WORSHIP

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Worship Hours Sacraments Altar Flowers Worship Assistants

Special Occasions and Policies Music Ministries

**Be sure to check the monthly calendar of events on our home page for special services and schedules**

WORSHIP HOURS

September 13, 2009 - May 23, 2010

Sunday 8:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. Nursery provided at the both services

Wednesday 6:30 P.M. During Advent and Lent

May 30, 2010 - September 5, 2010

Sunday 9:00 A.M. Nursery provided.

SACRAMENTS

Holy Communion: St. John has an open table and those who feel God’s call are invited to commune. We believe in the true presence of the body and blood of Christ, that they are received in, with and under the bread and wine through faith. When the wine is offered, the two outer rings of glasses contain wine; the inner ring and center glass contain grape juice so that you can select according to your need or desire. Children in fifth grade and older may participate in Holy Communion after attending communion preparation classes. Children who have participated in Holy Communion in a previous congregation to which they belonged may participate at St. John. Please inform Pastor of this ahead of time. Children who do not commune are invited to come to the altar at the time of communion to receive a blessing. It is a tradition at St. John that all communicants at the altar join hands for the dismissal blessing. For those that are homebound, Pastor takes communion to them once a month.

Baptism: Anyone can ask to be baptized. They do not have to be a member of St. John. They, or the parents of an infant, and the sponsors are required to meet with Pastor prior to the baptism. Baptisms are part of the regular worship service and may be scheduled for any service. Private baptisms will be performed in an emergency or under extenuating circumstances.

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ALTAR FLOWERS

Altar flowers are sponsored each Sunday, often in honor or memory of a person or event, such as a birthday or anniversary. You may sign up for specific Sundays on the chart on the bulletin board in the hall. The church orders the flowers and the cost is $21.50. You may take them home after the last service on Sunday. You may also sponsor flowers/plants for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Watch for sign-up sheets with prices.

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WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

St. John involves members in a variety of ways in each worship service. Members are organized in teams. Each team serves for one month and team members fill the following positions at each worship service.

Worship Deacon: Serves as a resource for the other worship assistants and answers questions about any worship matters before and after each service.

Greeters: Greet people at the main entrance door as they arrive for Sunday worship services.

Ushers: Hand out bulletins, assist visitors and perform other tasks before and during the worship service.

Readers: Read the lessons for the day at each Sunday worship service. Scheduled by Dawn Luker.

Communion Set-up: Prepare the elements for Holy Communion prior to each worship service where Holy Communion is celebrated.

Cookie Corps: Deliver cookies to the homes of first-time worshippers at St. John.

Assisting Ministers: At most worship services where Holy Communion is celebrated, a member of the congregation serves as an assisting minister. That person sings and speaks the parts of the liturgy designated for the assisting minister, prepares the Prayers of the Day, and assists in distributing communion. They are scheduled by Jackie Burkat.

Acolytes/Nursery Helpers/Projectionists: Students in the confirmation program have the opportunity to serve as acolytes for worhsip services, to help in the nursery, and run the projection system during worship services. They are scheduled by Shelley Berndt and Birgit Ruotsala.

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SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND POLICIES

Weddings: Both members and non-members may be married at St. John. For non-members, there is a fee for pastoral services and a donation is expected for use of the church. All couples are required to participate in a minimum of four pre-marital counseling sessions. There is currently a $35.00 fee for the “Prepare” program that is the basis of the counseling. The couple will work with Pastor to plan the wedding service. Music used must be appropriate to a worship service.

Funerals are conducted for both members and non-members. Families are encouraged to have the service at the church, but the service may be conducted at the funeral home if needed. Pastor meets with the family to plan the service.

Photography: It’s the policy of St. John that no photographs or videos are taken during a worship service. An exception may be made for videos taken with no lights from the back wall of the church if this is discussed with Pastor ahead of time. After greeting people at the end of the service, he will be happy to be available for pictures at that time and to repose any of the actions that took place during the service.

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MUSIC MINISTRIES

Senior Choir is open to confirmed youth and all adults. Practices are held each Wednesday evening 7:00 P.M. to 8:15 P.M. during the school year. The choir sings a variety of music from chant to gospel, from classical to contemporary. It sings at most festival worship services and at a number of other services during the year. The Director of Music is Grant Colburn.

King David Singers is for children in the 2^nd through 6^th grade. They practice each Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M. during the school year. They sing at some worship services and present a musical each spring. In 2007, the musical will be held on Sunday, May 13 at both worship services. The director is Trent Zeitler.

Cherub Choir is for children age 3 through those in the 1^st grade. Regular practices are held on Wednesday evening at 6:15 P.M. during the school year. The director is Gerri Stempa.

St. John Instruments of Worship is a group that plays for occasional worship services, festival services and when the jazz and rhythm and blues liturgies are used. All instruments are welcome at all skill levels, junior high to adult--brass, woodwinds, keyboards, percussion and strings. Grant Colburn is the Director of Music.

The establishment of a St. John Praise Band is a goal of the Worship Ministry. The music director will be working to recruit musicians who are interested in this music ministry.

Solo presentations: Any musician is a welcome part of the worship service. If you are willing to share your musical abilities in this way, contact Grant Colburn.

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