Welcome to St. John's Lutheran Church!

God has blessed St. John’s since 1862 with faithful members, pastors, and newcomers. We’re a congregation of sinners and saints of all ages. Our worship blends traditional and contemporary, with opportunities for growth, fellowship, and service. We extend Christ’s welcome to all who seek to worship, know, and serve the Lord.

Saturday Worship 5:00 pm.  
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 9:45 am 
9:45 worship is also on Facebook Live.

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St. John's Lutheran Church ELCA 27

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St. John's Lutheran Church ELCA views May 5, 2024 10:54 pm

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Covenant of Care

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Virtual Tour of St. John's Lutheran Church

Pastor's Message
Dear Representatives of our Living Lord:

I know Easter Sunday was a month ago, but we're still in the Easter season on the church calendar, and we're still in the business of celebrating new life!

Once upon a time, I pictured myself as a potential life-saver. I wasn't a strong enough swimmer to be a lifeguard (an important job to this day!). I did start donating blood as a senior in high school (an important gift still!). Beth and I did CPR training about as soon as it became widely available. (And I'm thankful we haven't had to use that yet! Though my older brother saved a guy who experienced cardiac arrest at the gym about 12 years ago!) I've saved the lives of a few turtles trying to cross the road in the springtime. And actually, I have saved a couple of people from suicide over the years-once by just being there at the right time to call 9-1-1. I thank God I was able to do that!

Come to think of it, aren't we all-as followers of Jesus and believers in the power of the resurrection-aren't we all called to be life-savers? And life-givers? In a world where there is so much senseless killing and so many lonely deaths, what do we have to offer?

One thing we do have to offer is the compassion, and the friendship, and the Good News of Jesus! And that was a life-saving and life-giving gift 2,000 years ago when the first apostles went out into the world. And that is a life-saving and life-giving gift today! We can give it in so many ways: There's are growing protests over the war in Gaza (and there probably should be peaceful ones!). But rather than pit one side against the other, can we agree to be pro-Palestinian? Pro-Israeli? And, try this: Pro-Iranian? Aren't all these persons and victims created in the image of God? Isn't war always abhorrent to God's will? Can we be for peace and for justice in every situation and place?

And the 'lifelines' we get to throw to people can be as simple as a kind greeting to a stranger or newcomer; a phone call to a friend or neighbor; a visit to someone who is lonely or struggling; a meal to someone who eats alone or has too many other things on their 'plate'. You never know when an invitation to worship, or to a study, or to youth or women's or men's group might be life-giving for someone as well, just to know they would be welcome and might have a change to 'belong' is a gift in itself.

In the Easter season's scripture readings, we see the work of the early church unfold, and it is life-giving stuff! Peter & John heal a lame man. The community shares its welcome, its food, and its possessions. The good news of a loving God and a living Lord turns people from dead-end paths. The promise that reaches from the last pages of scripture still beckons us: "See? I am making all things new!" Thank you for doing the life-saving that you do! Keep your eyes and ears and hearts open for even more opportunities!

- Pastor Paul

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Posted on Nov 17 2017
MATTHEW 25:13f = PARABLE OF THE TALENTS Bible Background: This is the 3rd of 4 ‘judgement/end times’ parables that Matthew places just prior to the plot to kill Jesus; the Last Supper; and events that follow. These parables seem to have some ‘shock-value’, as they call
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Sunday, November 12, 2017

Posted on Nov 10 2017
Matthew 25 on “Being Prepared” Bible Background: Matthew 24–25 are two chapters on the end of time and the future coming of Christ. Scenes of judgement abound. Matthew makes clear that “no one knows the day or the hour”, and that staying faithful while we wait is
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All Saints Sunday, November 5, 2017

Posted on Nov 03 2017
MATTHEW 5:1-12=BLESSED ARE… Bible Background: In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ standout teaching is summarized in the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7). We need not assume that this was all one ‘sermon’! That would be a lot of content! Moses went up on the mountaintop
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Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017

Posted on Oct 27 2017
KEY LUTHERAN TEACHINGS On this 500th Anniversary of the Reformation of the Church, let’s review some key Lutheran teachings: Grace Alone: Luther insisted that we are “justified by God’s grace as a gift” (Romans 3:24) rather than by good works. We do not make ourselves
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