From Pastor David

Greetings from sunny and hot Southern California! First off, thank you for all the prayerful support Kristi and I have received during her most recent surgery. Everything has gone very well, and the stitches will come out soon. Without getting too far into details, a big part of rehab is rest and walking. As we walked the neighborhood of our AirBnB, I noticed the changing seasons, even in SoCal, as they call it. Not so much in the trees nor the weather… (did I mention it’s hot?) but in little signs crying out with urgency, reminding that it’s not too late to sign up for fall soccer, or dance, or Jiu-Jitsu, or... 

From a distance, I have noted the changing of seasons as you posted end-of-summer vacation pictures, others have shared back-to-school pictures, or college move-in day collages. These changes, while often anticipated, can be a struggle (get mom and dad a tissue!) Some changes are even more difficult, such as the loss of a loved one, the breakdown of a relationship, an unplanned career change, and political and civil injustices that seem to flood our news feeds. It’s enough to take the wind out of our sails and cause us to throw up our hands in frustration.

However, this is not our call as Christians; change is not just a possibility, but an integral part of our baptismal life as children of God. One of the main things children do is grow, and growing means change. Growth can be unpredictable; ask any farmer—growth doesn’t always go to plan.

Over the last few months, I have kept asking myself, what is Jesus up to in the midst of my sabbatical, where little has gone as planned, and why all of this change? Often, I don’t get an immediate answer, but as I am gearing up to return, my thoughts lean toward our next sermon series, Take Heart. The theme verse comes from John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In the face of changes over which we often have little control, there is one who holds us and all of creation in his hands. Jesus comes to us so that we may have peace. Yes, he says there will be trouble, but we are called to remember that through the cross and resurrection, Jesus has already overcome the world. Through this knowledge and God’s mercy, we can face these changes, love our neighbors, and strive to grow into the people we are meant to be as the children of God.  See you after September 8.

Next Weekend—Take Heart
1 Timothy 1:12-17

Regular Worship Times
Saturdays, 5 PM  / Sundays, 8:30 and 10:30 AM
All worship services are also live-streamed on our Facebook page and YouTube channel (click on the LIVE tab for the latest videos).

Hospitality Team Meeting
Monday, September 8, 6 PM, Gathering Area
Interested in joining this newly formed team? Come to this meeting to discuss the role of this team in offering care and support for weekend funerals and new member receptions. Contacts: Kerri or Georgia.

Faith On Tap Oktoberfest
Wednesday, September 24, Lil Beaver, 6:30-8 PM
Everyone is invited to a special Faith On Tap celebration! Enjoy Lil Beaver’s German
menu and a cold beverage with your St. John’s family! Please let Diane Murphy know by September 17 if you plan to come so that Lil Beaver can have appropriate staffing. Wear your nametag! Prost!

New Member Opportunity
New members will be received the weekend of October 4/5 at all worship services. If you’re interested in learning more about the membership process at St. John’s, please contact Kerri. To be included in the next membership group, please let Kerri know by Wednesday, September 18.

Community Saxophone Concert
Sunday, September 14, 5 PM, Worship Center
Everyone is welcome to this concert. The 16-piece ensemble includes area high school students and adults.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
Enjoy a time of fellowship while creating prayer shawls, prayer squares or chemo caps for St. John’s members, cancer centers, etc. New members are always welcome. Contact: Lynda Bogue or (309) 532-2083.

Monday Afternoon Study
Mondays, starting September 22, 2:30-3:30 PM, Loft
Everyone is welcome to a six-session study What the Women Saw. Study the lives of Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene, and others and learn from their faith and failures. Contact: Gloria.

Friday Morning Men’s Group
Fridays, 7:30-8:30 AM, Loft
The group is studying the book of Romans, using the study guide Together by Grace—Romans by Augsburg. Questions? Contact: David Roehrig.

Simple Living Decluttering Group
First Sunday of each month, 9:30 AM, Loft
The group will be reading Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life by Joshua Becker. Everyone is welcome. Contact: Ellen Cantrell.

