Lord, I’m standing at the door of this new untarnished year; help me to live it all for thee, use

me in Thy service (McAllaster).

Never lose a chance of saying a kind word (William Thackeray).

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the

moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future

generations (George Bernard Shaw).

[God] puts into my hands gifts to relay to others.

Friends…they cherish each other’s hopes. They are kind to each other’s dreams (Henry David

Thoreau).

A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back.

The noblest revenge is to forgive (Thomas Fuller).

Don’t be troubled if the temptation to give advice is irresistible; the ability to ignore it is

universal.

If we take people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat them as if they were what they

ought to be, we help them to become what they are capable of becoming (Goethe).

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the

aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong because some day

in life you will have been all of these (George Washington Carver).

--May the above words give you a thought. And may you be especially guided by scripture.

Pop your Bible open and discover the treasures between the pages. We will be doing something

new at adult Sunday school/Bible study starting March 5. Don’t miss it!

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for

training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17).

Be blessed,

Pastor Holli

Help! We would like to update our directory. We need current contact information on

everybody. You know who you are: those who no longer use a home phone (land line),

have moved and not changed your address, and those who are not hearing their names

prayed for on their birthday week.

Please send your information to sjrroh@gmail.com , call the office 419-898-1058 or write a

legible note and put it into the church secretary’s (Lisa’s) mailbox across from the office.

We also need to update our birthdays and anniversaries. A thought would be to gather

around tables here at the church with coffee in hand and work on it!

Sunday, March 5 at 2 pm, St. John will be responsible for the Sunday afternoon Worship

Service at Riverview. There will not be a sermon but there will be readings, hymns and

prayers that Pastor Holli will guide. You can help by attending and singing, praying and

especially turning pages for residents. This last item is especially helpful as Pastor has

been hopping from resident to resident and trying to help get everyone on the same page

(literally). The residents love getting together in the chapel for worship

Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO)

The LYO will be participating in World Vision’s 30-hour famine

beginning after their lunch time on Friday, February 24 until 6:30 pm

Saturday, February 25. To be prepare for this fast, the youth will be

collecting donations that will be sent to the World Vision to assist their

efforts to create a Hunger Free world.

Everyday almost 8,000 children die from hunger related causes. Just $35

can help feed and care for a child for a month.

Please show your support for our youth as well as for World Vision for

this important event. No matter what the donation, combined with others

we can make a difference.

The Sewing Group

Once upon a time the Sewing Group was called the Quilting Group. The

name was changed since everyone thought you needed to know how to

quilt to participate. Now, it appears that everyone thinks you need to

know how to sew in order to participate. Wrong again. The skills you

need to be a part of the Sewing Group are:

1. Know how to use a pair of scissors.

2. Tie a knot

The Sewing Group is changing their meeting time starting in

February to the second Friday of every month at 9:00 am.

Just a “head’s up”…St. John’s Annual Meeting will be February

5th following the worship service. Church council members will also be

installed on that day.

Women’s Bible Study News

Ladies Tuesday Morning Bible Study News

On Tuesday, February 7th

at 9:30 am the Ladies Bible Study Group will

be watching the movie “War Room”. After the movie there will be a pot

luck lunch to allow for discussion and fellowship. The following is a

synopsis of the movie:

“Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all – great jobs, a beautiful

daughter, and their dream

House. But appearances can be deceiving. Tony and Elizabeth

Jordan’s world is actually

Crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks

in his professional

Success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to

increasing bitterness. But

Their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest

client. Miss Clara,

And is challenged to establish a “war room” and a battle plan of

prayer for her family.

As Elizabeth tries to fight for her family, Tony’s hidden struggles

come to light. Tony must

Decide if he will make amends to his family and prove Miss Clara’s

wisdom that victories

don’t come by accident.”

Even if you have not been attending this Bible Study Group, you are

welcome to join us as we explore another way to prayer and why prayer

matters.

On Tuesday, March 7th

at 9:30 am the Ladies Bible Study Group will

begin a seven session study of Max Lucado’s book Grace.

To quote Max:

“We talk as though we know what grace means. But do we really

understand it? Have we

settled for a wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn,

fits nicely on a church

sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked: ‘Do

you believe in grace?’

Who could say no?”

“Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Softened by grace?

Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace?

Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to

pull it off. This study will take us on a journey to discover the depth of

God’s grace – more than we deserve, greater than you can imagine, and all

that you need” (from back cover of DVD).

We welcome all women of the church to come and attend either or

both of these new studies.

