St.

Johns Lutheran Church ELCA

1300 W. Benjamin Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 371-1985
stjohn@cableone.net
www.stjohnsnorfolk.com

Our Mission: Loving God . . . Loving People . . . Reaching Out!

Please remember in prayer:
Pr. Mike Sorsen
Stephanie Rabbass
Norma Henrickson
Gordon Moritz
Jo Schaefer

Jeff Erwin
Dadrian Medel
Janel Jundt
Marcia Barg

Waine Kruse
Esther Harrom
Lisa Echtenkamp
Chuck Starkey

If you know someone who is in need of prayer but whose name is not listed, it may be that
they have asked not to be included in the printed bulletin. Please remember them in your
personal prayers.

Flowers on the altar this last weekend in November are sponsored by Diane Sobotka
in loving memory of her brother Tim Prawitz; and by Mary Bergstrom in loving
memory of her sister, Gerry Damme. Additional flowers are sponsored by Scott &
Brenda Carhart in loving memory of son Alex.
PLEASE CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE if you or someone you know is hospitalized
and would enjoy a visit. Our church staff and hospital visit volunteers would be
happy to greet, see, and pray with you.

Food Donations are now being received for Good Neighbors. Please being
any donations prior to Dec. 15. Watch for the donation boxes in the
hallways.

Thank you to all who worked so hard Hanging the Greens Sunday afternoon.
The church looks beautiful as we welcome the Advent Season!

If you know of anyone in the community who needs a food basket from Good
Neighbors, please contact the office. 402-371-1985
Dr. David E. Cox Interim Senior Pastor
Justin Wiese Assistant Pastor, NeLCM-Norfolk Campus Pastor
Jacquie Samway PMA, Coordinator of Congregational Care
Jolene Ziebell Coordinator of Youth Ministries
Gail Volquardsen Office Manager
Jim Carter Maintenance Engineer
Midge Hedrick Office Assistant

SUNDAY, NOV 30
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:30 am ........................................... Festival Worship
9:15 am .................................... Sunday School Music
Extra music time for Christmas Program
9:30 am ..................................................... Fellowship
9:45 am ...............................Life of Christ Bible Study
Bethany Room
10:00 am ............................................ Sunday School
11:00 am .................................. Celebration Worship
7:00 pm.................... Gods Ambassadors ChristCare
Kristy Booras, 402-371-6218
MONDAY, DEC 1
10:00 am .............................................. Staff Meeting
2:00 pm........................................ Chosen ChristCare
Carol Waggoner, 402-371-7642
6:30 pm............................ Stephen Ministry Training
8:30 pm..................................................... Solid Rock
TUESDAY, DEC 2
7:00 am ................................ Mens Prayer Breakfast
6:00 pm........................................ Temple ChristCare
Pat Monson, 402-371-8803
7:00 pm....................................... Beloved ChristCare
Tracy Meister, 402-379-2484
7:00 pm............................... Benefaction Audit Team
7:00 pm.............................Congregation Audit Team
7:00 pm............................................... Praise Forever
7:00pm...................................................... SEA Group
WEDNESDAY, DEC 3
1:30 pm.................................... Searchers ChristCare
Connie Hagstrom, 402-649-4862
2:30 pm................................. First Communion Class
5:00 pm................................. First Communion Class
5:00 pm.............Sunday School Christmas Rehearsal
THURSDAY, DEC 4
11 am ...................................... PrimeTime Christmas
6:30 pm........................................... Cantata Practice
7:15 pm..................................Majesty Choir Practice
SATURDAY, DEC 6
9:00 am .............Sunday School Christmas Rehearsal
5:00 pm...............Sunday School Christmas Program

SHOP FOR MINISTRY

NOV 23
NOV 30

8:30 am
11 am
8:30 am

Margie Frank
Nancy Jacobs

ST. JOHNS EXECUTIVE BOARD

Mike Widhalm, President. ..... 1-402-316-5382
David Merritt, VP ...................... 402-379-0020
Dan Olson, Treasurer. ............... 402-379-1036
Diane Sobotka, Secretary. ......... 402-371-3583

