Choose an ornament from The Giving Christmas Tree
Each ornament lists supplies we need to run our Bazaar.
Donating helps reduce expenses and allows more proceeds to go directly toward the organizations we are supporting this year.
Our St. John’s Merch Store is open November 1-13 for orders arriving in time for Christmas. All money raised goes toward youth ministries.
Join Pastor Matt and Becca for a mid-week connection on Wednesdays at 9:15pm. These brief Facebook LIVE events are called Wednesday Night Live with the Poocks. They use the Faith Five – share highs and lows, read the Bible, discuss it, pray, and bless. Sometimes they even sing a song. If you can't watch them LIVE, you can view when it is convenient for you.
Watch on our Facebook page.
To see the most recent video, click here
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, this is an opportunity for our community to gather and share our gratitude to God and to each other at the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. A suggested donation for the meal is $10
According to traditional Mexican folklore, a young girl named Pepita had no gift to bring the Christ Child. An angel encouraged her to gather roadside weeds to offer. When she placed them before the Nativity, the weeds transformed into brilliant red blooms. These became known as Flores de Noche Buena (“Flowers of the Holy Night”), symbolizing Christmas Eve. Spanish missionaries in the 16th century adopted the plant for Nativity scenes because its red-and-green colors appeared naturally in December and its star-shaped leaf pattern was seen as representing the Star of Bethlehem.
St. John’s Altar Guild is making plans to decorate the sanctuary with these special flowers for Christmas Eve, December 24. The 6-inch, $16 plants from K&W Greenery can be requested with order sheets on the Ministry Table or by contacting the church office. Poinsettias can be dedicated in memory or in honor of family and friends, which will be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. All orders must be in by Sunday, November 29. Let’s fill the sanctuary to celebrate the birth of Jesus on this “Holy Night.”
Please sign up on the Ministry Table in the gathering area (available AFTER the Bazaar) or contact Tiffany in the office or email office@stjohns-lc.org so we know how much pizza to order.
Sign up on the Ministry table. Contact director@stjohns-lc.org for more information.
The St. John’s Lefse-making sessions have been so much fun the last 3 years! Nancy Caraway will again graciously lead the class of volunteers.
Regardless of your experience level in making this delicious Norwegian flatbread, you are invited to join. This fun, family-friendly event is in preparation for Bazaar Sales. Last year we made nearly 300 bags of Lefse and sold every one. In addition to volunteers, we are in need of griddles, turning sticks, rolling pins, and, of course, dough! You may use your own recipe, or Nancy will make a couple available in advance. If you are new to Lefse, and don’t have the equipment or expertise, we still need you; many hands are needed to make this event a success.
Sign-up sheets will be available in the Gathering Area and questions can be directed to nancycaraway55@gmail.com (or talk to any of the Bazaar leaders).
Our Evansville Ecumenical Care Closet provides Thanksgiving baskets each year to 75+ client-friends. St. John's is supplying ingredients the dessert again this year. Bring any or all of these ingredients to the church building by Sunday, November 15.
Share the names of those who have died in the past year with the St. John’s office by Oct. 23. You may bring a token of remembrance of a loved one to place on the All Saints Table for the service. Due to community events the Saturday worship will be held at 3:30 pm
GMW workshop for fellowship and optional cutting board workshop. Those who want to just come and chat are welcome; bring yourself and finger food to share in an adjoining room. Those who want to sign up to make a cutting board with Gordy’s help, here’s all the details:
Design & build your own cutting board, with help glueing and clamping.
Gordy will finish boards and deliver to church the following week—in time for holiday gifting.
$50 per project (scholarships available for those interested but unable to swing the cost).
Payment collected at class.
Limited workshop slots available; no limit to fellowship attendance!
as pastor of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church in Deforest. Christopher will be ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on October 18, at 4pm at Luther Memorial Church, 1021 University Avenue, Madison, WI. Everyone is invited to attend. Sign up on the Ministry table if you are interested in carpooling.
PERFORMANCE: December 20 at 9am
Speaking parts will be assigned to our 3rd–5th graders, and all children will be in the choir and sing in the performance. All experience or talent levels are invited to audition and join the fun! Come to prepared to sing if you’re interested in a solo and to read or act for us if you’re interested in a speaking role. Volunteers Needed: We’re always looking for adult helpers for set design, costumes, rehearsal assistance, or sound & technology, we’d love to have 18
Former pastoral intern has accepted a call to serve you involved. Please contact Callie Jones at music@stjohns-lc.org if you’d like to help.
Together we will spend the morning caring for our church home– cleaning, organizing, and refreshing the spaces where we gather for worship and fellowship. There will be tasks for all abilities on Saturday, October 17, from 9am– 12pm. Many hands make light work.
We are part of something big! In worship on October 3 & 4, we’ll celebrate the global church on World Communion Sunday, rejoicing in the faith we share with partners around the world. We’ll sing a prayer of peace for every nation
Come and walk with us!
