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Be Joyful Always. (1 Thess. 5:16) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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From the Pastor

Be Joyful Always.

(1 Thess. 5:16)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I write these words to you for the VOICE, my dear Christian friends, I hope you are well and enjoying this New Year. Today…I am celebrating 2 ½ years of serving you as your Intentional Interim Pastor

AND my 60th birthday…thanking God for so many beautiful blessings. I am so grateful to be on life’s amazing journey with you at St. John’s.

So, what is coming up in these next couple of months at St. John’s? First, our dedicated Call Committee for the new lead pastor is interviewing prospective pastors and doing a fine job.

We thank-you!

Next, our staff and church leaders are here to serve you and help you with anything you may need. Comments, questions, suggestions, and/or observations are always welcome. Call our church office or

contact our Council President Gordon Moore for any of these needs.

Exciting…we begin focusing on the 150th Anniversary of St. John’s during the Season of Lent. This is the season where we are reminded that God is with us at all times, the joy filled ones, the challenging

ones and during times of transition. During the Season of Lent we will begin focusing on our church history, our families of faith, and our times together and how St. John’s has formed our blessed relationship with our Lord. Some church folks whose families have been here for many generations are telling their stories in the monthly VOICE for you to read. There are other folks who will share their faith and family stories with you during Lenten worship services. Come to hear from Sandy Welling Miller,

John Henry, Shirley Johnson, Jeff Sibbersen, Maggie Reed and Dave Welling. What a special treat for all of us!

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 6th, join us on Wednesday evenings for dinner at 6:00 p.m., and worship at 7:00 p.m.…featuring “Holden Evening Prayer” led by Sharon Bitter, Jacob Henry and the

Festival Choir. On March 13th for 5 weeks following worship, please gather in the lounge for the “Sermon on the Mount Bible Study” created by Bishop Daniel Beaudoin.

This will also be offered on Sunday Mornings during Sunday school at 9:45am.

All this prepares us for Holy Week. Palm Sunday, April 14th, will have worship services and a new “Continental Breakfast” for ALL to attend during the Sunday school hour. This is a time of fellowship with our church folks and our Dayschool families. The children will enjoy arts and crafts and the annual

Easter Egg Hunt.

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There will be special Easter cookies & such in the lobby/narthex following each service. (Please note: There will be no Easter Breakfast this year.)

There are so many exciting things happening at this place focusing on Faith, Fellowship, Serving in Mission and Ministry, Care giving and Christian Education. I truly hope and encourage each of you to seek new ways this year to volunteer at our church and to participate with your brothers and sisters in

Christ in many different ways to build new relationships & grow in faith. Also…keep these things in your mind and prayers:

1. Stephen Ministry Caregivers Training beginning after Easter (See Joe & Nancy Nycz or Pastor Cindy for info)

2. Save the Date for Sunday September 22nd for the 150th Anniversary Celebration

3. Plan to attend other wonderful 150th Anniversary events: Sunday June 2nd 3pm Tower Brass Quintet

Sunday July 14th 3pm Maumee Community Band Concert

Sunday August 18th 3pm Ice Cream Social with Ragtime Music by Ken Staib

* Some of our guest preachers will be Pastor Richard Hartman, Pastor Mark Wentz & Pastor Ken Staib Let us REJOICE in the LORD as we prepare for all these precious blessings here at St. John’s. Most of all…we prepare our hearts and minds to proclaim on Easter Morning and every Sunday:

Alleluia! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

May God Bless you today and always with the Resurrection Hope given to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Joyfully Yours, Pr. Cindy Ritter 

PASTORAL ACTS

Baptism

on 2/3/19

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1. DAILY PRAYER

In our prayers (from February bulletins):

Clarence Haas, healing and strength for his family

The birth of Penton Michael Bowers, son of Donna & Brian Bowers and grandson of Al Taylor

The family of Robert Murphy (Monica Schober’s father) upon his death

The family of Bob Honsberger (Judy & Bill Trombly’s brother-in-law) upon his death

The congregation of St. Peter UCC in Millbury as they recover from a kitchen fire

The baptism of Samuel Dunn, son of Melanie & Jason Dunn

The family of James Robert Carper, Sr. (Gloria Rolf’s father)

upon his death

Kristah Agee,

Dayschool Administrator, on her birthday February 9

th

Shirley Johnson,

on her birthday February 11

th

Mark Wilburn,

recovering from surgery

Thanksgiving for Pastor Cindy,

on her birthday February 18

th

and for her enthusiastic and

devoted service to St. John’s!

