St. John/Norrona News
Newsletter – November 2024
Please have any reports or information to be included in the newsletter, submitted by the 24th of each month to stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net. Thank you.
If you would like to receive your newsletter by email, please send a message to: stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net
Pastor Richard D. Schulz
Pastor’s Cell (306) 725-1401
Parish Phone (306) 725-3113
Email – stjohn.norrona_pastor@sasktel.net
Mailing Address: Box 505
Strasbourg, Sk. S0G 4V0
Website: stjohnnorrona.com
Scripture Lessons
November 3, 2024:
Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a John 11:32-44
November 10, 2024:
1 Kings 17:8-16 Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44
November 17, 2024:
Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-25 Mark 13:1-8
November 24, 2024:
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37
Christmas Craft
and Bazaar
Christmas Craft and Bazaar at St. John Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Raffle tickets on a Quilt will be 3 for $10.00. Cabbage rolls and bake tables; coffee and refreshments available.
WE REMEMBER
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 NRSV)
The liturgical calendar, the calendar that guides the seasons of the church year, is sometimes overlooked by people today. We often get caught up in the routine and schedules of our lives that we seldom take a step back and to look at the bigger picture. We lose sight of the inter-connectedness of life. I think this is where our liturgical calendar can be of benefit and it can invite us to reflect on life in a different way.
We have now come to the end of October, a time which some have called the month of ‘thanksgiving’. In addition to celebrating the Day of Thanksgiving itself, our liturgical calendar has invited us to think about the ways in which we are inextricably linked to creation. To recall the ways in which our God continues to provide for our needs and through the abundance that we have been blessed to receive, we are invited to share these gifts with those whom God has placed in our lives.
As we move into the month of November, we enter a time that has been referred to as the month of remembering. We begin to marking this time with the celebration of All Saints’ Sunday. All Saints’ Day always falls on November 1st and so we mark this day on the closest Sunday following November 1st. This is a time for us to remember all those people in our lives who have pointed us toward Christ. Those important people in our lives who have shown us what a life of faith is like and what the power of Christ can overcome. These ‘saints’ may have now gone on to receive their eternal rest but these ‘saints’ still be very
active in our lives. We remember all of them and we give God thanks for bringing them into our lives.
November is probably most noticeably a time for us to remember all those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice that we might be blessed to live with the freedom we do live with in this amazing country we call Canada. Remembrance Day is a constant reminder of the best and worst of humanity. We remember and we honour those who have fought in all the wars on our behalf and we thank God. We also continue to remember all the service personnel who stand ready to protect and defend us yet today.
But that is not all. Our liturgical calendar ends the year with what we now call Christ the King Sunday. We remember amid these life events, that our God has promised to come again. Even though we live in what has been called the “already-not yet”, the time when Christ has already come to earth but has not yet brought the fulfillment of God’s kingdom, we trust that our God is a promise-keeping God. We remember and mark the time that Christ will indeed return one day to bring the new heaven and the new earth. That we will receive the eternal joy that has been promised to us. That we will celebrate in this place where there will be no more pain, no more sadness, no more tears. We remember that all our remembering will be brought together in the completion of the kingdom!
Our remembering honours all of God’s help in ages past.
Our remembering bears witness to God’s faithfulness in all that is to come.
Our remembering trusts that God will shelter us through all of life’s storms.
Our remembering helps us to believe in our eternal home!
God’s peace and blessings,
Pastor Rick
St. John-Norrona Parish Council Report
As we move into the fall season, activity definitely picks up for the parish.
Planning for Confirmation classes has been completed with participants and parents. We will be welcoming participants from Earl Grey to join our group, putting us at a total of 6 participants. As these participants move forward with their classes, please welcome them and make them feel at home, and, where possible provide support.
Our monthly Community Outreach breakfasts will be starting again in November. Watch for announcements.
The Worship Workshop is being held once again on November 2 at 10 am. The purpose of these workshops is to provide orientation to anyone involved in any way of assisting with providing worship services. This could be anything from greeting, communion assistance, coffee/lunch preparation, or even lay service leaders. Everyone is welcome. It has been gratifying to see the number of people stepping forward to be lay worship leaders. It is appreciated that this helps to spread the workload around and experience shows not having to do services that often makes the experience less daunting. I would also have to express heartfelt Thanks to Pastor Rick for the preparation assistance that he does for lay worship leaders makes the job so much easier. This preparation is a lot of work and time consuming by Pastor Rick but much help for worship leaders.
Our Special Events Committee has been quite active with cabbage roll sales and planning for our annual trade show on November 23. Once again it appears to be another good day coming. Some of their fundraising has provided the opportunity to move forward with some updating of freezer and refrigeration space. In the new year we are looking at new tables for the basement.
