Before they are shipped to Lutheran World Relief, St. John's will be offering a blessing for the quilts and those who will use them.

God bless these quilts wherever they may be used, that they may provide warmth and security to those who have experienced tragedy or who have no other shelter. God bless all who receive these quilts with the experience of the covering of your love and forgiveness.

Some of the finished quilts will be on display in the Sanctuary.  Please be sure to join us on the 23rd to see the fruits of many hands’ labor.

This fall, in place of the annual CROP WALK, the local Lutheran churches are combining efforts to raise money for local hunger efforts.

On October 14 we will walk to help feed those who are hungry. We walk at the Prayer Path at Zion Lutheran Church in Huron.

We will combine walking with prayer for hunger relief. We will raise money that will be distributed to local food banks and hunger relief organizations.

Please walk and pray with us on October 14. Donation documentation records can be picked up on the welcome table.

Young Family Eucharistic Ministers

When your child first wished to take the Sacrament of Holy Communion, and you believed he or she was ready to do so, you began to help prepare them to receive the Sacrament. Maybe your child loved talking about communion. Did they have questions about it? These questions and their answers may well have been in your home.

For many of our homebound members, Holy Communion always happens at home.

So we would like to partner families who have youth, with families who are homebound. We ask that you visit the homebound member once every other month and take communion to them.  This can happen anytime that fits your schedule!

We hope relationships will form and we can learn from each other.

Interested? Have questions? Join us for a brief discussion on November 3rd at 11:30 before Art and Pizza, or see Pastor Stacy.

Please join us again for a craft, prayer, and pizza on November 3rd from 12-1.

These special times strengthen young people and their families in their relationship with God; help them to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ; and to enjoy and share God’s love together.

All young people and their families are invited.

All Saints Sunday is when we take the time to give thanks for the saints who have shared their faith with us and helped us grow in ours. It is a day when we commemorate those we have lost as well as the Christians who have lived before us and have testified to their Christian faith.

You are invited to bring a picture of someone you would like to remember on this special day and place that picture on the altar before worship begins.

The SPURS visioning team is offering two opportunities on Monday, November 5th to encourage everyone at St. John’s to share their dreams for St. John’s. Ann Voight, team leader and Pastor Stacy will host two meeting times 10 am and 5:30 pm in the Upper Room.

SPURS is a think tank where together we dream big dreams and seek God's vision for the future of the congregation. Your dreams and creativity are needed, so please come and join in casting a new vision.

S -Support
P -Persons
U -Understanding
R -Renewal in the
S -Spirit who leads us on

AT Ohio Veterans Home.

Join us to help place flags on the graves of veterans at the national cemetery for Veteran's Day.

This event is a proper way to show patriotism and honor those who served our country. It's important to have this time set aside to celebrate the lives given so we could receive our way of life.

Meet by the south end of the cemetery and be sure to dress for the weather. Your help is needed!

Parking is available on that side of OVH as well.

DRESS WARM

Just For Your Information:


A property team meeting will be held on the 13th at 7pm.

WE NEED YOUR PUMPKINS, and fruits, vegetables and fall flowers to decorate and celebrate the season of Thanksgiving on Harvest Sunday.

Decorating will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 17th.

Volunteers are needed to help decorate!

Adam, master of all he saw, was walking in the Garden and wanted to eat of the fruit. He stretched out his hand to pluck an apple, but the branch moved away from him out of reach. He tried the same with a pear and the same happened again. This went on two or three times. Then the voice on high spoke. 'First water and tend the trees, then you may eat of the fruit.'

We will begin practicing for the Christmas program on Sunday, November 18 during 9 am Sunday school.

All young people are invited—to read, have a role, play bells, sing a song, unwrap a gift.

The Christmas program will be December 16 at the 1030 worship service.

During our small prayer groups this summer, we talked about starting a brief prayer service weekday mornings.

Interested in attending? Willing to lead? Want to give your input on the format of the service?

