St. John's Lutheran Church and School

Church News, Ministry Activities

& Volunteer Opportunities

September 5, 2022

RETURN TO TWO SERVICES

MUSIC DIRECTOR HIRED

VACANCY PASTOR ARRIVING

URGENT: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL

MEMORIALS & GIFTS UPDATE

WEDNESDAY BIBLE SCHOOL

MEALS TO GO UPDATE

EAGLES IN ACTION

LWML NEWS

CHOIR PRACTICE SOON

BLOOD DRIVE RECAP

OFFERING ENVELOPES

SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS

SAMARITAN'S PURSE JOBS

18th ANNUAL DIAPER DERBY

WALCAMP FUNDRAISER INFO

ICP FALL BENEFIT INFO

AND MORE!

SAVE THE DATE!

New Schedule for St. John's Worship Services 

St. John's will be returning to two Sunday worship services on

September 11, 8:00AM and 10:45AM.

Greg Ceurvorst - Our new Music Director

It is with thankfulness and anticipation that the Board of Worship can announce that we have contracted a new Director of Music for St. John’s Lutheran Church. The Lord has answered our prayers in the person of Greg Ceurvorst, a gifted musician from the area who saw our add and applied for the position. Greg has served in numerous churches including several LCMS churches for over 20 years. At St. John’s he will serve as the Director of Church Music and will also be involved in the music program of our school. His first Sunday with us will be September 11.

As part of his interview with the Board, Greg wrote the following in response to

questions we asked:

“Martin Luther said, ‘Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through music.’ I was absolutely elated to have

found the position at St. John’s LCMS. The theology is sound, the Lutheran liturgical

tradition is excellent. I am 41 years old, and am excited by the prospect of spending my time in pursuit of good, noble, holy, and excellent things, and hope to spend many years in service and in fellowship with your congregation.”

Welcome to St. John's, Greg!

VACANCY PASTOR NEWS

Rev. Ronald Weidler of Batavia, Illinois, will be serving as Vacancy Pastor for St. John's. Look for a letter from our Congregational President to arrive in your mailbox. Pastor Weidler's biography may be viewed here.

Please Note:

St. John's is in need of assistance.

With the return to two Sunday services additional volunteers for ushers and audio-visual assistance is needed on Sunday morning. Help is also needed at the Saturday 505 service. Please contact the church office, churchoffice@stjohnslagrange.org, or speak with one of the Elders or Ushers on Sunday morning to volunteer to help.

New Middle School Sunday School Class!

Calling all middle schoolers!

Join us starting Sept. 11th downstairs in the Youth Room for Truth Travelers: an adventure that travels us through God's Word which reveals the truth of Jesus and our identity in Him!

Fun! Games! Music! 

Time: 9:30-10:30am Sundays

Questions? Contact Chad and Rebecca Hemminger at chabecca@att.net

MEMORIALS & GIFTS UPDATE

The Memorials and Gifts Committee now has a listing on the Church Website. The website provides information including the RECOMMENDED MEMORIALS LIST approved by the Congregational Assembly, periodic updates from Concordia Seminary on the Rev. James Haberkost Student Aid Endowment Fund, and recent fiscal year Financial Reports.

We encourage you to check out the MEMORIALS webpage and its attachments. You can do so be clicking this link https://www.sjlagrange.com/church/memorials-and-gifts/. The MEMORIALS page will provide a description of the committee and its work as well as links to the various attachments.

If you would like more information on Memorials, please contact the Committee Chair, Robert Roth, at rjrmcr@aol.com.

CALLING ALL KIDS . . .

COME JOIN THE FUN AT

 ST. JOHN’S WEDNESDAY BIBLE SCHOOL!

Stories, Songs, Crafts, Games, and More!

 Each Wednesday afternoon beginning September 21st, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Ages 4 through 6th Grade recommended, Parents are welcome!

St. John’s Lutheran Church and School

47th Street and Brainard Avenue, LaGrange

There is no fee to attend.      

