GoodThe News July 2015 Journal Living God’s Word Daily ord Daily

The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, I was asked to perform a funeral for a non-member. It turned out to be a memo- rable occasion because of a little boy–the deceased’s grandson. When I arrived, I noticed the tyke sitting looking at a smart phone and making all sorts of comments. He was not control- ling the volume of his voice, and he kept talking and talking and talking. One could not help but wonder what was going on. As the service started and I began speaking and welcoming those gathered, the boy continued his verbal tirades. Mom got up and took him out. You could hear him talking from the other room. Another elderly woman (the other grandparent perhaps?) took her turn. Then it was dad’s turn. At one point, the boy escaped his watch and ran straight up to the casket. There was a part of me that wondered what was going on. Was there a need for discipline? Part of me asked that question. It was a rush to judgment. At the end of the service, the boy and his family approached the casket. “Grandma!” the little guy yelled out. “Grandma! Hi, Grandma!” “Daddy, is grandma going to wake up?” “Grandma’s sleeping. Shh!” “Not the way I usually handle death with kids,” I thought to myself. Another rush to judg- ment. Yet, there was also something nagging telling me that although this kid, for all practical purposes, looked normal, there was something more. After grave-side services were over, I approached the father. “You know, you may have a preacher there on your hands.” “He’s autistic.” And there it was. “He’s very verbal.” I exchanged a few more words with him, but deep underneath, I was wondering. If this couple with this boy showed up in the midst of worship on a Sunday morning; if they were complete strangers and no one knew them; if everyone just looked at this boy and his seeming “normalness” and were subjected to his verbal cries and “inappropriate” behavior, what would happen? What kind of welcome would they receive? As I talked to the father of this boy, I could sense the strain deep within him. I could sense the toll it was taking to care for this son of his–a son he deeply loved. Would we rush to judgment? Would we add insult to injury to this family who was trying to work with a son who suffered from disability? I’ve been to more than a few churches in my day. I cannot remember very many of those churches where kids with such disabilities were noticeable. In fact, in many of these places, they were absent. And yet, don’t they have a place at God’s table? Wouldn’t Jesus be telling his disciples, “Back off! Let the little guys come unto me, for to such as these belong the kingdom of God.”? There is no doubt in my mind the answer is yes. I understand that such a thing would cause major distraction. I understand that it might spoil the “worshipful” attitude many of us try to assume when we gather. Hey, it distracted from my sermon. I get that. I don’t like it, but I am wondering what is more important. If Jesus welcomed us when we were imperfect; if Jesus died for us when we were still sinners; if Jesus sacrificed Himself for our benefit, and our hearts are changed by that, is it possible for us to welcome others in their imperfections, when they distract us, when they prevent us from obtaining a worshipful attitude? It is possible for us to refrain from judgment and provide a space for even the least of these–and those who struggle to care for them–to be welcome and accepted just like we were welcomed and accepted? As a congregation, we have not experienced such a thing, yet. But if it were to occur, I hope that we may graciously extend a hand of healing and hope to those who truly need it most. ~Pastor Haug St. John Lutheran Church of Cat Spring ~ 480 Ross Street ~ Cat Spring, Texas 78933 Pastor Kevin Haug ~ Cell (979) 733-6086 Home (979) 865-3842 ~ [email protected] Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm ~ (979) 865-5444 Choir Director Janice Whitehead ~ [email protected] ~ Youth Director Christa Klar ~ [email protected] Secretary Sam Waxler [email protected] St. John Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes from June 15, 2015

The meeting was called to order by John Simpson at 6:27 p.m.

Pastor Haug opened the meeting with a prayer.

Members present – John Simpson, Ralph Grinde, Robbyn Hill, Pauline Lapham, Kenneth Blezinger, Pastor Haug, and Regina Nelson.

