What we believe / teach and where you ‘ll find it in the Bible – Class for the curious, for members to remember, for parents of children in our school, for those wishing to join us in our mission and ministry. Tuesdays at 8pm scheduled for those especially with kids to get in bed. Join us! Permanent link http://bic.sjtworivers.org

Thank you for your cooperation as we do our best to balance our love for the Word and for each other.  Below you will find the links to register for upcoming worship services.  You’ll be registering for a FREE “ticket” or “tickets.”  They are only our way of ensuring that our two worship spaces (church and gym) remain safe and uncrowded and that you are well aware where you should go on Thursday nights or Sunday mornings.  Currently each service time has room for a maximum of 55 in the church and 65 in the gym.  God bless you and others through you as we return to public worship.

Here’s where you will find weekly opportunities to register for worship services – http://register.sjtworivers.org

SJTR Public Worship Restart 

General Information

• Public services will begin on the weekend of June 4-7.
• We will offer our regular service times: Thursday at 6:00 pm and Sunday at 8:00 and 10:30*.
• More services may be added if and as needed.
• We will continue to livestream services via Facebook, and archive them to Youtube and Vimeo.
• We will ensure proper distancing and cleanliness to the best of our ability.

Encouragements

• Those who have any of the symptoms of COVID-19should stay home.
• Those who are at high risk of serious illness are encouraged to stay home.
• Those who are uncomfortable attending services at this time are encouraged to stay home.
• You are encouraged to wear a mask, but they are not required.
• Everyone should practice distancing and good hygiene.

Distancing

• Every other row of seating in the sanctuary has been temporarily removed, and in the remaining rows, the middle section has also been removed, ensuring six feet of distance between members.
• One household will be allowed per pew or section of chairs.
• The removed seating has been placed in the gymnasium, arranged as those in the church proper, with sound system and large projector screen to carry the feed in real time from the sanctuary.
• Following these guidelines, a group of 50 persons will be seated in each location for each service.
• Households are required to register online to ensure that the appropriate number of people are in attendance for each service and in each location.

Cleanliness

• High contact surfaces (like pews and door handles) will be disinfected after every service – with doors propped open when weather permits.
• A deeper cleaning will be done after each weekend.
• The commons will not be used, except for passing through.
• Hymnals and Bibles will be removed from the pews.
• The entire service will be shown on the screens as usual.
• Those who are accustomed to following along in Bibles and hymnals are encouraged to bring their own.
• Baskets will be available in entryway of each worship location for offerings.
• The elements for Holy Communion will be prepared by the pastors. This will reduce the number of people in the building and the number of people touching the elements.

Before the Service

• Hand sanitizer will be available at the doors.
• There will be no hand shaking before or after the service.
• A trustee will be available to direct, offer assistance, and provide masks as necessary.

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Communion

• We will reintroduce public communion the week of June 18-21.
• Those who do not wish to commune publicly or are not comfortable communing at this time will be free not to do so, with absolutely no stigma.
• Following the sermon and prayers will be a blessing, announcements, and a hymn. This will give those who choose not to commune the opportunity to leave the sanctuary if they wish.
• Those who are distributing the Sacrament will clean their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer immediately before distribution.
• Households will be directed to approach the chancel one at a time to receive the Sacrament, maintaining social distancing with other households.
• Communicants will each take a wafer, set out individually on a table and then proceed to the next table to take an individual cup, spaced out likewise on a separate table.
• Should someone need assistance, each worship space will have a pastor to provide such assistance as required.
• Should a non-shut-in household request private communion, please contact the office for an appointment and we will commune you here.

After the Service

• Pastors will not shake hands with people as they exit the sanctuary.
• Members are encouraged not to stay and socialize in the church or gymnasium worship spaces. This is something that can be done more safely outside, if desired.

Other Items

These and all practices involved with returning to public worship will be regularly visited by the church council, elected to oversee and assure regular and orderly worship.  They will also be altered, improved or changed as new information, circumstances or authoritative guidance present themselves.

Here’s the link to this afternoon’s midweek Lent service.  You’ll find links to weekend worship here as well after every Thursday night service until further notice!  Stay in the Word & think about inviting someone else to worship with you.  God bless.

