Scuttlebutt

Special points of interest:

Altar Flowers

Birthdays

Blessing of the Book Bags

Crossroads Servant Event

Worship Team

Ministry Leaders

New Testament Reading Challenge

From the President 2

Letter from Bureau of Federal Chaplaincy 3

Rally Day 4

Scholarship Fund Drive 5

SALM Minutes 6

Council Minutes 7

Inside this issue:

ST

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Volume 30 Issue 7

August

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and

forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the

Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all to-

gether in perfect harmony. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as

members of one body you are called to peace. Colossians 3:12-15

This will be my final installment of the “Scuttlebutt” as God has

called me to a different sort of ministry. Not a better ministry, just a differ-

ent one. It has been my joy and privilege to serve as your pastor all these

years, and ours has been a good and fruitful partnership in the Gospel.

Now I transition to active duty Navy, and Kelly and I move to San

Diego. While in San Diego I’ll be participating in a year-long hospital chap-

laincy residency at the Naval Medical Center which amounts to on the job

training. It will be an opportunity to learn some new pastoral care approach-

es for ministry to people in crisis and trauma under the instruction of more

seasoned hospital chaplains.

Following the year in San Diego, we’ll move on to Jacksonville, FL

for a two-year assignment where I’ll assume responsibilities as senior chap-

lain at the Naval Hospital aboard Naval Air Station, Jacksonville.

So you see, it’s not a better ministry, just a different sort of ministry

God has called me to. That’s how God calls pastors, for specific ministries

to a specific time, place, and people.

You are called to remain together in community and share with each

other the virtues that St. Paul so eloquently wrote of his letter to the Colos-

sians. Now is the time to draw on and share the love that is such a central

virtue of this church family. Now is the time to encourage one another and

build each other up in the faith. Now is the time to avoid the temptation to

go elsewhere, shopping for places to have your spiritual needs met. Rather

stay put, roll up your sleeves and get involved, band together, get creative

and find ways to meet each other spiritual needs right here. *Scuttlebut page 2

Greetings St. John’s Brothers and Sisters,

On Sunday, August 2, Pastor Bill preached his final sermon and said goodbye to our congregation. He

was “right on” a couple of weeks ago with his sermon, “The End of the World ( as we know it )” has hap-

pened. Change has come to our congregation: we are still here, but Pastor Bill and Kelly are gone. We are

family, and what do families do? We grow and get stronger as time passes by, living with the word of God as

we have been taught. Pastor Bill has baptized, confirmed, married, visited and buried members during his stay

with us. He will be missed!

On Wednesday, July 25, Rev Cathy Schibler, Assistant to Bishop Lohrman of the Northwestern Ohio

Synod ELCA, and Pastor Katie Suggitt from Grace Castalia met with council for Pastor Bill’s exit interview.

We were asked to answer all the questions after Pastor Bill, but the answer repeated most of the time was

”Love” and” Family.” That answer is going to keep us going during this period of time before we get our new

pastor. We will have an interim pastor, hopefully by October. Pastor Jerry and Pastor Ray are going to help

cover Sundays through September and Pastor Bill Lucht will be doing the entire service on September 20. Pas-

tor Cathy Schibler is doing August 9 service.

What’s next? Council will be appointing the Transition Team and then the Call Committee . After we

have a new pastor in place, the Transition Team is dissolved and a new team called Mutual Ministry Team

starts. What does all this team business mean? During the next couple of months, I will explain what each

team or committee will do to help us move from Pastor Bill to an Interim pastor, moving to the Call Commit-

tee, then to a new pastor.

During the August 4 council meeting, the Transition Team members (5 members) will be selected and

on Sunday, August 9 , they will be presented to the congregation. The team will consist of council president

as an ex-officio member, plus four additional members, one of whom is a member of council. The team is ac-

countable to council and will make regular reports to council.

Next month, we will look at what the Transition Team will be doing.

Any questions, please call me at 419-684-5833 and leave a message with

your phone number and I will get back to you, or e-mail me at MooreZ@aol.com.

