ALTAR FLOWERS
The altar flowers are given by Bill & Roberta Phlipot in memory of Donald Link.
ENDOWMENT FUND
The Endowment Fund has money available for any board, committee, or project group who may have a funding need in a NON-BUDGET area. Please make your needs known to us by completing the Endowment Request Form, which is available from the church office. Please return the completed form to the church office. Thank you.
PULLED PORK DRIVE-THRU DINNER
Tickets are available outside the cafeteria after the service today for a pulled pork dinner sponsored by the Tuesdays at Ten Bible Study. Tickets are $12 adults and $5 for a kid’s meal. Our fundraiser is for Shop with a Cop for the school children of Defiance County. Donations are also accepted. Please support our fundraiser/dinner.
GUEST PASTOR
We welcome guest Pastor Jeff Kazmierski this weekend, October 10 & 11th. Pastor Mews will be on vacation.
COMMUNITY MEAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11
Please join us for the meal at 5:00 PM. You may also help by monitoring the halls, greeting guests as they come in the south door by the church office, talking with guests, and helping to serve and clean up. Thank you!
REALM COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
If you are able, please make sure that you have subscribed to REALM emails. You will need to set up your account through a link that was originally sent to you by the church office. REALM is our ongoing communication system that was set up a few years ago. REALM is the place where everyone who has a computer or a cell phone can sign in to stay informed, be connected, and focus on multiplying our ministry.
FOOD PANTRY ITEMS NEEDED FOR OCTOBER:
Pancake syrup, Rice-a-Roni, canned diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, saltine crackers, chicken or beef broth. We are especially in need of canned Spaghetti-Os or ravioli.
FOOD PANTRY MANAGER
We are still in need of a Food Pantry Manager. Debbie Wagner is currently serving as interim manager. If you are interested in serving in this ministry, please contact the church office at 419-782-5766.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Just a reminder that the church office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The building doors will be unlocked, and phone calls will be answered during these hours only. If you have an emergency outside of office hours, please contact Pastor Kurt Mews at 419-670-5014. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Dear Congregation of St. John Lutheran Church,
Congratulations on 175 years of continued service to God and to the community! It takes a lot of commitment and dedication, along with the help of God, for such an accomplishment. May our Lord and Savior continue to bless you richly in all the years ahead
Your Friends in Christ,
The Congregation of Peace Lutheran Church, Defiance
CONGREGATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Good News! Mr. Jeff Rohlf will be returning as St. John Lutheran Congregational Chairman and will complete the remainder of his term, which ends in June 2027. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Steve Meyer for faithfully serving as chairman during Jeff’s sabbatical. His willingness to step into this leadership role has been greatly appreciated. May the Lord continue to bless and guide our church leaders as they serve St. John Lutheran Church.
CHURCH OFFICE ASSISTANT NEEDED
The church office is looking for a part-time office assistant for approximately twenty hours per week. If interested, please contact Krystle Clark in the church office.
THE HOLY LAND CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO BE OUR GUESTS
HEAR THEIR STORY AND SEE THEIR BEAUTIFUL OLIVEWOOD CRAFTS
This weekend, during all services, we will be hearing about the Christians of the Holy Land, and after each service we will be hosting at the church a nice display of handmade olive wood religious articles from Bethlehem available for donations. These carvings include olivewood Nativity sets, crosses, Christmas ornaments, candle holders, angels and many other religious crafts that could make nice wedding, Baptism, Confirmation, Easter and Christmas gifts. The carvings are handmade by Christian families from Bethlehem who rely on the income for their daily bread.
More than 70% of the Christian Community in the Holy Land depend upon tourism as their only source of income. For decades those Christians have been enduring many hardships, as tourism in Bethlehem has plummeted and access to other sources of income has been sharply restricted due to the ongoing conflict, the wars, the 12-yard wall built around Bethlehem, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the catastrophic war in Gaza for the past three years. Due to this, tourists are afraid and unable to visit the Holy Land. This made it very difficult for the Christian families to find their daily bread and forced them to immigrate and flee their homeland since they lost their source of income. The Christian population of the Holy Land was 30% in the last century; today it is less than 1%. If it continues like this, in few years we will find no Christians in the land of Christ, which could cause tragic consequences to our faith and holy sites. Please help support our Christian brothers and sisters in the town of Bethlehem where Christ was born by making donations for their carvings.
We are looking forward to presenting the Holy Land ministry at St John Lutheran Church this coming Saturday & Sunday. The Christian family from Bethlehem Marina Alshomali and her Husband Hanna are going to be with you this weekend. It is never too late to help. All donations go to support Christian families from Bethlehem.
ALL SAINTS DAY REMEMBRANCE
As we commemorate All Saints Day on Sunday, November 1, we will be printing the names of loved ones who have passed away between October 25, 2025, and October 28, 2026. The church office has maintained records of most loved ones who have passed through prayer requests and/or funeral services. If there is a loved one whose name you would like included, please contact the church office with their name(s) by October 28. We give thanks to God for the faithful saints who have gone before us and rejoice in the promise of the resurrection through Jesus Christ.
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ATTENDANCE CHURCH SERVICES
October 3 55 5:30 PM
October 4 107 9:00 AM
60 11:00 AM
TOTAL: 222