Gabriel’s Horn Newsletter - January 2025

Upcoming Events (January 2025)

• 01: Janet Van Doren Funeral

• 03: Men’s Breakfast – 8 AM, Cracker Barrel

• 05: Sunday School – 9 AM (Revelation)

• 05: Service – 10 AM

• 06: Quilting – 9 AM–12 PM

• 07: Ladies Small Group – 10:30 AM

• 08: Bible Study – 10 AM (Hebrews)

• 08: Jr. Confirmation – 5:30 PM

• 08: Small Group – James & Jude – 6 PM

• 10: Men’s Group – 8 AM, Cracker Barrel

• 10: Disco Home School – 10 AM–2 PM

• 12: Sunday School – 9 AM (Revelation)

• 12: Service – 10 AM

• 12: Stewardship Potluck – after service, FLC

• 12: Small Group – Genesis – 5 PM

• 13: Quilting – 9 AM–12 PM

• 14: Ladies Small Group – 10:30 AM

• 15: Bible Study – 10 AM (Hebrews)

• 15: Jr. Confirmation – 5:30 PM

• 15: Small Group – James & Jude – 6 PM

• 15: Youth Group – 6 PM–7:30 PM

• 17: Men’s Group – 8 AM, Cracker Barrel

• 17: Disco Home School – 10 AM–2 PM

• 19: Service – 8:30 AM & 11 AM

• 19: Sunday School – 10 AM (Revelation)

• 19: Small Group – Genesis – 5 PM

• 20: Quilting – 9 AM–12 PM

• 21: Ladies Small Group – 10:30 AM

• 22: Bible Study – 10 AM (Hebrews)

• 22: Jr. Confirmation – 5:30 PM

• 24: Men’s Group – 8 AM, Cracker Barrel

• 24: Disco Home School – 10 AM–2 PM

• 26: Service – 8:30 AM & 11 AM

• 26: Sunday School – 10 AM (Revelation)

• 26: Deaconess Sunday Collection

• 26: Small Group – Genesis – 5 PM

• 26: Christianity 101 – TBA

• 27: Quilting – 9 AM–12 PM

• 28: Ladies Small Group – 10:30 AM

• 29: Bible Study – 10 AM (Hebrews)

• 29: Jr. Confirmation – 5:30 PM

• 31: Men’s Group – 8 AM, Cracker Barrel

• 31: Disco Home School – 10 AM–2 PM

Greeting Cards / LWML

• Greeting cards: All proceeds go to LWML Mite Boxes.

• Drop 35 cents in the coin box and pick your card.

Adult & Youth Studies / Services

• Adult Sunday School – 10 AM – The Book of Revelation

• Wednesday Bible Study – 10 AM – The Book of Hebrews

• JR Confirmation Class – Wednesday nights – 5:30 PM

Ushers / Volunteers

• Ushers needed for second service; contact Dave Heitz or the office.

• Slideshow volunteers needed for second service on Sundays.

• Lectors needed; volunteers will be placed in a rotation to read Scripture a few times per year.

Serving Our Lord (January)

• Greeter: Jon Collins

• Ushers:

  • 8:30 – David Heitz

  • 11:00 – Langsdorf Family

• Lectors:

  • 05: 10 AM – Jon Collins

  • 12: 10 AM – Denise Gamary

  • 19: 8:30 – Miles Christian / 11:00 – Nancy Gray

  • 26: 8:30 – Paul Gamary / 11:00 – Brian Hill

• Altar Guild: Allison Hay / Denise Waczkowski

• Counters: TBA

• Slideshow:

  • 05: Sheri Langsdorf

  • 12: Waczkowski

  • 19: Waczkowski

  • 26: Sheri Langsdorf

• Elders:

  • 05: Chip Gray

  • 12: Robert Hay

  • 19: Chip Gray

  • 26: Dan Falkenstein

• Nursery: TBA

Attendance

• Christmas Eve: 124

• Christmas Day: 30

• December 15: 106

• December 22: 108

• December 29: 76

Deaconess Sunday – January 26

• Deaconess Sunday with LWML adopted deaconess Nicole DeCoux-Manners.

• Donations go in the deaconess basket; congregation is asked to keep her in prayer.