Thanksgiving for Lyle Diefenthaler,

on his birthday February 23

rd

and for his dedication to St.

John’s in his service and providing wonderful music!

2. SERVING OTHERS

4. WITNESS/INVITING OTHERS

Do take the opportunity to extend an

invitation to someone to join us for

Easter morning Worship on April 21.

5. WEEKLY WORSHIP

Sunday Schedule

8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service

9:30 a.m. Fellowship

9:45 a.m. Christian Education

10:45 a.m. Traditional Worship Service

11:45 a.m. Fellowship

3. GENEROUS GIVING

Financial Giving as of January 13, 2019

General Fund Income (Year-to-Date)

Budget Actual Difference

$12,932 $7,684 ($5,248) Benevolence Fund (Year-to-Date)

Budget Actual Difference

$1,116 $767 $349

(Copies of current Financial Reports are in the wooden holders located to the right of the Prayer Desk in the Narthex.)

Worship Attendance

Jan. 27 ~ 135 Feb. 3 ~ 187 Feb. 10 ~ 186 Feb. 17 ~ 148

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Holy Week is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the last week of Jesus’

earthly life and to embrace God’s gift of the heavenly life that is to come.

On Sunday, April 14, we will gather for Palm Sunday services.

We will wave our palms and process into

worship, just as Jesus processed into the holy city of Jerusalem. During this morning’s services, our 5

th

Graders will be receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time.

On Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. we will gather for Maundy Thursday worship.

The word “maundy”

comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means “to command.” On the night before His death, Jesus

commanded His disciples to love one another, and He showed this love to His disciples by humbling Himself

and washing their feet. Jesus also commanded His followers to partake in the sacred meal of Holy

Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” Maundy Thursday worship always concludes with the

“stripping of the altar.” A stripped altar, in an empty chancel, in a dark church; we are ready for Good Friday.

On Friday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. we will gather for the Good Friday Tenebrae Service.

The word

“tenebrae” is Latin for darkness. As darkness descended on Jerusalem during our Lord’s crucifixion, so we

gather in the shadows to worship and to remember our Lord’s sacrifice on Good Friday’s cross. At the end of

the service, we depart in silence and in haste. Christians do not remain long on Good Friday, for we are a

people of the resurrection.

On Sunday April 21, we will gather at 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord

Jesus.

Easter seals the promise of new life that God freely gives to His faithful people. What a fitting way to

end a blessed week, a Holy Week.

Do take the opportunity to join us for these Holy Week worship experiences.

LENTEN WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

6:00 p.m. Lenten Supper

7:00 p.m. Lenten Service

7:00 p.m. Bible Adventures (for kids Preschool through 2nd grade)

7:30 The Sermon on the Mount Book Study written by Bishop Daniel Beaudoin

March 6 Lenten Supper served by Shared Bounty March 13 Lenten Supper served by M&O

March 20 Lenten Supper served by the LYO March 27 Lenten Supper served by Council

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6. DAILY BIBLE READING

March 1 Deut. 5-7 March 2 Deut. 8-10 March 3 Deut. 11-13 March 4 Deut. 14-16 March 5 Deut. 17-20 March 6 Deut. 21-23 March 7 Deut. 24-27 March 8 Deut. 28-29 March 9 Deut. 30-31 March 10 Deut. 32-34 March 11 Joshua 1-4 March 12 Joshua 5-8 March 13 Joshua 9-11 March 14 Joshua 12-15 March 15 Joshua 16-18 March 16 Joshua 19-21 March 17 Joshua 22-24 March 18 Judges 1-2 March 19 Judges 3-5 March 20 Judges 6-7 March 21 Judges 8-9 March 22 Judges 10-12 March 23 Judges 13-15 March 24 Judges 16-18 March 25 Judges 19-21 March 26 Ruth March 27 1 Samuel 1-3 March 28 1 Samuel 4-8 March 29 1 Samuel 9-12 March 30 1 Samuel 13-14 March 31 1 Samuel 15-17

During the month of April we will continue to engage the Bible on a daily basis.