GIFTS & MEMORIALS

Organ Fund: for memorial of Stanley Beck from Paul & Donna

Ganya

Memorial: for Dorothy Busse from: Phyllis Bensch, Dick & Faye Fastzkie,

Candy & Arlyn Bensch, and Chris Burr, Don & Donna Genzman,

Women of the ELCA, Winnie (Carter) Wohlgamuth,

for Bill Kretz from: Vera & Emery Adams, Dick & Faye

Fastzkie, Bonnie & Dave Stuckey, Dennis & Karen Schiets, Scott

& Ann Schimming, Roy & Connie Rounds, Eric & Diane

Schimming, James & Diane Krieger, Bill & Dawn Seeger &

family, Kevin & MaryBeth Mylander, Richard & Kathy Bast,

Douglas & Sandra Opfer, Don & Marcia Jess, Dorothy Banky,

Don & Donna Genzman, Leona & Tony Behlmer, JD & Pat Jones,

Norris & Paula Schimming, Mel & Elaine Mylander, Melvin &

Elizabeth Zelms, Scott & Lynne McNutt, Walt & Doris Windisch,

Arlyn & Candy Bensch, Todd & Diane Winke, Kim & Kate

Mehlow, Becky Goldstein & family, Merlin & Lois Lieske, Jim &

Sara Ridener & Sons, Bernadine Florio, Phyllis Bensch, Rhonda

Biedlingmaier, Robin & Alan Weickert, Chris Burr, Barry Hall &

Judith A. Meyer-Hall, Bob & Judy Brown, Larry & Donna Elliott,

and Roger & Lois Velliquette, USG Engineerig Dept., Lyle &

Paulette Oberhaus

for Carl Bensch from:

Jerry Miller, Lois Deitzel, Paul & Marilyn Kranitz, Judy (Nehls)

Bear, Gary & Bonnie (Nehls) Guerdat, Charles & Susan Gaskill,

Don & Donna Genzman, James & Diane Krieger, Andy & Helen

Nowak, Norris & Paula Schimming, Scott & Ann Schimming,

Walt &Doris Windisch, Dennis & Karen Schiets, Toni Behlmer,

Kevin & Kathy Fox, Roy & Connie Rounds, Kevin & Marybeth

Mylander, Linda Dehring, John & Linda Hartigan, Jane Whitaker,

Butch & Carolee Schlipf, Terry & Brenda Hetrick, John & Linda

Kohlman, Jim & Sara Ridener & Sons, Milton & Arlene Wilburn,

Michael & Judith Lacer, Lee & Deborah Wehner, Ivadel Nehls,

Merle Sandwisch, Melvin & Elaine Mylander, Troy & Beth

Thorbahn, Richard, Shirley & Scott Lipstraw, Roger Peters,

Evelyn Brunkhorst, Herman & Lois Kohlman, Marsha Kohlman,

Clark & Carol Price, Eileen Perry, Roger & Lois Velliquette, Dick

& Faye Fastzkie, Larry & Pat Dean, Fred & Vicky Geldien,

Grayson Koepke, Galen & Katja Koepke, Barry & Kathy Cochran,

Gary & Linda Apling, James & Marcia Kania, Mark & Amy

Apple, EJ & Suzette Croll, John & Connie Moore, Lyle, Paulette,

& Heidi Oberhous, Eric, Katie, & Hudson Suder, Dorothy

Waterhouse, Robert & Kathleen Booher, Steve & Lauren Martikan

family, Gary Harder, Donald & Violet Kern, Carol Martin, Donald

& Andrea Draper, Norbert & Brenda Goetz, Terry & Carol

Tabbert, Scott & Lynne McNutt, Bill & Dawn Seeger family,

Arnold Seeger, Dale & Sandy Kremer, Vi Gahler, Ken Gahler,

Athalee Starkey, Wesley & Judith Gahler, Dan & Connie Gahler,

Eric, Ashley, & Bennett Gahler, Jayson & Andrea Hayes, Larry &

Donna Elliott, Gerald & Cheryl Whipple, Ed & Karen Davidge,

Rick & Cyndi Walters, Tom & Carolyn Witt, Dave & Mackenzie

Bensch, Doug & Sandra Opfer family, Mike & Sarah Lowe family,

Matt & Erin Biglin family, Mary Coffee, LaVerne Sprague, Bob &

Barb Libben, Paul & Connie Sandwisch, Janell Sandwisch, Lyle &

Sharon Peters, Carol Riznikove, Opal Almendinger, Chriss Burr,

Dorothy Banky, Charles & Phyllis Bryant, Charles & Susan Stolz,

Chuck & Jan Avery, Barry & Lynne Kroeger, Melvin & Norma

Reif, Joe & Mary Morgan, Steve & Earleen Perlaky, Nick & Laura

Young family, Craig & Michelle Harder family, Bernie Florio,

Frank & Pat Mensing, Donna Gyde, Jim & Janet Dehring, Donna

Schell, Peggy Bast, John & Jackie Bast, Steve & Linda Bast, Rick

& Kathy Bast, Jon & Karen Younker, Woodville Mutual, Ag

Credit, Barbara Moungie, Fred & Alice Terrigino, Betty

Lewandowski, Romaine Biedlingmaier, Evelyn Schlipf, Paul &

Kathleen Druckenmiller

CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES December 12, 2016 Council Meeting

Meeting called to order by Jim Krieger. Devotions by Chris Burr.

