St.

John’s Lutheran Church ELCA

1300 W. Benjamin Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 371-1985
[email protected]
www.stjohnsnorfolk.com

Our Mission: Disciples Through God’s Love, Celebrating In Jesus’ name.

SHORT TERM PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS:
Tom Hagstrom

LONG TERM PRAYER CONCERNS:

Sara Fegley Sullivan Family Rosemary Westerhold
Joann White Susan Hansen Harlin Westerhold
Jo Schaefer Bonnie Hortness Orlo Rath
Darrell & Arlene Polenske Mike Wragge Elvon & Vicki Suhr
Betty Low Kenneth & Vendla Wrick Conner Mitchum
Pr. Norm Nelson Kevin Kluver Scott Leader
Lindsay (Brown) and son, River Roger Echtenkamp Roger Peters
Jessica Rossiolis John Konken Karen Widhalm
Colton Wright Jordyn (Wiebelhaus) & Brad Irlmeier
Lee Stingley and Roger & Alice Gentzler as they mourn the death of Dale Gentzler
(brother to Lee & Roger)

Flowers on the altar this weekend are sponsored by Deb Freese in loving memory of Don
and Scott Freese; and by Tom & Midge Hedrick in celebration of grandson Gabe’s 18th
birthday. Flowers were previously sponsored by Carolyn Wilcox in loving memory of Jim
Wilcox.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES will be held at 5, 7, and 9 PM on Monday, December 24.

There are many places to serve during Christmas Eve worship services. If you see a blank in
the schedule, please contact the office on Monday or write a note on the Registration to let
us know. Thank you!

Worship Services can now be viewed in their entirety on St. John’s facebook page at
www.facebook.com/stjohnsnorfolk

ST. JOHN’S STAFF

The Rev. Randy Rasmussen –Senior 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
 THE WEEK AHEAD OFFERINGS
Mission Emphasis (DEC) ................. Good Neighbors
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 General offering for 12/23/2018 ...............$7,143.01
8:30 am ........................................................ Worship End of NOV General Fund Deficit ............... ($2,753.45)
9:45 am…………………….…………………..Fellowship Hour Year-to-Date General Fund Net Deficit ....... ($6,147.99)
11:00 am ...................................................... Worship
Attendance 12/23/2018 .............. 86, 108, 142 (336)
6:30 pm.................... God’s Ambassadors ChristCare
Kristy Booras, 402-371-6218
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
10:00 am .............................................. Staff Meeting
5:00 pm.................................Christmas Eve Worship
7:00 pm.................................Christmas Eve Worship
9:00 pm.................................Christmas Eve Worship
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
CHRISTMAS DAY

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26
OFFICE CLOSED
7:00 pm............................................ Education Team
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
1:30 pm......................................................... Quilters
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
5:00 pm........................................................ Worship

SHOP FOR MINISTRY

DEC 23 8:30 AM Carol Waggoner
11 AM Lisa Echtenkamp
DEC 30 8:30 AM Ken Hansen
11 AM Terri Denkinger

UPDATE: The Last Wednesday Lectio group

which would meet on Dec. 26 has moved the
class to January 2, 2019. We will also be
meeting on the regular class date of the last
Wednesday, Janary 30.
 The NEW 2019 Flower Chart is now hanging
in the west hallway. Thank you all for
sponsoring altar flowers in the past! If you
Thank you for lifting up the following folks in would like to remember a special occasion or
prayer this week:
a love one, please add your name to the
Beth Freese
Deb Freese calendar as soon as possible as dates fill up
April Frevert quickly. Thank you for your generous
Eustin & Ashley Frisch sponsorship!
Kyle & Andrea Fritz Please also thank Floral Expressions every
Greyson, Coralie chance you get for their continued support
Shirley Frowick
of St. John’s!
Del & Jeanie Fuelberth
Donna Galvin
Craig Gentzler
Roger & Alice Gentzler After a long wait, Keagan Sullivan is the
blessed recipient of a lung transplant. We
understand he is doing well, but will be in
Texas recovering for several months. At the
Thank you for being our loyal back of the sanctuary are pre-addressed
volunteers. Best Wishes for a envelopes for the Sullivan family. Please
wonderful holiday and a Happy
take one and send a Christmas card, words of
New year.
encouragement, or happy birthday wishes to
Norfolk Senior Center
mom, Katlinn Sullivan whose birthday is
Board of Directors & Staff
December 19. Continue to lift up the Sullivan
family in your personal prayers!