April 1 1 Samuel 18-20 April 2 1 Samuel 21-24 April 3 1 Samuel 25-27 April 4 1 Samuel 28-31 April 5 2 Samuel 1-3 April 6 2 Samuel 4-7 April 7 2 Samuel 8-12 April 8 2 Samuel 13-15 April 9 2 Samuel 16-18 April 10 2 Samuel 19-21 April 11 2 Samuel 22-24 April 12 1 Kings 1-2 April 13 1 Kings 3-5 April 14 1 Kings 6-7 April 15 1 Kings 8-9 April 16 1 Kings 10-11 April 17 1 Kings 12-14 April 18 1 Kings 15-17 April 19 1 Kings 18-20 April 20 1 Kings 21-22 April 21 2 Kings 1-3 April 22 2 Kings 4-5 April 23 2 Kings 6-8 April 24 2 Kings 9-11 April 25 2 Kings 12-14 April 26 2 Kings 15-17 April 27 2 Kings 18-19 April 28 2 Kings 20-22 April 29 2 Kings 23-25 April 30 1 Chronicles 1-2

MEMORIALS

In memory of

Fred Brinker

Sandy Welling-Miller Pastor Cindy Ritter Barb Hersch

Marlene Crandall Walter Minarek Jr. Bob Johnson

Jane Sibbersen Michael Sibbersen Glen & Doris Welling

Thelma Schaller Joe & Deb Klopping Barb & Leroy Lashaway Helen Jean Rollins Arlyn & Sue Brinker Jim & Chris Budke Dale & Phyllis Duquette Tony & Debra Duquette Tim & Betty Duquette Calvin Damschroder Glen & Shirley Rahe & family Larry & Francie Bondy Dave & Cindy Apger Ruth Hentges family Dave & Jenell Vickers Mr. & Mrs. Ted Deal Jim & Pat Wenz Paul & Judy Bamford

Barb Parker Mary Shook Tom & Cindy Walston

Ed Brough Ruth Carstensen Sharon & Ted Bitter Howard

& Phyllis Bookenberger David & Michelle Welling Jan Rucki

Matthew & Monica Schober Bill & Carolyn Staib & family Robert & Joan Winters

Ellie Schober Rick & Lynda Lees Sandy Goodman

Dave & Linda Bockbrader

Steve Levorchick

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In honor of

Earl Hagg

Roger & Barb Sergent Curtis & Barbara Juergens

MARCH & APRIL BIRTHDAYS

(Those over 74 years young!)

March 8 Sally Claytor 7630 Reitz Road, #75, Perrysburg 43551 March 9 Dolly Haar 129 Woodcreek Blvd., Walbridge 43465 March 11 Douglas Bolfa 2130 Kathy Lane, Genoa 43430

March 11 Richard Bahnsen 472 Nicklaus Blvd., N. Fort Myers, FL 33903 March 18 Mary Jane Reitzel 25260 Ault Road, Perrysburg 43551

March 24 Glen Welling 6862 Devils Hold Road, Pemberville 43450 March 27 Maxine Haas PO Box 212, Stony Ridge 43463

March 30 Larry Warns 4122 Libbey Road, Perrysburg 43551

April 7 Evelyn Emch 30630 Drouillard Rd., #286, Walbridge 43465 April 7 Thelma Schaller 26755 Oregon Road, Perrysburg 43551 April 15 Judy Smiczek 26360 Edgewater Dr., Perrysburg 43551 April 26 Daniel Wilson 5545 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg 43551 April 28 Ruth Carstensen 1901 Recker Road, Perrysburg 43551 April 29 Fredrick Swihart 7002 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg 43551

During the Easter season, it is encouraging to see both new and familiar faces at our worship services. Throughout the year, many of you already support the congregation with your time, talent and financial contributions, but greater participation is always welcome. We encourage you to look into our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to set up a giving plan.

