JUNE 2022 NEWSLETTER

SJLC ElderNews

June 2022 A.D.

A Note from Brennick Christiansen
(Seminarian we know and have supported, who just graduated and received a Call. See the church bulletin for the announcement about giving them a gift)
Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and prayers while my family has been at the Seminary. We could not have made it through without your support. At the end of this past April, I received a call to serve as associate pastor and headmaster at Peace Lutheran Church & Academy in Sussex, Wisconsin. The last week of classes at CTSFW is over, and we are now preparing to move to Wisconsin for the next chapter in our lives.
If you’re able, please come to my ordination at Peace Lutheran on June 19, at 3pm.The ordination service is the entrance into the Office of the Holy Ministry. The Office was instituted by Jesus in John 20 and Matthew 28, and is often associated with the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Church at Pentecost (see Acts 2). Characteristic of the service is that the newly ordained pastor will, for the first time, lead in the celebration of
the Lord’s Supper.
Peace Lutheran Church & Academy
W240 N6145 Maple Avenue Sussex, WI 53089 http://peacesussex.org/
Love,
Brennick, Bethany, Silas, Lydia, and Hezekiah

Don’t forget to check the Church Calendar page on the website for up-to-date activities and times: https://stjohnfrisco.org/category/events/

Christian Education, Human Care & Evangelism

Audio of the sermon is available on our website. Homebound Communion: If you are unable to attend the Divine Service, you may always arrange communion with pastor.
Audio of Bible Class: New protocol: If you would like to sign-up to receive recordings of Bible class, send an email to admin@sjlcfrisco.com to be added to the email list

Ladies Group is studying Ruth. Meets June 2nd at 6:30 p.m. Look for updates in the bulletin and via email. (Normally breaks Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Men’s Study Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. The Book of Concord 1580. (Breaks Memorial Day through Labor Day) Midweek Bible Study: Mondays, 1:00 p.m. I Peter and following epistles. Will resume with 1 John 4 in the fall. (Breaks Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Sunday School (Breaks Sunday prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day)
For Information on Closed Communion, check out the brochure at church or see our website. You may always talk to me too. https://stjohnfrisco.org/holy-communion/ & https://stjohnfrisco.org/why- closed-communion/

Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL. You can listen at your convenience at https://www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app. You can listen to Lutheran music at https://www.lutheranpublicradio.org

Children’s Bulletins Available: Lessons for Lambs is not meant to serve as a way to keep kids busy and quiet during the service, but rather to involve them in what’s going on in the service so they can begin thinking about

Note: St. John is using the email address admin@sjlcfrisco.com to send information and requests for information to the members. Please check your Spam or Junk mail folders for emails from this address.

Sunday Bible Class: The Gospel according to St. Matthew started 9/27/20.
Youth Catechesis: Normally Sunday’s noon – 1 p.m. to Palm Sunday. Breaks until the fall.
Adult Catechesis: If you know someone who would like to learn more about what we as Lutherans believe, please have them contact Pastor.

Private Confession and Absolution offered all week upon request.

BIBLE STUDY: The Word of the Lord Endures Forever is a daily 15-minute verse-by-verse Bible study produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL You can listen at your convenience
at https://www.thewordendures.org, on your favorite podcast provider, or the LPR mobile app.

The bulletins are geared toward kids in 2nd through 6th grades with varying degrees of independence. They could certainly be used with younger kids, in part, with help from their parents.
Got questions? What About Series: https://steadfastlutherans.org/whatabout/
Home Devotions Resources: Reminder that there are resources on the table in the Narthex. The “Lesson for Lambs” and “Lambs at Pasture” are great resources to use in the home during the week. There is even an answer guide. Also, additional resources are on our website. Home Devotional Resources: https://www.mlchouston.org/about-us/memorial-moments & http://www.steadfastlutherans.org/2017/02/lambs- at-pasture-daily-devotions-for-the-family/
Evangelism: Sharing our website with others is a great way to let others to learn about us. Church Business Cards still available for you to take. Let’s get our name out there and invite others to hear the sweet Gospel! Evangelism Tracts using the Small Catechism AVAILABLE! Also, tracts on the Explanation of the Church Service available now too!

Frisco Family Services is now known as Frisco Family Services Market. This rebranding reflects a heartfelt consideration for the health, safety, and respect for our neighbors during an unexpected crisis. Now, Frisco Family Services Market better portrays the experience families and individuals are used to when shopping in a grocery store.

In addition to in person client-choice shopping, they have added Market Express, an online
shopping alternative for those who are ill, do not feel comfortable with in person shopping, or have limited time to shop due to their work schedule. Similar to retail curbside pickup, their clients access an online shopping list, make their selections and schedule a convenient pickup time. Clients arrive at their scheduled time and volunteers load their chosen items into their vehicle.

For seniors and those who are unable to drive or do not have transportation, their Mobile Market provides home delivery. Having these options will ensure the health, safety, and confidentiality of those needing to use Frisco Family Services Market while navigating their crisis.

Additionally, they have added a Fresh produce section for the shoppers, funded by a recent Leadership Frisco class.

As a church, St. John continues its support of Frisco Family Services Market with stable food item donations to their food pantry. A collection basket has been placed at church for your donations. Please consider donating any regular sized canned or boxed goods that are within the expiration date. They also need laundry and cleaning supplies. We will not be able to provide fresh produce through this collection basket. Thank you for helping!

