Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church - Port Clinton, Ohio
“Growing Disciples of Jesus”
Worship: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! You are invited to come experience the unconditional love of God in Jesus as it is proclaimed, experienced and extended when we gather to worship, to grow in faith, to participate in fellowship and to serve others.[More]
Disciple-Ship Quest: Moving towards God’s vision of “Growing Disciples of Jesus,” our creative Christian Ed Team has chosen the powerful name “Disciple-Ship Quest” for what was formerly called Sunday School. You are invited to join the journey. Classes are available for all ages from 3 year old through adult. [More]
St. John @ the Bay: Come and worship at Mother of Sorrows Church where our Lutheran Mission, St. John @ the Bay, is developing an emerging worship community that shares the Gospel and grows discipleship in those who live, work and visit on South Bass Island. [More]
Narrative Lectionary: The Narrative Lectionary is a set of Bible readings for our worship that tells the over-arching biblical story in a nine-month period. These texts sound the voices of Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul; and so enrich preaching and our life of faith.
[Summary & Schedule]
Experiencing the Joy of Generosity!
The first weekend in October we will begin a three-week stewardship emphasis titled Experiencing the Joy of Generosity. This will be an exciting and beneficial three weeks of sermon messages and lay presentations. We believe this program will be a blessing to those who already are experiencing the joy of being generous with the gifts God has given to them, and we hope and pray that this effort will help many more experience the joy that comes from giving faithfully and generously.
When we give to God through giving to our church and others, we experience one of the true joys of being Christians. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). God doesn’t need our gifts, but he asks us to give them. God accepts and uses them and gives us joy in sharing them. As we respond to God’s love for us by giving back to him part of what he’s given to us, he reacts by giving us even more. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Although we don’t give so that we will receive God’s blessings, God’s Word promises us that, when we give faithfully and willingly, we will receive an abundance of spiritual blessings and, for some, material blessings as well.
Have you ever wondered why you are left with such a joyful feeling when you are able to give a gift to your church or to help a person in need? The answer to that question may be rooted in us as Christians who are being recreated in the image of God. To be made in God’s image means we are made to be like him whose nature is to give. Giving helps us feel fulfilled as we reflect God’s nature. Although the image of God was lost by sin, as those converted by faith in Jesus, we “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). Our Creator empowers us to give joyfully to our church and others according to his will. With this attitude of joyful gratitude, God keeps us close to him, and others see his image through us.
Our pursuit for fulfillment and joy culminates in the discovery that we receive those things when, by God’s grace, we respond with eagerness to God’s directive to give. Like David, we exclaim, “But who [are we]…that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we give you” (1 Chronicles 29; 14).
We hope and pray that the emphasis Experiencing the Joy of Generosity will be a blessing to you and your family!
THE BLESSING OF PETS …
October 4 is the day the Church that honors, remembers and celebrates the life and witness of St. Francis of Assisi, Renewer of the Church, 1182-1226. It is our tradition to gather close to that day for the annual Blessing of the Animals.
THE BLESSING OF PETS WILL TAKE PLACE ON … on Saturday, October 6 at 6:15 pm. ON THE ADAMS STREET SIDEWALK.
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Pet owners and caretakers are invited to bring their pets and gather as we join together a brief order for worship centered in God’s Word, prayers and a blessing for pets and those who care for them. Please note: ALL pets must be restrained by leash, line, halter or pet carrier. Treats will be provided.
It has become our tradition to wear the color RED when we gather to worship on Reformation Weekend, October 27 and 28. This day is set side to celebrate our Lutheran heritage. Of course, we’ll be singing “A Mighty Fortress,” we will remember a significant moment from the life of Luther, and we will gather around the Lord’s Table!
And it would not be Reformation without our annual LUTHER QUIZ! A very special and unique Lutheran gift will be presented at each of our worship services to the first person who can correctly answer a question that will test your Luther-knowledge. So, start reviewing the Luther story NOW!
WEAR RED … AND CELEBRATE THE REFORMATION!
REFORMATION AND CONFIRMATION!
Reformation Sunday will also provide us with another cause for celebration … as we join with the following youth who will be affirming their faith in Christ and deepening their identity with the life and mission of the Church in the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism (a.k.a. Confirmation).
Owen Auxter
Owen Frattaroli
Emily Holcomb
Alyssa Libben
Nathanael Nellett
Nicholas Nellett
A great day of celebration gets even better! Thanks be to God!
ALL SAINTS WEEKEND
On November 3 and 4, the “church on earth” remembers the “church in heaven,” as we celebrate All Saints Weekend. Time is set aside in our worship to remember before God the “great cloud of witnesses,” those who have gone before us by faith in Christ, and who now have laid claim to the promises of the resurrection unto eternal life. Here at St. John we will remember especially the saints from our congregation and community who have died during the past twelve months, specifically since last year’s observance of this day. Included in our remembering this All Saints Day shall be the following “saints.”
If you would like someone added to the list whose name does not appear, please contact the Church Office by October 31.
“We give thanks for all our beloved dead who now rest from their labors. Keep us faithful to our baptismal promises until that day when we are united with all the saints in eternal light.”
MIDWEEK STUDY IS COMING … AGAIN
Our Midweek Study, “It’s All About Love. The Christian Journey: a Lutheran Perspective” was postponed due to poor turnout. A revised schedule appears below. We will try it again!!!
