CONNECT ...in Worship
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
"Enough ... When Everything's Politics"

Preacher: Pastor Ben Roberts
Worship Leader: Tom Wykert

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 6:1-24
Epistle: Romans 13:1-7
Holy Gospel: John 18:33-37
If you ever want to ruin a great dinner party these days, all you have to do is bring up politics…and watch the room divide. Politics is no longer seen as our system of government and the inherent power structures within, but has become a story…a defining story…of righteousness and salvation for many people. Politics has divided marriages, families, co-workers, even church members. And the need to justify one’s political stance has impacted relationships, lives…and one’s faith. And that’s where we hear the news: The Lord reigns over all. The kingdom that Jesus brings in not of this world, not this or that political party. And His kingdom of grace is the one we ultimately live in, forever.

God's Grace For You When You Aren't
(September 8th - October 20)

Humanity’s pursuit of righteousness…of “enoughness”…has taken a turn. Rather than seeking it “at church”, they seek it out in their everyday lives of work, love, parenting, leisure and politics. But just like any other religions of “do this and that will be enough”, we discover a trail of frustrations, failures and exhaustion because we aren’t enough. But God is. And His grace to us in Jesus is more than enough to say “Enough!” to our endless climbing of ladders that we’ll never reach the top of. In this series, we’ll explore some of those areas of our lives where we end up feeling like we are never enough. Instead, the grace of Jesus makes us ENOUGH!

10/20: Enough…For Your “Transformation”
Join us for the next "The 505" Service, Saturday, October 19th at 5:05 p.m.!
(Every 1 st and 3 rd Saturday of the month at 5:05 p.m.)
GROW ... in the word
Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study
"More Than The Message"
Leader: Pastor Ben Roberts
Sunday, October 13th at 9:30 a.m., Heritage Room
Sunday School at St. John's
Sunday, October 13th, 2019

NOTE TO CLASS TIMES!
9:30 a.m., Second Floor Music Room
10:45 a.m., Kindergarten Classroom
Sunday School is all about the biggest boat in the Bible. We'll tell the story with a SKIT - come join the fun!
Sunday Morning Parenting Bible Study
Raising kids is tough…but God has a plan!
Sunday, October 13th, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.,The Nursery
Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study
Leader: Lynn Kahl
Tuesday, October 15th at 10:30 a.m., Heritage Room

The Women's Bible Study is reading "Sip, Savor and Drink: Receive God's Overflowing Gifts". Please join us Tuesday mornings for Bible study, prayer, fellowship and prayers.
Wednesday Bible School
Wednesday, October 16, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Choir Room, Second Floor
For additional information, please contact Dalyne Shinneman at dalyne.shinneman@gmail.com
Early Risers Bible Study
Thursday, October 17th at 6:15 a.m.
Heritage Room
Men's Weekly Bible Study
Thursday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Heritage Room

We are beginning a study of the book of Genesis, following Warren Wiersbe’s “Be Basic: Believing the Simple Truth of God’s Word,” the first of three books he wrote on the topic. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Fredrickson at  jon_fredrickson@yahoo.com .  
MUSIC MINISTRIES
St. John’s Concert Series

Mark your calendar for the following two upcoming concert events:

  • Acoustic Concert on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 4:00 PM. Concert will feature Adam Roth on guitar, and Gerik Fon-Revutzky on bassoon. Music by Pujol, Albaugh, Bach, Ponce, and some modern popular tunes.

PUBLICITY: Please help us promote this exciting concert event on Sunday, October 27th by taking some posters from our Welcome Center and posting them in the community to spread the word!

  • Annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. More information to come.
Join the Senior Choir this Christmas Season!

I hope many of you will consider this open invitation to all adults and high school youth, to join the Senior Choir on Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at our St. John’s Annual Christmas Concert. You are also invited to sing on Tuesday, December 24 at our 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship Service.

You would need to attend at least three of the rehearsals that are listed below. It is also very helpful if you can attend our final dress rehearsals that occur on Sunday, December 1 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., and on Saturday, December 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon. Special arrangements will be made to accommodate your schedule as we would like as many singers as possible for our Christmas Concert and Christmas Eve Worship Service.

·         Wed., Oct. 30, from 7:00 - 7:45 p.m. 
·         Wed., Nov. 6, from 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
·          Wed., Nov. 13, from 7:00 - 7:45 p.m.
·         Wed., Nov. 20, from 7:00- 7:45 p.m.
·          Wed., Dec. 4, from 7:00- 7:45 p.m.

