LAMPLIGHTER Summer 2019
Shared Ministry: Everybody’s Responsibility by Kristi Meyer “Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” We can debate the theological validity of this “inspirational” statement, but its basic sentiment is still appropriate. In our personal lives, planning for the future allows us to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us. Similarly, revising and updating our strategic plan (mission/vision document) allows St. John’s to best use the talents and resources with which God has blessed us. In 2000, St. John’s created its first mission/vision document— a document that guided the congregation for over 10 years. The current mission/vision document, bringing us together under the theme “Called Together; Called to Gather” was finalized in 2011. According to Pastor Joel Leyrer, nothing will be significantly different this time around. “The process is always based around congregational involvement because this is never top-down. It’s always bottom-up as we look at our role as a gathering of Christians looking to best make an impact for the Kingdom.” The core values shaping this strategic plan are the same core values that have served St. John’s well up to this point: worship, evangelism, community, service, and discipleship. During May, listening session participants identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges associated with each core value. The feedback gathered at these listening sessions will be used to create the new strategic plan. “The Strategic Planning Committee [chaired by Pastor Kyle Bitter and made up of Dave Todor, Lyle Haferman, Kelly Johnson, and Cindy Kuehn] will condense the many comments received into
some major big picture goals for the congregation,” says Pastor Bitter. Even if you couldn’t participate in a listening session, you haven’t lost the opportunity to have your voice heard. During the month of June, an online survey will solicit additional feedback. Over the summer, the committee will create a rough draft of the strategic plan. This rough draft will be discussed in fall at an open forum. Regardless of your role at St. John’s Lutheran Church or School, you have a part to play in the creation and execution of this new strategic plan. Pastor Eric Schroeder is particularly excited about the potential for developing new ministry opportunities. “If there’s a trend we hear repeatedly, that gives a new opportunity for people to have a place to serve that might not exist right now,” he says. “As a congregation, we want to use the resources and time that God allocates to us in a way that best serves him.” Watch for surveys over the next month and for a rough draft of the new strategic plan in early fall. Above all, pray that God would continue to bless St. John’s as we strive to be faithful to our calling to serve him as best as we are able. Pastor Leyrer sums it up this way: “How can we maximize the gifts and abilities God has given us to bring him glory and proclaim the name of Jesus before a watching world? That’s everybody’s responsibility. This gives us the opportunity to do it in a collaborative, cohesive way.”
Congregational Goals Update
Congregational Goals Update by Pastor Joel Leyrer Last fall a consultant led us through a “feasibility study” regarding ministry plans and potential campus expansion. Our members expressed a high level of support for the overall vision, but also identified four specific areas we need to address before going forward. Those areas— shared in January at the State of the Parish presentation and in the Winter edition of the Lamplighter—have now become 2019 goals. Here’s a progress report on each of them. 1. Resolve our parking issues with a definitive plan before any new construction. At the time of this writing a Property Acquisition Committee, appointed by our Executive Board, is finalizing arrangements to purchase the southernmost residence on Dewey Avenue, the Aileen (and late Henry) Walters’ house, with the provision that Aileen (St. John’s member) may remain living there as long as she wishes. Cost of purchase will come entirely from the Alida Feind estate. Additional opportunities for land acquisition are also being explored. 2. Pay off our existing debt completely. This past March Board of Stewardship chairman Mark Naumann addressed the congregation on a workable plan to eliminate all remaining building debt (roughly $200K) by the end of 2019. This same information was shared via a special mailing in April. Bottom line: if each “giving unit”
of St. John’s provides one additional monthly offering in the same amount as their regular weekly Sunday offering for the months of April through December, we can have a mortgage burning ceremony on New Year’s Eve 2019.