OFFERINGS
Mission Emphasis (DEC.) ................ Good Neighbors
General offering for 11/23/14................... $6,232.34
The above general offering figure reflects
weekly additions of direct deposits and advance
pledges.
End of October Net Profit/(Loss) ............ ($1,594.36)
Year-to-Date Net Profit/(Loss) ............... ($2,821.85)
Attendance 11/23/14 ..................... (60, 94, 118) 272

Our Stephen Ministers are ready

to care for you. If you or someone
you know could benefit from the
care of a Stephen Minister, please
give us a call:
Karen Widhalm, Stephen Leader
(402-694-9031)
Nancy Jacobs, Stephen Leader
(402-841-1770)
St. Johns Church Office
(402-371-1985)

MERCY MEALS PACKING

Packing Mercy Meals at the Mercy Meals
Warehouse at 7th & Madison will be
The first Monday / month: 4-5:30 pm or
5:30 7pm
The first Tuesday / month: 12:30 2 pm
If interested in packing, contact Jan Gannon at
402-649-6401.

TIME TO ORDER POINSETTIAS!

Poinsettias are now available for
sale from Floral Expressions for
our Christmas altar. Each
potted plant is $13 and will be
delivered to St. Johns prior to
Christmas Eve services. You can order your
poinsettia by placing $13 in an envelope and
marking it poinsettia. You may take your
plant home after your service of choice on
Christmas Eve. Plants remaining at the church
after Christmas will be delivered to shut ins.

Chosen ChristCare desires to repeat

this ministry.
The Madison County Juvenile Facility is in
need of monies to provide special Christmas
meals for the 30-32 youth who are living there.
One meal for the group costs between
$50-$75. Chosen ChristCare is going to make
one meal happen, but there is at least another
meal needing support and there are other
needs (toiletries) that can be supported. It this
kind of ministry appeals to you, the church
office has an envelope to which you can
contribute. It would be wonderful to give
Jesse Jensen (person who called Pastor
Justin from the facility expressing this need), a
bigger fund than $50-$75 to work with. This is
a great way to model our mission statement-reaching out.
Last year St. Johns and Chosen provided
home-made cookies and enough money for 3
meals, but no toiletries. Lets see if we can do
even more!

PRIME TIME CHRISTMAS DINNER

THURSDAY, DEC. 4
11:30 to 1:30
Join us for a wonderful Christmas meal
with all the trimmings and Remember
When piano favorites with Norma Jean
Heath. Please RSVP @ 402-371-1985 or
sign up on todays registration slip.

To St. Johns Benefaction Board:

Thank you so much for your gift to The Zone
Afterschool Program through your
contribution of $5,000.00. Your financial
support helps us reach our mission to promote
the physical, mental, emotional, social, and
spiritual well-being of adolescents in Norfolk.
We are excited to have started our third year
of programming on Sept. 9. We look forward
to renewing relationships with Zone youth and
offering opportunities to strengthen their
growth in school and life. This is only possible
by the generous contributions of people like
you. Here is what two of our Zone youth have
to say:
I like to come to The Zone because of the
help I get and the attitudes of staff and kids. I
like how everyone respects me for who I am.
-- Logan
the best part of being at The Zone has been
making friends and being a part of a loving
family. -- Alana
PS Thank you for believing in the work and
service The Zone provides. Prayers for our
impact on youth coming to The Zone is greatly
appreciated!
Julee Pfeil, Executive Director

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS !

We started a tradition last Christmas Eve that
was very appreciated by the congregation and
we would love to continue. We are looking for
musicians to perform before the 5:00, 7:00,
and 9:00 p.m. services. If you play an
instrument, sing, or dance, please join in the
celebration of our Lord's Birth with a gift of
your talent. Please contact Vern Krause or the
church office if you are interested or know of
someone else that should share their talent!

On Sunday, December 7, its Celebration

Sunday at St. Johns! During our 8:30 and
11 am worship services, we will gather to
present our pledges and Time & Talent sheets
for the upcoming year. At noon, a catered
meal will be served at no charge to thank you
for your offerings of time and talents,
resources and relationships through St. Johns.
The information we receive on this day will
assist us in the structuring of the 2015 Vision
for Mission which will be submitted to the
congregation at the January 2015 annual
meeting.

