n
erma
Zimm
in
lt
o
k, K
Gree
Sara
ed
nspir
ear
H
e
Com
’re I
e
w
ason
e Re
to S
ther
oge
T
e
v
er
th
Welcome to
Maddux Gruenhagen
“The Church on
the Corner Whose
Cornerstone is Christ”
We are a community of faith founded upon God’s Holy Word, preaching salvation through believing in
Christ as Savior. We seek to live in God’s truth, being obedient to His Word and following in His ways.
January 10, 2016
8:00 & 10:30AM
10:30AM
Welcome to our Worship of God!
Lighting of the Altar Candles and Ringing of the Tower Bells
(At the bell’s ringing, let us concentrate on Jesus and his promise of salvation)
Welcome, Announcements, Scripture and Prayer
Psalm 8:3-9 (p. 535)
Prelude
 Hymn – #8
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Unison
Prayer of Confession: Lord Jesus, we praise you this morning for your great love and
wonderful mercy towards us. We confess that we often take those things for granted and rely
upon our own strength. We pray that you would open our eyes and hearts this morning, so
that we may worship you with all our hearts, souls and strength. May you truly be our Lord
today. Amen.

Words of Assurance: Philippians 2:8-11

Responsive Song – #381
“Open My Eyes, That I May See”

Passing the Peace of Christ
(10:30) Sacrament of Baptism – Maddux Jay Gruenhagen
Opening Sentences, The Apostles’ Creed and Scripture Reading – Joshua 1:9
Promises of the Parents and Congregational Assent
Baptism, Prayer and Hymn – #282 “The Family of God”
Children’s Message
(#579, v. 1) “Jesus Loves Me”
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (debt/debtors)
(10:30) Chancel Choir
Scripture Reading
Sermon
“Light of the World”
Matthew 25:31-46 (p. 984)
“Seeing the Invitations”
Sharing of Our Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
(#314) “Reach Out and Touch”
(You are encouraged to follow the words in the red hymnal)
 Doxology and Prayer of Dedication
 Closing Hymn – #307
“Send the Light”
 Benediction
 Benediction in Song – #307, refrain
 Postlude
2
“Send the Light”
Welcome . . .
Guests and Visitors
Welcome to our worship of God! Please take a moment to complete one of the info cards in the
pew rack at each end of the pew and drop it in the offering plate once it is passed down the aisle in
the service. We hope you will find our service to be an uplifting and pleasurable time of worship
and that you will worship with us again. Learn more about us by visiting our Welcome Table at the
south end of our building or our website at www.stjohnsarchbold.org.
Membership Orientation
St. John’s Christian Church offers periodic orientation sessions to inform people about beliefs,
ministries and the history of this local congregation. Please let Pastor Erich, Pastor Adam or Sue
Grieser know if you would be interested in attending future sessions offered.
St. John’s Christian Preschool
A learning, Christian ministry geared for children 3-5 years of age. Four sessions available: Tues/
Thurs morning and afternoon, and Mon/Wed/Fri morning and afternoon; and run from September
thru May. More information is available at www.stjohnsarchbold.org.
Mother’s Room / Diaper Changing Station / Nursery Care
We have a Mother’s Room located near our sanctuary – just ask an usher for location. A diaper
changing station is in our nursery room just down the hallway from our sanctuary. Nursery Care
is offered during the 10:30 worship service for infants and pre-kindergarten children.
Children’s and Large Print Bulletins are available on a table in the sanctuary narthex.
Hearing Assistance is provided through our loop system for hearing aids with a “t” switch position.
The Altar Flowers are sponsored by Vern and Mary Lou Nemire in honor
of Mary Lou’s
Lou’s 80th birthday on January 5th.
Sacrament of Baptism:
We celebrate with Mindy and Travis Gruenhagen today as their son, Maddux Jay Gruenhagen,
is baptized. Maddux was born on September 14th, 2015. Grandparents are Joel and the late Beth
Wanemacher, and Steve and Kathy Gruenhagen. Standing up with Travis and Mindy today are
sisters, Amy Baden, Carrie Wanemacher, Ashley Stuckey and Kasey Nafziger.
Birth Announcements:
We celebrate with Gabe Smith and Mindy Enderle the birth of their first child, Mae Eloise, on
December 18th (great Aunt Shiela’s
Shiela’s birthday).
birthday). Mae weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz. and was 21 in. long. Her
grandparents include Brad and Susie Enderle, and great grandparents include Maurice and Ruth
Schmucker.
We celebrate with Ian and Mindy Redd the birth of their first child, Isaac James, on December
29th. Isaac weighed 6 lbs., 13 oz. and was 20-3/4 in. long. His grandparents include Jim and Betsy
Redd.
