1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH IN J OHNSTON , IOWA
S WORD & S HELL
N OVEMBER , 2014
P ASTOR B ILL
Pope: God isn’t afraid of new things.’
I laughed when I read the headline in this morning’s paper: Pope: 'God is not afraid of new things.’
I laughed because Pope Francis sounds just like a pastor reminding his or her congregation that change
is ok. I laughed because it seems Catholics and Lutherans (Protestants generally) aren’t that different
from each other. I laughed because I imagine Martin Luther up in heaven wearing a “I heart Pope
Francis” button, if such sloganeering is allowed in heaven. (And maybe even if it’s not allowed,
Luther was always a bit of a rebel.)
God is not afraid of new things, indeed… a new universe, a new world, new heavens and a new
earth, new creatures on that earth, a new tribe, a new promise, a new beginning and rebirth. God is
not afraid of new things.
But we sometimes are. Over the past few months, my wife and I have launched our youngest child
into the world, sold our home, left our congregations and moved to a new community. I wish I could
say that I’ve been a good example of handling all these new things with a sense of calm and grace, but
I can’t. Sometimes I have been nervous and worried. Sometimes I have been irritable and impatient.
Change is hard. It’s hard and it’s inevitable. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “That’s life.”
One of the biggest changes a congregation can go through is a new pastor, especially when his or her
predecessor had a long ministry. New pastors bring with them their own style, their own biases,
strengths and weaknesses. For the next year or so, I will be getting to know Saint James; and Saint
James will be getting to know me. This is a new thing for all involved.
My prayer is that God will bless us with courage, patience, grace, joy and a sense of fearlessness.
Today, I am thankful and excited about all these new things, including Pope Francis’ pastoral
reminder that God isn’t afraid of new things and we shouldn’t be either.
Peace,
Pastor
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T HE S WORD & S HELL - N OVEMBER 2014
W ORSHIP S CHEDULE
Time for a Change
For many years now there has been a growing sense that our congregation’s Sunday schedule
isn’t working as well as it could. Simply put, we have two services with too few people in
each service. With our current schedule, most of our services only fill the sanctuary to about
30% of its capacity. By contrast most church experts agree that a sanctuary works best when
it is 60-80% full. One service will get us very close to that 60% level and give us room to
grow for many years to come.
When there are too few in worship, it affects how our members feel during worship and (more
importantly) how our visitors experience Saint James. So we’ve been thinking about
changing to a Sunday schedule with one service instead of two. Council believes it’s time to
make this change and we think January 1 is the right time to do it. Our new Pastor agrees.
One Sunday service will strengthen our singing, enable the choir to be vocal leaders during
most services, alleviate the scheduling burden on our volunteers, and make a much better
impression on our visitors. Based on surveys we did just a few years ago, your preference for
a new worship time seems to be 9:00 am with the education and social hour to follow.
Council realizes that one service will cause our parking lot to be a little fuller than normal.
Eventually (and sooner rather than later) we will need to expand our parking lot. In the short
term, some of us will start parking in our over-flow parking lot to the north on Sunday
mornings.
We have placed this issue on the Council’s agenda for the November 17 meeting. If you have
a question or concern about this issue, please give Pastor a call at church (515) 276-0134 or
email him at [email protected].
Thank you for your prayers and input on this decision. Change can be inconvenient, but it
also promises to be life-giving.
Pastor & Council
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T HE S WORD & S HELL - N OVEMBER 2014
P ASTOR ’ S B IBLE S TUDY
You’re Invited!
Every Monday at 9am Starting Monday, November 3
This is a fun and casual group.
No Experience Necessary.
We'll have the coffee on!
T ITHING OF O RGAN F UNDRAISING
Grateful Giving in Action
It has been often said that giving is better than receiving. Soon we will be receiving a
reconditioned organ; however, even sooner we will be giving out our charitable gifts
representing a tithe of the monies we raised during our 6-month campaign.
Members of St. James submitted proposals for charities with a musical theme that would be
good candidates to receive a financial gift from our tithe. A committee then selected the
amount that each charity would receive.
We will be donating to both local and global charities. Approximately half of our donation
will go to a global charity supporting our sponsored missionaries in Tanzania, the Stubbs.
The other half of our donation will be split up among local charities based in the Des Moines
area. The local charities which will receive funds are listed below:
Grand View University Choir
Iowa Youth Chorus
Striving for Eternal Life Choir
Piano fund at Johnston High School
Isiserettes Drum and Drill Corp
ChildServe, Johnston
This is a great example of how St. James can make an impact on our communities. Thank
you for your support!
