Begins January  1 – “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Our eternity depends on our relationship with Jesus, and so we want to strengthen that relationship through more intentional and regular contact with our Savior. Join us for By Scripture Alone in 2019 as we read through the New Testament: from Matthew’s genealogy to Revelation’s sure and certain victory and everything in between that is so clearly all about Jesus. Watch for more information in the upcoming weeks, including a reading schedule and supplemental materials. Please also think about inviting a family member or friend to participate!

Saturday, November 10 – Help us get the gardens put to bed for the season. Tasks include cutting back perennials, raking and bagging leaves, putting hoses away and cleaning out the garden beds. We’ll meet at 9:00 a.m. in the church parking lot and will work until noon. Please bring gloves, small hand pruners, and buckets to carry leaf and plant material. Rakes will be provided. Teens, this is a great way to earn hours for next summer’s mission trip! Contact Kurt and Kelly Kramer or 414-475-9071 with any questions.

Beginning Wednesday, January 9 – Parents or caregivers are invited to bring their infants, toddlers or preschoolers to this program in St. John’s K3 classroom on Wednesdays from 8:15 – 9:45 a.m. The cost is $35/family for the 8-week session or $5/week. Invite your friends and neighbors with young children. Online registration opens on Thursday, November 1. For more information or to register, please go to  www.sjtosa.org/morningswithmommy, contact Carrie Henning (carrie.henning@sjtosa.org) or call the school office (414-258-4214) and ask for Carrie. 

Wednesday, October 24 – There is still room to join us for a Candy Land Bedtime Blessings: The Path to Jesus is so Sweet. This is a gathering of family fellowship for toddlers, childcare, preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade families. All siblings are welcome to come and may be dressed for bedtime. We have a fun night planned with bedtime stories, music, crafts, games and a devotion with a special SWEET snack beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the school commons. Parents will have a chance to browse and purchase family devotion materials from Concordia Publishing. To register please click here or email Dana Leyrer.

Sunday, October 21 – St. John’s families, friends and neighbors are invited! Come in costume for Trunk or Treat and tons of fall games, crafts, food and family fun from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. We are looking for fun and creative families to decorate and host trunks for Trunk or Treat. Candy will be provided. Please contact Kerry Ognenoff to sign up or ask questions.

Sunday, December 2 – Invite your female family members, friends, and neighbors to attend this Christ-centered preparation for the holiday season. Advent by Candlelight will be held in the school gymnasium beginning at 1:30 p.m. Space is limited, so sign up to host a table or attend today! If you have 4 or more guests, you are encouraged to host a table. To register, click here, e-mail Julie Handeland, or sign up at the table in the church narthex.

After years of dedicated service, Mrs. JoAnn Schmidt has shared her intent to seek other employment. We are seeking applications for the position of School Administrative Assistant. For a complete job description, application and to upload a resume, click here.

For questions, contact Principal Uecker. Thank you, Mrs. Schmidt, for your years of service.

Our member Sue Pappalardo contracted West Nile Virus in early September and has been hospitalized ever since. We praise God for the slow but steady recovery she is making, but the effects have been debilitating, and she still faces weeks and possibly months of ongoing therapy. A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family to help with the expenses of Sue’s protracted hospitalization and can be accessed by clicking here. Helping with Sue’s ongoing expenses is also an alternate Council Project of the Month for October. Gifts made to St. John’s and designated for the Pappalardo family using a green Above and Beyond offering envelope will be given to the family at the end of this month. 

Through Sunday, October 7 – St. John’s is currently considering a capital campaign to raise the necessary funds for expanding and enhancing our church and school facilities and retiring our existing debt. An important preliminary step for this potential project is a Fundraising Feasibility and Planning Study. All members and friends of St. John’s are invited to click here to read more about the project, provide feedback through the online survey, and help us assess our financial potential. The survey will remain open through Sunday, October 7 at midnight. Each member’s feedback is vitally important to us – please plan to participate! 

Illumine Lutheran Church in Rock Hill, SC is a WELS mission congregation that has hosted one of our teen mission teams each of the last four summers. Their mission: allow Christ to shine brilliantly on people, in people, and through people through worship, education, and community service. Visit illuminechurch.com for more information about Illumine. Use your green Above & Beyond envelope and make checks payable to St. John’s.