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Our Mission:“Inviting and equipping people of all ages to be

and become disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Our Vision:“Living and sharing a life changing and passionate

faith in Jesus Christ.”

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WorshipSunday Mornings

8:00, 9:30 & 11:00

We hope your summer has been filled with many opportunities to be with family and friends, to have fun, and to find rest and relaxation. As you are preparing for fall, this is a good time to discover what is coming up at St. John and to get signed up for classes and other opportunities.

There are many new opportunities and some changes to some of our programming such as Live Out Loud (Confirmation) moving to Sunday mornings at 10:45 AND Sunday School for PK through 6th with children worshipping with their families in 9:30 Sunday worship and then going to class midway through the service so parents and children can worship together. ALSO, please note we are adding new Adult learning opportunities on Sunday and Wednesdays.

In the following pages are many opportunities to grow in faith and make a difference in the lives of those around you. For updated listings, go to www.stjohncf.org. We do our best to keep the website as up to date as we possible. There are opportunities for people of all ages to express their faith through “living and sharing a passionate and life-changing faith in Jesus Christ.” If you have questions, please feel free to contact the church office by phone or email and they will be glad to assist you. Childcare is available for many of the opportunities so that it is possible for parents with young children to participate.

Get your calendar out, open these pages, and “live and share a passionate and life-changing faith in Christ!”

z Living & Sharing aLife-Changing Faith z

WELCOME!

L I V I N G A N D S H A R I N G A P A S S I O N A T E A N D L I F E - C H A N G I N G F A I T H I N J E S U S C H R I S T

FAITH & lifeF A L L 2 0 1 3

• online: www.stjohncf.org• call the office: 319.268.0165

• stop at the Welcome Center

• www.facebook.com/stjohncf

For up-to-date information & registering

ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH 715 COLLEGE ST. CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

St. John Preschool & Childcare CenterWe are excited for another fantastic year at St. John Preschool and Childcare Center! St. John offers a high quality Christian education for children ages 3-5 with a wonderful wrap-around childcare program for any child enrolled in our preschool. We offer part-time and full-time childcare

options to meet the needs of working families with varying schedules. Visit our website for more information about our preschool classes and childcare options. Prospective families are always welcome to set up an appointment for a tour any time.

Families: MilestonesMilestones are about marking the journey of faith for children, youth & families. Milestones bring an awareness of the presence of God not only to children and families, but individuals of all generations through a partnership between home and congregation.

Upcoming Milestones include: Backpack Blessing (August 18 - for all ages), 3 year old entering Sunday School (September 8), and Bible Presentations to 3rd grade (September 15) and Blessing of the 7th grade students (September 22).

First Communion Milestone - 2013

Questions? Contact Kathy Thompson, Director, at 319-268-0165 or kathy@stjohncf.org.

The playground got a “facelift” this summer -- the building & play unit were stained, brand new

toys added, walkway boards replaced, and new

mulch.

The College Hill facing side of the church also got a facelift with

plants, bushes, mulch & edging to beautify our exterior.

Firelight (K-4th grade)Wed, 6:00-7:15 pmBegins August 21Our new curriculum for Firelight students is from Augsburg Fortress, called “Grow, Proclaim, Serve.” Students will enjoy group activities for hearing, understanding and experiencing the Bible story, have opportunities to serve others, and are encouraged to remember the Bible stories, verses and worship together.

CHILDCARE IN OUR

NURSERY

Sundays7:45 am -

conclusion of 11:00 worship

Wednesdays5:45 - 8

Other times as needed

WEDNESDAY MEALS

5:00-6:00 pmBegins August 21

A family-friendly healthy meal is

offered. Menu items include spaghetti, taco bar, salad bar, chicken

and more!

Sunday School (3 yr* - 6th grade)Sundays, 9:30-10:30amBegins September 8Each Sunday morning, Kindergarten-6th grade students will go to 9:30 worship with their parents or their Sunday School class. Students are dismissed to their classroom teachers during the offering slot in worship.

Preschool children go to their classrooms at 9:30 and will continue to have a time of singing in their classroom.

Children

Kid’s Zone(Preschool - 9th grade)Wednesdays, 7:15-8:00pmBegins August 21Kid’s Zone is being offered for children whose parents are involved in programming until 8pm on Wednesday evenings. Students in Firelight, Club 56 and Junior High will meet in the lower level atrium for a time of board games, videos and supervised homework.

