In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel-drives normally venture. The first evening she found a room in the mountains near a summit and asked for a 5 am wake up call so she could get an early start. She couldn’t understand why the clerk looked so surprised at her request, but as she awoke to early morning fog shrouding the mountaintops, she understood.

Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small she felt obliged. “Where are you headed?” one of the truckers asked.

“Whitehorse.”

“In that little white Civic? No way! This pass is dangerous in weather like this.”

“Well, I’m determined to try,” was Linda’s gutsy, if not very informed response.

“Then I guess we’re just going to have to hug you,” the trucker suggested.

Linda drew back. “There’s no way I’m going to let you touch me!”

“Not like that!” the truckers chuckled. “We’ll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In that way, we’ll get you through the mountains.” All that foggy morning Linda followed the two re dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.

My dear friends, caught in the fog in our dangerous passage through life, we need to be “hugged”. We need to be “hugged” by the Spirit who leads us to the Savior. We need to be “hugged” by Jesus who is our Savior. We need to be “hugged” by fellow believers who not only know the Savior but also are willing to walk with us every step of the way.

I don’t know about you, but everyday I need a hug. I pray that you do as well, I pray that every time you gather for worship and hear God’s word of forgiveness and Grace explode into your lives that you not only receive hug but also know that for Jesus’ sake you are eternally loved!

Pastor Birtell

Bible Study
We have started a new series entitled “In the Dust of the Rabbi”, Faith Lessons with Ray Vander Laan, which is a video series that will take you on a journey to the ancient world of Jesus and his disciples. Plan to join us each Sunday morning at 9:10 in the church basement.

Sunday school time begins with Opening exercises and music in the fellowship hall each Sunday Morning and 9:00am. Children are encouraged to have a seat in the fellowship hall and Mrs. Sonntag will lead the group. Following Opening Exercises, the children will then go to their individual classrooms.

Women’s Missionary League
St. John’s WMA observed their August 6 meeting by a workday at the Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk. One visitor, Nancy Kapels, and seven members helped.
No formal meeting was held. We were reminded of the invitation from Christ Lutheran to their salad luncheon and meeting on the 12th.
R.E Kapels, Secretary

The members of St. John’s WMA held a car tour on Thursday, September 3, as their monthly meeting. We visited St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Tarnov, which is listed on the historical places of Nebraska. Two worship centers, the residences for the priest and nuns, and the school building and grounds. Thirty families attend worship services help on Friday nights and Sunday mornings. The children attend confirmation classes there. An elaborate museum is in the school building.
We then drove to Cedar and Andy’s Lakes to a place where a former pastor, who still substitutes at services when needed, makes pottery items of clay. Some are on display and for sale, at a shop called Madonna’s in Norfolk, which we also visited. We watched him mold clay into a bowl. His wife, a schoolteacher, helps him in his shop and paints crosses he makes.
We finished our day with lunch at a Norfolk restaurant. Pastor and Christie provided us with a delicious brunch at their home on our way to Norfolk. We concluded with the Lord’s Prayer.

Lutheran Laymen’s League
St. John’s LLL met on September 2, 2009 in the church basement.
Pastor Birtell led devotions on Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
President Darrell Osten called the meeting to order with 11 members present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report showed $128.16 from the sale of cans. This gives us a new balance of $573.49.
The Orphan Grain Train annual meeting will be starting on September 18 at Lutheran High Northeast. Keep these people in your prayers as they seek to do God’s will in missions.
There was 2.5 inches of rain in the month of July and 5.25 inches in August.
There was no new or old business so the meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.
Wilmer Kapels is scheduled to serve at the October meeting.
Lyle Leffers, Secretary

From the Teacher’s Desk
The month of October has many fun things in store for us!
We will celebrate Red Ribbon week and will do something fun everyday during that week. We are attending the Plum Creek Literacy Festival in Seward on October 2. We get to meet some great authors and illustrators and get autographs from them. We will also have our Fall parties at the end of the month.
Our 5-6th grades have started D.A.R.E with Officer Brandl. They meet on Thursday’s at school.

The big room students would like to thank the congregation for their support for our Sales Kits. We will be going to Camp Okoboji this spring for our Outdoor Education trip. By doing these sales kits we raise money to attend our yearly trip.
We also thank you for your support with our on-going school fundraising projects.

Here are some ways you can help our school;
Buy SCRIP (Gift cards)
Save Super Saver Receipts
Save Joe and Als Receipts
Save Campbell products labels
Save Box Tops for Education
Ink cartridges Green Fiber Recycling

Oktoberfest News
The date for Oktoberfest this year is Sunday, October 18th. A list of jobs will be put in the church boxes in the next few weeks. If you were not given a job this year, and would like to help out, or make any donations, please call one of the chairpersons. This year Tonya Folken is Chairperson (285-0012) and Sheri Kapels is Co-chairperson (285-0393) Thanks to everyone who donated hogs this year. We have received what we needed.

Pastor’s schedule for Day School weekly Confirmation classes can be found on the bottom right corner of your calendar. Pastor spends every Monday morning from 9:00 am until noon in the office at Christ Lutheran. He holds Confirmation with the Christ Lutheran Day School kids on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday each week from 10:00-11:00 am. He holds Confirmation with the St. John’s Lutheran Day School kids on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Wednesday each week from 8:30-9:30 am. Thanks for your continued prayers for Pastor and our students as they learn and grow in their faith.

If you need to reach Pastor or leave him a message, please use his office phone number (285-0498). If it is an emergency, you may call him on his cell phone (276-1188). This may help him with returning messages, if they are left on the office phone and he can retrieve messages when he returns from shut-in and hospital visits, etc. Please keep Pastor in your continued prayers as he continues to serve the members of St. John's as well as the members of Christ Lutheran during their time of vacancy.

The Lutheran Hour October 2009
October 4 "Hard Hearts" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus
What good is a hardened heart when it comes to compassion?
(Mark 10:2-5)

October 11 "Jesus Loved Him, But..." Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus
Is the love of God conditional? Does wealth get in the way of God? (Mark 10:21-22)

October 18 "Not Very Likely" Speaker: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus
It's not so easy to enter heaven. Ever think about it? Everyone should ponder the subject before it is too late. (Mark 10:23-27)