Last week, the Two Rivers Police Department informed Pastor Arndt and the church of an anonymous email they received, which threatens Pastor Arndt’s life during Christmas week at church. Similar to Easter 2021, the threat focused on Pastor Arndt on a major religious holiday.
St. John’s Church Council members, the pastors, and Mr. Jaeger met with Det. Lt. Melissa Wiesner of the Two Rivers Police Department on Monday, December 12. Det. Lt. Wiesner informed those in attendance that she along with the FBI, Homeland Security and WI Department of Criminal Investigations have investigated the threat and will continue to monitor the situation and act upon any information that comes to their attention.
The safety and peace of mind of our congregation members has always been and still remains a high priority. Even prior to the threat in 2021, we have been focused on safety by conducting staff, student, and church members violent critical incident response training, along with other safety measures such as cameras, patrols, locked doors, etc. The Two Rivers Police Department and the church take threats seriously. If you or someone you know ever hears of a threat or witnesses suspicious activity, please report the threat or activity to the police and/or church officials immediately.
After extensive discussion, the Church Council has decided to hold church services as normal. Proclaiming the Word of God and the birth of his son Jesus is most important! As Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
If you have questions about this info, please contact Church Council President Jim Pautz at 920-242-7939 or pautzjam6@gmail.com.
God’s blessings to you and your family this Christmas season and always!
St. John’s Church Council
Last Updated: September 25, 2024 by trpreacher
The Installation of Pastor John Berg
Pastor John Berg will be installed as associate pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Two Rivers, Wi on Sunday October 6th, 2024 at 3pm in a worship service celebrating God’s gift of ministry and ministers. You are cordially invited to join us in that worship service as well as the fellowship potluck meal and reception which will follow in the school commons.
Pastor Berg, wife Tricia and son Charlie, along with golden retrievers Colonel and Beef, join us from Minnesota and bring a love of people and the outdoors to the lakeshore. Join us in welcoming them!
Last Updated: June 25, 2024 by trpreacher
June 23rd Call News
Sunday morning, June 23rd, St. Johns voters extended a divine call to Rev. John C Berg to shepherd us as associate pastor. Pastor Berg and wife Tricia grew up in Minnesota, where he has served his entire ministry, currently at Divinity Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Divinity numbers 158 members strong. Please keep the Bergs and those they minister to in your prayers as they deliberate where they will serve God’s people in the future.
Posted: February 14, 2024 by trpreacher
Call Extended to Rev. Erik Janke
St. John’s voters have extended a divine call to Pastor Erik Janke of Bluffton, SC to join us pastor to fill the vacancy left when Pastor Kruschel left of Platteville, WI. Pastor Erick is 32 years old, and with his wife Amanda, enjoy two daughters, ages one year and three months.
Pastor grew up in California where his father served as pastor. He met and eventually married Amanda, a pediatrician. From the seminary he was assigned to start a mission church in South Carolina. To date that congregation numbers roughly 65 souls.
In the meantime his parents relocated to West Bend, WI where his dad now serves on a large pastoral staff at our WELS congregation. He also has a sister who teaches at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran School, just outside of Menasha. So he knows the area pretty well – except perhaps what it is like to walk the sands of the best beach in Wisconsin 🙂 Pastor Erick likes to “grapple,” chase after shrimp and to fish.
Pastor welcomes your input as the Jankes wrestle with the two calls he now holds – to continue to serve the saints in South Carolina or to join us in same mission and effort here in Two Rivers. Please keep them in your prayers – and if able, reach out to add your voice and thoughts to the call.
Last Updated: May 30, 2023 by trpreacher
Call Extended to Pastor Steven Neuman
Pastor Neuman currently serves our fellow believers in Pigeon, MI – a congregation of nearly 400 with a smaller school of 12 students and Early Childhood ministry serving 22 students.
Pastor is married to Sarah, and they’ve been blessed with children 12,10,7,5 and 4 years old. He grew up on a dairy farm in Markesan, WI and served dual congregations in Kendall and Ontario, WI before his current call in Michigan.
Please keep the Neumans in your prayers – and feel free and encouraged to reach out to them at pastorneuman at gmail.com or by phone (as provided in the news and notes available every worship service. But be prepared for what he’ll ask of you – most importantly, “what would you rather he not know about our congregation and ministry in Two Rivers?”
