~ Important News! ~
For reasons unknown to us, our original Facebook page has been "unpublished" by Facebook, and we are unable to post anything to it. 

We have created a new Facebook page (St. John's Lutheran Church, Mendota, IL) and invite you to follow us there.

We are also sharing our worship services on our YouTube channel.
Go to www.YouTube.com and search for "STJ LUTHERAN MENDOTA".

Another Year Is Upon Us

I will come to you in the silence,
I will lift you from all your fear.
You will hear my voice,
I claim you as my choice,
Be still and know I am here.

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you each by name.
Come and follow me,
I will bring you home.
I love you and you are mine. (ELW 581)
As we begin another year, I am prayerful that we might come to know who we are.  Way too often these days we are being coerced in to thinking that we must somehow be aligned with someone or something, which is foreign to my sense of who I am and whose I am.  The hymn I printed here reminds me of my true identity.
 
This reality, like the hymn suggests, this realization, this truth comes to me in the silence.  When I shut out the noise and listen in the stillness, God’s promise and my baptismal identity are made more known to me.
 
In this next year many things will happen.  Some things will be good and joyous and others not so much, of this we are certain.  Yet my prayer is that we may always claim our oneness with God.  As the last verse of this hymn lifts up, we are free to love as God has loved us.
I am the word that leads all to freedom,
I am the peace the world cannot give.
I will call your name,
Embracing all your pain.
Stand up, now walk and live. (ELW 581 vs 4)
 
Happy New Year Everyone!
                                                                                    ~ Pastor Ken Gibson

Join Pastor Ken for Daily Devotions

We hope you are joining Pastor Ken for daily devotions, Monday through Thursday mornings at 8am on Pastor Ken Gibson's Facebook page.  It’s a nice way to start your day!

Pastoral Care

Picture
If you find yourself in need of pastoral care or you or a family member are hospitalized, please contact the church office and we will put you in touch with Pastor Ken Gibson.  Remember that because of privacy laws, the hospitals do not contact us when you or a family member are admitted. 

Church Office Hours

Picture
The church office is open Monday through Thursday beginning at 8:30am.

The church office is CLOSED on Fridays and this is also Pastor Ken’s day off.  In case of an emergency, you can reach Pastor Ken at (815) 861-9554.

The church office will be CLOSED on Monday, December 27th in observance of the Christmas Holiday.  The office will also close at 12:30pm on December 28th, 29th and 30th.  The church office will be CLOSED on Monday, January 3rd in observance of the New Year Holiday.

Online Giving to St. John's
is Now Available!

Thank you for supporting the mission of St. John's!

Good News!

Picture
At the request of Wartburg Theological Seminary, we have been asked to assist them in the placement of an Intern.  Starting January 15th, Anthony Windau will be with us as our Intern.

We are excited to be a partner in this learning process for Anthony and for us here at St. John’s.  Watch for further details as we welcome him into our life together!

Help Yourself...

Picture
The Quilting Ladies are replenishing the walker bags in the Narthex with lots of Christmas themed bags. If you know of someone who would enjoy a bag, or if you would like one, please feel free to take one.

Our quilters take some well-deserved time off and do not meet in December, but they will get together again in January.  Mark your calendar for Tuesday, January 25th and make plans to join them at 9am in the fellowship hall. You do not need to know how to quilt or sew to help create these beautiful quilts. All are welcome to join us for a morning of work and fellowship!
Picture
If you ordered a beautiful poinsettia to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas, you may take one home with you after worship on January 2nd or you can stop in the church office during office hours.