiah.
Romans 15:4-13 Let all believers live in harmony and exercise hospitality.
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptizer urges his hearers to repent and to prepare for God’s advent.

December 15: Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35:1-10 The prophet gives a word-picture of the time of the Messiah.
James 5:7-10 Be patient as you wait for God’s Messiah to come.
Matthew 11:2-11 John the Baptizer asks for assurance: Is Jesus really the Messiah?

December 22: Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7:10-16 The prophet foresees the birth of a royal child who will be Emmanuel.
Romans 1:1-7 The Messiah promised by the prophets has come.
Matthew 1:18-25 Joseph hears that Mary’s son will become Emmanuel: God with us.

December 24: Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7 The prophet tells of a Messianic King who will bring God’s peace & justice.
Titus 2:11-14 God’s grace appearing in Christ saves us and brings us to holiness of life.
Luke 2:1-20 In a world indifferent to his presence, the Christ is born.

December 29: First Sunday of Christmas
Isaiah 63:7-9 God’s own presence brings salvation.
Hebrews 2:10-18 Jesus, our faithful high priest, has overcome death.
Matthew 2:13-23 Joseph is warned in a dream to flee from Herod.

Crossroads Counseling Center

We are pleased to be able to provide professional behavioral health counseling services for members of our congregation and for the entire Mendota area through our relationship with Allied Counseling Group of LaSalle.

Thanks to the generosity of St. John’s, the services provided at Crossroads are affordable to everyone. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Appointments can be made by calling the Allied Counseling office at 815-224-4522 and asking for the Mendota site. Ms. Pamela Wolf, LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, serves at our Crossroads Center.

Thrivent Financial Members

Please make sure that you have designated St. John’s as the recipient for your Choice Dollars. Also, remember that you are eligible to receive two grants of $250 each year. We have been blessed to be able to use these grants for Vacation Bible School, many youth events and activities, and Outreach activities. If you are interested in applying for a grant to be used for St. John’s ministries, please contact Karen Goy. She would be happy to help write the grant as well as the follow up report. Thank you in advance!

75th + Birthday

Jan. 4 Shirley Pierson
Jan. 5 Betty Lou Radefeld
Jan. 12 Catherine Radtke
Robert Wilhelm
Jan. 13 Joanne Miller

Happy Anniversary!

Elwood & Jo Ann Kidd
December 6th — 61 years

Daniel & Rita Randecker
December 28th — 61 years

The next work day for the Quilting Group is set for Tuesday, January 28th at 9am. You are invited to join St. John’s quilting group on the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 9am. You do not need to know how to quilt or sew in order to help create these beautiful and versatile quilts. If you are unable to attend the work day, you may take a Quilt Top Kit (found in the Information Booth) home with you and return it when you are finished.

Cemetery Plots are available for purchase. Please see Susan in the church office if you would like more information.

Special Items of Interest:

Please contact the church office when you or a family member are hospitalized. Because of privacy laws, the hospital will not contact us.
For the safety of our precious children, and for the security of our members, guests, volunteers, staff, and church property, notice is given that the premises are video-monitored.
Find us on Facebook! Search for "St. John's Lutheran Church" and join our page. It's an easy way to stay up-to-date on the happenings here at church.
Due to a lack of use and a small number of volunteers, we are not offering a staffed nursery during Sunday morning worship at this time. However, parents with infants or small children are welcome to use the Nursery or the Cry Room (near the Women’s restroom in the narthex) during Sunday services. TV monitors are provided in both locations so you may view the service. Please ask an usher for assistance.

When the snow and ice arrive this winter, please remember that the standard rule for canceling worship services and meetings is for you to stay safe! If either ice or snow would endanger your drive or entrance to the church, please stay home! Let safety be your guide.

Thank You!

We thank the members of the Stewardship Team for their leadership again this year. We also thank everyone who returned their completed Time & Talent sheets and Financial Commitment forms. If you are still working to complete yours, please bring it to the office as soon as possible. The forms are used in scheduling our many worship volunteers.

2019 Quilt In-Gathering
for Lutheran World Relief

A BIG Thank You to all who have supported our mission work for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). 139 quilts and 120 school kits have been completed this year. Thank you to our quilters for donating your time and talents; to those who donated fabric and school supplies; to the Rebecca Circle for donating school bags; and to those who helped pack the quilts and kits. Your continued support of our mission work is greatly appreciated. Everyone working together makes for a successful outcome. God’s work, our hands.

The Mission Quilting group meets in the Fellowship Hall on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 9am. All are welcome to join us as we continue our year-round work of assembling quilts.

St. John's Scholarship Fund Recipients

Scholarships in the amount of $12,000 were awarded to several young church members. Congratulations to:

Peyton Baird (St. Francis University), Katie Beetz (St. Ambrose University), Grace Brandner (IVCC), Lukas Brandner (University of Iowa), Gabrielle Brown (Illinois State University), Natalie Landgraf (Western Illinois University), Gabrielle Peasley (Illinois State University), Abby Phalen (Augustana University), Cameron Schumacher (Bradley University), Gillian Sutton (St. Ambrose University), MiKayla Wilhelm (Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville), Katherine Wohrley (Northern Illinois University), and Melissa Wohrley (North Central College).

Our college students are also asked to please share an updated college residence address. Addresses can be emailed to the office or sent via text/email to Karen Goy at (815) 228-2391.