St. John Lutheran Church
A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
6614 W. Smithville Road (1.6 miles WEST of Airport Road, Bartonville, Illinois 61607)
Upcoming EVENTS
- 09/15/2002 Oktoberfest. Join us for "Polka" worship services at 8:00 or 10:30 followed by a festive Brat-Fest in the church shelter at noon. Dance to the music of Peoria's Kaiser Willhelm Rathskeller Brummers.
You're welcome to WORSHIP WITH US any Sunday.
We have a TRADITIONAL liturgical service at 8 AM with Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.
We have a BLENDED WORSHIP service each Sunday at 10:30 AM, with communion on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. This service is more "laid back" with more lively liturgy and a good mix of contemporary, gospel, and traditional music accompanied with Piano and Synthesizer.
Our 20+ voice CHOIR sings at BOTH SERVICES 3 out of 5 Sundays a month.
Here's a few pictures of our people and activities...
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Here's the Polka Worship Band from the 2000 Oktoberfest. Over 370 people attended our three Polka Communion services, and enjoyed praising God with joyful well-known tunes. We used the music "Roll out the Barrel", but sang the words "Come now and worship, Come now and worship the Lord". |
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After church, we joined together in the outdoor shelter for grilled Brats and Kraut and LOTS of home-made desserts. In German, this good time is called Gemutlicheit! |
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Here's Peoria's Kaiser Wilhelm Rathskeller Brummer Polka Band setting the mood for fun and dancing. The day was chilly, but that did not dampen our spirits. |
Each Spring, we host the annual Mother/Daughter banquet. The 1999 theme was Little House on the Prairie and all the ladies were asked to try to come dressed accordingly. Here's a sample pictures of the event...(to see more pictures of Don and Pepper's moms, also see the first section of the BAUER and LAMBIE pages). Attendance was a little slim because there was also a church council meeting and Leisure Group field trip on the same night...
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Here's all the ladies in their Little-House costumes |
Click here to see some MORE MOTHER / DAUGHTER BANQUET pictures
On "Maundy Thursday" (The Thursday before Easter) we presented a living presentation of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper". Men of the Congregation take the places of the twelve disciples and Christ. This moving presentation was directed by our own Kandy Cramer, and it involved LOTS of able volunteers."
The Bible records that on the night in which He was betrayed, our Lord Jesus (portrayed by Tim Jacobs) took bread, and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying "Take and eat, this is by body, given for you". Again after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
And so, when we eat that bread and drink that cup, we proclaim Jesus' death, until He comes again.
Click here to see some MORE LIVING LAST SUPPER pictures
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Valentine's Day isn't an official church holiday, but we still take time to spread God's Love on February 14th. 1st John 4:7-8 tells us, Dear Friends, let us Love one Another, for Love comes from GOD. Everyone who loves, has been born of God, and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE. One way we spread LOVE is by making VALENTINE BOXES for the 'shut-ins' in our congregation who are unable to get out and come to church. Everyone brings little hand-made or purchased items (cards, trinkets, candy, etc) and puts them in the beautiful hand-decorated boxes, which are delivered to each shut-in. |
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On Transfiguration Sunday 1999 (which was also Valentine's day) we hosted the 6th annual benefit concert for the Lutheran Home Senior Ministeries program. Three adult voice choirs and one bell choir participated by singing and ringing. Here's the MASS CHOIR comprised of all the singers. We sang the closing anthem together and raised the roof. |
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After the concert, we enjoyed refreshments in the fellowship hall. Here's our happy servers. The beautiful decorations were done by Jane Look (2nd from the right). |
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There's always something happening at St. John Lutheran Church.Here's our beautiful Sanctuary bedecked for Christmas Eve. |
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Here's the 10:30 PM Christmas Eve Service. What a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. |
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Every year since the early 1970's, Pepper and I have rung bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas. Some of our loyal choir members help us continue that tradition. This year, our singing and ringing raised over $150 in just 4 hours! |
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One of the joys of Christmas is the chance to CAROL our shut-ins. Here's our visit with Reaka Tutwiler (these caroling pictures were taken a couple years ago). |
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After a hard night of caroling, we met at the local Pizza place for food and fellowship. |
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Our Santa doesn't drink hot chocolate with his/her pizza! |
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Another ministry at our church is the food pantry, run by Pepper. Each year at Christmas, our members "adopt" some of the children and buy them gifts. The mothers also get to "shop" at our pantry on "toy day" to select donated toys and gifts. We also had help from other churches and clubs, including St. Peter Lutheran of Glasford. |
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Here's Bonnie Watson sorting through all the stuffed animals.
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Who could resist this little dear? We want our little loved ones to have a happy Christmas. |
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Thanks to generous donations, both PARENTS and KIDS went home HAPPY. |
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Remember, Jesus told us "Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto ME." |
