LAMPLIGHTER Winter 2020
Learning to be Leaders by Kristi Meyer You’ve likely seen them: selling chili and handing out hot chocolate, setting up for church events and cleaning the school during summer vacation, working with kids at Bedtime Blessings and Discovery Day. Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted just how much our St. John’s teens are involved in our church and school—and how much of a blessing youth ministry is to St. John’s. Although youth ministry comes with its own distinct set of opportunities and challenges, Pastor Kyle Bitter views it as an integral part of the overall ministry at St. John’s. “Youth ministry lets teens come together for fellowship, spiritual growth, and service to the church,” says Pastor Bitter. “It’s very similar to the goals of most adult ministry—you just do it in ways that are age appropriate for teens.” These age-appropriate events pay rich dividends for St. John’s by providing valuable ministry assistance at both church and school. Former CES chair Kerry Ognenoff has worked with teen volunteers at a variety of school events—from Fall Festival to Christmas decorating and everything in between—and is consistently impressed by their dedication and commitment. “I wouldn’t panic if we only had teen volunteers for an event,” Kerry says. “Everything would get done, it would get done well, and Christ’s love would shine through these reliable and enthusiastic teens.” But St. John’s isn’t the only beneficiary of a strong youth ministry program. The teens themselves are learning how to be adult members of a congregation and are beginning to set patterns now that will hopefully stick with them
long after their high school and college years are over. “Youth ministry teaches the next generation how to be church leaders,” says Pastor Bitter. “That’s where it starts: getting experience as high school students.” When teens are asked to serve rather than feeling as though they’re watching from the sidelines, a partnership is formed—a partnership that will serve teens well as they continue to grow and mature in their faith. At St. John’s, this partnership also takes on a unique form through our annual mission trips. These trips began in 2015 when a group of parents wanted to organize an 8th grade class trip that was more than just a field trip. Five years and over one hundred teens later, mission trip is now an integral part of ministry at St. John’s. Through science camp in South Carolina and soccer camp in Canada, teens are exposed to ministry in a very different setting than St. John’s. Pastor Bitter sees another benefit as well: “Our teens are able to provide these congregations with something they need, and our teens can see that you don’t have to be super-experienced or well-trained to have a helpful impact on a congregation.” Ministry at St. John’s is a collaborative effort, and youth ministry is no exception. Encourage our young people when you see them serving at church and school. Support them with your offerings, especially when youth ministry is designated as the Council Project of the Month. And— most importantly—keep them in your prayers as they continue their service to their church and their Lord. We all are blessed by this service in various ways!
Pastor’s Corner
Let God Say What God Says by Pastor Eric Schroeder “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matthew 13:52). Everyone loves a good treasure hunt. Whether we are looking for Easter eggs, solving word searches, or hunting morel mushrooms, the search itself ends up being a big part of the fun. Think of the hours you’ve invested in following Dora the Explorer, Captain Jack Sparrow, or Indiana Jones on their respective adventures. In the end, what treasure hunters find is often so much more than they set out to seek. In developing a sermon worth sharing, the pressure is on to come up with something that will be memorable and relevant. I can remember saving up sermon illustrations throughout my years of college and seminary, waiting for the right time to pair each one with the perfect text. The only problem was that after collecting them for eight years, I used them all up in the first six months of full-time preaching! Now what?
If God’s Word accompanies us on our journey—and I pray it is a regular part of your life—we see how the Bible is both timeless and timely at the same time. It doesn’t change, but it steadies us throughout the changes around and inside of us. God always preaches the sermon we need to hear, and he uses people like us and the perspectives we’ve gained to get his message out to others. In other words, all of us have the potential to uncover the treasure that our friends or family members didn’t even know they were looking for. When we invite a neighbor or coworker to church, we unveil the mystery of the kingdom of God to someone who may never have experienced the transcendence of worship before. When we share a Bible verse or a thought from a sermon, we give the Spirit room to work in a new arena. Let God say what God says, as he speaks to you and through you.
