The usher committee consists of 10 teams with each team serving 2 months out of the church year. Each team takes turns serving the worship service during the summer months (1-2 Sundays) and special worship services.  There are over 50 men, women and confirmation students serving on the usher teams.  New members are always welcome. Please contact the parish sectretary for further details.

Every Tuesday morning at 8:30 the ladies of the church gather to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. They are then shipped all over the world for relief efforts sponsored by LWR. If you have sewing talents and wish to make a difference for those less fortunate then this group may be calling you. For further details please call the parish secretary.

The Skaalen Home is located in Stoughton Wisconsin. It provides daily care for our senior Lutheran brethren. St. John’s church members are called to volunteer there periodically. For more information you may contact Phylis Garbrecht.

Every Tuesday morning at 8;30 the men of the church meet to provide necessary maintenance to the church property. They work a lot or a little to take care of the details which are so important to keeping the Buildings and Grounds of the church in good order. If you have time to spare, your presence is very welcome. The fellowship of the gathering is part of the fun. Just show up or contact Rollie Jeans or Howard Krueger for further details.

The Altar Guild members of St. John’s Lutheran Church perform behind the scene preparation for our worship services each week.  Parament colors are changed with the church year calendar complimenting the season, candles are kept filled, flower contributions are monitored and the Holy Sacraments of communion and baptism are prepared.

 We occasionally meet early spring and fall for preparation of the two major festivals of Easter and Christmas.  Through the support of the congregation, Easter and Christmas plants are provided along with additional financial support enabling us to decorate during these festivals.  This is appreciated very much in addition to a thank you to those that have provided flowers weekly and donated toward the Flower Fund.

If you would like to join this group to share your talents and offer your time please contact the church secretary.

Please consider sharing your musical talent by singing in the Choir or with the Praise Team. The traditional worship Choir practices at 8 a.m. and performs at the 9:00 service on the first and third Sundays of the month. Come join the fun! If you have questions, please contact Carolyn Butts or Kitty Ver Kuilen.

Shut-ins receive their noon meal daily by the Meals on Wheels volunteer service. This effort is coordinated by the various community churches so our our most needy senoir citizens meet their dietary needs for at least one meal each day. St. John’s participates in this effort taking 2-3 months of that responsibility each year. The St. John’s coordinator is Glenace Smeltzer. Please contact Glenace to volunteer your services for one or two of those days each month. She’ll be happy to hear from you.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has been responding to emergencies and disasters for over 60 years.  With partners and global relief and development networks in 35 countries, LWR works to create a world where each person and every generation lives in justice, dignity and peace.  LWR engages in international relief, development, advocacy, and social responsibility in collaborative ministry with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and others.

Loading LWR quilts and kits for shipping.

St. John’s has been a contributor to LWR for many decades.  Our church sends the following items to LWR: quilts, bars of soap, sewing kits, health kits, layettes,  school kits and blankets.  Through sale of some quilts and a Sunday offering, money is also sent to LWR to help ship these projects to wherever in the world they are most needed.

 These projects will be collected again in 2009 through a “Project of the Month” emphasis.  The need for these items never ends.  Thank you to all of the quilting ladies who tirelessly make the quilts at church throughout the entire year.  Thanks to those who work from home sewing quilt tops or school bags, or knitting sweaters for the layettes.  Thanks to those who purchase items for the various projects.  This congregation has been very generous to those in desperate need.  As Jesus said, “Just as you did it for the least of these…you have done it unto me.”  (Matthew 25).

Contact Deanna Jeans, Lutheran World Relief Coordinator, for any further details.

The Befriender Ministry was developed to train lay people to assist the Pastor in providing care, support and comfort to those in need.  The Befrienders are trained volunteers who may be called upon to make hospital visits, visits to shut-ins, provide transportation to appointments, do errands for those unable to drive themselves, or to answer any number of needs for those in the congregation.  Their role is that of Christian caregiver.  St. Johnʼs has 10 trained Befrienders.  If you are interested in training for this ministry please phone Marj Hipke (882-4476) or Deanna Jeans (882-5829).

Our confirmation program is held for middle school students, in grades 6-8. We have adult volunteers, who are typically parents of the students, to lead the small group studies. They meet with groups of four or five students during the Wednesday classtime. We are also blessed with volunteers to lead our mentor program at the conclusion of the last year of instruction.  

The curriculum may vary from year to year but is typically intended for a large-group/small-group style curriculum and has strong roots in our Lutheran faith. The group meets every Wednesday for 90 minutes during the school year, with several weeks devoted to fellowship or service outings.

Volunteers for the program are always welcome