Member absent – Christa Klar

Guests – Beautification Committee members – Brenda Menke, Shirley Dahl, Mary O’Neal, Marsha Tipp, and Gwen Reichardt. The members of the Beautification Committee asked council to allow the Beautification Committee to hire a maintenance crew to maintain the church grounds, which includes the front of the parsonage, office, church and the lot behind the church. After discussion, Pauline made a motion, seconded by Robbyn to allow the Beautification Committee to hire and oversee H. Brown for yard maintenance. Motion carried.

Correction to the May Minutes as to Kenneth Blezinger was absent at the May meeting.

Ralph made a motion, seconded by Pastor, to approve the May Minutes with correction. Motion carried.

Regina made the motion, seconded by Pauline, to approve the Treasure’s Report. Motion passed.

PASTOR’S REPORT:

Vacation Bible School kicked off on June 15th. There were 40 kids and at least 10 youth helpers. There were also at least 8 or so adults working and helping with teaching and snacks. This is a tremendous increase in involvement over the last three years. In no small part, Christa has brought about much of this involvement. Thanks so much to Christa for all her help.

Pastor will be taking vacation (sjw) beginning June 22nd through June 28th. Vic Fair will lead services on Sunday, June 28th. Debbie Reichardt will be available to handle any emergencies and pastoral care.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

House & Grounds – The fire extinguishers are in the process of being replaced with new ones. The air compressor was replaced in the church office.

NEW BUSINESS: No new business other than the presentation from the Beautification Committee as explained under the Guest section in these minutes.

CALENDAR:

Reviewed July Calendar.

Pauline Lapham and Ralph Grinde are Council on Duty for July.

Robbyn made a motion, seconded by Pastor, to adjourn. REVENT NWANTED ET Motion passed. P U P S Spay & Neuter Assistance Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m. with the Lord’s Prayer. 1884 Bostik Road Cat Spring, TX 78933 Respectfully submitted, 979-732-5591 Regina Nelson www.pupsofcatspring.com Printed exactly as submitted except where necessary changes were made; indicated by my initials (sjw); 100 % of your donation goes to animal care! RN notified. St. John ELCA of Cat Spring We have so many Worship Attendance “grateful givers” here at St. John of Cat Spring, 8am 10am Total and we know God loves May 31st 39 50 89 when we give with a June 7th 50 76 126 joyful heart. But did you know you can make the th June 14 41 92 133 Stewardship Committee June 21st 24 101 125 happy too? Just be sure and write your name on your envelope (first and last). Even if you have assigned envelopes, it’s always a good idea to include your whole name. It’s a fast double-check system for us and makes entry to our accounting software easier too when we can check the number against the name listed. We want to be certain your monetary gifts are applied correctly.

