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“Listen, listen God is calling, through the Word living Christ- we will lose them to the millions of inviting, offering competing messages. forgiveness, comfort and But our God doesn’t just tell a story. Our God joy.” We proclaimed these creates us and invites us into the ongoing story that words together as we sang is still being written, the greatest story ever told. “Listen, God is Calling” in “For God so loved the world, that God gave God’s mid-July. On that Sunday only Son, so that everyone who believes in him we shared the story of Mary may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) God did not send the Son into the world to and I preached on truly condemn the world, but in order that the world listening to our God. I remarked on how easy it has might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17). We become for us, like Martha, to become distracted hear multiple messages condemning our world, but by acts of discipleship we think are on target. The as Christians we have one true message that Good News in the story of Mary and Martha is what ignites an inextinguishable flame of hope! We have we see Jesus doing in the story. We witness Jesus been handed down that message from millions of as Emmanuel. We witness Jesus as our God humble saints before us and we are entrusted with telling enough to enter into our messy homes and invite our children and our children’s children this story the least deserving of us to sit at his feet and share for the sake of the saints after us. in his redemption of the whole world (spoiler alert: “…through the Word inviting…” Through the Word we are all the least deserving). We encounter an is where God calls us, invites us, and offers us incarnational God who hungers for us to sit and beautiful gifts. When was the last time (outside of a listen. Sunday morning) you spent time listening to God’s As I remarked that day, I have to wonder Word? I promise you, as a body of Christ, our what exactly it is that we are taking the time to attempts at discipleship will fall short when we are listen to? Have we invited Jesus into our homes? not centered on God’s Holy Word. As Lutherans we Do we sit with the Word of God and let it mold us cling to sola scriptura “word alone.” If that is not and shape us into God’s people? In conversations our foundation, we will be a house built on shifting with many in our community I’ve often heard about sands (Matthew 7:26). If we want to know how our time constraints. I get it; we are a busy people. our God is active in our world now, we must know We have work, family commitments, sports how our God has acted in the past. If we want to practices and games, health concerns, volunteer know how to be agents of God’s Kingdom for the hours with multiple organizations, financial sake of the future, we must be rooted by what that stressors, travel plans, emails to answer, time for Kingdom looks like in Holy Scripture. relaxation, and the list goes on. Taking time to Just as Jesus entered the home of Mary and invite Jesus into our home easily falls to the bottom Martha to sit and be present with them, so does of our priority list. And as we scroll on our Jesus come to us through tangible gifts he has smartphones and tablets or watch the nightly news given us: Word and Sacrament. We need not seek before we go to bed, it isn’t hard to allow ourselves despairingly; Christ promises to be present in the to be shaped by just about every other message Holy Word, in the water at the font, and in the the world has to offer except for the message of bread and wine of Eucharist. Come and worship Christ. with us and as you leave take home that weekly You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a devotion and spend time in God’s word with family precarious time. As your pastor, I can tell you this: or other friends. You are invited to join me each we live in a world in desperate need of Christ’s Wednesday through August 24th at 7PM for Gospel message. We live in a world where the Wednesdays in the Word where you are invited to priesthood of all believers needs to be active not hear God’s Word for you. We have constant access just at 10AM on a Sunday morning, but all the time. to these tremendous gifts. We are invited and We live in a world where our children have access welcome to sit at Christ’s feet and listen. Thanks be to all of the world’s messages in seconds, and if we to God! can’t tell God’s story- our story as children of the In Christ, Pastor Annie worship service. It is

encouraged/recommended that all teachers, substitutes and anyone else that is interested in helping, attend this meeting. “Fruit of the Spirit” Rally Day Sunday, will be EDUCATION NEWS Sept. 11. There is a Sunday School registration form in this newsletter that you can fill out and return on Rally Day Sunday between 9:30 am and 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall.

