The Light of St. John’s November, 2019

Disappointments in life often have a way of driving our faith dangerously close to the edge. Either

someone lets you down or your circumstances just don’t work out the way you thought they would.

What we expect from God so often seems to contradict what we experience in life. We find ourselves

wanting to ask: If God is good, then why did this happen? If God really cares, then why did my

prayers go unanswered? Questions like these can leave us feeling bitter toward God and doubting our

faith. We may even develop a kind of Christianity that shrugs its shoulders and says, “Well, that’s just

the way it is.”

I’ll be the first to admit that trusting in God’s providence is hard to do when it comes to difficult

circumstances over which we have no control or no immediate answer to our prayers. But the early

disciples were no different from us in that respect. Luke Chapter 24 records the Easter Sunday account

of two followers of Christ who were walking on the road to Emmaus. Jesus was walking with them,

though they didn’t recognize him. And he asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you

walk along?” One of them, named Cleopas, replied “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who

hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” “What things?” Jesus

asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who

did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our

leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they cruci-

fied him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. (Luke 24:17-21).

Like many of the Jews, these two disciples expected the Messiah to deliver Israel from their Roman

oppressors. When Jesus was arrested and crucified, they were greatly disappointed. And it was be-

cause God was doing something very different from their plan. He was saving them from their sins,

not Roman oppression. That’s also the reason for many of our disappointments. We expect God to do

one thing and He does something entirely different. Yet from the story of these two disciples, we can

learn that God is always working, even in the midst of difficulty and even when we don’t realize why

things happen the way they do.

Much of God’s work is behind-the-scenes, hidden from our view. In fact, often His work is most

clearly seen in the rearview mirror. I’ve looked back enough times to see and trust that things that

happen in our lives are not a product of good or bad luck, or of random coincidences. Instead they are

divinely shaped and guided by an all loving God. When we understand the faithfulness of God, we can

rise above every circumstance in our lives that leaves us feeling disappointed. When you feel blinded

by life’s disappointments, stay in faith. Trust God’s promises. He is always faithful.

Blessings, Terry

SERVING IN November

Kitchen:

Altar:

Usher: Josh Freeman (Council Member)

3rd

Alyssa & Mark Melson

10th

Lynda & Len Kubiak

17th

Cindy & Gene Rex

24th

Barbara Smith

FLOWERS

Please pray for our soldiers, the

shut-in, the lonely, those in need

of healing and their families:

MaeDell Cowan, Nancy Faullk,

Weston Hughes, Linda Brinkman, Glen

Drew, Dennis Hejtmancik, Jeff

Krueger, Ronny Knesek, Ronnie

Langham, Gail Hardin, Melanie Becka,

Judy Kocurek, Gail Muzny, Taylor Power,

John Pinkerton, Donna Havemann, Carol

Petty, Bill Hardin, Jake Cedidla, Tho-

mas Swonke, Edward Beran, Mark

Broesche, Jack Howe, Jude Pampell and

care givers, Shannon Maresh, Cathi

Laney, Shannon Miller, John Pinkerton,

Bud Melson, J.D. and Irene Bartek, John

Laffere, John Boyd, Dan Gerdes, Adele

Zboril, Kim and David Hardin, Martha

O’Roark, Amelia Wearden, Patricia Tar-

nowki. Prayers of safety for Chris Supak

on his deployment to the Middle East and

prayers for his family during his absence.

Prayers for the family of Jimmie Alice

Blackmon, Bob Oetzeman, Jeffery Love,

during their time of sorrow.

My sincere thanks and

appreciation for all the food

brought for my precious

husband Bob’s

funeral reception.

God bless you all.

Pauline Oetzman

We Owe Them a Lot

On Veterans Day we remember again

Our men and women who served;

We honor them now for what they did

then:

The liberties they preserved.

Let’s never forget their sacrifice,

The hard, heavy work they have done;

They did what was asked, crucial needs

they fulfilled,

With a telephone, pencil or gun.

We’re happy and proud to honor them;

They gave so much more than they got.

Our heroes, our veterans kept freedom

safe;

All of us owe them a lot. By Joanna Fuchs

www.poemsource.com

President

Dwayne Beran

Vice-President

Donna Havemann

Secretary

Suzsette Hart

Treasurer

Melanie Becka

Maintenance

Brandon Telschow

Cemetery

Josh Freeman

Pastor

Terry Moon

Contact

979-535-4125

Terry.Moon

@stjohnsdeanville.com

John’s Lutheran Church

Council Meeting Minutes

October 15, 2019

6:30pm

Call to order, Opening Prayer – Pastor Terry

Approval of Minutes from previous meeting

Approval of Financial Reports:

Treasurer Report

Memorial Fund

Cemetery Fund

Pastor’s Report - Two visits

Open issues-

St John’s Scholarship Fund – no report

Building Fund Priorities – Buckling of roof in Sunday School room.

Board Member Positions – Marsha Kocurek, Ronnie Pampel, Ashley Zboril…

Approval of Budget Committee of Melanie, Keith, Bobby & Kelly

New Business

Approve 2020 Budget to present to Congregation

Discuss November Congregational Meeting Agenda – Dwayne went through last years meeting

agenda and will work on this years.

Discuss/Approve Columbarium – Need vote by congregation to approve use of outside funds of

approximately $30,000 to build. Discussed member and non-member fees for usage.

