St.

John’s Lutheran Church ELCA

1300 W. Benjamin Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
(402) 371-1985
stjohn@cableone.net
www.stjohnsnorfolk.com

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

SHORT TERM PRAYER CONCERNS AND JOYS:
Carol Ermels Carolyn Wilcox 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 Kurt Juracek Mike Wragge
Elvon & Vicki Suhr Betty Low Kenneth & Vendla Wrick
Conner Mitchum Pr. Norm Nelson Kevin Kluver
Lindsay (Brown) and son, River Jordyn (Wiebelhaus) & Brad Irlmeier
Jessica Rossiolis John Konken Roger Peters
Colton Wright Roger Echtenkamp Karen Widhalm
Scott Leader
Mike & Karen Widhalm as they mourn the death of Karen’s brother, Norman Hellbusch
Flowers on the altar this weekend are sponsored by Sara Fegley in gratitude for the many
blessings of Christmas; and by Denny & Lois Braesch thankful for all the blessings of the
Christmas season.

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

We need you! The Finance Committee is recruiting new members to

help oversee the financial operations of the church and to help guide
the 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!

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 16 General offering for 12/16/2018 ...............$6,451.16
8:30 am ........................................................ Worship End of NOV General Fund Deficit ............... ($2,753.45)
Majesty Choir Cantata Year-to-Date General Fund Net Deficit ....... ($6,147.99)
First Communions
Attendance 12/16/2018 ................ 167, 85, 91 (343)
9:45 am…………………….…………………..Fellowship Hour
9:45 am .............................................. Sunday School
Birthday Party for Baby Jesus
11:00 am ...................................................... Worship
Majesty Choir Cantata
First Communions
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17
8:00 am .............................. Good Neighbors Packing
10:00 am ...................................... Friends ChristCare
Pat Monson, 402-371-8803
10:00 am .............................................. Staff Meeting
1:15 pm........................................ Chosen ChristCare
Carol Waggoner, 402-371-7642
8:30 pm..................................................... Solid Rock
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18
9:00 am ........................... Good Neighbors Deliveries
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
1:30 pm.................................... Searchers ChristCare
Connie Hagstrom, 402-649-4862
2:30 pm.......................... 7th–8th Grade Confirmation
5:00 pm.......................... 7th–8th Grade Confirmation
7:00 pm.............................................. Church Council
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20
7:00 pm...............................Majesty Choir Rehearsal
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22
5:00 pm........................................................ Worship

SHOP FOR MINISTRY

DEC 16 8:30 AM Ken Hansen
11 AM Terri Denkinger
DEC 23 8:30 AM Carol Waggoner
11 AM Lisa Echtenkamp

PRINTED COPIES OF THE NEW DIRECTORY

ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE
CHURCH OFFICE.

Thank you for lifting up the following folks in
prayer this week:
John & Robin Erwin
Eugene & Julene Farr
Sara Fegley
Amie Fischer
Chloe, Hayden
Cleora & Don Fisher
Sandy Flege
Wendell & Ethelyn Fossum
Robert & Mary Ann Frady
Mike & Margie Frank
Nathan & Deb Frauendorfer
Chosen ChristCare will again be collecting
money and cookies to be given to the
Madison County Juvenile Detention Center
for Christmas meals. Any additional funds
remaining will be used to purchase a
pingpong table. Monetary donations may be
dropped off at the church office or placed in
the offering plate designated “JDC”. Cookies
can be brought to the office closer to the
pick-up date of Monday, Dec. 24 (no later
than noon). Thank you!
Thank you for being our loyal
volunteers. Best Wishes for a
wonderful holiday and a Happy
New year.
Norfolk Senior Center
Board of Directors & Staff
This is the final opportunity to
order poinsettias for the
Christmas altar area. Please
enclose your check in the
amount of $13 in your offering
envelope marked “poinsettia”
and your flower will be
available for you to pick up after the Christmas
Eve service of your choice. Thank you for adding
to the beauty of the season!
2nd Annual Youth
Fundraiser
Christmas Bake Sale
December 15th and 16th
(before and after all three services)
West Hallway
Let us do your Christmas baking!
If you would like to donate Christmas goodies
to be sold, creative creations can be dropped
at the Office on or after Wednesday, Dec. 12.
Please attach your name to the item.
Needed: Four (4) new Council
Members for January
elections. Please let the office
or a current council member
know if you are interested or
have someone you’d like to
nominate. Also Benefaction Board will need one
new member in 2019. Please prayerfully
consider helping!
ANGEL TREE GIFTS
If you still have a tag from the Angel Tree, please
bring your gift to the Office on Monday. Thank
you all for your support – the Angel Tree has
been a wonderful opportunity to reach into our
community during the holiday season.
 The Norfolk It’s time again for
Men’s Chorus GOOD NEIGHBORS
will be and we need your help! On Monday.
presenting Dec. 17. beginning at 8AM, boxes will be
their packed for delivery, which is scheduled for
Christmas Tuesday, Dec. 18 @ 9AM. After all have
production returned from deliveries on Tuesday, there
“This Little Babe” under the direction of Ron
will be chili and bars/cookies served. This is
Lofgren on SATURDAY, Dec. 22 @ 3 PM at
a great opportunity for fellowship and it’s
the Johnny Carson Theatre. Tickets are $5 in
advance and $6 at the door, and may be guaranteed you will leave with a full heart! If
purchased at The Abbey, Companion Animal you would like to help, just come to the
Clinic, Lou’s Thrifty-Way, and from chorus Fellowship Hall on Monday morning and
members. (This event has been re-scheduled we’ll put you to work! If you have questions,
from Dec. 2.) please contact Carol Severa @ 402-371-3324.