Building Fund: If you would like to contribute to the fund, please write, “Building Fund” on your check. The Capital Campaign handout is in the narthex if you missed it.

Christian Stewardship -Time, Talent, and Treasure

Choir: Our choir rehearses Tuesday nights from 7 to 8pm. Please lend your voice and come sing with us. Handchime Choir: On Sunday mornings the Handchime Choir will rehearsal from 8:50 till 9:15 (before Worship Services). If you are interested in ringing, please call Becky Greer, 504-812-7951 and let her know Weekly Stewardship bulletin sentences from synod are in our bulletin most weeks—check them out.

Church Cleaning: Thank you to all who have served. Always looking for new volunteers. Check with Bill or Denise Eggert if you have questions.

A flower chart for 2022 is posted on the wall by the coffee station. We have updated our Altar flower sign up procedure. Flowers will be available for order to be displayed on the Sunday of your choice. The cost is $30 per vase. We encourage multiple families to sign up together (one for each vase) on the Sunday they would like to commemorate or give thanks in this way. As is needed, the elder board will purchase the second vase and distribute those flowers to our homebound members. Please sign up at least one week in advance, either on the sheet near the bulletin board or by sending your altar flower request to our volunteer church secretary at admin@sjlcfrisco.com or text message to 214-425-9777.

Amazon Smile: Don’t forget you can support our church by designating St. John through Amazon Smile.

“Merchant Rewards Programs: In addition to Amazon Smile, St. John is now set up with Kroger.
1. Apply for a Kroger rewards card, if you don’t already have one.
2. Sign in, or create an account with Kroger at https://www.kroger.com
3. Go to the Savings & Rewards menu.
4. Select Community Rewards and enter “Saint John Lutheran Church” in the search window, and then search. 5. We should be the first entry in the search results. Our Organization Number is: YV240
6. Select “ENROLL” and hit enter. You’re set up.
Prayer: Please continue to pray for our congregation. Also, please take home your bulletin and pray during the week for those who have requested our prayers.
Interested in serving as a Church Greeter? Please speak to an elder.
Human Care Group: Want to be available to make a meal, give a ride, and such, to a fellow member in a time of need? Speak with an elder to sign-up to be on our human care group list.
Welcoming Committee: If you have an interest in welcoming and contacting first-time visitors with a call, card, or home visit to simply say, “We are glad you came. Hope you come again.”, please contact an elder.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

What Do You Have That You Have Not Received?
Some of the disciples of John the Baptist were questioning him about the baptism and preaching of Jesus. John the Baptist replies to their questions in this way: “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27).
Now, John the Baptist says this to show that Jesus, His teaching, and His baptism are from heaven. But this statement is true of everything – everything that we have and are in body and soul. In fact, this is what we are taught in the meaning of the Apostles’ Creed in Luther’s Small Catechism.
In the explanation of the Creed’s First Article, we learn that God has made us and everything in the universe. Luther says:
“He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”
In the Second Article of the Creed, we learn that God sent His Son, Jesus, to humble Himself, taking the form of a servant. Luther writes:
“(Jesus) has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.”
In the Third Article of the Creed, we learn that the fruits of what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did are given to us through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Luther explains:
“That I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the
Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.”
Indeed, a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. But how easy is this for us to forget about this?
How easy is it for us to think that what we have in this life is because we have earned it? How easy is it for us to forget that even all our skills, the abilities of our hands and minds – the very ethic to work diligently and to seek to get better at these skills – is given to us from heaven, just as John the Baptist said? How easy is it for us to

forget that it is Christ alone – and the work of the Holy Spirit – that reveals His salvation to us, delivers it to us, and not our doing?
Sure, we have responsibility for coming to church, for delving into God’s Holy Word, and for praying without ceasing. But even these responsibilities are given to us from heaven, not to earn anything but in response to what He has accomplished for us.
A person cannot receive one thing unless it is given to him from heaven. Everything we have, and everything we are – in both body and soul – are gifts from God in heaven. Let us then respond in thanksgiving and give back to Him as He asks us to – with a first-fruits, generous proportion offering of what He has given to us.
What should I be doing as a steward of the gifts the Lord has given me? Our Small Catechism, from Scripture, shows us our duties in our God-given vocations. Each month, I plan to cycle through parts of the Table of Duties:
Table of Duties Monthly Review: To Parents
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Eph. 6:4
Table of Duties Monthly Review: To Children
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Eph. 6:1–3
Let each his lesson learn with care, and all the household well shall fare.
Other News
For current events, please visit our website and see the church calendar. You can sync our calendar to your computer or smartphone. https://stjohnfrisco.org/st-john-church-calendar/ Church events are shown at https://stjohnfrisco.org/category/events/ Also, if you do Facebook, check out our page.
We thank The Roy D. and Ingaborg G. Randolph Memorial Endowment Fund for its continued support. We received a generous gift of 10K, November, 2021. Praise the Lord!
Connecting the Dots: Before the service, try reading through the Gospel lesson and see if you can link it to the other lessons, Introit, Gradual, and Collect. (Hint: Start with the Collect as it usually summarizes the theme of the day)
Newsletter Deadline is the 20th of each month. Send submissions to pastorstark@gmail.com

– LCMS Stewardship Ministry
https//www.lcms.org/stewardship

Other Articles/Resources

https://www.lcms.org/news/publications https://steadfastlutherans.org/
To God be the Glory!