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!

PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS:
Marsha Nelson in the loss of her father, Larry Nelson
Alecia Simonsen & baby Hunter
Steve Orwig
Margaret Hedrick
LONG TERM PRAYER CONCERNS:
Dennis & Sara Fegley
Norma Hunter
Lt. Col. Darin Huss (deployed)
Keagan Sullivan
Rosemary Westerhold
Harlin Westerhold

Carol Severa
Adam Leader

Names will be listed in the bulletin for 2 weeks for immediate prayers and 3 months for long
term prayers. Those who wish names to remain on the list longer should contact the church
office @ 402-371-1985. 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 first weekend of December are sponsored by Carolyn Wilcox in loving
memory of Jim and for all our Christmas blessings; and by Scott & Brenda Carhart in loving
memory of our son, Alex.
The new 2017 flower chart is available in the west hallway. This is an excellent way to
remember a loved one or a special occasion with flowers on the altar. You can always pick up
your flowers after the late Sunday service or on Monday morning in the church office. Flowers
that are left behind are delivered to a shut-in or someone hospitalized. Thank you for all your
generous donations in the past!
St. John's Call Committee has received the names of two candidates for the position of Senior
Pastor from the Nebraska synod office. The committee is in the process of reviewing the
profiles of these candidates. We ask for your prayers as we go through this period of
discernment.
St. John's Call Committee

Armchairs are available if you are in need of an armed chair during worship.
Just ask an usher!
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 Ermels Office Manager
Jim Carter Custodian/Grounds Keeper
Midge Hedrick Office Assistant

SUNDAY, DEC 4
8:30 am ....................................................... Worship
9:15 am Sunday School Christmas Program Practice
Sunday School Music Room (lower level)
9:45 am .............................................. Sunday School
9:45 am .................................................... Fellowship
9:45 am .............................. Life of Christ Bible Study
Hoppe Community Room (lower level)
11:00 am ..................................................... Worship
6:00 pm ................... Gods Ambassadors ChristCare
Kristy Booras, 4020-371-6218
MONDAY, DEC 5
10:00 am ............................................. Staff Meeting
2:00 pm ........................................ Chosen ChristCare
Carol Waggoner, 402-371-7642
6:30 pm .............. Stephen Ministry Christmas Party
7:00 pm ................ Parish Fellowship Ministry Team
8:30 pm ..................................................... Solid Rock
TUESDAY, DEC 6
7:00 am ................................ Mens Prayer Breakfast
7:00 pm .................................................... SEA Group
WEDNESDAY, DEC 7
1:30 pm .................................... Searchers ChristCare
Connie Hagstrom, 402-649-4862
2:30 pm ............................... 5th Grade Confirmation
5:00 pm ............................... 5th Grade Confirmation
6:00 pm ................................ SHOCKED Youth Group
THURSDAY, DEC 8
6:30 pm ................................. Majesty Choir Practice
7:15 pm ........................................ Cantata Rehearsal
SATURDAY, DEC 10
5:00 pm .................................NO WORSHIP SERVICE

SHOP FOR MINISTRY

DEC 4
DEC 11

8:30 am
11 am
8:30 am
11 am

Carol Waggoner
Cathy Erwin
Donna Short
__________

Pledge update: 69 Estimate of Giving Cards for

2017 have been completed and returned.
Thank you! If you have not yet had a chance to
do so, please place your pledge card and Time
& Talent sheet into the offering plate or drop it
into the box at the back of the church. More
copies are available, if needed -- just ask an
usher!

OFFERINGS
Mission Emphasis (DEC) ................. Good Neighbors
Greenfiber Funds for NOV ............................. Mosaic
General offering for 11/27/2016 ...............$4,804.83
Dedicated Funds spent to cover
General Fund expenses .....................$24,634.76
End of OCT General Fund Deficit ........... $1,962.02
Year-to-Date General Fund Deficit ....... $28,119.97
Attendance 11/27/16 ...................... (81, 89, 77) 247
Thanksgiving Eve ............................................... 91

First Communion Class

On December 11, 1966, St. Johns

congregation celebrated their first
worship service in our present location.
Because of a visionary long-term
commitment, we will be celebrating 50
years together here on December 11,
2016, @ 10 AM. Please RSVP today to join
us for breakfast, served from 8:30-9:30
AM in the Fellowship Hall call the office
@ 402-371-1985 or sign up on the
Registration Slip today!

2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES

ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE WEST
HALLWAY.

Wednesday, Dec. 7
2:30-3:30 or 5-6 pm
First Communion classes will be held
December 7 at 2:30-3:30pm and 5-6pm for
any baptized youth whose parents have
discerned that their children are ready to
receive the Lords Supper for the first time.
Families must RSVP their intent on
attending one of the classes no later than
noon December 7 by calling the church
office (402-371-1985). If this date does not
work, please visit with Pastor Justin to
schedule a different time.
The one-hour class will review how God
loves us and feeds us, using stories from the
Spark Story Bible. Students will also learn
how communion is received at St. Johns
and other churches.
Students who complete the First
Communion Class will be invited to receive
First Communion at the "50 years on the
hill" worship service on Sunday, December
11, 2016, at 10 AM.

