St. John's Youth News
"Growing Together in our Faith as we Serve Others"
No Sunday School classes on December 16th, December 23rd, or December 30th.
Classes resume on Sunday, January 6th.
Sunday School Christmas Program -- Sunday, December 16th
The Sunday School Christmas Program “Make Room” will be presented during the 9am worship service on December 16th.
Our Sunday School students are rehearsing the program during the Sunday School hour. It is very important that your child attends Sunday School these next few weeks leading up to the program so they feel comfortable about the program and can be prepared. We will have a final dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 15th from 9am to 10:30am. On December 16th, please have your child to church by 8:40am so we can prepare prior to worship.
Immediately following the program, we invite you to Make Room in your morning to join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies as well as opportunities for you and your family to “be the gift” to someone this Christmas. Young children are invited to watch a Christmas Story video at the south end of the Fellowship Hall while enjoying their refreshments. Your family is invited to take an ornament off of the “Be the Gift” tree that will suggest one way that you might Make Room in your Christmas season to “be the gift” to someone through an act of caring. You’re also invited to help write a Christmas card to be included in a Christmas bag for one of the guests spending their Christmas at the Peru PADS homeless shelter this season. At 11am join us in caroling as a group to the nursing homes, hospital, and a few of our church family shut-ins before going home. It will be a fun morning of sharing your gift of “presence” and Making Room in our hearts for God to continue writing his story of caring through our St. John’s family. We hope you’ll be a part of it – it won’t be the same without the gift of YOU!!
In lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts between students and teachers, those wishing to give are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to our party. Food gifts will be delivered to the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry for families in need.
Our Sunday School students are rehearsing the program during the Sunday School hour. It is very important that your child attends Sunday School these next few weeks leading up to the program so they feel comfortable about the program and can be prepared. We will have a final dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 15th from 9am to 10:30am. On December 16th, please have your child to church by 8:40am so we can prepare prior to worship.
Immediately following the program, we invite you to Make Room in your morning to join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies as well as opportunities for you and your family to “be the gift” to someone this Christmas. Young children are invited to watch a Christmas Story video at the south end of the Fellowship Hall while enjoying their refreshments. Your family is invited to take an ornament off of the “Be the Gift” tree that will suggest one way that you might Make Room in your Christmas season to “be the gift” to someone through an act of caring. You’re also invited to help write a Christmas card to be included in a Christmas bag for one of the guests spending their Christmas at the Peru PADS homeless shelter this season. At 11am join us in caroling as a group to the nursing homes, hospital, and a few of our church family shut-ins before going home. It will be a fun morning of sharing your gift of “presence” and Making Room in our hearts for God to continue writing his story of caring through our St. John’s family. We hope you’ll be a part of it – it won’t be the same without the gift of YOU!!
In lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts between students and teachers, those wishing to give are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to our party. Food gifts will be delivered to the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry for families in need.
Upcoming Christmas Party Information!!
The 5th & 6th grade party is set for Monday, December 17th from 5:45pm to 8pm in the Fellowship Hall.
The CONFIRMATION party will be held on Thursday, December 20th from 6pm to 8pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Karen Goy will provide a taco/nacho bar and fruit for each event. If you can provide cookies or a dessert, please let her know. In addition to fun Christmas activities, each group will do a gift exchange (not to exceed $10) for those who care to participate.
The CONFIRMATION party will be held on Thursday, December 20th from 6pm to 8pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Karen Goy will provide a taco/nacho bar and fruit for each event. If you can provide cookies or a dessert, please let her know. In addition to fun Christmas activities, each group will do a gift exchange (not to exceed $10) for those who care to participate.
High School Students -- The Flannels & Flapjacks Christmas Breakfast Gathering is being planned for Friday, December 21st around 9:30am (immediately following your last final exam). A warm breakfast of all kinds of options will await you. Your friends are welcome to join us. Stay just for breakfast, or join for some holiday fun before starting your Christmas break. We hope you’ll be able to join us — it’s not the same without you! Please let Karen know if you plan to attend AND if friends are coming (preferable by Thursday, December 20th) so that we have enough food ready when you arrive.