We will meet after worship on November 18th in the basement.

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” ― Martin Luther

We thank you for all of the times you've opened your lives and homes to us over the last year, and we want to open our home to you.

Please join us for a dessert open house November 20th @ 5:30-7 at the parsonage.

The Scovanner Family

Join us for the annual Hanging of the Greens as the St. John’s church family comes together to decorate the sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Hanging of the Greens will take place immediately following worship on Sunday, November 25th. Lunch and drinks will be provided before we get to work.

Families and individuals, young and old, all are invited. Don't miss this festive event!

Ladies you are invited:

The 2018 Women's Gathering will be held on Sunday, November 25th at 6pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 203 S. Washington St., Castalia. $5 donation goes directly to Project Share which helps Margaretta School district families.

Join us in the fun watching Charlie Brown learn all about involvement and the real meaning of Christmas!

Doors open at 5:30 and please bring a small gift to share.

Please join us for this intergenerational activity during the Sunday School hour on December 2nd.

We will prepare for Advent with special stories, songs, and prayers and the making of a family treasure -- our own Advent Wreath!

Can you help? We're looking for small scale Christmas items for our Advent Wreaths. Do you have small ornaments, greenery, tinsel, and other holiday stuff you could donate?

We will be collecting now through mid November and then shop for everything else we need. We're also looking for:

• pink, purple, and white birthday candles;
• votive candles;
• pink, purple, and white 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon;
• average size wine glasses.

Ladies and young ladies of St. John’s plan to attend the Christmas Get Together at the Sandusky Yacht Club on Thursday, December 6th at 6:00 pm.

Come help us begin a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Mark your calendar and plan to attend and bring a friend!

Please make your reservations on the sign-up sheet located on the Welcome Table.

Endowment Applications are on the Welcome Table.

The applications are due by the 15th of December 2018 for disbursements by April 15, 2019.

If you have a questions, please contact a member of the Endowment Commitee.

Let the Endowment Fund support you in your mission plans!

Bishop Daniel Beaudoin reminds us in this his Bible Study that a long time ago, Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, Book of Nehemiah, we read that before Nehemiah lays even one stone; Nehemiah prays. He prays for strength. He prays for protection. He prays for forgiveness. Nehemiah takes everything to the Lord in prayer.

God of justice and joy, as we begin this study of the Book of Nehemiah may we be inspired by your love and transformed by your will to be built into the people you long for us to be. Lead us to grow strong in our daily prayer and in our love for you. This we pray in the blessed and holy name of Jesus. Amen

We will meet on Tuesday mornings at 9 am for six weeks. We begin October 23 at Barry Bagels on Milan Rd in Sandusky (behind Five Guys). Sign-up sheet is on the Welcome Table or just show up for the study.

Our Book Club, on the second Tuesday of the month, will begin on January 9th.

When Richard Beck first led a Bible study at a maximum security prison, he went to meet God. His own faith was flagging, but Beck still believed the promise of Matthew 25, that when we visit the prisoner, we visit Jesus. And sure enough, God met him in prison.

Please join us at 9 AM at Barry Bagels.

The next book will be Stranger God. We have 11 books ordered, and they are $15. To receive a book, please put a check in the offering plate with book club in the memo line.

Thank you!

On the second Tuesday of the month, you are invited to be a part of one of our ongoing small groups. We gather in November on the 13th for prayer, scripture, fellowship, and food. Would you like to participate? Currently, there are two groups:

1. One group for people of all ages meets at the home of Dawn and Larry Schlessman. At this gathering, appetizers are provided and you are invited to bring a dessert to share.
2. The other is a group for young families that meets at the parsonage where kid-friendly dinners are provided.

Please sign up on the welcome table.

You are invited to the monthly fellowship of Dinner Church :

• a potluck dinner and prayer time that begins at 6 pm. on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the basement of the church.
• At 7 p.m. we will have a short, conversational worship service.