GLO W FUN/RUN WALK

Date: August 19, Teachers Needed 2016 We are currently looking for Sunday School teachers Time: 8PM meet at St. John’s to get glow gear. and teachers helpers. Please contact Kate Crogan at Route: Will be marked. St. John's to the ball fields. 715-778-4705 if you are interested. There will be Cheering Stations along the way! Teachers meeting There will be a Sunday School Cost: $5 per individual participant, $20 per team up to 5 people, 6 teachers meeting on August 21, following the or more individuals - $2 per person. After fun run/walk, there will be water and healthy snacks at St. help anyone in need of food in our area & is John's. Don’t miss the fun! open the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month All money raised will help support the Youth from Ministry group of St. John's. 10 – 11:30 am & 4:30 – 6 pm. Please call the food pantry at 715-778-5988 for more information. For immediate need, please call the Pierce County Food Pantry in Ellsworth at LIBRARY REVIEW 715-273-2070. The food pantry is in need of “So Little Time” volunteer drivers, stockers, cleaners & client By All & Joanna Lacy help. If you are willing/able to help, please contact Pastor Annie! THANK YOU to all who Rya Garrett and McClain Reardon were childhood have helped by contributing to this cause! friends. A decade later they are reunited while traveling to Sacramento by wagon train. Rya has a Teaching position and McClain has a job in construction. Rya has health problems that seem to get worse when a spurned suitor, Jason Lynch, shows STATISTICAL up and stalks her. Only Rya and McClain’s faith in God INFORMATION will carry them through the trials they will face. Attendance 2016 Event Lynda Johnson, 2015 Librarian July 3 73 58 July 10 60 113 July 17 78 62 The deadline for submissions to the July 24 112 Baptism 80 monthly Epistle is the 20th of each month. Giving General Open Plate Simply Giving July 3 $2,360 $13 $420 July 10 $1,103 $15 $165 July 17 $1,985 $18 $75 July 24 $,1216 $45

