New Year's Eve Worship Service

Divinity invites St. John members to a New Year's Eve service of word and sacrament at 7:00 PM.

Anticipating Worship (December 29)

First Sunday after Christmas

Worship Focus:
"God cares for His Children"

Readings:
Isaiah 63:7-9
Psalm 2
Galatians 4:4-7
Matthew 2:13-15,29-23

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.

Sermon:  Isaiah 63:7-9
"God Takes Your Salvation Personally"

Please join us for worship and praise on Sunday at 11:00 am.

We invite you to come at 10:00 for Bible study. 

Pastor Berg will be leading us in worship. 

(There will be no Little Lights on Sunday)

The Jesus You Thought You Knew-A Bible Study

The Jesus You Thought You Knew

A BIBLE STUDY

To grow in understanding and appreciation of our Savior

TUESDAYS

Beginning January 14

6:30 AM and 6:30 PM

Sign up Today in the narthex! 

   

Anticipating Worship (December 22)

Worship Focus:   The Virgin Birth of Christ was Promised!

We Light 4 Advent Candles remembering Jesus!

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.

Readings:
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon:  Matthew 1:18-25
GOD'S PEOPLE AWAIT CHRISTMAS BY BEING SAVED

Please join us Sunday, December 22nd, at 10:00 for Bible Study and worship with us at 11:00 am

on this Fourth Sunday in Advent. 

We look forward to celebrating our dear Savior's birth with Worship at 5:00 pm Christmas Eve 
and at 11:00 am on Christmas Day.

Pastor John Berg will be leading us in worship. 

Christmas Celebration

Immanuel Hmong has invited St. John members to their Christmas Celebration, Sunday, December 22nd, starting with worship at 1:45 pm, followed by Christmas dinner.

Anticipating Worship (December 15)

Worship Focus:
The Forerunner Explains; The Christ is Here!

Readings:
Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-11

Matthew 11:2-11

Lightning of the Third Advent Candle

Semon: Matthew 11:2-11

"Point to Jesus"

Please join us on Sunday at 11:00 am for worship and praise. 

Bible Study is at 9:00 am and Choir and Little Lights at 10:00 am.

Pastor John Berg will lead us in worship. 

(On Sunday, December 22nd, there are some time changes:

Choir will be at 9:00 am, Bible Study will change to 10:00 the same as Little Lights)

Church Council News and Updates

• We are looking for some children piano players for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services during the offering. If interested contact Jan.

• Change in Adult Bible classes and Choir practices on Sunday mornings.  Starting Dec 22, the Adult Bible class time has changed to 10:00 on Sunday, Choir practice will be at 9:00.  Service time will remain at 11:00 and Little Lights will remain at 10:00

• A note to members - Our security system is activated between 11:00 PM and 5:30 AM each day.  The system has motion detectors and if it goes into alarm the police are notified and a trustee will get a call from our security company.  If you need to be in the building while it is active, contact a trustee to deactivate it.

• Christmas decoration take-down is scheduled for Friday, January10th at 6:00 PM.

Anticipating Worship (December 8) Song Service

Please join us on Sunday at 11:00 am for a special Song Service.

Our Adult choir will be singing a selection of songs they have been working hard on and our 

Little Lights will be singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain". 

Come join us this Advent season. 

Following our worship service, there will be a Craft and Bake Sale which

you will be able to pick from an array of wonderful things.

There is also a Potluck that everyone is welcome to attend!

Advent Services at Divinity Lutheran

Divinity Lutheran has invited St John members to join them for Advent services on 

Wednesdays, December 11th and 18th, at 6:00 pm.  Dinner will be served at 6:45 pm. 

Please see the sign-up for the dinner on the table in the narthex.

Anticipating Worship (December 1st)

Worship Focus:
Keep watch, for the Lord, will come again.

Prayer of the Day:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 18

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

Please join us for worship on Sunday as the season of Advent begins and we light one candle!

Our new service time is 11:00 am. There will be Bible study at 9:00, and Choir at 10:00.

We will be welcoming Pastor John Berg as our vacancy pastor. 
Pastor Berg serves at Divinity Lutheran Church.

Advent Service and Supper

Divinity has invited St John members to join them for an Advent service at 6:00 pm, 

on Wednesday, December 4th.  A dinner will be served at 6:45 pm. 

Please see the sign-up for the dinner on the table in the narthex.

Craft and Bake Sale and Potluck

Annual Craft and Bake Sale will be Sunday, December 8th. There will also be a Potluck meal. This will follow our worship service. If you would like to donate items for the bake sale or craft sale, please have them priced and packaged (containers that you don’t need returned) and to the Fellowship Hall the morning of December 8th. Please bring a dish to pass for the Potluck. The proceeds from the sale and freewill offering will go towards the purchase of a new microphone for the Fellowship Hall. If you have any questions please talk with Rhonda Evgen. Thank you.

