St. John’s Lutheran Church, Grinnell, IA

LOVE LETTER FEBRUARY 2014

COME UNTO ME

When the journey gets too hard,

when we feel depleted,

when our compassion

turns to complaining,

when our efforts toward

justice and mercy

seem to get us nowhere,

it’s time to remember

the humility part –

that it is God who has made us

and not we ourselves;

that the saving of the world

or even one part of it

is not on our shoulders.

It is then we can come unto him,

and he will give us rest.

With rest we’ll remember

what it is we are about.

Ann Weems

Kneeling in Jerusalem

St. John’s Lutheran Church

ELCA 1224 East Street Grinnell, IA 50112 (641) 236-4946 stjohngr@windstream.net www.stjohngrinnell.org

The Rev. Kathryn Roys, pastor pastorkathy@iowatelecom.net

Muriel Johannessen Associate in Ministry muriel@iowatelecom.net

Sue Hovenga office assistant

WORSHIP Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday at 10:45 a.m. ADULT EDUCATION Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Other groups during the week

OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. At other times, leave a message at the office, 236-4946

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS Luann Weigel, president

Gary Cook, vice president Nancy Beck, secretary Derek Jack, treasurer

Duane Dufoe, Stewardship Pat Gustafson, Education

Farrah Deppe, Evangelism/Shepherding Bob Ashing, Properties

Ryan Intlekofer, Worship Marilyn Deppe, Fellowship

Patti Selk, Service Karen Klug Frischmeyer, Youth

Blessed Are They! Our worship in February will include a sermon series on the

Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew. You will be

blessed more by reading Jesus’ short and meaningful Sermon on

the Mount found in Matthew 5-8 during the month.

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LOVE LETTER

Me

ss

ag

e f

rom

Pa

sto

r K

ath

y

Our quick vacation over

New Year’s took us to

\ Biloxi and New

Orleans, two areas

devastated eight

years ago by hurri-

canes canes Katrina and

Rita. And I have a

story that you need to hear.

First, I want to share that I opened an appeal

letter this morning from Lutheran Disaster Re-

sponse. They are on the ground in the Philip-

pines where typhoon Haiyan killed

6,000 just this past November—

bringing Christ’s presence on our

behalf. Our partnership with the

wider Lutheran Church in efforts

such as that one is one thing we

don’t talk about enough.

Lutheran Disaster Relief (LDR) is

known for staying for the long haul. In its ap-

peal for funds, it made a point which I have

learned to take pride in: Long after most relief

organizations have packed up and gone back

home, Lutheran Disaster Response is still

there. They are still operating in Cedar Rapids

and on the Gulf, and they only recently left

Fargo. I’m proud of the work our church does.

But we don’t hear about its work very much.

And I had to go to New Orleans to be remind-

ed of it.

While we were there we took three organized

tourist tours. On each tour our tour guide made

a point to thank the group at the conclusion of

the tour simply for being there because each

tourist will tell the story of the people who are

still recovering on the Gulf. But that wasn’t

the most touching part.

Hope springs in the most unexpected of places.

Like it did 2,000 years ago, surprising hope

sprang up in a cemetery.

Bob and I had just finished a guided tour of

one of New Orleans unique cemeteries, and I

left him on a bench there while I went back to

take a photo. When I returned, Bob said, “You

have got to hear this!”

He had overheard another tour group’s leader

say, “Most people outside the Lutheran com-

munity and New Orleans don’t

know this, but the Lutherans have

done so much for us. They

brought 37,000 people here for a

week to help us in our clean up

and recovery. Then they came

back three years later with 33,000

for another week, and they are

coming again! Lutherans’ faith is

put into action.”

Did you know that? It’s true. Lutherans are so

humble that we often don’t tell anyone all that

our church –the ELCA—is doing. And we

don’t tell others what our congregation, St

John’s, is doing. We have to get better at this!