LAYETTE NEWS $120 We are looking for new or gently used garments Needed/week: $2,874.14 (2016) for our layette mission project. We are in need Total needed to date this month: $86,224.20 of the following items: Total received to date this month: $69,102.78 Sleepers or gowns without feet, dark Total budget: (2016) $149,454.92 colored hand towels, socks, bath size bars of soap still in wrapper (gentle soap, i.e. ivory, dove) lightweight cotton t-shirts, receiving blankets, jackets, sweaters or sweat shirts with hoods, diaper pins or large safety pins, cloth diapers. We are looking for sizes 6 to 24 months. If you are a knitter Confirmation Corner or can crochet, you might enjoy helping by making baby sweaters in any of the sizes listed above. We pray that you can help in this important project to Seeking Confirmation Adult Mentors!! keep God’s babies snug & warm. You may leave items Pastor Annie and Pastor Pete are looking for 6-8 “Triple at the church or contact the Layette Coordinator A” adults to serve as consistent mentors for our Serena Roen at 778-5788 if you have any questions. confirmation ministry for 2016-2017! These adults are: Authentic- trustworthy, genuine, real, and reliable- being authentic as God is authentic to us! Available- to value our youth enough to make space and time for genuine relationships THE SPRING VALLEY COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY Affirming- to engage with our youth positively and supportively, even when correcting or guiding our young The food pantry is available to people, to help affirm their gifts, insights, and learning! We often wonder as church, “Where are all of our young people after Confirmation Sunday?” We all desire a church body full of each generation, but we’ve noticed Our youth need you. They need to hear your some are missing among us! The research is pretty questions. They need to see that our faith is always clear, that if we want our young people to stay engaged something that is growing, challenged, and in action. we must help them build genuine relationships to Christ They need your love and your guidance. They need your and to the body of faith (us!). Where there is lack of prayers. As your Pastor, I need you to partner in this genuine relationship, there is lack of engagement. with me. We do not raise our children in faith, in silos. Walking alongside our confirmation youth, I This is a community effort, and you all have noticed that this crucial element is missing from our TREMENDOUS gifts of faith to offer our young people! ministry. In baptism, parents and sponsors bring forward Please prayerfully consider if God might be calling their child. They make specific promises and the you to share your gifts of faith with our young people. gathered body of Christ does as well. We promise to join Consider if you can be authentic, available, and affirming parents and sponsors in forming the faith of the to our youth. Please contact me (Pastor Annie) with any baptized. As our children grow in age and knowledge, questions or if you are interested in serving as a mentor the church notices a unique opportunity to help them or substitute mentor. engage their curiosity, explore the tenants of our faith, “ … put these words of mine in your heart and soul… and gain skills to articulate that faith to the world. teach them to your children, talking about them when Church, now it is time to actively live into those you are at home and when you are away, when you lie promises. We need you to walk alongside our down and when you rise…so that your days and the youth and parents in nurturing their faith formation. If days of your children may be multiplied in the land the you feel you are a Triple A adult, willing to devote your Lord swore to your ancestors.” Deut. 11:18-21 Wednesday evenings from 5:45-7:30 with us, willing to learn alongside our young people as Pastor Pete and I  Wednesday September 7 at 6PM teach, and willing to facilitate small group discussion Confirmation Orientation Meeting. with your mentees, we need you! We need BOTH men  Wednesday September 14 from 6-7:30PM regular and women, across the generations, to lead our girls Confirmation classes begin. and boys small groups! The reality is that this is indeed a commitment. We Thank you so much for hosting our group want to help our youth build relationships with Christ, in June! We appreciate all that you did for with one another, and with you as their mentor- that us and love the opportunity to share our means we really need mentors willing to commit to them service. What a blessing! most weeks. We are also looking for a group of subs to Stephanie Weber offer their support when our mentors can’t make it. on behalf of the Agape Mentors will be provided with everything they need to Singers be successful (pre-confirmation training event, weekly discussion guides, and our support). Mentors might also enjoy attending additional events with our youth as they FOOD PANTRY SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED arise. This is a building year where our mentors will help The Spring Valley Community Food Pantry is collecting shape the program for the future! school supplies for patrons with school-age children. Items needed include new or gently used backpacks, pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, folders, glue, rulers, safety scissors, markers (regular and/or Sharpies), Crayola crayons (other brands are not accepted by the schools), protractors and calculators. If you are able to help, please drop off any of these supplies to church marked Food Pantry School Supplies. Thank you for your helping our kiddos return to school with the items that they need!

NEED A PRAYER?

Call Beulah Thompson at 715-778-5542 and our Prayer Chain will go into action!

PETERSON FAMILY BENEFIT MONDAY BIBLE STUDY Saturday, August 20, 4-7PM BREAKFAST St. John's Lutheran Church August 15 – 10AM Join us for a summer check-in for fellowship, prayer, Evan was diagnosed with a rare disease, and breakfast together at Denny’s off I-94. Our time Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) at age 3. His together in July served as a wonderful time to journey began after a double ear infection during the reconnect over the summer months! summer of 2007. In early 2008, a tumor mass was Regular Monday Bible Study resumes Monday, discovered, biopsied and determined to be LCH. Evan September 12, at SVHRC 10AM was treated with chemotherapy to stop the disease. In late 2009, he was diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidous (DI) and Hypothyroidism after a sudden onset of A special thank you to Stacy Burr and Dana unexpected symptoms. Since 2008, Evan has had 3 Benson who chaired this year’s Chicken Feed more tumor reactivations--each in the same location and to everyone who helped to make it such a as the first tumor, the left ear mastoid process. He is success! The proceeds from this event will help us currently involved in physical therapy to battle the build our youth ministry program which allows us to tightening effect chemo has had on his leg muscles continue to send kids to Luther Point Bible Camp, and tendons. For more information about Histiocytosis begin dreaming about future mission trip and related diseases please visit: www.Histio.org. opportunities, equip youth leadership, and plan and Check out this event on Facebook: Lighting the Way vision for the St. John’s youth group! for a Brighter Day. Funds can be donated through Pastor Annie WESTconsin Credit Union to: "Evan Peterson-Peterson Family Benefit. If you would like to volunteer or donate silent auction items, please call 715-778-4287. Any help is greatly WOMEN OF ST. JOHN’S appreciated! Come and join us. There will be food, All women of St. John’s are welcome entertainment, kids activities and a silent auction. and encouraged to attend. Quilting resumes September 1 Bingo resumes September 6 SVHRC 2PM WELCA General Meeting Sept. 8 at 2PM