3. Refine and right-size the first building phase in line with projected financial support. The first phase includes additional classrooms/educational/ childcare space, an administrative wing at school and an expanded and enhanced narthex at church (including larger restroom facilities) that fits into our existing building footprint. Our Long-Range Planning committee is and will continue to actively address, assess and keep the congregation informed on these matters. 4. Replace our present mission-vision statement with new goals for a new decade. This project is underway and the subject of this Lamplighter edition’s lead article. So, things are on the move. Please ask God to bless and guide all our efforts to be used by him and for him as we commend our plans “to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Memorials
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In Memory of Doris Krause From Arlene Baumann, Louise Saylor, Keith & Cheryl Thompson, Lavonne Brown, Delores Baumann, and Cynthia Krause (debt reduction)
In Memory of Joy Schnell From Mark Schnell (hymnals)
In Honor of Larry Totsky’s birthday From Greg & Carla Martin (debt reduction)
In Memory of Roberta Hahn (sister) From Paul/Annette Birkholz (school)
In Memory of Dick Brown From Robert & Jo Ann Schoeneck, Ken & Naomi Stein, Sue Johanning, Louise Saylor, Arlene Baumann, Jerry & Jan Bergemann, Drex & Charlotte Hansen, Dean & Shirley Smith, and Cal & Lynn Kozlowski (school), John & Kris Schapekahm, Michael & Marlene Cox, Michael & Sue Schneider, Delores Baumann, Delores Schmeling, Sue Freedlund, and Lavonne Brown (Lau/ Tuition Fund), Barbara Bergquist and Barbara Weihing (“We Give Thee But Thine Own”), and Paul Schoeneck (boy pioneers)
In Honor of her 100th birthday From Ida Yorde (general fund)
Congregational Goals Update
In Memory of Chris Hansen From Jeff & Susan Scheibe (youth ministry)
Now that we are feeling better we want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone at church and school who remembered us during the past several months. Your many thoughtful prayers, cards, “care packages”, phone calls, visits, and offers of help have been very much appreciated. We are truly blessed to be members of such a caring St John’s family.
Bob and JoAnn Schoeneck
Board of Elders
The Christian Church Year: Rhythm and Structure by Kristi Meyer Blue, white, green, purple, black, white, red, green, red, white. Is this a rainbow drawn by a preschooler still learning her colors? No, it’s the sequence of liturgical colors as one walks through the Christian church year. According to Pastor Kyle Bitter, there are great benefits to understanding and following the flow and progression of the church year. “The church year adds context to individual Sundays and helps people appreciate how themes build on each other.” The church year is divided into two parts: the festival half and the non-festival half. This edition of the Lamplighter will likely arrive very close to Pentecost, the Sunday that marks the transition from the festival half to the non-festival half. Although you may be more familiar with the observances in the festival half, both halves have their own unique scope and focus. The festival half focuses on the story of Jesus’ life via the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter. The non-festival half, consisting of the seasons of Pentecost and End Times, emphasizes Jesus’ teachings and the Christian life of discipleship. The festival half of the church year has ancient roots. It was developed during the early centuries of the Christian church. Easter, the chief festival for those early Christians, was celebrated during the very first century AD. Epiphany is the second-oldest season of the church year, and Christmas is the festival second in importance only to Easter. The church began observing Advent and Lent several hundred years later. Advent was originally a penitential season to remember the various comings
of Christ and Lent was the season during which those being instructed in the faith prepared for their baptism at the Easter Vigil service. An important component of the Christian church year is the lectionary: the three readings designated for each Sunday. Like many other churches, St. John’s follows a three-year lectionary. The Gospel reading sets the tone for each Sunday and comes mainly from Matthew, Mark, and Luke during years A, B, and C, respectively. Readings from John are scattered throughout all three years. As a pastor and worship planner, Pastor Bitter is thankful for the outline the lectionary provides. “The lectionary is a good structured way to organize your worship life without having to invent something new every year. It’s a safeguard against just talking about things that seem interesting or pertinent based on society but rather follows the themes and events that the Bible says are important.” By walking through the seasons of the church year and their corresponding themes, none of the key teachings of the Bible are missed. The next time you are at church, take note of the season and the color of the paraments. And over the course of the next several months, consciously consider the theme of the individual Sunday and how that theme fits into the larger overarching focus of the season. As you continue to grow in your understanding of the church year, may you appreciate this incredible gift from the early Christian church to future generations of believers!
Board of Elders
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Board of Education
St. John’s Childcare – A Place of Learning, Fun and Outreach by Jen Wolf
“We originally chose St. John’s childcare to keep all our kids in the same location,” said Katy Schroeder, who has three children enrolled in St. John’s school. “We feel very fortunate our children have been in a place that teaches God’s word every day. We have also appreciated the flexibility that the childcare office has given us utilizing the summer program on a limited basis and every night after school. Our children have a bond with all the teachers, and they love being there.”
“Our Christian approach to everything we do, every day sets us apart – from activities to disciplining, to our interactions and conversations with children and families.” — Miss Rachel Wendland, St. John’s Childcare Director
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Board of Education
Kerry Kuehn
Casey Holtz
Adam Greggs
“My daughter started childcare at St. John’s when she was only 2 years old, so it was really important to us that she be in a Christian environment. It was her first
One goal of the childcare program is to expand promotion, in addition to word-of mouth, with an updated website since many parents use the Internet to search for childcare programs. “St. John’s childcare would be a great option and a wonderful way to get families in our door for the first time. Then they can see what St. John’s all has to offer,” said Wendland.