We left on vacation, but we didn’t leave the

church behind; we couldn’t. I learned from

someone in New Orleans who was singing our

praises that I had to go home to Grinnell, Iowa,

and get better at singing the praises of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and

what Christ is still doing through us today.

Your partner in the journey,

Pastor Kathy

We have to get better at this!

Long after most

relief organizations

have packed up

and gone back

home, Lutheran

Disaster Response

is still there.

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LOVE LETTER

THANK YOU

Note: Members of the Senior

Choir gave Lisa and Roger

Henderson a restaurant gift

certificate for Christmas. Lisa

sent the following note of

thanks:

Thank you so much for the gift

certificate to Prairie Canary. …

Your dedicated service to Sun-

day worship is so appreciated,

especially during the Advent

and Christmas season when

everyone is extra busy and

somewhat stressed. Roger and I

are blessed by your friendship

and your service in choir. Many,

many thanks for all your service

and kindness. Blessings in 2014.

Lisa and Roger Henderson

THANKS to Irene Rohrrsen for

patiently and carefully cleaning

the individual candles and hold-

ers that we use at our Christmas

Eve worship services.

THANKS to Irene Edgeton

who has responded to the LWR

Quilters’ call for someone to

help turn electric blankets into

quilt material.

THANKS to Larry Deppe who

has repaired the tube used to

collect quarters for Lutheran

World Hunger.

THANKS to Derek Jack and

Gary Cook for teaming up to

work on end-of-year financial

matters. Not an easy job!

THANK YOU to Ryan

Intlekofer for so ably preparing

and presenting three forums on

the practice of Holy Commun-

ion.

THANK YOU to the Church

Council for the idea of the pot-

luck following the semiannual

meeting—and to all those who

brought food and helped clean

up afterward.

In sympathy Sincere sympathy is extended to the

family and friends of Alice Beck, who

died December 30. Her funeral was

held January 4 at Smith Funeral

Home. Interment was in Hazelwood

Cemetery. In Christ is the resurrection

and the life.

Souper Bowl

THE Souper Bowl is coming! Help

provide a warm bowl of soup for your

neighbors in need. Bring canned soup

or mixes and fill our kettle in the nar-

thex with soup to be taken to MICA

following the Super Bowl on February

2.

MICA food pantry

Needed at the MICA food pantry in

February are paper products, sanitary

care items and diapers. A collection

cart is located in the elevator entryway

to the church.

For LSI

During Advent at St. John’s, we col-

lected a total of $1,166 for Lutheran

Services in Iowa to purchase warm

winter clothing for children at the

Beloit and Bremwood residential cen-

ters. The money includes $50 donated

by the Sunday School children.

Willing to help?

Bob Ashing, who ably and faithfully

operates the sound system at most

worship. is willing and eager to train

others who could help with job of

managing the sound board in the bal-

cony. Contact Bob if you can help.

Semiannual congregational meeting At the semiannual meeting, those present:

Elected new members of the Church Council: They are: Gary Cook, vice

president (rising to president in 2014-15); Farrah Deppe, Evangelism and

Shepherding; and Karen Klug Frischmeyer, Youth.

Approved the treasurer’s report for 2013 and the budget for 2014. In 2013,

expenses were $231,290 and offerings were $237,500. The budget for 2014

is $263,212—$11,610 higher than in 2013. The increases include a 3% pay

increase for staff and increases in the amounts for ELCA Mission, Good

Neighbor Fund, MICA milk fund (new), musicians, payroll outsourcing

and property insurance.

Heard Bob Ashing, property chair, explain the need for a new roof on the

education wing. Preliminary estimates show the cost would be approxi-

mately $35,000, A proposal will be presented to the council in February,

with a special congregational meeting scheduled after that in order to ap-

prove a special appeal to cover the cost of the work.

Elected Kathryn Bly and Bob Roys as delegates to the Synod Assembly.

