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FAMILY TIMES

ST. PETERS LUTHERAN CHURCH REV. DAVID ANDERMANN, VACANCY PASTOR

February, 2019

Official periodical of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod

Subscription time! page 2

Isaiah 38:17 Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness;

but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction,

for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

From the Voter’s Meeting

Issuing a Divine Call to

Pastor Ross Engel

Please pray for Pastor Ross Engel as he

receives our Call and prayerfully considers

taking it.

• Currently serving at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Middleburg, FL

• 39 years old with 12 years experience

• Married with 3 young children (1 boy, 2 girls)

• Traditional/flexible liturgical style—very conservative

• Born and raised in the Chicago area

• Currently serving in the Navy Reserves as a Navy Chaplain

WORSHIP TIME AND SUNDAY SCHOOL/BIBLE CLASS TIMES WILL SWITCH

SUNDAY SCHOOL/BIBLE CLASS: 9:30am WORSHIP SERVICE: 10:45am

BEGINNING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3

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IT’S LUTHERAN WITNESS

SUBSCRIPTION TIME Have you thought about subscribing to LW? Our subscriptions will begin with the May issue and now is the time to be thinking about placing your order. The LW is the flagship magazine of the Luther-an Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), The Luther-an Witness is a monthly publication that offers synodical news, reports from Lutherans around the world, features, columns, Q&As, a Bible study, and much more. There is no better way to keep up on all the latest LCMS news. The cost per year is $16 when purchased through the church office. Our deadline for subscribing is March 15.

We will be holding our first blood drive for 2019 on Tuesday, February 26, from 3:15 to 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to donate, even if you have never done it in the past. Donors are making a very huge contribution to saving lives in the Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin area. Even outside our area when needs are great in other states! Thank you for taking the time to donate or to pray about whether it is something you would like to do.

Deb Heusinkveld

Groundhog Day

comes at the beginning

of February on the

second to be exact. We

all know the folklore of

the tradition- if the

groundhog sees its

shadow it predicts six

more weeks of winter. February 2 is midway

between the Winter Solstice and the Spring

Equinox. The Germans arriving in the 1700’s

brought the tradition of Candlemas Day where the

clergy would bless candles and distribute them to

the people in the dark of Winter. If the sun came

out on February 2, it meant six more weeks of

winter. The Germans wrote:

For if the sun shines on Candlemas Day,

So far will the snow swirl in May.

For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,

So far will the sun shine before May.

Of course, we all listen for Punxsutawney Phil’s

prognostication as the “Weather Prophet Extraordi-

nary”. It’s fun to watch a groundhog attain so much

attention. So often he misses the forecast with a

wrong prediction.

In this Season of Epiphany in the Church we

continue to see Jesus being shown to the world.

Jesus came of Jewish heritage to save His people

from their sin. As the presentation of the baby King

Jesus to the Magi shows, Jesus also came to save

the Gentiles too. The Father wants all people to

come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as their

Savior. Unlike the groundhog who retreats so often

to his den, with Jesus the tomb is empty, once and

for all time. Our debt is paid, our sin is forgiven; we

have the hope and promise of eternal life in heaven

with God. The forecast is salvation for all who

believe in Jesus as their Savior. As Jesus is shown to

you as your Savior, have no doubt, have no fear;

Jesus comes to dispel the darkness of the world.

May His light shine in your heart this day and

forevermore.

Pastor Andermann

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Isaiah 38:17

Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness;

but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction,

for you have cast all my sins behind your back. The dictionary definition of bitter (referring to people or their feelings or behavior): Angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment. It’s so easy to slip into bitterness when life doesn’t go our way. We begin to feel sorry for ourselves and start to think that no one understands our situation and/or pain. Thoughts planted by the Devil or our human nature will send our emotions into a downward spiral. This is exactly what is happening at the beginning of Isaiah 38:17: “it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness.” Stepping into God’s role of protecting and providing for our own welfare will make us vulnerable to Satan’s schemes and send our emotions into overdrive. BEHOLD: I had a Greek professor who told us to look ahead in the text whenever you see the word “behold.” Over the years I have done that, and I have seen that God usually enters in somehow. If you look at this particular text, how do you see God at work? BUT GOD. Notice that God’s will is to NOT leave us there. He loves us too much. When God comes to us through His Word and Sacrament, He rescues us from the pit of destruction that we have fallen into (by our sins), which He then throws behind His back. Thanks be to Jesus, the One who took on our sins and its punishment; gave up His life and rose again so that we might receive all of God’s wonderful gifts!

MIDWEEK LIVING TRUTH BIBLE STUDIES:

Beginning on Tuesday, February 5th we will begin a 6 week study of Psalm 23. The title of the study is called “God Is More Than Able.” We’ll learn from this Psalm how God meets our various needs.

Class begins at 1:30pm.

On February 7th, our Thursday class will resume their study called “Crazy Love.” We’ll pick up in Chapter Eight, “Profile of the Obsessed.” This

class meets on Thursdays at either 8am or 10am.

CHANGE FOR LIFE

Please remember to return your “filled” baby bottle(s)

this month. We want to have them ready for Hope Life

Center to pick up the third week of February.

Each time you put something in the bottle,

say a prayer that abortion will be erased from

our community.

Your support and prayers make a big

CHANGE in the lives of women and unborn

children who receive services and support

through Hope Life Center!

