Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the August 25, 2022 meeting of our Church Council:
  • Council continues to monitor the Covid-19 situation in our area.  Beginning on Sunday, September 11th, you are invited to come forward for Communion as we've done in the past.  Those wishing to commune from their seats are welcome to do so.  Individual, disposable Communion cups will be available in the narthex.
  • We have been in contact with Willet Hauser, the company that will repair our stained glass windows.  We are just waiting to learn an actual starting date for those repairs.
  • Council recognized that Vicar Anthony Windau has completed his Seminary internship with our congregation.  Vicar Anthony will now become a staff member as he completes his final year of Seminary classes.

Finance Report Year To Date thru July 2022:
Budgeted Income $210,909     Actual Income $192,581
Budgeted Expense $221,020   Actual Expense $220,399

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 Message from
Steve Florschuetz,
Stewardship Team Member

Stewardship involves so many things.  It is the sharing of the gifts God has given us.  This includes our talents, our time, our money, etc., all to be used for God’s work.  We take so many of these gifts for granted.  Recently, I read an intriguing and inspiring book written by an NFL football player named Dennis Byrd who played for the New York Jets.  The book is called Rise and Walk.  In an NFL game in 1992, Dennis was paralyzed.  The book is about his struggles after the accident to be able to actually walk again.  He went through many triumphs and devastating disappointments along the way.  However, through it all, his faith and the faith of his wife never faltered.  One of the many things that inspired him was the story of Job in the Bible.  Job, who had it all at one time, also had everything taken away from him.  Even his good health was taken from him.  In spite of all his struggles, he refused to denounce God or his faith.  Did he question God?  Yes, of course he did, but he still had his faith in spite of everyone around him telling him otherwise.  There is so much we can learn from people like Job and Dennis Byrd.  We need to be thankful for the gifts we have and be willing to share them with others in God’s name.  God help us all to be more thankful every day.  If we are, the world would be a much better place.

Virtual Worship Information

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As you may know, Facebook recently “unpublished” our page, and made it impossible for us to share live worship with you.  We have started a new Facebook page “St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mendota, IL” and ask you to join that new page.  For the time being, we are sharing worship via our YouTube channel.  Simply go to www.youtube.com and search for STJ LUTHERAN MENDOTA.  You do not need to subscribe to YouTube or our channel in order to watch the worship services.  We have also added a "button" to the first page of our website that will take you right to our YouTube page.

Of course, we invite everyone to join us in person for worship on Saturday evenings at 5pm or Sunday mornings at 9am. 

75th + Birthday

Sept. 4    Jean Schwingle
Sept. 13  Jean Carnahan
Sept. 29  Richard Althaus

Happy 50+ and
Milestone Anniversary Wishes!

Jan & Judy Schuster
September 1st — 60 years

Gary & Mary Kay Sutton
September 4th — 57 years

Rex & Kris Blunk
September 22nd — 50 years
       Updated Addresses for
         our Military Members

Gabrielle Brown has deployed to Kuwait. Mail can be sent to:
SPC Gabrielle Brown
149th MCB
Apo, AE 09366

Kianne (Brown) Jones is stationed in Washington. Mail can be sent to:
Kianne (Brown) Jones
921 115th Street
Apt. 0203 CTE
Tacoma, WA 98445

Haleigh Wendel is stationed in Hawaii. Mail can be sent to:
Haleigh E. Wendel
1175 Oklahoma Dr.
Unit #46
JBPHH, HI 96860

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.

Quilting News!

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We are happy to announce that Council has approved the resumption of Mission Quilt Days.  The group will meet twice a month typically on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9am (except for the month of December).  For the month of September they will meet on Tuesday, September 13th and Tuesday, September 27th.

The Quilting Ladies have replenished the walker bag basket in the Narthex.  If you know of someone who would enjoy a bag, or if you would like one, please feel free to take one.  They have also been able to assemble some Quilt Top Kits.  If you would like to sew at home, the Kits are now available at the Information Booth and the Church office.

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.

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.
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The Christ In Our Home daily devotional booklets for July, August, and September are available in the narthex and the church office.

Small Group Option for Adults
on Sunday Mornings

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The Wired Word group will meet around the tables in the north Fellowship Hall 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!