Chris Burr moved to accept the November minutes / Josh Noble 2nd.

Approved

Dan Hoover moved to accept the Treasurer’s report / Patty Hameister 2nd.

Approved

Pastor Holli’s Report :

February 5 will be installation of Council Members

December 21 will be Youth Program

Worship service at Riverview December 18 @ 2:00 PM

Shaina Grodi, Emily Haar, Emma Martin, Noah Mylander, Nathan

Noble, Marinda Rotruck, Dylan Schiets

Confirmation class serving as acolytes and crucifers along with

helping at church activities.

Judy Jensen moved to accept all hall rentals as follows: Vicky Wahlers

2nd. Approved

Change Portage Valley Federation of Lutheran Men’s & Pastors

Spring Meeting from April 11 to April 18

Ann Schimming – March 5, 2017

Jim Krieger – December 3, 2017

Vicky Wahlers made a motion for the January Noisy Offering go to TNT

Mentoring, April Noisy Offering go to Williston

Luther Home of Mercy, July Noisy Offering go to St. John at the Bay,

October Noisy Offering go to Postage for the Quilts / Ann

Schimming 2nd. Approved

Dan Hoover made a motion to use ‘Payroll Select Services’ as our Payroll

Service Provider, Vicky Wahlers 2nd. / Approved

Arlyn Bensch took Holiday donations from the sock tree to Methodist

Church in Oak Harbor.

Arlyn Bensch volunteered to be Recording Secretary.

January 2nd is the next Committee Meeting – 7:00 PM

Council Members Present: Candy Bensch, Chris Burr, Patty Hameister ,

Dan Hoover, Judy Jensen, Marcia Kania, Jim Krieger, Kevin

Mylander, Josh Noble, Ann Schimming, Vicky Wahlers, Pastor Holli

Judy Jensen

Council Secretary

A thank you was received for sharing our Christmas spirit by

participating in the 2016 Adopt-a-Resident/Client program.

The B.C.S. Food Pantry also sent a card expressing their thanks for

all we do for the pantry.

Thank you to all who prayed for me during my surgery and

recovery. Thanks to you who called, stopped in or sent cards or

food. I greatly appreciate my church family and your continued

support – Vicky Wahlers

A big thank you to our church family for all of your words of

support and prayers for Bill. Thanks to Pastor Holli for her home

and hospital visits and prayers. Thanks to Vicki and the kitchen

helpers for the meal they prepared and cleaned up after. Thanks to

Dick for always having the church clean and ready for an event.

We truly appreciate friends like you. The Family of Charles

Kretz

We would like to express heartfelt thanks to our church family for

all of the prayers, cards, memorials, flowers, food and comforting

words as we celebrated Carl's earthly life. Special thanks to Pastor

Holli and the Visitation Committee for their many visits to

Riverview. Carl Bensch family

24 Kim Bryant

Michelle Christie

Eric Schilling

25 Judy Buhrow

26 Carolyn Renwand

1 Melvin Mylander

28 Trent McKinney

2 Jasmine Aikman

29 Loren Bryant

Zach Ullrich

3 Erin Bryant

4 Katelyn Alexander

Andrea Brooks

7 Rhonda Martin

Emma Forsythe

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:

Madalyn Forsythe

1 Loren and Kim Bryant

Camdyn Schilling

21 Scott and Ann Schimming

10 Lois Velliquette

SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS IN

11 Christine Burr

FEBRUARY

Katie Leady

80 + YEARS YOUNG

13 Karen Davidge

Remember these special church

Andrew Fox

family members on their

15 Connie Sandwisch

special days!

Ethan Berlin

12 Andy Nowak 96

Ryan Thorbahn

23 Mae Flowers 92

17 Galen DuPrae

21 Roger Velliquette

22 Jill Noble

Nathan Warnke 23 Sarah Lowe

Mae Flowers

FEBRUARY 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

9:00

5 9:00SS

10:15

Worship

Annual

Meeting

6

7

9:30

Bible

Study

Movie

7:30

Dartball

@Genoa

8 7:00 Jr.

Choir

7:30 Sr.

Choir

9

10

9:00

Sewing

Day

11

9:00

12 9:00SS

10:15

Worship

13

14 7:30

Dartball

home

15 7:00 Jr.

Choir

7:30 Sr.