Peace and Blessings to all.

Jim Moore

Council President

News from the President!

Pastors come and go in the life of every congregation. God is faithful and will raise up the right pastoral leader

to fill the gap. Just wait and see. The wonderful partnership in the Gospel that is St. John’s continues in you.

You are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Stay close to the Lord and keep the faith.

Until we meet again dear friends. May God bless you and keep you!

With love and thanksgiving,

Pastor Bill Hlavin’s new address as of August 14th:

Bill and Kelly Hlavin

8871 Spectrum Center Blvd.

Apt 10311

San Diego, CA 92123

V OLU ME 30 IS SU E 7

Page 4

Crossroads Poets Corner

From Here to There by Jerry Bauer

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called

you by name, you are mine. When you pass

through the waters, I will be with you; and through

the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when

you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and

the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:1b-2

As I journey through life

from here to there,

twists and turns fraught with danger.

Reasons to fear, but I fear not.

I belong to God who names me

and claims me.

Through life's trials

God upholds me.

No fear as I go

from here to there.

Our ministry teams need people of action as to-

gether we are the church. Please con-

sider joining the work of the Worship

Team as they meet in August. Here

is the schedule:

Worship Team: Wed., August 19th

at 6:00 pm in the Upper Room

Ministry Teams

Quilting will resume in September. The

quilters meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday’s

at 9:00 AM. Every-

one is welcome and

encouraged to come

help and enjoy the

fellowship.

Quilters

St. John will serve their monthly

meal at the VOA Crossroads shel-

ter on Thursday, August 13th

from 3:30 – 6:00 pm. All are in-

vited to participate, and sign-up to

provide food items in support of

the meal. A new list is on the Welcome Table at

church. Food items to church by 12:00 noon.

Rally Day 2015! Mark Sunday, September 13th on

your calendar for Rally Day at the

Lions Park shelter house off of Monroe

Street, Sandusky OH. We will worship at 10:30 am,

enjoy a delicious potluck lunch, and fellowship. Please

bring a dish to pass. Rally Day will include opportuni-

ties for service after lunch at Ability Works which is

right across the grass.

Mark your calendar!

“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday

September 13, 2015

Plan to attend Rally Day!

Tasks that are available at Ability Works on Rally Day.

Washing windows inside and out. (buckets, newspa-

pers, squeegee)

Pull weeds (gloves, rakes, hoes, kneeling pads)

Clearing scrub from bayfront (vehicles with tow strap

to pull scrub out, gloves, chainsaws, pruners, etc)

Finish reupholster project (2-3 chairs) we have sup-

plies

Paint lockers (we have supplies)

Clear ramp and loading dock (scoop shovel)

V OLU ME 30 IS SU E 7

Aug. 1—Paula Hoffman

3—Bonnie Semon, Chuck

Kingsley

4—Dale Schlessman

Rebecca Johnson

Bob Krawetzki

5—Amanda Zorn

6—Dawn Warner

7—Barbara Vance

8—Chuck Thompson

11—Allison Schlessman

12—Aaron Schlessman

Nicole Kalis

14—Paul Stengel

15—Margaret Ommert

19—Madeline Lane

20—Tim Zorn

21—Samantha Bechtel

22—Mary K Schlessman

24—Danielle Osbun

Aug. 2 —Ann Voight

9 —

16—Ann Voight

23—Ann Voight

30—

Page 5

August Birthdays August Anniversaries Altar Flowers

27—Eloise Mitchell

27—Raymond Smith

29—Sherri Harlan Barnes

Aug. 4—Bob & Lori Stacy

8—Dale & Cindy Schlessman

12—Bill and Sue Lucht

16—Pat & Sally Kelley

Mark & Samantha Bechtel

18—Ray & Sharen Smith

20—Mike & Lisa Chill

21—Chuck and Heather Ruggles

25—Preston & Kimberly Luman

28—Bob & Jerri Krawetzki

Celebrating their 50th

30—Larry & Dawn Schlessman

Aug. 2–Bob & Jerrie Krawetzki

9–John and Barbara Wagner

16--Sally and Patrick Kelley in

honor of their anniversary

23—Bob & Jerrie Krawetzki in

honor of their 50th anniver-

sary

30–August and Bev Hohman in

memory of our dads.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE If you have any information to be