May 2015 Financial Report Did you know you can now donate directly Operating Account: to the Prayer Shawl Ministry Fund? Your donations help provide yarn, needles & Beg Balance 4/30/15 ...... $51,266.39 many other supplies. Shawls have been given to Income ...... $16,683.43 a lot of individuals since this ministry was creat- Expenses ...... ($7,687.39) ed just about one year ago. They’ve brought Balance 5/31/15 ...... $60,262.43 comfort to a great many people. If you’d like to contribute, make your check out to St. John and CSB Money Market: ...... $100,151.55 indicate in the memo field “Prayer Shawl Fund”. Mission Investment Fund ...... $222,173.36 Thank you for your continued support!!! Cemetery Fund: ...... $147,243.45 Building/Property Fund: ...... $1,798.42 Memorial Fund: ...... $16,694.98 Every Monday Community Care Fund:...... $16,154.11 9:30 am in the LYO Fund: ...... $12,883.36 Music Fund: ...... $143.84 Gathering Room Thrivent Choice Dollars: …...... $8,360.00 Wedding Activity Fund: ...... $1,433.05 The LYO Youth Group is still hard at work raising Scholarship Fund: ...... $21,577.36 funds for at Camp Chrysalis! Prayer Shawl Ministry Fund: ...... $520.00 SUMMER CAMP 2015 We’re still selling raffle tickets for the beautiful Sealy Christian Pantry Fund: ...... $0.00 hand-made quilt donated by the St John Quilters. ELCA Benevolence Fund: ...... $350.00 Tickets are $1.00 each or a book of ELCA Disaster Relief Fund: ...... $1,415.00 six for $5.00. The Drawing will be Misc Fund: ...... $0.00 held Sunday, July 26th so BUY Respectfully submitted, YOUR TICKETS TODAY! You can pick Robbyn Hill, Treasurer up tickets from any child attending camp, or you can buy them on Sunday after either service. We greatly appreciate your support!! To St. John Lutheran Church of Cat Spring, Dear Pastor Kevin & Members of St. John, The Sealy Christian Pantry is grateful to, once again, be All your prayers and best wishes are greatly appreciated. the recipient of a generous gift from your congregation. I’ve been blessed! Thanks again for prayers, cards and Your ongoing support of the Pantry and its efforts to phone calls. feed those who are struggling is appreciated more than we can say. We will use your gift for the purpose it was Happy & Healing, intended. Eileen  Sincerely, Sealy Christian Pantry (combined thank you notes from LWR local & world-wide) Dear St. John Women of the ELCA, Greetings from Lutheran World Relief! We’re so thankful for your partnership, and for your energy and enthusiasm as we roll out the new Quilt & Kit Tracker. Quilts and Kits have been shipping out and we’re ex- cited to share some more locations where some of your items have been sent. We have been able to provide quilts and kits to the country of Tanzania in affiliation with the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) and we have also provided much needed support to the Syrian refugees that have fled in the wake of their civil war to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq. This year our local area churches collected 2,634 We wish to thank you for all the support quilts, 1,403 school kits, 2,451 personal care kits, 130 and prayers for Harper during her illness. baby care kits, some fabric for sewing, and an un- We greatly appreciate it and could not known quantity of soap. We used two U-Haul trucks to have endured that experience without the transport these to Houston in one trip! On behalf of our neighbors in all areas we’re support- love and support of our friends and family ing, I extend the deepest thanks for your contributions and our faith in God. We are truly blessed and pray God’s richest blessings on all of your minis- by knowing all of you who cared for us and tries! helped our family in our time of need. Special thanks for your contributions, and prayers for God’s richest blessings on all of your ministries! Thank you! Melanie Gibbons Kim, Kenny and Harper Peters Quilt & Kit Ministry Manager Dear Ladies, To Pastor Haug and the Body of St. John Lutheran Church, A few weeks ago Pastor Haug delivered to me a beauti- Thank you for your generous donation to Stepping Stones Ministry. Your gift, joined with other support ful prayer shawl that you all created. I cried because of will continue to help our mission of serving young your thoughtfulness and because it appeared at a time women to become successful and productive. that I most needed it. How did you know? Because you On behalf of Stepping Stones Ministry, we appreciate are using your God-gifted talents to share God’s mes- your continued goodwill and generosity. Sincerely, sage that He is with us and will see us through whatever Aaron & Trica Coronis we face. President and Founders of God bless you and keep you all! Love, Sharon Brandes Youth News What an awesome VBS week! We had 48 children Attend! Ten Junior High and High School Youth served as Crew Leaders . Mother Nature tried to inter- fere, but the kids kept coming to hear more about God’s power and love. Water day was another big hit with a huge double slide , Pizza and Snow cones! Thank You Melissa Schmidt for all your help and support through the planning process of VBS. I couldn’t have done it without you! ~Christa Camp Chrysalis Kerrville TX July 19-24 ELEMENTARY KIDS & VBS 2015 JR High Boys Opening Day We are ready to GO!

