St. John’s HELPER

St. John’s United Church of Christ

1513 West Street

Rosenberg, Texas 77471

Church Office: 281-342-5159 Church Email:

Church Website: www.stjohnsunitedchurchofchrist.org

Rev. Daniel Haas, Minister Cell phone #801-368-1180

September 2, 2015 Rev. Donald Kolkmeier, Pastor Emeritus

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at St. John’s United Church of Christ

“Labor Day through the Millennia”

Labor Day started as an important reminder for all the benefits that workers have gained from organizing. These days it seems to have turned into an occasion for mattress sales. The issues of fairness and justice have always been important to God’s people. God’s law is in large part instructions for social justice like this passage from Deuteronomy 24:14-22

“You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their parents; only for their own crimes may persons be put to death. You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this.”

In all aspects of daily life we are trying to optimize the use of resources. We want to get the biggest bang for our buck. We are looking for the very best deal on mattresses as it is. So it is totally counter-cultural to read this biblical mandate of inefficiency:
“When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. “Let me translate that into our reality: When you put together a shift plan be mindful of the single mom who needs to pick up the kids from daycare. The immigrants working in your business deserve a fair wage and you cannot exploit them because they do not have better opportunities. When kids go from foster home to foster home you owe it to them to provide public schools for them that help them get ahead in life.

At first glance all this is not economically efficient: typically you want to reduce labor cost as much as you can. Typically you can tell your workers to show up whenever you need them. Paying higher taxes for other people’s children does not directly benefit your own. But God commands inefficiencies like these. Be intentional about it.

Why? Well, you might find yourself in a situation where you require the assistance that only a fair and just society has to offer. Or as spoken to Israel remembering their former yoke: “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this.”

Blessings,

Rev. Daniel Haas

Offering for August 30, 2015

General Fund …………………. 1,243.00
Loose plate ……………………. 30.00
Benevolence ………………….. 138.00

Sunday school………………... 3.00
Improvement …………………. 100.00
Non-Members…………………. 120.00
Total Offering $ 1,634.00

Attendance for August 30, 2015

Church Attendance 67

Children’s Church 6

THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS

Prayer has the ability and power to change lives and to heal the body, mind and spirit of those who are hurting. Therefore, you are invited to keep the following persons in your daily prayers. Knowing that your church family is praying for you can truly help make a difference in recovery.

Hannah Calaway Thomas Culver III

Patsy Crow Brenda Dresner

Johnnie Filipp Anna Finke

Patricia Hubenak Gilbert Jimmy Gutowsky

Elvera Hermann Bonnie Kaminski Dorothy Krell Angie Krueger

Melvin Loesch Ed Marek

Denver McFarland Edna Schmidt

Johnny Scott Linda Velasquez

Gloria Zdunkewicz

Long Term Prayer Concerns:

Gary Ashley Tom Atkins
Gladys Barta Herman Barta
Joann Barton Brandon Beck
Allen Christ Tommy Crayton

Sharon Seiler Davis Kervin Finke

Wayne Fredensprung Dale Hans

Rev. John Huegel Rev. Dale Krampe

Pat Lucky Judy Macura

Kim Martin Gene Myska

Allen Newell Shirley Niemeyer

Rose Rabata Ella Mae Schmidt Lawrence Schmidt Kim Schnell

Mildred Scott Mattie States

Betty Weber Alice Welch

Edgar Wendt Ernest Stubby Wendt

Makayla Williams James Wrobliski

Mike Woods Cheryl Zwahr
Preparing for Sunday, September 6, 2015

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-9

Mark 7:24-37

Sermon: “Be Opened”

August Food Drive for Helping Hands

August was one of our two months a year that we hold a food drive to benefit our local Helping Hands. A big thank you is given to all who participated and donated non-perishable food items for the needy families in our area. It is estimated that 258 pounds of food and several bags of clothing was donated through your Sunday morning donations. Thanks to Calvin Lamensky for transporting all of the donated items to Helping Hands. Thanks to the Women’s Guild for their donations of 75 pounds of food and to Tom Gaskamp for transporting those foods boxes.

Women’s Guild Holds Estate Sale

Sherra Williams' Estate Sale

Thank you one & all for the help, patience, sweat, & FUN that went into making this event a great success. We certainly couldn't have done it without the man/muscle power. It was like a reunion of friends, teachers, employees, & employers. Sherra's neighbors were so gracious to us. I met a person on my power walk this morning who told me she had never been to an estate sale this organized, with so much help. Thanks again for all the help & to those that shopped. I feel like we all have a little remembrance of Sherra in our homes.