Gift Bags for our Shut-Ins

St. John has 12 members that are shut-ins. We plan to make gift bags to deliver to them. If you could make cookies and bars without nuts and bring them to church on December 8th to the Fellowship Hall, they will be packed up and delivered to them.  If you make different cookies and/or bars put them in different bags for each kind. If you live near a shut-in and would be willing to deliver the bag to them that would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, call Rae Carol Connolly at 952-460-2628.  Thank you.

Thanksgiving Worship Services

St. John will not be having its own Thanksgiving Service this year.

 You are encouraged to take in a service at one of our sister congregations near you. 

A few service times are listed here for your convenience. 

Have a most blessed Thanksgiving!

Christ, North St. Paul: Wednesday - 7:00 pm
Divinity, St. Paul: Wednesday - 6:00 pm
Crown of Life, West St. Paul: Wednesday - 6:30 pm
Grace, South St. Paul: Wednesday - 7:00 pm
New Life, Shoreview: Wednesday - 7:00 pm

Anticipating Worship (November 24)

Last Sunday of the Church Year - Christ the King

Worship Focus:
The last Sunday of the church year emphasizes the Christian’s final status. In Christ, we have an eternal King who will protect us into eternity. We look forward to his return, for that day will usher in our time in the kingdom of paradise.

Readings: Jeremiah 23:2-6, Psalm 98, Colossians 1:13-20, Luke 23:35-43

Prayer of the Day: 

Lord Jesus Christ, by your victory you have broken the power of the evil one. Fill our hearts with joy and peace as we look with hope to that day when every creature in heaven and earth will acclaim you King of kings and Lord of lords to your unending praise and glory; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.   Amen.

Sermon:         Revelation 22:1-5
 "Our New Home - A Gift from our King"

Please join us for worship and praise on Sunday at 9:30 am.

Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship.

Pastor Kom has been our vacancy pastor throughout 2019. His last Sunday will be November 24th.

Join us in the Fellowship Hall following worship for a cake and coffee reception to thank 

Pastor Kom. There will be a card box available for cards and notes of thanks. 

New Bible Translation Available

New Bible translation available: The Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) proclaims the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Translated faithfully from the original Greek and Hebrew, the expressions, imagery, and style of the original texts are present, giving readers an
enduring picture of God's awesome love.

This translation will feel both fresh and familiar to you. The readable style of the EHV will help you understand clearly what God is saying through his Word.

To help you get the most out of your study, the Holy Bible: EHV includes:
- Brief introductions for each book
- Topical section headings
- Footnotes for deeper understanding
- References to parallel passages
- References to Old Testament quotations

With a text that remains reliable and trustworthy, while at the same time being readable and familiar, the Holy Bible: EHV honors the heritage of the church, continuing to hand down the pure Word of God to the next generation. Copies are available at the church office for $20. See Tom Koepsell with any questions. Your payment should be put in an envelope marked “Bible” and dropped in the
offering plate

Immanuel Hmong's Celebration Reminder

Just a reminder that Sunday, November 24th, St. John members are invited to join with Immanuel Hmong in their Hmong New Year and Thanksgiving celebration. Their worship service begins at 12:30 pm in the sanctuary, following the service there is a wonderful meal served in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome!

Christmas Decorating

Help Decorate St. John for Christmas! —Join us on Friday, December 6, at 6:00 p.m. to decorate the church for Christmas. Then join the group for pizza afterward! The more the merrier!

Anticipating Worship (November 17)

Saint Triumphant Sunday

Worship Focus:
The resurrection from the dead for all believers is a source of great hope and joy. Death is not the end of our bodies. Rather, we shall be reunited, body and soul, when Christ returns. And our happy existence in that “new heaven and new earth” goes beyond our most joyful comprehension.

Readings:
Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 150
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Luke 20:27-38

Prayer of the Day:
Almighty God and Savior, you have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered from this world of sin and death. Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sermon:   Luke 20:27-38

"Life's Road Does Not End in the Cemetery"

Please join us this Sunday at 9:30 am for worship and praise.

The Cantabile Singers and Elaine Stindt will be our guests to

share their musical gifts with us.

There will be a door offering taken as a thank you to our guests.

St. John News!

God has richly blessed St John by sending Pastor Kom to be our vacancy pastor from Jan 1 to Nov 30 this year.  We also thank Crown of Life for sharing their pastor with us during this time.  His last service at St John will be Nov 24 and we plan to thank him that day with cake and coffee in the fellowship hall.  A card box will be available for thank you cards.

Divinity has invited St John members to join them for an Advent service at 6:00 PM at Divinity on Dec. 4.  A dinner will be served at 6:45.  St John will not be having an Advent service this year.