Exciting News About the 2019 High School Mission Trip!
We are very excited to announce the members of our 2019 High School Mission Trip Team who will be serving in St. Louis, MO from July 14th to 19th — Hannah Ambler, Bailey Baird, Aaron Brandner, Sophie Holland, Samantha Katschke, Ted Landgraf, Alayna Nosalik, Andrew Stamberger, Katherine Wohrley, Cole Zimmerman, Garret Zinke, and Gracie Zinke. (Chaperones will be announced soon.) Please add our Team and the community of St. Louis, MO to your prayer list.
High School ENOUGH!
The ENOUGH PADS Dinner is being planned for Saturday, January 5th. We will be preparing a dinner of casserole, veggies, salad and dessert beginning at 4:15pm in the kitchen at St. John’s. We’ll leave church at 5:45pm for the PADS shelter. Dinner is served at 6:15pm. It will be our responsibility to serve an clean up the dishes and kitchen following the meal. If time allows, we’ll play some games with the guests, but will plan to leave by 7:30pm to go eat as a group (if you’d like) before returning home. You are welcome to participate in just part of the event (such as JUST meal prep or JUST serving) or the entire event. We do need a minimum of 5 servers to adequately take care of the PADS guests. If you have a friend who would like to join us, they are welcome. Anyone participating will need to have a signed permission form since we are leaving town (forms were mailed to you, but extras are available in the church office). Please let Karen know if you are planning to participate so that transportation can be arranged. Call or text her at (815) 228-2391.
Please mark your calendars now for these upcoming events:
** February 2nd — Super Bowl Pizza Assembly & delivery;
Prepare & serve the evening meal at PADS Homeless Shelter;
** February 10th — Relay for Life of the Upper Illinois Valley March to a Million Textathon;
** March 5th — Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper.
Information will be sent out with more details for each of these events as the dates approach.
Please mark your calendars now for these upcoming events:
** February 2nd — Super Bowl Pizza Assembly & delivery;
Prepare & serve the evening meal at PADS Homeless Shelter;
** February 10th — Relay for Life of the Upper Illinois Valley March to a Million Textathon;
** March 5th — Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper.
Information will be sent out with more details for each of these events as the dates approach.
St. John's was well-represented on the 2018 MHS Homecoming Court!
Congratulations to Katie, Ally, Maya & Ted!
High School student, Samantha Katschke, is pictured on the bench that was installed in the new playground in Paw Paw. Sammi and her Girl Scout Troop #5158 would like to thank St. John's for the generous donations of bottle caps to help them reach their goal.
St. John's Scholarship Fund Recipients
Scholarships in the amount of $11,000 were awarded to several young church members. Congratulations to:
Grace Brandner (IVCC), Amy Devitt (University of Illinois), Jared Fritz (North Central College), Natalie Landgraf (Western Illinois University), Gabrielle Peasley (Illinois State University), Cameron Schumacher (Bradley University), Brock Sutton (Bradley University), Gillian Sutton (St. Ambrose University), Jacquelynn Wendel (IVCC), Bethany Wohrley (Illinois State University), Melissa Wohrley (North Central College), and Mark Zimmerman (Iowa State University).
Grace Brandner (IVCC), Amy Devitt (University of Illinois), Jared Fritz (North Central College), Natalie Landgraf (Western Illinois University), Gabrielle Peasley (Illinois State University), Cameron Schumacher (Bradley University), Brock Sutton (Bradley University), Gillian Sutton (St. Ambrose University), Jacquelynn Wendel (IVCC), Bethany Wohrley (Illinois State University), Melissa Wohrley (North Central College), and Mark Zimmerman (Iowa State University).
Our First Communion Students
First Communion was held on Sunday, January 21, 2018 for our 2nd grade students. We welcome to the Lord’s Table — from left to right
Corbin Doll (son of David & Melissa Doll), Shea Kreiser (son of Mike & Valerie Kreiser), Christopher Fara (son of Andrew & Charnelle Fara), Kade Jackson (son of Brad & Angie Jackson), Cole Tillman (son of Luke & Lisa Tillman), Klaire Knaff (daughter of Kyle & Kelly Knaff), Riley Erlenborn (daughter of Jim & Linda Erlenborn), and Grace Schlesinger (daughter of Eric Hagemann & Carla Schlesinger), and Pastor Janet Lepp.
