Outreach

St. John’s Church supports many outreach efforts beyond the congregation which give opportunity to exercise our mission statement: “We are here to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and to reach out in his love to all people.”

• Befrienders– This group consists of members of our church who visit the homebound.
• Caramel Rolls – St. John’s youth sell caramel rolls between services Sunday mornings during the first Sunday of the month to raise funds for youth mission trips.
• Easter Breakfast and Flower Sales – St. John’s youth organize and serve the Easter Breakfast as well as sell flowers used to decorate the sanctuary on Easter morning. Proceeds go towards youth mission trips.

• Food Sunday – A food drive, held each Sunday, to enable Community Action Council to help provide food for those in need.
• Global Missions – St. John’s supports and prays for our companion congregation members in the Muhanga Parish of the Iringa Diocese in Tanzania, Africa. Contact is kept with our companion congregation through communication with our mission family Dennis, Meredith, Chris and Jesse Murnyak and companion congregation coordinator Pastor Don Fultz. Through this committee support has been made by involvement in the Heifer International program, World Hunger and many fund-raisers including bicycles for missionaries in Tanzania and collection of AIDS/Hospice kits through Global Health Ministries.
• Habitat for Humanity – This program assists in the construction of houses for needy families.
• July Food Challenge – A food drive that enable Community Action Council to help provide food for those in need.
• Loaves & Fishes – St. John’s members purchase, prepare, and serve to the needy.
• LWR Fair-trade Coffee & Chocolate- Youth promote and sell fair-trade coffee and chocolate the first of the month at St. John’s to support small growers trying to sustain a way of life through fair market practices.
• Mexico Mission Trip– A team of youth and adults from St. John’s crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico to build and share Christ’s love through working with Casas por Cristo. A Mexico mission trip is planned for approximately every other summer.
• Mitten Tree – Sponsored in December with the mittens going to needy families. Mitten, scarves, and hats can be hung on a designated Christmas tree available in the church narthex.
• Music Outreach
• National Mission Trip – A team of youth and adults from St. John’s shares Christ’s love in various ways through assisting in children’s groups to maintenance projects while growing together in faith. A national mission trip is planned for approximately every other summer opposite the Mexico mission trip
• Outreach Sunday
• Prayer Chain – By request, this group of St. John’s members will pray for those who are in need of prayer.
• Quilting Workshops–Training is offered! No hard hat required. No sewing experience is necessary. Many hands are needed to pin and tie quilts. Finished quilts are given to the B. Robert Lewis House and Armful of Love at Christmas.
• Scandinavian Dinner– this dinner is a tradition held the second weekend in November. The dinner serves congregation-wide members and is open to the general public. The dinner features the traditional Norwegian lutefisk and Swedish meatballs along with other dishes.
• Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child– occurs at all levels beginning in the lower elementary ages. Our senior high youth bring the shoebox gifts to and work at the regional warehouse.
• Service Retreats – Students in our Affirm Ministry attend retreats in which there is an important component of service in various community (Luther Park Bible Camp, Dakota County, and in an urban setting.)
• Souper Bowl Sunday – A food drive, held on Super Bowl Sunday, that enable Community Action Council to help provide food for those in need.
• Special offerings – Giving opportunities that provide support for various organizations and St. John’s ministries.
• Welcome boxes - personal items distributed through Lutheran Social Service programs.
• Women of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)- All women of this group are members of the Women of the ELCA community nation-wide. Women in this group grow in faith, use their God-given gifts, support each other and minister by action in various activities, such as: quilting workshops, Christian conferences and Bible study.