St. John’s Connections - March 6, 2025

Attend the Congregational Meeting this Sunday

March 9 • 12:15 pm • Church Sanctuary

There are a lot of exciting and important things happening at St. John’s! Learn more about these things this Sunday after the 11 AM service. The Leadership Board invites you to our March Congregational Meeting on March 9 at 12:15 pm in the Sanctuary. This meeting will include updates regarding the Pastoral Call Process, Pastoral Updates including Called Worker Jody Fellers for Campus Care, as well as updates from the Building Committee and Ministry Expansion Campaign regarding our 30 Year Master Plan. We think it is important for you to know what is happening at St. John’s. So, we look forward to seeing you on March 9. Your questions and comments are appreciated. If you cannot attend the Congregational Meeting, please pray for the leaders of our church and members of our various committees that are researching, interviewing, and preparing for important decisions ahead for St. John’s.

God’s Blessings,

Mike Bryan

Leadership Board President

Jody Fellers Bio

My name is Jody Fellers. I have remained a member of this congregation for most of my life. I formerly belonged to a different congregation within my community for a time; however, I returned to St. John’s West Bend to eagerly share the joy of worship with my family after much thought and prayer.

My journey in faith began at this church. I was baptized in faith and confirmed at St. John’s. As I grew older, I had the privilege of marrying my husband at St. John’s. We have been happily married for over 20 years. Our two wonderful children (Lucas and Abigail) were also baptized at St. John’s, which makes this congregation a significant part of my life as I transitioned into adulthood. I graduated from Concordia University with a bachelor’s degree in theology and completed the Director of Church Ministries program.

I work as a Homeless Prevention Specialist. In this role, I engage directly with homeless families and collaborate with partner agencies to best meet the needs of our communities. Previously, I operated a cleaning business with employees for residential and commercial properties within southeastern Wisconsin communities. I am excited about the Director of Campus Care position, as I believe my experiences equip me to serve the Lord and His Church in meaningful ways. My greatest joy is being with my family centered in Christ. We cherish making memories together such as traveling, hiking, boating, fishing, or anything outdoors. With a zeal for the Lord and His will, I look forward to serving Him according to His plan.

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ~ Job 42:2

View the October 6 Congregational Meeting Minutes

View the March 9 Congregational Meeting Agenda

Join Us for a Night Out on the Town

St. John’s PPO invites you to the 2025 Adult Social on Friday, April 4 from 6 PM to 10 PM at Foundry 45 in Kewaskum. Your ticket includes delicious heavy appetizers catered by CRAVE, one drink ticket for any beverage of your choice, participation in our song bingo activity, and access to silent auction packages and basket raffles — all proceeds will help support the school. This event is also a great opportunity to get to know fellow St. John's school and church members!

Please stop in the gathering space after worship to get your ticket or contact the church office (262-334-4901) or school office (262-334-3077).

Early bird pricing ends on March 14 and there is a limited number of tickets available.

Adult Social Ticket Prices:

Early Bird = $40 each.

After March 14 = $50 each.

Seeking Donations for School Adult Social

St. John’s School is Seeking Donations for the Adult Social

Their will be a silent auction and ticket raffle baskets at the St. John's Adult Social. We need your help! Gift cards, products, experiences, and discounts for services would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact Keli Anderson for more details.

Email: keli.ann.anderson@gmail.com or call the school office (262-334-3077).

St. John’s Guide Book & Directory

Advertising Opportunity

We are in the process of updating our annual St. John’s Guide Book & Directory. This book will place all the relevant information about our ministries here at St. John’s into one useful place as we connect, care and share in Christ together. This book is being provided and direct-mailed to each family at no cost to our church, and it is again being subsidized by local businesses that advertise. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out about advertising in our book, please contact Guide Book Publishing about advertising in the 2025 St. John’s Guide Book & Directory.

Guide Book Publishing

Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm (CST) • Phone: 1-800-597-3037 • www.GuideBookPublishing.com

Update Your Household Information Today!

Does our church database have your correct family household information? Have you changed your phone number? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Are all your children still at home? Do you want your record published?

If you haven’t already contacted us, NOW is your chance to update your family household information for our annual Guide Book & Directory publication. Contact Lori Yogerst at the business office by March 14, 2025, with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in your household over the past year so that the information in the 2025 Guide Book & Directory is correct.