To all who Volunteered their time and talents for our VBS! Dawna & Pastor Haug, Robin Haugen, Stacey Kloss, Rebecca Marek, Chris Beckendorff, Rachel Divin, Ashley Hewson, Sam Waxler, Glen- da Templeton, Melissa Schmidt , Kayleigh Schmidt, Molly Dittert, Brittany Luttrall, Kayla Rice, Rayann Rabius, Kendall Cell, Faith Haugen, Ellie Haugen, Braden Ashorn, Breanna Brandes, Skyler, Mary Lou Mieth This article originally appeared as a post on Christian History in 2009, when George Beverly Shea turned 100 years old. Shea died yesterday at the age of 104. George Beverly Shea turns 100 on Sunday, February 1. Ever since 1944, when 26-year-old Wheaton College student recruited him to sing on the radio program "Songs in the Night," Bev Shea has been the face and the voice most associated in the public mind with the famous evangelist. The song most associated with Billy Graham is "," but Bev Shea's signature tune is clearly "." Even though nearly every gospel artist - from to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - has rec- orded it, it is Bev Shea's tune. Here's the story of that song. George Beverly Shea's first contact with "How Great Thou Art" dates to 1954. But the song itself dates to 1885, when Swedish pastor Carl Gustav Boberg was caught in a thunderstorm. It was a thunderstorm that, according to legend, struck fear into the heart of Martin Luther and extracted from him a vow to become a monk. Pastor Boberg, on the other hand, was filled with awe at the grandeur of the storm, the rain- bow, and the brilliant light and bird songs that followed the storm. Boberg sensed the power of God in that storm much the way the writer of Psalm 29 did: "The God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. ... The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning." The storm's majesty inspired Boberg (who later became editor of the Christian newspaper, Witness of the Truth, and a member of the Swedish parliament) to write a nine-stanza poem along the same lines. "I see the stars, I hear the mighty thun- der, / Thy power throughout the universe displayed." Boberg published the poem in 1886, then sold the rights to the Mission Covenant Church in . Two years later he visited a church in Varmland and was surprised to hear the congregation his words to an old Swedish folk tune. In 1891, Boberg published the poem again, this time with the tune in Witness of the Truth. From Sweden to Nagaland The hymn made its way to the English speaking world circuitously - via a German translation(Wie gross bist Du, 1907) and from German into Russian (1912). In 1922, that Russian version was published in America as part of a collection of Russian language hymns by the American Bible Society. The hymn reached American shores again in 1925, thanks to a Swede named E. Gustav Johnson who translated several verses of the Swedish original into Eng- lish. At that time, however, the song just didn't catch on with American worshipers. It was the Russian version that caught the attention of English missionary Stuart K. Hine who with his wife was evangelizing the Ukrainian countryside. Hine used the Russian hymn in his ministry there and developed an English version as well. The first two verses of Hine's English mirrored Boberg's awe at God's power in nature. To these he added a third verse devoted to the amazing love of God expressed in Christ's atoning death: "And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, / Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in." The outbreak of World War II forced the Hines back to London, where they continued to evangelize among war ref- ugees frightened by the German blitz. The promise of deliverance at Christ's Second Coming inspired Hine to add a fourth and final verse: "When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation ..." In 1949, Hine published the hymn in a missionary magazine that went out to 15 countries. The song spread and reached America again in 1951when it was introduced by James Caldwell at the Stony Brook Bible Conference Cen- ter on Long Island. And in 1954, the future Fuller Seminary missiologist J. Edwin Orr heard it sung by Naga tribes- people in India. The Graham Team That was the same year that George Beverly Shea bumped into his friend George Gray on Oxford Street in London. Gray gave him a copy of "How Great Thou Art" that he just happened to have in his briefcase…. Song leader had also been given a copy of the song, and after the 1954 London Harringay crusade, Barrows had Paul Mickelson arrange the music for use in the 1955 Toronto crusade in Maple Leaf Garden. However it was not until Billy Graham's 1957 crusade that the song became extremely popular. "We sang it about a hundred times at the insistence of the audiences," says Shea. "And from then on, it became a standard at most of the crusades." That sounds like the end of the story. But history is full of ironies and strange twists. This surely is one: Although Boberg's "O Store Gud" was sung in Sweden since the 19th century, it never became really popular there until, as Swedish gospel singer Per-Erik Hallin notes, Elvis Presley recorded a Grammy-winning version of "How Great Thou Art." Then, thanks to Elvis, "O Store Gud" experienced a major revival and became a favorite in its native land. ~Janice