Starting Dec 1 we will offer Valet parking for our members who prefer not to park in back and climb the steps.  With the later service start time, we expect it will be harder to find a parking spot on the street.  Just pull up near the ramp in front of the church and one of our members will park your car in the lot and get it for you when you are ready to leave.  Jeff Abrahamson, Jim Julian, and Tony Wimmer will be glad to help you.

New Sunday Morning Schedule

Beginning December 1st, this will be our new Sunday morning schedule:

9:00 am - Adult Bible Class in the Fellowship Hall (this time was chosen so choir members could attend Bible Class)

10:00 am - Choir practice and Little Lights

11:00 am - Sunday Worship Service.

There will no longer be a specific Fellowship Sunday on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Each Sunday there will be refreshments in the Fellowship Hall until our Worship Service begins at 11:00 am.
Council members will bring snacks and make coffee.  Members are also welcomed to brings snacks.

Reminder: Gift Card Drive for New Day Pregnancy Center

The Dorcas Society is sponsoring a gift card drive to help support Christian Life Ministries' Christmas gift program for needy families. If you would like to serve your Lord this Christmas by helping a needy family in our local area, please put any gift card(s) of your choice into an envelope marked "Dorcas" and drop it into the offering plate by Thanksgiving. Walmart and gas cards are preferred, but any and all gift cards will be appreciated and put to good use. Thank you for your gift of love!

Anticipating Worship (November 10)

Last Judgement Sunday

Worship Focus:
The Lord’s justice is not something to be trifled with. The Scripture is very clear that there will come a day, the Last Day, when all who rejected Christ will be repaid for their evil.

Readings:

Jeremiah 26:1-6

Psalm 90

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Luke 19:11-27

Prayer of the Day:

Lord God Almighty, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may always look forward to the end of this present evil age and to the day of your righteous judgment. Keep us steadfast in true and living faith and present us, at last, holy and blameless before you; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon:    2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

"Looking Forward To the Final Accounting"

Please join us on Sunday at 9:30 am for worship. Stay for Fellowship Sunday followed by

Bible Study and Little Lights.

Pastor John Zeitler will be leading us in worship. 

Crossroads Consulting Engagement and Congregational Update

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) 

On November 3rd, congregational voters approved: 1) Crossroads Consulting to help us with ministry planning; and 2) to call Pastor Berg from Divinity as our vacancy pastor effective December 1st.

At the meeting a lot of us had questions on what does engaging Crossroads Consulting mean, and what are the next steps. If you have not done so already, start by checking out this video describing the Crossroads Consulting Process, and then review answers to Frequently Asked Questions below or our previous blog post here.

May our love for the Lord, his Word, and each other move us to support this effort in any way we can. As we continue down the path God has lead us to, pray for St. John. Pray daily. On our own, we may fail. But with God, all things are possible!


Frequently Asked Questions

Who will lead the ministry planning?
Pastor Elton Stroh of Crossroads Ministry Consulting will lead our ministry planning. Pastor Stroh has 19 years of experience consulting with churches on strategic planning. St. John will have a team of 5 - 7 members that will lead the ministry plan and work closely with Pastor Stroh. This team will be our guiding coalition-- we will be looking for both men and women to be on this team that are passionate about ministry planning.

When will we call a Pastor?
St. John will start the calling process for a Pastor once we have a better understanding of where we are going. This will likely be during the mission/vision setting phase (in approximately 6 - 10 months). We want to ensure that when we call a Pastor, we can share our ministry plan with him so that his talents meet our ministry needs. We will rely on Pastor Stroh and the guiding coalition team to help us determine when this is.

How long will the planning process take?
We will update you once we have a confirmed date or plan from Pastor Stroh. Expect us to embark immediately on a 6 - 10 month process to define our unique mission and vision for our ministry efforts in St. Paul. Then Pastor Stroh will support us for an additional 12 months as we implement our ministry plan. Exciting right? Below is a full overview of the process:

St. John Service Time Change

St. John service time will change from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. This change will begin on Sunday, December 1st. Bible Study and Little Lights will be before worship.

Immanuel Hmong-Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year

Immanuel Hmong will celebrate Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year on November 24th. Immanuel Hmong would like to invite all St. John members to join us for worship and dinner. Immanuel Hmong will dress in Hmong traditional clothing, worship at 12:30 pm, following with dinner in the Fellowship Hall.

All are welcome!

Thanksgiving Services

It will not be possible in our situation to have a Thanksgiving service this year. You are encouraged to take in a service at one of our sister congregations near you. A few service times are listed here for your convenience. Have a most blessed Thanksgiving!

