Church News

All Saints Sunday
November 3rd & 4th

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Scripture speaks of grief and its heavy toll on those who have suffered loss.  More frequently, however, in the New Testament we read about the “joy that comes in the morning”.  That Joy comes when we lift our faith to remember the Resurrection and the Victory won by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  During worship on November 3rd & 4th, we will remember in thanksgiving the saints who have gone before us, those who this past year have joined the Church Triumphant.  We remember:  Florence Ayers, Ralph Boelk, Patricia Despain, Bernice Eich, Don Engels, Alberta Goebel, June Martens, Earl Mathesius, Irene Mealey, Robert Politsch, Donald Pollex, Bernard Rockwood, Edith Silfies, Vade Wehmeyer, Tom Westrick, and Linda (Garner) Wilson.

Love Does Bible Study
Meets in the Luther Lounge

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All women of St. John's and their friends are invited to join the Soul Sisters for a Bible study based on best-selling author Bob Goff's book, LOVE DOES.
 
We hope that you will join us in the Luther Lounge following worship (10:15am to 11:15am).
 
FYI About Soul Sisters:

- In Soul Sisters, we don't do homework.

- Jump in at any time, any Sunday, and you won't feel like you've missed a thing.

- Every woman is welcome, no matter where you are in your faith walk or your life circumstances.

- We share a lot of great ideas and stories, and we lift each other up every week.

Please join us after church from 10:15am to 11:15am.

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the October 18, 2018 Church Council meeting.
  • Carol Alcorn from the PADS homeless shelter will join us at our Generosity Sunday meal on October 28th to accept the donations being made to the shelter;
  • There will be NO Chapel service on Saturday, November 24th;
  • Council voted to hold ONE service on Christmas Eve at 7pm with Pastor Susan Presley presiding.
 
Finance Report Year To Date thru September 2018:
Budgeted Income $263,845    Actual Income $239,922
Budgeted Expense $283,942  Actual Expense $261,713
Behind Budget on Regular Offerings by -$23,259
Special Offerings: $1,165 (Hurricane Relief)

Crossroads Counseling Center

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Over one year ago, Allied Counseling Group of LaSalle became our new providers.  We are pleased to be able to provide professional behavioral health counseling services for members of our congregation and for the entire Mendota area.
 
Thanks to the generosity of St. John’s, the services provided at Crossroads are affordable to everyone.  Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.
 
Appointments can be made by calling the Allied Counseling office at 815-224-4522 and asking for the Mendota site.  Ms. Pamela Wolf, LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, serves at our Crossroads Center.

75th + Birthday

Nov. 2    Shirley Roloff
Nov. 4     June Pollex
Nov. 6    Charles Betz
Nov. 8    Phyllis Hitchins
Nov. 9     Joyce Hoelzer
Nov. 12  Marilyn Schaller
Nov. 14  Robert Meinhardt
Nov. 15  Delphine Dalton
                 Ruth Wedemeyer
Nov. 22  Dorothy Ladenburger
Nov. 27  Donna Hasse
                 Barbara Zinke
Nov. 29  Betty Dufour

Congratulations!

Tim & Carole Eich
November 17th — 40 years
 
Wilbert & Carol Kerchner
November 27th — 64 years
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Everyone is invited to attend the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve worship to be held at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, November 21st at 7pm.  Hope to see you there!

Special Items of Interest:

  • Please contact the church office when you or a family member are hospitalized.  Because of privacy laws, the hospital will not contact us.
  • For the safety of our precious children, and for the security of our members, guests, volunteers, staff, and church property, notice is given that the premises are video-monitored.
  • Find us on Facebook! Search for "St. John's Lutheran Church" and join our page. It's an easy way to stay up-to-date on the happenings here at church.
  • Due to a lack of use and a small number of volunteers, we are not offering a staffed nursery during Sunday morning worship at this time.  However, parents with infants or small children are welcome to use the Nursery or the Cry Room (near the Women’s restroom in the narthex) during Sunday services.  TV monitors are provided in both locations so you may view the service.  Please ask an usher for assistance.

Cemetery Plots are available for purchase.  Please see Susan in the church office if you would like more information.
On Saturday, October 20th, over 100 people gathered in our Fellowship Hall to pack 52,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger.  We learned that these meals will be headed to Florida for those impacted by Hurricane Michael.  Thank you to everyone who helped with set up, packing, and clean up.  Your hard work is very much appreciated!

An Update from our Seminarian

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We are excited to announce that Maria has successfully completed her CPE course (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Mercy Health in Rockford.  She will begin her internship at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Evansville, WI on September 1st.  Once the year-long internship is complete, Maria will spend her final year on campus at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA.  Please continue to include Maria and her family in your prayers.
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You are invited to join the Quilting Group in the Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, November 27th beginning at 9am.  Did you know that our Quilters make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, Romanian Orphanages, the Mendota Lutheran Home, and the PADS homeless shelter?  They also gift baby quilts to newly baptized children at St. John’s.  We are currently in need of fabric and sheets.  You may drop items off in the church office.  Thank you!