The 2018 St. John's Devotional Booklet is available in the Church Narthex, School Office or by clicking the button below.
Sunday Worship Services
8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
Third Sunday in Lent
March 4, 2018
“Life and the Law"
Pastor Ben Roberts

Old Testament: Exodus 20:1-17
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Holy Gospel: John 2:13-22
**Special Announcements**
Next Sunday, March 11 our 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Worship Services will have separate bulletins. Our 8:00 a.m. Worship Service will focus on the Fourth Sunday in Lent. During our 10:45 a.m. Worship Service, our St. John's students will have their Spring Musical, so we will focus on their theme of "Table for 5,000". Also, Daylight Savings Time Starts on March 11, so be sure to "spring ahead" one hour. Thank you!
Give Up!
A Lenten Midweek Series based on the Passion of St. Mark
Many people give up something for Lent. Popular items include meat, chocolate or coffee. This is a kind of “fast” for many, a way to focus on Jesus as they journey to the cross. But while “fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training”, what about what’s inside of you? How do those things get in the way of following Jesus? Could you “give them up” for Lent…and beyond?

This series focuses on just that: “giving up” things to the Lord that get in the way of receiving His grace and love. To help us focus, we will be looking at this through the lens of St. Mark and selected accounts from his Passion of Jesus Christ. We will see the challenges, the struggles and the blessings of “giving up” everything to the Lord in order to receive everything from Him this Lent.

  • 3/7: Give Up…Control (Mark 14:43-50)
  • 3/14: Give Up…Your Façade (Mark 14:66-72)
  • 3/21: Give Up…Your Expectations (Mark 15:1-15)
Midweek Lenten Worship Services
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
(March 7 - March 21)

Lenten Supper Schedule
Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
(March 7 - March 21)
School Gymnasium
Free-will offering
**Volunteers are needed for this week's Lenten Dinner (March 7)**
We do not have a group scheduled to host, so any help is greatly appreciated. The theme will be "An Old Fashioned Lutheran Pot Luck". There is a sign-up sheet in the Church Narthex on the Connection Center. Entree items, salads, and desserts are needed. If we do not have enough volunteers, it will be cancelled.
Order Easter Lilies beginning March 11
As Easter approaches, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter that we may have eternal life with Him. On Easter Sunday, Easter Lilies are placed on the Altar in celebration of our Savior’s resurrection.  Members of the congregation may purchase Easter Lilies to place on the Altar on Easter Sunday.  A member of the Altar Guild will be in the Church Narthex after each Sunday service on March 11, March 18 and March 25 taking orders for lilies. The price per lily is $14.00.  Easter Lilies may be taken after the Easter services.  
Ordination & Installation of Mark Stapleton
Attention All Singers!
We invite all singers (adults and High School youth) to join with the Senior Choir in singing for Mark Stapleton’s ordination on Saturday, March 17 at 3:00 p.m. If you are interested, there will be two brief rehearsals, Wednesday, March 7 from 7:45 to 8:15 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 17. Please contact Kristen Stapleton, k.stapleton@sjlagrange.com if you have any questions.
St. John's New Financial Manager
Welcome of Julianne Rauch as Financial Manager
We are pleased to welcome Julie Rauch as our new Financial Manager. Many of you will remember her as Julie Stolarczyk, a student of St. John's School and as a young member of the Church. Julie and her husband, Steve who also has strong ties to St. John's, and their sons Aaron and Adam live in Downers Grove.

Julie received her college degree in Accounting and Business Administration, is a CPA and has audit experience with the State of Illinois and financial experience with a High School in Arizona. She is well qualified for the position, and has interpersonal skills that will fit in well at St. John's.