St. John’s Lutheran Church & School

3607 45^th, Two Rivers, WI 54241                                            (920) 794-7300

www.sjtworivers.org                                                office@sjtworivers.org

With the day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute changes/updates regarding the Coronavirus, the question has been raised whether regular worship will be held at St. John’s. Sadly, due to recommendations from both our governor and the CDC, worship in the sanctuary at this time will NOT take place until further notice.  BUT, members of St. John’s, along with anyone else who wants and needs the Word of God will still be able to worship – just in different ways.

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” So, St. John’s encourages you to worship in small groups at home and/or invite others to worship with you.

St. John’s will still prepare, present and celebrate worship as scheduled. A preacher will preach and an accompanist will accompany. We will record, stream, and also publish those services to DVDs in order that our congregation can continue to be in the Word, even while staying home.  We would encourage each family to commit with another family, neighbor or household, to set a time weekly and meet together to worship using the live stream, rebroadcast or DVD.

Within the recommended size for gatherings, this temporary return to “house churches” would provide accountability, mutual encouragement and structure that would leave our congregation stronger for the “inconvenience.”  Members who have strayed away from our family will receive invitations to rejoin our fellowship, one invitation and one “house church” at a time.  Please invite one of the pastors to drop by your gathering and we will be pleased to bring you the sacrament.

These streams and rebroadcasts will begin already this Wednesday and Thursday, with our midweek Lenten services and regular Thursday night services. DVDs of this week’s worship will be available in the church office already this Friday, and continue to be available according to the same schedule.

With regard to other challenges at St. John’s in the light of this pandemic, soup suppers, hospitality treats and Easter breakfast have all been cancelled. Choir, Sunday School, and confirmation class will not meet until further notice. Confirmation Day and classes in preparation for it will be rescheduled.

Finally, the work of the church continues to need your monetary support.  You can continue to support St. John’s with your offerings by using the Givelify app, electronic bill pay from your bank, or mailing/dropping off offerings to the church office.

Please contact the church office, pastors, or Church Council members with any questions.

Jesus keep you all!
St. John’s Pastors and Church Council

Make plans to gather for our Church Picnic and Outdoor Worship Service, Sunday, July 21^st on the St. John’s Church and School grounds!  In this inaugural year of church and school at the same location, we’ll worship outdoors at 10:00 am, serve a potluck meal from the school commons and then head back outside to enjoy the food and fellowship.

The theme of our worship and fellowship this year will be “Welcome Home,” in line with our Synod’s emphasis on inviting and welcoming back those who have grown distant from our church family, worship, fellowship and ministries.  Please make an effort to personally invite a friend, relative, neighbor or someone who hasn’t joined us for a while to come with you or meet you for this special event.  In order to assure that every member receives a personal invitation, just as we did several years ago, for the next several weekends you will find a list of members who haven’t been active in our congregation the past year on the table in the fireside room.  Prayerfully consider signing your name behind theirs, and in doing so, noting them as your special guest and “invitee .”  Again, we’ll pray that every name is claimed and everyone receives a heartfelt and personal invitation to “come home” and celebrate with us the Lord who binds us together in our brokenness.

As mentioned above, there will be other changes this year as well.  With no park pavilion to shelter us, we’re looking for several members with 10×20 or 10×10 foot shelters to provide shade for those who need it.  Bring a dish to pass for the potluck meal, and if you like, a cake for the desert table.  Hot dogs, both skinned and skinless, and buns will be donated.  Water and lemonade will also be provided.  Bring your own soda or non-alcoholic beverages if you wish.  A free will offering will cover any additional expenses.  We’re excited to offer a family style picnic that everyone can afford!!

After the meal there will be a photo booth set up to record the day.  We’re looking for members to organize a kickball or blind man’s volleyball tournament.  If you’re into beanbag toss, ladder golf, horseshoes, croquet, whatever, bring them all along and enjoy each other’s company!  Our goal is to replicate a family picnic – just on a much larger scale!

But most important, this special weekend is about taking a moment to be reminded that in Christ, we are family – a family that will last for eternity.  We notice, care about and make time for each other.  So mark your calendar, put your name and prayers behind a church family brother or sister, and look forward and work toward the day Jesus will welcome all of us “home.”

Worship Service video are now available by way our church facebook page.  You can expect weekly sermons to be posted to the page by Tuesday of the week following each weekly worship space.  Or contact the church office and if you’re local, we’ll get you a dvd of the entire worship service and a hymnal you can use at home to follow along and participate!