1/4 1 Canola oil or vegetable oil 2 T. red pepper flakes 1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix 2 boxes mini saltine crackers Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Coat crackers well. After crackers are well coated you may place them in a Ziploc bag for storage. Use less red pepper flakes if you do not want them as hot. ~donated by Karla Rice ANNUAL CONVENTION of the Page 12 TEXAS LOUISIANA GULF COAST SYNOD Women of the ELCA September 19, 2015 St. Paul Lutheran Church A Quick Note to Members & Friends: If you submitted a reci- 110 West Walnut, La Grange Texas pe for the cookbook and there was an error made in produc- tion, please let the church office know. I’ll publish a correction The Board will host a reception at Carby Chapel at so everyone can update their personal copies. If you need a Lutherhill on Friday, September 18th starting at 7pm. list of corrections to go with your cookbook, just contact the st church office. Registration Fee (by September 1 ) $50.00 (after September 1st) $60.00 The next WELCA Participants are responsible for making reservations if you wish to meeting is Tuesday, stay overnight. A block of rooms has been reserved until September th July 28 at 6:30 pm. 4th at Best Western Plus of Hwy 71 Bypass. (979) 968-6800. Group We’ll begin with name is Texas Louisiana Convention. refreshments, then a presentation about For more information, you can pick up a registration form with all Brookwood and the work they do will the details, in the church office or Sam can email you a copy upon follow. All ladies (and gentlemen) are request. Registration form will also be posted on St. John’s web site invited and encouraged to attend. Bring as of April 30th. For more questions, contact WELCA President, a friend or too. Hope to see you there! Martha Simpson at (979) 865-9800.

Start stocking up TODAY! St. John Lutheran of Cat Spring’s Bi-Annual Blood Drive

rd Thursday, July 23 4pm - 8pm Help is still needed for Sundays. If you’d with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center like to host the reception after church Mark your calendars and watch for a sign-up sheet one Sunday, please contact Sam in the in the Narthex coming soon! If you have any ques- office. We have a very small group of tions, contact Frances Sechelski. ladies and youth parents that volunteer, and quite a few Sundays are still OPEN! ALWAYS GIVE UNLESS YOU’RE GIVING BLOOD! We provide on-the-job training! 

METAL RECYCLING CAT SPRING SCHOOL PROPERTY (corner of Jefferson & Houston) ALL METAL RECYCLING (CANS, WASHERS & DRYERS, REFRIGERA- TORS, ETC.) ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF CAT SPRING

VBS 2015 was a HUGE hit! Special thanks goes to Jeff & Jennifer Brandes for donating t-shirts for Staff and Children, and for the youth summer camp t-shirts. The August Newsletter DEADLINE is Sunday, July Also to Malcolm Dittert for 12th. Please have all your notes, announcements, lending us his Snow Cone Machine to use on Water Day! It and other ads in to me no later than Monday, July was a big hit! 13th. Thanks for your help!!! And last to William & Bonnie Hegemeyer who donated all the ice used each day. The ice machine we normally use was broken and the Hegemeyer’s graciously stepped up. To ALL the Kitchen Helpers: Rachel Divin, Rebecca Ma- rek, Marilyn Findeisen, Stacy Kloss, and Shirley Hering & Glenda Kloss (even though we weren’t able to celebrate with the Seniors on Wednesday due to storms). If we’ve WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLACE AN AD HERE? missed anyone, we deeply apologize. There were so many Pending space available, we’ll be glad to put your ad people helping in the kitchen - it was hard to keep up. If in our monthly newsletter. your name is not listed here, please email Christa or Sam Call the church office at 979-865-5444 or email and we’ll be sure and notate it in the next newsletter. [email protected] Sunday Morning Schedule Early Service 8:00 am (no music) Sunday School 9:00 am ALL Classes Late Service 10:00 am (with music) Church Office Hours Monday -Thursday 8am to 1pm

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Council On Duty Adult Sunday School Continues 1 2 3 4 8am - Pauline Lapham EVERY SUNDAY THROUGH SUMMER!!!

