Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the February 18, 2021 Church Council meeting:
  • Council approved using Liturgical Setting 3 during Lent. 
  • The Seminary Intern Team will be comprised of Pastor Ken Gibson, Ken Ladenburger (chair), Richard Althaus and Shirley Pierson.
  • First Communion will be held for our second grade students on Palm Sunday, March 28th.
  • The Council made the following Team assignments: Ken Ladenburger - President, Task Force, Seminary Intern; Todd Zimmerlein - Vice President, Benevolence; Carol Wheeler - Treasurer, Finance; Roberta Wendel - Secretary, Youth Huddle, Task Force, Memorial; Ed Bock - Property; Dorothy Brandner - Youth Huddle, Memorial; Gary Duttlinger - Property; Melvette Jones - Educational Ministry, Outreach, Scholarship; Dawn Kendall - Youth Huddle.

Finance Report Year To Date thru January 2021:
Budgeted Income $30,732       Actual Income $37,403
Budgeted Expense $32,290     Actual Expense $27,245

We are grateful for your continued financial support, through your offerings in person, through the mail, and through automatic giving.  We are blessed to have such a faithful St. John’s family.

It's Time To Order
Easter Flowers

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If you would like to purchase blooming plants (Easter lily, geranium, cyclamen, begonia, tulips or kalanchoe) to help decorate the sanctuary for Easter, please call or email the church office.  Plants are $11.00 each and orders are due by Monday, March 15th.  As usual, we will indicate if the plant is given “In Memory of”, “In Honor of”, or “In Thanksgiving for” someone special and you will be invited to take your plant home with you after worship on Easter Sunday.  Thank you in advance.

Thrivent Financial Members

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Please be sure that you have designated St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mendota for your 2021 Choice Dollars before the end of March.  In 2020, we received $970.00 through the Thrivent Choice Dollars Program.  We thank you for choosing St. John’s!

Also, don’t forget that Thrivent provides promotional resources and up to $250 in seed money to jump-start a fundraiser, educational event or service project.  Members are eligible for up to two Thrivent Action Team grants per year.  Please speak to someone in the church office if you would like help applying for a Thrivent grant.

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.

75th + Birthday

Feb. 23    Elizabeth Robinson
Feb. 27    Jerrene Gray

Mar. 1     Gladys Brantner
Mar. 4     William Simonton
Mar. 6     Thomas Truckenbrod
Mar. 10   Roger Anderson
Mar. 11  Gary Sutton
Mar. 12  JoAnn Kidd, Marlene Simonton
Mar. 16   Joan DeWeerth
Mar. 17   Marienne Daniels
Mar. 18  Karyn Bock
Mar. 20   Geraldine Sauer
Mar. 31 Melanie Schroeder

Happy 50+ and Milestone Anniversary!

John & Sherri Bowne
February 28th — 40 years

Rick & Becky Lowers
March 21st — 40 years
             ~ Updated Address ~

Haleigh Wendel has completed Navy boot camp and is now undergoing further training toward becoming a Cryptologic Technician (CTR).  She would love to hear from you!  Her new mailing address is:
          Wendel, Haleigh, E.
          440 Roberts Avenue
          PMB #1939
          Pensacola, FL  32511

Fabric Face Masks Donated

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We say “Thank You!” to Myrintha Morton for generously making and donating 30 fabric face masks for us to have available for any of our members who might need one.  Throughout this covid-19 crisis, she has made over 300 face masks!  What a great outreach to our community!  If anyone else would like to donate fabric face masks, you are welcome to bring them to the church office.

Special Items of Interest:

  • If you want Pastor Ken to know when you or a family member are hospitalized, please contact the church office.  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.
The Christ In Our Home daily devotional booklets for January, February, and March 2021 are available in the narthex and the church office. 
 
We have regular print and large print copies for you to choose from.

Winter Weather Information

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Please remember that the standard rule for canceling worship services during our snowy, icy, wintry months is for you to stay safe! 

If snow, ice, or dangerously low temperatures would endanger your drive or entrance to the church, please stay home and join us virtually! 

We will do our best to have the office open during our normal hours, but if school is canceled, it would be a good idea for you to phone the church office to be sure we are open before venturing out.  Let safety be your guide.