Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the December 18th, 2025  meeting of our Church Council:
  •  Used the Faith 5 practice for their devotion
  •  Decided that “All Teams” nights would meet quarterly;     teams meet on their own schedule alternate  months.
  •  Passed a budget to recommend to the congregation at its   annual meeting..
 Finance Report Year To Date thru November 2025:
Budgeted Income $336,985   Actual Income $310,459
Budgeted Expense $348,068   Actual Expense $346,591
 
We are grateful for your continued financial support, through your offerings in person, through the mail, and through electronic giving.  We are blessed to have such a faithful St. John’s family.

Lunches For Learning

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Did you know? St. John’s has been supporting “Lunches for Learning,” a program that provides lunches to school children in Honduras. In November, Lunches for Learning volunteers from the U.S. were able to visit Jose Trinidad Cabañas school, to celebrate graduation with the kindergarteners and 6th graders who benefit from St. John’s generosity in the Honduran community. Thank you, St. John’s for helping these kids learn and grow!

Christmas Caroling with the Choir

St. John’s Singers and Friends went caroling in December at the hospital, Allure, and Stonecroft. Thank you for bringing the good news and cheer of Jesus to others!
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Caroling at Allure
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Caroling at Stonecroft

St. John’s Sewing Ministry

Thank you for all your generous support of St. John’s Sewing Ministry. The major emphasis of our ministry is making quilts for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). In 2025, we were able to complete 81 quilts. In October , these quilts were forwarded to LWR for their distribution to those in need around the world and in the USA. We already have 14 quilts to start this new year. 
     The sewing group meets in the Fellowship Hall on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 9am-Noon. All are welcome to join. You don’t have to know how to sew as there are several steps to completing a quilt. 
     Donations of fabric and sheets are always appreciated. We look forward to continuing this ministry in 2026.
                                God’s Work, Our Hands.
If you ordered a beautiful poinsettia to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas, you may take one home with you after worship on Jan 4th or you can stop in the church office during office hours.

Cemetery Plots
​for Sale

St. John's Lutheran Church is pleased to offer Cemetery plots for sale in the Lutheran section of the cemetery located on Route 251. Situated within the serene, park-like setting with mature tree's and paved roads. These plots provide a peaceful and dignified final resting place. 
Congregation member prices are discounted to $400.00. Non-members are $500.00. Please contact Carole Eich, cemetery coordinator, for more information at 815-910-5441.

Quilting News!

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The St. John's Quilting group will meet on Thursday, January, 22nd at 9am. 
There are walker bags in the narthex available for anyone who may need one. 
If you have cotton fabric or sheets that need a new home, we would be more than happy to be that new home!  You can drop them off in the church office during regular hours.
Thank you for your continuing support of our projects for Lutheran World Relief.

Special Items of Interest:

  • ​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.
  • The Wednesday prayer group will continue to meet from 9am to 9:30am every Wednesday to lift up prayers on behalf of the St. John’s community.  You can pray aloud or silently, come frequently, or on occasion.  All are welcome!

Prayer
Requests

Prayer requests will be gathered for worship prayers on the first Sunday of the month. Prayer requests submitted on other weeks will be prayed for by the Wednesday prayer group.

St. John's Prayer Chain Ministry

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The prayer chain has been very active these last several months and we are grateful for all of you who participate and offer your prayer support to those going through difficult times.  If anyone else would like to join the prayer chain, please contact the church office.  The prayer chain is conducted primarily through group text messages with a few members receiving information by a phone call.

​Gratitude for the Angel Tree

​Over the last 4 years, our Angel Tree giving has increased impressively. From 2022 to 2025, St John’s giving increased 48% in items for Allure residents!
                                           What a blessing! 
We were also able to donate 31 gift cards to LSSI for their “Holiday Hope Chest”. ​Thank you for helping us bless so many people beyond our walls.

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Thank you to the Holland Family for packing up and delivering all of the donations.
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Allure Residents were very appreciative to receive all the items from the Angel tree.

Small Group Option for Adults
on Sunday Mornings

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The Wired Word group will meet in the Luther Lounge following worship on Sunday mornings. This group for both men and women is led by Mitch Mays and effectively applies the Bible to stories taken from the headlines of the day. We hope you will plan to join us!