STEWARDSHIP NEWS Stewardship has been CREATIVE WORSHIP ARTS MEETING revamping the Time and Talent Our 2nd Creative Worship Arts meeting will be held Sheets for our fall Stewardship Drive. Starting in Thursday, August 25, at 6:30PM. If you would love to September we will move to a "new" way of creating a see new music, art, or creative expressions in worship, worship volunteer schedule. The schedule as it is now, or if you have gifts of creativity, music, or artistic was created by Donna last fall, for the entire year. expression, YOU are invited to join in this Starting this September, we will ask each brainstorming and prayerful conversation and planning individual/family to sign up for these roles. Please be on for our fall worship services! ALL are welcome! Help to the look-out for the new signup sheets in August, to make our worship even more inspiring! assist with the various worship tasks. Contact Pastor Annie if you have any questions. Respectfully, The Stewardship Committee

Find us and like us on Facebook at Thank you to everyone who helps to www.facebook.com/stjohnslutheranspringvalleywi support our church through your contributions!

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WORD! Adult Faith Formation!

This summer faith formation opportunity continues on Wednesday evenings at 7PM through August 24! 1 Rob & Lori Peterson Using Sparkhouse’s “Animate Faith” curriculum we will explore Salvation, the Cross, the Bible, and the Church 2 Rick & Patti Gould this month! Conversations have been extremely 7 Ron & Gretchen Cipriano fruitful and our numbers are growing every week! Participants range in age from middle school to later 7 Leroy & Shirley Nelson adulthood! Don’t worry if you can’t make it each time, come when you can! Our time together will help you 14 Scott & Angie Hunter grow deeper in understanding the Christian faith. It 21 Brent & Tiffany Gregg will be rich, prayerful, and a wonderful opportunity to grow in your relationships with others here at St. 22 Duane & Joyce Schutz John’s. It’s also the PERFECT opportunity to invite a friend! We hope to see you there! Contact Pastor 23 Bill & Jill Klanderman Annie with questions! 24 Cliff & Tammy Meyers

30 Larry & Laurie Kreibich AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES CHICKEN FEED UPDATE

St. John's Youth Ministry would like to thank the congregation for your support with this year's Annual Chicken Feed Fundraiser! It was a great success! Along with the help of Thrivent's $250 in seed money and all of your generous donations, we raised a little over $1,700. The raffle and silent auction brought in $400. Winners of the raffle (drawn by Pastor Annie) were Pam Hanson and Keith Larson ($10 Kwik Trip cards), Elliot Tanberg ($25 Sneakers card), Jamie Burr (Kindle Fire). We appreciate all the great compliments we received on how good the chicken and other food was and how helpful the youth were in serving and helping in the kitchen. A special thanks to Richard Johnson, Jason Matthys, Jamie Burr and their sons for grilling the chicken. It was FANTASTIC! Thanks to everyone who donated food, silent auction items and their time to work before and during the chicken feed. Without your help, this event would not be possible. Your generosity is truly appreciated! When we choose to give our time, energy and talents to serve others, we are taking part in God's work to share the love of Christ and give God glory. With God working in us and through us, we can make a difference!

