St. John Church

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ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH

(The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod)

Alma, Kansas

A family united by faith in Christ gathering around God's Word and Sacraments.

To reach out in Christ-like concern and Christ-borne love to each other and to those without Christ!

December 2024 Friendship Circle News

Our next meeting is December 6th at 12:00 p.m. at St. John Memorial Hall.

Special Christmas Friendship Gathering - All members invite a friend to celebrate Advent Christmas with us.

Hosts: Executive Board

Business: Installation of officers, stocking offering for Life Choice Ministries.

Noisy Sunday: December 29th Sunday Service.

Entertainment: Students from St. John Lutheran School will provide Christmas melodies.

November Meeting Notes

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Shut-in holiday delivery.

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Donation to the community Thanksgiving dinner.

MISSION GRANT #21 – $106,000 for Christ-Centered Mental Health Counseling for LCMS Church Workers.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13.

THANK YOU! The Friendship Circle has grateful hearts for the many salads and desserts prepared and donated throughout the year for funeral luncheons. Thank you also to members and friends for the hands that organized, prepared, and served meals, and did clean-up afterward. Your support is deeply appreciated. Your kindness and generosity shine as a light to praise Jesus.

JUBELLATION: JuBellation is getting in some extra practice time preparing to play Christmas songs at Volland on December 8th at 2:00 p.m. Practice times are December 1st at 1:00 p.m., December 3rd at 6:30 p.m., and December 9th at 9:30 a.m.

VOICES FOR GOD: This season, the choir practices on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. We have ordered new songs and selected some of our favorites which we plan to sing throughout the rest of the calendar year. We are always listening for new voices to join us.

LUNCH BUNCH will not meet in December but will dine at Barleycorns in Wamego on January 12th at 11:00 a.m.

TEENS FOR CHRIST: Teens for Christ has planned an activity for the month of December. The group will attend a live nativity in Manhattan called Bethlehem Revisited on December 8th.

BOOK STUDY: The book study group will finish Josephus on December 5th at Elaine Becker’s. We will start “Hammer of God” in January. Please contact Kathy Schultz at 785-313-5175 if you want a book to read with us or to read on your own. We would love more people to join us for this new book!

STAY STRONG, STAY HEALTHY: K-State Research and Extension is conducting a strength training program for older adults. Strength training is no longer for bodybuilders. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is an eight-week, evidence-based strength training program designed for older adults who want to improve their quality of life and stay active. Classes are held at St. John Lutheran Memorial Hall and will end December 17th.

OTHER ADVENT SERVICES: Trinity Lutheran Church, McFarland is having Advent Services on December 4th, 11th, and 18th at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Degiovanni preaching. After the service, we will have a potluck lunch. Everyone is welcome to attend. Their Christmas Eve Service will be at 4:30 p.m. with Pastor Neil Buono preaching.

Redeemer Mission at Lake Wabaunsee will host Advent services and meal at 5:00 p.m. every Wednesday in Advent. People are invited to attend the meal and worship service.

CHRISTMAS AT HEIT’S POINT: Heit’s Point Lutheran Ministries is having a Christmas celebration on December 7th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at their camp in Lincoln, Mo. There will be special Christmas music by Cole Camp’s German Men’s Choir along with a brisket luncheon including scalloped potatoes and a delicate dessert as well as God’s Word and fellowship. For more information, call 620-668-2363.

BLUE CHRISTMAS: A service of healing and hope for those hurting emotionally and spiritually will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3625 SW Wanamaker Rd. in Topeka. The service includes music, readings, meditation, the Lord’s Supper and prayers. Stephen Ministers, trained to provide one-on-one Christian care, and a comfort dog will be available for comfort and support. For more information, contact Faith Lutheran Church at 785-272-4214 or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 785-271-0808.

CHRISTMAS AT CONCORDIA WEEKEND DECEMBER 6-8: We can’t wait for you to join us for one of our favorite annual events at Seward’s Christmas at Concordia! Check for availability at: Online: cune.edu/christmas

CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE: On December 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Preschool will be selling baked goods to benefit Impact Topeka Foundation. Items include, cookies, cinnamon rolls, food boards, fudge, cupcakes, cakes, and mixes for soups, cookies, and hot chocolate. Prince of Peace is located at 3625 Wanamaker Rd. in Topeka.

THE VOLLAND FOUNDATION: The Volland Residency provides time and space for creative practitioners of a wide range of disciplines to gather in a community setting for work, thought, and exchange of ideas, and to experience immersion in a unique ecosystem and rural culture.

Applications are due December 11th for the 2025 Volland Residency!

This gathering and idea exchange, the heart of creativity, emphasizes the importance of uninterrupted time and space for your creative practice or research in the tallgrass prairie of the Kansas Flint Hills.

Contact:

The Volland Foundation

24098 Volland Road

PO Box 144, Alma, KS 66401

From the Parish Nurse…

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is a disorder that affects the joints. It is one of the most common types of inflammatory processes, especially in the elderly, as it leads to swelling and irritation in the joints of the body, difficulty in movement, and severe pain that affects the patient’s life. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion in the affected joints. Other organs are also affected in some types of arthritis. The onset of the disease may be gradual or sudden.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis being the two most common forms. Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the fingers, knees, and hips, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the hands and feet.

Causes:

Joint friction and cartilage damage between

them due to heavy weight.

Bone fractures.

An autoimmune disease that causes the

immune system to attack the bones and joints.

Bacterial or viral infection.

Aging.

The nature of work that requires standing for

long periods may increase the chance of

arthritis, according to recent medical

statistical studies.

Treatment:

Analgesics: They work to reduce pain but do

not help to treat inflammation.

Non-steroidal inti-inflammatory drugs: These reduce pain and inflammation.

Anti-irritants: Some creams and ointments

contain menthol or capsaicin. Applying them

to the skin over a painful joint can modify the

pain signals from the joint and reduce pain.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs:

These are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

These drugs modify the course of the disease

or prevent the immune system from attacking

the joints.

Steroids: Prednisone and cortisone reduce

inflammation and suppress the immune

system.

Tips for living with Arthritis:

Exercising appropriately, such as swimming.

Using hot or cold compresses on the joint and

massaging the affected joints continuously

and in the correct way.

Make sure to get enough hours of sleep.

Maintaining a healthy diet, including plenty

of vegetables, fruits, and food that contain

vitamins and minerals, as they contain

antioxidants that reduce inflammation.

Maintain an ideal or close to ideal weight to

reduce pressure on the joints.

Moving the joint every certain period and not

being stable in a certain position.

(from Reada Mansour, Intergenerational Programs Manager, Christmas Lutheran Church Bethlehem; email: mansour@diyar.ps)

HEALTH CHECK: The Parish Nurse will be available after the service on December 8th to check blood pressures and address any health-related concerns. This is a free service and available for anyone.

Blessings in Christ,

Janet Wertzberger, RN Parish Nurse

In This Month's

St. John Witness

DECEMBERWITNESS

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