Games... Ice Cream... baloons, and just plain fun Rally Sunday 2011.
St. John's is "Wild About Sunday School!"
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Congratulations Graduates From 8th Grade:2011
Hailey Armstrong -- Ross Baker
Kiley Booker -- Rachel Ernst
Clayton Gosnell -- Connor Hickey
Cameron Mignone -- Austin Mueller
Kelly Raineri -- Alexis Scarpaci
Kalie Sudaj -- Ross Weber
Samantha Whalen -- Hayley Zulkowsky
From High School:
Allison Baker -- Kurtis Vlastnik
Jessica Weber -- Breanna Zulkowsky
We all enjoyed Teacher Appreciation Sunday, as we honored all the Sunday School teachers for their hard work and dedication. During the Childrens Sermon, the children brought up their barn banks which were put into the big barn. Thank you children for filling that barn to the very top of the hayloft!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
St. John's 2011 Confirmation Class. Those affirming their faith are Hailey Armstrong, Ross Baker, Kiley Booker, Rachel Ernst, Clayton Gosnell, Connor Hickey, Cameron Mignone, Austin Mueller, Kelly Raineri, Alexis Scarpaci, Kalie Sudaj, Ross Weber, Samantha Whalen, and Hayley Zulkowsky. As these fine young people affirm what God has done in baptism, we rejoice with them and their families and pray that they will continue their faithfulness to Christ’s church through Word and Sacrament. Please remember that these young people are the Lord’s present gift to the church.
 The following 4th grade children who attended the First Communion Class, taught by Don Anderson, were welcomed at the Lord’s Table on Maundy Thursday, sharing in the great gifts Christ gives in this sacrament. It is Jesus, himself, who welcomes the following to his meal:
Nicole Armstrong -- Mathew Carmean
Thomas Fauth -- Dakota Hatch
Andrew Horn -- Sydney Kasperski
Gianna Neill -- Dominic Pinter
Clare Poremba -- Raymond Reed
Hannah Yearly
A special thank you to our 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday school children for joyfully sharing with us what they are learning in their classes. Their teachers are Janice Hammer and Kaitlin Raineri and helper Morgan Bosnich.
Sunday, October 31, 2010, was REFORMATION SUNDAY, a day which commemorates the contributions of Martin Luther in matters of theology, faith, and life. On October 31, 1517 in Germany, Luther nailed a critique of indulgences, known as the 95 Theses, to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg where Luther taught as a priest. The three basic ideas of the 95 Theses were as follows: (1) a protest against the abuse of papal authority; (2) A challenge regarding the teachings and control of the church regarding Purgatory; (3) a denial of the “extra merit” teachings regarding the sale of indulgences. Over the past 500 years, Lutherans and Roman Catholics have gained understanding, appreciation, and trust of each other in matters of proclaiming Christ to all the world.
MARTIN MSSEEMMAA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE: September 2010
More Scholarship Information
In loving memory of St. John’s member, Martin Msseemmaa, the Northern Illinois Synod established a self-sustaining scholarship fund. The scholarship pays the annual tuition and fees at Moringe Sokoine Lutheran Secondary School in Monduli, Tanzania, for a student who could not otherwise afford to attend.
Mike and Sharon Wadle, whom many of you will remember, worshipped with us this past year and also attended the “harambee” fundraiser for our sister church, Babati Lutheran Parish, of the North Central Diocese, Tanzania. Sharon is pictured below with scholarship recipient, Happiness Samwel, who came to Mwangaza to visit with the Wadle’s this summer. The Wadle’s are members of one of our NISynod congregations and serve on our synod’s Global Mission team.
Happiness is now 20 years of age and is living with her sister while taking classes so that she may continue preparing for her National Exams. Along with her studies, she is also taking some computer training for work options after school. The Wadle’s have been like parents to Happiness.
A gift of $1,000.00 is budgeted each year for the NISynod-Msseemmaa Scholarship Fund. Happiness extends her personal thanks to St. John’s for all its generosity and prayers.
