A Sad and Tragic Week for our Country
We have all been shocked and saddened by the events of the past week as an armed, pro-Trump mob stormed Congress Wednesday and violently disrupted the proceedings certifying the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President. Five people have now died from this attack, including a member of the Capitol Police force who was clubbed by a protester with a fire extinguisher, and one of the protesters, who was shot by a member of the Captitol police as she tried to force her way to the House Chamber.
So many questions remain unanswered, including how the crowd was able to gain access to the Capitol, and once once at the front door, how they were able to get in and go pretty much anywhere they pleased.
Many have condemned these events and their causes with words more eloquent than I can put together, including four former presidents and Republican Senator Mitt Romney.
A question for us as Lutheran Christians is this: what do we do? Corporately, as a congregation, synod and national church body, we committ ourselves "to defend human dignity, to stand with poor and powerless people, to advocate justice, to work for peace, and to care for the earth in the processes and structures of contemporary society. (ELCA Social Statement "Church in Society).
Individually, we live out our Baptism by dying to sin and rising with Christ in our ordinary lives as family members, friends, citizens, workers, and participants in voluntary associations. Since “daily life [is] the primary setting for the exercise of [the] Christian calling,” (Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA 4.01.e.) it is in that setting that we as Christians are to serve God and neighbor.
On Sunday we observe the Baptism of Our Lord, and I'm hoping to shed some more light on this subject as we remember and reflect our own baptism and what that means for us.
Death of Vera Beiler
We received word today from her daughter Julie, that Vera Beiler died this morning. I will be meeting with the family tomorrow (Saturday) to make arrangements for the funeral, which most likely will be at the church.
Annual Reports Meeting
The St. John's Constitution directs that the Annual Reports Meetting of the Congregation shall be held during the month of February. The date is to be set by the Congregation Council. We will do that at our January 19 meeting. The following is copy/pasted from the St. John's Constitution:
The agenda of the Annual Reports Meeting shall include:
Written reports from all committees and organizations of the Congregation, including full financial reports for the previous year. Such reports, including financial reports shall be submitted to the Congregation Office Manager at least four weeks prior to the annual meeting for printing. All proposals, including the budget proposals, shall be published and distributed to all voting members of the congregation at least two weeks in advance of the meeting. The following agenda items may be included at either annual meeting:
- Opportunity to vote on any proposals submitted by the Congregation Council.
- Opportunity to vote on any proposals submitted by at least 20 voting members.
Endowment Trust Fund
The Endowment Trust Fund committee will be meeting soon to prepare for possible grant proposals for the February Congregation Annual Reports Meeting. As before, the Committee will receive suggestions on possible grantees through a grant application form. You can download and print the forem HERE. Return completed forms to the church office. As of this writing, I do not have a deadline, other than that the Committee will be meeting soon.
Offering Statements
End of Year Offering Statements will be prepared and mailed by Kristen early next week. You should receive yours soon after that. Again, thank you for youre generosity!
Reading the New Testament Chronologically
A reminder that Bishop Daniel is challenging us to do a "Chronological" reading of the New Testament in 2021. This means that the New Testament books which were written first are the first ones to read. A year-long reading guide is linked below, as are a week's worth of linked readings for your convenience:Two daily reading guides have been provided:
- January 9 First Thessalonians 4
- January 10 First Thessalonians 5
- January 11 Second Thessalonians 1
- January 12 Second Thessalonians 2
- January 13 Second Thessalonians 3
- January 14 Galatians 1
- January 15 Galatians 2
- January 16 Galatians 3
- January 17 Galatians 4
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