Meet Miss Rachel Wendland, St. John’s Childcare Director Rachel graduated from Martin Luther College in 2011 with a BS in Early EducationEarly Childhood. Her first call was to Faith Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK where she started the preschool/ ECE program. She revamped and expanded the Miss Rachel Wendland, St. John’s Childcare preschool program Director at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Delano, MN. We’re glad to have Rachel here at St. John’s with her experience both as a teacher and in administration.
Pete Stauffer
The Childcare Program currently enrolls children as young as two years old. Many families use it before or after a full day of school, to wrap around preschool or during summer break. “Families only pay for what they use, and there are no minimum enrollment requirements for number of days or hours,” explained the new childcare director, Rachel Wendland. “We are a wonderful option to meet the needs of busy families with unique schedules.”
time in daycare, and she had a really hard time adjusting— she cried literally all day long most days for several weeks. The childcare teachers and staff were so patient and loving as they worked with her (and us) through that time,” said Melanie Reem Taylor. “We recommend St. John’s Childcare to everyone we know who is looking for a daycare!”
Jon Phillips
From the youngest school children singing in church to supporting teen mission trips, anyone can see that St. John’s has strong connections to families. Did you know that St. John’s also provides childcare outside of the regular school day?
Board of Education
School Events Wizard of Oz school musical, 4th grade field trip to the Wisconsin State capitol, Muffins with Mom, and Junior Handbells concert
Board of Education
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Board of Discipleship
On the Same Page by Jean Stern
When a St. John’s pastor says, “Welcome to worship,” our worship space has already been prepared for us to gather and communicate with our God. The altar care team works quietly behind the scenes. In churches, the Altar Guild—a name pointing to the history and traditions of worship in the Christian Church—is generally a network of people who care for the altar and sacraments. Today, the altar care network at St. John’s supports the congregation’s ongoing ministry of Word and Sacraments. St. John’s has 26 volunteers staff communion rotations. Volunteers serve about 4 times a year on teams of 2-3 people. For some volunteers, communion preparation is a family activity. If a communion rotation doesn’t work with someone’s personal schedule, other projects are more flexible. You may notice flowers at the altar for most worship services. Fresh arrangements are sponsored by church members who give thanks for blessings received. Signup and payment instructions can be found on the flower calendar in the church entry next to the elevator, or online at www.sjtosa.org/flowers. In a similar way, Altar Guild arranges an annual Easter plant event. Anyone can sponsor a blooming plant placed at the altar for Easter. To emphasize church festivals, Altar Guild organizes teams that decorate worship and fellowship spaces. Decoration crews make personal connections during these projects. Teens can earn mission trip points. The energy and creativity of our volunteers makes a visible difference during the festival seasons.
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Kevin Festerling
Brian Lampe
Every volunteer for an altar care activity works with a mentor. To learn how to match your special skills with an altar care activity, please contact sjaltarguild@gmail.com.
Board of Discipleship
The one requirement for membership is that you enjoy reading. St. John’s book club has no dues, no vetting, all women are invited. It’s a great chance to get to know some women better and to exchange opinions on books: their style, content, readability, and or interest generating ability. We encourage a variety of opinions. The range of women’s ages makes discussion interesting as well. We have working gals as well as retirees. Book club was started in 2003 by two St. John’s members, Julie Wietzke and Nicole Balza. Both have since moved away from St. John’s (Julie to Texas and Nicole to north of Wauwatosa), but book club has continued. We read a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Some members have expressed that they not only enjoy the monthly discussion but also appreciate the opportunity to discover books they might not have been drawn to read before. Selections are chosen by vote from a list of members’ suggestions. We typically choose books for a six-month period. Book club meets in the St. John’s School conference room at 7:00 p.m. on the third Friday of each month (except in December). You are welcome to join us. If you would like to be on our mailing list, contact Jean Stern at jmqs.368@ sbcglobal.net. We always look forward to welcoming new fellow readers!
Michael Skocir
by Lisa Eggebrecht
Matt Pastorek
Supporting Our Ministry
Perhaps you’ve seen an item in the St. John’s News and Notes about Women’s Book Club. You enjoy reading books and are curious about this club. What are the membership requirements? Are there dues? Do I have to be vetted? Hopefully, this article will answer these questions.