included in the September

Newsletter, please give to Sandy

Thompson by Sunday, Aug. 23rd or

mail to 2009 Jeffries Rd. Huron, Ohio

44839,

phone- 433-4530 or

Email-Sandy8110@gmail.com

Teachers and students,

it’s hard to hear but the

start of a new school

year is just around the

corner! St. John will

mark the occasion

again this year with the

“Blessing of Book

Bags.” on Sunday,

August 23rd during our

worship service.

Students, teachers, bus

drivers, school staff are

all invited to come

forward during

worship with whatever

it is you carry with you

to school...book bag,

back pack, brief case.

Scholarships Back to School

Ushers

Your help is needed!

A t t en t ion S t . J ohn memb ers !

Applications for scholarships are

available from Sue Lucht, Linda Miller

Moore, Sally Kelley.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND DRIVE

Beginning in September we will be

raising money for the St. John

Scholarship Fund. The fund benefits

college, Seminary students and anyone

who is doing continuing education or

training beyond high school that is a

member of this congregation. We need

your financial help to ensure that these

scholarships will

continue to be

available. Please

give prayerful

thought to help

with this special

ministry at St.

John.

Stand by

for learning opportunities

Coming in September the return

of our small group Bible study,

Sunday school, and the Book

Discussion Group. Stay tuned

for details.

Page 6

Sandusky Area Lutherans in Mission

Grace, Castalia – Resurrection, Sandusky – St. John, Sandusky

St. Paul, Sandusky -- Trinity, Sandusky – Zion, Huron – Zion, Sandusky

Highlights from the July 20, 2015 Board meeting of Our Sandusky Area Lutherans in Mission

The Giving Garden at St. John’s is going great! Volunteers are picking the produce and delivering to local sites

such as the Senior Center, the senior high rise, Care & Share, Huron’s food bank, Victory Temple, and Cross-

roads. WE CAN USE YOUR HELP WHEN THE CORN COMES ON. We need folks to help pick and folks

with pick-ups to help deliver the corn to area sites. If you can spend a little time and help, e-mail Barry Gill at

bagphs233@bex.net and indicate the day and time or see your SALM representative. “Lettuce” continue to

grow together in mission!

The June 28th, SALM Walk for Water fundraiser in Castalia raised $3,944.30. Thank you to Trinity’s Sally

Warner and Grace’s Holly Yetter for organizing this fun event. What an effort from everyone on the 2015

SALM Walk for Water campaign. Our combined efforts totaled $6,561.34.

SALM continues to make God’s love known to our community. We are supporting the Second Annual Recov-

ery Walk. We will be walking proud and caring our SALM banner on Saturday, September 19th. Please con-

sider joining us and supporting the community’s efforts to support recovery.

In 2017, the ELCA will observe the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. The SALM Board feels

this historic event deserves some attention. We need your thoughts and ideas. Would you like to see a choir

fest? an Octoberfest? a joint Reformation Sunday service? Let us know. We need volunteers to serve on a

planning committee. If you have an interest, please contact your representative.

What is your congregation doing for Gods work. Our hands. Sunday? Sunday, September 13th is an oppor-

tunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America- one church, freed in Christ to

love and serve our neighbors. St. John’s will have a work site at Ability Works, Inc. to build a pergola & do

other clean-up projects. Trinity will also send a crew there, while others are busy back at the church packing

200+ bagged lunches to be handed out to the hungry. Zion, Huron will be sending work crews to Admiral’s

Pointe Care Center and Lakeshore Laundry, while others work on LWR projects back at the church. Who in

the community needs our help? This is a perfect day to get a group together and make it happen. You can even

buy the t-shirts!