What is SHOP FOR MINISTRY?

When you purchase your Shop for Ministry
cards at St. Johns (good at Lous or
HyVee), you automatically donate 3% to our
church! You purchase the card at face value
and use it like cash the 3% donation is
built into our original purchase price. This is
a very simple way to give back to the church
community as the 3% gift from each
purchase is used to fund the purchase of
Faith Chests given to each child at baptism.
Thank you for your generous and continued
help in funding this wonderful ministry!

Sermons are now available online @

www.facebook.com/stjohnsnorfolk

Ornaments commemorating St. Johns

50 Years on the Hill will be sold for a
suggested donation of $5 from now until
they are gone!

Look for the

ELCA Good
Gifts
window in
the Narthex. If
you would like
to donate to the Sunday Schools project,
grab an envelope from the table and insert
your donation. Suggested donations for
pigs, chicks and bees are listed. You can
also give online @ www.elca.org/goodgifts
or through your online giving to St. Johns.

Mildred Christensen continues her physical

therapy @ Brookestone Meadows in
Elkhorn. If you would like to send notes of
encouragement, her address is:
Mildren Christensen
c/o Brookestone Meadows Rm 2517
600 Brookestone Meadows Plaza
Elkhorn, NE 68022

NEEDED: One person to take communion

to shut-ins. If you have a heart for visiting
with those are are unable to get to church for
communion or have questions about how
you can help, please contact Jacquie in the
church office @ 402-371-1985.

THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO HELPED

WITH THE HANGING OF THE
GREENS! ITS ALWAYS A
WONDERFUL TIME FOR
FELLOWSHIP AND CHRISTMAS
SPIRIT!

The Salvation Army is

again collecting new
pajamas for their
pajama project
(children sizes 8-adult
L, boys and girls).
Please consider making
either a monetary
donation or buying a
new pair of pajamas so
that all of Norfolks children can sleep in
warmth. Checks can be made payable to:
Norfolk Salvation Army Pajama Project and can
be dropped off or mailed to Salvation Army,
112 N. 7th St., Norfolk. New pajamas can be
dropped off at Salvation Army or WJAG radio
station. Deadline is Friday, Dec. 16. Thanks for
your support! Call Kris Scheer @ 402-3716742 with any questions.

POINSETTIAS are
now available to
purchase for St. Johns
Christmas Eve altar
from Floral Expressions.
Each plant is delivered to St. Johns,
wrapped and ready for display. This years
purchase price is $13. If you would like to
order a plant, please enclose your check or
cash in an envelope marked poinsettia.
Please take your plant home after Christmas
Eve worship. Thank you!

SHOCKED! YOUTH GROUP

WHO: Shop for

Ministry sales
person(s)
WHAT: Hy-Vee and
Lous Thriftyway
gift cards
WHERE: West hallway
WHEN: Fifteen minutes
before and after

Sunday morning
worship services
HOW: Contact the church office
(402-371-1985)

NOVEMBER COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The St. Johns Congregation Council spent
most of the November meeting discussing
the 2017 budget and examining proposed
changes to the congregations constitution.
The budget changes will be prepared for
final approval at the December meeting.
A constitution review was started because of
required and suggested changes from the
2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Required changes were approved in October
but task force chairman Ron Lofgren lead
the council in reviewing specific changes in
constitution wording, seeking to reflect
current practice and updating the wording.
Reports were received from the Stewardship
Team, Fellowship Team and the Benefaction
Board. The next congregation council
meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,
December 21.
A complete copy of the minutes is available
outside the church office or by mailing or
emailing the church office.

Wednesday, December 7
Youth grades 7-12
Bethany Room 6 PM
Come bring a finger food and a friend!
Eat have fun!
No fingers will be consumed during this activity!

HELPERS NEEDED FOR THE

DECEMBER 11
10 am WORSHIP SERVICE
Because of the single worship service on the weekend
of December 11, we are looking for helpers for that
10 am worship service. If you would be willing to
help, sign up on todays Registration Slip. We will
need greeters, communion assistants, and ushers.
Thank you!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
5 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
PATTY BRASCH
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERS/USHERS Rod & Shirley Hughes
READER Shirley Hughes
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
PATTY BRASCH
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERS Dick & Barb Adams, Claribel Wulf
USHERS Dennis & Lois Braesch, Phil Sykes
READER Sherri Kuk
FELLOWSHIP HOUR Del & Jeannie Fuelberth
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Rollie & Linda
Downs, Sherri Kuk, Diane Sobotka
POWERPOINT Midge Hedrick
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
PATTY BRASCH
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERSMichelle Dagerman, Martha
Thompson
USHERS Kevin Bonderson, Don Meister
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Beth Bonderson,
Janet Erickson, Tracy Meister, Kristy Booras
POWERPOINT __________
LECTIONARY READINGS:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
NO SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP
NO SUNDAY 8:30 OR 11:00 AM WORSHIP

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
10 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK
DAN DENKINGER
GREETERS__________, __________
USHERS __________, __________, __________,
__________
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS __________,
__________, __________, __________
POWERPOINT Midge Hedrick
SOUND Spencer Dagerman
LECTIONARY READINGS:
Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11