The Altar Guild will be selling Easter lilies to decorate the building for Easter Sunday. Sales will take place between services Sundays March 15, 22, and 29 and after worship Wednesdays March 18 and 25. Or pick up a form in the office. Plants will be $15 for one or $25 for two. Deadline to order is Sunday, March 29.
Archives
Christmas Worship 2019
This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a baby born in the simplest of settings. We rejoice at the hope this baby’s birth brings to our world.
You have a place at St. John’s this Christmas. Come worship:
Christmas Eve, December 24
2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, or 10:00 pm
Christmas Day, December 25
9:00 am
Christmas & Advent 2019
- Children’s Christmas Worship
December 8 | 10:15 am - Christmas Rhythm & Readings
December 11 | 6:30 pm - Lessons & Carols Worship
December 15 services - WELCA Christmas Luncheon
December 14 | 9:00 am - Senior Christmas Worship
December 19 | 2:00 pm followed by refreshments - Christmas Eve Worship
2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 10:00 pm - Christmas Day Worship
9:00 am - One service, coffee to follow
December 30 | 9:00 am - No worship
January 1
Full schedule of events at stjohnskasson.org/calendar
Advent wreath lighting
Would you/your family like to light the Advent wreath in worship? It’s a great Advent tradition with no experience needed! Sign up at stjohnskasson.org/advent-2019 or for questions/more info, talk to Deacon Amanda (amanda@stjohnskasson.org or (507) 634-7110).
St. John’s Lessons and Carols Service—December 15
St. John’s will be alive with the wonderful music of a service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 15 at the 8:00 am and 10:15 am services. This is the 27th year musicians of St. John’s have shared Advent and Christmas music with the congregation. This joyous service, entitled “God’s Promise of True Light and Salvation,” will tell the Christmas story through spoken word and music. The lessons include Adam and Eve in the garden, the prophesy of the ancient prophets and the celebration at Jesus’ birth.
Joining the Senior Choir at the service this year will be an excellent trumpet trio of St. John’s members: Morgan Coy, Austin Efflandt, and Pastor Dave. The trumpets are playing on three hymn arrangements and have an exciting solo arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The Senior Choir will sing two beautiful new compositions: “Long-Expected Dawn” with violinist Justin Sabelko and “All Praise to Thee.” The choir will also sing a rousing arrangement of the spiritual “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”
We are excited to have our Wednesday night music ensemble, “The Messengers,” participate in the Sunday morning service this year. They will also be presenting a service entitled “Christmas Rhythm and Readings” on Wednesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm.
Please invite your friends to join us both on Wednesday, December 11 and Sunday, December 15.
Dinner Church
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Fellowship Hall of St. John’s Lutheran
301 8th Ave. NW, Kasson, MN
5:30 pm – Dinner (sloppy joes)
6:00 pm – Worship & conversation
We are gathering as a community for food, fellowship, and worship to dream about the future of ministry here at St. John’s; a future that will shine brightly with the Light of the World.
Everyone, and we do mean everyone, is invited. Worried about having people with you who can’t sit still for that long? Not to worry! There will be wiggle space available for all ages. Have friends, neighbors, or family who aren’t members? They have important stories to share as well! (And there will be plenty of food.)
Your voice matters, so come and share it!
No RSVP required.
Advent & Christmas worship
Advent begins December 1, which means we’re preparing a number of meaningful worship experiences! Mark your calendars for:
- Children’s Christmas Worship
December 8, 10:15 am - Christmas Rhythm & Readings
December 11, 6:30 pm - Lessons & Carols Worship
December 15, 8:00 am & 10:15 am - WELCA Christmas Luncheon
December 14, 9:00 am - Senior Christmas Worship
December 19, 2:00 pm followed by refreshments - Christmas Eve Worship
December 24, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 10:00 pm - Christmas Day Worship
December 25, 9:00 am
Worship schedule changing
Summer is coming to a close and it’s time to switch back to the standard worship schedule!
Starting Sunday, September 15 worship services will be 8:00 am and 10:15 am. In the meantime, Sunday worship begins at 9:00 am.
Starting Wednesday, September 18 midweek worship will move inside and regular programming will begin.
Exploring our faith together
Pastor Dave Efflandt
Lead Pastor
Greetings everyone! I hope this message finds you well, and that your summer is off to a great start!
Over the past month, I’ve been spending time with many of you at our table talk conversations, learning about you and your families, hearing some of your cherished stories about St. John’s, and also dreaming with you about what possibilities await our congregation out there in the future. It has been so uplifting to share this holy space with you, gathered in fellowship with God in our midst. (There are still more times available—sign up on the board in the Narthex, right inside the main doors.)
