Connections E-Newsletter - June 9, 2022
Worship at Faith Haven
Enjoy Outdoor Worship at Faith Haven
St. John’s will again be hosting outdoor worship services at Faith Haven this summer. This monthly worship opportunity grew in popularity last summer, and we are again thankful to gather and worship outdoors and on a beautiful property that God has provided to St. John’s. Services will be hosted on the 4th Saturday of June, July, and August at 6pm. Save the dates and come enjoy the beauty of God’s Creations and worship Him as Creator.

Faith Haven Worship Schedule:
• June 25th at 6:00pm
• July 23rd at 6:00pm
• August 27th at 6:00pm

After the service concludes on June 25, we will be celebrating the gift of Faith Haven and God’s provision in a specific way. By God’s grace and the resources He has raised up through His people, we have paid off the mortgage for the Faith Haven property. Please join us on June 25 to hear a few testimonies from those who serve on the Faith Haven committee and steward the property, about the past, present, and future of Faith Haven. Following these testimonies, we will give thanks to the Lord with prayer and continue in fellowship with a mortgage burning and S'mores. It will be a fun and blessed evening for all who gather.
Womens Retreat 2022 Courageous Relationships
St. John's 2022 Women's Retreat
2021 Womens Retreat Photos
Ladies, how many of you hate traveling because of the work it takes to prepare yourself to leave? If you’re like me, someone taught you that before you can leave the house—even just for a weekend—all the laundry needs to be done and put away, the house swept/vacuumed/mopped/ dusted, trash taken out (even if the garbage bin isn’t full!), sheets changed and beds made, and every bathroom cleaned. And then there’s the issue of making sure your kids are taken care of and/or ensuring someone comes over to feed and walk the dog or scoop the cat litter or feed the fish, etc. We don’t have to look very hard to find something that makes going away for a weekend more inconvenient than it’s worth. I am just as guilty of this as anyone else.

Have you ever read The Message translation of Psalm 46:10? This is the verse we know as “Be still.” The Message translation says, “Step out of the traffic!” How are you going to be still, to clear enough clutter from your mind to soak in the Word and promises of God? Step out of the traffic! Get away from the distractions and the grind of daily life for 48 hours and just be. Be in God’s Word. Be in prayer and praise. Be in the presence of other women who love you and want to support and encourage you.

Hebrews 10:25 calls us to “not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.” In verse 39 we're reminded that "we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." We’re called to be in “Courageous Relationships” with God and one another. But as burdens and tasks build up it is easy to isolate or at least hide part of ourselves. The woman at the well was also pretty good at hiding. She went to the well at a time of day when she was sure to be alone. But Jesus met her there and had a conversation that changed everything. We will look closely at that interaction and talk about how God meets us where we are at and gives us the courage to be vulnerable. We will also practice some fruitful conversation skills that will equip us for mentoring relationships in our homes and in the broader community.
Womens Retreat 2021 Collage
So step out of the traffic! Come away with your sisters in Christ to beautiful Green Lake, Wisconsin. Come and be blessed as we meet together, pray together, laugh together, and simply learn to “be” together. “Together” can’t happen without you there, so set aside September 23-25 and be sure to register by July 17 (this is the date the venue requests that we release any rooms that haven’t been spoken for). This retreat is for you and your friends and family, members of St. John’s or not. There is a special discount for young women in high school through age 21, and scholarship opportunities for those who need it. Don’t let finances keep you from experiencing what the Lord has to offer you that weekend. Don’t let the busyness of the world we live in keep you from experiencing the blessings God has to offer you at this weekend away.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me and I would love to have a conversation with you. You can email me at rmorton@stjohnswestbend.org or call 262-334-4901, etc. 327. You can also catch me between services in the Gathering Space or talk to any of the ladies helping hand out brochures.

I hope to see you at Green Lake in September. Remember to register by July 17!

Blessings,
Rachel Morton
Congregational Meeting June 26
Connecting, Caring, and Sharing in Christ
Mess Night
Blood Drive July 7 at church
Save a Life: Donate Blood on July 7
What: St. John's West Bend Blood Drive
When: Thursday, July 7 from 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Where: Gathering Space at St. John's
Questions: Contact Rachel at rmorton@stjohnswestbend.org or 262-334-4901, ext 327.

or Call 877-232-4376

Donate and receive a limited-edition Versiti t-shirt, while supplies last.
Thank you from the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin!

VBS
Families! Children ages 3 years old (and potty trained) through 5th grade are welcome to participate in St. John's Annual Vacation Bible School. The theme this year is Monumental: Celebrating God’s Greatness. Join us as we go off-road for a monumental adventure through the colorful canyons and sunbaked trails of the southwest. Through the opening skits, songs, bible verses, bible stories, crafts, games, and even snacks, we explore God’s awesomeness and the kids form a rock-solid faith for the road ahead. Bring a friend and join us!

VBS Online Registration opens April 1st! Receive a $10 discount if you register during the month of April by using the code: GRACE10.

PLEASE NOTE WHEN REGISTERING: ACTIVE offers a subscription for their services to individuals, which has a cost of $89.95. This will probably be a pop up after clicking submit on the initial payment. Please pay attention to your screen or you may select the opt in and be charged that fee, which is NOT a fee for St. John's VBS. The cost for VBS is $35. If you use the discount code, the cost is $25 per child.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Desiree Titus at dtitus@stjohnswestbend.org.