· Christ, North St. Paul: Wednesday - 7:00 pm

· Divinity, St. Paul: Wednesday - 6:00 pm

· Crown of Life, West St. Paul: Wednesday - 6:30 pm

· Grace, South St. Paul: Wednesday - 7:00 pm

· New Life, Shoreview: Wednesday - 7:00 pm

Vacancy Pastor Called

On Sunday, November 3rd, the voters extended a call to Pastor John Berg to be our vacancy pastor. Pastor Berg serves at Divinity Lutheran Church. Please keep Pastor Berg in your prayers. We would also like to thank Pastor Mark Kom, who has served St. John from January 1st, 2019-November 30th, 2019. We cannot thank him enough for the time that was given to St. John members as he served both Crown of Life and St. John. We were truly blessed. Also, thank you to the members of Crown of Life who allowed him to share his ministry with us.

Anticipating Worship (November 3rd)

Reformation Sunday

Worship Focus:
What a gift God gave to his church through the Lutheran Reformation! The bright light of God’s “new covenant,” his saving grace in Jesus Christ, pierced through the darkness of law-oppressed religion. As sons and daughters of the Lutheran reformation, we both preserve this truth and share it with the world.

Readings:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36

Prayer of the Day: Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Sermon: Romans 3:19-24
"A Million Dollar Answer to a Million Dollar Question"

Please join on Sunday at 9:30 for worship. There will be a congregational meeting at 11:00 am.

Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship. 

Daylight Saving Time Ends-Fall Back

Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 3rd.

Remember to set your clocks back 1 hour before turning in on Saturday. 

Anticipating Worship (October 27)

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:  Faith is the very foundation of the Christian life. Faith, worked by the Holy Spirit through the gospel, allows us to do great things for the Lord and see eternal life as our ultimate goal. Let us thank God daily for the gift of faith.

Readings:

Habakkuk 1:1-3; 2:1-4

Psalm 27

2 Timothy 1:3-14

Luke 17:1-10

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty God, in your bountiful goodness, keep us safe from every evil of body and soul. Make us ready, with cheerful hearts, to do whatever pleases you; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon:   2 Timothy 1:3-14

                 "Reaching Home"

Please join us Sunday at 9:30 am, to praise our Lord and Savior. 

Stay for Bible Study and Little Lights.

Pastor Percy Damrow will be leading us in worship. 

Anticipating Worship (October 20)

Mission Festival Sunday

Worship Focus:   Our God is loving and gracious and compassionate. He does not want a single soul to perish. So he gives his people the privilege to go out into all the world to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, God’s full and free forgiveness for all - in and through Christ.

Prayer of the Day:   Mercifully grant, O God, that your Holy Spirit may fill our hearts and motivate us to share your good news of salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Readings:
Jonah 4
Psalm 96
Romans 10:14-15
Matthew 9:36-38

Sermon:  Acts 14:26-27
"Mission Festival Memories"

Please join us on Sunday morning at 9:30 am for our 

Mission Festival Service and stay for Bible study.

Pastor Marcus Birkholz will be leading us in worship.

Area Reformation Service at Christ Lutheran

Area Reformation Service – The Eternal Gospel to Proclaim
November 3rd – 4:30 pm – Christ Lutheran – North St. Paul Campus
2475 17th Ave E. – North St. Paul, Minnesota

The Cantabile Singers, along with a volunteer choir and wind ensemble, will provide music for worship. High School to adult singers and instrumentalists are invited to join in the volunteer choir and wind ensemble. Music will be available beginning October 20th. (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0k8tck8do4fk88f/AADLnYkzcr91XJFj1P9NW_UAa?dl=0) Rehearsal times are as follows: Instrumentalists - 1:30 pm; Choir - 2:45 pm. Refreshments will follow the service.

Anticipating Worship (October 13)

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
Our attitude about material possessions and the way we handle money reflect our relationship with God. Amos and Jesus warn that an obsession with gaining more money relegates God to a lowly position in our lives. And, as Paul relates to Timothy, the greatest price we should be concerned about is the ransom Christ paid to reconcile us with God.

Readings:
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 38
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

Prayer of the Day:
Lord God, you call us to work in your kingdom and leave no one standing idle. Help us to order our lives by your wisdom and to serve you in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon:   Luke 16:1-13
"A Heavenly Relationship With Earthly Wealth"

Please join us at 9:30 am Sunday morning as we worship and praise our Savior.

Stay for Fellowship Sunday, Bible Study, and Little Lights. 

Pastor John Zeitler will be leading us in worship. 

Voters Meeting November 3rd

The Church Council is recommending St. John approves the next phases with Crossroads Consulting.  Please join us on November 3rd at 11:00am for a Voters Meeting on this next step.  The cost for this is $9,500-$11,000.

