A Message
from Our Interim Pastor
Luke 2:21 "After eight days had
passed, it was time to circumcise the
child; and he was called Jesus, the
name given by the angel before he was
conceived in the womb."
New Year's Day is the feast day
of the Name of Jesus on our liturgical
calendar. We can recall that Jesus has
a specific purpose in regards to you
and me that is encapsulated by his
very name. He is our Savior. He is the
One sent to overcome the powers of
sin, death and the devil which all
threaten to consume us. It is
appropriate on this day that all
Christian believers bless the name of
Jesus and pray for the continuing
success of the One who bears it that
more people may come into a positive
and saving connection with the Gospel.
We might consider how the name
of Jesus is misused, in much speech,
as an exclamation point. If anyone is
in the habit of using the name of
Jesus in this fashion, I would
recommend, in obedience to the Second
Commandment, "You shall not make
wrongful use of the name of the Lord
your God." The worst thing that such
usage does is reduce the name of Jesus
to banality, making it the equivalent
of 'fiddlesticks’.
Often, because of the influence
of media on everyday language, it
seems as if using the name of the Lord
in vain is better than using words
that refer to hygienic or sexual
actions. But quite the reverse is
true. There is nothing particularly
sacred about hygienic or sexual
January 2015
actions. A wise person uses such
language sparingly, if at all, in
mixed company, so as not gain the
reputation of a potty mouth. That is
not a reputation that will advance you
in good company. But such vulgar or
obscene language is not necessarily
sinful unless we use it to denigrate
another person.
But to abuse references to the
holy, including abuse of the name of
Jesus is a sin. It degrades the honor
of God. As Christian believers, we are
called to uphold the honor of God.
I pray for a Happy New Year for all
members and friends of Emanuel-St.
John Lutheran Church! I pray that your
pursuit of what it means to be a
complete human being realize great
success this year! I pray that the
name of Jesus, your Savior and my
Savior, remains special and sweet on
your lips, a name resonating with
angels, and attesting to the honor of
God!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Ron
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EPIC Special Event
January 14, 2015
EPIC is going to have a guest speaker
on January 14th with a snow date of
January 21. Phil Hamman is an author
from Sioux City. This event is open to
all of the people from the church. It
will be at the UMC at 6:00 for a meal
for everyone and 6:30 for him to
speak. This is open to parents of EPIC
students, members of the 3 churches
and the community at large. This event
will replace all regular EPIC
activities for the evening.
representative is still needed from
our church.
Emanuel St John Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes
December 15, 2014
President LaVerne Arndt called the
meeting to order. Present were Pauline
Lange, Cindy Souder, Colleen Arndt,
Marge Everts, Candace Booth, Dennis
Booth, Tim Kral, Rhonda Johnson, Jean
Matter, Alan Meyer, Carol Meyer, Leah
Rosado and Pastor Ron. Pastor Ron
opened the meeting with a prayer and
devotions. Motion by Dennis Booth,
second by Jean Matter to approve the
agenda. Motion passed. Motion by
Candace Booth, second by Colleen Arndt
to approve the November minutes.
Motion passed. Motion by Dennis Booth,
second by Colleen Arndt to use the
offering from the Thanksgiving service
for Sac County Outreach and Calhoun
County Outreach. Motion passed. Rhonda
Johnson was present to go over the
November Treasurer’s Report. Motion to
accept the report with a balance of
$8729.94. Motion passed. Motion by
Alan Meyer, second by Marge Everts to
have the Sunday School Christmas
Program Offering to go to the Church
General Fund. Motion passed. Ramona
Peterson, representative from
LifeTouch gave a presentation on a new
pictorial directory. There is no
charge to the church for doing the
directory. Council will decide at
January meeting on when to do the
directory. Leah gave a report on the
past months EPIC program. She is
working on getting her Youth Leader
Certification. She will put an updated
EPIC calendar on the website.
