St. John's Connections E-Newsletter

Connections E-Newsletter - December 30, 2021

A prayer for a new year. A woman and child hold a small wooden cross.

Lord of all creation,

You hold our days and our lives in Your hands. As we prepare to leave 2021 and begin a New Year, help us remember how Your grace was present in and through every moment in 2021. Help us remember how Your grace sustained us to face the trials of the past year and how Your grace brought us through those trials. Comfort those who suffered loss in the past year, and bind up the broken hearted and grieving. Thank you for the moments of great joy you provided in the past year and for your continued gracious provision of all that we need for this body and life. Bring an end, we pray, to the pandemic that continues even now. Forgive us, we pray, for all sins we have committed, and strengthen us with your grace to live as your people, wherever you have placed us in the coming year.

In the year to come, we pray that You would continue to build up the body of Christ in and through our ministries here at St. John’s. Bless the proclamation of your word so that we would be built up in faith and equipped to live out that faith in the world. Let this year be filled also with Your grace and mercy so that all we do would be done for Your glory and for the sake of our neighbor. Bless the leaders in our country and world with wisdom and confidence to lead and to care for all under their authority. Pour out Your Spirit on all pastors, teachers and missionaries that they would winsomely proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ for all people.

Lord, we thank you for Your gifts, Your presence and Your grace in the past year. We pray and trust that these things will continue to be in the year to come.

This we pray in the name of your Son, our Savior Jesus. Amen.

Discipleship Hour starts on Sunday, January 9. We will gather each week in the School Gym for prayer at 9:25 am. Classes end at 10:30 am. Parents are encouraged to come to the gym after dropping off their children for Kids Discipleship Hour in the ECC. Download the brochure for more information and sign up for the class you would like to attend by January 12.

Download the Discipleship Hour Brochure HERE!

All of the ministries at St. John's continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic as we seek to faithfully carry out our mission. Regarding in-person worship, we would like to remind you of the following protocols:

Masks continue to be welcomed and encouraged during worship
The balcony continues to be reserved for mask wearers only at all worship services.
You are free to greet one another in whatever manner you feel most comfortable-Shaking hands, waving, or a simple kind "Hello!" are all ways to acknowledge your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The offering will continue to be collected via the box in the narthex or via the St. John's app.
Worship will continue to be livestreamed on all of our platforms and archived on our Youtube page for those who would prefer to worship at home during this time.

Please continue to pray for an end to this pandemic and for all affected!

Connecting, Caring, and Sharing in Christ

Support the current missions of St. John's LWML on January 8 or 9, before or after each worship service. View info about Hope for Christ for Cancer Patients - Phil's Friends HERE. View info about Bethany Ev. Lutheran Church Asaba, Delta State Nigeria, New Church Planting HERE. Thank you!

Mark March 4-6, 2022 on your calendar and plan to attend the popular St. John's Couples Retreat. The retreat will be at a new venue: the amazing Irish Cottage Inn & Suites in beautiful Galena, Illinois. More information will be available soon.

Please complete our life group survey by clicking HERE.

It's Good to be Together in the Lord

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE!

View our Livestream HERE!

The next Baptism Class is Monday, January 17 at 6:30 pm in the church nursery. The class is led by Doug and Mel Raddemann. This course is for anyone looking to be baptized themselves or for any parent who would like his or her child baptized at St. John's. The class introduces what we believe and confess about the amazing gift that baptism is for individuals and families.

Please RSVP to the church office if you plan on attending at

stjohns@stjohnswestbend.org or (262) 334-4901

Discipleship in as Many Places as Possible.

Faithful Disciples, Academic Excellence, Christian Leaders

St. John’s Early Childhood Center is hiring! Part-time and Full-time positions are available. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the St. John’s Early Childhood Center at ecc@stjohnswestbend.org or 262-429-1061 ext. 501.

Contact St. John's Elementary & Middle School for Enrollment Options: 262-334-3077 or email school@stjohnswestbend.org.

Contact St. John's Early Childhood Center for Enrollment Options: 262-429-1061 or email ecc@stjohnswestbend.org.

Rings were found at Faith Haven on the south kiosk (sign) near the worship area.

Please call the church office to identify the rings: (262) 334-4901

Partner Ministries

CUW OFFERING $1,000 GRANT FOR NEW INCOMING STUDENTS

Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor wants to help new incoming Class of 2022 students save money. Any NEW traditional student who completes the FAFSA by Thanksgiving will be awarded a $1,000 early filing grant. Visit www.cuw.edu or www.cuaa.edu for more info.