*3 years by Sept 15 & potty-trained

Club 56 (5th/6th grade)Wed, 6:00-7:15 pmBegins August 21The Club 56 curriculum is titled “Connect.” Through discovering Bible stories and relating them to their everyday lives, students will connect with each other. Students will experience large gathering time, games and small group time to dig into the lesson.

photos fromBig Oaks:

Fruits of the Spirit

YouthLive Out Loud (7th-9th grade)Sundays, 10:45am-12noonBegins September 8Live Out Loud is our Affirmation of Baptism program. Old Testament, New Testament and the Catechism are the basis for the first two years. The third year focuses on discussion of life questions/issues and preparing for the Affirmation of Baptism milestone.

Young Adults

WORSHIP @ LSCWednesdays, 8:30pm

LA VIDA COFFEEHOUSE Tuesdays & Thursdays 8-11 pmOur free coffeehouse!

Junior High(7th-9th grade)Begins August 21Junior High ministry at St. John is more than just Live Out Loud. The planned events and activities promote fellowship, service, fun and learning.

Events include: Romans & Christians UNI Lock-In Game/Movie Nights Dinners Ski Trip and more!Look to the website, announcements & newsletters.

Senior High(10th-12th grade)High school ministry encourages youth to dig deeper into their faith journey through fellowship, service and learning events & activities.

Activities are planned throughout the year such as trips, retreats, High School LaVida, Dinner nights and more!Look to the website, announcements & newsletters.

On Wednesdays, the Youth Room is open from 3:30-5pm for students. There are snacks available for purchase, games to play and time to relax in a positive environment before heading over to dinner at 5pm. From 6-7:15pm, Junior High and Senior High students are invited to gather for a time to dig into Scripture together and meet in small groups.

Contact AJ Houseman at 266-1653 or aj@stjohncf.org for more

information or questions about any Lutheran Student Center events

The Lutheran Student Center has a variety of opportunities for UNI students and young adults in the Cedar Valley. In addition to our weekly contemporary worship service, the LSC hosts dinners, retreats, service opportunities, fellowship and more. The LSC is also the home of La Vida Coffeehouse.

Please check out Lutheranstudentcenter.org for more info, upcoming events & more!

AdultsALPHA

Tuesdays, September 11-November 20, from 6-7:30pmALPHA is back! Facilitated by Bill Bass, Carol Menefee, and Kelly Turner, the worldwide phenomenon known as ALPHA is back at St. John. During the Alpha course, you will explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions. Each week enjoy a delicious meal in Fellowship Hall (between 5 & 6pm), then class from 6-7:30pm for opportunities to talk on subjects as diverse as “Who is Jesus?”, “How Can I Have Faith?” and “How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life?” ALPHA is low-key, friendly and fun–no question is out of bounds, and participants are free to say as much or as little as they wish as they make up their own minds about the teachings of Jesus. Who is God calling for you to invite to attend ALPHA with you? Childcare provided.

Sign up at the Opportunities Table.

GRIEF GROUP

Sundays, September 8, 15 22 & 29 from 11-12amIf you are grieving the death of a loved one, you could benefit from being a part of a Grief Group. The purpose of the Grief Group will be for participants to come to a clearer understanding of what grief is. There will be opportunity for questions and lots of support will be offered. The group is open for anyone in the Cedar Valley to participate. There is no charge and no registration needed.

The Grief Group will be facilitated by Reverend Don Feuerhak, who in addition to having been a Chaplain at Covenant Medical Center for 10 years, was the adjunct assistant professor in the Religion department at UNI and taught the Death & Dying seminar for 22 years.

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEWSundays, September 15 for 8 weeks, 10:45-12noonTaught by Pastor Jim Carpenter, this class will look ahead to the designated Lectionary Gospel - The Gospel of Matthew -- for the coming liturgical year, which begins December 1. Over the course of eight sessions, we will look at the Gospel of Matthew, studying the major themes and the Gospel's unique proclamation of the Good News.  This will enable participants to listen more carefully to the Gospel readings throughout the coming year.  

Sign up at the Opportunities Table.

Saturday, November 29am - 2pm

The St. John Holiday Bazaar is truly a labor of love. It is not your ordinary Church Bazaar! The Bazaar offers something for everyone thanks to St. John’s talented members. From wonderful homemade soap and body products to the best luncheon in town, from a well stocked “stocking stuffer” table to lovingly knitted scarves, from an in describable bake sale to the silent auction, the Bazaar has become an event that cannot be missed!

Handmade With Love: Now is the Time to Start!While crafts vary from year to year, they are always interesting and unique -- Shoppers love buying handmade items! Now is the time to begin planning and creating your “Handmade With Love” donations to support the St. John Holiday Bazaar.

Ideas of items you might like to begin creating include soap and body products, toys, pottery, handmade ornaments, photo-greeting cards, knitted hats and gloves, handcrafted aprons, jewelry, baby blankets, quilts, holiday-specific items, jar mixes, scrapbook pages, stained and fused glass, wood items and more! Silent Auction baskets are also very popular and

fun to put together! The sky is the limit -- your imagination can lead you to create and donate absolutely wonderful things! This is the perfect time to begin working on your projects!