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LOVE LETTER

Kathryn Bly moved to Grinnell last summer to be near her daughter, Rachel Bly, and family, including 11-

year-old grandson Davis Hamilton. Born in western New York state, she lived most re-

cently in Cedar Rapids, where she was a very active member of Hope Lutheran Church.

She quickly plugged into activities at St. John’s, participating in the fall women’s retreat,

joining the Monday morning study group, and serving on the synod’s WELCA board. At

the semiannual congregational meeting in January, she was elected a delegate from St.

John’s to the Synod Assembly in Iowa City in May.

Kathryn started out her working life as a corrections officer, then did substitute teaching,

and ended as a librarian at Kirkwood Community College for 30 years. Widowed in 1995, she also has a

daughter and family (another grandson) in Ashland, Ore.

Home address: 531 East St. Telephone number: 319-366-1201

Max and Nancy Higgason moved to Grinnell four years ago – for the third time! Because of Max’s job as a

mechanic for industrial sewing machines, they lived here in the 1980s and

again in the 1990s. In retirement, they chose to return to Grinnell. “This is

home for us,” Nancy says. Both are natives of Eldora. They have a Pres-

byterian background but are liking to be Lutherans. They appreciate the

friendliness, worship style and pastoral care at St. John’s.

Their interests include model building with wood (Max) and quilting and

knitting (Nancy). Nancy has joined the LWR Quilters and recently turned in a stash of knitted hats she made

for children at LSI’s Bremwood and Beloit centers. The Higgasons have a son in Eldora, a daughter in West

Des Moines and a daughter in Columbia, S.C., and five grandchildren.

Home address: 810 Lincoln Drive. Telephone number: 236-0121

Dan Hagedorn was first introduced to St. John’s as Brenda Mikel’s new husband. In the almost three years

since their marriage in 2011, he is becoming acquainted with the congregation.

Dan was born in Omaha and lived in Tama and rural Malcom before moving to Grinnell.

He has worked as a welder at Donaldson’s for 20 years. Their blended family includes

Brenda’s three children (two in college and one in high school) and Dan’s two sons – one

married and living in Kirksville, Mo., the other living in Ames – and one grandson.

Dan’s interests include drag racing with his sons as well as Iowa State sports.

Home address: 2012 Prairie St. Telephone number: 236-4343.

Received into membership January 12, 2014

WELCOME to our new members

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

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LOVE LETTER

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Welcome Team: Kathy Barger, Sandy Falck

Reader: Kathy Barger

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Acolyte: Alisha Ford

Greeters: Vic and Jean Frana

Reader: Mike Schaeffer

Communion Assistants: Jim and Sara Hegg Dunne

Fellowship: Roger and Lisa Henderson, Becky Wilson

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Welcome Team: Jessica and Kathy Kriegel

Reader: Elizabeth Ashing

Communion Assistant: Gary Cook

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Acolyte: Jarrett Rose

Greeters: John and Dorothy Martinek

Reader: Abbi Furness

Fellowship: Bob and Pam Ashing, Marilyn Deppe

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Welcome Team: Gladys Booth and Bev Cook

Reader: Lamoyne Gaard

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Acolyte: Sydney Anderson Greeters: Luann and Rick Weigel

Reader: Paul Kolpin

Communion Assistants: Gladys Booth and Terri Nath

Fellowship: Youth

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Welcome Team: Larry and Marilyn Deppe

