Congratulations to our Confirmands, Elly Redfield and Caylee White who made public affirmation of their faith on June 2. On that Sunday as a community of faith together we promised to support these youth and pray for them in their life in Christ.
Youth and Adult leaders from Immanuel and St. John’s are heading to New Orleans, LA for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering! From July 15 – 20 we’ll be joined by thousands of high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as we gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives. Please keep our travelers in prayer. Do make sure you are also participating in worship on July 14 as we send off our Youth Gathering participants.
For July, the noisy offerings are going to Grace Place Campus Ministry at Northern Illinois University. Grace Place is a joint ministry between the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. The current ministry traces its roots back to 1957 when a Lutheran Campus Ministry group began meeting near the NIU campus for weekly bible study and fellowship time. The goal of Grace Place is to be a beacon of hope where everyone can feel love being poured out. Participants at Grace Place gather weekly on Wednesday nights for worship and a community meal where everyone is invited to share in God’s expansive love.
We host Sunday School classes for all ages from mid-September to mid-May annually. Check the Calendar for exact dates and times of classes.
7th-9th grade students, staff and parent leaders gather each Wednesday evening from September through May with their peers from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Falls, using the “Co-laborate” Confirmation curriculum. This two-and-a-half-year program involves parent participation, learning, service to others, and safe, fun events led by caring adults.
Our junior high and high school students meet regularly throughout the year for classes, service events, fun events and trips. Events are updated and advertised on the Calendar, and on our Branches Youth & Family Ministries Facebook page.
Each summer St. John’s participates in the Sterling-Rock Falls CommUNITY VBS (a collaboration of local congregations providing VBS as a free 1-week event for families in our communities with Pre-K age 4 through fifth grade). Location moves to a new church location each year. VBS Meets in the evening, Sunday through Thursday, with a free dinner each night.