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T HE S WORD & S HELL - N OVEMBER 2014
F INANCE & S TEWARDSHIP
THE GIFTS OF GOD ARE FOR SHARING
God has given us so much, and the gifts of God are for sharing.
This year, our annual stewardship and financial response program will continue the Stories to Tell and Gifts to
Share initiative. As a congregation, we will use this program to share stories about our faith, explore the
impact of our stewardship and invite a financial response from our members. We hope that you will use this
opportunity to consider your personal stories about what God is doing for you and what God is doing through
you.
As the program unfolds, we will use real stories to discover how our generosity becomes an expression of our
love for God, our neighbors and ourselves. We will learn how our giving of time, talent and resources
connects us to each other and with other communities and congregations through a shared commitment to
local ministries, outreach and more.
Our members have already started telling their stories, and more will be shared in the days and weeks to
come. As you consider your stories and the stories shared by others, we hope that you will assess the role of
stewardship as a faith practice in your life. Please take a moment to review the Take Home Sheets and join us
in worship as we reflect on the following themes:
Graceful Living:
Grateful Living:
Giving to the Church:
Cheerful Sacrifices:
Stewardship Weekend
Celebration Luncheon:
Oct. 18 & 19, during your regular worship service
Oct. 25 & 26, during your regular worship service
Nov. 1 & 2, during your regular worship service
Nov. 8 & 9, during our regular worship service
Nov. 15 & 16, during your regular worship service
Sunday November 16, following 11:00 a.m. worship service
We hope all members will make a faith commitment to support St. James by returning an Estimate of Giving
Card on or prior to Stewardship Weekend on November 15 and 16. Our program will end with a Celebration
Luncheon following the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, November 16. No matter which worship
service you attend, please plan to join us for this celebration. The luncheon will be a catered meal, and so
members of the Finance & Stewardship Team and Church Council will be contacting you for an RSVP.
Thank you to those members who have agreed to share their personal stories this fall and to those who may
be called to share similar stories at other times throughout the year. We look forward to these stories and to
our celebration of God’s many gifts. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Bernau or any member
of the Finance & Stewardship Team.
In Christ,
Finance & Stewardship Team
Jarret Ruddy – Chair
Isaac Rodenberg – Treasurer
Carol Crane
Terry Frisch
John Pietila
Linda Queck
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N OVEMBER W ORSHIP A SSISTANTS
5:00 P.M. Saturday
November 1
November 8
November 15
November 22
November 29
Deacon
Verna White
Barb Bean
Deb Bargman
Kent Kroeger
Steve Henry
Greeters
K. & V. White
Liz Anderson
Wayne Mehre
Pat Schnepf
J. & J. Longcor
Ushers
K. & V. White
R. & L. Walker
Wayne Mehre
G. & P. Schnepf
J. & J. Longcor
Altar Guild
Diane Kroeger
Barb Bean
Deb Bargman
Susan Henry
Jan Longcor
8:30 A.M.
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30
Asst. Minister
Kent Henning
Pastor Bill
Diane Munch
Pastor Bill
Aaron H. Lehman
Deacon
Denise Friesth
Terry Frisch
Jerry Wylie
Jeff Kane
P.A. Henrichsen
Lector
Wendy Aanonson
Jennifer Dugan Burns Eric Toot
Cheryl Livingston
Jean Poock
Acolyte(s)
Clara Toot
Molly Burns
Clara Toot
Owen Lehman
Clara Toot
Greeters
E. & W. Aanonson
Frances Faas
John & Jennifer Pietila Al & Mary Dzubak
Ushers
E. & S. Toot
D. & S. Johanson
John Pietila
G. & D. Bridgewater B. & P. Schultz
Altar Guild
Lesley Whitmore
Carol Gannon
Debby Wylie
Mary Dzubak
11:00 A.M.
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
B. & C. Crane
Kelly Bump
November 30
Asst. Minister
Pastor Bill
Nicole Heley Lehman Pastor Bill
Lon Friesth
Pastor Bill
Deacon
Greg Boeschen
John Harvey
Jill Boeschen
John Harvey
Luther Hanson
Lector
Elizabeth Boeschen
Steve Kostal
Jim Howard
Paula Rother
Lilian Buch
Acolyte(s)
Mikayla Bump
Max Crooks
Mikayla Bump
Max Crooks
Karleen Derry
Greeters
Deneen Dygert
T. & E. Wells
Boeschen Family
Paula Rother
OPEN
Ushers
Dave Dygert
K. & L. Wells
Jarret Ruddy
Jerry Wylie
OPEN
Altar Guild
Kelly Bump
Diane Munch
Deb Grant Howard
Debby Wylie
L. & I. Hanson
Social Time Hosts
Danielle Hargens
Dygert
Finance & Stewardship Lundberg
Buch
Pew Patrol
Jarret Ruddy
Dee Miller
Jean Poock
Carol Gannon
Rebecca Allison
Sunday Teller
Chris Burgess
Chris Burgess
Chris Burgess
Chris Burgess
Chris Burgess
Monday Teller
Gannon & Henry
Crane & Krauth
Hanson & Poock
Axness & Longcor
Gannon & Henry
Other
Please note: If you cannot serve on the assigned date, please trade with another volunteer and call the Parish Steward, 276-0134, with the change
by Wednesday of the week you are assigned to serve! Thank you!