VBS
Calling All VBS Volunteers!
It’s that time of year again when we need strong, amazing, sweet, sassy, loud, quiet, Jesus-loving volunteers. Do any of those descriptive words describe you? We know at least one of them did, so jump on board and join the team of VBS Volunteers. We are gearing up for another week of fantastic fun this summer (July 18-22).

Volunteers meet in the School Gym by 8:30 a.m. every morning during the week of VBS so that you are ready to welcome your crews or jump to the station you will be helping at. By 12:30 p.m., you are typically finished serving for the day.

If you have any questions, please contact me, Desiree Titus, at dtitus@stjohnswestbend.org and I would be more than happy to answer any of your questions.

Womens Ministry Book Club Aug 8
We are reading our second book: A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum. Sign up below for our August 8th meeting. Tell a friend!


It's Good to be Together in the Lord
Bible Studies are on hold until after Labor Day
The next Baptism Class is Monday, June 20 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
Click Here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Click Here to view our Livestream
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: 

  1. Masks continue to be welcomed and encouraged during worship 
  2. The balcony continues to be reserved for mask wearers only at all worship services. 
  3. 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. 
  4. The offering will continue to be collected via the box in the narthex or via the St. John's app. 
  5. 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! 
Discipleship in as Many Places as Possible.
Yoga in the Park
Yoga at Sonshine Community Park
Blue Luna Yoga and Wellness will be leading a 1 hour yoga class at St. John's Sonshine Community Park. Perfect for all yoga levels. Join us June 11 at 9 AM. Bring your yoga mat and water bottle. Sign up and pay ($15 per person) online via the Blue Luna Yoga and Wellness' website.

This event is hosted by St. John's Women's Ministry. If you have questions, contact Denise Seibel at blessedonwheels@gmail.com or call (262) 412-0941.

Go to pull down menu, select schedule, pick date, and register.
Pizza Ranch Youth Fundraiser June 20
Nat Youth Gathering
Kentucky Mission Trip
Faithful Disciples • Academic Excellence • Christian Leaders
Location: St. John's Lutheran School 899 South 6th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095 
Date: June 20 - 24, 2022 
Time & Cost: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM | $245 (before discount) 
Extended Day Hours Available: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Additional $80 
Camp Director: Marcia Milam
Camp Invention is for children entering grades 1st-6th. Secure your child's spot today!


Contact St. John's Elementary & Middle School for Enrollment Options: 262-334-3077 or email school@stjohnswestbend.org.
Partner Ministries
Contact the office to learn how to join the Living Word Luther High School family.
 
Click Here to sign-up!
Contact the Enrollment Office to learn how to join the CUW family.
 
Click Here to sign-up!


Do you feel God's Calling to Become a
Pastor or Deaconess?    

Click Here to learn more. 
Reach in Prayer • St. John's App • Daily Devotions
5th Avenue Closure: St. John's Traffic & Parking Plan
St Johns Plan for 5th Ave Closure
Road Closed Ahead Sign
Decorah and Hawthorn Road Closures:
Both of these streets will close periodically due to 5th Avenue construction. Please watch for detour signs posted by the City of West Bend.

5th Avenue Closure:
Beginning on or about March 28, 5th Avenue to the east of the St. John’s campus will be closed. As such, we will have to make multiple adjustments to our traffic flow, parking, and our car line drop off and pick up for St. John’s School.

Sunday Morning Worship
All four entrances/exits to and from 5th Avenue will be closed. In order to facilitate traffic flow, two turnarounds will be marked off so that traffic can exit the parking lot easily with our angled parking. (See #1 on the map above.)

To help with this challenge, the parking lot lines will be repainted in the coming week and there will be parking attendants to help facilitate traffic for the first few weeks.

Worshippers who are willing and able are encouraged to park on 6th Avenue or Spring Street to ease traffic flow in the parking lot.
 
Early Childhood Center Drop off and Pick Up
The drop off and pick up process will remain the same. After dropping off your child, please use the designated turnarounds and exit back onto 6th Avenue.

School Drop Off and Pick Up
We will now be utilizing 6th Avenue directly to the west of the School & ECC building for all car line drop off and pick up. Buses will load and unload on 6th Avenue next to the ECC (See #2 on the map above).

Car line will drop off and pick up directly in front of the school gym on 6th Avenue coming from the south. Those picking up children from St. John’s School should line up on 6th Avenue coming from the south next to SonShine Community Park, and, if necessary, on Hawthorn Drive.

Signage will be utilized to designate loading and unloading zones.

Final Notes
The city is unable to pinpoint an exact completion date due to the variables that exist with any robust re-construction project (weather, etc.). However, based upon what the city has shared with us, we should plan for this to take approximately 7 months, which is a completion date of approximately October 15.

This will certainly be a change to our normal operating procedure and people will need time to adjust. Two things will help the entire St. John’s community during this time. First, slow down and pay attention to your surroundings as things will be more congested. Second, if there is ever a time to show a little bit of extra grace to our fellow members of our community, this is the time.

For a Digital Copy of the Connections Booklet, Click Here.
Saturday
6:00 PM Traditional
 
Sunday
8:00 AM Traditional
9:25 Discipleship Hour (On Hold)
9:30 AM Blended (In-Person and Livestream)
11:00 AM Contemporary
809 South 6th Ave
West Bend, WI 53095
Church Office: 262-334-4901