Wednesday Bible Study

Every Wednesday at 12:00pm via Zoom

All are invited to join the mid-week bible study where we look at the readings for the coming Sunday’s worship, following the style of Lectio Divina. Together, we wonder, wish and notice how these ancient words still speak to us.  Some days we even look for what might be “shimmering” for us!

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82438003387?pwd=oHKJ6n1qCAcea2Y5yJEEIH69TSCE2h.1

Meeting ID: 824 3800 3387

Passcode: 640001

October Young Adult Pumpkin Carving + Decorating

Thursday, October 8 at 6:00pm in Oehler Hall

Young Adults in their 20s and 30s will gather in Oehler Hall at St. John's for fall festivities! Come watch a fun Halloween movie and carve or paint pumpkins. Bring a fun fall treat to share, kids always welcome!

Truth Matters: How a Bible Mistranslation Shifted a Culture

Saturday, October 10  from 8:30am - 4:00pm at Carmichael Presbyterian Church

On Saturday, October 10, LGBTQ+ advocate and author Kathy Baldock will lead a day of learning and discussion about how the term "homosexuality" was incorrectly included in a Bible translation, and how that single decision reshaped church teaching, family relationships and countless communities across multiple generations. St. John's Lutheran Church, Carmichael Presbyterian, and the Sacramento Area Rainbow Faith Alliance will co-host this day at Carmichael Presbyterian.

Purchase your tickets here!

Kathy Baldock, author, LGBTQ+ advocate, and founder of Canyonwalker Connections, based in Reno, NV, is a leading expert on historical and present discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community - in particular, discrimination from the socially conservative Christian church and political sectors. Baldock is one of the main researchers featured in the award-winning documentary 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture. Her new book, Forging a Sacred Weapon: How a 1946 Bible Mistranslation Shifted Culture, is a historical and contextually-based survey following human sexuality, same-sex behavior, procreation, and Bible translations, as impacted by cultural, social, medical, political, legal, and military influences from ancient to current times. The book focuses on original research into the reasons the word “homosexuals” was included for the first time in the 1946 Revised Standard Version NT Bible.

October LLL Book Club

Thursday, October 15 at 11:00am in the St. John's Library

Come gather with the LLL Book Club to discuss This Changes Everything: A Surprisingly Funny Story About Race, Cancer, Faith, and Other Things We Don’t Talk About by Tyler Merritt. "This Changes Everything is a humorous and optimistic love letter to this beautiful life. As Tyler counts down the days until his next scan, he begins to understand that none of us have time for anger, for being unforgiving, for foolishness, for letting relationships drift, or for letting friendships to be lost. It’s a clear-eyed reckoning with the reality that our time on this earth is limited and a hopeful vision of how each of us can make the most of the time we have left."

Rock-Washing Ritual for Healing & Prayer

Sunday, October 18 at 10:15am in Oehler Hall

The St. John's LGBTQ+ 1128 Group will be hosting a Healing and Prayer Rock-Washing Ritual! At the St. John's Pride booth, we invited visitors to express their feelings about “church” and “God”. Perhaps it’s been a hurt, a prayer, or a statement of an expression of faith. They wrote on river rocks that we kept on display throughout the festival and brought back with us afterwards. All are invited to participate in this rock-washing ritual, where we'll participate in “washing” or “offering up” the expression from the rocks as a way to recognize how God is able to wash away our hurts and will always hear our prayers!

Worship Leader Training

Sunday, October 18 + 25 at 12:30pm in Oehler Hall

On Sunday, October 18 and Sunday, October 25, all worship volunteers are invited to attend this Worship Leaders Training! This training is for volunteers who currently serve—or are interested in getting involved—in worship: altar guild, eucharistic servers, lectors, ushers, and greeters. Lunch will be provided!

RSVP for the October 18th Usher + Greeter training here!

RSVP for the October 25th Altar Guild, Eucharistic Server, and Lector training here!

3rd Annual Community Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 24 from 4:00-7:00pm at St. John's Lutheran Church

St. John's is thrilled to host the 3rd annual Community Oktoberfest! A family-friendly festival with live music and remarkable Sacramento vendors - admission is free, food and drinks (non-alcoholic included) will be available for purchase. 

We're thrilled to welcome these Sacramento favorites to the event! Food will be provided by Mulvaney's Building & Loan, Old Soul Co., and The Rind; beer and wine by Mattie Groves Brewery, Touchstone Brewing Company, and Kirchhoff Family Wines; non-alcoholic beverages by KC Kombucha and Palm Tree Pop Dirty Soda; and dessert from Dutchman's Stroopwafels - a Midtown Farmers Market favorite! 

Admission is free and food + drink tickets will be available at the door! Invite a neighbor or a friend, Prost! Free parking will be available in the parking garage located on the corner of 18th & K Street.

Reformation Sunday Potluck Brunch

Sunday, October 25 at 10:15am in the Gathering Place

Come celebrate Reformation Sunday with a beloved St. John's brunch! We'll have delicious breakfast food and enjoy festive time in community.

If you'd like to bring food to share OR help bring the brunch to life, you can sign up here.

Family Halloween Movie Night

Friday, October 30 from 6:00-9:00pm in the Gathering Place

Come gather for a family-friendly spooky Halloween Movie Night! An evening for the entire family, this movie night will feature a spooky family-friendly Halloween movie, delicious snacks and treats, and cozy fall fun with friends. Get dressed up in your Halloween costume and bring a friend! RSVP to jeremy.kaetzel@stjohnslc.org. 

Johnny Cash America's Songs and Stories Benefit Concert

Friday, November 13 at 6:00pm in The Gathering Place

Enjoy an evening of Johnny Cash music and stories while supporting a local cause! St. John's Lutheran Church in Midtown Sacramento will host a Johnny Cash Benefit Concert on Friday, November 13 from 6:00-8:00pm, with funds supporting direct service ministries for the unhoused. Local musicians Jim Keddy, John Bologni, Rob Sawyer, Eric Malme, and Sasha Avanov will play beloved Johnny Cash hits and share stories from Cash's long and colorful life, and explore his deep spirituality. Tickets are available at a $15 recommended donation ahead of time here or at the door, with complimentary baked goods and non-alcoholic beverages offered.