Here’s the approach I discovered, which has served me well: let God say what God says. Combine Scripture with life and the same exact message is new every time we hear it or read it. Many of us are old enough to have transitioned through multiple stages of life, and with each big change comes experience that provides a new perspective.
Memorials In Memory of Drex Hansen From Michael & Marlene Cox, Barbara Bergquist and Mark & Mary Jane Maurice (debt reduction)
In Memory of Ken Scheibe (Dawn Treichel’s father) From Brian & Dawn Treichel (general fund) and Keith & Leigh Ann Treichel (properties-landscaping)
In Memory of Helen Albrecht From Michael & Marlene Cox (undesignated)
In Memory of Leah Leyrer From Cary & Dinah Haakenson (undesignated)
In Memory of Dolores Hahn From Paul & Annette Birkholz (debt reduction)
In Memory of Dorthy Felsing From Barbara Weihing, Arlene Baumann, Sue Johanning Jerry & Janet Bergemann, Michael & Marlene Cox, Louise Saylor, Delores Baumann, John & Kristine Schapekahm, Ronald & Judy Felsing (undesignated), Michael & Susan Schneider (COVID expenses), Betty Seidel, Robert & Victoria Schaller (Lau/Tuition Fund), LaVonne Brown (school gifts/memorials) and Robert & JoAnn Schoeneck (school kitchen)
In Memory of Don Hackbarth From Mark & Sue Naumann (undesignated) In Memory of Aileen Walters From Altar Guild, Louise Saylor, Barbara Weihing (undesignated) and Sue Johanning (Altar Guild) In Memory of Robert Hahn From Paul & Annette Birkholz (Board of Properties) In Memory of Robert Uecker From Scott & Deb Uecker (Lau/Tuition Fund)
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Pastor’s Corner
In Memory of Donald Sebald John Frailing (undesignated), Lee Abraham (school gifts/ memorials) and Dan & Mary Schmal (Lau/Tuition Fund)
Board of Outreach
The Greatest Gift by Kerry Ognenoff homes. Whether you choose to invite a small group of family and friends to your house, or to share the livestream link with faraway loved ones who might not have otherwise ever stepped foot inside a church, this year’s service will prepare participants to focus on the greatest gift of the holiday season—the birth of our Savior.
For the past 20 years, Advent by Candlelight has served as a women’s fellowship event to kick off the Advent season. Initially held as two separate afternoon and evening services in the Fellowship Hall, Advent by Candlelight has most recently taken place in the school gym in order to accommodate the many guests and participants all at once. Hostesses decorate tables with beautiful centerpieces, candles and desserts. Attendance is open to all women—St. John’s members, visitors from other congregations, or unchurched friends and neighbors. Attendees enjoy an afternoon of worship, fellowship and treats in a cozy candlelit gym filled with beautiful music and God’s word.
Though we are used to gathering physically for fellowship amid candlelit decor and the sounds of many voices raised together, participants will still enjoy hymns and join together virtually in prayer. The streamed service will also provide an opportunity to invite a friend or relative who might not be comfortable physically attending a church service. What a wonderful way to share this very important message with others, near and far! Advent by Candlelight is also reaching a wider audience this year by being included in WELS C20, an outreach effort designed to reach more than a million people before and on Christmas Eve. This year’s program, “The Greatest Gift,” was written by St. John’s member Kristi Meyer at the request of WELS Women’s Ministry. Churches across the Synod will enter into the Advent season via this very service.
This year, however, as with so many other things in 2020, Advent by Candlelight will look a bit different, due to the ever-changing nature of COVID-19, including limitations on gatherings and recommendations for safety.
This year’s Advent by Candlelight service, “The Greatest Gift,” will be streamed
Jim Schneiker
Kurt Handeland
Adam Goede
Erik Campbell
A small group of musicians and readers, many of whom have been providing service music and AV support since March, will gather at church to lead the service, and participants can tune in from the comfort and safety of their
Please watch the News and Notes and E-News for more information about the online program in the coming weeks. Even though we can’t physically be together this year, we can come together spiritually and head into the Advent season remembering and celebrating Jesus as our greatest gift.
