St.

Johns Lutheran Church ELCA

1300 W. Benjamin Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 371-1985
stjohn@cableone.net
www.stjohnsnorfolk.com

Our Mission: Loving God . . . Loving People . . . Reaching Out!

Please remember in prayer:
Pr. Mike Sorsen
Waine Kruse
Stephanie Rabbass
Dadrian Medel
Norma Henrickson
Janel Jundt
Gordon Moritz
Marcia Barg
Gladys Moritz
Ken Carlson
All youth celebrating their First Communion this weekend

Jo Schaefer
Esther Harrom
Lisa Echtenkamp
Daniel Miller
LaVonne Holcomb

If you know someone who is in need of prayer but whose name is not listed, it may be that
they have asked not to be included in the printed bulletin. Please remember them in your
personal prayers.

Flowers on the altar this second weekend in December are sponsored by Rollie &
Linda Downs in thanks for their many blessings; and by Bettie & Don Miller in
celebration of the Christmas seasons and its many blessings.
PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE if you or someone you know is hospitalized
and would enjoy a visit. Our church staff and hospital visit volunteers would be
happy to greet, see, and pray with you.

Thank you to our Church Council for providing the Celebration Brunch last Sunday.
Everything was deliciously prepared by First Choice Catering and was a wonderful
gathering for so many of our members.
CHANGE: Church Council Meeting has been moved from Wednesday, Dec. 17 to
Tuesday, Dec. 16. Please mark your calendars for this important change!

Thank you to the Women Singers who are providing special gathering music for
the 8:30 am Worship Service this weekend.

Dr. David E. Cox Interim Senior Pastor

Justin Wiese Assistant Pastor, NeLCM-Norfolk Campus Pastor
Jacquie Samway PMA, Coordinator of Congregational Care
Jolene Ziebell Coordinator of Youth Ministries
Gail Volquardsen Office Manager
Jim Carter Maintenance Engineer
Midge Hedrick Office Assistant

SUNDAY, DEC 14
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:30 am ........................................... Festival Worship
9:45 am ..................................................... Fellowship
9:45 am ...............................Life of Christ Bible Study
Bethany Room
10:00 am ............................................ Sunday School
11:00 am .................................. Celebration Worship
7:00 pm.................... Gods Ambassadors ChristCare
Kristy Booras, 402-371-6218
MONDAY, DEC 15
10:00 am ...................................... Friends ChristCare
Pat Monson, 402-371-8803
10:00 am .............................................. Staff Meeting
2:00 pm........................................ Chosen ChristCare
Carol Waggoner, 402-371-7642
6:30 pm.......................................... Stephen Ministry
8:30 pm..................................................... Solid Rock
TUESDAY, DEC 16
Good Neighbors Packing
7:00 am ................................ Mens Prayer Breakfast
6:00 pm........................................ Temple ChristCare
Pat Monson, 402-371-8803
7:00 pm....................................... Beloved ChristCare
Tracy Meister, 402-379-2484
7:00 pm .......................................... Church Council
7:00 pm............................................... Praise Forever
WEDNESDAY, DEC 17
1:30 pm.................................... Searchers ChristCare
Connie Hagstrom, 402-649-4862
2:30 pm................................. First Communion Class
5:00 pm................................. First Communion Class
7:30 pm.......................................... Mens ChristCare
Rollie Downs, 402-649-0256
THURSDAY, DEC 18
Good Neighbors Packing & Delivery
11 am ...................................... PrimeTime Christmas
6:30 pm.......................... Christmas Cantata Practice
7:15 pm..................................Majesty Choir Practice
SATURDAY, DEC 20
6:00 pm.................................. Majesty Choir Cantata

SHOP FOR MINISTRY

DEC 14
DEC 21

8:30 am
11 am
8:30 am
11 am

Elenore Merritt
Michelle Dagerman
Doris McMahon
Beth Bonderson

ST. JOHNS EXECUTIVE BOARD

Mike Widhalm, President. ..... 1-402-316-5382
David Merritt, VP ...................... 402-379-0020
Dan Olson, Treasurer. ............... 402-379-1036
Diane Sobotka, Secretary. ......... 402-371-3583

OFFERINGS
Mission Emphasis (DEC.) ................ Good Neighbors
General offering for 12/7/14 ..................... $9,440.99
The above general offering figure reflects
weekly additions of direct deposits and advance
pledges.
End of October Net Profit/(Loss) ............ ($1,594.36)
Year-to-Date Net Profit/(Loss) ............... ($2,821.85)
Attendance 12/7/14 .............................(86, 128) 214
Saturday Youth Christmas Program ................ 161

HAVE YOU ORDERED A

POINSETTIA YET?
Poinsettias are still available to
purchase for our Christmas altar.
Each potted plant is $13.
Poinsettias can be taken home after Christmas
Eve Worship or picked up the following
Monday. Any left after that time will be
delivered to shut ins. Thank you!

CAN YOU HELP?

Preparations are underway for
the packing and delivery of
Christmas food boxes for

Good Neighbors.
Boxes will be carried up from downstairs into
the Fellowship Hall after the late service
TODAY. Initial packing will tentatively start at
8 am on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and final packing
and delivery at 8 am on Dec. 18.
Contact Iva Thelander today if you want to get
in on the fun!

