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Church News

Church Council Highlights

The following are some highlights from the April 25, 2019 Church Council meeting.

Council approved hiring Grace Brandner as our Summer College Intern. She will be helping in the office, with youth activities, and other duties for about 10 weeks.
Council voted to approve changes to our Ministry Site Profile as requested by the Call Committee.
Council learned that the Mendota Lutheran Home has a positive outlook for the near future.

Finance Report Year To Date thru March 2019:
Budgeted Income $93,368 Actual Income $94,252
Budgeted Expense $92,767 Actual Expense $74,100

We are ahead of regular offerings (year-to-date) by $146.00.

New Adult Class Begins

Our Adult Sunday School group is beginning a new video based study and you’re invited!

“H2O - A Journey of Faith” meets following 9am worship around the big table in the north end of the fellowship hall. We invite you to pick up a cup of coffee and join us for the weekly videos and thought-provoking discussions.

Last Day of Sunday School
Sunday, May 19th

We would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You!” to everyone who invested their time in the faith development of our children this year!

Gary & Sheila Duttlinger (PreSchool & PreK); Sarah Coss, Sammye Schumacher, Linda Erlenborn, Lynette Piller (Kindergarten/1st/2nd); Melissa Nosalik, Dawn Kendall (3rd/4th); Tara Champlin, Jeni Holland (5th/6th); former Interim Pastor Jeff Chubb, Shirley Pierson, Jeff Simonton (Confirmation 7th/8th); Karen Goy (High School); James Younger (Music); Kora Jones, Jamie Kreiser, Valerie Kreiser, Lisa Martin (substitute teachers); Ed & Karyn Bock, Dave & Dorothy Brandner, Grace Brandner, Laurie Ladenburger, Ron & Deb Rose, Dave & Mel Schroeder, Jeff & Lori Simonton, Laurie Zimmerman (Sunday School Greeters). We also thank our Educational Ministry Team of Melvette Jones, Cyndy Kreiser, Sandi Maas & Melissa Nosalik for all of their hard work this year.

Thank You, Pastor Presley!

We say “Thank You!” to Pastor Susan Presley from the First Presbyterian Church for her continued support during this time of transition at St. John’s. Pastor Susan has been leading worship on Saturday evenings for us since February of 2018, as well as helping out with emergencies, and hospital and nursing home visitations as needed. This is all in addition to her responsibilities with her own congregation, and her studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary as she works to complete an advanced degree.

Pastor Susan will be scaling back her schedule with us as we go forward. She hopes to continue leading Saturday worship for us once or twice a month.

If you have the opportunity, please thank Pastor Susan for her dedication to our church family.

Crossroads Counseling Center

Over one year ago, Allied Counseling Group of LaSalle became our new providers. We are pleased to be able to provide professional behavioral health counseling services for members of our congregation and for the entire Mendota area.

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

May 2      Barb Anderson
May 5      Verdell Miller
                Dotti Scholz
May 7      Kenneth Betz
                Georgia Mathesius
May 9      Ruth Delhotal
May 25    Otto Meyer
May 30    Helen Jackson

Reminder: May 28th is Mission Quilt Day. You are invited to join St. John’s quilting group on the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 9am. You do not need to know how to quilt or sew in order to help create these beautiful and versatile quilts. If you are unable to attend the work day, you may take a Quilt Top Kit (found in the Information Booth) home with you and return it when you are finished.

Guest Pastor Schedule for May 2019:

May 4th — Rev. Susan Presley
May 5th — Rev. Bob Hansen
May 11th — Rev. Tammy Anderson
May 12th — Rev. Robin Brown
May 18th — Rev. Susan Presley
May 19th — Rev. Dennis Heaney
May 25th — NO Chapel worship
May 26th — Rev. Harold Grafe

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.

An Update from
Our Seminarian, Maria Bonine...

By the grace of God and through the generous prayers and support from St. John’s I am over half way through my seminary journey! I am also almost half way through my year of internship. Each day I marvel at where God is leading me and I am ever so grateful for the people I have met along the way. Being a tristate traveler has had its ups and downs; with my primary residence and family in Mendota, my official coursework in Dubuque, Iowa and now internship in Evansville, Wisconsin. I have learned that home is where your heart is and in my case my heart is stretched between three states. I am still on target to complete my theological studies in May of 2020 with hopes of having a first call shortly thereafter.

I trust that the road ahead will be illuminated brightly as God continues to provide me and my family with the strength and courage needed for each day. Your continued prayers and support are also a guiding light for me and my family. Thank you for your care and compassion in raising up a future leader in the church and for your faithfulness in providing the encouragement and financial resources that allow me to faithfully continue in my call to ministry of word and sacrament. God’s blessings to you all in 2019. I hold you in my prayers, trusting that God is at work in and through you all each day.

In Christ, Maria Bonine,

Mail for Maria can be addressed to:
Vicar Maria Bonine
St. John’s Lutheran Church
312 South Third Street
Evansville, WI 53536

Thrivent Financial Members

Please make sure that you have designated St. John’s as the recipient for your Choice Dollars. Also, remember that you are eligible to receive two grants of $250 each year. We have been blessed to be able to use these grants for Vacation Bible School, many youth events and activities, and Outreach activities. If you are interested in applying for a grant to be used for St. John’s ministries, please contact Karen Goy as they are looking for additional funding for Lunch in the Park scheduled for Friday, June 7th. She would be happy to help write the grant as well as the follow up report. Thank you in advance!

On Saturday, October 20th, over 100 people gathered in our Fellowship Hall to pack 52,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger. We learned that these meals will be headed to Florida for those impacted by Hurricane Michael. Thank you to everyone who helped with set up, packing, and clean up. Your hard work is very much appreciated!