st. james journal · bryan’s ministry here, we welcomed erik to our staff and have begun ......
TRANSCRIPT
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A new year brings great new opportunities for all of us. A new
calendar is a clean slate—a reminder for me of the new beginnings we
always have in Christ. In fact, because we are forgiven and freed by
his love, each day can be a new beginning! But in a new year, we
especially take time out to reflect on what we have done and look
forward to the future.
Well, here in our congregation, we can also use a new year to
reflect on what we have done…and look forward to the future. A new
year can be a great opportunity to make new ministry happen!
We have so much to be thankful for in 2016: Vibrant worship
with lots of musicians helping out; new sound equipment that will
enhance our worship experience; we had a wonderful Vacation Bible
School that served lots of children AND adults; after celebrating
Bryan’s ministry here, we welcomed Erik to our staff and have begun
a new partnership with Wartburg Seminary that will not only be good
for our congregation, but is a bright new future for Seminary
Education; our youth have become more engaged in service and we
have a new high school youth group meeting each Wednesday night;
our Trunk or Treat event grew this year to become a community event
that reached hundreds of children; our WELCA continued to serve our
community AND the world through their many programs and made
some exciting changes to the Fall Bazaar. These are just some of the
things we can celebrate. There are so many more!
What do we have to look forward to?
More intergenerational Sunday School opportunities as we
expand on ways generations can gather and grow in
faith together. Our Sunday School leaders are working
hard at creating opportunities for all ages to learn and
grow.
The Celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the
Reformation, including special emphasis throughout
the year on our Lutheran Heritage.
Our Activities committee has some great new fellowship
opportunities for the congregation, and I am excited to
see what this will bring!
Where do you see new opportunities for ministry? What would
you like to see St. James do? Don’t hesitate to share those ideas…and
get things started! WE are ALL the Church! Together, we proclaim
and practice Christ’s love. YOU can be a part of that through the gifts
YOU bring to the ministry in this place!
I pray that 2017 will be a year of much joy for you! And let us
all pray that this new year will bring exciting opportunities to St.
James as we serve and worship together! ~Pastor Jeni
St. James Journal Our Mission Statement:
“We Proclaim and Practice Christ’s Love” January 2017
www.stjamesmc.org
THERE WILL BE ONE SERVICE on January 1 at 9 AM. and no 11:00 AM ser-vice on January 8. Our regular schedule resumes January 15.
THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held on Sunday, Jan-uary 22 at 10:30 AM. There will be no 11 AM service that day. Please make plans to attend this important meeting.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
There is something for EVERYONE on Wednesday nights at St. James! 5:15—Join us for a great supper! 6:00—Worship Band 6:15— Confirmation for 7th and 8th
graders ONE for 4th-6th graders WOW for pre-school-3rd Graders H.S. Youth Group 7:00—Choir Wednesday night activities resume Jan-uary 11!
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION will be held SUNDAY, January 8 at 6:00 PM. All those interested in joining St. James are invited to attend. If you cannot attend, but still wish to join, please contact Pastor Jeni.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
8:00 AM Traditional Worship
9:15 AM Contemporary Worship
9:15 AM Adult Bible Study
10:15 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Traditional Worship
(Communion is on the 2nd & 4th Sundays)
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News From Our Members THOSE WE HAVE REMEMBERED IN
PRAYER: Paige Braun, Madison Braun, Bill
Patrick, Donna Schultz, Blair Smith, Deb Whip-
ple
If you wish to be added to our Sunday morning
prayer list, please contact the church office or
Pastor Jeni.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUE TO INCREASED PRIVACY REGULA-
TIONS at the hospital, it is very important that
you call the Church office when you or someone
you love is hospitalized so we can make sure you
receive a visit. You can leave a message on the
machine or call Pastor Jeni at home or on her cell
phone. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is
extended to:
The family of Sherrie Strong
The family of Margaret Patrick
Laurie and Larry Haugen and family at the
death of Laurie’s mother.
The family of Merlin Scholl
Our prayer is that you feel the love of God from
the hearts of those who care and share in your
time of sorrow.
When there is a death of a family member, please
call the church office so that we may make a note
of it in an upcoming Journal. Also please call the
church office if a name has been inadvertently
omitted.
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BAPTISMS:
Jax Jenner Schulte and Gunnar James Schulte,
baptized on November 27, 2016. Parents are
Jillian and Jay Schulte.
Leo Patrick Duffy, baptized on November 27,
2016. Parents are Sean and Katy Duffy.
May God grant your little one all the blessing of
His gentle love and may your little one enjoy a
lifetime of health and happiness!
Congratulations!
THANK YOU for all of the ways
you remembered our family through
the Holiday season. We are thankful
for all of the cards, gifts, and prayers. –Pastor
Jeni, Sid, Grant and Alex
THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who have sup-
ported our office remodeling with your donations and
time! Special thanks to Dave Frenz for painting, Bob
Grant and Sid Bohls for installing the new floors, and
Don Priebe and crew for getting the ceiling in. We are
excited to move back into the offices in January!