H LIDAYBazaar& Luncheon

Faith Changing Lives: Serving OthersThe single most common theme we hear from our Lord is to care for the poor -- to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit those in prison. At St. John, we believe that our faith is about changing lives -- our own and the lives of others. There are many ways in which your faith can start changing lives . . here are some opportunities you can take part in -- more opportunities are online:

SALVATION ARMY: FEED THE HUNGRY

“Feed the hungry” literally! Join with others from St. John to serve the noon meal at the Salvation Army on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Meet there at 11:15 am, meal is served until 1 pm. Sign up at the Opportunities Table.

NORTHEAST IOWA

FOOD BANK: FEED THE HUNGRY

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank gladly accepts our help on the first Saturday of each month from 9am-12noon. Everyone welcome (youth 6th grade and younger must serve with a parent or other adult). Sign up at the Opportunities Table. Donations of food are collected by the main level elevator year-round with a special food collection in November/December.

LOVE INC: SOLE-FULL MINISTRYLove Inc of the Cedar Valley provides a valuable ministry to area churches by connecting churches into partnership with one another to care for those in need in our community. Sole-full Ministry is the “gap” ministry St. John is filling. Sole-full Ministry accepts new or barely used dress, athletic and work ADULT-sized shoes which are passed on to individuals who need shoes referred to us by Love Inc! Donations of shoes can be brought to the church office. Volunteers are needed to “work” scheduled appointments and help individuals find shoes that fit from our stockroom. Sign up at the Opportunities Table.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS

CHILD

For the past nine years, St. John has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse to provide gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world. This service project has a way for everyone to be involved. Donations of items and money are collected year-round. See our website for a list of shoebox contents.

DO-DAY QUILTS &

BABY CARE KITS

When you make & send a quilt, you are not only comforting someone you’ve never met, you are providing an item that can be used as a bed cover, baby carrier, a sack for transporting goods, a sunshade & more! Join with others the second Monday of the month at 8am to create these valuable gifts of warmth. (No experience needed - we create “tie” quilts.)

Baby care kits are also created to provide cloth diapers, t-shirts, blankets and more for a baby in a third-world country. Donations are always accepted -- visit www.lwr.org for a list of acceptable items.

And we celebrate how you’ve already changed lives! You are always willing to help the people within our faith community, beyond our walls to the Cedar Valley and throughout the world! You make a difference! This summer we sent a team of youth and adults to Garnett, Kansas for a mission trip repairing houses; donated 184 pounds of personal care items and food to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank; sent countless children back to school with new school supplies through donations to the Back to School project; have provided shoes through Sole-full Ministry (yes, it’s underway & helping!); sent a mission team from here to Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota to build houses in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and to care for the people there; hand-stitched prayer shawls, prayer patches and chemo caps for those in need to be surrounded with prayers and love. And so much more -- thank you!

Week at a GlanceMONDAY 6pm Run for God 5k Experience (August - October)

2nd Monday: 8am Do-Day Quilters2nd Monday: 7pm Breast Cancer Support Group

TUESDAY 10am Ladies Bible Study6pm ALPHA (begins September 11)

1st Tuesday: 8am Men’s Bible Study1st Tuesday: 9am Ladies Bible Study1st Tuesday: 7:30pm Ladies Bible Study4th Tuesday: 11:15am Salvation Army Food Service Opportunity

WEDNESDAY 1:30pm Ladies Bible Study3:30pm Youth Room Open5:00-6pm Meal (begins August 21)

5:45-8pm Nursery (infants & toddlers)6-7:15pm Firelight (K-4th gr) (begins August 21)

6-7:15pm Club 56 (5th/6th gr) (begins August 21)

6-7:15pm Jr. High (begins August 21)

6-7:15pm High School (begins August 21)

6-7:15pm ALPHA (Adults) (begins September 11)

6:30pm Bells rehearsal7:15-8pm Kid’s Zone (begins August 21)

THURSDAY 7:30am Thirsty Thursday Men Bible Study

SATURDAY 1st Saturday: Northeast Iowa Food Bank Volunteer Opportunity3rd Saturday: Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Opportunity

SUNDAY 8am Traditional Worship Service9:30am Contemporary Worship Service9:30am Sunday School (begins Sept 8)

10:45am Live Out Loud (7th/8th grade) (begins Sept 8)

10:45am Live Out Loud (9th grade) (begins Sept 8)

10:45am The Gospel of Matthew (adults) (begins Sept 15)

11am Grief Group (begins Sept 9)

11am New Tradition Worship Service

Other adult offerings