Announcements & News
Another Successful Blood Drive!
The 2nd Blood Drive of the year was held at the Church Sunday October 25th.
Janice Fairlie and Sharon Neutzler co-chaired this important event and deserve much thanks and appreciation for their devotion to community service. Thank you to Deanna Giese, Lisa Chavelas and Subway who provided lunch for the workers. And especially thank you to all who donated time and blood (please see list below). You truly are lifesavers.
1. Johnny Randermann
2. Jill Randermann
3. Jennifer Schroeder
4. Jerry Randermann
5. Robert Randermann
6. Marcus “Pete” Randermann
7. Mary Schroeder
8. Cookie Engeling
9. Danney Rohde
10. Robert & Janice Fairlie
11. Robert
12. Virginia Altman
13. Cassie Westerfeld
14. Benita Schramme
15. Anna Finke
16. John Haarmeyer
17. Arvin Wagner
18. Kelly Antkowiak
19. Raymond Walker
20. Fred Otto Gaskamp
21. Charles Giese
22. Debra Westerfeld
23. Cathie Klatte
24. James Schawe
25. Stephanie Rosenbaum
26. Karen Rosenbaum
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THE GATHERING
WORSHIP, PRAISE, PRAYER
fun.
relaxed.
uplifting.
casual.
joyful.
inspiring.
worship.
Sundays @ 7:00 pm
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LUTHERHILL MINISTRIES
Lutherhill annually has over 2,500 participants in its summer programs,
through 9 weeks of residential camp and 30 Lutherhill run day camps at congregations
around the synod. That’s up from 1,300 in 2004.
Members of St. John on the ministry of Lutherhill:
“I like Lutherhill because I get to spend time with my friends and also meet new people. The camp offers a chance for some new experiences. I can’t wait to go back next year and spend the whole week.”
— Bethany Janner
“Lutherhill is a lot of fun for everyone ,and you get to meet people from different areas. I enjoyed worship, singing and fellowship. The games are a lot of fun too and this year I stayed up all night on the night that we slept out by the campfire. It is a wonderful place and the money for the improvements is very much needed.”
—Colby Seeker
"Lutherhill was a wonderful experience for me. It is an amazing feeling to know that everyone is there for the same reason: to celebrate God's goodness. Whether you're looking for a little peace in your life or even for some excitement, Lutherhill has something to offer everyone."
—Laura Pieper
“If anyone has been awakened by attending Via de Cristo...it was Butch and I. Our lives have never been the same since that weekend. We have become closer to our Lord and each other, a feeling that no one can explain.
The camp at Lutherhill was such a blessing. We could feel God's presence all around us from the time we stepped out of the car. It was like a piece of heaven right there before us. We will do anything we can to keep Lutherhill facilities alive and going because the feelings there are indescribable. It was a blessing for our grandsons, also and really has boosted their faith. Praise God!”
—Butch & LaNell Seeker
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Thanksgiving and More - It is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This year, our family of St. John has the opportunity to host the first “Town and Country Thanksgiving Service.” As we gather for worship on the evening of Thanksgiving, we will be joined by members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. We hope you will all come out and help us to welcome our brothers and sisters to worship at Prairie Hill.
And, if we are making plans for Thanksgiving, that means that Christmas is just around the corner. Before things get too busy, mark your calendars for the celebration of Christmas at Prairie Hill:
December 12, Christmas in the Country: Join us games, singing, and food as we celebrate the coming of Christmas.
Christmas Eve: We will have 3 worship services on Christmas Eve. Our children’s program will be at 4:30 pm, we will have a service of Carols & Candlelight at 7:30 pm, and we will have a traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight service with communion at 9:30 pm.
And don’t forget Advent! In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we will prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ in our Sunday worship. The celebration of Advent makes Christmas much more meaningful, and we hope you will be here on Sundays in December.
WELCA Thankoffering Service & Good Neighbor Sunday
Wednesday, November 11th & 18th @ 7:30pm: Ladies’ Choir Practice
Saturday, November 21st @ 9:30am: Decorate the sanctuary for the Thankoffering service. Bring canned goods and harvest/fall decorative items
Sunday, November 22rd @ 10:05am: WELCA Thankoffering, guest speakers Delores Gaskamp
WELCA envelopes Special offering go to ministries throughout the ELCA; please place your WELCA envelopes in basket in back or in offering plate
Join us after the Thankoffering service for a Thanksgiving meal in honor of Good Neighbor Sunday. Invite your friends and neighbors to share the good news about our ministries at St. John.
