2024: The Year of Rest
Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:9
“So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God.”
Welcome to 2024: The Year of Rest. Our focus in 2024, is to receive and to practice God’s sacred gift of rest.
Summer Worship Hours: Summer Worship is at 9:30 am.
There will be no live streaming of worship on Rally Day, Sept. 8th. Live streaming of worship will return on Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 am.
Council asks the congregation to pray in these stressful times to remember that we are ALL God's children and that we treat one another accordingly, with respect and understanding.
Let us pledge to be people of peace as we pray together: "O God, where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope. Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where distrust twists our thinking, grant healing and illumination. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen." (ELW, p. 76, edited)
Scripture and Prayer: Due to a Covid outbreak at Parkview, the group will meet at 10:30 am for coffee at Patina Creekside Coffee, 2434 W Monroe St. Sandusky (The old Toft’s Dairy).
God’s Work Our Hands Project for 2024! We begin our drive to collect personal care kit items for our Rally Day Project. Please read the following list of items to be included in the care kits. LW Relief is very specific on what items are needed. Dollar General has lightweight towels in the correct size. In 2022 we made 60 kits to send to LW Relief. Let’s work to make 75 or more kits this year!
- One lightweight bath-size towel (between 20”x40” and 52”x27”), dark color recommended
- Two or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9 oz. any brand, in original wrapping
- One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging (toothbrush multi-packs may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business-size envelope; no plastic bags or wrap
- One sturdy comb, remove packaging
- One metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging
Rally Day: September 8th is Rally Day! Please join us for a festive worship service, a delicious St. John's potluck and God’s Work Our Hands service project. This is a great start for our fall and winter programs, but it's even better when you are part of it. We gather at Edison Park Shelter, 6 East St. Milan, OH. Coffee time will start at 10:00 am with worship at 10:30 followed by a potluck lunch. After lunch we will assemble the personal care kit items that we have been gathering during the month of August for LW Relief. Drinks and table service are provided. You are invited to bring a dish to share.
Adult Study with Lynn resumes on Sunday, September 15th at 9:15 am in the Upper Room. We will be looking at the life of Abraham. All are welcome to join the upcoming study.
Supper Club Returns: Mark your calendar and make your reservation for Supper Club fellowship. Supper Club will meet on Thursday, September 19th at 6:00 pm at the Red Lobster in Sandusky. Sign-up sheet is at the back of the sanctuary.
Ladies you are invited: The Eastern Conference Women’s Fall Retreat will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church, 209 Southwest St. Bellevue OH. Registration and coffee hour starts at 9:00 am. Program begins at 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. Take a few hours out of your busy schedule for a time of prayer, devotion, fellowship, craft, and growing in God’s word. Cost: $10.00 paid at the door which includes coffee hour and lunch. RSVP by September 29th to St. John, Bellevue, 419-483-5422 or St.johnsofficesec@gmail.com.
Beginning in October, Sunday School will be the second Sunday of the month.
October 13th at 9:00 AM will be Sunday School for all ages. We will focus on the Reformation and dreaming. Please let Pastor Stacy or Dawn Schlessman know if you will be there so she knows how many items to prepare.
November 10th at 9:30 will be Sunday School for ALL youth. We will learn about Holy Communion, taste the bread, tell stories, and go a little deeper into our understanding of this sacrament.
November 17th will be the first play practice for the Christmas program, which will be on December 15th in the barn. Please let Pastor Stacy know if your child/neighbor/grandchild/family member of any kind would like a role!
Endowment Grant Applications are being accepted: Please contact a member of the endowment team and they will be glad to mail you an application. The requests need to be presented to the Endowment committee no later than October 7, 2024. You can mail the application back to the church, put your request in the endowment mailbox in the basement or present it to any member of the committee. The committee members are John Miller, Ted Call, Jeff Justi, Bob Stacy, Colleen Girard, Ron Zorn, Pastor Stacy. If you have any questions, please see a member of the endowment committee.
The Endowment Team will hold its quarterly meeting in mid to late October, at which time all grant applications that have been presented will be reviewed and voted on. Those that are approved will be sent to the Finance Team for additional review and approval.
Reformation is approaching on October 31st. So why do we celebrate the Reformation? What is it that sets us Lutherans apart? Join us as we Make Sense of Martin Luther! It's a seven week series, beginning October 15th at 11 AM at St John's (we will not meet the week of Thanksgiving). There is a book that goes with the series, so please let Pastor Stacy or Sandy know by September 21st if you would like a copy. Anyone is welcome in this group.
Book Club Selection: “Jesus and John Wayne” written by Kristin Du Mez.
The book club book "Jesus and John Wayne" appears more political than intended. However, it is still a topic that has been requested by quite a few in the congregation, that seems quite relevant, and that has already been purchased by a bunch of you in book club. Whether you agree or disagree with the book, I hope you will still join us.
Please feel free to SKIP the intro and preface as those seem the most political. In September we will discuss chapters 1 and 2. Please also be thinking about a fluffier piece that we could read after this book--I'm guessing we will all need a brain break!
Blessings Pastor Stacy
The book is available at Amazon or your favorite book place. If you would like a book, see the sign-up sheet in the back of the church or contact Sandy Thompson.
We need your help! We still need readers, ushers, and communion assistants most weeks!
.jpg)
.jpg)