Official Acts February 2019

~Gains Through Transfer~ Hank, Vicki, Amanda & Jordan Neels

From Zion Lutheran Church East Moline, IL

~Losses Through Transfer~

Steve Gatz St, John’s Lutheran Church

Merengo, IA

Nathan Foltz Immanuel Lutheran Church

Freeport, IL

Northside Elementary School, 520 N Genesee St, Morrison, will be conducting Kindergarten and Pre-School screenings for

any child between the ages of 3 years old, and 5 years old, (before September 1, 2019). If you have a child, or know of a child, residing in the Morrison School District that meet these qualifications please call the Northside School Office, (815)-772-2153 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday, except holidays, to set up an appointment. Screenings are free of charge, but are necessary for proper class placement. If your child already attends a Pre-school class at Northside, (Mrs. Williams, Ms. Kelly, or Mrs. Wolf), there is no need to schedule an appointment, those students will be screened while attending class. Appointments are necessary so please call at your earliest convenience to schedule a February appointment.

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February 2007

Sun M Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 Choir 8:30 am

A: Reese Germann A: Jordan Luhrsen L: Zach Cameron F: John & Jodi Beswick

4 5

Living Truth

1:30 pm

6 Prayer 12 pm

Confirmation

5:30pm—6:45 pm

7

Living Truth 8 & 10 am

8 9

10 Choir 8:30 am A: Katie Bush A: Katie Eggemeyer L: Stan Kurasz F: Lauren & Linda Story Sunday School Staff Meeting

following Worship

11 12

Living Truth 1:30 pm

Church Board Meeting 7pm

13 Prayer 12 pm

Confirmation 5:30pm—6:45 pm

14

Living Truth 8 & 10 am

15

16

17 Choir 8:30 am A: Diana Robbins A: Ashton Oncken L: Larry Thies F: AVAILABLE

TAG Pizza/ Game Night 5-7pm

BABY BOTTLE RETURN

18 19

Living Truth 1:30 pm

20 Prayer 12 pm

Confirmation

5:30pm—6:45 pm

21

Living Truth 8 & 10 am

22 23

24 Choir 8:30 am A: Zion Long A: Nicholas Wagenecht L: George Nunziato F: Warren & Connie Landheer

SKI TRIP 12-6pm

25 26

Living Truth 1:30 pm

Blood Drive

3:15pm—6:00 pm

27 Prayer 12 pm

Confirmation 5:30pm—6:45 pm

28

Living Truth 8 & 10 am

MARCH 1

2

FAMILY TIMES

DEACON IN CHARGE: Mike Long USHERS: John Beswick, Zach Cameron, George Nunziato, Eric Schave GREETERS: Eric & Karin Schave CHANCEL GUILD: see schedule FINANCE COMMITTEE: Amy Oncken-Cameron, Kristen Pruis, Kevin Wiebenga

ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUARY 2019

SUNDAY SCHOOL & BIBLE CLASSES 9:30 AM

SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:45 AM

ACTIVITIES IN OUR BUILDING:

Weight Watchers: Mondays @ 5:00 pm

4-H meets Saturday, Feb 9 9am-12pm

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2. Bramley Nye Michelle Reavy 4. Stan Kurasz 6. Mallory Hardesty Jordan Neels Coen Tracey 8. Mathew Hill 10. Sally Zickert 11. Zayden Boonstra Zion Long Mya Shepard Dawn Hinrichs Jerry Yoeckel 12. Joe Robbins Bryce Smith 13. Savannah Horn Victoria Horn Kimzey Spreeman 14. Karla Green Alexis Tichler 15. Joe Zickert 19. Phil Eckland Gloria Grams (86 yrs) JoAnn Ottens

1. Marcus Hill Marilyn Oncken 2. Leanne Marinangeli 4. Matt Tichler Doug Wiebenga Larry Zuidema 8. Vicki Neels 9. Monica Gibler Dave Schroeder Patrick Wagenecht Pastor Mike 10. Kyle Kuehl Elvira Stralow 11. Susan Wilkens 14. Kerrick Cameron 15. Tim Kophamer Wyatt Lewis

20. Jacob Pruis Noah Robbins 21. Hailey Kenseth Carson Strating 22. Eric Schave 25. Aubrey Landheer

Mary Ratzlaff Gail Tempelmann Carol Zuidema 27. Mike Ottens 28. Jeff Bierman

8. Jesse & Marsha

Habben 15. Charles & Elaine

Carp Marty & Deb

Grams 25. Mike & Lisa

James 26. Mike & Barb VanZuiden

16. Kevin Green Paula Green Brhenan Linke Colton Linke 17. Doug Zuidema 19. Marsha Naftzger 22. Trey Strating 23. Elizabeth Hess Kevin Wiebenga

Sunday, February 24

$30.00 Includes: Ski Rental, Lift and Lesson

*All youth 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent

*Friends are welcome!

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ROOTED IN CHRIST is a Women’s Conference held here in Morrison by all the churches in Morrison on March 9th. Speakers will be Lee Neienhuis and Katie M. Reid. Tickets are $20 till February 14th then they’re $25 and shirts (all sizes) are $12! Contact Abbi Manning (815-499-1403) for more information or purchase tickets in the church office.

TAG

PIZZA/GAME NIGHT

Sunday, February 17

5:00 pm—7:00 pm

*If you are able to sponsor

please contact Mallory Hardesty*