To set up a recurring or one-time giving schedule, click on this QR square or visit our website (www.stjohnsstonyridge.net) and locate the Generous Giving button. The first time you give, you will select a password that will enable you to log in at any time and make changes to your giving or view your complete online giving history.

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COMFORTERS for Lutheran World Relief will be tied on Thursday, March 7th from 9:00-11:30 a.m.

in the Parish House. This is a wonderful ministry helping others in different countries around the world. We would love to have you join us. No experience necessary!

The CRAFTERS GROUP will meet again in March. Please consider joining us with your latest project and share in conversation. Watch the Weekly Voice for date and time.

The MARCH BIBLE STUDY will meet on Wednesday, March 13th at 1:30 p.m. in the lounge. The theme “Meetings with Jesus” will continue. The Bible Study information can be found in the March issue of “Gather” magazine. All are welcome.

PRAY FOR SPECIAL CONCERNS EVERY MONDAY AT NOON. In March, pray for our call committee and our congregation as the search continues for a lead pastor.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Thursday, March 7th - Tie Comforters

Wednesday, March 13th - Bible Study (Rebekah Circle)

If you have material you’d like to donate for the tops of the comforters that are tied, donations would be greatly appreciated. Donations of filler for mission comforters are always welcome, including old blankets, sheets, bedspreads, tablecloths and mattress pads. These donations may be placed in the LWR box in the coat room. Thank you in advance for your donations.

FELLOWSHIP

Men's Breakfast

The March Men's Breakfast will be on Saturday, March 9th and the April Men's Breakfast will be Saturday, April 6th. Breakfast is from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Panera Bread on Rt. 20 in

Perrysburg.

Dartball Banquet

The Dartball Banquet will be held on April 15th at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

SOCIAL MINISTRIES

Sunday Specials for March/April

Shared Bounty is collecting dish soap in March and shampoo in April

Food Pantry is collecting jelly beans, cookies, and oatmeal in March and April

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Mark your calendars for another fundraiser at the Chili’s on Route 20!! On Wednesday, May 1st from 11am-close Chili’s once again is allowing us to have a fundraiser at their restaurant. This is good on dine in or carryout, but a flyer needs to be presented for the food pantry to receive 15% of sales. We will have flyers in the narthex soon and will post on Facebook and an email with a coupon to use for that day.

A big thank you to Bruce Peiffer for his help on updating the laptops for the food pantry. We really appreciate your help!!

Thank you for the very kind recognition in the voice and in the service bulletin. I may be the leader, but this food pantry does not run so successfully without the help of so many dedicated volunteers. I count my blessing each and every time an email is sent out for help and this great group responds quickly and takes on the duties no matter what is asked of them. I am grateful for all of you involved in the success of this ministry of feeding our neighbors in need. Blessings, Jerri Reitzel

Thank you to Jan Rucki and Lynda Lees for offering to cover part of the month of March for funeral lunches while Jerry and I are away. This group of gals is the best!!!!

Your generosity for the Redeemer Hygiene project is wonderful! We collected about $419. Additional donations included handmade hats, a bag of toiletries, and 80 rolls of toilet paper. We were able to provide diapers, adult Depends, toothpaste, toothbrushes, denture cream, soaps, and 150 detergent pods from our own collections. All of these items were suggested by Redeemer and we were able to meet those needs. Thank you all and may God continue to bless us here at St. John’s.

The American Red Cross will be at St. John’s on Saturday, May 11th, from 9-2 p.m. Please contact John Henry or the church office if you can help set up, tear down or donate cookies. Visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: STJOHNS or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule your blood donation!

