Anticipating Worship (December 30)

First Sunday after Christmas


Worship Focus:  Jesus came to live for us as our Brother.

Scripture Readings:
1 Samuel 2:18-20,26
Psalm 111
Hebrews 2:10-18
Luke 2:41-52

Sermon Meditation:  Hebrews 2:10-18

Jesus Is Your Brother
1.  Who comes for his family
2.  Who cares for his family

Prayer of the Day:  Almighty God, in mercy you sent your one and only Son to take upon himself our human nature.  By his gracious coming deliver us from the corruption of our sin and transform us into the likeness of his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


We continue to consider the importance and contemplate the significance of Jesus' birth.  See you on Sunday at 9:30 AM.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Schedule

We have two opportunities to see and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus.

Our worship schedule is:
- Christmas Eve  (12/24) - 6:30 PM
- Christmas Day  (12/25) - 9:30 AM

Merry Christmas.

Anticipating Worship (December 23)

Fourth Sunday in Advent


Worship Focus:  The Lord is coming:  Forgiveness and peace are ours.

Scripture Readings:
Micah 5:2-5a
Psalm 85
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-55

Sermon Meditation:  Luke 1:39-45

Make an Advent Exclamation!

Prayer of the Day:  Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


This is our last Sunday of preparation before we see and celebrate the birth of our Savior.  We will do that together.  See you at 9:30 AM.

Christmas Schedule Reminder:
- Christmas Eve Worship - 6:30 PM
- Christmas Day Worship - 9:30 AM

Call Meeting Date Change

The call meeting that was scheduled for January 13th has been changed to Sunday, January 20th.
The annual congregation/voters' meeting is still scheduled for Sunday, January 27th. All St. John
members should plan to attend these meetings.

Anticipating Worship (December 16)

Third Sunday in Advent


Worship Focus:  The Lord is coming:  Rejoice!

Scripture Readings:
Zephaniah 3:14-17
Psalm 130
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

Sermon Meditation:  Philippians 4:4-7

Light Four Advent Candles
1.  Joy
2.  Gentleness
3.  Prayer
4.  Peace

Prayer of the Day:  Hear our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and come with the good news of your mighty deliverance.  Drive the darkness from our hearts and fill us with your light; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


We look forward to and long for Jesus to come because it brings us happiness.  We will do that together in worship.  See you on Sunday at 9:30 AM.

Little Lights Hymn - 12/16

This Sunday Little Lights children should meet in the music room at 9:10 AM to practice their hymn prior to the service.  Children will sing right at the start of worship on Sunday and then they will sit with their parents afterward.  Thank you.

Pastor Kom-Vacancy Pastor

A congregational pre-call meeting was held on Dec 9th with our MN District President, Pastor Klatt.  At this meeting, we discussed the needs of St John and our future direction so that he can prepare a call list that fits our needs.  A written survey was given to each adult member in attendance to help him determine those needs as well.  This was the purpose for the pre-call meeting as well as to inform our members what will happen next.  We Called Pastor Kom from Crown of Life to be our Vacancy Pastor at this meeting and he has accepted that call.  He will also be serving Crown of Life while he is our Vacancy Pastor.  He will serve St John just as Pastor Voigt has done.  However, he will not be using the Pastor's office at St John and can be reached at  markkom@crownoflifemn.org    His cell phone 651-587-5122.

Pastor Voigt's last worship service will be December 30, and Pastor Kom will serve us after that. Tom Koepsell will be our Adult Bible class leader starting on January 6.

A Congregational Call meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2019, at 11:00 AM. 

Ministry Self-Assessment Reminder

Checking Our Bearings

Ships do not travel in a straight line. The wind and the currents shift, changing the ship’s direction. And so the crew must constantly check their bearings, making certain that they are still aimed in the right direction.

Much like a ship, congregations need to check their bearings, to aim ministry efforts in the right direction. Paul tells us what that direction is when he writes, “...I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Our membership and church attendance has been stagnate or decreasing the last few years and after closing the school, there was a sense of “now what?” In February, we will check our bearings together and define our direction by asking the question “Are we doing everything that we possibly can to share the Gospel, both to our members and also with the unchurched?”

The Self-Assessment and Adjustment program (SAA), offered by WELS Congregational Counseling, will help us answer the question “Are we doing everything that we possibly can to share the Gospel?” This program will allow our congregation to check our bearings and define the direction God has called us to go.

We need you to be part of this.

There are two ways you need to be involved.

1) Fill out our congregation’s Pulse Survey. Every adult member should complete this survey (spouses should each fill out a survey). Click on the following Link.

http://stjohnev.net/survey

2) Set aside Saturday and Sunday, February 2-3. A member of the WELS Congregational Counseling will be here to lead us in Bible study and small-group discussion on every aspect of our ministry. He is not here as an expert to tell us how to do ministry. He is here to facilitate discussion among ourselves about how we might share the Gospel as much as possible. Then on Sunday, after our service, he will help us determine the direction God has called us to go and adjustments we can make over the next year.

The measure of a healthy congregation is not statistics. A healthy congregation... or a church heading in the right direction… is one that is doing all it can to bring a life-giving Savior to a dying world. So help us check our bearings and define God’s direction for us. Thank you!

Want more information? Watch a video about the program by clicking below:

https://vimeo.com/164633091

Anticipating Worship (December 9)

Second Sunday in Advent


Worship Theme:  The Lord is coming:  God’s messengers prepare the way before him.

Scripture Readings:
Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 24
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

Sermon Meditation:  Malachi 3:1

Look!  An Advent Messenger

Prayer of the Day:  Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son.  By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


This Sunday is also the Choir Song service.

Come and prepare for Jesus' arrival and appearance.  See you on Sunday at 9:30 AM.

Christian Funeral for Lois Thielen

The Lord called Lois Thielen to her heavenly home this past Monday morning.  We thank our God for giving her faith in Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who took on her sin and took it away.

A memorial service will be held at St. John on Friday, December 7, at 11:00 AM.  There will be no formal visitation before and no furnished meal after.  There will also be a private interment.

Please keep the family in your prayers as we remember the resurrection.