St. John Lutheran Church April 2019________________________________________________________________________

Church Office: 563-242-5588Pastor Daniel Pool: 321-6757, homee-mail: dpool@stjohn-clinton-ia.orgWeb Site: www.stjohn-clinton-ia.org

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Palm Sunday – April 14: worship services at 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. Both Services include a Palm recessional. Bible study and Sunday school classes start at 9.

Maundy Thursday – April 18: worship services at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Both Services include the celebration of the Sacrament of the Altar.

Good Friday – April 19: worship services at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Come and hear the story of the final act of redemption by Christ on the cross, as he is lifted up on his throne.

Holy Saturday – April 20: has Easter Breakfast set up at 9:30 a.m. and then Easter Caroling at 1 p.m. Come and enjoy this time of fun, singing, and fellowship.

Easter Sunday – April 21: we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord from death. We have a Son-rise service with Holy Communion at 6:30 a.m. Following it, at about 7:30 a.m., the youth going to Higher Things, will be serving our Annual Easter Breakfast. It is free, but we accept donations to help defray the cost of the trip to Higher Things. At 10:15 a.m., we will have the Divine Service with Holy Communion. We celebrate our Lord’s triumph over sin and the grave.

Please invite someone to join you for Easter Service!

Pastor Pool’s Sunday Bible StudyThe Gospel of Mark

In April, we will begin a new study on the Gospel of Mark. The focus of this study will be knowing Jesus in light of the Word of

God. This class meets Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. No previous Bible study experience is necessary and it is always fine to sit and listen.

April 7: Mark: Reading the Gospel WellApril 14: Mark: Style and ThemesApril 21: No Class on Easter Sunday. April 28: Mark 1:1-8: John the Baptist

Genesis Bible Study with PastorOur Tuesday Bible study is exploring Genesis verse by verse. We normally meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Our study is at 9:30 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. in classroom 1. New people are always welcome, so join us! Bring your Bible. April 2: Genesis 23-25: Isaac and Rebekah April 16: Genesis 27-28: Jacob and Esau

Parents with Young KidsHave you tried out our new Bible class for Parents with Young Kids? We are currently talking through Praying Luther’s Small Catechism. This group meets Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and is designed for parents with infants, preschoolers, and kids on the way. Young

couples are welcome too! Bring your kids to class, or if they are preschool age or older, drop them off in Sunday School.

From the desk of Kurt FlathersHoly Week

This past December, a lot of you took extra time in preparation for Christmas to celebrate with parties and get-togethers. You came to the Advent Services at St. John and also came and celebrated the services of Christmas Eve and the Divine Service on Christmas Day. Those are special times, celebrating the birth of our Savior. But now, our focus changes. We get ready for the time that the Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and Lent seasons all prepare us for. In fact, those seasons would mean nothing if it were not for Holy Week. This is the most important week in the entire church year. It is the most important week in human history. It is the most important week in God’s plan of salvation. This week takes us thru the passion of our Lord, from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the second cleansing of the Temple by Jesus, His teaching and words of woe to the religious leaders, the Last Supper, the agony in Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, the trials, the scourging, the way of the cross, the crucifixion, the death and burial, and the glorious resurrection. You cannot have one without the other. It was a step by step process that God had planned out, that Jesus took and set his face and never turned back, and that led to our salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Prepare this year to celebrate Easter, by taking in everything during Holy Week. Palm Sunday and Easter are not enough. Jesus even told the sleeping disciples at Gethsemane, “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” Take an hour on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday to hear the whole story. Make the time, like you do at Christmas, for the greatest week of the life of Christ. Ponder what he did so that we might have love, hope, grace, mercy, peace, and finally joy in knowing what

Christ said and did for us, on our behalf. Because of what he did, we are forgiven, redeemed, justified, and made new.

Sunday April 14 - Palm Sunday services with a palm recessional at both 7:45 and 10:15. Bible study and Sunday school classes at 9.

Thursday April 18 - Maundy Thursday services at 1:30 and 7 with Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altar.

Friday April 19 - Good Friday Tenebrae services at both 1:30 and 7. Services of darkness as we ponder the death of Christ in word, prayer, and song.

Saturday April 20 - Holy Saturday has Easter set up at 9:30 and Easter caroling at 1.

Sunday April 21 - Easter morning, the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord. We have the Divine Service with Holy Communion at 6:30 and 10:15 and Easter Breakfast being served from 7:45 to 8:45.

