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!
January 2026 Friendship Circle News
Meeting Date: Wednesday, January 21st at 1:30p.m. in Memorial Hall
Hymn: "Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus" LSB 685
Devotion: Sandy Altevogt
Roll Call: Share a word as your word of the year.
Bible Study: "Living a Chocolate Life" Sandy Altevogt (Chapter 1)
Business: Discuss the Day of Prayer service and gifts for the Confirmation students.
We had a wonderful LWML brunch on Saturday, December 13th. Gayle opened our "meeting" with a devotion, followed by Pastor's prayer. We enjoyed a variety of delicious foods as we chatted and laughed together. After the Installation of Officers, four of the ladies put on a skit for us - an interview with Mrs. Claus and Mary. There was a collection for the food pantry in Eskridge. It was a special and fun morning!
Our first evening meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22nd from 7 to 8:30 in the fellowship hall. Join us for a Bible study, a discussion of expectations and ideas for our evening meetings, and a little craft to work on as we visit together.
JUBELLATION will resume practices on January 21st – again we will be up in the balcony. We'll be learning new music, and we will need 1-2 new players. If you'd like to give it a try, we'd love to have you! Let any of the ringers know or contact Kathy Schultz at 785-313-5175.
VOICES FOR GOD: The choir will start practice on Monday, January 5th starting at 7:00 p.m. We are still asking for voices to help make a joyful noise to the Lord.
LUNCH BUNCH: Please join the Lunch Bunch at Friendly Cooker in Wamego on Sunday, January 11th at 11:00 am.
THE BOOK STUDY GROUP will meet at Bruce and Kathy Schultz's home on Thursday, Jan 15th and at Elaine Becker's home on January 29th at 7 pm. They will be starting a new book, “Faithful, Hopeful, and Bold” by Rev. Lee Hagan. Please let Cheryl know if you want a book. Please feel free to join us!
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH: A New Year Breakfast will be served at the Lake Wabaunsee fire station on New Year’s Day. Serving will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. A free will offering will be accepted to support their mission.
THRIVENT MEMBERS: Thrivent membership has a benefit, Thrivent Action Team Card, which helps with projects within the church, school, and community! Each member receives 2 -$250 debit cards that are applied for to assist in activities to benefit the church, school, and people of the community. It is seed money to assist with a fundraiser, educational event or service activity that will be taking place. St. John Thrivent members are asked to please let the church office or school office know if you have this benefit and are willing to allow groups to apply for assistance when needed to use your Action Team Card for an activity. If you have any questions concerning the Action Team Card, please contact your Thrivent Representative, Gayle Grimm or Elaine Becker. Thank you!
THEOLOGY ON TAP: The next event will be Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. You may join them at Rockin’ K’s in Manhattan.
MEMENTO: A new LCMS resource for men has been launched. It is a devotional movement for men built around discipline, devotion, and brotherhood. Churches and pastors have long expressed the need for a structured, LCMS-based resource that helps men grow in prayer, fasting, Scripture, and accountability. Memento was created to meet that need. It is the first year-round devotional platform of its kind in the Lutheran Church, providing daily rhythm and structure shaped by the historic seasons of the Church Year. This project has been supported and shaped by pastors and teachers across the LCMS.
CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA is holding two symposia in January. The 41st annual symposium on Exegetical Theology (Holiness, Sacrifice, and Worship: Leviticus for Today’s Royal Priesthood) will be January 20-21, 2026. The 49th annual symposium on the Lutheran Confessions (Baptism: the Water that Unites and Divides) will be January 21-23, 2026.
KANSAS MARCH & RALLY FOR LIFE: Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to gather at the Statehouse and encourage our legislators to stand boldly for life as the new session begins. The march will begin at the Topeka Performing Arts Center (TPAC) and go to the south steps of the Capitol where the rally will follow. The route is about a half-mile, and pro-life signs will be available at both gathering points.
WITHHELD ABORTION STATISTICS: As 2025 comes to a close, the Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has yet to release the state’s abortion statistics for 2024 keeping important information for the people of Kansas.
The 2024 statistics will give the public a clearer picture of the first full year in which clinics were not required to provide women with informed consent before an abortion was performed. Even abortion-industry-aligned media reported that at least one clinic operated with ‘no medical oversight’ during part of that year. We call upon the state to release these statistics to the people of Kansas without delay.
From 2019 to 2023, 54,097 abortions were performed in Kansas, including a heart-breaking 19,467 abortions in 2023 alone. Since 2019, Kansas courts have eroded critical abortion limits, blocking enforcement of longstanding informed consent requirements and 24-hour waiting periods. As oversight of the abortion industry declines, abortions increase. Kansans for Life advocates for restoring these safeguards and advancing compassionate policies that provide tangible aid for women—giving them every opportunity to choose life for their preborn child.
KANSANS FOR LIFE will resume First Friday Prayer Gatherings in March 2026. As we look ahead, we invite you to continue lifting babies, their mothers, and families impacted by abortion in prayer -- both in your personal prayer time and alongside your church prayer teams. Thank you for standing with us in this essential work.
CARING NEIGHBORS CANCER FUND: This fund was established in 2015 by a group of local community members whose goal is to financially assist people living in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties who are currently receiving treatment for cancer. The committee's purpose is to help defray some expenses for patients not covered by health insurance, such as insurance deductibles, airfare, lodging, and food.
Money is generated through donations, memorials, and fundraising events. The fund is a 501(c)3 with no administrative costs since the committee is an all-volunteer team. The criteria for assistance are to be currently receiving cancer treatments and living in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. There is a simple application form that needs to be filled out with two committee members present. The names of those who receive assistance are kept in the strictest confidence. For more information, or to request assistance, you may contact either Chris Day at 785-456-5325 or Donna Goehring at 785-458-9205.
YOUR TIME IN GOD’S WORD: You can guide your time with the latest Apps from Concordia Publishing House. The “In Prayer” app is simple with a user- friendly layout. You can access devotions, organize the content, and purchase a variety of in-app resources such as “Portals of Prayer.” Annual subscriptions start at $9.00 per year. The Lutheran Study Bible app has just added an audio feature with clear, human narration of the full ESV Bible. Other features include complete Bible text with Lutheran study notes, over 200 articles, maps, and book introductions, cross-references and linked articles, and more. The annual subscription rate is $9.99 or $2.99 per month.
In This Month's
St. John Witness
JANUARY WITNESS
Miscellaneous News
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