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Thankofferings: our history: Thankoffering Boxes were distributed to all women at worship recently. Beginning in the late 19th century, Lutheran women were given small Thankoffering boxes to place in a special location in their homes as a visible reminder of blessings received. Women would add coins to those boxes almost daily as particular blessings were noted. From their use came the idea of an annual church service to celebrate their collection, and so the women of the congregation would come together for a Thankoffering service. The concept of Thankoffering celebrations dates back more than 100 years and beyond Lutherans. The Episcopal Church Women held their first recorded Thankoffering service in 1889, and the World Thank Offering service of the United Methodist Women has been a tradition for over 100 years. In the Lutheran tradition, the General Synod's Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society created their first Thankoffering service in 1889 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organization. At that first Thankoffering, $6,100 was collected. Today, Women of the ELCAcollects more than $1 million in Thankofferings annually for the ministries and mission of our women's organization. Thankofferings show gratitude for God's blessings and give us an important and tangible way to express that gratitude. It is a tradition grounded in our celebration of community, of meeting together to joyfully give thanks for what God has given us. Thankofferings have always been, and still are, our opportunity to say thank you to God in both significant and ordinary moments.
 Prison Ministry is alive and well here at St. John’s. On August 22, Ella, Susan and Jan traveled to Dixon Correctional Center with crafts and devotional materials. Twenty men eagerly awaited our visit and appreciated the time we spent with them. We always bring back their prayer requests and would like to share some of them with you....
John: ..."I pray that God uses me for
something good."
Browning: "Prayer for my family to have exercise for their faith, to be kept in your righteous care. Helping the scientists to heal others."
Timothy: My prayer request is that I be come a better Christian and be used as an instrument for his glory."
Anonymous: "Just by keeping faith I’m blessed. Please pray for my family and thanks in Jesus’ name thank you."
The following high school youth and chaperones have returned from "The Pittsburgh Project": Lexi Scarpaci, Samantha Whalen, Rachel Ernst, Riane Wrobleski, Jacob Adams, Kelly Raineri, Hayley Cessna, Abney Bernardini, Kaitlin Raineri, Allison Whalen (Youth), Kristin Wrobleski, Dave Kromphardt, Lorie Scarpaci (Chaperones), and Jeff Whalen (Youth Director). We are grateful to God for the marvelous ways in which Christ has called and these young people have responded as witnesses of Christ’s presence and love. Check out their Facebook page here --->St. Johns Lutheran Youth-Peru, Illinois.
A special thanks to our musicians for providing music at our 2010 Christmas Candlelight service.
Pam Engels - Piano
Marilyn Antas - Vocals
Grant Bosnich - Guitar/Vocals
Pete Jacobsen - Guitar/Vocals
Allison Whalen - Clarinet
Steve Hammer - Trombone
Christopher Jacobsen - Trumpet/Fluegelhorn/Vocals
Rex Ringenberg - Drums/Percussion
The "Christmas Band"
The rest of the "Christmas Band"
Join the Band! We're looking for talent and enthusiasm. Young and old. Musicians, singers, there's room for everyone. All are welcome.
Click HERE to request more information, or to sign up.
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The "Diakonia Cookout"
Congratulations to Mr. Dale Vlastnik upon his “Diakonia” graduation which was held on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Schaumburg, IL. The two year Diakonia process of spiritual formation and theological education helps further equip God’s people for service in parish and neighborhood ministries. All Diakonia classes are taught by Lutheran pastors at various sites throughout the Northern Illinois Synod and the Metro Chicago Synod. Presently, Diakonia has teaching sites in Cary, Rockford, Moline, Peru (St. John’s), Schaumburg and River Forest. Thank you, Dale, for your wonderful leadership in ministry through the St. John’s congregation. St. John’s members Jeff Whalen, and Jan Morse will begin their second year in September. Are you interested in attending? Please visit with Dale or any of the Diakonia students. In one of the Diakonia brochures it states: “It is more than a variety of other courses. It is more than just a class; it is a chance to listen with your heart and soul, too.”
Click Here for more information on Diakonia from the Northern Illinois Synod.
St. John's Confirmation Class of 2010
Thank you to all the many volunteers who helped to make the 2010 Vacation Bible School such a success. Throughout the week of VBS, over 60 different children had the opportunity to learn what it means to be a good steward of creation, and even more so, learn that God’s love is a seed inside of each of us. What an amazing opportunity to learn about God’s love!
 A special thank you to Parish Education Committee and St. John’s Green Team for so much help with planning and resourcing this event. Thank you to all the parents who brought their children (and their children’s friends) to take part in this amazing week. And an extra special thank you to Jane Krysiak for the many hours spent helping to make VBS come to life through the artwork she created. Thank you for an amazing week!
The theme for this summer's Vacation Bible School was ReNew:The Green VBS, We focused on how we can be better stewards of God's creation. Vacation Bible School was held at St. John's the week of June 28th, 2010.
St. John's LYO Goes to Pittsburgh - Summer, 2010
Finishing up the cement sidewalk on the side of the house. Click the photo to see more about our "amazingest" week in Pittsburgh! For a recap of our mission activities, click here.
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