If you have any questions please contact David Lincoln at 708-354-1690 (ext. 222), or d.lincoln@sjlagrange.com
Ready ... to CONNECT?
Want to know more about the faith and practice of St. John’s? Get connected! St. John’s offers a free, online 12 session course in Christianity called “God Connects” from Lutheran Hour Ministries. This course has short videos, discussion guides and opportunities for online questions and comments for Pastor Ben to answer and respond. Because it is online, you can go at your own pace and finish whenever you want!

To access this course, sign-up on your Greeting Card located on your Worship bulletin. Take this opportunity to get connected with God and His Son, Jesus!

( Note: Those who are new to the faith and practice of St. John’s and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, are required to complete this course before attending St. John’s CONNECT Class for joining the community of St. John’s.)
There will be no Griefshare meeting on Tuesday, October 15th, next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 22, 2019.

If you have any questions, please contact Marnie Smith at (630-440-6542) or E-mail: marnie_rev@comcast.net
SHARE ...with Your Service
Mission Cafe Sunday Morning Coffee Hour hosts are needed! This is a great way to volunteer for a short period of time to enjoy fellowship and meet new people. It is not difficult... making the coffee is easy and you can provide breakfast pastries if you would like, but not necessary. 

Please see attached link and consider hosting!  

St. John's School Children, Sunday School and Congregation pack boxes!!!  
Operation Christmas Child Project began this Sunday and goes through the month of October.  Please make sure your box is back in the church narthex or in the church office by  Sunday, November 10 !

Please see the displays in the Narthex or in the School office lobby for more information as to how to pack your boxes or go to  www.SamaritansPurse.org  and click on the Operation Christmas Child link for more information.  

Community News
Great Insights for the Current/Future Job Market
Thursday, October 17th, 7-9 p.m.
St. John of the Cross Parish Center
5005 S. Wolf Road in Western Springs

Mark your calendars now for Thursday, October 17, 7-9 pm. Learn how and why your job requires finding a fit between your skills, experience, education and employer's requirements. Job-hunting research is a key element of a successful search. Developing focused conclusions from a flood of data appears to be needed now more than ever. Our speaker, Tom Kacena, will outline job management techniques he has followed in his own career as an aerospace engineer in the Air Force and after in the private sector as well as in mentoring junior engineers. Join us at St. Cletus Parish Center, 700 W. 55th Street, La Grange ( NOT  St. John of the Cross Parish Center as previously stated). This meeting is open to everyone and there is no cost to attend.
Free Resume Review
Saturday, October 26, 9:30-11:30 am
St. Cletus Parish Center
700 W. 55th Street in La Grange. 

Join ICN on for a helpful 20-minute one-on-one conversation with an HR or other search related professional. Pick up some new ideas and suggestions that could enhance or refresh your resume. Looking for some helpful job search strategies? Need some coaching with your elevator speech? Want to brush up on LinkedIn?
SCHOOL OFFICE
September is here! Time to start shopping for cooler weather clothing to get ready for fall! If you just plan on dining out or treating yourself, take time to evaluate your shopping needs and order your TRIP cards! If you are hosting or attending any fall gatherings start your shopping with TRIP cards. There are many choices to ...
Click on the TRIP logo above for more information!
Scholastic Book Fair is coming!
October 17 & 18, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
St. John's School Gymnasium

Family Night
October 17, 5:30-7:00 pm
St. John's School Gymnasium

Volunteers Needed! Please signup through the signup genius links below:
7th & 8th Grade Bake Sale Fundraiser
Sunday, October 20th, 2019, 9:30am-12:00pm
Church Narthex

All proceeds will be used for the 7th & 8th grade
class trip to Springfield, IL on May 26, 2020.
St. John's Lutheran School
1st Annual Trivia Night!
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Doors Open at 6:00 p.m./Trivia Begins at 7:00 p.m.
$15 per person/$100 Team of 8. More information to come!