Lori Yogerst in the Church Business Office

Phone: 262-334-4901 (ext. 310) • Email: lyogerst@stjohnswestbend.org

You are invited to come and pray! Yes, you and your household! We are at a fascinating time as we seek the Lord’s will at St. John’s for what might be next. To do that well, we want to seek the Lord’s will through prayer. The sanctuary will be open from 5-8 pm and members of the congregation are invited to a guided prayer experience. You’ll have opportunities to pray for your family, for our community, for the Master planning process at St. John’s, for our country, and for fellow members of the body of Christ who are in need.

We do ask that you sign up for a time slot so that we know what to expect. When you arrive, you’ll be provided with some specific opportunities to read scripture and pray, but you’ll also have time to lift up prayers of your own as well. Come join us in prayer!

Habitat for Humanity Joins Discipleship Hour this Sunday

Welcome our mission partner, Habitat for Humanity, who helps families build and improve places to call home. Join us on Sunday, March 9 at 9:25 am in the lower level.

Kids Discipleship Hour is Sunday at 9:25 am. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids to connect, care, and share in Christ together with old and new friends! There is child care for children ages infant-2 years old in the ECC 2 year old classroom. Children age 3-5th grade will learn through age appropriate lessons with fantastic teachers! Drop-off for them will be in the ECC K3/K4 AM Classroom, last classroom upstairs. Sign up with the link below for your children to attend!

We are also looking for volunteers, adults and youth as young as 5th grade! If you enjoy sharing God’s word with children, then come join us for Kids Discipleship Hour. Your commitment can be every week, twice a month, or even at least once a month. We provide child care for children ages infant-2 years old in the ECC 2 year old classroom. We teach age appropriate lessons for children age 3-5th grade in the ECC K3/K4 AM Classroom/Activity Room! If interested in volunteering, please sign-up with the link below! If you have any questions, please contact Desiree Titus at dtitus@stjohnswestbend.org.

Guys! Save the Date! St. John’s Men’s Retreat is May 16-18, 2025. More info coming soon.

Connect at Upcoming St. John’s Events

Mom Café

• Thursday, March 6

• 8:00 - 9:30 am

• Gathering Space

To all the moms out there, you are invited to Mom Café, a ministry for moms with kids of all ages. Molly Groth is leading the discussion of the book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa Terkeurst. We will be meeting on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month through May.

If you have questions, contact the church office by emailing stjohns@stjohnswestbend.org or calling (262) 334-4901.

Ladies Aid Meeting

• Thursday, March 6

• Lunch at Noon

• Lower Level

Devotions after lunch and then a short meeting will follow.

The Ladies Aid actively serves by providing meals for families following funeral services. They monthly meet in the Lower Level Fellowship Hall for a time of food, fellowship, devotional time, and a variety of activities. Ladies can join at any time.

Call Joanne Johnson at (262) 707-0899 with questions.

BASH: Minute 2 Win It

Youth Grades 4-7

• Friday, March 7

• 3:00 - 5:30 pm

• St. John’s Church

BASH: Shhh! It's a Secret!

• Friday, April 4

• 3:00 - 5:30 pm

• St. John’s Church

Please call or text Alan Lull at (262) 707-9198 with questions about any youth events.

Women’s Ministry Trivia Night

• Friday, March 7

• 7:00 - 9:00 pm

• Gathering Space

Sarah Hikade is hosting a Trivia Night on Friday, March 7 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Gathering Space. Join us for a fun evening of Trivia, Fellowship, Snacks, Wine and Prizes! Bring your own team (up to 4 ladies per team) or join a team after arriving.

If you have questions, please email Becky Fleischmann at deanbeckyf@gmail.com

Sister to Sister Bible Study

Two Groups: Monday Night and Wednesday Morning

• 2nd & 4th Mondays (March 10 & 31, April 14 & 28 and May 12)

• 6:30-8:00 pm

• Penny Van Dellen’s House

• Book: Bless These Lips by Sharla Fritz

• Wednesdays

• 9:00-10:30 am

• Church Nursery

• Book-Meant for Good: A Study of Joseph by Donna Snow

Women of any age are invited to join St. John’s Sister to Sister Bible Studies. Bring a friend and meet new ones as you join this supportive community of ladies to explore God’s word, pray, and share in life’s joys and struggles. Don't miss this opportunity to Connect, Care, and Share in Christ.

If you have questions, please email Penny Van Dellen at pvandellen@sjswb.org or email Denise Siebel at blessedonwheels@gmail.com

LWML Meeting

• Monday, March 10

• Starts at 12:15 pm

• Lower Level/Fellowship Hall

Join us as we support mission work here at home and around the world! Bring your own lunch and join us at 12:15 PM for food, fellowship, and conversation. Or come at 1 PM for a Bible Study with Pastor Hesse and our meeting.