Easter Breakfast will be a little different this year. We will still have scrambled eggs, baked ham, pastries, orange juice, milk, and coffee. But adding a couple new things. We will have some mixed fruit available and also sausage for the breakfast. A little change is always good, and thought we would try it. So, come out after the sunrise Easter Divine Service until 8:45 and enjoy Breakfast. The donations we gather will help cover costs of the Youth from St. John going to Higher Things this summer.

Come and help set up the church for Easter on Saturday morning, April 20, beginning at 9:30. We will set things up, decorate, and scramble a few eggs. Come and enjoy the time. Then at 1 p.m. that afternoon, any can go Easter Caroling. We go to the nursing homes and also shut-ins to sing the glorious praise of the Resurrection of our Lord. We carol for about 2 hours and then go to Dairy Queen for some ice cream. Music is provided and we sing the familiar Easter season hymns.

Kurt Flathers

Director of the Board of Elders

St. John Preschool Now Enrolling

The preschool is now accepting students for the 2019/2020 school year. We will continue to have a multi-age classroom setting with 3 year olds attending 3 days per week and older children attending 5 days per week. Our hours of operation are 8:50 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. to

be more accommodating to parents and to provide more for our students. Tuition will be $135.00 per month for 1st year 3-day students, $165.00 per month for 1st year 5-day students, and will be free for 2nd year returning students. Contact the church office, 242-5588, for more information or enrollment forms.

Scrip FundraiserThrough Scrip, we raise money for our everyday preschool expenses in places we already shop. Scrip permits us to buy prepaid cards for places like Walmart, Jewel, Amazon, gas stations, and

restaurants. These organizations then make donations to us. The typical donation can vary from 2-16%. This means no extra money out of pocket and yet we can still raise funds. Order forms are available in the Fellowship Hall or Church office. Ask your Board of Education members if you have any questions. Our next Scrip order is due April 7. Cards will be available for pick-up by April 14. We will put your cards in your box in the narthex.

Ladies AidLadies Aid will meet on Friday, April 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Pastor Pool will be leading the Bible study. Hostesses are Lois Specht and Janice Edwards. All ladies are welcome to join us!

LWML Spring RallyAll ladies are invited to attend the LWML Spring Zone Rally on Saturday, April 27 at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. The registration fee will be $4.00 for lunch with Pastors and

their wives as guests. The welcome and Bible Study with Pastor Pool will begin at 9:00 a.m. At 10:15 the speaker will be Reverend Russell Helbig, the Supervisory Chaplain serving the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Thomsen, IL.

Mary Martha

The Mary Martha Society will meet this month on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Pool will be leading the Bible study. Hostesses are Donna Dell and Terri Gravert. All ladies are invited to join us!

Quilting Bee

The Quilting Bee will meet on Thursday, April 25 at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall. All ladies interested in helping sew and tie quilts for Lutheran World Relief are invited to attend.

Fellowship Club Potluck

The St. John Fellowship Club will meet on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. for a potluck supper at the church. Please bring food to share. The beverages and table service will be furnished. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Confirmation Day – May 5On Sunday, May 5, at the 10:15 a.m. service, two young adults of St. John will be received into communicant membership of the congregation. Those to be confirmed this year are: Aaron Becker and Sam Reynolds.

Youth Catechesis during Lent Because Pastor is traveling on Wednesday nights for our Lenten Rotation, our Wednesday Confirmation Class will meet on the following dates:

Saturday, March 30, 9-10 amSaturday, April 6, 9-10 amWednesday, April 10, 8-9 pmWednesday, April 24, 7-8:30 pmWednesday, May 1, 7-8:30 pm

You can also see the Church calendar in the newsletter or on our website for these dates.

Spring Workday

Come and join the Board of Trustees for a couple of hours of spring clean-up, Saturday April 6 beginning at 9:00 a.m. We will have inside and outside clean-up work to do!

Lutheran Witness

“Lutheran Witness” subscriptions are available for $15.96 per year. To renew or begin a subscription, sign-up and pay in the fellowship hall or mail a check to the church office, 416 Main Avenue, Clinton, IA 52732. The deadline is April 21.

