St. John Lutheran Church June 2016________________________________________________________________________

Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Dan Pool: 321-6757, home

e-mail: dpool@stjohn-clinton-ia.orgWeb Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org

________________________________________________________________________

Road Closure and Parking Issues

We will be open for services all summer regardless of road construction! The exit drive is now closed and will be most of the summer. Please use the drive on the west side of the church for both entering and exiting the parking lot. It appears that we will also lose access to Main Ave. at some point this summer as they replace the bridge over Car Barn Creek. We recommend using Buell Ave. to N. 5th Street which will take you right in front of the parsonage. Allow yourself a little extra time to get to church and be cautious of other drivers!

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyThe Book of Daniel

This month we finish our study in the Book of Daniel. Chapters eleven and twelve offer us some of the most mysterious language of the book. But we also find a glorious picture of the resurrection! We meet each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There is no cost. Bring your Bibles. Kids and teens are welcome to come with their parents.

June 5: Daniel 11:1-35: History of the KingsJune12: Daniel 11:36-45: King Anti-Christ June 19: Daniel 12:1-13: The Time of the EndJune 26: Simultaneously Saint and Sinner

In July, we begin a new study called Character Matters which will include video clips from Dr. Joel Biermann of Concordia Seminary based on his book, A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics.

Youth Ushers

Each month on the second Sunday of the month, our confirmed young people are serving the congregation as ushers. But we need you to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall.

Core Values: Confessional

So what kind of Church are we? We are a Confessional Church. This means we have a clear and thorough definition of what we believe. We are grounded in our doctrine and we are accountable to the truth we confess. Christ and His work of justification are at the core of what we believe. And whether our doctrine is popular or unpopular, we make it known.

Our Lutheran confessions are included in the Book of Concord. They were finished in 1580, so we have been saying the same thing as Lutherans for a long time! The Book of Concord contains:

The Ecumenical Creeds: Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian The Augsburg Confession The Apology of the Augsburg Confession The Smalcald Articles The Power and Primacy of the Pope The Small Catechism The Large Catechism The Formula of Concord, Epitome The Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration

We often interact with the Small Catechism around here. I lace it into my sermons. It is used in catechesis. We encourage parents to help their kids memorize the Small Catechism before they even start youth catechesis. Luther intended for us to use the Small Catechism throughout our lives as a prayer book and devotional.

This summer I will be preaching a sermon series on the 10 Commandments on Wednesday nights. And I will be drawing on the both the Small and Large Catechisms. If you have never read The Large Catechism, this is a great time to start. It reads

like a series of sermons. We will have copies available in the Fellowship Hall for just $12.

Over the next few months I will address each of our core values: biblical, confessional, liturgical, and missional. And hopefully this will bring us to a greater understanding of what Christ has called us to be.

Pastor

Wednesday Summer Services

Join us in June, July, and August on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. for summer Church Services. These services will be simpler and different than Sunday mornings. We especially welcome those with difficult or busy schedules, but everyone is invited. The Wednesday sermon series will be looking at the 10 Commandments through the lens of the Large Catechism.

Higher Things

Higher Things is July 5-8. We are looking to borrow two minivans so we can travel in two vehicles rather than three. Let us know if you can help. Gifts to cover the cost of our trip are still appreciated. Thrivent Choice dollars directed to St. John Lutheran Church are also helping us. Direct those choice dollars today!

Lutheran Family Day at AdventurelandJune 22

Gates Open @ 10:00 A.M.

Make June 22 a family day at Adventureland Amusement Park near Des Moines, Iowa. There’s no pre-registeration necessary. Just make sure you buy your tickets at the Group Gate at the entrance to the park. Entry passes are $26 per person and must be paid for in cash. No credit cards will be processed at the Group Gate. The gates open at 10:00 a.m.

Facebook

Did you know the Church has a Facebook page? You can like us on Facebook at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.

VacationThe Pools will be in California June 22-29 to see family.

Check It Out In Our Church Library

Gifted HandsBy Ben Carson

(autobiography)Dr. Ben Carson is known around the world for breakthroughs in neurosurgery. In “Gifted Hands,” he tells of his childhood in inner-city Detroit to his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical institutions. This book tells of his struggle to beat the odds and of his faith in God that have worked miracles on children that others have written off as hopeless.

Rise of ISISBy Jay Sekulow

ISIS is a threat that we cannot ignore. Beheadings, mass executions, and a wave of anti-Christian abuse that has been called the worst religious persecution since the Holocaust. They are the wealthiest and deadliest terrorists in history. They control vast sections of the Middle East and possess some of the world’s most powerful weapons.

The Puzzle BibleThe Good Shepherd

(gift from Rev. Gene & Gerri Rall)Six puzzles inside for children ages 4-8. Put the pieces together and see how the stories unfold. This is learning by doing.

Thank you to the Sunday School teachers and staff who shared their time and abilities with the students during the past school year. We appreciate all that you have done:

Ross Eberhart, Sarah Flathers, Sheryl Jindrich, Jackie Kammerer, Margie Mueller, Sallie Pool, Tara Sirna, Angie Stewart, and Janice Wheelock.

Summer Sunday School

This summer, we will have Children’s Summer Sunday School only on the first Sunday of each month. We will be watching a special video series called The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus with popcorn and prayers. On the other Sundays, we will not have Children’s classes. Both adult classes will continue to meet. Teens and kids are welcome to attend with parents. May this be a time when parents and grandparents take on that God given responsibility to teach their children the faith at home. Start working on the Small

Catechism and grab a copy of My Devotions available in the narthex.