Reader: Verna Gerrish

Communion Assistant: Bev Cook

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Acolyte: Abbi Furness

Greeters: Russ and Brenda Crawford

Reader: Kathryn Bly

Fellowship: Brian and Nancy Heineman, Mitzi Dufoe

USHERS (Sunday) Ted Urfer, Paul Nowasell (head

ushers) Nancy Urfer, Russ and Nicole Behrens

ALTAR GUILD

January 15-February 11—Marilyn Deppe

Month of February—Nancy Urfer

February 12-March 11—Tiffany and Erica Olson

In the Church Library

FOR KIDS

The Potluck Supper

By Barbara Davoll

This title in the Christopher Church-

mouse Classics series caught my eye,

for I love potlucks! So does Christopher,

a young mouse who lives with his family in a church. Christopher’s

father reminds him to only take leftovers after a potluck dinner, but

Christopher ignores the rules, breaks an entire round of cheese into bits,

and hauls several wagonloads of it to a secret storeroom. The little

mouse thinks he won’t have to work all winter, but when the cheese be-

gins to smell, his greed is discovered and he has to haul it all out to the

garbage. Christopher learns just how true Proverbs 15:27 is: “He that is

greedy of gain troubleth his own house.”

Read one, two, or all twelve books in this series that not only teach a

Biblical lesson, but have delightful characters which are just plain fun.

Reviewed by Jan Arends

FOR ADULTS

A World According to God:

Practices for Putting Faith at the Center of Your Life

By Martha Ellen Stortz

The author discusses various snapshots of faith in action and puts them

into words. This book is for all those disciples who long for a glimpse

of God’s world. The author helps us rediscover the power of the core

practices of practicing Christians. Through her words, we learn the dis-

cipline of discipleship through faith practices to build on and sustain

intimacy with Jesus. Disciples reencounter Jesus in the practices He left

behind such as baptism, the Lord’s Supper, prayer for forgiveness, lov-

ing and fidelity. And through this we meet Jesus again and again, which

allows us to discern His presence in all things. I found the book to be

well worth reading and easy to understand and follow.

We have a wonderful church library! If you haven’t been in the library

lately, you may wish to check it out. There are many new and well read

books and other publications that may be of interest to you.

Reviewed by Ryan Intlekofer

STEWARDSHIP OF SERVICE

Our Church Library, located across from Pastor

Kathy’s office in the Education Wing, is going through a reorganization to

make it more user-friendly. Books have been grouped according to type, with

identifying labels on the shelves. Categories include fiction, devotions, grief,

marriage, caregivers, people of the Bible, etc. In another change, the library

will no longer offer videocassettes, so those on the rack can be yours!

CHECK THESE OUT!

NOTE

Expired grocery coupons for military

families are no longer being collected at

St. John’s.

6

LOVE LETTER

February Birthdays February 1

Helen Clausen

Nancy Heineman

February 2

Amanda Osland

February 4 Mike Baker

Scott Bosse

February 6 Lisa Boyes

David Buren

February 8

Irene Edgeton

Erika Olson

February 10

Howard McDonough

February 12

Elizabeth Ashing

February 14

Mitzi Dufoe

February 15

Sarah Ashing

Lynn Cline

February 16

Delores Kinseth

February 18

Jim Dunn

February 19

Addy Hanson

Christopher Weir

February 20

Chance Winburn

February 23

Rebecca Dufoe

Craig Weir

February 24

Vicki Dillon

Natalie Pavey

February 26

Carol Pearce

February 27

Doug Selk

MEET THE COUNCIL

Good Neighbor Fund

The Good Neighbor Fund at St. John’s is a quiet ministry that

provides emergency financial help to those in need in our con-

gregation and our community. In 2013, the fund disbursed a

total of $1,733. There were 12 disbursements, with two dis-

bursements given as loans that were repaid. (Hence, because

some of the money was able to be used

more than once, the disbursement total

exceeded the $1,500 budgeted.)

The Good Neighbor Fund was estab-

lished at St. John’s in 2007, with updat-

ed guidelines put in place in 2010. The

inspiration for the fund is Jesus’ com-

mandment to “love your neighbor as

yourself.” The purpose is to have a local fund available to re-

spond quickly to financial needs that are brought to the atten-

tion of our pastoral staff. Use of the fund is not limited to

members of St. John’s.

How the fund works: A person in need confidentially contacts

the pastoral staff, who evaluate the need and decide whether

money from the fund should be used. A check is then issued.