Julie will be transitioning with Margo Spiess during the next months. Please welcome her back to St. John's when you see her. - Bob Roth, Chairman, Board of Finance
Sunday School Education Hour
9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
The Sunday School students study the story of “Lydia” today. Just as God worked His miracle beside the river, clothing Lydia with Christ in Baptism, so God works His miracles in pulpits and fonts around the world today, destroying the work of Satan, ripping believers from the jaws of death, washing away sins in water tinged with Jesus’ blood, and clothing believers with His righteousness. Parents could ask, “How did God use water to save Lydia and us? Who does God use to reveal His Word to us today?”
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
9:25 - 10:25 a.m. (Heritage Room)
New Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study, Beginning March 4
"Let Me Tell You a Story"
Parables for Lent
Led by Pastor Ben Roberts
“And He told them many things in parables…” (Matthew 13:3) And with good reason: everyone loves a good story. But with Jesus, He not only is the master story-teller; He tells stories that make us good . And this is especially good news during the season of Lent. This 4-week Bible Study will focus on some of the parables Jesus told, but we will view them through the lens of Lent, the time when we focus on our sin and our Savior. Come, renew and rejoice as Jesus tells us a story…for our forgiveness, life and salvation.
3/4: Parables of JUSTICE
The Pharisee and the Tax-Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
The Wedding Feast and The Great Banquet (Luke 14:7-24)

3/11: Parables of MERCY
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

3/18: Parables of GRACE
The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
The Hidden Treasure and The Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:44-46)

3/25: Parables of DEATH and LIFE
The Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)
The Sower (Matthew 13:1-8, 18-23)
Sunday School Education Hour
9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Feed My Starving Children Service Event // Saturday, March 10, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. // Feed My Starving Children Site in Schaumburg IL // Join the Sunday School families at Feed My Starving Children for this wonderful service opportunity. Please sign-up in the back of church or R.S.V.P. to Sherrie Smith at s.smith@sjlagrange.com
Lots of Sharing & Serving at Intergenerational Service Day!
A great big thank you to all the families that came to our Intergenerational Service Day! Many lives were touched that day. We shared Jesus' love with cancer patients, older adults in our community, nursing home residents, and the children of our church family. May God bless the volunteers and the people they reached out to!!
High School Bible Study
9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Real life is long on law and short on grace. The guilt, anxiety, and uncertainty of daily life are heavy burdens for all, and we're in need of some relief. In this 6 part video-based study, author Tullian Tchividjian shows that Christianity is not about good people getting better. Rather, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.

One Way Love calls the Church to abandon our play-it-safe religion, and to embrace God’s unflinching grace. Each 10-15 minute video includes teaching, as well as interviews with individuals who have experienced this freedom. Discussion guide and questions will follow each video. Come and grow in your faith as you dig deep into God’s Word and (re)discover God’s grace for you in Jesus Christ!
When:
Sunday mornings, 9:25-10:25 a.m., 6 weeks (Feb. 11, 18, 25, Mar. 4, 11, 18)
Where:
Youth Room (downstairs, just off St. John’s Lutheran School Extended Care)
Who:
All High Schoolers, led by Pastor Ben and Mrs. Roberts
Calling All Senior Youth!
Let’s GET OUR GAME ON and spend an evening playing some great games at Pastor Ben and Mrs. Roberts’ house! Enjoy some snacks. Play fair. And WINNER TAKE ALL!

When:
Friday, March 16 th , 2018 from 7-9:30 p.m.
Where:
The Roberts Home
Who:
All Senior Youth (9 th -12 th )
Why:
To play games and have an awesome time!

Bring a snack if you’d like, but not necessary. Contact Pastor Ben at (720)-357-5626 or b.roberts@sjlagrange.com for home address or for more info. See you there!
Interested in Membership? Let's Connect!
Sunday, April 8 - Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Interested in membership at St. John’s? Want to know more about what St. John’s is all about? Then come to our CONNECT New Member Class! At this class, you will get to meet Pastor Ben, get to know him and others better, hear about the history and beliefs of St. John’s and what it means to be a member. Lunch provided! Childcare available for children 0-3 upon request. Pick up an “Interested In Membership?” sheet at our Connection Center at the back of the sanctuary for more information. Contact either Pastor Ben at b.roberts@sjlagrange.com or St. John’s Office Administrator, Michelle LaVelle at m.lavelle@sjlagrange.com to sign-up! Come and CONNECT!
When:
April 8, 2018, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Where:
St. John’s Lutheran Church and School, Heritage Room
Who:
Both those new to the LCMS and the Lutheran faith AND transferees from another LCMS congregation
Music Ministry
Volunteers Needed for the "Media Presentations Team"
The Board of Information Systems is looking for volunteers to assist in the creation of Media Presentations used for the screens in the Sanctuary, Narthex, and School Hallways. By publicizing the highlights of upcoming events visibly on the screens, we can better inform everyone, including guests about the great opportunities at St. John’s Lutheran Church and School. General computer knowledge is a plus and one of the programs that can be used is Microsoft Power Point, or any other program that you prefer that creates picture images (jpeg, gif, png, tiff, bmp, etc…). Please contact David Lincoln at d.lincoln@sjlagrange.com for information on how to join the “Media Presentations Team” .
Weekly Bible Studies
Various Days/Times
Parenting Bible Study: Spiritual Parenting
Sundays at 9:25 a.m.
(Nursery - Classroom 101)
We are currently studying "Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World" by Ken and Steve Ham.
Participants will discover that the legacy we leave for our children begins as we love the Lord and accept His Word as our authority, committing to use it to guide us in all areas of our lives.   

