October 5, 2022

Your Midweek Update

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel lesson (Luke 17:1-10 ESV) from worship this past Sunday, Jesus closes with these words: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”


Despite our best intentions, can we—or anyone—really do all that God has commanded us to do? The short answer is no. We all come up short of what God expects of us and what He has commanded us to do. There is only One who has done this, and that is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He became that Suffering Servant who fulfilled all righteousness in our behalf, by whose death we have been given life. With this blessed truth before us, we are now set free to love and serve others as God in Christ has loved and served us, as the sermon pointed out.

In Christ,
Pastor Meehan

From the Pastor's Desk - October 2022

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Columbus Day - Church Office and School Closed

 

Please note that St. John’s church office and Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) will be closed on Monday, October 10 for Columbus Day, a federal holiday.

"Hurricane Ian Update" from the Southeastern District, LCMS


Throughout the Southeastern District, congregations and neighborhoods have felt the impact of Hurricane Ian’s remnants. The first reports that we are receiving are that while there are downed trees, lots of water, and some loss of electricity, the storm was not as bad as feared. Areas in Virginia and Maryland are still under alert as the rain is expected to continue through Monday. For this we give thanks.

 

As the days continue, we will have better and more complete information and we will share this with you.

 

Right now, we want to focus on our brothers and sisters in Florida and begin thinking of ways that we can mobilize to assist them in recovery. At this moment, the most important thing we can be doing is praying for all who are trying to understand where life is taking them. This is one of those moments when the power of God’s hope and love can make a tremendous difference in the life of one who is feeling such loss in their life.

 

We do know that several churches, schools, and church workers experienced damage, downed trees, and flooding to their homes. Rev. Ross Johnson, LCMS Disaster Response, Jay Wendland, Florida-Georgia District Disaster Coordinator, and Florida-Georgia District President James Rockey are, at this time, assessing needs. We will learn more from them in the next week.

 

It is too early to be going in to assist, but there are things that can be done to support recovery efforts.

  • Gift cards to Target, Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot can be purchased and gathered.
  • A donation that will go directly to affected congregations for cleanup efforts such as fencing, roof repairs, tree removals, water damage, and other supplies can be made.

 

These gifts may be sent directly to the Florida-Georgia District at:

Florida-Georgia District, LCMS

5850 T G Lee Blvd, Suite 500

Orlando FL 32822

 

or click here to give online

 

A webpage has been set up to track needs and share current information; please check it out. In addition, click here to read "Mercy Notes" which was also sent out from the Southeastern District office.

  

Again, we lift up all of God’s people who have felt the impact of Hurricane Ian. We share this prayer written by Rev. Herb Brokering:

 

Lord,

Be with those who go out after a storm, picking up the pieces;

Those who after the fight look for loved ones among the wounded;

Those who after the high wind look for personal belongings strewn shamefully among the public;

Those whose trees are uprooted, whose water is polluted,

Whose fences are broken, and whose hopes are shattered.

 

Lord, 

Be with the brokenhearted

Whose refrigerators are robbed by wind and rain,

Whose beds are soaked by storm,

Whose picture windows are crushed by hail,

Whose rugs are covered by mud and

Whose privacy is invaded by searchlights.

 

Lord, 

Be with the flooded, the rained out, the uprooted

Those who are refugees of fierce weather.

Give to them, in these frightened times, such people who can help them pick up the pieces and put life back together.

 

Jesus Christ, 

show us how to begin again;

let all ravaged life be made new.

Amen.

St. John's Fall 2022 Stewardship Series


St. John’s Fall 2022 Stewardship Series will take place on four successive weekends in October, culminating on Reformation Sunday, October 30. The theme for the series is entitled, “Placed for a Purpose,” and builds on the teaching of vocation, where God has placed each of us in life to serve our neighbor.


Luther understood three distinct areas of vocation in life: church, state, and home, where our gifts and talents are to be used in ways that will glorify the Lord and bless the lives of others. The weekly themes for “Placed for a Purpose” are as follows:


  • Sunday, October  9 – “Placed for a Purpose: God Works Through Means”
  • Sunday, October 16 – “Placed for a Purpose: Living as God’s Child in the Church”
  • Sunday, October 23 – “Placed for a Purpose: Living as God’s Child in the State”
  • Sunday, October 30 – “Placed for a Purpose: Living as God’s Child in the Family”


A congregation-wide email will be coming in the weeks ahead with more detailed information, including giving prayerful consideration to your support for St. John’s ministry in 2023. Members and friends of St. John’s will have opportunity to provide commitments for ministry electronically or via paper copy. These commitments for ministry in the coming year will be dedicated during the worship service on Reformation Sunday, October 30. Watch for weekly video messages from various members of St. John’s that will be shared as an encouragement to all of us in our calling as stewards of God’s gifts.