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D ECEMBER W ORSHIP A SSISTANTS
5:00 P.M. Saturday
December 6
December 13
December 20
December 27
Deacon
Susan Henry
Deb Bargman
Barb Bean
Jan Longcor
Greeters
E. & R. Allison
J. & D. Harnack
Steve & Barn Bean
Jarret Ruddy
Ushers
E. & R. Allison
J. & D. Harnack
Wayne Mehre
Jarret Ruddy
Altar Guild
Susan Henry
Bev Phipps
Barb Bean
Jan Longcor
8:30 A.M.
December 7
December 14
December 21
December 28
Asst. Minister
Kent Henning
Pastor Bill
Lon Friesth
Pastor Bill
Deacon
Isaac Rodenberg
Lisa Wells
Jerry Wylie
Terry Frisch
Lector
Carol Gannon
Tori Wells
John Pietila
Jennifer Dugan Burns
Acolyte(s)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Greeters
Dave & Linda Kramer Carl & Kelly Bump
Jean Poock
PA & S. Henrichsen
Ushers
E. & W. Aanonson
Dave Dygert
Patrick Jensen
D. & S. Johanson
Altar Guild
Carol Gannon
Kelly Bump
Debby Wylie
Mary Dzubak
11:00 A.M.
December 7
December 14
December 21
December 28
Asst. Minister
Pastor Bill
Frank Munch
Pastor Bill
Nicole Heley Lehman
Deacon
Greg Boeschen
Frank Munch
John Harvey
Luther Hanson
Lector
Jill Boeschen
Connie McConnell
John Harvey
Krista Kielty
Acolyte(s)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Greeters
Boeschen Family
Cynthia Sund
Jeff Kane
Ila Hanson
Ushers
Todd Aarhus
Stuart Ruddy
Jeff Kane
B. & K. Kielty
Altar Guild
OPEN
Cynthia Sund
OPEN
Diane Munch
Social Time Hosts
E. & S. Toot
Rodenberg & Solem
C. & H. Silberhorn
D. & S. Johanson
Pew Patrol
Dee Miller
Jarret Ruddy
Jean Poock
Carol Gannon
Sunday Teller
Terry Frisch
Terry Frisch
Terry Frisch
Terry Frisch
Monday Teller
Crane & Krauth
Hanson & Poock
Axness & Longcor
Gannon & Henry
Other
Please note: If you cannot serve on the assigned date, please trade with another volunteer and call the Parish Steward, 276-0134, with the change
by Wednesday of the week you are assigned to serve! Thank you!
Page 6
T HE S WORD & S HELL - N OVEMBER 2014
F OOD P ANTRY W EEKEND
On the third Sunday of every month, we have “Food Pantry Weekend,” collecting
donations for the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC), which is then funneled
out to the different food pantries in the area. In November, we will be focusing on the
Johnston Partnership for our donations. We will be donating items for their Thanksgiving
Meal Collection, to help local families provide a Thanksgiving meal for their families.
The items needed are:
Fresh or Frozen Turkey (Can put in fridge/freezer at church with a label)
Box of Stuffing Mix
Evaporated Milk
Instant Potatoes
Jellied Cranberries
Jar of Gravy
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Items can be put in the shopping car in the entryway of the church. Each meal costs $25,
and cash donations are also appreciated. Donations can be made online at
www.johnstonpartnership.org or through St. James with “Johnston Partnership” in the
memo line.
S T . J AMES C OOKBOOKS ARE H ERE !
Our inventory of the new St. James Lutheran Church Cookbook is here and ready for
purchase.
With 800+ recipes and just $15, the cookbook will make a great gift.
Cookbooks can be purchased from a member of the Cookbook Team before or after
worship, or you may contact Denise at church at 515-276-0134.
Special thanks to the Cookbook Team for their efforts:
Lynette and Rebecca Allison (co-chairs)
Jill Boeschen
Susan Henry
Carol Crane
Krista Kielty
Denise Friesth
Vicki Renner
Carole Henning
Lisa Wells
Sheila Henrichsen
Debby Wylie
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T HE S WORD
T HE&SSWORD
HELL -&NSOVEMBER
HELL
2014
L UTHERAN S ERVICES OF I OWA
November is National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month, a time to celebrate the power of adoption and to raise
awareness about children waiting to be adopted into a forever family.