Please let Karen Rosenbaum, Jeannie Kroll, or Audrey Steinbach know if you will be attending the meal or bringing guests.
Memorial Committee News - The Memorial Committee met on July 8, 2009. The committee recommended, and the council approved, the following transactions from the Memorial Fund.
$2,000 donation to the Men in Mission Youth Scholarship Fund
$1,000 donation to the Lutherhill capital campaign, “A Place for All People.”
New numbers for the hymn boards in the sanctuary.
A Lectionary book for use on Sunday mornings.
The Memorial Committee will meet once more before the end of the year. If you have any suggestions for Memorial Fund usage, please contact any of the committee members or myself.
Donna Bentke, ch.
DO YOU NEED HELP? - As a community service the LYO would like to help the elderly and homebound members of St. John. If you need help getting your place ready for the winter, or if you need help after a storm, or if you have other ideas for how our youth can be of service to the members of St. John, please contact the Cathy Klatte at 830-8690.
MEN’S CHOIR Men’s Choir has resumed practice on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. We will be singing old Gospel favorites. Age and singing ability don’t matter, just come on out and have fun singing with us.
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Scholarship Fund - For the last two years, the Men in Mission have awarded scholarships to our graduating high school seniors. We (the men of St. John) would like to provide you with more information about how this scholarship program is funded.
The first endowment to the scholarship fund, a portion of the Hahn Sister Estate ($10,000) was placed in a Certificate of Deposit (CD) with Guaranty Bank of Brenham. This endowment, and all future endowments, will be held intact, only the interest used to help pay for scholarships. The original gift or endowment ($10,000) remains in the scholarship fund invested as long as the program exists. Should the Scholarship program ever be discontinued, original money ($10,000) would be return to the owner, St. John Lutheran Church, Prairie Hill. All endowments are under this same restriction. There was another $10,000 endowment given to the Scholarship by a member of our church family and it too is invested in a CD, providing interest each year to help the fund pay outs. A full explanation on how the endowment program works is available on our church web site or a copy of it can be obtained from the church office.
The names of endowers are inscribed on a plaque located on the wall at the entrance to the Parish Hall. Also, the names of the persons who have received a scholarship award are engraved on this same plaque.
The Scholarship Fund balance reported in this newsletter ($29,138) represents $20,000 invested in CD’s and $9,138 available for scholarships. The available funds will fund the scholarship program at its present rate ($750 per student) through 2012 based on an estimate of eleven candidates for confirmation in the church family. Additional funds will be needed for the following years 2013 & 2014. The Men in Mission are in the process of developing a plan to make sure the scholarship fund is fully funded at least five years in the future. This plan will require additional endowments, gifts and fund raisers.
The Scholarship fund was established and maintained by the Men in Mission (The Men’s Brotherhood, The Men’s Breakfast Group and The Men’s Choir) All men of any age in our church family are welcome to join one or all of these groups and enjoy the fellowship, and support of our church family and in this case support the young members on their way to advanced schooling. If you would like more information or how you can get involved, please call Pastor David and he will direct you to a contact.
Special Envelopes for 2010:
January: Lutheran Disaster Response
February: Lutherhill
March: Habitat for Humanity
April: Food for the Poor
May: Lake Ministries
June: Gideons
July: Wartburg Theological Seminary
August: Heifer Project
September: Prison Ministries
October: Brenham Mission Society
November: World Hunger
December: Men in Mission Scholarship Fund
REPORT OF HOSPITAL AND PRISON MINISTRY SEPTEMBER 2009
Went to Trinity Medical 7 times visiting with 148 patients.
Went to Trinity Care Center 2 times leading Bible study and visiting with the residents.
Did an all day seminar at the Hamilton unit in Bryan on Staying on Track.
Did worship services at Trinity Care Center and Blue Bonnet Nursing Home.
Delivered 26 lap quilts made and donated by Earline Moody.