First Communion was held on Sunday, January 21, 2018 for our 2nd grade students. We welcome to the Lord’s Table — from left to right
Corbin Doll (son of David & Melissa Doll), Shea Kreiser (son of Mike & Valerie Kreiser), Christopher Fara (son of Andrew & Charnelle Fara), Kade Jackson (son of Brad & Angie Jackson), Cole Tillman (son of Luke & Lisa Tillman), Klaire Knaff (daughter of Kyle & Kelly Knaff), Riley Erlenborn (daughter of Jim & Linda Erlenborn), and Grace Schlesinger (daughter of Eric Hagemann & Carla Schlesinger), and Pastor Janet Lepp.
2018 High School Mission Trip Team
2018 Benton Harbor, MI Mission Trip Team:
(front row L-R) Natalie Landgraf, Tammy Landgraf, Gabrielle Brown, Grace Brandner, Gabbi Peasley, Maya Martin, Bailey Baird, Sophie Holland, Sammi Katschke, and Aimee Holland.
(back row L-R) Matthew Grenter, Mitch Landgraf, Troy Holland, Cole Zimmerman, Gavin Glazebrook, Ted Landgraf, and Logan Brandner.
(front row L-R) Natalie Landgraf, Tammy Landgraf, Gabrielle Brown, Grace Brandner, Gabbi Peasley, Maya Martin, Bailey Baird, Sophie Holland, Sammi Katschke, and Aimee Holland.
(back row L-R) Matthew Grenter, Mitch Landgraf, Troy Holland, Cole Zimmerman, Gavin Glazebrook, Ted Landgraf, and Logan Brandner.
2018 Jr. High Poured Out Mission Trip
The 2018 Poured Out Mission Trip Team is made up of (front row L-R): Alayna Nosalik, Jillian Younger, and Natalie Hanaman; (back row L-R): Melissa Nosalik, Kennedy Knaff, Lauren Holland, and Jeni Holland.
Team Pictures from previous High School Mission Trips
2017 Red Lake, MN Mission Trip Team Maria, Natalie, Brent, Grace, Matthew, Gabrielle, Gavin, Gillian, Cole, Cameron, Aaron, Gabbi and Sammye
2016 Cincinnati, OH Mission Trip Team Maria, Gavin, Jacquelynn, Haleigh, Gillian, Cameron, Natalie, Dave, Grace, Aaron and Roberta.
2015 St. Louis, MO Mission Trip Team
Mary, Jared, Grace, Brock, Natalie, Gillian, Mark, Cameron, Amy, Jacquelynn, Brady, Karen, Don, Maria and Joey
2014 Bayou La Batre, AL Mission Trip Team
Maria, Paige, Grace, Emily, Cameron, Gillian, Jacquelynn, Brady, Amy, Lukas, Jared, Joey, Mark, Brock and Barry
2013 Benton Harbon, MI Mission Trip Team
Jared, Mark, Erik, Brock, Brady, Gillian, Amy, Cameron and Jacquelynn (not pictured: Maria, Alice and Curt)
2012 Eastern Shore of Virginia Mission Trip Team with YouthWorks staff members and Jeff, Amy, Marcus, Mark, Jared, Brock, Paige S., Paige H., Brady and Maria.
2011 Cass Lake, MN Mission Trip Team
Don, Travis, Mark, Amy, Cady, Devan, Paige, Jared, Laurie, Grif, Karen and Marcus.
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2017 Red Lake Team enjoyed a beautiful sunset!
2016 Cincinnati Mission Trip Team onsite with YouthWorks!
2015 St. Louis Mission Trip Team
onsite with YouthWorks at Kossuth Church of God in Christ
We work hard and we play hard! A day of fun on the beach at Dauphin Island, AL.
Our Benton Harbor Mission Trip team with the beloved Mama Wilder.
We LOVED serving the community of Cass Lake!
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