The fund is a separate line item in the church budget. For

2014, the budgeted amount has been increased from $1,500 to

$2,500. Individuals may also contribute directly to the fund.

Donations should be made to the St. John’s Good Neighbor

Fund.

“And the second

[commandment] is

like it: ‘Love your

neighbor as

yourself.’ ”

Matthew 22:40

No wonder Karen Klug Frischmeyer is a Corn-

huskers football fan: She was born in Colum-

bus, Neb., and lived in Norfolk, Lincoln and

Grand Island (in addition to Sioux Falls, S.D.,

and Des Moines) before coming to Grinnell in

1992.

Karen was elected to the Church Council at the

semiannual meeting in January. She serves as

liaison to the youth programs.

With an educational background at Platte Col-

lege and the University of Nebraska, she has

worked for Merial Ltd.,

(companion animal pharma-

ceuticals) for 24-plus years.

She is currently territory man-

ager. She and her husband Al

have two children—Mitchell

in college and Sarah in high

school.

Her No. 1 interest is her chil-

dren and their activities, and

her favorite pastime is spend-

ing time with family and friends.

On her list of hobbies are gardening, cooking

and reading. (In the summer she quietly contrib-

utes beautiful bouquets from her garden to the

church worship space.)

The practice of showing up at the church with

flowers is part of Karen’s way.

“I believe strongly in random acts of kindness,”

she says.

Church Council highlights The 2014 budget was approved for presentation

to the congregation at the semiannual meeting

January 26.

Harlan Honsbruch and Mitzi Dufoe will audit

the 2013 financial records.

Painting of the west entrance to the sanctuary

has been completed. Information is being gath-

ered for instant hot water heaters in the meeting

room and the sacristy. Work continues on as-

sembling data and bids for the education-

wing roof project.

Karen Klug Frischmeyer

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LOVE LETTER

St. John’s Lutheran Church 1224 East Street Grinnell, Iowa 50112 (641) 236-4946

FEBRUARY 2014

The LOVE LETTER is published monthly by St. John’s Lutheran Church. Deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Contact: Mary Schuchmann, schuchr@pcpartner.net

Return Service Requested

Non-profit Org.

U.S Postage

PAID

Grinnell, Iowa

Permit #134

BASKET OF PROMISE

WELCA is leading a project in February and March to

collect items for Baby Care Kits for Lutheran

World Relief. A different item will be col-

lected each week to assemble the kits. Place

your donations in a basket at the rear of the

sanctuary. The weekly schedule is:

February 1 and 2

Lightweight t-shirts

February 8 and 9

Long– or short-sleeved gowns

(without feet)

February 15 and 16

Cloth diapers (flat fold preferred)

February 22 and 23

Receiving blankets, (medium-

weight cotton or flannel, or cro-

cheted or knitted with lightweight

yarn, up to 52” square)

March 1 and 2

Baby socks

March 8 and 9

Hand towels (dark color preferred)

March 15 and 16

Bath size bars of gentle soap (4 or

5 oz. ) in original wrapper

March 22 and 23

Jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with

hood (or include a baby cap)

March 29 and 30

Diaper pins

Everyday evangelists—that’s us!

Each of us is an everyday evangelist called by

God to boldly live out our faith and share the

love of Jesus.

Learn more about discipleship at this year’s

Congregations Together

in Mission (CTIM)

Conference on Satur-

day, March 8, at First

Lutheran Church in Ce-

dar Rapids. The key-

note speaker will be Peggy Hahn, executive

director of LEAD: Living Every Day As Dis-

ciples, Gulf Coast Synod, who will inspire,

share ideas and provide resources that will

expand your thinking and deepen your spiritu-

al life. An array of workshops will be offered.

More information is available in the church

office. Deadline for registration is February

28. The $20 fee will be covered by the church.

Congregations Together in Mission Saturday, March 8 First Lutheran, Cedar Rapids