10am - Ralph Grinde Pastor Haug’s Day Off

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Staff Meeting 10am Shawlers 9:30 am Pastor Haug’s Day Off

August 12 NEWSLETTER 13 14 15 16 17 18 Deadline Quilters 8:30 am Staff Meeting 10am Shawlers 9:30 am

Pastor Haug’s Day Off

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Shawlers 9:30 am Senior Day 11:00 am Camp Chrysalis - Last Group of Kiddos to go to Summer Camp! Kerrville here we come again! Council 6:30 pm

26 WELCA Pot Luck 27 28 29 30 31 Staff Meeting 10am Luncheon following Shawlers 9:30 am Communion the late service. Pastor Haug’s Served

Day Off Everyone is invited! 6:30 pm Council on Duty Greeters Acolytes Pauline Lapham, Ralph Grinde 5 Open 5 Molly Dittert 12 Ervin Mieth, Rick Shilling 12 Brennan Brandes Altar Guild 19 Kim, Kyndal & Justin George 19 Rayann Rabius Pauline Lapham, Nila Klaus 26 Russell & Annette Lindquist 26 Justin Eckhardt Ushers Readers Kitchen Duty 5 Open 5 Chris Beckendorff 5 Marcia Melnar 12 Ervin Mieth, Rick Shilling 12 Sam Waxler 12 Angela & Brittany Wendt 19 Open 19 Sharla Bell 19 Sharla Bell 26 Russell & Annette Lindquist 26 Dan Howell 26 Gwen Reichardt

10 James Wenzel Brenda Menke Russell Reichardt July Bailey Graham 11 Chris Hunt Anniversaries Rinley Nelson 17 James Hering 21 Dayne Rice 1 John & Mary O’Neal 26 yrs Meredith Gagne Butch & Marci Rabius 30 yrs 22 Nila Klaus 2 John & Lynette Frnka 49 yrs Damien Gagne 1 Rose Wienken 5 Lloyd & Nila Klaus 45 yrs 23 Ken Lapham Charley Dillon 24 Cecil Froebel 84 yrs 7 Robert & LaVerne Uhlig 59 yrs 2 Carol Walker Ben & Neely Graham 8 yrs Shelby Miller 3 Elrose Kollatschny 25 Darlene Howell 10 Doug & Martha Neva 33 yrs 4 Melvin Reichert 81 yrs 27 Debbie Yancey 14 Harold & Connie Reibenstein 31 yrs Karl Wolfmueller Jenna Justice 17 Cecil & Carrie Froebel 60 yrs Brittany Wendt 28 Ray Grawunder 20 Bill & Lesia Schwarze 30 yrs 5 Susan Zaskoda Bridget Daly 26 Ryan & Carla Reichardt 12 yrs Kim Berger Audree Woytek 30 Jerry & Melissa Schmidt 21 yrs 6 Chris Beckendorff 29 Brennan Brandes Jacob Tipp 30 Sharon Koehne If your name does not appear the Amelia Conner month you have a birthday or anniver- Garrett Brast sary, or if information appears incor- 7 Marissa Divin rect, please let us know. Your infor- 8 Marcia Melnar mation is important to us! 9 Heidi Brown

5 Milton & Chris Beckendorff 12 OPEN 19 Cecil & Carrie Froebel (in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary) 26 David & Stacy Kloss (in celebration of their 5th wedding anniversary) The Guidelines for Placing Altar Flowers are located at the top of the 2015 Flower Chart next to the mailboxes in the fellowship hall. If you have any questions, you can call Shirley Dahl, Karen Hartman, or Sam in the church office during regular business hours. Thanks! In the early Church “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) Please continue to pray for all of those in need. Pastor Haug is still taking prayers each Sunday during our worship services and we are again listing them in the weekly bulletin as we receive them. If you know of someone in need of prayer, please know that they will be lifted up each Sunday as we worship. If you would like them listed in the monthly newsletter, please let the church office know. If you would like us to pray for an individual, a group, or any type of situation, please contact the church office at (979) 865-5444 or email at [email protected] Please continue to pray for those in our monthly newsletter, including our shut-ins and those in nursing homes.