Register at https://vbsmate.com/events/SJLLagrange/26690

For questions, contact Dalyne Shinneman at dalyne.shinneman@gmail.com

Meals to Go

September Information

and Events

Meals to Go has been active this past month and has September activities planned as well. Please click on the link to the right to read all about this community ministry including information on the Fall Fest and the Dell Rhea Chicken Basket fundraiser.

Third grade Eagles in Action

3rd grade is collecting chapel offerings in the month of September for LaGrange Area Food Pantry. Throughout the school year, our class will purchase items from chapel offerings collected in September to donate to the food pantry.

You can help, too!

The Pantry in need of regular sized canned goods that a family can use (not restaurant-sized containers) especially canned corn and canned beans, size 4 diapers, cereal, pasta, and non-food items which are not covered by Snap or Link cards. Each month we have a featured item to shop for. September’s featured item will be SHAMPOO. We look forward to serving God through our Food Pantry donations, and helping people in need in our community throughout the school year. We are grateful for support from our congregation members! Thank you!

LWML September News

On September 17 & 18 Rev. Tom Fischer from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation will be presenting the sermons and leading the Bible Study session. He will tell us about the work of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation spreading the Gospel around the world. In recognition of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s 80^th anniversary this year, he will encourage all of us to contribute donations so that at least 80 Bibles can be sent from our congregation to people throughout the world.

HONEY SUNDAY is September 25. Honey Sunday supports Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND.

LWML's monthly meeting is on September 27th at 7PM in the Heritage Room.

St. John's Senior Choir

Look for choir news coming in the Mission e-newsletter soon!

Thank you to those who donated blood

at our American Red Cross blood drive on August 10th. This is a great way to support blood donation and help others in our community. The Red Cross sent over these statistics from our drive:

24 units collected on a goal of 35, 68% of goal, 26 registered

18 whole blood, 6 power red, 5 deferrals, 5 first time donors

78 Lives saved!

Save the date for another opportunity to donate blood

on Tuesday, December 6th from 3-7 pm.

Please pick up your Church Offering Envelopes!

Your 2022-2023 Offering Envelopes are waiting for you in the Church Narthex. You may pick them up on Sunday morning or from 10AM to 3PM, Monday - Thursday.

SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS

St. John's is off to another fabulous year of providing a great Christian education to children Preschool through 8th grade. There are opportunities to support the school with monthly fundraisers. 

DELL RHEA'S CHICKEN BASKET - Dine in or Carry out! Throughout the entire month of September, Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, 645 Joliet Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527, will donate a portion of each sale back to St. John's Lutheran School. You must mention St. John's Fundraiser when in ordering. 630-325-0780 or www.chickenbasket.com.

POPCORN SALE - St. John's School will be hosting a "Pop Up Double Good Popcorn sale" from September 12th-16th. Families will be setting up their "Pop Up stores" through apps on their phones. You are able to order popcorn through the following link that has been set up, https://s.dgpopup.com/3zpby561.  You will be able to order and pay for delicious popcorn and the order will be mailed directly to your home while supporting the school. Join in on the fall fun of enjoying unique, flavorful popcorn!!!  

MARKET DAY - Finally, take advantage of the opportunity to order through Market Day! Yes, it is back! $10 off the first order if you sign up to receive the monthly newsletter. Easier than ever and delivered right to your home! (Click here to view flyer attached for information on how to set up an account and order).  

 Samaritan’s Purse Processing Center

 800 N. Commerce, Aurora IL

Looking for a seasonal job with an eternal purpose?

 We are hiring now for these and other positions! 

Warehouse Team Member                              Customer Service Team Member

Class A CDL Driver                              Warehouse Management Team Member

Warehouse Assistant

Contact Mary @ 331-240-8414 1^st Shift      Contact Phil @ 331-243-5390 2^nd Shift

18^th Annual Diaper Derby

September 18th - October 23rd

St. John's will participate the Diaper Derby for families served by Caring Network. As a church, we will be collecting diapers, especially sizes 4, 5 & 6, wipes, lotions, soaps and gift cards to Walmart. Please bring in supplies by October 23rd and leave them in the labeled box in the Narthex. Supplies benefit Caring Network’s baby bank programs, providing material goods, parenting classes, and spiritual support to new parents in need.