On December 13 &
14, baptized
children of God at
St. Johns who will
have attended
December
confirmation classes will receive First
Communion at any one of the three worship
services. We look forward to celebrating First
Communion with the families of those young
people who will be taking part in the Lords
Supper for the first time. The classes will be
offered Dec. 3 @ 2:30 and 5 or Dec. 10 @ 2:30
or 5. Attendance is required at only one of the
four scheduled opportunities. Please RSVP no
later than noon of the day you plan to attend.

St. Johns Majesty Choir

will present Canticles in
Candlelight: A Cantata
for Christmas at all
services on Dec. 20-21.

BENEFACTION BOARD
HIGHLIGHTS Nov. 13
The St. Johns Benefaction Board
approved two grants at their November 13th
meeting. The board gave $9,000 to
Blessings in a Backpack. According to
Julie Robertson, this program feeds about
230 Norfolk elementary school children
each weekend.
Another grant was given to the Nebraska
Synod Interim Ministry Program. This
program, which trains qualified pastors for
interim ministry, received $1500. The
money will provide partial scholarships for
three pastors.
The congregation may provide
additional monetary support to these
programs with mission offerings. Mark the
envelope with the name of the specific
ministry you wish to support.
Discussion also included the ELCAs
Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM)
program. St. Johns has supported several
missionaries in the past. The Council will
also be discussing how St. Johns
congregation can support this program.
The board wants to thank Jim McKenzie
as he completes his term and David Merritt
as he completes his service as a council
representative when his council term ends.

The St. Johns Sunday School Christmas Program

is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, @ 5 pm.
We will be presenting, Shepherds, Sheep and a
Savior, a 30-minute musical about one of the
most familiar parts of the Christmas story. God
chose lowly, humble shepherds to be the first
ones to see the Savior! Please plan to attend!
We have started rehearsing the songs before
Sunday School at 9:15 am. We also will have an
additional rehearsal on Sat., Dec. 6 from 9-11 am.

The Sunday School Christmas Program will be

in lieu of a Saturday evening worship service.

SATURDAY, NOV 29
6 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
JOHN SKOGSTOE
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERS/USHERS Warren & Pat Monson
READER Carolyn Wilcox
PRAYER LEADER __________

SUNDAY, NOV 30
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
JOHN SKOGSTOE
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERS Bob & Jan Henning, __________
USHERS Mark Polenske, Mike Frank
READER Tom Hedrick
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Jan & Bob Henning
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Linda Downs,
Sherri Kuk, Carol Waggoner,
Midge Hedrick
PRAYER LEADER Sara Fegley
SOUND Ron Benson
POWERPOINT Mary Lynn Benson
SUNDAY, NOV 30
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
JOHN SKOGSTOE
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERSKristi Johnson, Jeann Granstra
USHERS Greg & Sandra Korth, Mark Nelson
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Jeann Granstra,
Laurel Moore, Kristi Johnson, __________
PRAYER LEADER Brenda Smith
SOUND Nancy Jacobs
POWERPOINT Trey Porter

SATURDAY, DEC 6
6 PM
The Sunday School Christmas Program at 5pm
will be in place of the Worship Service for this
evening.

SUNDAY, DEC 7
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
LINDA DOWNS
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
CONNIE HAGSTROM
GREETERS Doris McMahon, Donna Short
USHERS Jim McMahon, Gayle Short
READER Duane Nelson
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Jan & Bob Henning
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Duane & Cindy
Nelson, Tom & Midge Hedrick
PRAYER LEADER Maureen Bivens
SOUND Ron Benson
POWERPOINT Mary Lynn Benson
SUNDAY, DEC 7
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
LINDA DOWNS
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
CONNIE HAGSTROM
GREETERSJana Kuhlman, Jim & Kayla
Mertz
USHERS Kevin Bonderson, Dennis Swanson,
Roger Echtenkamp
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Beth Bonderson,
Janet Erickson, Brenda Carhart,
Kristy Booras
PRAYER LEADER Carol Severa
SOUND Logan Strom
POWERPOINT Marcus/Adam Echtenkamp