Old Business: President Arndt informed
the council he received an email from
the synod office for pastor
candidates. The WIS office has two
possible candidates that they will be
sending paperwork to us. EPIC Board
President Report: President Arndt
reminded council to give the
candidates for new committee members
to Pauline. Annual reports are also
due to Pauline by the end of December.
Motion by Jean Matter, second by
Dennis Booth to have the Church Annual
Meeting after church service on
January 25, 2015. Motion passed.
Pastor’s Report: Pastor Ron will be on
a retreat for continuing education
January 4 – 8. He will be gone on
February 1. Supply pastor will be
needed for those dates and Lean R.
will be doing the confirmation class.
Worship and Music Committee: Jean
Matter reported the committee
discussed the Thanksgiving Service
that was held and any changes they
might do for next year. Working on the
Christmas Eve Service. Motion by
Colleen Arndt, second by Jean Matter
to not have Contemporary Service the
evening of December 21. Motion passed.
The Advent Candle wreath seems to be
not working properly. LaVerne will
look at it.
Parish Education Committee: Marge
Everts reported the children are
working on the Christmas Program. The
4th and 5th graders will receive their
Bibles the second Sunday in January
during the children’s sermon. The
committee is working on curriculum for
vacation Bible School and next fall
classes.
Outreach Committee: Colleen Arndt
reported the bake sale went very well.
The money will be used to put new
carpeted flooring into the Church
Library. The council discussed the
pictorial directory versus the phone
directory. Council decided it would be
better to go ahead with the pictorial
directory with pictures starting in
April.
Property Management: Tim Kral present.
The Cemetery committee was wondering
if two urns can be buried in the same
plot. Council agreed that this is
okay. Tim and LaVerne will be cleaning
out the garage at the parsonage. The
dead trees at the south cemetery need
to be removed. The committee will
start taking those trees out.
Stewardship and Finance Committee:
Alan Meyer present. The committee is
working on next year’s budget. The
treasurer’s balance is getting lower
each month. Pastor Ron suggested
having a Consecration Sunday with a
pastor coming in and giving a sermon
on inviting people to give money to
the church. Pastor Ron will look into
this and get back to council at next
meeting.
WELCA: Candace Booth reminded us that
the Soles4Souls will be ending on
December 31st.
New Business: The Baskerville family
has asked for church needs so that
they can give a memorial. President
Arndt received ideas from the council.
Candace Booth talked about the Malaria
Project sponsored by the Hands of Hope
Conference. Discussion tabled for next
month’s meeting.
Meeting adjourned with the Lord’s
Prayer.
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Thinking of You!
Merry Christmas St. John’s Lutheran
Church!
Thank you again for your past
partnership! May your church family be
blessed this holiday season and may
your Christmas be a joyous one!
Many Blessings,
Rachel Black
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
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A reminder that reports to be included
in the Annual Report to the
congregation are due as soon as
possible—absolute deadline is January
5, 2015. The Annual Meeting of the
congregation will be held Sunday,
January 25, 2015. following the
worship service. Please note this
change of time for the meeting.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
1)
4)
6)
7)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)
Shirley Sage,
Emma Warme
Samuel Ramsey
W. LeRoy Johnson
John H. Everts
Angela Anderson, Jan Frederick,
Braden Scharn, Dierdre Schultz
Marilyn Dettmann, Owen Scharn,
Katelynn Taylor
Justin Smith
Esther Dettmann, Gregga Schuetz
Stephen Kral, Tyler Scharn,
Theresa Schultz, Janet Talbott
Micah Lantz, Steven Schultz
Donna Bounds, Kaylynn Kruckenberg,
Kylin Kruckenberg
Tina Rix
Keaton Hammen
Maddux Diersen, Grace Henkelman,
Tyler Riley, Brad Williams
Candace Booth
Colleen Arndt, Rodney Grodahl,
Mark Harms, Shelby Pudenz
21) Linda Baum
22) Tiffany Evans, Whitney Glasnapp,
Jay Vreeland
23) Darrell Ross
24) Patricia Johnson, Michelle Talbott
25) Larry Pierce
26) Samuel Musselman
29) Jess Hout, Brenna Lantz, Dale Scharn
30) Cory Walker
Sunday School perfect attendance for the
month of November 2014:
Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten-Danika
in January
Jan 10, 1976 David & Diana Diersen
Jan 16, 1971 Dennis & Patricia Johnson
Happy Anniversary!
