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!
November 2025 Friendship Circle News
Meeting Date: Wednesday, November 19 at 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall
Hymn: "We Praise You, O God" LSB 785
Devotion: led by Gayle Grimm
Roll Call: Bible verse with "Praise" in it
Bible Study: Gayle Grimm
Business:
Election of Officers
Christmas Stocking Project
Invite guests to December meeting
Shut-in Holiday Delivery
Service Activity: Mite Box
Noisy Sunday: November 30
At the LWML October Friendship Circle meeting, our devotion encouraged us to "cast our worry," because God can handle it! Our Bible study reminded us that we are all created in the image of God, but each of us is unique and has been given special gifts that we can use to serve others.
At the LWML October Friendship Circle meeting, our devotion encouraged us to "cast our worry," because God can handle it! Our Bible study reminded us that we are all created in the image of God, but each of us is unique and has been given special gifts that we can use to serve others. We discussed the LWML Convention which is scheduled for April 17-19, 2026 in Manhattan. We also talked about details concerning the Wabaunsee County Holiday Meal and the Community Thanksgiving Meal.The Bible Study next year will come from a book by Deb Burma, called "Living a Chocolate Life."Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 19th at 1:30. Come if you can!The December meeting is planned for Saturday, December 13th at 10am. Please join us for some fellowship and a delicious brunch! MISSION QUILT TOPS: The Friendship Circle meets twice a month to tie quilts for various missions. We currently have a generous supply of fabric scraps that can be sewn into more quilt tops. We are looking for folks who are willing to make quilt tops for these mission quilts. Your help is needed. At this time the size is not a specific size requirement although we have made baby quilts, lap quilts, and quilts sized to 60”x80” that fit our frame. We typically donate these quilts to local helping organizations as well as to the Kansas Orphan Grain Train. Please consider how you might be able to support this mission.
LUNCH BUNCH is a gathering of St. John friends who visit various restaurants after church once per month. You may join them November 9th at Barleycorn in Wamego!
BOOK STUDY is meeting on the second and fourth Thursday evenings. We are reading Day 7 for Work Rest, or Play by Joel Biermann. On November 6th, we will meet at Bruce and Kathy Schultz’s home, and on November 20th, we will meet at Elaine Becker’s home.
JUBELLATION will be practicing on Wednesday nights at 6:50 p.m. in the basement.
VOICES FOR GOD: The choir will continue to practice on Monday evenings starting at 7:00 p.m. We are still asking for voices to help make a joyful noise to the Lord.
3 SEASONS CONCERT: Local churches are planning to share music with the Alma community December 7.
THEOLOGY ON TAP: The next event will be Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. You may join them at Rockin’ K’s in Manhattan.
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH is looking to hire a treasurer. If interested, contact Pastor at 785-765-3632 by November 15th.
PIECEMAKERS of Mt. Calvary, Wamego are sponsoring a trunk show of Storybook Quilts with Laura Piland of Slice of Pi on November 15th at 1:00 p.m. in the Luther Hall of Mt. Calvary, 17535 Say Rd. Wamego. 14 quilt designs are inspired by children’s book illustrations. The event is free, but pre-registration by November 7th.would be helpful. Please register by email at sass@bluevalley.net.
CHRISTMAS AT HEIT’S POINT: Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. special Christmas music will be presented by Concordia, Missouri’s 4th thru 8th Kinderchoir directed by Dr. Marsh. Dr. Kari Vo with Lutheran Hour Ministries will present the devotions. A ham luncheon with scalloped potatoes and dessert will be served for a freewill donation. RSVP by November 30.
HOCKEY: The new Topeka Scarecrows hockey team is inviting your organization out for their FAITH AND FAMILY night on Saturday, December 6th at 7:05 p.m. vs. the Biloxi Breakers at the Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka. Local churches, congregations and faith-based groups receive a special rate ($12 per person) and will be recognized throughout the game with various promotions. Ticket orders must be turned into the Scarecrows office by December 1st. Let Cheryl in the church office know by November 25th if you plan to attend.
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.
From the Parish Nurse…
HARVEST TIME
This time of year reminds me of the harvest and the rounding up of the crops for storage for next year’s future seedlings. Similarly, I think about the revisit to Medicare Part D plans and insurance open enrollment for the coming year. Most workplace insurances also open enrollment and offer coverages for health screenings. So it is that I come full circle in taking a look at the many routine screening opportunities that help to shape healthier lives. For example, for almost all ages, annual routine dental screenings aid in detecting oral problems such as cavities, misaligned teeth, and cancer spots. Hearing screenings are routine in schools at least every three years and are also recommended for people who have exposure to loud noises such as gunfire, farm machinery, and loud music. As we age, our hearing tends to diminish making it difficult to correctly hear instructions for self-care. Annual hearing screenings are recommended for those people 65 and older. Don’t forget about vision screenings! Even the youngest among us need regular vision screenings to detect a variety of life-complicating issues such as color blindness, blurred vision, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, etc.
The skin deserves regular screenings as well since the ultraviolet rays are harsh and many of the older generation did not use sunscreen regularly, if at all. The skin is the largest organ of the body and deserves its own screening. Aging skin normally changes in color, elasticity, and hydration, while new nevi or moles and skin tags occur. Frequency for screening depends on physician recommendations, outdoor sun exposure, and age. The older adult may find that annual screenings are routine with the Medicare annual exams.
Breast and cervical cancer screenings should begin as early as age 18 years for females, depending on lifestyles, contraceptive use, and family and medical histories. Mammography is recommended every two years between the ages of 40 to 74 years. As with all screenings, past medical history, family history of disease, and physician recommendation dictate the frequency for screenings. Bone density screenings are usually performed routinely for women beginning at age 65 and age 70 for men, and repeated every ten years. Of course, screening intervals vary significantly depending on age, bone health, medical history and risk factors. For example, a person with a family risk factor for osteoporosis may need to be screened for bone density every one to two years.
Screenings for early detection of colon cancer saves lives. A careful review of family medical history will dictate when that process should begin, but generally the age at which to begin colon cancer screenings is at 45 years. Physicians and insurance companies play a huge role in deciding the age of risk; however, family history should be the first consideration for screening scheduling. Heredity plays a big part in determining projected age of onset for colon cancer, and early detection can result in the best possible outcomes.
Annual lung screenings or scans are recommended specifically for those aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack per year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Smoking is highly associated with lung cancer risk. Lung screenings are also recommended for people who have repeated respiratory illnesses, shortness of breath, cough, and weakness, or have a history of smoking or smoke exposure.
So by new you might be thinking that you can expect to spend the majority of your year in the doctor’s office for all of this testing. Not so. Think of the annual physical as the harvesting of information about your body to move forward in a healthy direction for the coming year. God said we are to be stewards of our gifts, and I suggest that our bodies are a gift from God. We are to take care of them and thank Him for our bountiful blessings.
Janet Wertzberger, RN
Parish Nurse
HEALTH CHECK: The Parish Nurse will be available after the service on November 9th to check blood pressures and address any health-related concerns. This is a free service and available for anyone.
In This Month's
St. John Witness
NOVEMBER WITNESS
Miscellaneous News
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