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St. John’s HELPER St. John’s United Church of Christ 1513 West Street Rosenberg, Texas 77471 Church Office: 281-342-5159 fax: 832-759-5548 Church Email: [email protected] Church Website: www.stjohnsunitedchurchofchrist.org Rev. Daniel Haas, Minister Cell phone #801-368-1180 December 21, 2016 Rev. Donald Kolkmeier, Pastor Emeritus No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at St. John’s United Church of Christ “Syria Then and Now”

As a consequence oppression only got harsher. Innocent infants were murdered. Today we call these acts terrorism. Terrorists want to spread terror. That is not the bomb or the killing itself but it is that feeling of not being safe in situations where you are actually supposed to be safe. A baby in crib, like Jesus in his manger is supposed to be safe.

Unfortunately terror never stops. Just over the last 48 hours we have seen events that question a decent sense of safety and security. The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot to death in an art-gallery opening a photo exhibit. Twelve people were killed by a truck plowing through the crowds at a Berlin Christmas Market. Places of art and Christmas is a highly political story. Remember entertainment are supposed to be fun and safe. what triggered Joseph and Mary to go to That is what terror does: bringing fear to places Bethlehem? – The Roman Emperor had ordered where it does not belong. a census so that he could tax all his subjects in their hometown. Herod was a satellite king for the Christmas is a highly political story. There is much Roman Empire. He governed the Roman province to fear in the world. Some things have always called Syria around the time Jesus was born. The been scary. Other terrors are brought upon the gospel of Matthew tells the story that when Herod innocent on purpose. But the Christmas story also saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he contains the answer to the fear of terror. It is the was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the proclamation of the angel in the Gospel of Luke: children in and around Bethlehem who were two “Do not be afraid!” That is not only an emotional years old or under, according to the time that he comfort like “don’t feel bad.’ It is a profound call to had learned from the wise men. Baby Jesus resist the temptation of being terrorized. Baby escaped as a refugee to Egypt. As a grownup he Jesus will not die today! Working for peace in was eventually arrested and crucified. The sign Syria still makes sense! Creating community in on his cross said what the wise man had been the city is still a beautiful thing! Do not be afraid! proclaiming at his Birth “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. Blessings,

The mighty Roman Empire was afraid of a babe Rev. Daniel Haas in a manger because people saw him as the king. Offering for December 18, 2016 Preparing for Saturday, Dec.24 Unrestricted Income Scripture: Isaiah 62:6-12 General Fund ……………………. $2,170.96 Luke 2:1-20 Sermon: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” General Fund income is used to pay our congregation’s operating expenses. We must receive $3,130 each week in unrestricted giving to sustain our annual budget of $162,738 Adult Sunday School The Adult Sunday School class meets at 9:00 Month to Date for unrestricted: $8,375.96 a.m. and typically ends around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the Restricted Income-December 18, 2016 Disciples Classroom. All are invited Benevolence …………………….. 111.00 and welcomed to attend and share in VOC Special offering……………. 418.00 various topics. Lessons are led by Leo Niemeyer. Restricted Income is money given for a specific There will not be any Sunday school class this purpose. It is never used to pay our church week as we are taking Sunday, Christmas Day off operating expenses. so everyone has a time to spend with family. Offering for December 18 $2,699.96

Attendance for December 18, 2016 Church Attendance 90 Congregational Meetings Sunday School 9 The annual Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, January 22 when election and installation THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS of new church positions will take place.

