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!
JuLY 2025 Friendship Circle News
Meeting Date: Wednesday, July 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall
Hymn: "Spread the Reign of God the Lord" LSB 830
Devotion: led by Judy Peddicord
Roll Call: When or where did your ancestors come from?
Bible Study: Mission Project Video
Business: LWML Sunday Bulletin
LUNCH BUNCH will meet July 13th at El Corral.
BOOK STUDY: The group is continuing to read “The Saints of Whistle Grove” by Katie Schuermann. In July, they will be reading about “The Cemetery” and discussing it’s application to our lives with chapters 19-22 covered on July 9th and chapters covered on July 31st. The next book will be announced in the bulleting.
JUBELLATION: There will be a handbell practice on Wednesday, July 30th starting at 6:00 p.m. The list of songs to be practiced will be emailed to the ringers
VOICES FOR GOD: The choir will practice on July 21st at 7:00 p.m. and will sing July 27th. Weekly practice will begin August 25th, but we will not practice on Labor Day, September 1st. Music for the fall and Christmas will he distributed to choir members on July 21st. Come and help us praise God.
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.
FROM THE STEWARDSHIP BOARD:
You may have noticed that the Stewardship Board is including a ‘Year-to-Date’ update in the bulletin in the middle of each month. This is one way that the board is making the financial position of the congregation more transparent. We would like to provide just a bit more explanation.
The May 18 bulletin included the following information reflecting the first quarter:
Budgeted income $179,902
Budgeted income $179,902 Budgeted expenses $263,339
Budgeted expenses $263,339 Non-budgeted income $96,032
Non-budgeted income $96,032 Cash flow ($83,437)
Cash flow ($83,437) Perhaps different wording would have been clearer.
KARSTEN BREINER RECOVERY FUND: A fund has been set up at the Bank of the Flint Hills. Karsten sustained foot & leg injuries in a wreck on June 20th. He has had numerous surgeries and will need a prosthetic for his leg. Donations may be made at the bank. Questions may be directed to Jared Schultz, 785-617-0181 or jschultz@usd329.org. Proceeds from the fund will go toward medical expenses and a prosthetic.
BLUE JEANS DRIVE: The Salina Rescue Mission is again asking for donations of blue jeans which will be collected in August. The mission is currently housing 92 men which is a significant number for the summer months. Plans for collection will come at a later time.
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.
LUTHERANS FOR LIFE: Thank you so much for the gift given in December to LFL. It is a blessing that you remember us and our mission to be Gospel motivated voices for life. Your prayers and gifts enable us to be about God’s mission of life.
150TH ANNIVERSARY: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Duluth, Kansas, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a service and lunch following. This will be held at the Pottawatomie County Fair Building located at 901 High Street, Onaga, Kansas, on July 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
SAINTS ALIVE AFTER 55: The 35th anniversary of “Saints Alive after 55” will be held July 13-14, 2025, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Salina, Kansas. The church is located at 111 West Magnolia Road. “Being Generous” is the conference theme. Lisa Hellyer is the keynote speaker. She serves as a Senior Ministry Advancement Counselor for Lutheran Hour Ministries. In this position, she provides opportunities for Christians to support LHM through current and pledged gifts and helps to develop new and unique ways for donors to make an impact through LHM. The Bible study leader is Pastor Quentin Nuttmann who is the Senior Pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. For more information, call Tami Lierz at 785-457-4441 ext. 5001.
THEOLOGY ON TAP: The next event will be Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. The presenter will be Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller who is the Senior Pastor at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. His topic is Death, Martyrdom, and Spiritual Warfare. What does it mean to live courageously in the face of death? How have martyrs historically shaped the church, and what does spiritual warfare look like today? Bring your questions, grab a drink, and prepare for a lively, encouraging conversation!
If you are unable to attend in person, please join via Zoom.
WORSHIP CONFERENCE: On August 16, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, is hosting its ninth annual Worship Conference to provide continuing education and conversation for pastors, church musicians, and congregation members interested in the song and worship of the Church. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary and the Director of Field Education. The cost is $25 which includes lunch. To register, please fill out the registration form at https://forms.gle/iAgwzKIcAHeX1wb3NA by August 13.