Walcamp's An Evening Under the Stars is on September 24th.

This event is a wonderful night of fellowship and fun using God's beautiful creation as the setting! An Evening Under the Stars will be the launch of the Climbing Wall - Zipline, a NEW addition to Walcamp program beginning this fall. Entertainment for the evening includes:

• LIVE music provided by The Dog and Pony Show
• Hayrides, Lawn Games, Hatchet Throwing, and Canoeing 
• Wine Pull and Caricature Artist
• Dinner includes a choice of Grilled Artisan Hamburger, Chicken, or Portabella Mushroom and sides
• A delicious dessert is included with your event ticket
• Water, soda, and coffee will be provided 
• You may also bring your own food, beer, or wine

Tickets are available on the Walcamp website. Individual tickets are $45 including dinner ($30 without) or purchase a 10-person bundle for $400.  

LET'S RAISE A GLASS

 TO FRIENDS, COMMUNITY, AND CARING!

As we continue onward in the wake of a challenging couple of years, we invite you to join us for a special Oktoberfest in support of our community’s older adult friends and neighbors—those who depend on ICP for safe transportation to essential appointments and for outreach services that foster aging with greater independence, meaningful connection, and dignity.

ICP has delivered on our commitment to remain on the road throughout these trying times, and we continue to expand our map and miles driven to serve older adults in more communities and to increase awareness of our services so we may reach those who need us most. Please help us prioritize the care and consideration of those who helped build, lead, and nurture the communities we all enjoy. With your support, we can help all older adults feel safe, secure, and integral to their community as they age.

So let’s escape to Munich in our minds on September 30th to enjoy one another’s company while furthering the ICP mission to help our aging friends and neighbors. We can’t wait to see you there! Prost!

Click here to get your tickets today! https://one.bidpal.net/icpoktoberfest

For more information, contact our office at 708-354-9328 or CoordinatorICP@gmail.com,

or visit https://interfaithcommunitypartners.org/volunteering/  Background check required to volunteer.

St. John's has a number of active small groups and bible studies for you to participate in. Please view current information about these groups on our website by clicking the button below.

Interested in Leading a Small Group study but not sure of a topic?

The NID has you covered. In October there will be a District-wide Bible study on Colossians called "In Christ and Into His World". Information on this four session study can be found on this NID webpage: https://www.nidlcms.org/colossians-bible-study/

TRIP Order Dates

• September 12th
• September 19th
• September 26th
• October 17th 
• October 24th

Click on the TRIP logo for more information. Note that 'Shop with Scrip' has been re-branded as "Raiseright.com". Any questions, contact TRIP coordinator, Amy Buonassisi at TRIP@stjohnslagrange.org.

THE FOOD PANTRY ITEM FOR SEPTEMBER IS SHAMPOO.

Please place donations in the baskets in the narthex.

THANK YOU!

Summer Worship Schedule

“The 505” Contemporary Worship Service at 5:05 PM

(In-Person and livestreamed)

Traditional Worship Service

at 9:30 AM

(In-Person and livestreamed)

St. John's Lutheran Church and School

505 S. Park Rd. La Grange, IL 60525

TRIP ORDERES DUE:

• September 12th
• September 19th
• September 26th

HONEY SUNDAY:

• September 25

LWML MEETING:

• September 27, 7PM

BIBLE STUDY:

• Sunday, 6:00PM
• In-Person

BIBLE STUDY:

• Mondays, 6:45PM
• In-Person

BIBLE STUDY:

• Mondays, 7:00PM
• Zoom

WOMENS' SMALL GROUP:

• Tuesdays, 8:45AM
• In-Person

CONFIRMATION CLASS:

• Wednesdays, 6:30PM

SMALL GROUP:

• Thursdays, 7:00PM
• In-Person or Zoom