Matt Hobler
online on Sunday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m.
Not pictured: Bret Harttert
Board of Outreach
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Board of Discipleship
Finish Once, Start Again by Kristi Meyer
BSA started in 2017 as a way to get St. John’s members immersed in God’s Word on a daily basis. “Spiritual growth isn’t just something we do at church,” explains Pastor Eric Schroeder. “It’s something we have the opportunity to do every day, and it’s a worthwhile endeavor to set goals and establish good habits for our time spent in the means of grace.” These goals and good habits, along with the sense of community that BSA fosters through a social media presence and in-person discussion forums, have been a blessing to participants. “It’s always meaningful to know that there are a lot of us who are at the same place in God’s Word at the same general time,” says Pastor Schroeder. Although COVID-related meeting restrictions prevented our discussion forums this year, we look forward to resuming them in 2021 as we once again read through the entire Bible—in a slightly different format.
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Board of Discipleship
Jon Johnson
Kevin Festerling
Instead of reading through the entire Bible chronologically or from Genesis to Revelation, 2021 will feature three daily readings: one from the Old Testament, one from
the New Testament, and one from the Psalms or another book of wisdom literature. This alleviates the inevitable “9½ months in the Old Testament” challenge that occurs when reading the Bible chronologically or from cover to cover. Pastor Schroeder also sees other benefits to this approach: “In addition to providing a bit of variety, this breakdown also reinforces how the entire Scriptures are connected. There’s one central message, even though the Bible was written over 1600 years and by many human authors.” Readings five days a week (rather than seven) will hopefully also make the program more manageable with built-in catchup days. Reading through the entire Bible in general—and in a single year in particular—can seem intimidating. Pastor Schroeder recognizes that this is a big task. But it’s a big task that has the potential to produce big dividends. “BSA gives us the chance to consider the full counsel of God as it was inspired,” he says. “Every book, every chapter, every verse, every word is there for a reason, and we get to read through all of that in a year.” If you haven’t participated in BSA before, please consider joining us in 2021. Visit our website at www.sjtosa.org/BSA for schedules and daily insights written by St. John’s members. And if you’ve been faithfully reading along with us, please continue to do so next year. “By the time we finish the year, there’s a lot we’ve forgotten,” says Pastor Schroeder. “When we finish once, we start again.” We hope to have you start that journey anew with us in 2021!
Matt Pastorek
A chronological journey via The Daily Bible from the Garden of Eden to the new Jerusalem. A slower and more in-depth look at the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. A review of the basic truths of our faith as organized in the question and answers of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Participants in By Scripture Alone (BSA) have read through God’s Word in several different formats, and we look forward to continuing this initiative in 2021.
Board of Discipleship
A Way to Use Your Gifts by Jen Wolf Have you heard the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving?” Many people feel like the year 2020 has been full of gifts we’d like to return, but we can’t find the receipt. However, some of these “gifts” have yielded unexpected opportunities to grow. What other gifts do you have?
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Since things shut down in March and slowly reopened, using spiritual gifts at church has changed. For example, there is currently no need for greeters, people to set up or clean up Bible class, or Sunday School teachers. Other needed volunteer positions are also on hold. Were these your ways of serving at church? Maybe you can consider new ways to use your gifts—either behind the scenes or somewhere more visible.
“Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4—actually, go read all of that chapter!). Not all positions are glamorous, but they are all necessary to support our church family and property so St. John’s can continue the work of spreading the gospel. Are you physically strong? Perhaps you can help shovel snow or cut grass. Are you extremely organized? Perhaps you can assist in the church school or office. Do you like simple tasks that you could do while binge watching your favorite show or listening to a podcast? Envelopes need to be stuffed. All of these jobs can be continued after we return to “normal” as well. These are just a few ideas of ways you can volunteer. If you’re interested in any of these—or even if none of them sound like a match—contact the church office at church@sjtosa.org or (414) 258-7831, where they have an entire list of ways church members can support St. John’s. As we react to ever-changing mandates and situations out of our control, there is always a way that you can use your gifts.