CHRIST ACADEMY COLLEGE: Students who are attending college or about to start are invited to attend Christ Academy College October 24-28. At this event, students are able to spend a few days with other college-aged Lutherans from around the country who value their faith like they do – something that might be in short supply on their own college campuses. It’s a little like college, with classes and scheduled activities, but Christ is at the center of it all. Learn more by contacting Concordia Theological Seminary at Christ Academy@ctsfw.edu.
KANSAS FOR LIFE: Research shows that chemical abortion is far more dangerous to women than the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) admits. Recently the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) released a major study analyzing over 865,000 chemical abortions.
EPPC fellow, Alexandre DeSanctis commented on the study’s release. The EPPC has just released a paper that is the largest-known study of the abortion pill’s after effects for women. The research shows that chemical abortion is considerably more dangerous, 22 times more dangerous, to pregnant women than the FDA presently admits.SUMMER READING: Go to the Alma Branch Library during regular hours to register for the Summer Reading Program and to sign up for art classes! Some adult programming also will be available.
From the Parish Nurse…
FASTING AND FAITH
One of the discussions from the keynote speaker, Dr. Philip Zimmerman, MD, during the Parish Nurse Conference in Wisconsin last month stimulated my curiosity about the research he personally conducted on mindful fasting. His research involved trying fasting-based practices to help people normalize their blood sugar and reduce or eliminate their need for medications. He advocated that fasting offers a path toward humility and contentment. Dr. Zimmerman cited many Bible passages supporting spiritual health through fasting, examples, Isaiah 58:6-8, Joel 2:12, Jonah 3, etc.
Dr. Zimmerman explained that it is difficult to lose weight while on insulin. Faithful fasting can improve blood sugar levels in insulin-dependent patients. Hormones determine how calories are used. Exercising lets glucose flow into the cells without insulin to burn energy. He stated that vegetables are the healthiest food we can eat and that eliminating processed foods is necessary to reduce blood sugar.
The practice of mindful fasting begins with a schedule where there are six consecutive hours during which food is consumed. Let’s say those hours include breakfast and lunch meals. Dr. Zimmerman’s meal menus included vegetables and a protein such as an egg, fish, chicken, and the like. If a snack is required, it should be eaten during that six- hour window of consumption. The next twelve hours of the day are when the body processes what was consumed. This time span was referred to as “flipping the switch.” The remaining six hours of the day are open to let the body run off of the stored energy.
So now you’re probably wondering where that third meal should fit. That’s the fasting part! Plain water, black coffee, and unsweetened tea can be consumed without adding any glucose (sugar) for the body to metabolize while fasting. This phase allows the body to metabolize some of that stored energy from food consumption rather than adding more glucose to be stored as fat. Dr. Zimmerman has demonstrated that an insulin-dependent person can reduce or eliminate diabetic medications given enough time, faith and discipline, exercise, healthy food choices, and monitoring of blood sugar levels. Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, and was tempted by the devil. His fasting gave him strength to resist the devil. Mindful fasting can not only help as a metabolic reset but ideally fasting would be like a conversation with the Lord, realizing our dependence on God. Using Dr. Zimmerman’s words, “It can help us build our trust and hunger for Him as we seek, the words of Joel, ‘to return to him with our hearts.’” This article was written from statements made during the keynote lecture of Dr. Zimmerman, MD, who is the son of a parish nurse and has conducted studies on fasting where participants fasted three days-a-week for 18 hours/day. Fasting-based medical consulting is available with Dr. Zimmerman at www.SimpleFasting.com, videos and live sessions online are available at YouTube,com/@SimpleFasting.Source: June 2025 Parish Newsletter Article
HEALTH CHECK: The Parish Nurse will be available after the service on July 13th to check blood pressures and address any health-related concerns. This is a free service and available for anyone.
Emergency equipment is available in the east coat closet of Memorial Hall. A gait belt has been purchased recently to assist a person who has fallen. A blood pressure cuff and stethoscope are available for assessment of vital signs. The cardiac defibrillator is also located close to this closet on the north wall in case of cardiac arrest.
In This Month's
St. John Witness
JULY WITNESS
Miscellaneous News
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