Be sure to join us for a Chili Cook-Off at 12 Noon on Sunday, October 30 in the Fellowship Hall, which will cap off our stewardship series. Questions? Please contact the church office

Chili Cook-Off on Reformation Sunday, October 30

 

St. John’s Fall Stewardship series will conclude on Reformation Sunday, October 30, and following the 10:30AM worship service, you are cordially invited to a Chili Cook-Off in the Fellowship Hall. Now’s the time to put together your best homemade chili recipe and bring it to church on October 30. Prizes will be awarded for the best chili! The sign-up for the Chili Cook-Off is in the Narthex at church. Watch for more information about this in the weeks ahead. If you have questions, please contact the church office.

Koinonia's Holiday Baskets Program

 

Supporting our local social service agency, Koinonia, is a long-standing tradition at St. John’s. The program provides the food so that needy area clients which Koinonia services can share a special meal with their families during the holidays. 

 

This year’s Koinonia Holiday Baskets program is coming up shortly, and St. John’s plans to contribute multiple baskets at Thanksgiving and again at Christmas. St. John's will again be accepting financial donations from now through Oct 31 to support the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday baskets.   

 

To donate to 2022 Koinonia holiday baskets, please visit SJLC's giving page and select the "2022 Koinonia Holiday Baskets" dedicated fund from the dropdown options. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Haugan or Cathy Long.


"Ladies in Restaurants" Missional Community

 

A new missional community is starting and will gather each month on the first Thursday. Location will rotate through restaurants in the areas where our congregation lives. The intent is simple: meet with other women, share some stories, and eat food. Discussions will be facilitated by Sarah Finger and Angela Schulze. The first meeting is Thursday, October 6, from 7:00-8:30pm, at the Celtic House, 2500 Columbia Pike, Arlington, 22204. No experience in Joining Jesus on His Mission is necessary, but doing so will quickly become a habit. Prepare for an adventure! If you are interested in getting regular updates about this group, you can email one of these ladies or join the group in CCB.

9th Annual SJLC Men’s Octoberfest & Pig Roast


Men of St. John’s, come join us for our 9th Annual Men’s Octoberfest and Pig Roast on Saturday, October 15th, from 5:00 – 9:00 pm.  If you are a father, bring your son along. We will meet at the fire pit by the back parking area at St. John’s. We plan to have a corn hole and horseshoe pitching contest, build a camp fire, tell stories, share our faith, and enjoy fellowship. We will have smoked pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, soda, water, and some desserts.


There are benches around the fire pit, but you may want to bring a chair and your own favorite beverage. Consider inviting your neighbor. Please RSVP to SJLCMen@sjlc.com by Wednesday, October 12 and let us know if you plan to attend so we can get a count and estimate how much food to prepare. 


If you would like to bring a dish or dessert, please let us know. If you have any questions, please email us or contact Kevin Schleicher, Greg Miller, Rodney Smith, Paul Swicord, Jim Burroughs, or Greer Putnam.

Church Safety Concerns

 

As we welcome our Members and Friends back and in-person to our facilities, we ask that you treat St. John’s as though it were your own home. Following your meeting or event, and before the last person in your group leaves, please make sure all lights are turned off, doors are closed and locked, and double-check that the front doors are securely latched.


Recently, we have had incidences of lights being left on throughout the night as well as entrance doors physically left open overnight because they were not latched properly. As the colder weather draws near, we want to make sure the heat stays in the building, and we are not unnecessarily paying for electricity that no one is using. Any assistance you can offer is truly appreciated!

 

Thank you for your continued support and enjoy your time in fellowship while at St. John’s!

College Care Packages


SJLC Teen Ministry will be sending out college care packages at the end of October. We need parents to submit the addresses of current college studentsPlease click here to submit the name and address of a current college student. 


We are also seeking donations for the college care packages. If you would like to donate an item, please click here: College Care Package Supplies | St. John's Lutheran Church (ccbchurch.com). Donations should be received at St. John’s by Sunday, October 23. Questions? Please contact Jennifer Hills.