Needed: Four (4) new Council

Members for January
elections. Please let the office ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK MEAL
or a current council member SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019
know if you are interested or Potluck Meal begins at 12 noon. Table
have someone you’d like to service and drinks will be provided.
nominate. Also Benefaction Board will need one
The Financial Forum will be a week prior on
new member in 2019. Please prayerfully
Sunday, January 13, between services.
consider helping!
 ELCA GOOD GIFTS Join us for a deeper look at Faith and
Each year, Americans Spirituality!
spend over $300 Beginning Sunday, January 20th and continuing
billion on Christmas for the next six Sundays we will be digging into
shopping. Imagine
some of the questions we all have about Faith
what would happen if
and Spirituality. For instance...
we could redirect that
**Is God real?
spending toward the
things that really **Can we be spiritual without being
matter, like putting religious?
an end to **What is salvation?
hunger. With ELCA Good Gifts, you can do **Why read the Bible?
just that. Choose from more than 50 **What was Jesus up to?
charitable gifts to give in honor of loved ones **What really happened on the cross?
– from goats to water wells, school **Does it mean to be the church?
uniforms to food for refugees. All of these
gifts can be given in honor of friends or loved Each session includes a short video, followed by
ones and make great alternatives lots of questions and sharing. Each participant
to traditional Christmas gifts. Shop now will receive a journal. A $10 donation is
by visiting ELCA.org/goodgifts or watch for suggested to cover the costs of the journal. If
the “St. John’s window display” in the west the cost is prohibitive, please accept the journal
hallway. as our gift to you. Please sign up on the
clipboard in the back of the church. If you have
any questions contact Pastor Randy.

THANK YOU to our Good Neighbors helpers! We need you! The

Monday packing and Tuesday deliveries Finance Committee
served 127 families in the Norfolk area -- is recruiting new
members to help oversee the financial
impossible to do without lots of help. What
operations of the church and to help guide the
a blessing these folks are! Church Council on matters regarding
stewardship of the church’s financial resources.
Committee members meet monthly to review the
financial reports and work closely with pastoral
staff and ministry teams to develop an annual
budget, track spending, and deal with financial
issues that periodically arise. No formal training
is required...just a willingness to serve. Contact
the church office for more information. Thank
you!
 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 CHRISTMAS 1
ADVENT 4 5 PM
5 PM COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK – CATHY ERWIN
MARLA MUEHLMEIER GREETERS/USHERS – Rod & Shirley Hughes
GREETERS/USHERS – Rod & Shirley Hughes READER – Pat Monson
ACOLYTE – __________ ACOLYTE – Nicole Hasebroock

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 CHRISTMAS 1
ADVENT 4 8:30 AM
8:30 AM COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK – CATHY ERWIN
MARLA MUEHLMEIER WORSHIP ASSISTANT
WORSHIP ASSISTANT CONNIE HAGSTROM
ROLLIE DOWNS GREETERS – Roger & Alice Gentzler, Carol
GREETERS – Donna Short, Doris McMahon Sorsen
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Tom & Midge COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Jim & Elenore
Hedrick, Maryn Mead, Margie Frank Merritt, Sara Fegley, __________
USHERS – Gayle Short, Jim McMahon USHERS – Merlin Milander, Rich Uhlir
READER – Tom Hedrick POWERPOINT – Midge Hedrick
POWERPOINT – Midge Hedrick SOUND – Spencer Dagerman
SOUND – Mark Nelson FELLOWSHIP HOUR – Tom & Midge Hedrick
FELLOWSHIP HOUR – Vern & Wilma Steinman ACOLYTE –Elliot Wieseman
ACOLYTE – Ella Weitzenkamp
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 CHRISTMAS 1
ADVENT 4 11 AM
11 AM COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK – CATHY ERWIN
MARLA MUEHLMEIER GREETERS – Ken Wragge, Terry Hall
GREETERS – Ken Wragge, Terry Hall USHERS – Echtenkamp Family
USHERS – Mark Nelson, Echtenkamp Family COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Lon & Jeanne
READER – Tracy Yost Timperley, Jeff & Cathy Erwin
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Lon & Jeanne POWERPOINT – Marcus / Adam Echtenkamp
Timperley, Jeff & Cathy Erwin SOUND – Spencer Dagerman
POWERPOINT – Marcus / Adam Echtenkamp ACOLYTE –Morgan Johnson
SOUND – Spencer Dagerman LECTIONARY READINGS:
ACOLYTE – Harrison Blum 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
LECTIONARY READINGS: Psalm 148
Micah 5:2-5a Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 1:46b-55 Luke 2:41-52
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-55
 MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
5 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
DUANE TIMPERLEY
GREETERS – Troy & Ann Austin
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Rick & Diana Uhlir,
Mary Ann Jenson
READER – Duane Timperley
USHERS – Bonderson Family
POWERPOINT – John Skogstoe; Ben Bonderson
SOUND – Mark Nelson

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
7 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
GREETERS – Salesia Books, Marla Muehlmeier
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Del & Kristi
Johnson, Tom & Midge Hedrick
READER – Kristi Johnson
USHERS – Del Johnson, Denny Braesch
POWERPOINT – Midge Hedrick
SOUND – John Skogstoe

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
9 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
GREETERS – Carhart Family
COMMUNION ASSISTANT – Brenda Carhart
USHERS – Carhart Family
POWERPOINT – Carhart Family
SOUND – Brenda Carhart