Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the July 16, 2020 Church Council meeting.
  • The Council reported that online worship services are going well and will continue.  It was reported that the July 12th service had over 200 “views” on Facebook Live.
  • At the request of the Altar Guild, it was agreed that Communion will be held on the first and third Sundays of each month.
  • The Council approved reassigning budgeted benevolence from the Mendota Lutheran Home to our Good Samaritan fund.
  • The Call Committee decided not to pursue candidate #10.  They also reported that they will be having an interview with another candidate soon. 
  • James Younger presented a handout outlining options for updating and/or replacing our media equipment to improve the quality of our online worship services.  The Council agreed that funds from undesignated memorials and the building fund could be used to purchase equipment.  James also shared ideas about using digital platforms to reach our Sunday School students in the fall.

Finance Report Year To Date thru June 2020:
Budgeted Income $176,329      Actual Income $158,701
Budgeted Expense $183,549    Actual Expense $155,841

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.

Sunday Scriptures for August

August 2nd: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 55:1-5  God invites Israel to a lavish banquet, a sign of a renewed covenant.
Romans 9:1-5  Paul grieves for his Israelite kinsmen who do not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Matthew 14:13-21  Jesus feeds a crowd of five thousand.
 
August 9th: The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 19:9-18  God appears to Elijah as “a sound of sheer silence.”
Romans 10:5-15  A Christian is accounted righteous before God because of faith.
Matthew 14:24-33  Trust in Jesus sustains his disciples in a time of fear.
 
August 16th: The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8  Righteousness and obedience define God’s people.
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32  God will not forsake his people Israel.
Matthew 15:10-20, 21-28  With a healing miracle, Jesus demonstrates God’s love for everyone.
 
August 23rd: The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 51:1-6  God promises deliverance to his people.
Romans 12:1-8  Use the gifts God has given you & present yourself to him as an offering.
Matthew 16:13-20  Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ).
 
August 30th: The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 15:15-21  God assures Jeremiah: “I will be with you.”
Romans 12:9-21  Paul gives concrete examples for those who would live out of genuine love.
Matthew 16:21-28  Those who would follow Jesus must imitate his sacrificial life.

Crossroads Counseling Center

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We are pleased to be able to provide professional behavioral health counseling services for members of our congregation and for the entire Mendota area through our relationship with Allied Counseling Group of LaSalle.
 
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

Aug. 3     Pearl Merritt
Aug. 4     Joyce Dinges
               Donna Hagemann
Aug. 6     Daniel Randecker
Aug. 9     Leslie Althaus
Aug. 15   David Schroeder
Aug. 17   Carl Kerchner
Aug. 25    Pat Hrovat
Aug. 29    Ed Bock
Aug. 31    Allan (Tim) Munson

Happy 50+ and Milestone Anniversary!

Jim & Alice Fritz
August 2nd — 35 years

Roger & Barbara Anderson
August 5th — 59 years

Dave & Melanie Schroeder
August 17th — 57 years

Len & Marilyn Schaller
August 22nd — 61 years

John & Carol Wheeler
August 23rd — 51 years

Dennis & Connie Pohl
August 26th — 53 years
Pearl Merritt will celebrate her 95th birthday on August 3rd.  Her family is planning a Card Shower in her honor.  Your good wishes can be mailed to her at:
            Pearl Merritt
            505 Adelaido
            Apt. 208
            Normal, IL 61725
Pat Hrovat will celebrate her 95th birthday on August 25th.  If you would like to send a card her address is:
            Pat Hrovat 
            c/o David J. Hrovat
            464 Pinnacle Way
            Ludlow, KY 41016-1702
We recently received this Certificate of Recognition from the Northern Illinois Synod for our support of ELCA World Hunger.

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.
The Christ in Our Home devotional booklets are available in the narthex and in the box outside of the office door.
Cemetery Plots are available for purchase.  Please see Susan in the church office if you would like more information.

School Supply Collection
for Lutheran World Relief

Can you believe it is almost time for the new school year?  While we may not be exactly sure what “school” will look like for our children this year, we know that school supplies will be needed.  This is a reminder that we at St. John's continue to support Lutheran World Relief.  In addition to making quilts, we also assemble school kits.  A total of 8 items are needed for each kit.  LWR is very specific about items that are allowed in the school kits, so please refer to this list or the hardcopy of the newsletter.  Notebook (spiral 70 pgs), Ruler, Pencil Sharpener, Scissors (blunt), #2 Pencils (unsharpened), Ink Pens (no gel), 16-24 Crayons, Eraser.  When you are shopping, would you consider purchasing and donating any of these items for our LWR School Kit Project.  There is a collection box marked "School Supplies" outside of the church office and another one in the Narthex.  Thank you for your continued support of LWR.