Choir

16 17 18

9:00

19 9:00SS

10:15

Worship

Chicken

Dinner

20 21 7:30

Dartball

home

22 7:00 Jr.

Choir

7:30 Sr.

Choir

23 24 25

9:00

26 9:00SS

10:15

Worship

School

27 28 7:30

Dartball

@Oak

Harbor

St.Paul

March 1

Lent Ash

Wednesday

Begins

soup&salad

dinners

FEBRUARY RESPONSIBILITIES

FEBRUARY 5 FEBRUARY 12

Greeters: Marcia Kania Roy & Connie Rounds

Galen & Vicky Schlipf Kevin & MaryBeth Mylander

Lector: Chris Burr Donna Elliott

Jesus: Trent Mckinney Dylan Schiets

Acolytes: Emma Martin Shaina Grodi

Emily Haar Nathan Noble

Nicholas Fisher Noah Mylander

Altar Guild: Brenda Goetz Candy Bensch

Amy Apple Ella Blay

Altar Flowers: Ella Blay Helen N.

Kaffee Klatsch: OPEN OPEN

FEBRUARY 19 FEBRURY 26

Greeters: John & Vickie Kuli Scott & Lynne McNutt

Ron & Bonnie Schimming Bill & Dawn Seeger

Lector: Phyllis Bryant Elaine Mylander

Jesus: Loren Bryant Andrew Berlin

Peter: Zackery Fisher

Acolytes: Dylan Schiets Emma Martin

Marinda Rotruck Emily Haar

Zackery Fisher Shaina Grodi

Altar Guild: Dawn Seeger Kim Berlin

Judy Jensen Andrea Draper

Altar Flowers: Ann Schimming Lisa Cook

Kaffee Klatsch: OPEN OPEN

Narrative Lectionary Lay Readers

February 5 Psalm / Narrator Chris Burr

Jesus Trent McKinney

February 12 Psalm / Narrator Donna Elliott

Jesus Dylan Schiets

February 19 Psalm / Narrator Phyllis Bryant

Jesus Loren Bryant

February 26 Psalm / Narrator Elaine Mylander

Jesus Andrew Berlin

Peter Zackery Fisher

March 1 (Ash Wednesday) Psalm Christy Noble

March 5 Psalm / Lector Vickie Kuli

Lawyer Justin Warnke

Jesus John Kuli

Martha Emily Haar

March 12 Psalm / Narrator Shaina Grodi

Jesus Kevin Mylander

March 19 Psalm / Narrator Emma Martin

Jesus Lyle Oberhaus

Younger Josh Noble

Older Dan Hoover

Father Bill Seeger

SOCIAL CONCERNS – A CARING CONGREGATION

LHM ADOPT-A-RESIDENT

Many individuals, groups and churches donated hundreds of gifts to our

Adopt-A-Resident program this past year. All 94 of our campus residents

were adopted (4 residents were adopted by families at St. John), as well as

49 of our outreach clients. We had a very blessed Christmas here at

Luther Home! Thank you for your generous donations and making

Christmas very special for the individuals we serve.

NWO SYNOD APPEAL

Congregational contributions to the 2016 Synod Appeal totaled $490.

With matching dollars from the general fund, a check for $980 was sent

to the synod with the following breakdown based on donor specifications:

NWOS Feeding Ministries $ 156

NWOS Undesignated Gifts 356

ELCA World Hunger 254

ELCA Undesignated Gifts 214

Total $ 980

JAKE LIPSTRAW FUNDRAISER

A total of $450 was collected from the congregation after worship services

on January 15. With $250 in matching funds from the Neighbors in Need

fund, a check for $670 was given to the Lipstraw family in conjunction

with the community fundraiser held on January 21.

NOISY OFFERING

A total of $186.96 was collected prior to worship services on January 8 to

benefit the BCS Schools mentoring program Till Next Time (TNT).

PRAYER CONCERNS

We suggest that you include in your personal prayers

those persons listed: Doris Arndt, Vernell Goetz, Don Genzman, Derek

Kennedy, Shay Kennedy, & Jake Lipstraw.

Our condolences in the passing of Bill Kretz.

Remember in your prayers our shut-ins: June Behlmer, Richard Lipstraw,

Barbara Hebner, Doris Arndt, Marvel Brockschmidt, Phyllis Ireland,

Karen Densic, Mae Flowers, and Jerry Miller.

Remember also our members and friends who serve in the active military

and reserves: Austin Schimming, Trent Lacer, Skylor Blay,

Troy Sandwisch, Brent Frondorf, Doug Seeger, Brady Peters, & Shane

Cook.

You may call your prayer requests to the office before Thursday. If you have a prayer request, jot it down and give it to the pastor. Please also jot a note to tell us how God has answered prayers for those you know who are on this list.