Dear St. John’s Members, Thank you so much for all of your thoughts & prayers during my recent illness. I am thankful to be a member of this body of Christ. Christ’s Blessings – Nancy Kinsman 1 Samantha Brown 16 Jenny Stoiber 1 Megan Wentlandt 18 Elliot 3 Robert Hanson Tanberg/Larson 5 Janelle Debold 19 Tim Boardman 5 Judy Larrieu 20 Baily Johnson Signature 6 Byron Anderson 20 Gene Roland 6 Renae Peterson 21 Alyssa Gould ______8 Catherine Quist 21 Mary Hampton ______9 Terry Blaedorn 21 Bjorn Larson 9 Nicholas Jensen 21 Tana O’Keefe STUDENT INFORMATION 10 Trent Kado 21 Tyler O’Keefe Child 1 Child 3 10 David Walker 22 Tessa Cipriano Last Name Last Name 11 Matthew Aamodt 24 Kevin Anderson 11 Dana Crandall 24 Sharon Roatch 13 Jean Blegen 26 Joshua Eitrem

13 Drew Gavic 26 Masen Powell 14 Grace Danielson 27 Afton Weber First Name First Name 14 Cory Kreibich 27 Greg Trealoff

15 Patti Gould 29 Mike Jacobson 15 Kalie Howe 29 Lori Peterson 15 Helen Lorentson 30 Chelsea Larson Date of Birth Date of Birth 15 Mattea Roen 31 Brooklyn Benson 16 Peter Esanbock 31 Pat Malean 16 Garry Finstuen 31 Melissa Walthall Grade Grade PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE MISSED Baptized: Y N Baptized: Y N YOUR NAME Date Date

(month/yr) (month/yr) AUGUST BIRTHDAYS Place of Baptism Place of Baptism

SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 2016/2017 Child 2 Child 4 PARENT’S INFORMATION Last Name Last Name Last Name

First Name

Address First Name First Name

Home Phone Date of Birth Date of Birth Cell Phone

Grade Grade For the convenience of notifying families regarding any Sunday School information/upcoming events, Baptized: Y N Baptized: Y N please provide your email address below. Date Date Email (month/yr) (month/yr) Place of Baptism Place of Baptism

By signing below, I give St. John’s permission to use photos, if any, of my child/children, to be posted on the church website, facebook page or any other Please Note: We invite and welcome ALL children church related publications. to our Sunday School! If your child has special needs we ask you to meet with us before your child attends AUGUST 7 class so we can discuss how we can best meet the WORSHIP AUGUST 14 needs of your child and his/her classmates in the SERVICE WORSHIP classroom setting. Please contact Dana Benson at 715- USHERS: Phil & Laura SERVICE Hennemann 772-4977, Stacy Burr at 715-778-4547 or Lisa Smith at USHERS: Jeanne GREETERS: Althea 715-772-4655 (leave a detailed message). Niccum & Kathy Miller Wood & Shelby Crow GREETERS: Ed Student name(s) READERS: Esther Raehsler & Henneman Gland Family ACOLYTES: Sina READERS: Serena Please complete the following questions, where Nystrom & Lyndsey Roen Ramberg ACOLYTES: Connor & appropriate. Thank You! COFFEE HOSTS: Larry Kayla Lynum & Laurie Kreibich COFFEE HOSTS: Judy 1. Please share information about any allergies your COMMUNION Larrieu & Stacy Burr student has or any medication they are taking of ASSISTANTS: COMMUNION which we need to be aware: Missy Mathiesen & Judy ASSISTANTS: ______Larrieu Marsha Brunkhorst & ______ALTER GUILD: Kristin Nancy Cleveland ______Larson & Nancy ALTER GUILD: Nancy ______Cleveland Cleveland & 2. Please share any educational, emotional or physical VOLUNTEER NEEDED needs your student has that you would like to share AUGUST 21 AUGUST 28 with us so we can better meet his or her needs: WORSHIP WORSHIP ______SERVICE SERVICE ______USHERS: Kevin & Val USHERS: Mike & Heidi ______Anderson Jacobson ______GREETERS: Larry & GREETERS: John & Laurie Kreibich ______Leanna Larson READERS: Jennifer ______READERS: Sydney Bille 3. Please share any Custodial Rights concerning your Boyer ACOLYTES: Tristan ACOLYTES: Maddie & student about which we should be aware: Boardman & Wylie ______Max Matthys Brooke COFFEE HOSTS: Jason ______COFFEE HOSTS: Jay & & Jenny Stoiber Family ______Wendy Arneson COMMUNION ______COMMUNION ASSISTANTS: Please return completed form to the church office ASSISTANTS: Nancy Cleveland & or on Rally Day, September 11, 2016 Kelly Schreiber & Shelby VOLUNTEER NEEDED Crow ALTER GUILD: Nancy ALTER GUILD: Kristin Cleveland & Larson & Nancy VOLUNTEER NEEDED Cleveland VOLUNTEERS IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO VOLUNTEER ON THE DAY MONTH OF SEPTEMBER YOU ARE SCHEDULED, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO FIND A REPLACEMENT BEFORE CONTACTING THE CHURCH OFFICE. If YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND A Bread Baker – Susan Gregg REPLACEMENT PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN MAKE THE CORRECTION ON THE SCHEDULE. THANK YOU! SEPTEMBER 4 SEPTEMBER 11 MONTH OF AUGUST WORSHIP WORSHIP SERVICE SERVICE ACOLYTES: Michael Bread Baker – Amy Nystrom Bauer & Claire Pommier ACOLYTES: Renata Wildner