Meyer, Case Picard, Aiden Albright, Cooper
Nattress, Lilly Adams and Rhemy Adams;
Kindergarten and Grade 1-Reef Lankford,
Kellen Meyer and Desiree Weller;
Grades 2 and 3-Jewell Talbott and Brock
Nattress;
Grades 4 and 5-MacKenzie Braun, Madison
Schultz, Holly Hammen, Peyton Riley and
SaraJo Talbott;
Grades 6-12th-Kortney Riley, Jacob
Schultz, Micah Lantz and Ty Riley.
Class winner for best attendance was
Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten class taught
by Stacy Talbott and Sara Nattress.
Sunday evening, November 30th Lilly Adams,
Rhemy Adams and Case Picard were baptized
during the Contemporary Service. They are
the children of Darcy Adams and
grandchildren of Denise Adams. Bre and
James Hoffard were their baptismal
sponsors.
We pray for God’s blessings and guidance
for these children. We welcome these
children to God’s family!
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Eloise Alma Johnson was born on February
23, 1928, to parents Johnnie and Alma
(Luckow) Johnson in Lake City, IA. She
grew up on a farm near Jolley, IA and
attended church school in Knoke, IA.
Eloise was baptized and confirmed at St.
Paul’s Lutheran church in Knoke. She found
the love of her life and married Melvin
Hillmer on November 27, 1949. Together
they were blessed with five children:
Arlyn, Karen, Cynthia, David and Ricky.
Eloise was a member of Emanuel-St. John
Lutheran Church in Lytton, IA.
As a homemaker Eloise blessed her family
with wonderful cooking, baking, and
sewing. She enjoyed camping, fishing,
playing cards, square dancing, ballroom
dancing with Melvin and loved to travel.
Eloise liked antiques and also collected
plates and dolls. One Christmas she gave
each of her granddaughters a china doll
that she hand painted to match their hair
and eye color. Eloise loved family gettogethers and hosted numerous parties
along with many volleyball parties. Her
true joy was her family and she cherished
the time she spent with them, especially
her grandchildren and great-grandchildrenshe especially loved to hold the babies.
She will be dearly missed by all those
that knew and loved her.
Those left to cherish her memory include
her children: Arlyn (Virginia) Hillmer,
Lytton, IA, Karen (Randy) Hanson,
Callender, IA, Cynthia (Larry) Finley,
Auburn, IA, and David (Rebecca) Hillmer,
Adel IA; grandchildren: Sally Jo (Jason)
Stoffregen, Auburn, IA, Rochelle (Nick)
Nolte, Farnhamville, IA, Matthew (Deane)
Ortner, Wall Lake, IA, Christy (Jon)
Hallengren, Des Moines, IA, Jerrad Hanson,
Fort Dodge, IA, Collin (Cristina) Hillmer,
Dallas Center, IA, Marcia Ortner, Waukee,
IA, Richard (Shasta) Hillmer, Adel, IA,
Sharon Stone (friend Brent Edwards),
Waukee, IA, Andrea Ortner, Fort Dodge, IA,
Andrew (Abby) Ortner, Auburn, IA, Krystal
(Mike) Licht, Fort Dodge, IA, Lt. Morgan
Fowler, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Byron
Finley, Lytton, IA; along with 27 greatgrandchildren. Other survivors include her
brothers: Donald (Doris) Johnson, Lake
City, IA, Duane Johnson, Fort Dodge, IA,
Darrel (Norma) Johnson, Fort Dodge, IA,
Dean (Marcie) Johnson, Pottsboro, TX, and
Dennis (Patty) Johnson, Jolley, IA;
sisters: Delores (Bill) Phillips,
Frederick, WI, Darlene (Darrell) Peyton,
Long Prairie, MN, Mavis (Ron) Ziemet,
Livermore, IA, and Diane (David) Diersen,
Sac City, IA; many nieces, nephews,
extended family members and friends.