The NEW 2019 Flower Chart is now hanging

ELCA GOOD GIFTS
in the west hallway. Thank you all for
sponsoring altar flowers in the past! If you Each year, Americans
would like to remember a special occasion or spend over $300
a love one, please add your name to the billion on Christmas
calendar as soon as possible as dates fill up shopping. Imagine
quickly. Thank you for your generous what would happen if
sponsorship! we could redirect that
spending toward the
things that really
matter, like putting
After a long wait, Keagan
an end to
Sullivan is the blessed
hunger. With ELCA Good Gifts, you can do
recipient of a lung just that. Choose from more than 50
transplant. We understand charitable gifts to give in honor of loved ones
he is doing well, but will be – from goats to water wells, school
in Texas recovering for uniforms to food for refugees. All of these
several months. At the back of the sanctuary gifts can be given in honor of friends or loved
are pre-addressed envelopes for the Sullivan ones and make great alternatives
family. Please take one and send a Christmas to traditional Christmas gifts. Shop now
card, words of encouragement, or happy by visiting ELCA.org/goodgifts or watch for
birthday wishes to mom, Katlinn Sullivan the “St. John’s window display” in the west
whose birthday is December 19. Continue to hallway.
lift up the Sullivan family in your personal
prayers!
 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
ADVENT 3
MAJESTY CHOIR CANTATA
5 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
DEL JOHNSON
GREETERS/USHERS – Rod & Shirley Hughes
SOUND – John Skogstoe
ACOLYTE – Maggie Merritt
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
ADVENT 3
MAJESTY CHOIR CANTATA
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
DEL JOHNSON
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
BRENDA CARHART
GREETERS – Richard & Leona Pfeifer
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Rollie & Linda
Downs, Rick & Diana Uhlir
USHERS – Denny & Lois Braesch
POWERPOINT – Carhart Family
SOUND – John Skogstoe
FELLOWSHIP HOUR – Friends ChristCare
ACOLYTE –Zac Carhart
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
ADVENT 3
MAJESTY CHOIR CANTATA
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
DEL JOHNSON
GREETERS – Kristi Johnson, Jeann Granstra
USHERS – Greg & Sandra Korth, Del Johnson
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Jeann Granstra,
Laurel Moore, Kristi Johnson,
Brenda Carhart
POWERPOINT – Rachel Carhart
SOUND – Spencer Dagerman
ACOLYTE –MaKyla Books
LECTIONARY READINGS:
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22
ADVENT 4
5 PM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
GREETERS/USHERS – Rod & Shirley Hughes
READER -- __________
ACOLYTE – __________
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
ADVENT 4
8:30 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
WORSHIP ASSISTANT
ROLLIE DOWNS
GREETERS – Donna Short, Doris McMahon
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Tom & Midge
Hedrick, Maryn Mead, Margie Frank
USHERS – Gayle Short, Jim McMahon
READER – Tom Hedrick
POWERPOINT – Janet Erickson
SOUND – Mark Nelson
FELLOWSHIP HOUR – Vern & Wilma Steinman
ACOLYTE – Ella Weitzenkamp
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
ADVENT 4
11 AM
COUNCIL PERSON OF THE WEEK –
MARLA MUEHLMEIER
GREETERS – Ken Wragge, Terry Hall
USHERS – Mark Nelson, Echtenkamp Family
READER – Tracy Yost
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS – Lon & Jeanne
Timperley, Jeff & Cathy Erwin
POWERPOINT – Marcus / Adam Echtenkamp
SOUND – Spencer Dagerman
ACOLYTE – Harrison Blum
LECTIONARY READINGS:
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:46b-55
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-55