3
This Week’s Congregational Prayer:
Jesus, you came to earth in poverty leaving everything behind. You then took our poverty upon
yourself giving us riches beyond riches. We thank you. In our fickleness we tend to quickly move
on to the next thing. Help us this week not to forget this amazing gift. Infuse in us a strength, a
purpose and a desire for your Kingdom this week. Amen.
Let’s Talk About It - ThisWeek in Our Children’s and Youth Education:
Pre-K Class: We talked about Jesus and His baptism. Baptism is a sign that shows people that our
lives have changed for Jesus. How can you show that this week?.
Faith Village: We are learning about forgiveness using the story of Joseph and his brothers, found in
Genesis 37-50; the story of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32; and Matthew 18:21-22, where
Jesus tells us to forgive seventy times seven. Sometimes we need to forgive others and sometimes we
need to be forgiven. Which is easier for you to do – to forgive your friends or to ask your friends to
forgive you?
Confirmation: We finished Retreat 2 which focused on the family tree of Jesus. What does your
faith family tree look like? Josee Grime has devotions on the 24th.
Senior High Sunday School:
School: We finished our three-lesson series on pain and struggles that affect
our teenagers. We concluded by looking at James 1:2-4, where we are encouraged to persevere
through the tough times, realizing God can use these experiences to grow our faith. What is one
situation in your life right now that God might be using to help you become more patient?
LOGOS and JYF: We will begin these ministries again this Wednesday, January 13th.
SYF: We talked about fickleness and how easy it is to be distracted by our “itching ears.” 2 Timothy
4 gives us a warning about being quickly pulled away from Jesus. What things pull us away from
God?
Next Sunday – January 17 - Fourth Sunday after Christmas - Congregational Meeting Sunday
Sermon – “We Are One Body” by Pastor Erich Christman; Scriptures – Jude 1:20-21, Romans 12:1
2016 Congregational Annual Meeting Next Sunday, January 17th:
9:30AM Worship Service
10:30AM Children’s Ministry (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
11:15AM Annual Meeting
12:15PM Congregational Meal – Served by the SYF
The Annual Meeting Agenda will include:
• Review of the congregation’s mission/vision statement
• Review of church membership expectations
• Election for Congregational Offices and Consistory Members
• Action on 2015 Financial Reports
• Action on 2016 Proposed Budgets
• Updates from the Capital Campaign Committee
Annual Meeting Packets will be available by Sunday, January 10th
4
WEEK OF JANUARY 10TH AT ST. JOHN’S CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thur
Sat
Sun
8:00AM Worship Service (Sanctuary)
9:15AM Adult Faith & Fellowship (Sermon on the Mount) – Matthew 5:43-48 “What does Jesus mean by such Love” (Parish Hall)
9:15AM Confirmation / Faith Village / Sunday School
9:15AM Women’s Sunday School Class (Upstairs Classroom)
10:30AM Worship Service (Sanctuary)
11:45AM Preschool Open House – Church Family (Preschool Room)
1:00PM Private Event (Parish Hall / Kitchen)
11:15AM Staff Meeting (Office Closed)
6:30PM Couples Small Group (Youth Room)
7:00PM Preschool Open House – Public (Preschool Room)
7:00PM Sister Chicks (Nancy Rupp’s,
Rupp’s, St. Rt. 2, Stryker)
9:15AM Bible Study – Luke 3 (Fireside Room)
5:00PM Community Meal – Archbold Rotary Hosting (Parish Hall)
6:30PM Cub Scouts (Upstairs SS Classrooms & Parish Hall)
7:00PM Capital Campaign Committee (Fireside Room)
7:00PM Evangelism Committee (Parlor)
7:00PM Property Committee (Chapel)
8:30AM Moms in Prayer (Upstairs Classroom)
9:00AM West Haven Bible Study (Fairlawn)
6:00PM LOGOS – Winter Wonderland Night (Parish Hall)
6:45PM JYF (Fireside Room)
6:45PM Junior Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00PM SYF (Youth Room)
7:30PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
7:00PM Scouts District Mtg. (P. Hall, Parlor, Artisan’s
Artisan’s Tent, Youth & Fireside Rooms)
9:00AM Private Event (Parish Hall / Kitchen)
9:30AM Worship Service (Sanctuary)
10:30AM Children’s Ministry – Kindergarten thru 5th Grade (Chapel)
11:15AM Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)
12:15PM Congregational Meal – Served by the SYF (Parish Hall)
6:00PM Seekers Small Group (Kuntz’s, 733 W. Leggett Street, Wauseon)
Discovery Daily Devotional Guides – The Jan/Feb/Mar Discovery Daily Bible Guides are available
in the literature rack outside the church office (suggested donation $3.00 each):
January 11 - Everything Matters...Eternally ................... Ecclesiastes 12:1-14
January 12 - Inside Out .................................................................. Luke 3:1-20
January 13 - Son of God . . . ......................................................... Luke 3:21-37
January 14 - . . . And Son of Man .................................................. Luke 4:1-13
January 15 - When Jesus Comes to Town .................................. Luke 4:14-21
January 16 - Getting Personal ...................................................... Luke 4:22-30
January 17 - Totally Trustworthy ............................................ Psalm 146:1-10
5
2016 Nomination Ballot – Over the past three months, the Spiritual Council, which serves as
the Nominating Committee, has been attentive to the annual task of working to complete the
ballot for the election of officers at the congregation’s annual meeting. After time for prayer and
discernment, a list of nominees was compiled and subsequent contacts were made. Our Church
Constitution includes the following directive: “Two or more nominees for each office of Elder
and Deacon shall be presented by the Consistory, and one or more nominees for each office of
congregational President and Congregational Secretary shall also be presented.” Each year we
elect people to fill two Elder offices and three Deacon/Deaconess offices, so we should have four
nominees for the office of Elder and six nominees for the office of Deacon/Deaconess.