Our Stephen Ministers are ready to

care for you.
If you or someone you know could
benefit from the care of a Stephen
Minister, please give us a call:
Karen Widhalm, Stephen Leader
(402-694-9031)
Nancy Jacobs, Stephen Leader
(402-841-1770)
St. Johns Church Office
(402-371-1985)

MERCY MEALS PACKING

Packing Mercy Meals at the Mercy Meals
Warehouse at 7th & Madison will be
The first Monday / month: 4-5:30 pm or
5:30 7pm
The first Tuesday / month: 12:30 2 pm
If interested in packing, contact Jan Gannon at
402-649-6401.

Chosen ChristCare desires to repeat

this ministry.
The Madison County Juvenile Facility is in
need of monies to provide special Christmas
meals for the 30-32 youth who are living there.
One meal for the group costs between
$50-$75. Chosen ChristCare is going to make
one meal happen, but there is at least another
meal needing support and there are other
needs (toiletries) that can be supported. It this
kind of ministry appeals to you, the church
office has an envelope to which you can
contribute. It would be wonderful to give
Jesse Jensen (person who called Pastor
Justin from the facility expressing this need), a
bigger fund than $50-$75 to work with. This is
a great way to model our mission statement-reaching out. Last year St. Johns and
Chosen provided home-made cookies and
enough money for 3 meals, but no toiletries.
Lets see if we can do even more!

St. Johns Majesty Choir

will present Canticles in
Candlelight: A Cantata for
Christmas at all services on
Dec. 20-21.

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS !

We started a tradition last Christmas Eve that
was very appreciated by the congregation and
we would love to continue. We are looking for
musicians to perform before the 5 pm, 7pm,
and 9pm services. If you play an instrument,
sing, or dance, please join in the celebration of
our Lord's Birth with a gift of your talent.
Please contact Vern Krause or the church
office if you are interested or know of
someone else that should share their talent!

NOVEMBER COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

St. John's Council members are excited
about the catered Celebration Brunch at noon on
December 7th, and encourage all members to
come and share in the celebration. This
celebration is part of the Stewardship program
"Looking Forward to the Journey."
The Council reviewed the first draft of the
2015 Budget and spent time reviewing some of
the line by line items. With 2014 almost at a
close, the Council was grateful to hear that we
have been blessed with no major budget
problems this year due to the congregation
members' faithful gifts.
Prior to the Council meeting, St. John's
newly formed Call Committee met with the
Council and Pastor Juliet Hampton from the
Nebraska Synod office. She reviewed the
responsibilities that both groups would have and
shared how the process works. All members
enjoyed sharing experiences at St. John's and
got to know each other a bit better.
A complete copy of the minutes is available
by mail or email by contacting the church office.

Thank you to everyone who generously gave

to the Sunday Schools ELCA Good Gifts
Project. We are within $200 of being able to
provide a family farm! The farm includes a
cow, a couple of goats, a dozen chicks, two
pigs, and farming tools plus agricultural
training and marketing support. Your
monetary gifts to our Sunday School
throughout the month of December will
continue to go towards this goal!

SATURDAY, DEC 13
6 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
TRACY MEISTER
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
CONNIE HAGSTROM
GREETERS/USHERS Rod & Shirley Hughes
READER Pat Monson
PRAYER LEADER Pat Monson

SUNDAY, DEC 14
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
TRACY MEISTER
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
MIKE / KAREN WIDHALM
GREETERS Claribel Wulf, Dan Melkus
USHERS __________, __________, _________
READER Sherri Kuk
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Ruth Circle
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Sherri Kuk, Jim &
Elenore Merritt, __________
PRAYER LEADER Carol Waggoner
SOUND Susan Skogstoe
POWERPOINT John Skogstoe
SUNDAY, DEC 14
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
TRACY MEISTER
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
MIKE / KAREN WIDHALM
GREETERSMichelle Dagerman,
Martha Thomnpson
USHERS Dennis & Brenda Smith,
Carol Severa
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Carol Severa,
Carol Timperley, __________, __________
PRAYER LEADER Brenda Smith
SOUND Alex Thompson
POWERPOINT Emma Dagerman

SATURDAY, DEC 20
6 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
BRETT SIMONSEN
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
JIM CARTER
GREETERS/USHERS Rod & Shirley Hughes
READER __________
PRAYER LEADER __________
SOUND Susan Skogstoe

SUNDAY, DEC 21
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
BRETT SIMONSEN
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
JIM CARTER
GREETERS Diane Sobotka, Jack & Audrey
Prater
USHERS Phil Sykes, Dennis & Lois Braesch
READER Rollie Downs
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Temple ChristCare
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Diane Sobotka,
__________, __________, __________
PRAYER LEADER Rollie Downs
SOUND Brenda Carhart
POWERPOINT Midge Hedrick
SUNDAY, DEC 21
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
BRETT SIMONSEN
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
JIM CARTER
GREETERSEline Brosh, __________
USHERS Cathy Erwin, Carhart Family
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Lon & Jeanne
Timperley, Cathy Erwin, __________
PRAYER LEADER Dave Pedersen
SOUND Hannah Carhart
POWERPOINT Rachel Carhart