Crossroads Consulting will provide St. John a strategic planning process to define our unique mission and vision for our ministry efforts in St. Paul. Pastor Stroh will support us through this process and beyond. Exciting Right? Below is a full overview of the process: 

Truth In Love Ministry Training Session

Build Bridges not Barriers - Truth in Love Ministry — St. John members have been invited to attend an in-depth training session on our relational, not confrontational witnessing approach. The session will be Saturday, October 19th, 9:00-11:30 am, at Crown of Life, 115 Crusader Ave., West St. Paul.  Guest speaker is Pastor Jon Leach, Vice President of Truth in Love Ministry.

Anticipating Worship (October 6)

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
We have a patient God, and we are saved because of it. Moses pleaded for the Lord’s patience when the Israelites broke the covenant. Paul illustrates God’s patience with each individual. Christ points out that there is rejoicing in heaven over every soul that repents.

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, we pray that your mercy and grace may always go before and follow after us that, loving you with undivided hearts, we may be ready for every good and useful work; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Exodus 32:7-14

Psalm 51a

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon:  Luke 15:1-10

"What's It Worth to You?"

Please join us on Sunday at 9:30 am for worship and following our service stay for Bible study and Little Lights. 
Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship. 

Anticipating Worship (September 29)

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus: Disciples of our Lord share many qualities. As Jesus describes, they count the cost of following him and making him first priority in their lives. They also share a wisdom which comes down from above, the enlightenment of faith. Finally, as Paul urged Philemon, Christians put the best interests of God’s kingdom before their own.

Readings:
Proverbs 9:8-12
Psalm 19
Philemon 1:1,10-21
Luke 14:25-33

Sermon:   Luke 14:25-33
"Use the Right Resources For Survival"

Please join us for worship, Sunday at 9:30 am. Also, stay for a reception following the service for

Bob Averbeck and Margaret Kuchera to thank them for the many years

they have shared their musical talents with St. John

Pastor John Zeitler will be leading us in worship. 

WELS Support for St. John and Upcoming Dates You Should Know

Reminders

1. Ministry Planning Saturday, Sept. 21st - 8:30AM - 12:30PM Click here for more information
2. Little Lights Children Program Starting Sept 22nd Click here for more information

Ministry Update

The St. John Council met with pastors from the MN district and local WELS churches to discuss our ministry planning efforts on September 12th. They have offered their support to us during our ministry planning. Most of the meeting was focused on answering questions about our ministry efforts and focus. The synod would like to keep a presence in the city of St. Paul and is committed to helping St. John with any assistance or guidance in doing this.

We have continued visiting households on our prospect list. View our last update here. A small team of 4 individuals at St. John has visited 53 households, or about 40% of the list. Of those visited, most are excited to receive our monthly Good News Letters. To join us, talk to Tony Wimmer or complete the online form.

Anticipating Worship (September 22)

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
The Christian life is one of humility. While the world around us stresses self-promotion, the Christian knows his only boast is in the Lord. Solomon and Christ emphasize the humbleness of being a child of God, and the writer to the Hebrews reminds us to look beyond ourselves in love and sympathy toward others.

Readings:

Proverbs 25:6,7

Psalm 119a

Hebrews 13:1-8

Luke 14:1,7-14

Sermon:   Luke 13:22-30

"Mind the Gap ... the Door is Narrow"

Please join us Sunday at 9:30 am for our worship service,

followed by Adult Bible Study and the kick-off for Little Lights at 11:00 am

Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship.

We Care

The Elders of our congregation just completed a big project! They went through our whole membership list and tried to make a contact with everyone who has been missing from worship and the Lord's Supper. Some had moved away. Others were placed on our "prospect list." Others were simply unable to be contacted. In any case, our membership list is now much more "up to date" and in much more of a "working order." But we realized that we don't want something like that to happen again. So the Elders and leaders of St. John have recommitted themselves to making contact with members much sooner if they notice that folks are missing from worship and communion. So if you should find yourself away from worship for a little while (even for understandable reasons like illness, vacations, etc.) and someone from church calls to make sure that everything is okay.....don't be upset! Instead, say a little thank you prayer to the Lord that your brothers and sisters in Christ care enough and love you enough to call and encourage you. It's always a blessing when God's people are making the effort to show their love for one another.

Anticipating Worship (September 15)

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
The paths of eternity are twofold: total joy in heaven or utter destruction in hell. Every human being will find himself (or herself) in one or the other for all eternity. The way to heaven is through the “narrow door” of Jesus Christ, trusting in him alone for salvation and abandoning the works of the law as a way to earn eternal life.

Readings:

Isaiah 66:18-24

Psalm 72

Hebrews 12:18-24

Luke 13:22-30

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope and love; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sermon:

Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16

"Lord, Give Us Such a Faith as This."

Please join us on Sunday at 9:30 am for worship and 11:00 am for Bible Study.

Pastor Percy Damrow will be leading us in worship. 

