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

This past Sunday, we began a 4-week focus in the Epiphany season, Serving Jesus-Living in Community, or shortened to “Being SJLC 2023.” This year, we are lifting up the four ministry areas of our Church Council that flow out of our congregational vision: Gathering, Connecting, Discipling, and Living Faith.

The ministry of Messaging flows through each of these core areas. In the Gospel lesson (Matthew 4:12-25 ESV), Jesus began to fulfill what was written by the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament lesson (Isaiah 9:1-4 ESV). Jesus began to gather disciples around him, calling Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to follow him, and Jesus invites us to do the same: to gather around him as He comes to us in his Word and Sacraments in the fellowship of believers as the sermon made clear.

And why do we do this week in and week out? As St. Paul wrote in the final verse of the Epistle lesson (1 Corinthians 1:10-18 ESV): “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

From the Pastor's Desk - January 2023

Pastor Meehan is on Vacation This Week

Pastor Meehan is on vacation through Sunday, January 29, taking some vacation time before the Lenten season begins. Pastor Gary Rueter will be preaching and leading worship on Sunday, January 29.

Pastor Andy Jagow from Bethany Lutheran Church in Alexandria has agreed to provide emergency pastoral care during that time if needed by anyone from St. John's.

The best email for Pastor Jagow is pastor@bethany-lcms.org, and the best phone number is 516-782-5519 (his cell). The daytime phone number for Bethany’s church office is 703-765-8255. Pastor Jagow will let his secretary know that he will be on call for St. John’s during that week.

Year-End Giving Statement

It’s that time of year again…TAXES! All of the 2022 offerings have been entered into our Church Community Builder (CCB) database and are ready to be printed in order to report your generous contributions on your 2022 tax return.

Instructions to print your year-end Giving Statement:

• Log in to CCB
• At the Home page and from the left column, select “My Giving”
• Next page, select the “Schedules/History” option
• Following page, upper right-hand side, click on the “Giving Statement” button
• In the pop-up window, select “Custom Date Range” and insert the dates January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022
• Click “Run Report”

Your 2022 Giving Statement should now appear on the screen and be ready for printing or saving. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact Jennifer Smith, St. John’s Finance Administrator, 703-971-2211.

Donation Drive for Homeless Women and Children

Shelter House, Inc., a community-based, nonprofit organization serving Fairfax County, has an urgent need for new twin blankets, sheets, and bath towels for women and children in the shelter. Shelter House was formed in 1981 in response to a homeless crisis in Fairfax County. 

To support the endeavor, St. John’s Creative Fellowship will be collecting donations through Tuesday, February 21 (Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper). Donations may be placed in the basket located in the Narthex. For questions or more information, contact a member of Creative Fellowship or the Church Office.

Walking and Talking with Jesus

Sponsored by the Salaam Isa Mission Society, the next Session of Walking and Talking with Jesus will be tonight, Wednesday, January 25, at 7 PM on Zoom. The topic will be “Scripture – The Bible and Koran”. This will be the third of five sessions. Please be sure to register in order to receive the Zoom link. You only need to 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.

Bridges Seminar

On Saturday, February 11, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., St. John’s will host a Bridges Seminar, Christians Connecting with Muslims. This study equips believers to share their Christian beliefs with their Muslim neighbors, with compassion and understanding. Sessions will lead participants to learn to bridge the gospel, understand the New Testament's credibility, understand Jesus' sacrifice, and more. It demystifies Islam for believers who have no knowledge of basic Islamic beliefs. To register for the event please go to  Bridges Registration Cost: $30 for the workbook with lunch provided.

ESL Volunteers Needed

Want to make a big difference in someone’s life? Join us in teaching English online to our immigrant neighbors. Volunteers must commit to teach one online class per week, February 14-May 4. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:30AM or 7:30-9PM. (Students attend both days, but volunteers teach once a week). All classes are on Zoom. Our adult students are eager to learn and extremely appreciative. Training and books are provided. No experience is necessary—just a smile and a desire to help people from other countries!

We also need help selling textbooks to students 7-9PM, February 7 and 9, at St. John’s. For more information, click here or contact ESL Coordinator Dori McCormick.

ESL Book Fund Donations

St. John’s ESL program serves about 150 adult English language learners each fall and spring session. Last fall, our students came from 37 different countries. They speak 16 different first languages.

Throughout the pandemic, we have subsidized the book costs to keep prices affordable, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. However, the ESL book fund is dwindling. Please consider donating to help students learn English. Write checks payable to St. John’s Lutheran Church, earmarked for ESL book fund or click here to donate electronically to the ESL program. Thank you!

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