Journey by Faith Debt Reduction
The Journey by Faith Debt Reduction appeal is an intentional step that we are taking together to lower the principal on our mortgage before a significant interest rate increase in February. You should have received a letter or e-mail outlining ways to give. Every gift given through the Journey by Faith appeal through the end of the year will be applied directly to pay down our mortgage. We invite you to prayerfully consider how you can participate in this important effort. Visit www.bit.ly/SJLCGive or scan the QR code to give. TOTAL RECEIVED TO DATE: $281,412 from 74 donors

St. John’s Quilters
Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 AM, Fellowship Hall
Everyone is invited to help make quilts for Lutheran World Relief and enjoy a time of fellowship. We also are in need of home sewers. Contact Marsha Johnson, (309) 299-9338, or Vicky Kramer, (309) 530-1604.

Midwest Food Bank Work Day
Tuesday, September 9, 6–8 PM
Visit www.stjblm.org/local to sign up through their portal, Golden. New volunteers need to fill out a disclaimer form prior to serving. Contact Steve Pruett with questions.

Community Home Improvement Projects (CHIP) Workday
Saturday, September 13
Bloomington/Normal Community Land Trust (BNCLT) invites volunteers to help. BNCLT is a new volunteer-run not-for-profit working to increase the availability of affordable housing. CHIP assists seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities with minor repairs, helping them to maintain and remain in their homes. Interested in learning more or volunteering? Contact Shari.

Tuesday Tee Group Requests Transplants
Tuesday, September 23
The group will be sprucing up the landscape areas around the church on this morning and requests your plantings of sedum, tall phlox (pink), or hostas. If you will be thinning any of these plants from your yard, please consider donating them to the church. Plants can be delivered to the church garage by 9 AM.

Red Cross Blood Drive
Saturday, October 4, 8 AM-12 PM, Fellowship Hall
The need for blood is constant, and every contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply.Visit www.bit.ly/redcross25 to sign up. Contact: Lynn Carpenter, (309) 830-2588.

Agape House Monday Meals
Agape House (campus outreach of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod and Judson Fellowship) hosts weekly fellowship dinners open to students and others—an open table, for everyone! St. John’s is supporting this program by recruiting volunteers to help one Monday per month on the following dates: September 22, October 13, November 10, and December 8. Volunteers should arrive at Agape House, 300 Normal Avenue, at 4:30 PM to lead the students in meal prep, serving, fellowship, and clean-up, concluding at 7 PM. Contact Marvin for more information or visit www.bit.ly/SJ_Agape to sign up.

Hopedale Growing Project
Through Tuesday, September 23
Help raise $4,760 to cover the cost of farmland rental in Hopedale, Illinois, where a soybean crop was planted and has been tended by Hopedale Mennonite farmers all summer. Proceeds from the sale of the crop will be given to Growing Hope Globally, who help grow lasting solutions to hunger. Visit the display in the Lobby to learn more! Donate by visiting www.bit.ly/SJLCGive or write a check to St. John‘s with Hopedale Growing Project in the memo line and place in the offering basket. Everyone is invited to the Harvest Celebration Sunday, September 28, 12 PM, at Hopedale Mennonite Church in Hopedale.

2026 Calendar Collection
If you’re looking for something to do with all the 2026 calendars that arrive in your mail box, consider donating them to the women at the Logan Correctional Center. They appreciate being able to keep track of important days in their lives. The calendars should be in good taste and cannot be spiral bound. Please place calendars in the basket in the Donation Center—white cabinets in the Fellowship Hall (west) entrance. Contact: Jane Frieden at (309) 831-6156.

The Big Give Collection
Drop-off: Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, Morton Building
Join Home Sweet Home Ministries, Midwest Food Bank, and Thrivent Financial to collect items for 2,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes for families in need. Purchase any combination/number of the following box contents and bring to the drop-off: 1 box of stuffing mix, 2 cans of corn, 2 cans of green beans, 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 1 box of mashed potatoes, 1 envelope of gravy (no jars), 1 regular pouch of french fried onions, 1 can of cranberry sauce, 1 box of pie crust mix, 1 can of pumpkin pie mix, 1 can of evaporated milk, and 1 turkey (gift card).