Announcements and SALM Church news:

Thursday, August 6th St. Paul Blood Drive

Sunday, August 9th, Trinity, Stephen Ministry Temple Talk by Carolyn Steinfeldt

Thursday, August 13th JOY Time, St. Paul’s @6 p.m.

Sunday, August 16th Zion Sandusky Church picnic

Thursday, August 20th Second Harvest Farmers Market at Trinity with food distribution to low-

income individuals from 10-noon.

Sunday, August 23, St. Paul Welcome Table (4th Sunday of every month)

Sunday, September 13 Gods Work. Our Hands. Service Sunday.

Saturday, September 19th Second Annual Recovery Walk in downtown Sandusky

Sunday, November 1st, St. John’s celebrating 150 years as a congregation w/ Bishop Lohrmann

New Testament Reading Challenge! Pastor Paul Stengel

Sun. Aug. 2 II Corinthians 1-2:4 Paul gives thanks

Mon. Aug. 3 II cor. 2:5-17 Forgiveness for the offender

Tues. Aug 4 II Cor.3:1—18 Servants of the New Covenant

Wed. Aug 5 II Cor. 4:1-16 Spiritual treasure in Clay Pots

Thurs. Aug 6 II Cor. 5:1-21 Friendship with God through Christ

Fri. Aug 7 II Cor. 5:1-7:1 Warning against false witnesses

Sat. Aug 8 II Cor. 7:2-16 Paul’s Joy

Sun. Aug 9 II Cor.8:1-26 Christian Giving, Titus and Companion

Mon. Aug 10 II Cor. 9:1-15 Help For Fellow Christians

Tues. Aug 11 II Cor. 10:1-18 Paul Defends His Ministry

Wed. Aug 12 II Cor. 11:1-15 Paul and the False Apostles

Thurs. Aug 13 II Cor. 11;:16-33 Paul’s Suffering As An Apostle

Fri. Aug 14 II Cor. 12:1-21 Paul’s Visions and Revelations

Sat. Aug 15 II Cor. 13:1-13 Final Warnings and Greetings

Sun. Aug 16 Galatians 1:1-2 The One Gospel

Mon. Aug 17 Gal. 2:1-23 Paul and the Other Apostles

Tues, Aug 18 Gal. 3:1-14 Law Or Faith

Wed. Aug 19 Gal. 3:15-29 The Law and the Promise, and the Purpose

Thurs, Aug 20 Gal. 4:1-34 Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Fri .Aug 21 Gal. 5:1-26 Preserve Your Freedom

Sat. Aug 22 Gal. 6:1-18 Bear One Another’s Burdens, Final greetings

Sun. Aug 23 Ephesians 1:1-23 Spiritual Blessings in Christ, Paul’s prayer

Mon. Aug 24 Eph. 2:1-22 From Death To Life

Tues. Aug 25 Eph.3:1-21 Paul’s Work for the Gentiles

Wed. Aug 26 Eph. 4:1-16 The Unity of the Body

Thurs. Aug 27 Eph.4:17-31 The New Life in Christ

Fri. Aug 28 Eph. 5:1-33 Living in the Light

Sat. Aug 29 Eph 6:1-23 Children and Parents, Whole Armor o God

Sun. Aug. 30 Philippians 1: 1-30 To live in Christ

Page 9

Pastor Ray Vance will provide pastoral care as needs arise: Pastor Ray Vance Home (419) 433-2885 Backup care provider: Pastor Phil Gardner, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sandusky Office (419) 626-0204 Home (419) 625-6771 Administrative needs: Sandy Thompson Office (419) 625-2192 Home (419 433-4530 Email sandy8110@gmail.com

Pastoral Care Coverage Worship Leader Coverage

As we enter this interim period, Rev. Cathy Schibler, Assistant to Bishop Lohrman of the Northwestern Ohio Synod ELCA, will lead wor-ship next Sunday, August 9th. Pastor Jerry Bau-er and Pastor Ray Vance will lead worship dur-ing August and September with Pastor Bill Lucht leading worship on September 20th as part of our 150th anniversary celebration.