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Healing Prayer Service

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the LORD. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the LORD will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.“ James 5: 13-16

St. John’s Prayer and Retreat Committee will be hosting a “Healing Prayer Service” on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 9:45 a.m. A Healing Prayer Service is a powerful means of bringing God’s healing power into the lives of those who are suffering from illness, physical disabilities, grief, fear and mental or spiritual health issues. The power of prayer brings this gift of healing into your life and the lives of others by connecting all to God’s loving presence.

Stephen Ministry

The Stephen Ministry logo, as shown on the bulletin board in the narthex, represents a care receiver’s journey from brokenness toward wholeness through the cross of Jesus. In this way, it illustrates “Christ caring for people through people”, which is the Stephen Ministry motto.

Stephen Ministers are lay people trained to provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care. They have a compassionate heart for those who are hurting, and they’re equipped with caring ministry skills by their congregation’s Stephen Leaders.

Stephen Ministry supports pastors by deepening, expanding, and extending the caregiving capacity of their congregations. A team of Stephen Ministers, together with a pastor, can provide ongoing care for more people than the pastor could provide alone.

Consider becoming a Stephen Minister. You must meet the following qualifications…  a genuine willingness to help those who are hurting;

 the ability to listen, care, pray, encourage, and offer emotional and spiritual support to others;  the time to complete 50 hours of mandatory training; and

 the time to meet with one care receiver once a week.

First, an application to become a Stephen Minister can be obtained at church. Next, interviews will take place in early April. Then, training classes will begin sometime after Easter with scheduling days/times agreeable by the leaders and trainees. Most of all, pray that you are a good fit to join this ministry.

Nancy and Joe Nycz Phone: 419-823-1834

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The Formation of a Safety Ministry at St. John’s

In 2015, Pastor Daniel and President Gordon Moore asked me if I would be willing to take the lead in building a safety plan for St. John’s. I have a history of working with safety issues through my years teaching in public schools and about 15 years running squad and fighting fires. I accepted the challenge.

I began by researching with the NWO synod office and eventually the national office to see if there were any guidelines or templates for a church safety plan. The answers I received were no. So I asked area law enforcement organizations and even the Center for Community Preparedness at Owens Community College. I received the same kind of answers, but they were interested in our process. The Wood County Sheriff’s Department offered help in training which we took advantage of. OCC was willing to review and critique our safety plan whenever I was able to develop one. So I started from scratch. The outcome was our current safety plan approved by church council in January of 2016.

In response to many churches inquiries into the topic and the reality of increasing violence directed at churches and their congregations, in the fall of 2018, the national ELCA, seeing the need of local churches to have an encompassing safety plan offered a local workshop on safety plans complete with a template to use. I attended. It was much more complete than what had been previously approved. I used this template and wrote a new safety plan for St. John’s based on the information and template given at this workshop. Church council is currently reviewing that document for adoption. It is approximately 30 pages in length.

Churches have an obligation to protect church property and the people that attend events at church. Threats come to these in several ways: severe weather and natural disasters, theft or damage of church property, health and emergency medical issues, fire and smoke damage, protecting children from sexual abuse at church, and violence at church. It seems that almost every week there is some report on an evening news program about some church safety issue. Local we have had a person shoot at the mosque and three local pastors arrested for sex trafficking. Across the nation are stories ranging up to active shooters in houses of worship all over the country.

A safety ministry cannot be a one person ministry. More heads, eyes, ears, and volunteers are needed in order to evaluate our congregation’s needs and to train to “protect the flock” (as Pastor Daniel once put it.) It is in this realization that church council has decided that we need to form a church safety ministry at St. John’s. We will plan and carry out a safety audit, create an emergency plan for the church, train a volunteer safety team, and conduct a church-wide drill.

Acts 20: 28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourself and all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” If you feel a calling to be a part of this ministry whether it is as a ministry member or as a safety team member, please contact Rick Lees at 419-350-6029 or at hhiglfr1@gmail.com by April 1st to express your interest. After that time I will schedule an introduction meeting for information and organization.

