St. John's Youth News
"Growing Together in our Faith as we Serve Others"
Congratulations to our 2022 Confirmation Class
Congratulations to the following students who were confirmed on Reformation Sunday, October 30th -- Sarah Brown, Addyson Champlin, Ally Denault, Alex Holland, Grady Jones, Gracie Politsch, Meredith Politsch, Joshua Shakespeare, and Aden Tillman.
Join Team Altoona!
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College Student Addresses
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All current 8th graders and high school students are encouraged to join Team Altoona!! We will spend a week in July 2023 with TEAMeffort in the community of Altoona, PA.
Typical projects include paining, home repairs, and building wheelchair ramps as well as working alongside local churches and missions to help maintain and improve their facilities. More information about serving in Altoona, PA can be found at www.teameffort.org/altoona-pa. |
We hope that all of our college students are getting settled into their new routines at school, keeping up with their studies, and having fun, too! We would appreciate receiving current mailing addresses for our students who are away from home, and will share them with the congregation with hopes that you will reach out with a card or note of encouragement. We have received the following addresses:
Samantha (Sammi) Katschke Ted Landgraf Millikin University Northern Illinois University 1184 W. Main Street Gilbert 433 Decatur, IL 62522 383 Gilbert Drive DeKalb, IL 60115 Cole Zimmerman 136 Longridge Lane Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
Confirmation Trip to Boggio's Orchard
Our 7th and 8th grade confirmation class made the trip to Boggio’s Orchard on Sunday, October 23rd and had a great day! Everyone enjoyed the huge bouncing pillow, corn maze, apple cider and donuts. Thank you to Pastor Ken and Monica Zimmerlein for organizing and chaperoning this outing!
Congratulations Maya!
Congratulations to our own Maya Martin
who was crowned 2022 Sweet Corn Festival Queen
on Friday, August 12th!
Congratulations to our 2022 First Communion Class!
On Palm Sunday, we welcomed the following children to the Lord’s Table: Brayden Piller, Adelynn Landers, Brogan Kreiser, Carissa Doll, Arya Fara, Cam Florschuetz, Evan Komitas, and Krew Knaff.
Congratulations to the State Champions!!
Congratulations to the Holy Cross 8th Grade Boys Bowling Team that recently won the IESA State Tournament!
We are very proud of this group which includes three of our Confirmation students — Grady Jones, Aden Tillman, and Alex Holland.
2021 Sky Ranch Mission Trip Team
Thank you to everyone who supported the Sky Ranch Mission Trip Team! We also say "thank you!" to the incredible team of high school students and chaperones who represented our St. John's family so well throughout the trip to and from Colorado.
Pastor Ken Gibson, Bob, Yvonne Gibson, Ella Martin, Ella Coss, Gracie Zinke, Bailey Baird, Samantha Katschke, Jillian Younger, Alayna Nosalik, Garret Zinke, Matt Miller, James Younger, and Mike Anderson
St. John's Youth Volunteer at OSF Community Garden
Our Junior High and High School youth along with some adult friends helped care for the Community Garden at OSF St. Paul Medical Center the week of July 18th. On two different mornings, we weeded and tore out beds that were done and replanted beans in their spot. We also harvested, washed, and bagged 43 pounds of assorted peppers, summer squash, zucchini, beets, and green beans. Food grown and harvested from the garden is first offered to the hospital’s kitchen to be used in providing fresh vegetable meal options to patients. Remaining produce is donated weekly to the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry and/or the Body and Soul Food Pantry run by the Baptist church. What a fun way to be together while helping to feed those in need!!
Operation: St. John's Cares!!
On August 3rd, we had a masked & gloved crew safely meet in our courtyard (while social distancing) to put "Operation: St. John's Cares!!" into action. Lots of care packages were assembled for the residents and the staff of Heritage Health. Thank you to Gracie, Garrett, Cole, Karen, Aimee, and Sophie for your work. A HUGE THANK YOU!! goes to everyone who donated items to our effort. We couldn't have done it without all of the very generous support we received from you! We delivered 25+ cases of water, snacks, treats, and candy for staff, and gift bags for residents that consisted of magazines, adult coloring books, colored pencils, puzzle books, pens, and a craft. Please keep the residents and staff of Heritage in your prayers.
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
2019 St. Louis, MO Mission Trip Team - Karen, Susan, Sophie, Samantha, Aaron, Bailey, Cole, Gracie, Garret, Andrew, Katherine, Ted, Hannah, Don and Alayna
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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2019 Team St. Louis exploring Forest Park
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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