God bless both us and our Pigeon, MI family members as we pray the Spirit of Pentecost would visit the Neumans with guidance, peace and a decision where God would have them serve 🙂
Last Updated: May 1, 2023 by trpreacher
Pastor Kruschel Reaches Decision
April 30, 2023
Dear Members of St. John’s,
After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to accept the call to St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church in Platteville. I thank all of you for your prayers and
encouragements on behalf of me and my family over these past many weeks.
We are so very thankful for the ministry we have shared together.
This is an opportunity for all of us to remember that the Lord is the Lord of the
Church. He is the one who keeps it together. He is the one who makes it grow
and move forward. He is the one who is in control. The words he spoke to his
prophet Jeremiah are just as true today as they were back then: “For I know the
plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
In Christ,
Pastor Kruschel
Last Updated: December 13, 2022 by trpreacher
Threat Received
Last week, the Two Rivers Police Department informed Pastor Arndt and the church of an anonymous email they received, which threatens Pastor Arndt’s life during Christmas week at church. Similar to Easter 2021, the threat focused on Pastor Arndt on a major religious holiday.
St. John’s Church Council members, the pastors, and Mr. Jaeger met with Det. Lt. Melissa Wiesner of the Two Rivers Police Department on Monday, December 12. Det. Lt. Wiesner informed those in attendance that she along with the FBI, Homeland Security and WI Department of Criminal Investigations have investigated the threat and will continue to monitor the situation and act upon any information that comes to their attention.
The safety and peace of mind of our congregation members has always been and still remains a high priority. Even prior to the threat in 2021, we have been focused on safety by conducting staff, student, and church members violent critical incident response training, along with other safety measures such as cameras, patrols, locked doors, etc. The Two Rivers Police Department and the church take threats seriously. If you or someone you know ever hears of a threat or witnesses suspicious activity, please report the threat or activity to the police and/or church officials immediately.
After extensive discussion, the Church Council has decided to hold church services as normal. Proclaiming the Word of God and the birth of his son Jesus is most important! As Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
If you have questions about this info, please contact Church Council President Jim Pautz at 920-242-7939 or pautzjam6@gmail.com.
God’s blessings to you and your family this Christmas season and always!
St. John’s Church Council
Last Updated: February 19, 2022 by trpreacher
Masking Survey – Now What?
At their May 17 meeting the St. John’s church council designated all services “mask optional” beginning this week Thursday, with current distancing between seating to continue.
We encourage all families to take into account CDC guidance regarding protecting your families.
Thank you for your feedback with over 160 surveys returned. The council members will personally contact the over 20 members who shared circumstances that would find them unable in good conscience to attend services where worshipers would be unmasked.
We ask the congregation to continue to make an effort to register for worship services so those concerned individuals may then choose lesser attended services. Also, we ask you to consider leaving seating available near the large window for those with health concerns because this is the most ventilated area of the sanctuary.
Thank you again for the response to the survey – and especially for the selfless comments and willingness to serve each other. God bless us as we gather!
Last Updated: February 19, 2022 by trpreacher
New 5/6 Grade Teacher!
Mr. Kurt Callaway has *accepted* the call we extended to serve as our 5/6 grade teacher and athletic director! He and his wife Tina will be purchasing a home in Two Rivers and are eager to join our ministry team. We praise God for the Callaways and for leading the Jaegers to remain with us!!
Last Updated: February 19, 2022 by trpreacher
Online Worship Only This Week!
See you online tonight/Sunday morning/at your leisure? Since a member who worshiped with us this past Sunday has tested positive for COVID, following our protocol, worship services tonight and Sunday will be ONLINE ONLY. The next in person worship service will Wednesday next week at 4 & 6pm for our midweek Lent Services and then regular worship schedules will resume. Please get the word out to those not connected by way of FB, internet or our text alert system. And if you know of someone we can bring a dvd of this weeks worship or a tablet to view it online, please let us know.
Last Updated: February 19, 2022 by trpreacher
Annual Voter Meeting Materials
St. John’s annual voter meeting is this Sunday, January 31 at 1pm in the church. Please download and view a copy of the annual report here – and if possible, familiarize yourself with the reports it contains so we can save time by not reading them out loud in the meeting itself. You can also download and view a presentation on church finances and the proposed ministry plan (budget) for 2021. God bless you and the part you play in our faith family and ministry!
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