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study
Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
(Heritage Room)

Early Risers Bible Study
Thursday at 6:15 a.m.
(Heritage Room)
Men's Weekly Bible Study
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
(Heritage Room)
Now through May 24 we will be studying the second half of the Book of Acts. Questions? Talk with Pete Johnson or contact the Church Office, (708) 354-1690 x210
Give it a try!
Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE!
A Youth Retreat for the Sixth - Eighth Graders will be held on Friday evening, April 20, 2018. More information will follow.
School News
St. John's Lutheran Church & School Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, March 11 - 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Join us for breakfast! Breakfast includes Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit, Coffee & Juice
Tickets on sale now! Purchase tickets in the Church or School Offices
Admission: $5.00
6 yrs. & Younger: FREE

Volunteer to serve at the Pancake Breakfast!
Click on the "TRIP" logo to learn more. Current upcoming order dates are:

March 5 & 19
Mission
St. John's Sunday Morning Mission Cafe
Please join the Board of Caring Ministries in supporting this wonderful organization located in La Grange. The mission of Interfaith Community Partners is to help older adults and people with disabilities live independently in our community. They provide a fabulous service where they accompany our care partners to medical appointments, therapies, and assist with other essential daily living errands (grocery shopping, banking, etc.) They also arrange transportation to area churches for Sunday morning services. In addition, they have recently set up a “library delivery service” for seniors 60+ that are not able to drive to the library.
 
Volunteers are also needed to provide rides for their clients. It is a great opportunity to help out in the community. At present there are 14 member congregations, and many of the volunteers are members of these churches and service the following areas:

  • Brookfield
  • Burr Ridge
  • Countryside
  • Hinsdale
  • Hodgkins
  • Indian Head Park
  • La Grange
  • La Grange Park
  • Lyons
  • Westchester
  • Western Springs

If you would like assistance with rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping or other appointments, please fill out the service request form at www.interfaithcommunitypartner.org or call their office at (708) 354-9328  8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please support this wonderful organization by donating at the Mission Café or inquiring with Interfaith Community Partners if you would like to volunteer to drive.  
Kitchen Angels...What is it?
This hands-on ministry reaches out to those in need by offering a home-cooked meal. When the Church Office is made aware of the fact that an individual or family could be helped with one or several meals, a volunteer will contact you to see if you could prepare a meal in the coming week, on an evening that fits your schedule. Everyone has a favorite dish… share one with someone in need!

Please sign-up in the Church Narthex at the Connection Center and someone from the Caring Ministries Board will reach out to you when a meal or two is needed. Or you can contact Rebecca Schiltz at schiltz4@sbcglobal.net or 708-502-4547.  
The weekly televised program "Worship for Shut-ins" has become known as "Worship Anew". Worship Anew celebrates the new life all people have in Jesus with a 30-minute broadcast service. Christ's love is shared through weekly scripture readings, favorite church hymns, prayers and a Pastor's message that reveals God's grace and truth. Visit www.worshipanew.org for more information and ways to watch.
The La Grange Area Food Pantry item for the Month of March is: TOILET PAPER

Please drop off donations in the Church Narthex in the marked box for Food Pantry items. Thank you.
Sunday Worship Schedule
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Fellowship 9:00 a.m.
Education 9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
Worship Service 10:45 a.m.
Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Office: (708) 354-1690
Worship Attendance
Sunday, February 25, 2018 = 271
Midweek Lenten, February 28 = 80