Appreciation Sunday

The appreciation Sunday for Bob Averbeck and Margaret Kuchera that was scheduled on September 15 has been rescheduled to September 29.  This will give Bob more time to recover after his recent knee surgery.  He is doing well and is at home now.  May God grant him a speedy and successful recovery.

Funeral for Carol Clendenen

Age 84 of St. Paul, MN, Passed away September 5, 2019, at Comforts of Home in Hudson, WI.
Visitation will be held 5-8 PM Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Avenue, St Paul, MN and again from one hour prior to the 11 AM Funeral service, on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Elmhurst Cemetery. Pastor Mark Kom will be officiating the service on Thursday.

Little Lights Children Program Starting September 22!

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ - Matthew 19:14

Our Little Lights children program will kick off September 22nd! We are looking forward to another great year of sharing God’s word with our children at St. John.

NEW year this is adding Service Group Days that will have all age groups meet together to talk about service work in our community - and DO service work! During these group days, the children will remain at St. John.

If your child(ren) has not attended in the past and you want to learn more - stop by on September 22nd!

If you are interested in helping or teaching in a classroom, please contact Mary Meyer.

The calendar for the remainder of 2019 is listed below.

Date	Lesson
September 22	Service Group Day
September 29	Year 2 Winter Lesson 1
October 6	Service Group Day
October 13	Year 2 Winter Lesson 2
October 20	No Little Lights - MEA Weekend
October 27	Year 2 Winter Lesson 3
November 3	Year 2 Winter Lesson 4
November 10	Year 2 Winter Lesson 5
November 17	Year 2 Winter Lesson 6
November 24	Service Group Day
December 1	No Little Lights - Thanksgiving Weekend
December 8	Year 2 Winter Lesson 7
December 15	Year 2 Winter Lesson 8
December 22	Service Group Day

Our Church, Our Calling: Ministry Planning Saturday Sept. 21st

God calls each of us to use our unique talents to carry out His mission. Our prayer is that all members at St. John have the opportunity and blessings that come from ministry efforts. On Saturday, September 21st, members have an opportunity to be involved in our ministry efforts.

As previously communicated, St. John is kicking off step 1 of our ministry planning process and we want all of our members to attend. We set a high bar earlier this year when 40 adult members attended our self-assessment session. We want to surpass that for this very important session.

Planning to attend? Fantastic, we can’t wait to spend the time with you. Please RSVP here.

Still not sure? We understand, we hope we can convince you to attend. We think you will be glad you did; but, you can find more information, including frequently asked questions, here and a short video here.

We hope you join us for the opportunity to grow in your faith and contribute to St. John’s ministry planning efforts.

Event Details
St. John Ministry Planning Phase 1 - facilitated by Crossroads Ministry Consulting
Saturday, September 21st
8:30AM - 12:30PM
Fellowship Hall in lower level
Breakfast, coffee provided
Childcare available - register here

Anticipating Worship (September 8)

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
The truth of God’s Word is often opposed in this world, and when it is, the Christian may suffer. Believers can expect opposition from prophets and children of darkness. Yet, throughout these struggles, the Christian knows that he will ultimately attain the harvest of righteousness.

Prayer of the Day:
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift of grace that we come into your presence and offer true and faithful service. Grant that our worship on earth may always be pleasing to you and in the life to come give us the fulfillment of what you have promised; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Readings:
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Psalm 139a
Hebrews 12:1-13
Luke 12:49-53

Please join us on Sunday at 9:30 am.  

Pastor Dave Huebner will be leading us in worship. 

Ministry Planning Childcare

Any members that need childcare for our ministry planning session on 9/21 should complete the below survey before 9/14 to plan appropriate volunteers to watch the children.

If you have a teen interested in helping watch the children, please contact Mary Meyer.

Click Here for Survey

Potluck Picnic Sunday!

Potluck Picnic Sunday!
Hope everyone is planning to attend at noon this Sunday, September 8 for some wonderful fellowship.
If you can help with cleanup, please speak with Jim Julian. Pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and beverages provided.

Please bring...
 - Side dish/dessert to share
 - Lawn chairs / blankets, if you wish to sit outside
 - Board games or Lawn games
 - (Forecast does not look promising for the city of WSP to open the splash pad, but optimists may still pack suits and towels.)

...and join us at
Harmon Park Neighborhood Center
230 Bernard Street W.
West St. Paul, MN 55118
(Noon - 3 p.m.)

Anticipating Worship (September 1)

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus: 
The Christian life is a constant looking ahead. What the eyes cannot see is what the heart of faith accepts when promised by God. Abraham serves as a wonderful Old Testament example and he is praised for it in the New Testament. Christ describes the faithful servant who looks ahead and is ready for the Master’s return.

