St. John's Youth News
"Growing Together in our Faith as we Serve Others"
Our Super Bowl Pizza fundraiser is underway! Order forms are available in the weekly bulletins, the church office, and on the Information Booth. Feel free to share order forms with your friends and family. Be sure to put Saturday, February 1st on your calendar. That’s the day we will get together in the church kitchen to assemble and deliver all of the pizzas. Remember that all proceeds from the pizza sale goes to support our Mission Trip as well as many other youth activities.
High School Mission Trip News...
We are excited to announce the members of our 2020 High School Mission Trip Team — Bailey Baird, Samantha Katschke, Matt Miller, Tim Miller, Alayna Nosalik, Cole Zimmerman, Garret Zinke, and Gracie Zinke. If you have not signed up, and have decided that you would like to go, please see Karen and we will see about the possibility of adding you to our group. (Chaperones will be announced soon.) Please add our Team and the community of Gatlinburg, TN to your prayer list.
Students Plan To Serve At
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Christmas Party Information
The 5th through 8th grade Christmas party is set for Sunday, December 15th from 5pm to 7:15pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Karen Goy will provide chicken strips and fruit. If you can provide cookies or a dessert, please let her know (815-228-2391). In addition to fun Christmas activities, we will do a gift exchange (not to exceed $10) for those who care to participate. 
St. John’s High School students are invited to the “2nd Annual Flannels & Flapjacks (among other things)” at St. John’s on Friday, December 20th immediately following your last final exam. Exhale, be comfy in your flannel or fleece, and enjoy a quick breakfast before starting your Christmas break. Your friends are welcome to join us, too! Just let Karen know so there will be enough food.
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Peterstown TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) has set their weekend retreat schedule for the year. Youth ages 16 to 23 are invited to attend. This program is run by the Catholic church, but retreats are open to young adults of other denominations. The first boys’ weekend is Nov. 2-4 (second weekend is February 22-24); and the first girls’ weekend is Dec. 7-9 (second weekend is April 4-6). Information will be posted on the information booth and applications may be secured online. Contact Karen Goy (815-228-2391) if you have questions about attending.
Well Done, Team St. Louis!
Thank You for doing God's work with your hands!
All I Ever Needed To Know I Learned While At Confirmation Camp
by Karen Goy, Youth Director
Karen, Haden, Jace, Garret, and Gracie
Last week I was blessed to accompany four of our youth to confirmation camp… and can I be honest that I wasn’t feeling the “camp vibe” when I left. God is in the business of transformation and that was what our theme was all about. Our bible studies focused on how a community is transformed as they experience and then extend His inclusion, compassion, forgiveness, justice, and generosity. It was amazing to witness first-hand the transformation of the community of strangers that was at camp throughout the week as we spent time, prayed, ate, laughed, studied, enjoyed, and adventured together. Being in community over time and in a setting outside the normal routine indeed had transforming power. Not only did my mindset change very quickly, but I saw/heard the kids thoughts, mindset, actions, and words transform into an amazing community that was definitely different than the one that arrived on Sunday night. There is power in spending time in community – transforming power. There is power in hearing again and again about God’s compassion, forgiveness, generosity, inclusion, and justice – a message very different than those messages we are daily bombarded with. It is empowering to extend and live inclusion, compassion, generosity, forgiveness, and justice that happens in that community time too… and from there, think of all the other communities we are a part of that can in turn be transformed!!
We have an amazing opportunity to spend time in such a community right here at St. John’s! I’m grateful for the blessed reminder of the transformation that can happen in us, for us, and through us as we make the choice to leave our “typical” routine to also participate more fully in the community here. Thank you, St. John’s, for the opportunity you made for the five us to go to confirmation camp. What a generous and supportive community you are!
We have an amazing opportunity to spend time in such a community right here at St. John’s! I’m grateful for the blessed reminder of the transformation that can happen in us, for us, and through us as we make the choice to leave our “typical” routine to also participate more fully in the community here. Thank you, St. John’s, for the opportunity you made for the five us to go to confirmation camp. What a generous and supportive community you are!
Thank You, St. John’s Family!
Your encouragement and support of the “Textathon” we held last month helped us pray for cancer patients, share information about free services available to patients, be part of a great community cause (Relay For Life March To A Million) and to raise over $6,000! The day was a memorable example of how we are to be Christ in the world!
Your encouragement and support of the “Textathon” we held last month helped us pray for cancer patients, share information about free services available to patients, be part of a great community cause (Relay For Life March To A Million) and to raise over $6,000! The day was a memorable example of how we are to be Christ in the world!
Team Pictures from previous High School Mission Trips
2018 Benton Harbor, MI Mission Trip Team - Natalie, Tammy, Gabrielle, Grace, Gabbi, Maya, Bailey, Sophie, Sammi, Amy, Matthew, Mitch, Troy, Cole, Gavin, Ted and Logan
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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2018 Team Benton Harbor had a great time at Silver Beach
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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