Discuss/Approve Cemetery Curbing – Should run about $17,000 to complete.

Discuss New Council Member Nominations – see above

Discuss Water Leak at Parsonage – Brandon will fix the leak.

Discuss Issue with Termites in Outbuilding – exterminator to examine termite invasion and treat.

Discuss/Approve Dates for next meeting and Congregational Meeting – Will have a council meet-

ing on November 5, in advance of the Congregational Meeting on November 10, 2019.

Adjourn / Closing Prayer – Adjourned by Dwayne and Prayer by all.

Respectfully submitted,

Susette Hart

MEMORIALS GIVEN TO

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEANVILLE, TEXAS

Given In Memory Of

Loretta Lafferre by

Vinelda Schwartz

Michael & Georgia Perry

Given In Memory Of

Bob Oetzman by

Shannon Maresh

Betty Brinkman

Kevin & Pam Kubiak

Bob Carlini

Joyce Curran

Linda Oliver

Barbara & R.J. Smith

Given In Memory Of

Jeff Love by

Roger Broesche

Ronnie & Ruth Albright

Shannon Maresh

Betty Brinkman

Mildred Miman

Given In Memory Of

Sissy Backmon by

R.J. and Barbara Smith

Sympathy Is Extended To The

Blackmon Family On The Loss Of Their Loved One

Jimmie Alice Blackmon October 14, 1932 –October 5, 2019

Jimmie Blackmon, 86, of Caldwell, was called home to her Lord Saturday, October 5, 2019. A graveside service will be held 12:00 pm at Seale-Round Prairie cemetery. Bo Bo's Florist in Jewett will be in charge of flowers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice Brazos Valley. Funeral services have been entrusted to Phillips and Luckey Fu-neral Home. Jimmie Alice Roberts was born in Franklin, TX on October 14, 1932 to parents Alvis Allen Roberts and Mary Anna (Duke) Roberts. Sissy enjoyed life and was a loving mother to seven sons and two daughters. She retired from Caldwell ISD as a bus driver in 1998. Sissy was preceded in death by her parents, Alvis and Mary (Duke) Roberts, three broth-ers, James Roberts, Charles Roberts, and Cecil Roberts; a sister Maxine Roberts Trehern; and a daughter, Tonie Bell Dube. Survivors include her husband Charles Blackmon, seven sons, David Bell and wife Gwen, Kenneth Bell and wife Bette, Jimmie A. Bell, Robert (Bobby) Bell, Alvis (Mack) Bell, Charles (Paul) Bell and Joseph Bell; a daughter, Melinda Pertl and husband Joel; Numerous Grand-children, Great Grandchildren, and Great-Great Grandchildren.

“Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant”

All Soul’s Day! Sunday, November 3rd Heavenly Father, on this day we remember the saints in Heaven. Thank you for releasing

them from the burden of sin and death in this life and for keeping your promise to them.

We especially remember those from this congregation and loved one of our church members

who have passed away in the past year. Fontaine Wilhelm, Larry Adolph Maresh,

J. D. Lambrecht, Loretta Lee Laffere, Bob Oetzman, Gladys Kocurek, Jeffery Love, Ester

Elliott, Helen Bernice Schneider, Kyle James Stark, David Joe Valigura, Dorothy Lorenz,

Lillie Haisler, Barbara Ann Zavodny, Robert “Bobby” Burtschell, Albert Pivonka,

Christopher Vest, Sherry Mae Boehme Harmel, James Dell Dawson, Linda Champer and

Jimmie Alice Blackmon. Give comfort to all those who grieve over loved ones no longer with

us on earth. Give them the hope only your word can offer us. Lord in you mercy hear our

prayer. Amen

Yes, I would like to order poinsettia plants for the Christmas Season to enhance our

celebration of Jesus birth at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Please order ___________ plants for me. The cost per plant will be $10.00.

If possible, please attach your check to the order form! Make check payable to

WELCA, St. John’s Lutheran Church. Thanks for making the Christmas season a spe-

cial memory for all in attendance! Return to Debby Schumacher or mail to Debby

Schumacher, 4979 CR 140, Caldwell, Texas 77836. Last date to order will be Sunday,

November 17, 2019.

Put my flowers in Memory of OR Honor Of:

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Given by/My (Our) name(s) is:

______________________________________________________

Poinsettias

Bible Verses About The Purpose of Thanksgiving

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness

I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7:17(NIV)

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so

walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in

the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with

thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who

made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter

his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him

and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his

faithfulness continues through all generations."Psalm 100:1-5

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm

118:29

THANK YOU!

The Deanville Volunteer Fire Department thanks everyone

for making their fundraiser a great success. Many go

beyond expectation, workers, purchasers, contributors, the

auctioneer, including all from inside and out side the

community. We could not exist with you!

THANKS to everyone who purchased membership tickets from me for the

2019 Burleson County Fair. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Kaitlyn Kindt

As the restoration continues on the Deanville Depot, we have 2 opportunities for you to help us keep up the pro-gress in restoring the depot. On November 8th, we will have a stew dinner at the Deanville VFD from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Stew will be available to-go, but you will need to bring a container. We will also have a fall Facebook bake sale. Items will be available online from noon - 3:00 p.m. Item pick up will be at the Deanville VFD starting at 5:00 p.m. We hope to see you at our upcoming fund-

raiser to help restore the Deanville Depot!