Youth Pizza Lunch for Higher Things

Youth attending Higher Things this summer are invited to a pizza lunch and information meeting on Sunday, April 28 after late service (approximately 11:30 a.m.). Higher Things is at Concordia University, Wisconsin, July 16-19.

St. John Coffee Cups

The Board of Evangelism has purchased new St. John coffee cups. The cups will be given as gifts

to new members, and be purchased at cost for current members. The cost is $4 per cup.

Please stop by the display in the fellowship hall if you would like to purchase a coffee cup. You may pay with cash or check. Please make checks payable to St. John Lutheran Church. Questions? Ask a board member.

Things you never hear in church…1. Hey! It’s my turn to sit in the front pew.2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed the sermon

ran 25 minutes long.3. Personally, I find witnessing much more

enjoyable than golf.4. I’ve decided to give our church the $500 a month

I used to send to the TV evangelists.5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the

junior high Sunday school class.6. I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard

before.7. Since we’re all here, let’s start the service early.8. Pastor, we’d like to send you to a Bible seminar

in the Bahamas.9. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my

commitment like our annual stewardship campaign.

10. I couldn’t find space to park outside. Praise God!

Check It Out In Our Church Library

Ben-Hur Fiftieth Anniversary DVD

The Buzzards are Circling But, God’s not Finished With Me Yet.By Stan Toler

Those challenging moments that can swoop down to cause pain and heartache. A late-night phone call delivering bad news. Losing a job. Struggling with bankruptcy. And while the buzzards may vary, the pain is universal. Toler introduces readers to a loving, faithful God who offers peace in our pain, hope in our hardships, and purpose in our storm.

Sermons in the LibraryIf you have missed a Sunday or two of church, you will find past copies of Pastor’s sermons on the checkout table in the library. Please help yourself.

Facebook

Did you know the Church has a Facebook

page? You can like us on Facebook at

St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton.

Do you shop at Amazon.com?

AmazonSmile will make a donation to St. John each time you make a purchase. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/42-6005460 to register your account. After registering your Amazon account, start each purchase at smile.amazon.com.

Easter Egg Hunt

We are planning an Easter egg hunt this year on Easter morning! Please bring your children, age toddler up to 5th grade, to enjoy a fun morning of hunting for eggs followed by a children’s Easter video in the Preschool room. Parents are welcome to enjoy the hunt and video with your children. The festivities will begin at 9:00am and take place during the normal Sunday school hour. Easter eggs will be provided as well as baskets. Children are encouraged to invite their friends. Let’s share God’s love this Easter day with our friends and neighbors!

April Birthdays & AnniversariesC O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!

Happy Birthday to: Lois Lamz, who will be 84 on April 1. Barbara Tietjens, who will be 81 on April 15.Carl Johnson, who will be 97 on April 21.

Happy Anniversary to: Ken & Jennifer Doescher, 10th wedding anniversary April 18.David & Heather Becker, 20th wedding anniversary April 24.

We list birthdays 80 and above and anniversaries for year one and every five years thereafter unless we receive a request not to do so.

Private Communion Calls

Pastor Pool makes his visits to those in nursing homes throughout the month. Those at home who would like to receive a communion visit are asked to call Pastor at the Church Office, 242-5588, to schedule a time.

THOSE WHO SERVE IN APRIL

Early

Elders: Rick Eizenga Kurt Flathers

Ushers: Daniel Stewart Matthew Stewart Donivan Sirna Parker Sirna

Nursery Attendants (Late) 7 – Anna Krueger

14 – Camil & Erica Dell

21 – No Nursery (Easter)

28 – Margie Mueller

Recording

7 – Darlene Paysen14 – Darlene Paysen21 – Darlene Paysen28 – Darlene Paysen

Late

Elders: James McHugh David Becker

Ushers: Pete Sirna Dale Schroeder Stephen VanVuren Kevin Montgomery

Acolyte Schedule 3 - Lent – Elder

7 - Early – Sam Reynolds 7 - Late – Drew Steiner

10 - Lent - Elder

14 - Early –Nolan Lange14 - Late –Aaron Becker

18 - Maundy Thursday – Elder19 - Good Friday - Elder

21 - Sunrise – Elder21 - Late – Hunter Holesinger

28 - Early – Carver Lange28 - Late – Elijah Mueller

29-Early – Zac Poland29-Late – Elder

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: April 20If you would like to put any information in the newsletter, contact Camil Dell, and get her the information by April 20.