THANKS SO MUCH to all of to all of you who have
helped me in some way during 2016! Wow! There are
too many of you to name. I appreciate those of you
who have folded bulletins, put together Journals, count-
ed offering, etc. It is people like you that help make
this a wonderful place to work. ~Amy Halverson
SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP:
Thank you to all who have been supporting
our Sunday morning fellowship time and
our Riverside Youth by bringing treats!
You can sign up on the sheet in the Fireside Room to
bring treats any Sunday.
BLESSING BOXES: At our Advent Fair
in November, we made “Blessing Boxes”
that we are filling in the month of Decem-
ber. We will return those to church in Janu-
ary and bless them. They will then be available to give
to people in need. They are filled with a few non-
perishable food items, toiletries, a phone card, as well
as other necessities. If you would like to make a bless-
ing box, there is still time to do that! There are boxes
available in the Narthex, or you can fill a reusable
shopping bag or box from your home. There is also a
list of the needed items. Please consider participating in
this ministry. Boxes will be blessed during worship on
January 15.
ST. JAMES CUTEST BABY CONTEST: Entr ies
are being accepted now for our first ever St. James Cut-
est Baby Contest! Your pictures can be brought to
church and left in the box in the Narthex, marked with
your name.
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SCRIPTURE READERS If you are unable to read on the sched-uled Sunday please call the church of-fice.
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THE FEBRUARY JOURNAL deadline is
by January 20 by 12:00 PM.
THE FEBRUARY JOURNAL will be
assembled on January 26
at 9:00 AM.
Please call the church office if you are able to help.
BULLETIN ARTICLES are due on
Wednesday by 9:00AM every week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS Blood
pressure checks will take place on Sunday,
January 8. This will be in the Board Room
across from Amy’s office.
~Growth & Life Board
LOVE CIRCLE will meet on Monday,
Jan. 16th, at 7pm at the home of Kathy
Follmuth. (10 Silver Lane)
DO DAYS QUILTING meets every
Tuesday at 9:00a.m.
St. James News SENIOR SAINTS will meet on January 19th at
5:00.
PRAYER SHAWL: Keep stitching on
these cold winter nights! We’ll pray
over finished ones in February. We
prayed over 12 in December, which is awesome.
Thank You!
WELCA PRAYER PARTNERS: If you signed
up for a Prayer Partner at the Women’s dinner, did
you forget to take next year’s name? Call Kathy
Follmuth, she has your Prayer Partner name. (425-
9676)
2017 FLOWER MINISTRY sign up
sheets are now available in the Narthex.
Flowers are $21.
CHRIST IN OUR HOME AND PORTALS OF
PRAYER for January through March are
available at the church on the tables in the Narthex.
WEDNESDAY EVENING ACTIVI-
TIES will resume on January 11. In
case of bad weather, check our Facebook
page and KIMT for notices of cancella-
tions. If school is not held or let out early due to bad
weather, Wednesday activities will not be held.
2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES: Your 2017 of-
fering envelopes are available to be picked up in the
Narthex. If you did not receive offering envelopes
and would like some, please contact the church of-
fice and some will be assigned to you.
FIRST COMMUNION INSTRUC-
TION will be held on Saturday, January
21 from 1-4 for all in 3rd grade or older
who have not yet had communion instruc-
tion (or anyone who wants a refresher
course!). Please sign up by calling or e-mailing Pas-
tor Jeni. At least one parent is asked to attend com-
munion instruction. First Communion Sunday is
February 5.
8:00 AM 9:15 AM 11:00 AM
Jan.
1
No
Service
Sue
Cira
No
Service
Jan.
8
Choir
Cantata
Choir
Cantata
No
Service
Jan.
15
Marvyl
Ransom
Mariah
Piippo
Carmen
Madson
Jan.
22
Judy
Clarke
Suzan
Koehler
No
Service
Jan.
29
Lynn
Christensen
Ann
Sletten
Erik
Hoefer
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ST. JAMES STAFF Pastor Jeni Bohls
Student Pastor Erik Hoefer [email protected]
Administrative Coordinator Amy Halverson
Financial Secretary Mike Fitzgerald [email protected]
Building Supervisor Bill Trask
Worship & Music Coordinator Bill Grant [email protected]
Choir Director Zack Carlson
Kitchen Coordinator Sherri Fitzgerald
ST. JAMES CONTACT INFORMATION
1148 4th St SE
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-4702 fax (641) 423-4755
www.stjamesmc.org
www.facebook.com/ @St James
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MEALS FOR JANUARY
January 11—Walking Tacos, Soft Tacos, Nachos and Cheese, & Hot Dogs
January 18—Chicken Wraps or BBQ Sandwiches, Chips, & Hot Dogs
January 25—Baked Chicken Breasts or Drummies, Stuffing or Mashed Potatoes, Finger Veggies, & Hot
Dogs
Home-Cooked suppers are served every Wednesday Night, beginning at 5:15. Suggested donation is $5 per person. All meals include lettuce salad, dessert and beverages. Welcome back from Christmas break!
~Sherri