Miles traveled 209 @.331/5 ................................... $70.00
Income
Earline Moody ........................................................ $25.00
Contribution ............................................................ $30.00
Sept.Special Envelope's St. John's ............................ $245.00
Total ....................................................................... $300.00
Volunteer Chaplain, Delores Gaskamp
Council Summary - October 2009
The Church Council of St. John met for its monthly meeting on October, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Annex. All council members present except Marcus Randermann, Julia Hansen was present as a guest. Council President Russell Seeker called the meeting to order. Charles Giese led the devotion.
MSC to approve the minutes of the September 2009 minutes. Results of the Time & Talent forms were shared and discussed.
Dir. of Music & Worship Julia Hansen offered her letter of resignation (see p. 13), sharing that the dual responsibilities of the church and school were keeping her away from her daughter too much. MSC to accept Julia Hansen’s resignation, effective December 31. A discussion about filling this position was tabled until the next council meeting.
MSC to recommend the special envelope designations to the October congregational meeting.
MSC to remove the Charles, Kristen, Brandon, and Conner Rougeau from the membership rolls per their request.
Plans are being made for the WELCA Thankoffering / Good neighbor Sunday. As last year, the meal will be catered.
Christmas in the Country is scheduled for December 12. All committees of the church are asked to help with this event.
Pastor David shared a summery of how our benevolence funds are used by the ELCA and by the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod.
The lack of a nominee for Treasurer for 2010-2011 was noted and discussed. Will be brought to the congregation’s attention at the congregational meeting.
MSC to approve use of the Parish Hall for a shower on November 14.
MSC to approve the purchase of new curriculum for Sunday School and Adult Sunday School.
MSC to approve a joint Thanksgiving Eve service with St. Peter’s Episcopal and St. Paul’s Lutheran.
MSC to approve our Christmas worship schedule: 4:30 Family worship with Sunday School program, 7:30 Carols & Candlelight service, 9:30 traditional candlelight service with communion, and 9:00 am Christmas Day service.
MSC to approve a continued 7:00 pm Sunday night service, the Gathering.
MSC to approve the use of the Parish Hall for piano lessons taught by Lisa Jenkins (students are largely members of St. John).
MSC to adjourn.
Pastor David closed the meeting with prayer.
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Experience the power of the Passion of Christ!
Travel with Pastor David to Germany and experience the world famous Passion Play of Oberammergau. Along the way, we will visit the historic sites of the life of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
Spots will fill quickly—reserve yours now, you won’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity.
The History of Oberammergau
In 1633, the seemingly unstoppable Black Plague was moving through Europe. Watching as friends and family in neighboring towns quickly and painfully succumbed to the disease, the villagers of Oberammergau made a solemn vow that if God would spare their town, they would honor him with a passion play - a re-enactment of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The plague stopped just short of the town, and in 1634 the villagers put on their first passion play in 1634. Since then, the Oberammergau Passion Play has been produced every ten years (except when interrupted by the World Wars), attracting the attention of kings, queens, and disciples the world over. In 2000, half a million visitors streamed through the tiny village to witness this story of faith and devotion. 2010 marks the 41st production year of the Passion Play.
Trip Details
The cost of the trip is $4,499 (based on prices & fees of January 2009). This includes round-trip airfare from Houston, double occupancy accommodations, two meals most days, special local entertainment, deluxe tour bus through Germany, a professional tour director, and tickets to the play. It does not include personal expenses (passports fees, airport taxes, additional sightseeing on your own, etc).
Pastor David took part in a nearly identical trip in 2000, and will be along to lead our trip and provide insight on the history of our tour.
For more detailed information, talk to Pastor David after the service, or contact him by phone (836-8666) or email (pastorhansen@stjohnprairiehill.org).
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St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Prairie Hill is hosting a HealthYes!™ Preventive Screening event on Monday November 16th, 2009.
Studies show that those with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) are 4-6 times more likely to suffer a heart attack. HealthYes!™ preventive screenings provide fast and accurate results that detect your risk of Peripheral Artery Disease, Stroke, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, and Heart Disease, and Osteoporosis. To take advantage of these affordable and easy screenings, you must pre-register by calling 1-866-718-0414 or going online at www.HealthYes.com. Results will be returned to you in just 4 business days. Be Proactive. Stay Healthy.™