October 4: Martin Luther Pilgrimage
October 11: Breaking the Law 2026
October 18: Worship – Word
October 25: Reformation Brunch - no class
Celebrate 90 years of ministry at St. John's! Following worship, we will gather for a catered lunch and fellowship as we celebrate our history. RSVP by September 20 online, sign up on the ministry table, or call the church office.
Any and all Loose Change for the Offering goes towards ELCA Hunger Relief.
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey while exploring ways to move through grief with support, compassion, and hope.
All 4-year-olds are invited to celebrate this milestone on Sunday, September 20. St. John’s loves having children of all ages in worship, but an hour can be a long time for young children to sit still in worship. When children reach the age of 4, we take the time each fall to talk about the ABC’s of worship and give them the gift of a worship bag with worship supplies. This will help them to engage in worship in new ways.
African American spirituals are one of the largest and most significant forms of American folk song. On September 19 & 20, come and sing the African American spirituals.
Sign up now for our small group learning opportunity Alpha! Ten Tuesdays, starting Sep. 15 @5:30-6:45pm, One Sunday on Nov. 1 @ 12-3pm?
Alpha helps create space for honest conversation around some of life's biggest questions through a series of interactive sessions. The sessions are designed to provide guests with an opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a safe and caring environment.
Connecting with others is what Alpha was made for. All sessions start with a time to connect over a light snack and build friendships. We'll watch a short video exploring big questions about life and faith, like “Who is Jesus?” Or “Why do we pray?” Discussions where no questions are off limits and there's nothing you can't ask.
Sign up on the Ministry Table in the Gathering Area or email Chris at director@stjohns-lc.org.
St. John’s will be serving the Free Community Meal at Creekside on Monday, September 14. Volunteers are needed from 3:30 to about 7:30pm to help with unloading, loading and carrying, light food prep, serving, and clean up. We also need volunteers to drop off cookies/bars at St. John’s on 9/13 or at Creekside on 9/14. Complete information is on the Ministry Table. Please sign-up today.
Come and help serve with us!
Click here to sign up Volunteers: All Church Service Day
Lake Leota Park Litter pickup
AWARE assembling (great sit down job (hole punching, cutting string, and tying)
Evansville Manor yard care (bring your gloves & trimming tools)
Care Closet yard care & general upkeep (bring your gloves & trimming tools)
Dorothy Helgesen trimming bushes (bring your gloves & trimming tools)
LWR Quilting
LWR Packing School Kits
Sign up on the Ministry Table.
Join us for worship on the front lawn!
Bring your favorite lawn chair or a blanket and get ready to sing in the sunshine — or under a shade tree. Join us for any or all of these services:
School backpacks contain work to be done, work that’s been returned, books to be studied, and the tools to complete homework. In early September, students jump back into the adventures of learning, and we know that God goes with them. During worship on August 29 & 30, all students (children, youth, and adults) are invited to bring their backpacks. Both students and backpacks will be blessed for the coming year of learning.
We are preparing to create a keepsake recipe book featuring YOUR favorite recipes! Now is the time to go through your mother’s treasured, handwritten recipe cards and cookbooks and find delicious recipes to share. The 90th Anniversary Cookbook will be on sale at the Holiday Bazaar and funds received from the sale will go to help St. John’s in many of our missions.
We are planning to host a meeting for all Bazaar Participants and Shop Leaders of the Bazaar on August 19th at 7:00 pm and I was hoping you could list this event in the Epistle the next few weeks? The purpose of this event is to kick off planning for this year's Bazaar, and we would welcome anyone who is interested in helping but not sure how to become involved as well!
We’ll fire up the grill and enjoy some good music and outdoor fun: corn hole, badminton and more! Plus, the Harvest House has great A/C, so if it’s hot (or raining), we can even break out the decks of cards. Guy's Night! Sunday evening August 9, from 6:00-8:00pm at Still Point Farm https://maps.app.goo.gl/rMzUMatJjkJ4xhTE9
How can you help? Pick up a Backpack Tag from the Gathering Area. Buy as many school supply items as you can that are listed on the back for a local child. Please drop off by August 16.
Join in the women’s group to make new connections. We are gathering on Sunday July 26 at Blue Devil Bowl from 5-7pm We will hear a short message, enjoy fellowship, and pray together.
Do you like to knit or crochet? The Prayer Shawl Ministry needs you! This ministry provides the gift of a shawl to a person in need of a prayer, a warm hug, and a reminder of God’s care and love. This simple gift of a 30 x 60 knitted or crocheted shawl serves as a reminder that someone cares and has prayed for the recipient while the shawl is being made. Want to learn to knit or crochet? We can help. The need is great and we need your assistance. To learn more about this ministry, please contact Eileen Meredith at 882-5898 or Ann Legris at 608-436-0470
Everyone is Welcome! Monday July 13, 5:15 to 6:30pm, at Creekside Place, 102 S. Maple St., Evansville. Menu: Tex Mex Buffet! Enchiladas, Other Entrees, Mexican Beans & Rice + assorted side dishes also includes Salad Bar, Dessert, Beverages, Gluten Free and Vegetarian options!
Sponsored by the Evansville Lions; hosted by St. Paul’s Catholic Church.