Readings:

Genesis 15:1-6

Psalm 33

Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16

Luke 12:32-40

Sermon:  Genesis 15:1-6

"Believe the Lord"

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Please join us in worship this Sunday at 9:30 am.

Pastor Mark Kom will be sharing God's Word with us. 

September's Fellowship Sunday

September 15th, 2019 — Please Save the Date! Join us as we Thank Robert and Julie Averbeck and Margaret and Michael Kuchera -- for their years of service -- providing Music and supporting the Music to and for St. John. There will be cake, coffee, water, and lemonade If anyone would enjoy sharing a dessert or fruit plate to add to the festivities, your gift would be welcomed!  Please come and thank our dear members for their devotion to spreading the Gospel through their musical gifts -- as organists, composers, musical arranging, choir directing, musical teachers, special music assistants — all which have been blessings to us. Share this note with your friends and fellow members.

Church Choir

Choir rehearsals will begin on Sunday, September 8th, at 8:30 am, in the Music Room. If you have any questions or are interested in joining the St. John Adult Choir please speak with Bob Averbeck.

St. John Picnic & Potluck

Sunday, September 8, Noon – 3 p.m.
Harmon Park Neighborhood Center

230 Bernard Street W.
West St. Paul, MN 55118

As the summer comes to a close, join together with your church family for an afternoon of fun, food and games! Pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, and beverages will be provided. Lunch will be held in the air-conditioned pavilion next to the splash pad and playground at Harmon Park. If you would like to help with setup or cleanup, contact Jim Julian. Look forward to seeing you there!

What you should bring:
1) A side dish, chips, or dessert to share
2) Your favorite board game(s)
3) Swimsuit (in case the splash pad is still open)

Anticipating Worship (August 18)

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
What a privilege it is to bring our prayers to the Lord God! Paul writes of how this privilege was earned for us by Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Abraham is the perfect example of persistence in prayer and Christ teaches us how to pray in the Gospel lesson.

Readings:
Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm 6
Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 11:1-13

Prayer of the Day:
O Lord, your ears are always open to the prayers of your humble servants, who come to you in Jesus’ name. Teach us always to ask according to your will that we may never fail to obtain the blessings you have promised; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon:   Jeremiah 11:18-20
"The Lord Knows Best"
   1: Rely on his wisdom
   2: Rejoice in his victory

Please join us this Sunday at 9:30 am.

Seminarian Tyler Swiderski will be leading us in worship. 

Focus Area Update - St. John: A Mission Church?

Imagine God has called you to start a mission church in a growing urban neighborhood. Think of all the questions you might have. Who lives there? What are their customs? What are their needs? How can I build relationships in the community? To be successful, your mission church would need to answer these questions to reach those in the neighborhood.

In many ways, this imaginary scenario is similar to St. John. To successfully reach those in our neighborhood, we need a plan. As previously announced, we are engaging Crossroads Ministry Consulting to help us define our ministry plan. We want you to be a part of this plan in determining God’s will for us. Join us on Saturday September 21st, from 8:30AM to 12:30PM, for step 1 of our strategic planning process. In an introductory seminar, Pastor Elton Stroh from Crossroads will lead us through an engaging discussion about trends impacting ministry today and essential steps in successful ministries.

What to know more? Start by checking out this video describing the Crossroads Consulting Process and then review answers to Frequently Asked Questions below.

Lastly, pray for St. John. Pray daily. On our own, we may fail. But with God, all things are possible. Romans 8:31-32 “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Pray daily that God super-charges our efforts and gives us the wisdom to develop an effective, God-pleasing ministry plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend the seminar?
You! Seriously! Every member at St. John should attend! The Crossroads planning process engages the entire congregation in a pro-active and consensus-building approach.

God has called each of us to carry out the great commission. Being a part of the ministry planning process is one way everyone can be a part of our ministry efforts. Over 40 people attended the Self-Assessment and Adjustment (SAA) program in February. Let’s see if we can exceed this number!

When is the seminar? How long is it?
Please arrive at St. John by 8:30AM on Saturday September 21st to allow time to get coffee/breakfast and get settled in. The introductory seminar will start promptly at 8:45AM and conclude at 12:30PM.

What is the purpose of the seminar?
The seminar serves two purposes: 1) to inform you about the Crossroads ministry planning process and 2) build consensus for moving forward with the full planning process.