Margie Krenek

St. John's UCC Women’s Guild

Ushers and Greeters for 2016

There are sign-up sheets for offering your time and service as a Sunday morning Usher and Greeter in the Narthex. Please prayerfully consider if this is a ministry for you.

Bible Study

This study of the Apostle’s Creed will be on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month over the next several months from 6-7 p.m. Please mark your calendars and feel free to invite family and friends. Each weeks study is independent of each other, so it’s fine to join this study at any time. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 8.

Alzheimer’s Presentation

Please mark your calendar for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6 in which the Family Ministry team will provide a speaker to present information on Alzheimer’s, there will be a question and answer time as well.

Welcome to Our New Member

Nina Cooper moved her membership to St. John’s UCC last Sunday and we welcome her. Please help extend a warm welcome back to Nina.

Women’s Retreat-Last Call

The ladies of the church are invited to the Women’s Retreat on September 11-13 at Slumber Falls in New Braunfels. The theme for the retreat will be “Fruits of the Spirit” and will be hosted by Immanuel UCC of Needville and Friedens UCC of Beasley. Registration can be done online at www.slumberfalls.org. For more information please contact Debby Wendt at or Erna Thielemann at or by calling Erna at 281-232-6321.

Labor Day

Reminder that the church office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Women’s Guild Time Change

The Women’s Guild for the months of September, October and November will start meeting at 10:00 a.m. instead of 2:00 p.m. The ladies will still meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the Parish Hall, just at an earlier time in the day. All ladies of the church are invited to attend the Guild meetings for a time of Christian study and fellowship. For more information please contact Margie Krenek.

Recycle for Sight

The local Lion’s club has a drop off box for used eyeglasses and cases in the Parish Hall. This past week they picked up two boxes of glasses that members have donated and will recycle them for the needy. Please recycle your unused eyeglasses the next time you order new ones.

Call for New Choir Members

The choir is always looking for new members willing to share their voices on Sunday mornings. Choir rehearsal is held each Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the choir loft. Thank you Tim Riha and Ron Sikes for your inspirational song sung this past Sunday.

The Brotherhood

The men of the Brotherhood will hold their monthly meeting and a time for fellowship on Thursday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. All men are invited and feel free to bring a friend or neighbor.

Holy Communion

Reminder that Holy Communion will be observed during the morning worship service this Sunday with a Celebration of Joy immediately following in the Parish Hall. Please stay for refreshments and fellowship.

Calendar

For Sunday, September 6, 2015

Lay Reader: Nathan Gaskamp

Flowers for Altar:

Emma Lee Marek, Florence Gaskamp,

Nelda & Alvin Gutowsky

Greeters & Ushers for September:

Diana & Keith Beck

Gaynell & Melvin Blahuta

Lay Readers for September:

Nathan Gaskamp, Karen Sikes,

Sandra Croft, Janet Enax

Altar Flowers for September:

Emma Lee Marek, Florence Gaskamp,

Nelda & Alvin Gutowsky, 9/6

Melvin Loesch & family, 9/13

Hilda Sabrsula, 9/20

Kerry & Erin Gerken, 9/27

September 6, 2015

Rev. Daniel Haas delivers the

morning message entitled,

“Be Opened”

Holy Communion observed

Celebration of Joy

September 2, 2015

Martha’s Circle, 2:00 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00 p.m.

Looking Ahead

Confirmation Class begins in September

Choir Rehearsal each Wednesday at 7:00

Martha’s Circle, 9/2

Labor Day, Office Closed, 9/7

Bible Study, 9/8

Women’s Guild, 9/8

Brotherhood, 9/10

Mature Adults, 9/15

Family Ministry Team Communion, 9/16

Council Meeting, 9/21

Bible Study, 9/22

Family Ministry Team Meeting, 9/24

Alzheimer’s Presentation, 10/6

Thought for the week:

Four Things You Can’t Recover:

The Stone after the throw.

The Word after it’s said.

The Occasion after it’s missed.

The Time after it’s gone.

It’s time to “reenroll” your Kroger’s card with the Brotherhoods Community Rewards Program. Go online and use #84302 as the organization number.

Link to Kroger’s Community Rewards website: https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards

(On your computer push Control and click your mouse at the same time while hovering the mouse over the above link and it will take you directly to the Kroger registration page.)