Contact Renei Suarez if you would like to volunteer at r.suarez@sjlagrange.com
SEVENTH GRADE EAGLES IN ACTION PROJECT

During the month of October, seventh graders are collecting stocking stuffers for service members in harm’s way during Christmas. Last year, students brought enough individual stocking stuffers to chapel to fill five boxes. This year, our sewing club members have created Christmas stockings that need filling. This morning, stockings were distributed to each classroom for filling. When one is filled, bring it to chapel as you would your regular chapel donations. Seventh graders will bring your offerings and donations to Operation Support Our Troops (OSOT) – America, Inc. on October 31, where they will volunteer their time stuffing more stockings for United States Service Members. Please bring the items listed below to school on Wednesdays during the month of October
(Church members can drop off at Church Office) :

*AA & AAA Batteries
*New CD’s and DVD’s
*Fruit Snacks / Fruit Rollups (Individual Packs)
Chocolate Candy Bars / Gum
*Trail Mix (Individual Packs)
*Puzzle/Sudoko Books
*Granola Bars / Rice Krispie Bars / Individual Packs of Cookies
*Starlight Mints & Holiday Candy
*Slim Jims / Beef Jerky (Individually Wrapped)
*Licorice / Twizzlers (Individually Wrapped)
*Hand Warmers
*Unbreakable Christmas Ornaments
*I-Tunes Gift Cards
Letters and Cards for the Troops

Thank you for your support!

3rd Grade Eagles in Action Thank You!

Thank you for your support of the LaGrange Area Food Pantry through your Coffee Hour donations in September. We are excited that the offerings totaled $230.12! A check will be sent to the LaGrange Area Food Pantry this month to purchase needed food items for the clients. 3 rd grade will use the school chapel offerings from September to purchase $32 each month towards the monthly item that is listed in the Mission pages. 

We also packed Manna Packs at Feed My Starving Children in September that fed hungry children in body and spirit in El Salvador. 3 rd Grade was part of packing 147 boxes containing 31,752 meals that will feed 87 kids for a whole year! The cost for our packing session was paid forward $7,620.48! Praise God! We had so much fun, too! Thank you for your financial support and prayers!
CHURCH OFFICE
The Church Office will be closed Monday, October 14th for the holiday.
Weekly Report from Board of Finance
Weekly Statics on Congregational Giving to St. John's Lutheran Church & School
Anyone wishing further information on Congregational giving or the Church’s overall financial situation is invited to contact either Marty Haugen, Chair, Board of Finance, or Jeff Baker, Congregational Treasurer, through the Church office, churchoffice@sjlagrange.com or (708) 354-1690 x210.
UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. We are Blessed to have Pastor Ben and Pastor Mark serving our St. John's Community. This month is a great opportunity to offer them a note, word, or gift of thanks and encouragement for all they do! We will be having a reception during the Coffee Hour between services on Sunday, October 27th. Email Katie Pece for more information.
Ladies Fall Brunch: Live Free
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Sunday, October 19th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

You are invited to a lovely afternoon with all your
Girlfriends, Breakfast Buffet, and featured Speaker and Author, Kendra Smiley.
Trunk or Treat
Saturday, October 26th, 11:30-1:30pm
St. John's Parking Lot
Join us for an afternoon of fun for all ages; a great chance to visit with friends, bring your neighbors and your family to enjoy a nice fall afternoon. There will be snacks, lunch, and many decorated cars that will provide a treat and some games. Check out the table in the Narthex with more details.

We are asking church families to donate individually wrapped bags of candy to distribute during Trunk or Treat. Please bring the candy and drop off in buckets labeled Trunk or Treat in the church Narthex or the school office lobby by Wednesday October 23rd.

If you would like to volunteer to help at Trunk or Treat or participate by decorating a trunk, please visit the sign up genius links below.

Volunteer to help click here. 
2019 CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Registration Time: 12:30 p.m.
Walk Time: 1:15 p.m.
Join St. John's team for the 2019 CROP Hunger Walk. Five local food pantries will receive 25% of funds raised. There will also be a shorter family-friendly walk starting at Presbyterian Church of Western Springs, 5250 Wolf Rd., Western Springs IL. At the halfway point, First United Methodist Church of Western Springs, 4300 Howard Ave., there will be a blessing of pets. Questions? Email Vicki Wykert for more information.

  1. Join or Donate: Crop Walk Sign Up!
  2. Eat at Panera on October 10th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Panera Flyer!
  3. Donate to local food pantries Food Pantry List!
Weekly Worship Attendance
October 5 & 6: 207
Saturday Schedule
Worship Service 5:05 p.m.
(1st and 3rd Saturday)

Sunday Schedule
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Education 9:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Worship Service 10:45 a.m.
Church Office
Office: (708) 354-1690 x210
r.suarez@sjlagrange.com