Welcome to St. John Lutheran Church-LCMC
December
Important Events for December
Shepherd's Heart Work Day
We will be hosting a distribution for Shepherd’s Heart ministry on December 8Th, from 8-10 a.m. Please plan to help if you can. We will get started about 7:00 a.m.
FOOD PANTRY - HOLIDAY SEASON
We are stocking up for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. We’ll give a holiday meal during November and December. Suggested items include ham or turkey breast, Stove Top, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, fruit cocktail and turkey gravy. Please
place donated items on the bench by the Food Pantry. Items can also be purchased
through Amazon and shipped directly to the church at 409 S Main St, Thrall. Monetary
donations are always welcome! Contact Joy Moehnke with any questions. Thank you for your generosity!
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS ARE FAST APPROACHING!!
ADVENT starts Sunday November 30th. Wednesday night, December 3rd will be the first of our
The Epistle
Advent Midweek Services. There will be services on December 3,10,17. The services will begin at 7pm with a hymn-sing. A meal will be served at 6:00 p.m. Our theme for the services will be: “EVERY HEART PREPARE.” The following is some information regarding this theme: We decorate in preparation for Christmas. In November and December people spend hours putting up lights in their living space and ornaments on their evergreens. Poinsettias are placed on the mantel and presents under the tree, and we “deck the halls with boughs of holly.” These Christmas decorations bring enjoyment and anticipation to the holiday.
Advent is the church’s season of preparation for Christmas, for the coming of the Lord. This Advent season, as part of our preparation, we reflect upon
three common Christmas decorations and how they help us see Christ and prepare for His coming: evergreens, lights, and the creche. Then on Christmas we will focus on the decorated presents which point us to the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.
Lutheran Men ~ Monthly Breakfast
On December 6, we will have a Lutheran Men Monthly breakfast. Breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m. We will have a hot breakfast, devotion, and a Bible study. Please come and feel free to invite a friend or neighbor.
SNOOP PARTY
Join us on December 7th, for a Snoop Party at 5 p.m. Please bring a $5 gift in a large brown grocery bag and join in the fun of this card party. We’ll have bags available. The Women’s Group will provide the meal. Please sign up so we know how much food is needed.
SUNDAY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Plans are being made for the Children’s Christmas Eve Program. Please let Cindy Beckermann, Romadene Mohel, or Linda Richter know if your children or grandchildren will be able to participate in the program this year.
• December 7th, program practice after the church service. A pizza lunch will be provided.
• December 14th, Christmas party and breakfast during the Sunday School hour. After church, pizza and games at Mr. Gatti’s and then sing at SPJST.
• December 21st, program practice during the Sunday School hour.
• December 24th, program at 6:00 p.m. Children need to arrive at 5:30 to get dressed for the program.
STAFF CHRISTMAS GIFTS
This Christmas, we would like to show our appreciation to our staff. Please consider placing a gift in the red box in the Narthex or the offering plate. Please mark your envelope with the words “Staff Gift”. The Council made the allocation of 50% for pastor, 30% for the secretary, 10% for the organist and 10% to the janitor. Please give your gift by Sunday, December 21st so that a gift can be given to them on Christmas Eve. Your kindness to our staff is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your participation in blessing our staff this Christmas!
Open House
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AT THE GESKE’S HOME
Pastor Jeff and Jacob would like to invite you to stop by their home between 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, December 21st. They would love to have you stop by
for refreshments and visiting.
Merry Christmas!
It is that time of year again that we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As you celebrate Christmas, may you be reminded once again of how God loves you so much that He sent His Son to be your Savior. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!
Your staff, Pastor Geske, Sharon Moreno, Ellen Hodon, and __________________ Josephine Castro
Ladies Bible Study
The Ladies Bible Study will meet on December 11th at 10:00 a.m. They are doing
a study on the women of the Bible called, “Servants of the Lord”. Please plan to
join them for time in God’s Word.
THE SINGING GROUP
The Singing Group will meet every Monday at 6:30 p.m. They are preparing for Christmas. If you would like to be a part of this group, contact Christy Pick at 512-694-3428.
Shepherd's Heart
FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR GESKE
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Salvation ~ God’s Gift to All People
Greetings in the name of Christ. As you celebrate this Christmas, may you be reminded and encouraged in the fact that Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem,
who made a journey to the cross of calvary to die for your sin, my sin and the sin of all people. God’s plan is for all to be saved. St. Paul wrote, “3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. “ (1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV) Unfortunately not all will be saved, and this reality is not the wish for God but because of unbelief, unrepentance, or apathy. There will be people who will spend eternity away from God and from us who believe. The church exists to help people grow in a relationship with God and with brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a place to be fed, nurtured, and encouraged. The purpose is always to worship and then to go and witness.
We witness by sharing our lips and our lives telling the hope that we know to be true in Jesus Christ. Always remembering that God is at work through us causing the growth. People always need to be reminded of who Jesus is and what He has done for them and for us. They need to be reminded and encouraged in the SALVATION OUTLINE. I came across these words in a catechism. I hope that they can be helpful to you as you share our Savior Jesus with others.
Salvation Outline
The following seven points summarize basic information about the human condition and God’s saving grace. You may want to memorize these points so that you can share them with someone who does not yet believe in Jesus as his or her Savior.
1. God loves you! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
2. You are a sinner. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
3. God punishes sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
4. Jesus took our punishment. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
5. Jesus rose from the dead. “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
6. Jesus offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who believe in Him. “Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household’ ” (Acts 16:30-31).
7. Salvation is free—a gift from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Luther, Martin. Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation - 2017 Edition (p. 362). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.
As we seek to share the love of Jesus, we want people to know Jesus and we want them to join us in making Jesus known to the world. At this Christmas, I encourage you to speak up and speak out by encouraging and inviting those you know and love to join us for worship and growing in God’s Word and love. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
In Christ, Pastor Jeff Geske
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