Stephanie Allen Carrie Froebel Les Melnar Susie Severin Please lift up the Carla Beckendorff Macie Gardner Deloris Mellenthin Warren Severin family and friends Milton Beckendorff Rod Gates Mike Michalke David Smith of the following John Bennett Rebecca Gold Capt. Karl M. Nowotny Bryce Stobb people who met Susan Berger Crissie Gonzales Betty Ostrom Stanley Stolz their heavenly Anne Bush Glen Gresham Peggy Ostrom Marge Thaler Father during the The Class Family Laurel Halliburton Raymond Pavlicek Gloria Tipp Muriel Chester Rusty Higgins Debbie Reichardt Claire Venghaus month of June: Bradley Coe Hunter Hewson Remington Reichardt Carol Walker Juanita Gomez Clarence Dittert Ron Keith Gene Remmert Clifford Washburn Wayne Miles Meredith Durham Aubrey Landrum Brenda Roberts Katherine Washburn Gayle Engelmohr Christian Leschper Earl Schubert Darrell Watson Brian Findeisen Sandra McKeown Maldine Schubert Earl Wolchik Marilyn Findeisen Scott Meiers Alan Zahradnick

Residents of: Class of 2014 / 2015 Confirmands Colonial Belle, Sealy: Audrey Eckardt, Helen Kurtz Rosehill, Bellville: Lonie Michaelis Brayden Ashorn Blake Biehunko Colonial Belle, Bellville: Jean Purcell Breanna Brandes Shut-ins: Casey Marek Dale Key Kali Gregory Kayla Rice Ellie Haugen Callen Rabius Rhys Reichardt

Please keep our confirmands in your prayers.

“Angels Bowling” (reading from Psalm 133:1) How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! I heard the sounds of heaven when, as a new live-in caretaker, I took my clients to Friday night bowling. As bright colored balls rolled and rumbled down the lanes to the cry of “Strike!” I smiled at the memory. When I was a child and thunder storms scared me, my brother would say, “Don’t worry, it’s God and the angels bowling. The rumble of the bowling balls rolling down the lanes is thunder, and the lightning means that someone got a strike!” Now, whenever I heard someone yell “strike”, I saw the Light of Christ as residents jumped up and down in joy, celebrating being together. Camraderie, encouragement, laughter and joy are all sounds of God’s kingdom among us. Even in life’s storms, they give us glimpses of what is to come. ~Deaconess Susan Predoehl (printed from LDA - see more at: http://www.womenoftheelca.org/devotions Upcoming Events hosted by Women of the ELCA th Pot Luck Luncheon Sunday, August 9 at 4:00 pm Sunday, July 26th following late service Watch for infor- mation in week- We’ll be honoring ALL New Members, ly bulletins and Graduates of High School & College, and the August our Confirmation student. Please join us in newsletter for welcoming and meeting more details our new members and in regarding our celebrating these other Ol’ Timey Ice Cream Social. We hope you’ll all make it back to church special occasions with our to enjoy some cold ice cream on a graduates & confirmand. warm summer’s evening!

Read Pastor Haug’s Sermons & Ponderings ONLINE at www.stjohncatspring.org linked directly to his blog.

[email protected] Would you like to receive this newsletter electronically?

stjohncatspring.org Let us know. Call (979) 865-5444 or email [email protected].

for:

Newsletter 2015 July

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of Cat Spring, TX Spring, Cat of

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