Installation of Pastor Jeremy Latzke - Wednesday August 24 at 7pm
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Worship Schedule
Saturday | 5pm
Sunday | 9am
Worship is offered in-person at both services. Sunday morning is livestreamed.
Holy Communion is celebrated the 1st & 3rd weekends.
Watch Live
Sundays at 9am
Covid-19 Updates
After clarifications from both the Northern Illinois District and IDPH, St. John's will return to our mask policy last used in August. Beginning this weekend, masks are optional. Please be responsible and worship from home if feeling unwell.
Governor Pritzker recently issued an executive order stipulating that, effective August 30, 2021, face masks are to be worn in all public spaces, including indoors, throughout the state of Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health understands that this includes houses of worship.
Members of St. John’s congregation, with others, may have differing opinions regarding this executive order. Some may think it does not go far enough in responding to a health threat while others may think that it represents governmental over-reach and a challenge to civil liberties.
We are called to live our lives both as Christians and as citizens. Wearing masks does not limit our opportunity to assemble to hear God’s Word and to receive the Sacraments. Out of respect for the government, and living a Christian witness of care and concern for others, especially for the vulnerable, the leadership of St. John’s is responding to Gov. Pritzker’s order with the following guidelines.
Thank you for treating others with Christian charity and respect. We are always encouraged to ask ourselves, “How does my decision affect not only my personal perspective but also my neighbor whom I love in Christ?”
Saturday 5pm & Sunday 9am!
Moving forward and following CDC guidelines, our only specific mask request will be for everyone to wear masks at 10:30 service on the South side of the Sanctuary.
New Service Time: 8:00am
Masks required the entire time.
Indoor worship will resume this Sunday!
Sunday Worship Schedule
8:00am - Outdoor Worship
9:30am - Indoor Worship & Livestream
10:30-11:00am - Drive Through Communion
Indoor Worship Procotols
Thank you for taking part in the survey. We listened!
Above is a generalized graphic that shows the variety of options that are being voiced about re-opening church. These are the thoughts of church members at St John's and other churches from around the country.
So, how is St. John's, your church, going to move forward? Here is the plan.
This Sunday, we gather together once again! Outdoor worship this Sunday! Now, the details...
We will follow guidelines for distancing.
How will you worship this weekend? You have 4 options!
*** Pastor will be bringing communion to homes soon, but not this week. ***
Read the last part too!
This is important. All of these options are 100% valid. All of them are options open to faithful and dedicated Christians. This re-opening is a balance of rights and responsibilities. We are all at different points, with different health concerns, and have a variety of opinions. The good news is that God's Word comes to you and gives you the forgiveness of sins and the confidence of salvation in every single one of the options.
Jesus loves you! And so do I!
Pastor Brian
As your Pastor I am convicted that our church should celebrate Holy Communion this weekend. I am also convinced that we can do it in a way that exceeds the sanitary standards of a restaurant drive through.
This is our plan:
When: 10:15 - 11:00 am this Sunday morning. Watch service at home, then finish listening on your phone and come down to church after the sermon! As soon as service is over Pastor will start distributing communion.
Method: Drive Through Style
Where: Enter the "drive through" as if you are pulling around the back of the church next to the church house on Jefferson where the offices used to be located.
Manner: Pull your car up. Pastor will place bread and individual cup(s) of wine into your open hand. Pastor will back up 8-10 feet and speak the "Take and eat. Take and drink. The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you." Voice your "Amen" by honking your horn!
Next Move: Car will pull forward and members will pray on their way home, and dispose of individual cup at their residence.
A few notes on safety.
Why are we doing this?
Holy Communion is an important gift that Jesus gives to strengthen our faith during hard times; this is a hard time. We are all experiencing this pandemic differently. We have members who are hugely impacted, and others who have not been impacted much at all. We need to care for the souls and the faith of ALL. Don't feel comfortable? Don't come! There is ZERO pressure to come. This is not a measure of your faithfulness. Some are ready for this and some are not, that is totally fine. Jesus made us all differently!
Moving Forward
Our District President Allan Buss, with others, has requested that the governor loosen up regulations for churches. Specifically, he has requested we be limited to a percentage of our capacity, rather than to any number, for example 10. If we are limited to 25% capacity then we can safely gather in groups of 80-100. We will be making changes progressively as the lockdown measures are being lifted.
Please keep all those suffering hardship during this time in your prayers!
God's Peace!
Pastor Brian Lee