What times are the services?
We have two concurrent worship services on Sunday mornings. At 8:15 am and 11:00 am, you can worship at a contemporary service or at a traditional service. At 5:00 pm, you can join us for worship at a casual contemporary service.
What can I expect at worship services?
All of the worship services at St. John include a Prelude, confession and forgiveness, the Word, the Meal (Communion) and the Sending.
Contemporary worship at 8:15 and 11:00 is in the Great Room. The music is a worshipful Christian contemporary blend led by a praise team that includes keyboard, percussion, guitar, vocals and other instruments.
Traditional worship at 8:15 and 11:00 is in the Sanctuary. The music is primarily organ and piano led by the chancel choir with time-honored hymns and anthems.
The 5 pm service is a casual contemporary service in the Sanctuary where a variety of instruments are involved in the worship expression.
What is traditional worship?
If you grew up attending a liturgical church like Lutheran, Catholic or Episcopal, you probably experienced responsive readings, sung the liturgy along with organ accompaniment, enjoyed hearing the chancel choir and can name many long-standing hymns. Our traditional services in the Sanctuary will be familiar to you. You’ll find young families who want to share this rich heritage of Lutheran worship with their children. You’ll also find elder Christians who grew up with this expression of worship. And, you’ll find young adults who view this worship expression as a steadfast source of inspiration in the midst of a hectic and demanding world.
The traditional service is led by an organ and the Chancel Choir. A cantor leads us in responsive singing of the Psalm. Often there are special musical offerings by the Hand Bell Choir, the Children’s Choir, or featured musicians. The worship processional includes youth as acolyte and server. Communion is offered every Sunday at the altar rail.
What is contemporary worship?
Contemporary worship is expressed in a great variety of ways across the spectrum of Christianity. At St. John, we pray that the contemporary worship services at 8:15 and 11 a.m. Sunday mornings in the church’s Great Room will (1) glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, (2) unite us in fellowship with Christ so that He might forgive us our sins, transform our hearts and minds by His Word, and cause us to grow in faith and holiness, and, (3) draw upon the most worshipful of Christian contemporary music utilizing guitars, keyboards, drums, and vocals. Our contemporary services also include the ancient offering of Holy Communion for all those baptized and believing in Jesus. We invite you to join our Praise Team, pastors, and all worship leaders this Sunday morning to worship the Lord and grow in new friendship together!
For those unable to participate in worship on Sunday mornings, we also offer a third opportunity every week for a more contemporary experience. In our Sanctuary at 5 p.m. Sundays, you are invited to a quieter and more reflective version of the morning service. The music is led with acoustic instruments and the service includes most elements of traditional worship, too.
Contemporary worship includes the same elements of Lutheran liturgical worship: The Prelude, Confession and Forgiveness, The Word, The Meal (Communion), and The Sending.
What is a Lutheran?
Lutherans are Christians, as Martin Luther preferred they would be called! But his opponents in the 16th century tagged those believers who embraced Luther’s teaching of Scripture as authority and the great theological insights he taught from the Bible with the name, Lutheran, and it stuck. But Lutherans are simply Christians who accept the Bible as the true and authoritative source of Christian love, truth, guidance for daily life, and doctrine. They accept the same ancient creeds of the apostolic, historic Church as other Christians do. They understand Christ’s commandment to go into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ and show forth the love of God in both word and action. They also proclaim in particular the biblical message of “justification by grace through faith.” That is, Lutheran Christians emphasize that a person is saved (made right in the eyes of God) by God’s unconditional love (grace) as they receive that grace by putting their whole trust and commitment (faith) in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ through His life, death, and resurrection.
What is a Lutheran church?
A Lutheran church is a Scripturally-based, confessional church that worships Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and proclaims that the Bible reveals the will, truth, and grace of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A Lutheran church seeks to work cooperatively with other churches, striving toward true Christian unity. A Lutheran church is a place where all people are invited to come into a new and eternal personal relationship with Christ and into a true and authentic community with one another.
Do you have a nursery?
Nursery is available Sunday morning for children up to age 5. Our nursery staff is trained in lifesaving skills from the American Red Cross. We offer pagers to parents in case your child needs you during a service or a class. And, our Nursery is a peanut-free zone. Please let the staff and volunteers know if your child has any other allergies.
What about the children?
Children beyond nursery age attend church with their families. They are invited up front for a children’s sermon and then are encouraged to join others their age for Children’s Chapel. Children’s Chapel is an interactive and joyous learning time where children sing and learn about the Gospel through puppets, drama and crafts. Children return to the service for Communion.
In addition to Children’s Chapel, Sunday School is available for ages 3-adult, mornings from 9:45-10:45.
What kind of youth programs do you have?
Youth have a variety of discipleship classes on Sunday mornings and Middle School and High School meet regularly on Sunday evenings by age group.
What is your membership process?
Members are received through baptism or through affirmation of faith. To become Lutheran, only Baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If you have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we invite you to attend the Inquirer’s Class for an overview of Christianity and what Lutherans believe. Active members of other Lutheran congregations typically need only to transfer their membership.
What do Lutheran Christians believe?
- We believe in the Triune God - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge one God in three Persons.
- We believe that Jesus is the living word of God. The 66 books of the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit and provide God’s infallible revelation to humankind for all the ages.
- We believe that the church, whether it is a local congregation or the worldwide fellowship of believers, is the Body of Christ. As His Body, we are called to worship Him, serve Him and be the channel through which the Good News in its fullness is shared with the world.
- We uphold the Lutheran Confessions. We believe that salvation comes from grace alone, faith alone, and word alone – a strong foundation of the Lutheran Reformation in the 16th Century.
- We believe in, and practice, the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. These Sacraments, along with the Bible, convey God’s “means of grace.” We believe that through the Holy Spirit and the waters of Baptism, God accepts us as His children, marking us with the cross of Christ. Through Baptism and saving faith, God gives the gift of new life.
- We believe that the “real presence” of Christ’s body and blood is truly “in, with, and under” the bread and the wine of Holy Communion. Through the Lord's Supper, God comes to love us and forgive us. Jesus is really present in the meal.
- We believe in the Ecumenical Creeds – The Apostles’ Creed, The Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed.
- We believe in the worth and sanctity of every human being. Created in God's image, all human life has intrinsic worth and dignity. The dignity of each person is not dependent on accomplishments, but on God's gracious love. Because God sees humanity as worth dying for, we affirm and acknowledge the sanctity and dignity of all human life from conception.
- At the same time we acknowledge that we are separated from God because of sin. We joyfully proclaim the Good News and because of Jesus Christ, forgiveness is a possibility for there is more mercy in God than sin in us. It is that forgiveness that restores fallen humankind's worth.
- We believe in and anticipate the return of Jesus Christ. Though we don't know the day or hour, we joyfully proclaim His soon return inspiring all people to make the most of their life today.
Do I need to be a member to participate?
Of course not! Everyone is welcome to participate in the ministry, mission, education and friendship at St. John.
Is the church handicap accessible?
Yes.
Where is the church located?