Sometimes it feels as though “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). There is a severe lack of ushers, altar guild members, and a new need for AV operators. Teens and adults are needed to fill ushering crews and serve as back-ups. People of all ages can join Altar Guild to help set up communion services and change banners (especially with all the church festivals coming up). Tech-savvy or teachable people can run the AV system for worship services that has been keeping us together while apart since March. There are many examples in the Bible showing us ways to serve. Many Bible figures were in leadership positions, while others quietly advised. David wrote and played music. Mary and Martha were hostesses. Unnamed people literally brought their friends to Jesus’ side. The ultimate servant leader, Jesus, washed his disciples’ feet.
Board of Discipleship
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Board of Education
School Events Girls’ volleyball championship, St. John’s Childcare chalk projects, girls’ cross country wins State championships, and soccer success
“Good Things” at St. John’s Three Good Things That Will Happen 1. We will begin a new church year on November 29. Watch for the colors of the paraments and banner to change from white (Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year) to blue (Advent, the beginning of a new church year). 2. Our grade school students will tell the story of our Savior’s birth in word and song. Due to capacity and social distancing requirements, our children’s Christmas Eve service will be pre-recorded and shared with the congregation virtually this year—but it will still happen! 3. We will elect Board members and church officers for 2021. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for these positions, to those who agreed to run, and to those who are finishing out their service. Elections will be held at our voters’ meeting on Sunday, December 6, and all voters and interested parties are invited to attend.
Two Good Things That Happened 1. Our volleyball, cross country, and soccer teams wrapped up their seasons at the end of October. All three teams had successful seasons, with our girls’ cross country team taking home the Lutheran Grade School state championship for the second year in a row! 2. We resumed in-person Bible study. It is a wonderful blessing to have a full slate of Bible studies running again: on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. No matter what form it takes, we encourage you to make God’s Word a regular part of your life!
One Good Thing That You Might Not Know About 1. We have two students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary assigned to St. John’s for their Early Field Training experience. Christian Willick is a middler (second-year student), and Andrew Carter is a junior (first-year student). Watch for these Sem students around St. John’s as they preach, preside, and serve in a variety of ways.
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Board of Education
Board of Elders
Awaiting His Timing by Kristi Meyer For long-time members of St. John’s, it might feel as though we’ve fluctuated between two extremes over the past 25 years. We’ve enjoyed long pastoral tenures, and we’ve experienced extended pastoral vacancies. We’ve rejoiced when our pastors have returned calls, and we’ve mourned when our calls to other pastors have been returned. How does an extended pastoral vacancy affect a congregation? And what is it like when that vacancy is finally filled? Extended pastoral vacancies essentially put a congregation into triage mode. The work of doing gospel ministry remains, but the human resources available for doing this gospel ministry are drastically reduced. There’s only time for the basics, which is difficult for a pastor and a congregation used to doing ministry on a much larger scale. “You have to be at peace with the realization that not everything that was once done can be done,” explains Pastor Joel Leyrer. “In an active congregation like St. John’s, you’re pretty much limited to preaching, teaching, and caring for your people at their various stages in life.” In some cases—especially in the Milwaukee area—limited help is available. Retired pastors, called workers who are in a non-parish situation (such as teachers at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, professors at Wisconsin Lutheran College, or pastors serving at Synod headquarters), and fourth-year students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary are all potential resources for a congregation. There’s also a much stronger reliance on the lay leaders of the congregation. None of these, however, is a replacement for a full-time pastor or a fully-staffed pastoral team.
