God's Grace
One major question that bothers many people today is, “How many good works do I have to do to gain God’s forgiveness and acceptance into heaven?” Martin Luther, one of the great Church Reformers of the 1500s, was plagued by that same question to the point of despair. When he finally gained access to a Bible, he found his answer in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 2:8-9. It stated: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” That word grace, was the key to his dilemma.
Luther discovered that his relationship with God was restored because of God’s grace and not based on a listing of his good deeds. The word, “grace” means “underserved love”. God loved people so much that he sent Jesus into the world to take the penalty for the sins of all people. Jesus lived a perfect life but suffered a torturous death in our place and then rose from the grave so our relationship with God was restored. His blessings of the forgiveness of sins, his presence in our life, and eternal life in heaven, are showered on all those who believe that Jesus is their Savior. Imagine the heavy weight that was lifted off of Luther’s shoulders. Jesus did it all, out of love. “Good deeds” are a way we can show our gratitude for God’s investment in our lives.
For more information on Martin Luther and the Reformation, click here.
Join us for Bunco Game Night!
Saturday, November 7th
7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
(doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Bunco is a fast-paced dice game with 12 or more players,
in groups of 4, trying to score points while taking turns
rolling dice in a s series of 6 rounds.
You’ll rotate tables and partners after each round.
(So it’s more about socializing than strategy.)
Meet in the Open Arms Room (Room 104).
From the parking lot, go through the iron gate.
Enter through Door 8.
Snacks and drinks will be available, or you may bring your own.
SewWhat! makes quilts that become donations to those in need.
Through Lutheran World Relief (https://lwr.org/quilts) the large (60”x80”) quilts are distributed in areas of need around the world. The quilts may be used as bedding, shelter, flooring, and for carrying possessions in bundles.
Members of SewWhat! assemble the quilt tops, then add a layer of polyester batting and a backing fabric. These three layers are then tied together (easy - down, up, down, up, cut the thread and tie a knot). The final step is finishing the edges with a binding. Sewing skills are not needed to help us finish off these quilt tops. If you can tie a knot you can help us. We also make smaller quilts which are given to Phil’s Friends, an organization that serves people who are fighting cancer. Phil’s Friends include these lap quilts in the care packages they send to those undergoing cancer treatments.
SewWhat! meets year-round on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 - 11:00, with a chocolate break at 10:00. While we work, we socialize and enjoy each other’s company.
Dartball League
Dartball meets select Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in Room 102 from September to April. Confirmed male members of St. John and fellow Lutheran LCMS congregations are welcome to join.
St. John was one of the founding churches that formed the league in the 1930's.
For more information contact Pete Schoedel at: 1petros113@gmail.com
What is Dartball?
Dartball is a game of darts that is scored like baseball. It bears no resemblance to "pub darts" whatsoever. The darts are thrown underhand at a board that is 20 feet away.
THE DARTS
The darts are about six inches long, wooden with a steel tip and three or four feathers. The Lutheran Dart League uses Apex #2 darts made by Apex Manufacturing.
THE BOARD
The dartboard is four-foot square, elevated so the bottom edge of the board is 2 feet above the ground. The board is laid out like a baseball diamond, with first, second and third bases, as well as a Home Run where Home Plate would be. There are strikes, balls, fouls, outs and double-plays on the board as well.
PLAYING THE GAME
As stated above, dartball is scored like baseball. A game consists of 9 innings, with each team batting in an inning until they make three outs. The visiting team always bats first. A dart that lands in the First Base is scored as a single; a dart landing in the Second Base is a double; a dart landing in the Third Base is a triple; and a dart landing in the Home Run is scored as a Home Run.
A batter whose dart lands in the First Base is said to "be on first." The next batters then try to hit the Third Base. If they succeed, they are awarded a triple, which "forces" the runner on first around the bases to score a run.
Like baseball, the idea is to score more runs than your opponent in nine innings.
For more extensive information about the Lutheran Dartball League go to the following website from Concordia Lutheran Church, Berwyn, IL. https://conberdartball.xyz/
Food Pantry
St. John participates in a food collection every third Sunday of the month to help support the Food Pantry
located at the Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park, Illinois
Mission Opportunities Short Term
MOST Ministries (Mission Opportunities Short Term) is a mission partner with our church body serving people with poor vision. It is estimated that 153 million people worldwide suffer from uncorrected vision. Currently, in many countries of the world eye glasses are still needed as well as non-prescription sunglasses.
As part of our mission outreach here at St. John, we have an opportunity to help MOST. If you have any type of eyeglasses or sunglasses that you are no longer using please consider donating them to this cause. Bring them to church and place them in the box in the narthex which is across from the church mailboxes. Thank you to all those members who donated their old glasses to this ministry, So far this year, St. John has sent 53 pairs of glasses to MOST.
If you have an interest in helping with this action team, call the church office 708-366-3226.