Board of Elders
2019 8th Grade Confirmation Class
Back row: Pastor Kyle Bitter, Pastor Eric Schroeder, Evan Starkey, Jacob Alejandro, John Handeland, Aidan Gmach, Riley Rindfleisch, Joshua Knueppel, Leif Kostrzewa Middle row: Pastor Joshua Yu, Erin Welcenbach, Eden Rader, Chloe Campbell, Micah Buske, Alexandra Siegmund, Allyson Rhyner, Noel Greene, Madysen Lueck Front row: Pastor Joel Leyrer, Annika Laufer, Clara Cook-Kammholz, Silas Ebeling, Nora Gregory, Kaylie McEvoy, Elsa Gregory, William Eft, Olivia Close, Tianyi (Peter) Ma
Graduating 8th Grade Class
Graduating High School Seniors
(their intended high school is in parenthesis)
(the high school they are graduating from is in parenthesis)
Jacob Alejandro (WLHS), Micah Buske (WLHS), Chloe Campbell (WLHS),Tiffany Chen (WLHS), Tony Chen (WLHS), Olivia Close (Wauwatosa East), Clara Cook-Kammholz (WLHS), Silas Ebeling (WLHS), William Eft (WLHS), Aidan Gmach (Wauwatosa West), Noel Greene (WLHS), Elsa Gregory (Brookfield East), Nora Gregory (Brookfield East), John Handeland (WLHS), Joshua Knueppel (WLHS), Annika Laufer (WLHS), Madysen Lueck (WLHS), Peter Ma (Kettle Moraine Lutheran), Kaylie McEvoy (WLHS), Eden Rader (WLHS), Allyson Rhyner (WLHS), Riley Rindfleisch (WLHS), Lexi Siegmund (Brookfield East), Evan Starkey (Wauwatosa East), and Erin Welcenbach (Wauwatosa East)
Evan Becker, Dylan Brown (Wauwatosa East), Jared Denk (WLHS), Noah Greene (WLHS), Jena Harper (Sussex-Hamilton), Samuel Lentz (Wauwatosa East), Gunnar Ornburg (Wauwatosa East), Mark Otto (homeschool), Riley Pape (Germantown), Bryce Protz (Wauwatosa East), Bennett Raasch (WLHS), Kaitlyn Rhyner (WLHS), Grace Rindfleisch (WLHS), Ella Taylor (Wauwatosa East), and Sophie Thompson (LPS)
Board of Elders
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Board of Elders
Membership Changes
Pastoral Acts
NEW MEMBERS BY TRANSFER Aaron Mostek from Cross of Christ – Boise, ID Brian & Sarah Meeuwsen from St. John’s – Lewiston, MN
ASLEEP IN THE LORD Dick Brown Doris Krause Sharon Bartlein
March 3, 2019 April 3, 2019 April 18, 2019
BAPTISMS CHILDREN Ruby Mae Leyrer Sofia Grace Satermo Grant Warren Backus
February 15, 2019 February 24, 2019 March 8, 2019
ADULTS Zimo (Tony) Chen
April 21, 2019
CONFIRMATION CLASS Those in italics will become members of sister congregations
Jacob Alejandro Micah Buske Chloe Campbell Olivia Close Clara Cook-Kammholz Silas Ebeling William Eft Aidan Gmach Noel Greene Elsa Gregory Nora Gregory John Handeland
Joshua Knueppel Leif Kostrezewa Annika Laufer Madysen Lueck Tianyi (Peter) Ma Kaylie McEvoy Eden Rader Allyson Rhyner Riley Rindfleisch Alexandra Siegmund Evan Starkey Erin Welcenbach
MARRIAGES James Bingenheimer & Lisa Ann Thompson December 31, 2018 John Warnke & Laura Mueller February 23, 2019 Matthew Flister & Sara Boldt March 23, 2019 Jason Rotier & Nikki Gmach April 13, 2019
BY PROFESSION OF FAITH Laura M. Peterson Michael J. Winterle
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Board of Elders
“Our Father in Heaven . . .” Summer Sermon Series (starting June 2) We pray the Lord’s Prayer every week in church and perhaps on other occasions between worship services. The words come so easily, sometimes almost too easily. What are we actually praying for when we speak the Lord’s Prayer? This summer’s sermon series will walk through the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer using sermons based on Bible stories illustrating each petition.
John Peterman
Jes Mariscal
David Close
RELEASED BY REQUEST Craig Bavuso and Layla, Logan, Loralei, and Lucas
Worship Opportunities
Greg Martin
MEMBERS LEAVING BY TRANSFER Christopher Haferman to St. Paul’s – Livonia, MI Robert & Maya Romboy and Joseph to St. Paul – Green Bay, WI Rick & Nicole Krueger, Tyler and William to Peace – Hartford WI Johanna Sehloff to Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel – Madison, WI Deborah Fitzsimmons to St. Marcus – Milwaukee, WI