The author of this four-week study is Richard Erlander and this is what he has to say about Love. “Love has a special meaning in the Bible. Love is God’s unconditional and never-ending desire, work and suffering for the good of all humans and all creation. Love is God’s action to bring us into abundant life- reconciled to God, each other, and all creation … and loving as God loves.”
So, come and explore how love is not only the foundation for our life in Christ, but also for how we live in relationship with each other and all of creation.
We will gather on these Thursdays … October 11, 18 and 25 and on November 8 at 6:30 pm.
FALL BISHOP’S EVENT … OR BETTER KNOWN AS THE BISHOP’S BAKE OFF!
Join us for a night of worship, fellowship, and learning!
All Gatherings will start at 6:30 p.m. with worship, followed by the Bake-Off and a time of learning. Bishop Daniel will kick-off the evening with the introduction of the Year of Scripture, after which attendees can choose to attend a presentation from Sherry Krieger or Kent Wilson.
The Fall Gatherings are not conference specific, so we invite you to attend the nearest Gathering, or the Gathering that features your favorite flavor!
October 11: Glenwood, Toledo
Flavor: Lemon
October 16: Nevada, Nevada
Flavor: Apple
October 23: St. John's, Oak Harbor
Flavor: Pumpkin
October 26: St. Peter, Delphos
Flavor: Chocolate
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SETTING 8 Continuing through the month of October ELW Setting 8 will be the foundation of our worship and praise. As we move through the Church Year we rotate among the four ELW services that we have “learned” over the years, (1,2,8 and 10). Setting 8 is often called the “contemporary” setting, as it uses music that is perhaps, a little more non-singer friendly. CROS+GEN LIFE CONFERENCE 2018 One of our values … those characteristics that are a part of the DNA of this congregation … is that we are always about NURTURING DISCIPLES. We would stop being St. John … if we would end our commitment to providing “meaningful opportunities for children, youth and adults to hear, learn and experience the good news of God’s love in Jesus.” From October 1 through October 4, Pam Boytim, Julie Frattaroli and Pastor Jim Lehman will be participating in the Cros+Gen Conference that is being held in Estes Park, Colorado at the YMCA of the Rockies. This event will be comprised of “big picture” presentations, case studies (that will tell the stories of how congregations across the world are nurturing disciples) and workshops. The basic thrust of this approach to nurturing disciples is to gather children, youth and adults into one community, versus breaking age groups into separate classrooms. Here’s a question that is at the heart of this Cross+Gen Life, “What happens when the wisdom of the elder and the wonder of the child collide in the same sacred space every week?” Promise. Hope. Joy. Depth. Fun. Cross+Gen Life. We have made a significant commitment to explore how we might be able to continue being about the nurturing of disciples here at St. John. We will join with people from across the globe and across denominations … to hear from some of the most passionate and gutsy trailblazers in cross+generational faith formation. Keep the three of us in your prayers as we seek to grow, to be challenged and to learn how we might implement a new way of discovering Promise. Hope. Joy. Depth and Fun. This adventure has been made possible through the generosity that has been provided through the Shela Fund, which is a part of the St. John Endowment. ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OCTOBER 6 AND 7 WE WILL BE BLESSING LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF QUILTS AND KITS BEFORE THEY WILL BE SHIPPED OFF TO MEET NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD.LWR DELIVERY TO NEW ROCHESTER WILL BE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13.VACATION PLANS … Pastor Jim and Jean will be away for vacation from October 29 through November 5. Two birthdays happen in rapid succession … Carter turns 4 on November 2 and Addison turns 8 on November 3. Exact travel plans are still in process as this is being prepared! MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS The Handbell Choir … under the direction of Lisa Rider rehearses on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Our Senior Choir, under the direction of Shelvin Burns, rehearses on Sunday mornings, except when the Handbell Choir is ringing, at 8:00 am. Come join one of our two outstanding choirs who provide leadership for our worship, as gifts and talents are shared! CONTINUING EDUCATION Pastor Jim will be on a Seasons of Renewal Retreat as a part of his fulfillment of continuing expectations for Rostered Leaders. Pastor Jim will on retreat October 15 and 16 at Our Lady of the Pines in Fremont.
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St. John LutheranWe are a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , whose offices are located in Chicago, Illinois.
We are also partners with the 162 congregations of the Northwestern Ohio Synod. The offices of the NWOS are located in Findlay, Ohio.
Local ELCA congregations in Ottawa and Wood Counties share mission and ministry through the North Central Conference.
Our congregation also participates in the Port Clinton Clergy Association and it’s seasonal worship and service opportunities.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! On behalf of the people who gather to worship, learn and serve at St. John Lutheran Church, I welcome you to our Web site as you learn more about our mission.
You are invited to come experience the unconditional love of God in Jesus as it is proclaimed, experienced and extended when we gather to worship. It is our church's desire to grow in faith, to participate in fellowship, and to serve others
I am available to visit with you by phone, at your home or work place, or via e-mail. I would enjoy getting to know you better and answering questions you might have about the Christian faith, or what Lutherans believe, or any specific practices of this Christian community. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
Once more, in Christ’s name, welcome to St. John Lutheran Church. Come and join us as we seek to make Christ known.
Pastor Jim Lehman
OUR MISSION
We are a Christ-centered and caring congregation called by God to share the good news of salvation for all people.
OUR VISION
“Growing Disciples of Jesus”