Filling an extended pastoral vacancy is often a roller-coaster ride. Calls are extended and answers are awaited—and each time a call is declined, the pastoral vacancy seems like it will never end. Sometimes congregations choose to request a Seminary graduate to fill an extended pastoral vacancy, and sometimes these requests are granted. Unfortunately, there are routinely more requests than there are personnel to fill the requests, and therefore sometimes these requests are not granted. “In those cases, the congregation continues the calling process with the confidence that the Lord is going to take care of their needs according to his timetable,” says Pastor Leyrer.
When a call is accepted or an assignment request is fulfilled, a congregation rejoices. “It’s pretty obvious that people appreciate with great joy when ministry positions are filled, especially people who have had to manage with limited resources,” says Pastor Eric Schroeder. At the same time, there is also an acknowledgment that only the urgent was done during the vacancy, often creating a backlog of work. As Pastor Leyrer explains, “There’s a combination of gratefulness and eagerness to get back to some sense of normalcy.” As this series of articles on the call process comes to a close, it’s important to return to where we started: a proper understanding of a call. A call is a divine invitation to carry out public gospel ministry on behalf of a church, school, or other calling body. Whether a called worker stays in one place for their entire career or serves in many different locations, there is always the assurance that the Lord is guiding the process. “A called worker can always find confidence that they are in the place where the Lord wants them to be—until the Lord makes it known otherwise—and that’s very sustaining,” says Pastor Leyrer. Accepted calls, returned calls, extended vacancies: all of these are in the Lord’s hands. We only need to trust and await his timing.
Board of Elders
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Board of Elders
Worship Opportunities
Membership Changes NEW MEMBERS BY TRANSFER Brian & Renee Braatz from St. Lucas, Milwaukee, WI Isaiah Gronholz from St. Luke, Watertown, WI Ardell Jahnke from Christ, Milwaukee, WI Angela McGuire, Layla & Zion from St. Marcus, Milwaukee, WI Gina Radue from St. Martin’s, Watertown, SD Brandon & Lisa Wigley, Bria, Kayla & Lauren from Atonement, Milwaukee, WI BY ADULT CONFIRMATION Jean Bikomeye Ange Uwineza
Advent Season
Midweek Advent Services Wednesdays at 1:00 & 6:45 p.m. December 2 – Endurance December 9 – Victory December 16 – Faithfulness
ASLEEP IN THE LORD Dorothy Felsing September 25, 2020 Donald Sebald October 3, 2020
Greg Martin
Dave Close
Bill Braun
Secrets of the Savior January 3 – Hidden in Plain Sight (Epiphany) January 10 – Hidden in Baptism January 17 – The Word January 24 – Hidden in Humble Service January 31 – Hidden in Jesus’ Humanity February 7 – Hidden in Hardship February 14 – Revealed to His Followers (Transfiguration)
BAPTISMS Jasper Elliott Kostrzewa Luke Jerry Tennies Kellen Parker Cardoza Jon Claude Theodore Billings Hayes Settimio Schapekahm
August August August October October
MARRIAGES Isaiah Gronholz & Nicole Tutaj August Evan Repavich & Mackenzie Schaeuble September Christopher Sturdevant & Jennifer Grassel September Timothy Martin & Brittany Bouchard October
Brian Treichel
Epiphany Season
Board of Elders
MEMBERS LEAVING BY TRANSFER Courtney Moll to St. Peter, Milwaukee, WI Quinten & Megan Petersen to Christ the Lord, Brookfield, WI Codie Watson to Crosswalk, Phoenix, AZ
Pastoral Acts
Christmas & New Year’s Services December 24 – Christmas Eve December 25 – Christmas Day December 31 – New Year’s Eve
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BY PROFESSION OF FAITH Andrew Billings Jim Bingenheimer Craig Eide
John Peterman
To Those Who Overcome, Jesus Promises . . . Sundays in Advent November 29 – Life December 6 – Innocence December 13 – Righteousness December 20 – A Throne
16, 22, 29, 17, 18,
2020 2020 2020 2020 2020
21, 2020 12, 2020 19, 2020 11, 2020
Not pictured: Terry Paul