The work of the Spiritual Council to date has resulted in only two nominees for Elder and four
nominees for Deacon/Deaconess. The Spiritual Council invites the congregation to be in prayer
for further potential nominees, asking for God’s Spirit to touch the hearts of members who would
be led to volunteer to put their name on the ballot and, if elected, then serve in one of these offices.
Anyone who feels so led may speak with one of the pastors or one of the current elders (Ann
Grime, Kim Hines, Jan Lindsay, Paige Miller, Jim Redd or Ed Ruffer). At the annual meeting,
the Church Constitution shares that “Additional nominations may be made from the floor. All
nominees must give prior consent.” So may we pray for willing nominees and if you feel led to
serve or have someone to nominate, the Spiritual Council invites your involvement.
Men’s Fraternity – The 33 Series – Hey Guys! We are going to begin a new 6-week series called “A
Man and His Story.” This is a continuation from the fall session, but can be attended by any man
that desires to grow. This second series covers some of the topics as presented in Men’s Fraternity
but with new material and format. The series will begin on ***Date Change*** Wednesday,
February 3rd from 6-7:30AM and will have a $15 cost for the training guide. You can discover
more about this at www.authenticmanhood.com or talk with Pastor Adam.
Church Pictorial Directory – We are continuing to put together an updated church pictorial
directory using the online company Instant Church Directory. Instant Church Directory allows
members to access our pictorial directory through an online website, an app using a tablet or
smartphone, or a printed booklet similar to what we printed in 2010. Each church family member
will get to choose and submit their own family or individual picture. Please e-mail the church
office with a picture or drop off a picture to be scanned. Contact Pastor Adam if you have any
questions.
Missionaries Supported by Our Congregation and Their Current Prayer Requests:
• Dr. Shobha Arole & Ravi Arole – CRHP, Jamkhed, India
 Continual prayers that God will supply rain and other sources of water amidst drought and
regional arid conditions, praying that as the water comes, it will satisfy peoples’ physical thirst
and symbolize how Christ provides living water to the thirsty.
• Tony & Leila Frank – Sapiranga, Brazil
 Pray for continual guidance and sustenance through the Spirit of God as they pour themselves,
heart and soul, into preaching, teaching and sharing the Gospel of Christ.
• Larry & Linda Rupp – Kajiado Children’s Home (KCH), Africa
 Pray for further sponsors and supporters of both the children and the home, praying that the
Spirit of God moves in people’s hearts, that a trip to Kajiado in June would be filled.
6
• Tom & Megan – The Islands, Africa
 Please pray for the immigrant crisis on the French Island, a messy and difficult situation.
Pray that people would feel called to enter the mess and reach out to people. Pray for all those
working on the French Island, for clarity, discernment and unity.
• Judd & Becky McClarren – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 Pray for them as they leave their family once again as they return to Ethiopia after their
too brief of a time in Ohio. Pray for a young friend with cancer, that Sindu will receive the
necessary visa to come to the Toledo area for radiation therapy.
• Matt Pardi – Great Commission Ministries, University of Toledo
 Praise God as Matt & MaryLynn celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary, praying that
God would continue to protect their marriage and that their love would continue to deepen;
prayers for h2o Toledo: raising up student leaders to lead Bible studies in their dorms, raise
up new staff, and we are praying for 20 students to go on mission trips for Spring Break.
