Christian Education & Services

Welcome to the Children and Youth Ministry Page! We are so excited you stopped by!
Education Board
St. John’s Church Council has 2 Education Superintendents. They serve 2 years total but only one is elected at the October Voter’s Meeting. They meet with the Sunday School teachers monthly and attend the monthly council meetings where they give a report of the activities with in the Sunday School. They plan the activities for the church year; order needed materials; pick out the V.B.S. curriculum and make sure we have a program for Christmas Eve. They recruit the helpers that are need to help with V.B.S. and Christmas Eve.
Sunday School
St. John has Sunday School every Sunday morning at 8:45 to 9:45 am. Except on Easter Morning and a few other special occasions. The pre-k thru 6th grade classes use CPH’s Enduring Faith material. The 7th & 8th grade confirmation class uses Concordia’s Complete Bible Handbook. The High School class decides on their own topics. Adult class is led by Pastor Nerud and vary on their studies.
Vacation Bible School
V.B.S. is offered for a week during the summer. We host evening classes with a light meal offered before. Times are 5:30 pm – 7:45 pm and held Sunday thru Thursday. Children are offered Bible studies, crafts, games and science. The children are immersed in the word and fellowship during the week.
Christmas Eve
It is a tradition for our children in the grades pre-K thru 8th grade to a program as part of the Christmas Eve church service. The superintendents either find someone to lead the program or lead it themselves. Practices are held on the Sundays during advent and begin 15 minutes earlier at 8:30 am.
Family Fun Night
Before school starts in August we hold a Family Fun Night where the church family is invited to come together with fellowship. We have a wiener roast using our outside fire pit, a devotion led by Pastor and all ages games. We end the night with roasting marshmallows and making s’mores.
Youth
Confirmation age and high school children are invited to attend the Youth Group. They meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month after church services. There is a light meal served, a devotion and fellowship. Special outings are planned according to interest and seasons.
We also try to do group activities with Concordia’s Youth.
The youth are also given the opportunity to attend retreats and gathers in the area, such as Camp Cilca and Higher Things Youth Conferences.
Rock Island Youth Circuit
Our youth is encouraged to attend the special outings of the area churches, where our surrounding churches’ youth get together to enjoy fellowship and devotions together. Pastor Astrowski from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island is the spiritual leader.