Fellowship Club Potluck

St. John Fellowship Club will meet on Tuesday, June 7 at 6:00 p.m. for a potluck supper at the church. Please bring food to share. The beverages and table service will be furnished. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Ladies Evening Bible Study

Ladies Evening Bible Study will meet on June 7 and 21 at 7:00 p.m. in at the church. All women are welcome!

Ladies Aid

Ladies Aid will meet on Friday, June 3 at noon in the fellowship hall and will

feature a potato bar.  The cost per person is $10 and you may bring a guest.  Please contact Claudia, 259-0901, by May 27 if you plan to attend.  We will play dirty bingo so each person should bring a white elephant gift.

Pizza Ranch

On Monday, June 13 the Mary Martha ladies will be volunteering at Pizza Ranch during the dinner buffet from 5:00-8:00 p.m. All tips and 10% of the sales will go to St. John. Come enjoy dinner and support your congregation.

Mary Martha

Mary Martha Society will meet in the fellowship hall on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m. Kathy Schrader will be leading the Bible Study. Millie Wilke and Marilyn Stuedemann are in charge of refreshments.

Quilting Bee

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, June 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies interested in helping sew and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief are invited to attend.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School will be July 18-22, 2016. Our theme this year is “Barnyard Roundup.” VBS is for children 4 years old or enrolled in St. John Sunday School or Preschool through those entering grade 7. Older children and

adults are welcome to volunteer as helpers. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for this exciting barnyard adventure!

Altar Flowers

Flowers may be placed on the altar on any Sunday except during Lent. This may be done in memory of someone, commemorating a birthday or anniversary, or as a service of love. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the narthex.

Hy-Vee and Flowers on 5th both have keys to St. John so if you are ordering

flowers from them they should be able to pick up the vase liners and deliver the flowers when it is convenient for them. If you would like to use a different florist, you may stop by the church office the week before you are signed up for flowers and pick up a church key and the vase liners for the florist. Please ask the florist to leave the church key in the sacristy when they deliver the flowers.

Please contact the church office, 242-5588, by Thursday at Noon with your altar flower bulletin announcement, the florist who will be delivering the flowers, and whether or not you would like to keep the altar flowers after service or have them delivered to the sick or shut-in members of the congregation.

Do you shop at Amazon.com?

AmazonSmile will make a donation to St. John each time you make a purchase. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/42-6005460 to register your account. After registering your Amazon account, start each purchase at smile.amazon.com.

Youth Pizza Night and Bible Study

Our middle and high school students are invited to the parsonage for pizza and Bible study on Sunday, June 12 at 5:00 p.m. No cost. Bring your Bible. Let Pastor know if you plan to attend!

Preschool Registration

The preschool is accepting students for the 2016/2017 school year. We will continue to have a multi-age classroom setting with 3 year olds attending 3 days per week and older children attending 5 days per week. We have extended our hours of operation to 8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $120.00 for 1st year students and will be free for 2nd year returning students. Contact the church office, 242-5588, for more information or enrollment forms.

Hospitalization

Please be sure to mention St. John Lutheran Church if you are admitted at Mercy Medical Center, Clinton. Your pastor wants to visit you when you’re hospitalized, but the only sure way for him to know is for you or a family member to call the church office, 242-

5588. If you would like pastor to visit, but not have your name announced on Sunday, your request will be honored.

June Birthdays & Anniversaries

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!

Happy Birthday to:

Millie Wilke, who will be 80 on June 2.Doris Jacobsen, who will be 87 on June 3. Lois Specht, who will be 85 on June 4.Russ Henningsen, who will be 81 on June 16.Dale Scott, who will be 91 on June 19.Donna Licht, who will be 82 on June 25.Alice Stuedemann, who will be 84 on June 26.

Happy Anniversary to:

Grant & JoDee Wells, 25th Wedding Anniversary on June 1.Bill & Millie Martzahn, 70th Wedding Anniversary on June 8.Jim & Geri Kophamer, 25th Wedding Anniversary on June 15.Allen & Kim Morrow, 35th Wedding Anniversary on June 27.

We list birthdays 80 and above and anniversaries for year one and every five years thereafter unless we receive a request not to do so.

Private Communion Calls

Pastor Pool now makes his visits to those in nursing homes throughout the month. Those at home who would like to receive a communion visit are asked to call Pastor at the church office, 242-5588, to schedule a convenient time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN JUNE

Early

Elders: Jim Schnitzmeyer Bill Ross

Ushers: Calvin Lange Jay Mueller Brian Wall

Youth Ushers – June 12

Nursery Attendants (Late)

5 – Heather Becker

12 – Barb Bialas

19 – Sandy Bovis &Moriah Stewart

26 – Natalie Jackson

Recording

5 – Paul Wenzel12– Darlene Paysen19– Paul Wenzel26 – Darlene Paysen

Late

Elders: David Becker Tom Hardersen

Ushers: Bryce Petersen Randy Housenga Harlan Dell Kevin Dell

Youth Ushers – June 12

Acolyte Schedule

5-Early – Elder5-Late – Elder

12-Early – Elder12-Late – Elder

19-Early – Elder19-Late – Elder

26-Early – Elder26-Late – Elder

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: JUNE 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Angie Stewart, and get her the information by June 20.