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CHRISTIAN LEARNING

Graduating Seniors

A reminder that St. John's offers several scholarships to our graduating seniors through our Memorial and Outreach Committee. Scholarship application forms are available in the

church office and are due back to church by April 1.

Dayschool/Sunday School Easter Event

The Youth will be hosting a continental breakfast on Sunday, April 14th from 9:45-10:30 in the Parish Hall. There will be crafts for the children and the event will conclude with an Easter egg hunt hosted by the Dayschool. Everyone is welcome!

*There will be no Easter breakfast on Sunday, April 21st

Lenten Bible Adventures for Kids

Wednesday Night Bible Adventures will be held during the Lenten service. This Bible Adventure is designed for children preschool through 2nd grade. (All 3rd graders or above are encouraged to attend the worship service with their parents.) Bible Adventures take place during the Lenten service from 7:00-7:30 p.m. We meet in the 4th & 5th grade classroom.

5th Grade First Communion Class

Classes will be held on Sunday, March 17th & April 7th, from 9:45-10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Bring a Bible, paper, and pen/pencil. Bring a parent too!

First Communion Retreat

We will be conducting a First Communion Retreat here at St. John's

on Saturday, March 9

th

from 9-noon.

Students will receive their First Communion on Palm Sunday, April 14

th

Reminder: There will be NO Sunday School / Catechism on

Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday

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Vacation Bible School

Sing fun songs and meet fun Bible Memory Buddies!

Experience each Bible story with all five senses!

Dig into surprising and authentic discoveries!

Watch films about real kids in Africa living out

their faith in really cool ways

Play high-energy games!

At ROAR! VBS kids explore the rock-solid foundation of Jesus’ love.

ROAR! VBS is filled with incredible Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, touch,

and even taste! SciencyFun Gizmos

, team-building games, cool Bible songs, and

tasty treats are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life. We

will also discover how to see evidence of God in everyday life - something we call God

Sightings. Get ready to hear

that

phrase a lot!

ROAR! VBS will be June 17-21 from 9 a.m. to Noon.

So, if you have a preschooler through fifth-grade (entering 5

th

),

mark your calendars and keep your eyes open for the registration form.

We look forward to enjoying this amazing adventure with you!

WE NEED

YOU

ON OUR CREW!

Every summer during our annual VBS, we are able to witness to 100 preschoolers

through fifth-graders, sharing the amazing love God has for them.

None of this would be possible without the help of our talented crew.

There are so many different ways that we need volunteers.

Please prayerfully consider helping this year!

If you have never helped before, you will be amazed at how

often the crew gets as much out of VBS as the kids attending.

If you would like to help with VBS, we need YOU!!!

If you would like to help, have any questions, or need more information, please contact

the VBS Director, Rachael Swartz at 419-837-5115 or

vbs@stjohnsstonyridge.net

This epic African

adventure engages the

whole herd! Kids will

explore God’s goodness

and celebrate a

ferocious faith that

powers them through

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LIBRARY NEWS

Here are the new DVD's and books we have added to the library for March.

DVD's

Samson

Jonah.

ADULTS

New Testament

Shaken by Tim Tebow

A Husband for Mari by Emma Miller

The Amish Midwife's Courtship by Cheryl Williford

An Amish Match by JoAnn Brown

CHILDREN'S

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury

First 100 Animals

Dema and Goby

Prayers for Little Hearts

We have added these DVD's for April.

DVD's

Shrek the Third

Happy Feet

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A moment in St. John’s History:

John Baker, a lifelong member of St. John’s, grew up on the family farm on Five Point Rd., and still resides with his wife Jean, in the Stony Ridge community. His great grandparents, Fred and Catharine (Morlock) Keppler, were original members of our congregation, organized in 1869 by Pastor George Adam Buerkle. Theirs was one of the families who chose to follow Buerkle to Stuttgart, Arkansas, in 1878-1879, to settle on a large acreage he had purchased. Keppler bought 80 acres and homesteaded another tract too, but soon died of swamp fever. Catharine brought the children back by train to the Five Point farm. It had not been sold but there was much debt and she

managed to keep it by the fortuitous approval of Keppler’s Civil War pension and accumulated back payments.