SED Lay Deacon Program


What is a deacon and what does that person do? St. John’s member, Eric Klanderman, has embarked on a journey to become a lay deacon in the church and shares what follows. A truly abbreviated thumbnail of Lay Deacon ministry might include:


  • The heart of being a deacon is to have the heart of a servant like Jesus did. 
  • Serving others and sharing the Good News of Jesus are the hallmarks of this ministry.
  • Under the supervision of a Pastor, lead meaningful Christ-centered worship in the congregation. 
  • Disciple individuals and groups for the growth of faith, and spiritually care for others.
  • Being able to share their faith both with believers and non-believers. 
  • Be well-versed in Lutheran theology and demonstrate an understanding of the Mission of God.


In the Southeastern District, a lay deacon receives training and coaching to equip them for carrying out the above. For more than two years, a candidate receives 96 hours of instruction in the Bible, theology, Christian faith and the church, along with 24 hours of coaching in living out what is learned. For more information, click here.

Walking and Talking with Jesus

 

Sponsored by the Salaam Isa Mission Society, Walking and Talking with Jesus will resume on Wednesday, October 5, at 7 PM via Zoom. This session, "Paradise and Salvation,” will be the first of a total of five.

 

Click here to register to receive the Zoom information. You need only register once for all five sessions. Questions? Contact Greer Putnam (703-684-8949).

 

The sessions will be led by Pastor Martin (Grace, Woodbridge) or Pastor Triolo (St. Mark’s, Springfield). Each session will be approximately one hour with a 15-minute Biblical framework from Pastor, 15-minute presentation from Yvette Moy, stories from participants, and post-meeting fellowship for continued conversation. We will explore Walking and Talking With Jesus through a thematic approach to Christianity compared with Islam and Islamic and Christian practice, culture and theology.

“The Lutheran Witness” Subscriptions

 

The Lutheran Witness magazine is the official monthly publication of our church body, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The fee for new and renewed 2023 subscriptions is $12.95.

 

Please submit your payment to the Church Office no later than Tuesday, October 11 via check or electronic payment through St. John’s website; select the “Give” option. Make checks payable to St. John’s and note “LW” on the memo line. Questions? Contact the Church Office, 703-971-2210.

 

Online subscriptions are also available; click here to order a monthly email version or a paper version published 11 times a year.

Where Do You Belong?

 

St. John’s has several types of small groups that gather at various times and in various places to encourage and deepen us in faith. Our goal is for everyone who desires it to have a place of belonging in a small group in our congregation. Here are short descriptions of the different groups:

 

  • Missional Communities: Use 5 questions about the 5 practices of joining Jesus on his mission. Prayer and fellowship happen.
  • Huddles: Prayer, fellowship, study of God’s word around various topics, the 5 practices, and occasionally serve together.
  • Bible Study: Gather to study specific books in God’s word or related topics.
  • Other group activities: Prayer related.

 

We encourage all adults to participate in a small group since gathering together as Christ’s disciples strengthens and deepens our faith journey in many ways. We give and receive encouragement and friendship. We pray together. We form connections and community. We live what it means to be the church.

 

For more information, click here or see the display in the Narthex with more detailed information and points-of-contact for the various groups. You may also contact the Church Office.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers Within St. John’s Lutheran Church

 

The Gathering Ministry and Church Council have endorsed re-instituting Lay Eucharistic Ministers at St. John’s over the next several months. Lay Eucharistic Ministers are lay people who are trained and commissioned by the congregation to distribute Holy Communion to members who are home-bound or institutionalized, generally on a monthly basis. They might also read Scripture, pray, and participate in online worship with home-bound members. Lay Eucharistic Ministers help strengthen the connection between homebound and worshipping congregants in the body of Christ. 

 

More information will follow as the program develops.

Good Shepherd Seminar

 

You are cordially invited to attend the 15th Good Shepherd Seminar sponsored by Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church, Saturday, October 8, 10AM-3:30PM. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse will present The Presence of God in the Old Testament and its Influence on the Divine Service and Life of the Church. Rev. Pulse is Professor of Old Testament Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary.


Location of the conference is the Holiday Inn Express, 6401 Brandon Avenue, Springfield (703-644-5555). Lunch included, catered by Malek’s Pizza Palace. To RSVP or for more information call 703-455-4003. Suggested donation: $10.

Wednesday Noon Holy Communion

 

We continue to offer Holy Communion each Wednesday at 12 noon. Based on feedback from individuals, we will continue with this midweek time of worship into the fall. All are welcome to join us. Please register here or feel welcome to contact the Church Office (703-971-2210.

Important Links

  • Registration for Holy Communion held on Wednesdays at noon.
  • Facebook Live for viewing live services or educational opportunities as well as those previously recorded.
  • YouTube for viewing church services
  • Click here and scroll down for the bulletins
www.sjlc.com | 703-971-2210
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