Welcome to St. John Lutheran Church-LCMC
February
Important Events for February
Lent
On February 18th we will begin our Lenten journey for this year. We will begin with Ash
Wednesday, and we will have a weekly midweek service until Palm Sunday on March 29th. Please join us each week for a Lenten meal at 6:00 p.m. and a Lenten Service at 7:00 p.m. There will be no meal on Ash Wednesday.
Here is some information regarding our theme this year: “For us” is not simply a pithy line to use because it is easy to repeat. It is a confession of who God is and what He brings in giving us His Son. It helps us understand why God would send His Son to die for us. The phrase “for us” also captures much of the Reformation’s theological emphasis—and Luther’s understanding of Scripture in particular. Luther went from searching for a righteous God and finding only stern rebuke to seeing God in the form of a little baby and as the one who became one of us for us so that we might
become like Him.
Our Lenten preaching series hymn “O Love, How Deep” (ELW 322) was originally a twenty-three- stanza poem written in the fifteenth century by an unknown author. In the nineteenth century, an Anglican cleric named Benjamin Webb translated the hymn into English and then chose six stanzas for use in English hymnody. The doxological stanza was added later.
Some hymns tell a story, others teach, and still others create pictures in our minds of the great works of God. Some hymns do all three, weaving together a tapestry that is beautiful yet simple, wondrous yet easy to understand. “O Love, How Deep” is that kind of hymn. Although it does not appear in the first stanza, the most pointed and beautiful language in the hymn is expressed in the phrase “for us.” The phrase is reminiscent of the language of the Nicene Creed: “Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.
Shepherd's Heart Work Day
We will be hosting a distribution for Shepherd’s Heart ministry on February 9, from 8-10 a.m. Please plan to help if you can. We will get started about 7:00 a.m.
Valentines Breakfast
Join us during Sunday School on February 8th for a Valentine’s Breakfast. We are planning to have breakfast tacos.
Youth Bowling
Calling all youth for bowling party. We are planning to go bowling on Sunday, February 15th at 3:00 p.m. We will be going to Spare Time in Pflugerville. We will play games also. You can invite a friend or two to join you. The cost will be covered by the Youth Fund. Please let pastor know if you are interested by February 11th
Lutheran Men ~ Monthly Breakfast
LUTHERAN MEN ~ MONTHLY BREAKFAST - COME ONE AND COME ALL!
On February 7th, 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 short Bible study
Movie Night
We will have a Movie Night on February 27th. We will meet at 6:30 for a light supper and then watch a movie, “Fire Proof”. If you have not seen this movie, it will be one that you don’t want to miss. Here is some information about this movie. “In the wake of his daring
rescue of a complete stranger, decorated firefighter Caleb Holt (Kirk
Cameron) realizes the extent to which he has failed as a husband. In a
desperate attempt to save his relationship with his wife, Catherine (Erin
Bethea), Holt turns to The Love Dare, a Christian self-help book. At the
prompting of his devout father, John (Harris Malcom) - and guided by the book itself - Holt embarks on a 40-day mission to rescue his marriage from the looming specter of divorce.”
THANK YOU ~ WOMEN’S THANK OFFERING
Thank you to all who participated in the Women’s Thank Offering. The Sunday School children who recited Bible verses were a joy to see. Many canned goods were received for our Food Pantry and $658 was collected in the offering. May God Bless each of you who gave in any way.
Kay Bulgerin, Women’s Group President
THANK YOU!
Dear St. John Friends, the words “thank you” seem woefully inadequate to express the depth of my gratitude for your very generous Christmas gift; however, since words are all I have, please accept my sincerest “thank you!” I am deeply touched by your kindness and generosity. I am equally grateful to you for having included me in the luncheon honoring departing council members several months ago. The tardiness of my thanks is inexcusable and embarrassing, but it in no way diminishes my sincerity. I cherish the beautiful engraved cross and appreciate the
generous gift card and beautiful cake. Serving as your organist is such an honor and a joy that
I could hardly stand being retired, so I returned in a part-time capacity while a long-term solution is being determined. I am so grateful to be a part of and in service to this wonderful congregation. May the new year abound in all things good for each of you. Sincerely in Christ, Ellen Hodon
THANK YOU, AUDIT COMMITTEE
Thank you, Debbie Ging, Debbie Bernhardt, and Joy Moehnke for giving
their time and talents to perform the work of the audit committee.
CHILI SUPPER ~ THANK YOU
To all that supported our St John Lutheran Church Chili Supper by purchasing and selling tickets, to those who cooked the chili, to those who worked the day of the event, to those that prepared desserts, we would like to say, “THANK YOU!” We served 509! Again, thank you to everyone who participated in any way!
Ladies Bible Study
The Ladies Bible Study will meet on February 12th 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.
Shepherd's Heart
FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR GESKE
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Greetings in the name of Christ!
Praise the Lord that spring is almost here! It is wonderful to see the daffodils growing by our house. After this winter, it is neat to see signs of warmer days. Each day we live, we continue to see how our gracious God is at work among us. I marvel at the ministry that God is doing among us and I look forward to seeing what God will do in the years ahead. I ask you to join me in praying that God will mightily bless us to be a blessing in His kingdom. As I see God at work, I also believe that the devil, the world and our sinful flesh are also at work in God’s church, seeking to keep us from loving God and loving one another. Paul exhorts to continue to do good to each other as he wrote, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10 NIV)
I came across these words about Galatians 6:10, they state: Galatians 6:10's key takeaway is a call to persistent, intentional goodness, urging believers to actively do good to everyone,
with a special priority for fellow Christians ("the household of faith"), seizing every God-given opportunity to be a source of blessing and reflect Christ's love, remembering the principle of sowing and reaping for a future harvest.”
It went on to say, “Here are the main points:
Seize Opportunities for Good: The verse emphasizes that doing good isn't a passive suggestion but a continuous, active practice whenever the chance arises, not just a one time event.
Universal Benevolence: Christians are called to extend kindness, compassion, and generosity to all people, reflecting God's own character.
Priority for the Faith Community: While doing good to all, there's a special focus on supporting and serving those within the church ("the family of believers").
Context of Sowing & Reaping: This verse follows the teaching that believers should not grow weary in doing good, because they will reap a spiritual harvest if they don't give up, tying actions to eternal outcomes.
A Call to Action: It serves as a summary to live out the gospel, countering self-focus and apathy by encouraging believers to be actively involved in building up others and the Kingdom.
In essence, Galatians 6:10 is a directive to be intentional agents of good in the world, motivated by faith, and sustained by the promise of God's blessing.”
As God’s people, we gather together to worship, to grow, to be strengthened, and to be sent as God’s people serving Him. For me, I believe that God has given me the mission to be about building relationships that lead people to Christ. It is my prayer as your pastor and your brother in Christ to help you to continue to grow rich in God’s Word and rich in His love. Some Bible verses that reflect who I believe God has called me to be are those words of 1 Thessalonians there Paul wrote, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NIV)
My prayer for us is that we would seek to encourage and to build each other up. Indeed, the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature seek for us to work against each other. In these days, the world wants us to focus on me, myself, and I rather than living what true JOY is, that is putting Jesus first, then Others, and finally Yourself. There is nothing new under the sun. God is calling us as His children, His family to be about loving each other and working together to theglory of God. As you make the Lenten journey, I ask that you would be reminded of how much God loves you and that He sent His Son to be our Savior and Lord. I pray that you would be excited about how God is at work through our ministry together. Each week, I look forward to seeing you in God’s house, growing in His Word and growing in service to Him. God’s blessings!
In Christ,
Pastor Jeffrey Geske
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