Requesting Prayer for Themselves: Denver McFarland Requesting Prayers for Others Diana Barnett by Karen Sikes Choir Christmas Cantata Bobbie Jo Behrens by Karen Sikes Thank you to all involved in Eve Behrens by Karen Sikes providing such a beautiful Milton Eastwood by Gloria Himly Christmas program. Nathan Gaskamp by Florence Gaskamp Nelda Gutowsky by Florence Gaskamp Gary Harbes by Melba Ashley Stan Kubelka by Kathy Kubelka David Kveton by Alice Prosise Christmas Eve Emma Lee Marek by her family Our Christmas Eve Ginger Pawlek by Gloria Himly candle light service will Wolfgang Schmidt by Angelika Schmidt begin at 6:00 p.m. on Kara Schmith by Michelle Gutowsky Saturday, December Sara Schoditsch by June Weiss 24th and Holy Communion will be observed. Rebecca Schulte by Gloria Himly Please bring family and friends with you. Darlean Swallers by Diana Beck Reminder that we will not have a worship service Sarah Weimer by Petra Weimer on Christmas Day, so enjoy your time with your Robert Wilbeck by Shirley Niemeyer family. Church Office Closed Please note that the church office Offering Envelopes will be closed on Monday, th The 2017 boxed sets of offering December 26 in observance of envelopes have been placed in Christmas. the Narthex for your pick up. Boxes are filed numerically and alphabetically, for the most part. Most people’s number stayed the same as in 2016 but there are Daily Devotionals the occasional cases where someone was The These Days-Daily Devotions for Living by assigned a number that does not follow the Faith for January-March is now available for pick alphabetical spelling of their last name. So if you up in the Narthex. There is no charge for these do not see your name where it should normally booklets as they are being provided by the be, please scan each box and if you still do not Women’s Guild to anyone looking for a daily see your name then please contact the church devotional guide. office. There are a few unassigned boxes at the very end and if you have not been receiving a box but would like one, then please take one New Year’s Eve Celebration numbered between 96 and 100 and write your Start making your plans to join the name and address on the sheet of paper on the men of the Brotherhood for their table. You do not have to be a church member to annual New Year’s Eve use these offering envelopes. celebration beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31 in the Parish Hall. Family and friends are invited as well. Feel free to bring any left over Christmas snacks Monday Morning Men and your favorite games to play. This will be a The Monday Morning Men will night for fun, games and fellowship. not meet this coming Monday, December 26th due to the church office being closed and Ushers/Greeters for 2017 to allow for more family time. Thank you for all you do around Please check the sign-up sheet this church in helping to keep located in the Narthex and us up and running smoothly. confirm by placing a check mark by your name for the months you wish to serve. Make any notes of changes. Family Ministry News It is with pleasure that we announce the addition of Dean Jones to the Family Ministry committee. For the past several months Dean has been Christmas Fund for VOC sharing his piano skills during our visits to the Thank you to those who donated towards our shut-ins. Our committee now consists of these special Veterans of the Cross Christmas Fund, faithful members that coordinate all activities and $418 was collected on Sunday. workings through numerous dedicated and talented church volunteers: Melba Ashely, Diana Beck, John Eixmann, Darwin Enax, Dean Jones, Patsy Kubes and Joyce Lamensky. Kroger’s Card Remember to re-register your Lost Earring Found Kroger’s card each year so that a If you lost an earring this past Sunday please portion of your spending is given contact the church office. back to the church through the Brotherhood. Calendar Looking Ahead Adult Sunday School-9:00-9:30 a.m. Bible Study-2nd and 4th Tuesday For Saturday-December 24, 2016 Confirmation Class-2nd & 4th Sunday Lay Reader: Nina Cooper Choir Rehearsals, Wednesday @ 7pm Flowers for Altar: Women’s Guild Christmas Eve Service, 12/24 Church office closed, 12/26 Greeters & Ushers for December Brotherhood’s New Year’s Eve, 12/31 Tom Gaskamp & Sandra Croft Holy Communion, 1/1 Lay Readers for December Celebration of Joy, 1/1 Tom Gaskamp, Michelle Gutowsky, Church office closed, 1/2 Nina Cooper Altar Flowers for December Enax & Beck family, 12/4 Nina Cooper, 12/11 Women’s Guild, 12/18 & 12/24 Thought for the week:

“ Don’t judge yourself by your past-you December 24, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. don’t live there anymore” Rev. Daniel Haas delivers the evening message, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” Holy Communion Observed Candlelight Service December 25, 2016 No Sunday morning service

“Enroll” your Kroger’s card with the Brotherhoods Community Rewards Program. Go online and use #84302 as the organization number. Link to Kroger’s Community Rewards website: https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards (On your computer push Control and click your mouse at the same time while hovering the mouse over the above link and it will take you directly to the Kroger registration page.)