Welcome / Contact

• Saint John Lutheran Church

• 2300 HWY 96, Burns, TN 37029

• 615-446-2332

• blessedbythelord.org

January Service Schedule

• Sundays January 5 & 12:

  • Service: 10 AM

  • Sunday School: 9 AM

• January 19: resume normal schedule:

  • Services: 8:30 AM & 11 AM

  • Sunday School: 10 AM

January Birthdays

• Paul Gamary

• Barbara Bower

• Barbara Ahlheit

• Deidre Tyer

• Tim Bower

• Johanna Seeger

• Jason Raines

• Elys Lee

• Mark Balce

• Rhyleigh Raines

• Tracy Ryden

• Debbie Summers-Kirk

• John Kirk

January Anniversaries

• Michael & Becky Holman

Stewardship Sunday Potluck

• January 12 – after the service in the FLC.

• Bring a dish to share; focus on learning about stewardship and using gifts and talents to serve others.

Men’s Group

• Men’s breakfast every Friday – 8 AM at Cracker Barrel.

• All men invited; RSVP to Jon Collins (615-707-9160) so a table can be reserved.

Small Groups / Bible Studies

• Wednesday Evening Small Group – James and Jude:

  • 6 PM, resuming January 8 & 15 (final two sessions).

• Sunday Small Group – Genesis (LifeLight Bible Study, Part 1):

  • January 12 – March 9.

  • Covers Genesis 1–25 (first 25 chapters).

  • Sunday evenings at 5 PM, Family Life Center classroom.

  • Sign-up sheet in the narthex; talk with the Gamarys or Tyers for info.

• New Ladies’ Small Group:

  • Begins Tuesday, January 7 at 10:30 AM.

  • Meets in the Family Life Center classroom; first day sets purpose and topics for the group.

  • All ladies are welcome; congregation is asked to pray for this new small group.

Church Council – 2024

• President: Terry Spena

• Vice President: Greg Stevenson

• Board of Discipleship: Denise Gamary

• Board of Elders: Robert Hay

• Board of Education: Sheri Langsdorf

• Board of Properties: Billy Pomeroy

• Board of Stewardship: Jon Collins

• Financial Secretary: Phyllis Burt

• Treasurer: Michelle Balsley

Church Flowers / Altar Guild

• New altar guild church flower chart located behind the welcome desk.

• Please use a dry-erase marker.

Christianity 101

• A class introducing Lutheran Christian teachings.

• Starting January 26.

• See Pastor Nathan for more information.

Quilting Ministry

• Mondays, 9 AM–12 PM.

• No experience necessary.

• Benefits the Red Cross.

• Contact: Barbara Bower.

Scripture Highlight

• Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (ESV)

New Church Council Officers – 2025

• President: Greg Stevenson (2025/2026)

• Vice President: John Scherrer (2025/2026)

• Board of Discipleship: Shelly Jansen (2025/2026)

• Board of Education: Sheri Langsdorf (2024/2025)

• Board of Elders: Dan Falkenstein (2025/2026)

• Board of Properties: Allan Langsdorf (2025/2026)

• Board of Stewardship: Jon Collins (2024/2025)

• Financial Secretary: Phyllis Burt (2024/2025)

• Treasurer: Interim Paul Gamary (2025), Phyllis Burt (2026)

“Build Upon the Rock” Celebration

• Celebrating:

  • 30 years since the church began.

  • 25 years with the sanctuary building.

• Looking for people to join the “Build Upon the Rock” Celebration Team.

• Focus: fundraising, sharing church history, and celebrating while serving the community.

Children’s Christmas Program (Note of Thanks)

• Thanks given to the congregation and families for supporting the Christmas program and students’ growth as disciples.

• Special thanks (roles/support):

  • Celeste Black – helping children change into the correct roles.

  • Sarah Collins – preparing and helping with costumes.

  • Debbie Jones – sending children back on stage at the right time.

  • Music help: selecting, recording, and uploading music to YouTube so children could practice and for use during the program.

  • Helpers: Richard Reifer and Karen Stevenson (Saturday and Sunday practices).

  • Costumes: Denise Gamary (Adam & Eve costumes).

• Children who participated (roles include combinations of Reader, choir, and characters such as Shepherd, Simeon, Professor, Gabriel, Mary, Eve, Elizabeth, Angel, Adam, Abraham, Innkeeper, David, Joseph, Noah, Anna, etc.).