Eloise was preceded in death by her
husband Melvin; parents Johnnie and Alma
Johnson; son Ricky Melvin Hillmer; sister
Mildred Williams; brother-in-law Virgil
Williams and sister-in-law Lillian
Johnson.
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Lutheran Services
in Iowa
National Mentoring Month
January is National Mentoring Month, a
time to celebrate mentors and the
positive effect they can have on young
lives. LSI is blessed to have great
volunteer mentors from the community
who are investing their time in the
children and youth at our Beloit and
Bremwood campuses. Thank you to these
dedicated individuals! If you are
interested in becoming a mentor, visit
www.LSIowa.org/volunteer. Or, find a
mentoring program in your local area.
All it takes is your time, friendship
and sharing yourself and your
interests to make a difference as a
youth mentor!
LSI is proud to be an affiliated
social ministry organization of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA). Learn more at www.LSIowa.org
and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
“Now I feel like I’ll get a lot out of
my life.”
Chelsea was 15 years old the first
time she ran away from home.
―I had some troubles where I was
living, and I didn’t think it was good
for me to live there,‖ she said.
She slept on a relative’s friend’s
couch for two months, ran away again
and wound up in court.
―They took me to a psychiatric ward
because I told them I wanted to commit
suicide,‖ she said quietly. ―Then I
went to shelter for two months, and
then I came to Bremwood.‖
LSI’s Bremwood Residential Treatment
Center in Waverly serves youth ages 12
– 18. Many, though not all, of the
youth there have experienced trauma
from past abuse or neglect. During her
time at Bremwood, Chelsea learned new
skills to cope with challenges and
better ways to identify and
communicate her emotions. One of
Chelsea’s most meaningful Bremwood
experiences was her friendship with
her mentor.
―She came once a week, and we got ice
cream or would go for walks,‖ she
said. ―We went hiking, and we would
cook together. I just needed time with
someone who wasn’t so involved in my
treatment so I could talk to her and
see what she thought.‖
Chelsea also started to work on coping
with family challenges. LSI’s familyfocused approach to care encourages
families to be involved as much as
possible and works with teens who do
not have consistent family involvement
to find other solutions for permanency
and stability in their lives.
―I first thought this was a waste of
my time,‖ Chelsea said. ―I didn’t want
to be here or do what they wanted me
to do. When my family came into my
treatment and started being involved,
I felt better.‖
Chelsea recently graduated from
Bremwood and is living with family
members. Her dream is to graduate high
school, attend college and then enter
the medical field and eventually
become a sonogram technician.
―When I first got here, I didn’t see
myself graduating or even turning 18,‖
she said. ―I never thought I’d get
anywhere in life, but now I feel like
I’ll get a lot out of my life. I want
to go to college and know that I have
a stable home.‖
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Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Following Worship Service
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Flowers received this month:
Poinsettias:
In memory of LaVerne Dettmann, Marge
Dettmann, Mark Dettmann, Laurie
Dettmann and Miriah Murphy from Dar
and Denise Lake.
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. George
Diersen, Larry Diersen, Diane and
Jodie Klocke and John Cerra from Karen
Cerra.
In memory of Ed Rix, Jr., Valerie
Rockafellow and David Purdie from
Nelma Rix, Dyle and Edna Rockafellow
and Mildred Purdie and family.
Also floral bouquets and wreath from
the funeral of Eloise Hillmer.