Nationally, there are more than 101,000 children waiting to be adopted from the U.S. foster
care system. LSI is a partner agency in Iowa KidsNet, the statewide collaboration of agencies
that helps find safe homes for foster children, and LSI foster care and post-adoption support
staff are helping families every day to care for children in the foster care system, whether for a
few days or for a lifetime through adoption.
Thank you for being a partner in helping Iowa children feel safe, secure and loved during
difficult times!
LSI is proud to be an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA). Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
“Our three special children”
With their oldest children grown, Shirley and her husband Ed decided the time was right to fill
up their home again. They began taking foster parent classes in Mason City, never imagining
they would later adopt three young children. First, Shirley and Ed worked to help those children
reunify with their birth mother. When it became clear that children would need an adoptive
home, Shirley and Ed stepped up.
“When we got into foster care we never imagined we would adopt,” Shirley said. “The birth
mother was very appreciative that we would do that for the kids. We talked to our biological kids
to see if they were on board with us, and we did a lot of praying.”
It’s a story that shows how foster parents not only can help kids, but birth parents, too. The
siblings’ birth mother continues to visit them weekly.
“This family was truly champions at birth family interaction,” said Josh, an LSI foster care staff.
“Adoption was never their intent, but these children touched their lives, and they made great
decisions. They did things the right way without ever losing sight of their role in actively working
towards permanency for these children.”
“I think their mother said it perfectly,” Shirley recalled. “She said, ‘This isn’t the perfect solution,
but you will only have that many more people to love you. Shirley and Ed will take good care of
you.’ And she is so right. If we can keep working together, they will have a whole tribe of people
to love and care for them. The ultimate goal for my whole family is to make a difference in the
life of a child, and in this case, the lives of our three special children.”
See more stories, past and present, at LSI’s anniversary website: www.LSIowa.org/150.
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S HELL
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OVEMBER 2014
J ULEFEST 2014
O Magnum Mysterium – O Great Mystery is Grand View University’s Advent and Christmas
gift to the community. Featuring the Grand View Choir and Wind Ensemble and incorporating
readings and hymns we marvel at three great mysteries – that God’s Son should be born in a
lowly manger, that the witnesses to the holy birth were the simple animals in the stall, and that
the Christ Child chooses to come to us again and make a new manger in our hearts.
This annual Advent and Christmas celebration will be held on December 6, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. at
St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand Ave, Des Moines and December 7, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at
Luther Memorial Church, 1201 Grandview Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.
I VUGA W EEKEND C ELEBRATION
This year marks the 12th anniversary for our partnership with Ivuga Lutheran Parish.
We will celebrate at worship services on November 8th and 9th. As we celebrate the
covenant we share, we also pray for the new Ivuga Pastor, Stephen Chikira.
We are pleased to announce the SFEL Burundian Choir will join in the celebration
between services on Sunday.
We will also have Christmas cards available for you to
sign to share your notes and praises.
Please join in this special celebration weekend!
S IMPLY G IVING
Stewardship and Thanksgiving
In this season of thanksgiving, a sincere 'thank you' is in order to everyone who supports our
congregation throughout the year with their attendance, service and regular financial
contributions.
For those of you who are interested, the church offers electronic giving options for making
donations on a scheduled, automated basis. It's convenient for you and provides muchneeded financial consistency for the church. Pick up an authorization form.
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OVEMBER 2014
N OVEMBER C ELEBRATIONS
Happy Birthday!
Abigail Dolan
Sarah Walling
Travis Theisen
Kent Kroeger
Veronica Walker
Jordan Heley Lehman
Braden Cooper
Deb Grant-Howard
Diane Reed
Robert Benziger
Ron Jurgens
Janet Wall
Ian Yates
Erik Allison
Alane Dunn
Krista Kielty
Pastor Bill Bernau
Ed Pilkington
Andy Baumgarten
Andrew Walling
Emily Merritt
Tyler Emehiser
Julie Nitchie
Klay Queck
Betsy Pilkington
Shane Burgess
Evelyn Walling
Alan Ellis
Jacob Silberhorn
Mark Duffy
Tim Heldt
Iva Jurgens
Lauren McNeal
Cynthia Sund
John Pietila
Happy Anniversary!
Richard & Jan Wall
Mike & Alane Dunn
Jeff & Linda Susic
Eric & Stephanie Toot
Steve & Marcia Kostal
Rod & Bev Phipps
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