What can I expect at the seminar?
You can expect to study God’s Word, learn about the Crossroads ministry planning process, and hear lots of useful information from Pastor Stroh. Here is the schedule for the morning:

• 8:30 - 8:45 am Arrival – Refreshments
• 8:45 - 9:00 am Devotional Thoughts 
• 9:00 - 10:30 am Session 1: The Cultural Context for Ministry 
• 10:30 - 10:45 am Morning Break 
• 10:45 - 12:15 pm Session 2: The Church Confronts Change 
• 12:15 - 12:30 pm Q & A – Wrap Up 

Who will lead the seminar? What will we discuss?
The seminar will be led by Pastor Elton Stroh of Crossroads Ministry Consulting. Pastor Stroh has 19 years of experience consulting with churches on strategic planning and will lead us through two sessions:

1. The Cultural Context for Ministry

• Factors that Shape Ministry Context 
• Some Trends that Impact Ministry 
• Trends in WELS and Our Congregation 
• Connecting Church and Culture 
• Questions to Consider 

2. The Church Confronts Change

• Collecting and Comparing Our Thoughts on Change
• Three Key Questions on Change in the Church 
• Church Sizes (Growth Obstacles and Strategies) 
• Vital Components of Ministry Planning 
• Learning from Turnaround and Growing WELS Churches 

How is this different than the Self-Assessment and Adjustment (SAA) program?
In some ways, there is overlap. Both programs are focused on the Bible, both involve research, and both programs are focused on the future for St. John. Some of the research and surveys we did for the SAA will actually help us and expedite our planning process.

The key difference is the Crossroads ministry planning process is a much more comprehensive, consensus-building program to develop a ministry plan from scratch and takes advantage of Pastor Stroh’s 19 years of strategic planning experience. The SAA program is better suited for congregations looking to make small changes to its ministry plan based solely on the congregation’s own ideas. St. John really needs a more comprehensive process with outside expertise and guidance.

While the SAA program may not have been the best fit for St. John, it was an important step for us as a congregation. In many ways it re-energized us as a congregation to refocus on our ministry efforts and prepared us to take on this planning process.

Is childcare available?
Childcare will be provided. Look for more details and a registration form to follow in another blog post.

Will food/beverages be provided?Isn’t that the 11th commandment? Thou shalt serve coffee and food at all church gatherings. On a serious note, coffee, beverages, and a light breakfast will be provided. It’s the least we could do as a thank you for your investment of time and energy.

What happens after the seminar? How long will the planning process take?
The seminar is just step 1. After the seminar, we as a congregation need to decide if we want to move forward with the strategic planning process offered by Crossroads consulting. We’ll learn about the process, the effort required by us as a congregation, and the cost of the program. We need to decide: Is the process a good fit for us? Are we willing to support the initiative with time and money?

If we decide to move forward, we’ll embark immediately on a 6 - 10 month process to define our unique mission and vision for our ministry efforts in St. Paul. Then Pastor Stroh will support us for an additional 12 months as we implement our ministry plan. Exciting right? Below is a full overview of the process:

Anticipating Worship (August 11)

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
Labor for the Lord begins with sitting at his feet and listening to his Word. With hearts full of faith Abraham and Mary listened to what their God had to say and considered this activity great service. Likewise, Paul considered the simple presentation of God’s Word to be his greatest ministry.

Readings:
Genesis 18:1-14
Psalm 119a
Colossians 1:21-29
Luke 10:38-42

Sermon:   Luke 10:38-42
                 "Just Relax"

Please join us this Sunday at 9:30 am.

Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship. 

           

Farewell for Cindy Lendt

Cindy Lendt, one of our former teachers, has joined Friends of China and is going to be heading to China with them to teach English to Chinese students. If you would like to wish Cindy good luck, there is going to be a farewell reception on Sunday, August 11th, at 1:00 pm, at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in Stillwater

Anticipating Worship (August 4)

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Worship Focus:
True faith in Christ, created and strengthened by the Word, will produce fruit. Moses and Paul encourage their readers to stay close to God through his Word so that a life of sanctification may result. The Good Samaritan of Jesus’ parable had a faith that made him a neighbor to everyone.

Readings:

Deuteronomy 30:1-9

Psalm 25

Colossians 1:1-14

Luke 10:25-37

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your Word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy and bring forth fruits in faith and hope and love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon: Colossians 1:1-14

               "Live a life worthy of the Lord"

Please join us on Sunday for worship and fellowship!

Pastor Mark Kom will be leading us in worship. 

National Night Out

National Night Out is Tuesday, August 6, at 6:00 PM, in Swede Hollow Park.  Please plan to attend if you are able to greet our neighbors and invite them to worship with us.  St John will be providing free hot dogs for everyone there. There are also flyers around the church with more details.

Vacation Bible School

St. John members are invited to attend Immanuel Hmong's evening Vacation Bible School (VBS) program 
"Set Sail" , August 19-21, from 6-8 p.m.  There is a registration sign up sheet in the narthex for your convenience. If you prefer to text your registration, please do so to 651-308-5271 with the following:

“VBS"

Parent name

Phone (if different from text)

Child (ren) name + age

Shirt size

Allergies

*Registrations preferred no later than August 11.  Friends and neighbors encouraged!