A FAMILY OF DISCIPLES,

FAITHFULLY MAKING CHRIST KNOWN

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 Flowers:

Bob &

Jerrie

Krawetzki

3 4

Council

Meeting

7:00 pm

5 6 7 8

9 Flowers:

John & Barb

Wagner

10 11 12 13

Crossroads

3:30-6:00

Food to

church by

12:00 noon

14 15

16 Flowers:

Pat & Sally

Kelley

17 18 19

Worship

Team

6:00 pm

20 21 22

23 Flowers:

Bob & Jerrie

Krawetzki

24 25 26 27 28 29

30 Flowers:

Augie & Bev

Hohman

31

August 2014 August 2015

St. John Lutheran Church

Congratulations to Adrienne (Davie) Ayars on the occasion of the birth of her son, Austin Ayars, Jr. Austin was born on July 29th at Firelands Hospital. Mother and baby are doing well. May the Lord bless this new life and addition to the Ayars family! Congratulations to proud parents Matthew and Jessica (Hlavin) Dunavant on the oc-casion of the birth of their son Archer (Archie) William Dunavant, born July 15th. Parents and baby are doing great. Archie is the first grandchild for Kelly and I, so we could not be more excited! May the Lord bless this new life and family. "The rose on the altar is given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for Archer's birth." Pastor Bill Address for Matt and Jess Dunavant: 18900 Detroit Extension Apt 711 Lakewood, OH 44107

New Arrivals

Congratulations to Doug and Tara (Smith) Tommas married on Kelley’s Island on July 31st. May God richly bless Doug and Tara in their new life to-gether!

Looking for an individual to lead a new Sunday

School class for 8 to 12 year olds. Our youth are

growing and we need to engage their young

minds in the Good

News!

Please give prayerful

thought to stepping out

in faith to lead our older

youth! Please talk with

Allison Young or Sue

Lucht.

Choir returns on Sunday, September 20th.

Practice begins on Wednesday, Septem-

ber 9th. New members are welcome.

Plan to join the choir in their music min-

istry!

106 Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

ST. JOHN LUTHERAN

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS

Aug. 2—Paula Hoffman

16—Jim Semon, Sr.

LAY READERS

Aug. 2—Linda Miller-Moore

9—Jan Fulton

16—Ann Voight

23—

30—Linda Miller-Moore

August Ministry Leaders

ADDRESS CHANGE REQUESTED

419-625-2192

E-mail: SANDY8110@GMAIL.COM

WWW.ST JOHNLCSANDUSKY.COM

Summer Worship Hours

Sunday Worship 9:00 AM

A FAMILY OF DISCIPLES, FAITHFULLY MAKING

CHRIST KNOWN

Don’t forget, we switched back

to our 10:30 am

worship hour on

Sunday, September 13. 2015

ST. JOHN’S HOMEBOUND MEMBERS

Joyce Baaske: At home, Huron

Ruth Bruns: Lutheran Memorial Home, Sandusky

June Gorga: At home, Sandusky. (Mother of Nancy Osbun - Recently

relocated to Sandusky)

Jean Hlavin: Parkvue Place, Sandusky (Pastor Bill's mother)

Rita Justi: Gaymont Nursing Home, Norwalk

Rachel Kaliszewski: Gaymont Nursing Home, Norwalk (Renee Barkhi-

mer's mother)

Wayne and Ruth Knupke: At home, Huron

Ann Neate: At home, Sandusky

Jean Nottke: At home, Huron

Lois Oltman: At Admiral’s Pointe

Margaret Ommert: At home, Huron

Jeanette Walz: Parkvue Health Care Center, Sandusky

Joan Zorn: Portland House, Sandusky

Florene Swatek: At home in Norwalk.

Ruth Deehr: At home, Berlin Heights

Addresses and contact information may be found in the congregational

directory unless they reside in a nursing home. Thanks for caring!