Daughter Louisa married Harvey Baker and they settled on the farm and became John’s grandparents.

John remembers Pastor Born and recalls his father, Lewis Baker, worrying about Born’s failing health. Mrs. Born was John’s first Sunday school teacher and also his father’s. He recalls “Grandma” Lungling, Mrs. Born’s mother, who also lived in the parsonage, and remembers her dispensing medical advice to new parents. He also recalls hearing many people speak German including Pastor Born.

One early memory is of the big Christmas tree which was always placed in the front east corner of the nave in the old 1899 church. His father would speak of when it would be covered with burning candles and recalled how lucky they were that there was never a fire. He says that the Property Committee was in charge of getting a fresh green tree to reduce fire hazard.

He vividly recalls the days when there was a big coal fired stove in the nave and a couple more in the back Sunday school rooms. Sometimes in really cold weather custodian John Pertner would have to go over and fire it up some more during the service. John’s father Lewis Baker was on Council when the first furnace was installed.

John became a Boy Scout when the congregation’s Men’s Brotherhood sponsored the first troop at Stony Ridge in April 1942. He recalls that there was some thinking that it would help prepare boys for military service. They were taught to box and camp, deliver war rationing information, and collect milk weed pods for use in manufacturing life preservers for the military. The Wig-Wag flag signaling system was also taught. It was developed by the U.S. Army and was similar to Morse code. At Camp Miakonda many learned to swim, since there were no community pools, and due to the polio scare, swimming in creeks and lakes was discouraged.

Roy Nollenberger was then scoutmaster, assisted by Wendell Bihn and Art Baker. Later the Stony Ridge Civic Club took over the troop sponsorship. The scout cabin north of the church was originally a granary building donated by John Franz. It was located on East Broadway and John Metzger pulled it over to the church with a Caterpillar tractor. The Herman Franz family donated additional acreage on which to place it. Bill and George Henning and Wayne Schulte were very involved in remodeling the structure and building the stone fireplace.

John remembered when he reached an age when he could sit in the back row of the church balcony with his friends, instead of with his family. There he recalled conversing with Homer Puse one Sunday, who was very soon off to service and death in WWII. He also spoke of how the balcony railing was not especially high. Although he didn’t witness it himself, his parents told of a member sitting in the front of the balcony who got flustered handling her hymnal and bible and accidentally dropped her hymnal over the rail and into the pews below. As it happened she

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Thank you to the Prayer & Retreat and Praise Team for serving during Sunday’s fellowship time in February.

THANKS to all who brought in cookies & snacks!

Council will be serving in March &

Worship & Music will be serving in April.

A thank you was received from the following:

Luther Home of Mercy for the donation of $193.02 Genacross for the donation of $144.94 & $54.22

Habitat for Humanity for the donation of $933.19

Lutheran Social Services for the donation of $23.48

We would like to thank the Church Council and the congregation of St. John’s for their interest expressed in Stephen Ministry. Our trip to the Leadership Training Course was both informational and rewarding. We are so excited to begin this caring ministry in our church.

Nancy and Joe Nycz

I want to thank you for all the prayers, the beautiful knitted shawl, and the visit from Pastor Cindy.

Cathy Phister

Thank you to Annessa for bringing me the beautiful flowers. I really appreciate your visit.

Marian Welling

There are no words to express our gratitude for ALL St. John’s has done for the Fred Brinker family. Pastor Cindy’s visits and prayers, Fred’s memorial service, which was beautiful, gave us hope in tomorrow, faith in the everlasting and comfort in the love of friends and family. Our church family prepared such a wonderful luncheon. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for the love you never fail to offer, the help you never fail to give, and the laughter you never cease to share.

The Fred Brinker family

Mark your Calendars for May

May 19

Confirmation Sunday

May 26

Honor our College and High School Graduates

May 26

Move to summer worship times (thru September 8)

8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service

9:30-10:00 a.m. Fellowship

References

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May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with

May the love of God the Father and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. All: And with