From those conversations, I’ve been reflecting a great deal on how we, as people of faith, navigate a world that often doesn’t provide us with easy decisions or clear answers. In short, I’ve been pondering how we remain faithful during times of doubt, fear, uncertainty, confusion, and grief. And what a better place to engage and explore those difficult questions than with each other, gathered together worship on Wednesday evenings. We will be utilizing the book series: Can I Ask That? from the Sticky Faith Curriculum to help us on our journey. Take a look at the subjects below, and come join us as often as you are able:
- June 5: Can I Trust the Bible? Does the Bible Contradict Itself?
- June 12: Does God Discriminate Against Women?
- June 19: Can I be a Christian and Believe in Evolution?
- June 26: VBS Family Fun Night
- July 10: Is Jesus Really the Only Way to God?
- July 17: Does God Test People in Their Faith?
- July 24: Does God Endorse Violence?
- July 31: How Can I Follow a God Who Would Let Christians Do Such Bad Things?
- August 7: Is it Wrong to Doubt God?
- August 14: Is Hell Real? How Could God Send Someone There?
- August 21: Can I Do Something So Bad God Won’t Forgive Me?
- August 28: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
- September 4: Is Sex Outside Marriage Wrong?
May God continue to bless your walk of faith, encouraging you to ask the difficult questions, to be comfortable with the uncertainty, and courageous as you face the mysteries of life. Amen.
Summer worship 2019
We’re now in our summer worship schedule. Sunday worship is at 9:00 am followed by fellowship.
Wednesday worship is at 6:30 pm by the fire pit (inside if weather requires a move). Bring a chair, stay for s’mores, and engage with some tough topics on Wednesdays this summer!
Wednesday topic schedule:
- June 5: Can I Trust the Bible? Does the Bible Contradict Itself?
- June 12: Does God Discriminate Against Women?
- June 19: Can I be a Christian and Believe in Evolution?
- June 26: VBS Family Fun Night
- July 10: Is Jesus Really the Only Way to God?
- July 17: Does God Test People in Their Faith?
- July 24: Does God Endorse Violence?
- July 31: How Can I Follow a God Who Would Let Christians Do Such Bad Things?
- August 7: Is it Wrong to Doubt God?
- August 14: Is Hell Real? How Could God Send Someone There?
- August 21: Can I Do Something So Bad God Won’t Forgive Me?
- August 28: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
- September 4: Is Sex Outside Marriage Wrong?
Missionary Karen Anderson to preach August 18
The congregation at St. John’s supports the work of Karen Anderson, an ELCA missionary in Chile. On Sunday, August 18, she will be here preaching during worship (9:00 am) and sharing a presentation during the breakfast fellowship time (10:00 am). Come hear more about her work with EPES, an organization that annually reaches over 145,000 women and their families in poor communities with innovative strategies and tools for collective action for better health and empowerment.
Summer Worship Schedule
This summer we worship together Sunday at 9:00 am and Wednesday – outside! (weather permitting) – at 6:30 pm. Sunday schedule begins May 26, 2019. No Wednesday worship on May 29, 2019. We move outside beginning June 5, 2019.
Milestone Recognition Days
Sunday, April 28 & Wednesday, May 1
During and between services on these days, students will share the Milestones they have been working on during this past school year. The purpose of our milestone ministries is to name both sacred and ordinary events in our daily lives by creating rituals and traditions that shape our identities and give us a sense of belonging to the family of God. By learning about sacred texts it is our hope to help students as they build a foundation of faith.
Lent & Holy Week Worship
Join us on the journey to the cross this Lent and Holy Week:
- Ash Wednesday
March 6 | 5:20 pm & 6:30 pm - Wednesday Lenten Worship
March 13-April 10 | 6:30 pm
Soup Suppers at 5:15 pm (benefiting our youth: the summer service trip, Sugar Creek Bible Campers, and Creation Kids Preschool) - Maundy Thursday
April 18 | 11:00 am & 6:30 pm
(evening service includes First Communion) - Good Friday
April 19 | 6:30 pm - Easter Sunday
April 21 | 6:30 am, 8:00 am, & 10:15 am
Easter Lilies for Sale
The Altar Guild will be selling Easter lilies to decorate the building for Easter Sunday. Sales begin Wednesday, March 13. Purchase before Wednesday worship or between Sunday services OR from the office. One for $15 or two for $25. The last day to purchase flowers will be Sunday, April 7.