Rally Sunday was a wonderful day. The Sunday School Kick Off had dozens of youth and families getting set up for a regular time of learning and fellowship. It is not too late to join. Sunday School meets at 10:05 every Sunday. St. John's also modified the second worship service of Sunday morning to incorporate 15-20 minutes of youth and adult music. The Sunday School children learn some of the favorite songs and the adults sing out with familiar anthems of praise. Following worship on Rally Sunday, congregation members gathered at McElroy park for a pot luck, games, and the quilt raffle drawing. Congratulations to Velma Roeske for winning the quilt. All proceeds of the raffle went to repay note holders of the sanctuary remodeling project.
Block Party Rocks!
The Evangelism Team coordinated the booth at the Block Party to welcome the UJ students and community members to a showcase of what Jamestown has to offer. The new Green Tent will be well used at these and other events where a little shade and some distinctive color lets people know who we are. Thousands of people wandered the streets and many stopped and threw darts for prizes at our booth. Thanks Evangelism Team for representing St. John's.
Backpack Blessing
Students, young and old, were invited to come forward for special prayers at the beginning of the school year in worship on Aug. 24th. From preschool to college and teachers and support staff to bus drivers, we asked for energy, creativity, and safety for the coming year.
Check out the Child in Our Hands Billboard
At the bottom of Mill Hill, by Hardee's, check out the big happy billboard for enrollment in Child in Our Hands. corner of 1st Ave. S and 10th St.
Mission Trip at Work
Pr. Suzi, the St. John's Youth and some friends helped with paint scrapping in Benton Harbor Michigan.
Confirmation Sunday-
Confirmation Sunday-
A few weeks ago on Pentecost, thirteen young adults at St. John's celebrated their confirmation through Affirmation of Baptism. At the confirmation banquet earlier that week, each young adult read a faith statement that they had prepared during a retreat this spring. One youth wrote,
Confirmation has been a journey of knowing my relationship with God. It has opened up a whole new beginning for my life in the church. Confirmation not only built strength of my faith, but also strengthened me as a person and my relationship with God.
Another wrote,
I will live my faith by going to church, volunteering around the community, being kind and caring to all God's people, and by proclaiming the words of God in Christ through my thoughts and deeds. I will do all these things and I ask god to help and guide me on my Journey.
A third wrote,
What I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth is that God the Father created the beautiful days and gloomy days. He created everything we can and can't see. He is also there for me when I am feeling down and it is hard for me to talk to anybody. He is always there! God promises that he will be there for us through the good and bad times. I feel like God is with me everywhere.
We celebrate and welcome these new adult members of the St. John's community of faith. Pr. Erik