• Kyle Chase – Great Commission Ministries, University of Michigan
• Keith & Cheryl Wyse – Agape Family Life House, Langfang, China
• Brian & Jamie Rauschenberger – New Life International, Haiti
• Jon & Rachel Doriot – Pioneers, Papua
 Pray for the family as they return to the mission field after their time in the states.
• Mackenzie Nofziger – International Christian School in Bangkok, Thailand
 Pray for her continued physical and spiritual health, praying God’s Spirit continues to rest
upon her and work through her as she teaches at the school and shares in church ministry.
• Jessica Lindsay – Mennonite Mission Network, Albany, Oregon
 Pray that her time at home over Christmas was a great blessing for her as she returns to
Albany. Pray for the ministry she is engaged in, that the Spirit of God upholds her as she
shares her faith and talents.
• Matt & Paige Waanders – Campus Crusade for Christ, The Ohio State University
• Whitney (Kindell) Varnau – h2o Church, The Ohio State University Campus
• Hannah Kern – YWAM, Thailand
 Pray for her health and growth as she serves for several weeks in the outreach phase of her
Discipleship Training School, praying God fills her with eagerness and faithfulness.
• Jordyn Pursel – YWAM, Lausanne, Switzerland
 Pray for her as she participates in the 12 week lecture phase of her Discipleship Training
School, praying for her travels, for her settling in at the school, and praying God fills her with
enthusiasm and perseverance as the weeks unfold. Pray also for Jay & Karla, and her siblings!
Prayer for Hannah Kern & Jordyn Pursel in January: Gracious Lord God, how exciting it is that
two more of our congregational family are being trained in discipleship. As Hannah and Jordyn
participate in their YWAM training, may they be blessed with willingness – to learn of and adjust
to new cultures and to open themselves in new ways to your leading. Fill them with your words of
grace and trust. We pray for Chad & Teresa, for Tina, for Jay & Karla, that their trust in the Lord
will grow through their daughter’s experiences. Lord, protect these young women, and provide
fellowship and sustenance for them in the coming weeks. I pray this in the power of the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
7
January Mission-A-Month
Church World Service Emergency Clean Up Kits
Prayer Joys, Concerns, Requests - Please Pray For:
• Jordyn Pursel, who leaves this week for her YWAM Discipleship Training School in Switzerland.
• John Beck, who is recovering from foot surgery.
• Joan Burkholder and Tracy Wyse, who were married December 28th. Joan is our preschool
assistant teacher.
• Rosemarie Schmidt, who is in rehab at Fairlawn, recovering from a broken hip and pelvis.
• Dorothy Miller, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
• Tyson Schnitkey, who continues to recover from shoulder surgery.
• Bea Briggs, who returns to Cleveland every 3 weeks for low dose chemo treatments.
• Jeremy Neuenschwander’s cancer continues to shrink as they await furter tests.
• Bob & Connie Bostelman, as Bob continues his cancer treatments.
• Kyle Ducey, stationed at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado.
• Jared Kuntz, stationed in South Korea.
• Braden Martinez, who is serving in the Army Reserves for a year.
• Steve Schink, stationed at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
• Koltin Zimmerman, stationed at Fort Campbell, Oak Grove, Kentucky.
• All our students - Proverbs 18:15!
• All our home bound and care center residents.
Today’s Worship Servants
Acolyte
(10:30) Silas Whiteman
Ushers
(Head) Steve Walker
(8:00) Ron & Karen Rice
(10:30) Jeremy & Jen Hurst, Keith & Nici Wyse
Greeters
(10:30) Brad & Aimee Roth, Kent & Shiela Short
Nursery Staff
(10:30) Mike & Katie Whiteman
(Jan 17) Chris & Amy Baden
Sound Tech
(8:00) Angie Neuenschwander
(10:30) James Grime
Video Tech
(10:30) Dean Sauder
Computer Tech
(Both) Kelly Ducey
Worship & Song Leader (Both) Jim Redd
Accompanist
(Both) Deb Schnitkey
Children’s Message
(Both) Nancy Rupp
ST. JOHN’S CHRISTIAN CHURCH
700 S. Defiance Street • Archbold, OH 43502
Ph: 419-446-2545 • www.stjohnsarchbold.org
Pastor Rev. Erich Christman (Cell 419-551-0401)
Associate Pastor Rev. Adam Just (Cell 419-551-6499)
Administrative Assistant Sue Grieser ((offi
office@stjohnsarchbold.org
ce@stjohnsarchbold.org)
Director of Music Ministry Deb Schnitkey (daschnitkey@yahoo.com)
Preschool Administrator Sue MacDonald (macfamily5@roadrunner.com)