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Church News

Do You Have Any Family Advent Traditions?

Does your family set up a nativity, or advent wreath, or use an Advent calendar to count down the days? We'd love to share your traditions with our St. John's Family.

Send us some photos or a quick video of your family's Advent traditions so we can share them with the St. John's Family. You can send them to James Younger by text (815) 910-0020 or email jjyounger@gmail.com. If you have trouble sending the file, please contact James and he can help you.

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the November 19, 2020 Church Council meeting.

Pastor Ken announced that we will have an online Advent service led by our Youth each Wednesday starting December 2nd. He will provide a weekly message on HOPE.
Council approved Christmas Eve worship services at 4:30pm and 9pm (the pews will be sanitized between services).
The Executive Team accepted with regret the resignation of Interim Youth Director, Karen Goy.
St. John’s Task Force will donate $250 to “Operation Elf Action” and $250 each to Blackstone, Lincoln & Northbrook schools for their Backpack Blessings food program. The Task Force is also purchasing 10 tablets to provide a recording of the worship service to some of our shut-ins.
Council also extended a special “Thank You” to Cyndy Kreiser for her many years of dedication to our Educational Ministry Team.

Finance Report Year To Date thru October 2020:
Budgeted Income $293,891 Actual Income $250,376
Budgeted Expense $303,574 Actual Expense $265,301

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.

A Note of Gratitude
from Karen Goy

St. John's Quilting Ladies Continue Their Work

After the Thanksgiving holiday, the Quilting Ladies will replenish the walker bag basket in the Narthex with many Christmas themed bags. If you know of someone who would enjoy a bag, or if you would like one yourself, please feel free to take one.

At this time, they are accepting donations of sheets that are used in making the quilts for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Donations can be dropped off at the church office. Although the ladies are not able to get together on a monthly basis, members of the group are working at home to continue this ministry for LWR. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Advent Calendars are Available

To assist you in your advent time of waiting, we will make available Advent Calendars to be shared in your home.

Pick yours up in the Narthex following worship on Sunday, November 29th, or stop by the church office during office hours.

Crossroads Counseling Center

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

Dec. 1    Robert Hagemann
Dec. 7    Rita Randecker
Dec. 10 Betty Croisant
             Carol Fischer
Dec. 14 Robert Williams
Dec. 17 John Betz
Dec. 18 Kenneth Miller
Dec. 19 Myrintha Morton
Dec. 25 Mary Haenitsch

Happy 50+ Anniversary Wishes!

Elwood & Jo Ann Kidd
December 6th -- 62 years

Daniel & Rita Randecker
December 28th -- 62 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

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:

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.

The Christ In Our Home daily devotional booklets for October, November, and December 2020 are available in the narthex and the church office.

We have regular print and large print copies for you to choose from.

Poinsettia Orders for Christmas Eve are due by Tuesday, December 1st.

Please call the church office if you have any questions or to place an order. Thank you!

Upcoming Office Closures and Information

¨ The church office will be CLOSED on December 24th 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 December 31st.

¨ Remember that December 31st is the last day for financial contributions for 2020.

¨ When the snow and ice arrive this winter, please remember that the standard rule for canceling worship services and meetings is for you to stay safe! If either ice or snow would endanger your drive or entrance to the church, please stay home! Let safety be your guide.