Expenditures to be considered in the 2025 budget preparation are parsonage repairs including front steps repairs and windows. The issue of replacing windows in the parsonage will be done over a period of time rather than all at once.
For some time now council has discussed the need and responsibility of financially supporting missions and where our mission funds should be allocated, above and beyond our normal responsibility to support ELCIC mission funds. There are regular missions that we support such as CLWR, Seminary, Kinasao, Lamp, and others. Discussion has also concluded that there are many local opportunities that require our attention. To
ensure that we maintain our important responsibility and also to provide input as to who we are supporting, each month we will have a designated source as to where mission funds will be going and this will be communicated to the Parish. This giving can be designated on weekly envelope giving. Should you have suggestions as to who or where mission funds should be designated, please contact a Community Outreach Committee member.
In supporting World Food Day, our first attempt at supporting the local Foodbank work was pleasantly successful. Upon making arrangements to get our product to the Co-op for distribution to those in need, it was gratifying to see that we were helping to fill the need for providing assistance to a request for assistance that had just came in that day.
Thank You for your continued support. See you Sunday, if not sooner.
Norrona Lutheran Church
Financial Report – September 2024
Norrona Revenue
*Regular Sunday Offering (envelopes,
loose) $1,315.25
benevolence/missions (including CLWR) $ 95.00
Total Revenue $1,410.25
Norrona Expenses
Paid to St. John
Offering donation $1,074.62
*Norrona Congregational Expenses (e.g.
maintenance, insurance, utilities, worship
& office supplies) $ 240.63
*Missions of the Church (e.g. Sask. Synod,
CLWR, and other Norrona specific mission
projects) $ 95.00
Total Expenses $1,410.25
Balance $ 0.00
Worship Service at the Last Mountain Pioneer Home
Pastor Rick will be leading worship at the Last Mountain Pioneer Home on the following Wednesday Mornings from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
– November 13th
– December 11th
St. John Lutheran Church
Monthly Financial Summary
September 2024
Revenue
Total regular offering (includes for our
Church, CLWR, Benevolence, Kinasao
and pre-authorized monthly giving) 7,595.00
Total other revenue (e.g. rental property,
donations, interest, etc.) 6,215.51
Total revenue 13,810.51
Expenses
Pastor Payroll (e.g. salary, benefits, EI,
mileage, etc.) 4,428.13
Missions (e.g. Benevolence, Sask. Synod,
etc.) Fundraising 1,012.38
Worship and services (e.g. Pulpit Supply,
travel time, mileage, worship and office
supplies, Organist, Secretary, Treasurer,
Envelope, Secretary, etc.) 1,494.61
Church properties (e.g. power, telephone,
natural gas, bank service charges, line of
credit, insurance, church maintenance,
etc.) 2,114.11
Total expenses 9,049.23
Net Loss $4,761.28
NOTE: On line donations for this month $590.00
Please join us for a Bridal Shower
in honor of
Alice Fuller
Saturday, November 2nd at 2:00 p.m. at the
St. John Lutheran Church
Lamp
If anyone would like to donate to LAMP (LAMP is a cross-cultural ministry sharing Jesus Christ with God’s people in remote areas of Canada), this can be done by mailing cheques payable to LAMP to 4966-92 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2V4 or visit www.lampministry.org.
Worship Committee Report
Thank you to Brenda Small and Orva Kelln for leading worship services on September 22 and October 27 respectively. Well done and greatly appreciated!
Names are still being added for lay service leaders, as well as those willing to do other things such as being a greeter, helping with communion, reading the lessons, making coffee, altar preparation, running the powerpoint, providing special music, etc. If you are interested, or would like more information, please speak to Pastor Rick, Orva Kelln or myself, or email stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net.
Service Leaders for November/December:
*All services are at 9:30 am unless noted otherwise.
Reformation Sunday, October 27 – Orva Kelln – lay service at 10:00 am followed by potluck lunch.
November 3 – Pastor Rick – All Saints Sunday – communion service
November 10 – Peter Barry – lay service
November 17 – Pastor Rick – communion service
November 24 – ___TBD__ – lay service
December 1 – Pastor Rick – communion service
December 8 – Jan Schulz – lay service followed by hot dogs & carolling at LMPH and the Manor
December 15 – Pastor Rick – communion service
December 22 – ___TBD__ – lay service
December 24 – Pastor Rick – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with communion 7:00 pm
December 25 – Pastor Rick – Christmas Day Service at Norrona with communion 10:00 am
December 29 – ___TBD__ – lay service
Child Friendly Activity Bags – will soon be available.
Worship Workshop – Saturday, November 2 at 10:00 am.
Six people have signed up for the Adult Lutheran Inquirer’s or Refresher class. Books have been ordered.
The next meeting is Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 1:30 pm at St. John. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the meetings.
Submitted by Rhonda de Hoop