St. John's Lutheran Church

Faith in Action: Living out Your Faith with Hope + Courage

Saturday, October 3 at St. John's Lutheran Church

St. John's Lutheran Church is thrilled to be hosting a one-day workshop titled, "Faith in Action: Living out Your Faith with Hope + Courage" on Saturday, October 3 from 8:30am-3:00pm. The event will center primarily around how we as people of faith and as congregations can better organize and take action in response to issues of immigration. We'll welcome guest speaker the Rev. Ingrid Rasmussen from Minneapolis who has been on the front-line of ICE occupation in the city. In the afternoon, we'll host 4 different workshops led by nonprofit leaders currently involved in migration justice issues.

This event will use a faith-based lens and be rooted in Lutheran values, however, it is open to all people interested in migration justice and looking to live out their values in the world! There is a $15 registration fee that includes lunch and refreshments - gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options provided. Financial assistance is available, please email jahoffme@gmail.com if in need.

Purchase your tickets here!

Direct Service Volunteer Training

Sunday, October 4 at 12:30pm in Oehler Hall

All volunteers who work in Direct Services are invited to attend a Volunteer Training! This training is for volunteers who currently serve—or are interested in getting involved—in the Pilgrimage Meal, Tuesday Midtown HART Respite, Afternoon Snack Stop, or Community Thanksgiving Meal.

We’ll begin with a catered lunch and an opportunity to connect with other volunteers serving in direct services, as well as gain a broader understanding of the many services offered at St. John’s. After lunch, we’ll welcome Joanna Roberto, the Program Manager for the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. She has graciously agreed to share with us a little bit about the opioid epidemic in Sacramento, as well as a short training on Narcan, the lifesaving overdose medication.

Following Joanna’s talk, volunteers will break into small groups based on ministry areas (Pilgrimage, Snack Stop, etc.) to meet with volunteer leads, learn more about a specific program, and receive hands-on training.

RSVP if you're able to attend here!

Order of St. John Training + Luncheon

Sunday, October 4 at 12:30pm in the Youth Room

This is a chance for middle and high schoolers to learn how to use their gifts and talents to serve at the altar of God by serving in the Order of St. John. They’ll learn to ring the bells, light the candles, lead processions, assist with communion, present the banners, hold altar books, lead the children to music practice and perform countless other tasks to assist the pastors each Sunday.

Led by lay leader Betsy Long, the Order of St. John is open to anyone ages 10-18, and is a long-standing, beloved tradition here at St. John’s. Youth serve on acolyte teams once a month and are an integral part of the worship leadership team. Joining the Order of St. John is a wonderful leadership opportunity that centers our young people in every worship service, as we continually strive to witness the diverse, unique body of Christ in all that we do.

RSVP if your youth is able to attend here!

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.

Save-the-Date!

November 2nd – New Senior Pastor Amy Kienzle's First Day!

November 6-8th – Mt. Cross Elementary/Middle School Retreat

November 13th – Direct Services Benefit Concert (7pm)

November 25th – Community Thanksgiving Meal

November 29th – Advent Festival

December 13th – Santa Lucia Service + Festival (4pm)