Sandve & Jessica SEPTEMBER 18 BurrSEPTEMBER 25 WORSHIP WORSHIP SERVICE SERVICE ACOLYTES: Pierce & ACOLYTES: Boen Brody Stoiber & Max Schmitt

Beginning in August, there will be a sign- up sheet available for all other weekly worship volunteers: bread bakers, ushers, greeters, readers, coffee hosts, communion assistants and alter guild (includes communion set-up/clean-up and swapping of paraments) for September – Decemeber 2016. We hope to make this sign-up available in the Narthex AND online. If you cannot make it to worship regularly but would still like to serve in this capacity, please contact the church office to make sure that you get signed up! We definitely want to include everyone in the opportunity to serve. AUGUST 2016 St. John’s Lutheran Church Sunday M Tuesday Wedn Thursday Friday Saturday o esday n da y 1 2 3 4 5 6 Please let the church office know if your home address, email address, Wednes phone number or any other pertinent Pastor Annie on vacation Pastor Annie on Pastor Annie on days in information has changed, to better vacation vacation the help us keep your families records up Word to date. Thank you! 7-8:30 PM 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Pa Worship Service @ SVHRC 10 AM Wednes Pierce County Fair Pastor Annie’s Coffee/Fellowship Hour 9 AM sto days in Aug 11-Aug 14 Day off Worship Service/Holy Communion r the 10 AM. Supply Pastor Doug Brandt will An Council Mtg. 7PM Word be with us. nie 7-8:30 va PM cat ion en ds

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost Evan Peterson Wednes Mutual Ministry Pastor Annie’s Benefit @ Coffee/Fellowship Hour 9 AM days in Comm Mtg. Day Off St. John’s Worship Service W/Holy Communion the 6:30 PM 4-7 PM 10 AM Word Glow Fun/Run Epistle submissions 7-8:30 Walk 8 PM @ due PM St. John’s 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost Wo Wednes Creative Worship Arts Pastor Annie’s Coffee/Fellowship Hour 9 AM rsh day in Mtg. Day Off Worship Service W/Holy Communion ip the 6:30 PM 10 am Co Word Sunday School Teachers Mtg. following m 7-8:30 worship service. mi PM tte e Mt g. 6 PM

28 29 30 31 Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost Confirmation Orientation Coffee/Fellowship Hour 9 AM Sept 7. Worship Service W/Holy Communion Regular

10 AM Confirmation classes to begin

Sept 14.

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