Support our LWML Mission Grants through your mite boxes:

• Thermometer Updated January 2025

• Coming up! Undie Sundays March 14-30!

If you are interested in joining LWML or have questions, contact Phyllis Mortenson by calling (262) 989-5027 or emailing Pam Muther at pjmuther@yahoo.com.

Quilters

• Mondays

• 9:30 am

• Lower Level

Our team of quilters meet each Monday at 9:30 AM in the Lower Level Fellowship Hall to make quilts that are sent out to people in need around the world.

All Pro Dad

• Wednesday, March 12

• Starts at 7:00 am

• Lower Level

• Please RSVP

All Pro Dad Chapters provide an opportunity for dads to spend quality time with their children that will strengthen their relationship. For one hour each month you'll get to join other dads and kids for a fun, memory-making event. Enjoy a FREE breakfast with your kids while connecting through conversation around a specific monthly topic! Our topic for March is Diligence. Sign up by scanning the QR Code or click link below.

Click Here to Learn More and Sign Up

Baptism Class

• Monday, March 17

• 6:30 pm

• Church Nursery

The class is led by Doug and Mel Raddemann. This course is for anyone looking to be baptized themselves or for any parent who would like his or her child baptized at St. John's. The class introduces what we believe and confess about the amazing gift that baptism is for individuals and families.

Please RSVP to the church office if you plan to attend by emailing stjohns@stjohnswestbend.org or calling (262) 334-4901.

Book Club Meeting on March 18 from 6 thirty to 8 pm

Women’s Book Club for March

• Tuesday, March 18

• 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

• Meeting Place: Anna Wipperfurth's Home (N84W16298 Donald Ave, Menomonee Falls).

If you are interested in carpooling, please reach out to Cheryl Wipperfurth at cwipperfurth71@gmail.com

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Jumped Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonassen. A larger-than-life old man with a fondness for vodka goes on an unexpected adventure in this whimsical novel – perfect for fans of Forrest Gump and A Man Called Ove. After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he’s still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he’d like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey.

Book Schedule: April 15 - Dry Bones in the Valley by Tom Douman; May 20 - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman; and August - And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers.

Please join us for fellowship each month as we have the opportunity to share and talk about the books we read and love! Book Club typically meets the third Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm. Come to all or just the ones that fit into your schedule. We do not have a regular meeting location, but enjoy the hospitality of hosting each other. Please watch for the locations of each get together as they become available.

Education Ministries

COMING THIS SUMMER: St. John's is hosting Camp Invention - a STEM camp for kids going into 1st-6th grade the week of June 16-20 (9:00am-3:30pm). SAVE $25 with code FUN25. Offer expires March 20, 2025.

Check out Camp Invention and Register Here

YOU CAN HELP!

We have an opportunity to send even more kids to Camp Invention this summer! If you are willing to help spread the word and share our fundraising link to possible donors, I would greatly appreciate your help. My goal is to help 20+ more campers go to camp who may not be able to go without scholarship help. Share YOUR reason why you support Camp Invention. Thank you for your partnership and support!

Click Here to Donate for Scholarships

Partner Ministries

Join the Junior Wolves Feeder Programs!

Living Word Lutheran High School is excited to offer Youth Feeder Programs for boys and girls in grades 2-8! These programs include: Girls Volleyball (5th-8th grade), Boys Tackle Football (5th-8th grade), and Boys & Girls Basketball (2nd-8th grade). We collaborate with our feeder schools to ensure that students can prioritize their school teams while also participating in our club teams. More information on tryouts and season dates can be found at www.lwlhs.com/jrwolves

Programs Include:

• Girls Volleyball (5th-8th Grade): Compete in the Greater Metro Power League from September to October. Tryouts: May 6-8, 2025.

• Boys Tackle Football (5th-8th Grade): Play in the GMMYFL from August to October. Teams available for 5th/6th and 7th/8th grades. Mandatory Equipment Try-On & Season Meeting: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

• Boys & Girls Basketball (2nd-8th Grade): Teams play in local leagues and tournaments from October to March. Tryouts: Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Get Your Tickets for Hello, Dolly! at Living Word Lutheran HS

Tickets are now available for Living Word Lutheran High School’s production of Hello, Dolly! Don’t miss this lively and heartwarming musical performed by our talented students!

Showtimes:

• Friday, March 14 – 7:00 PM

• Saturday, March 15 – 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Ticket Prices:

• Adults: $10 per show

• Students/Seniors/Alumni: $5 per show

Tickets are available for purchase online NOW! Go to www.lwlhs.com/events to secure your spot. Tickets will also be available at the door for each performance.