St. John’s men’s “Bread & Breakfast” Saturday morning Breakfast and Bible Study will be turning their attention the next several months to Max Lucado’s study of David’s life, “Facing Your Giants.”  With only Jesus’ life covered in more detail in the Bible, David’s life is a deep study into human and male brokenness, the ebb and tide of arrogance and humility, and a reminder of the power and peace of God’s presence and promises.  The group meets the first and last Saturdays of the month at Two Rivers Family Restaurant, from 7:30-8:30 am.  We order off the menu, enjoy God’s Word over our food, and are officially done in about an hour – although the fellowship often carries over into the parking lot long after.  You do not need to read ahead or even have a copy of the book to join us, or benefit from the study – but we think a copy of the book would be a blessing to you.  While we do have about 20 copies available in the church office for 11.50 a piece, you can also find them on amazon, google, barnes and noble, or even kindle and audio versions even cheaper.

Join us – and bring a friend.  Its a great way to start the weekend – and a great reminder that while we are all broken, God holds us together and helps us celebrate his strength together as Christian men!

Steve Kruschel was born and baptized in Gregory, South Dakota, on March 25, 1983. His wife, Becca (Janke), was born a few weeks later in Wilmar, Minnesota, on April 21, 1983, and baptized on April 24. After Becca grew up in rural Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, and Steve grew up in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, they met and courted at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota. Following graduation, Becca served as a teacher for one year in Japan, while Steve attended his first year at the Seminary. They married July 23, 2006. Steve served as a vicar in Lapeer, Michigan. After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2009, Steve was assigned to serve Grace Lutheran Church in Geneva, NE, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Grafton, NE. He served those congregations for 9 years.

The Lord has blessed Steve and Becca with five children: Adeline (10 years old), Timothy (8 years old), Benjamin (7 years old), Gabriel (5 years old), and Phineas (3 years old).

The Kruschel family thanks the members of St. John’s for calling them to serve in Two Rivers. Every member of the Kruschel family eagerly looks forward to serving the Lord with you all!

In order to keep everyone safe, including our snow removal teams, worship services for Sunday April 15th have been rescheduled (in keeping with established policy) for Monday night at 6pm.  Stay home, stay safe!  And God bless!

Praying that the eleventh time would be a charm, the voters of St. John’s braved cold and ice to cast a unanimous ballot for Rev. Stephen Kruschel of Geneva, Nebraska to serve as associate pastor.  Pastor Stephan and his wife Rebecca have been blessed with five children, ages 10,8,6,5 & 3.  Pastor hails from Redwood Falls, MN and Rebecca from Iron Ridge, WI.  The couple met while studying at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN.  The Kruschels currently serve the dual congregations of Grace and Trinity Lutheran churches in Geneva and Grafton, NE, respectively.  In answer to our prayers, Rev. Kruschel has accepted the call to serve us in Two Rivers!  The family will finish up the school year (through the end of May) in Nebraska, and join us on the lakeshore the first week of June.  God bless your travels – and your ministry among us, Pastor & Becca!

Today’s the last day to take advantage of the $5 savings for early registration for the Cross+Men Men’s conference to be hosted by St. John’s on march 17th.  February 1st, the fee increases to $30 and covers all speakers, materials, food and fellowship as over 100 Christian men gather to learn to boast about nothing other than God in their lives – a skill that builds rather than tears down relationships between God’s people.  Check us out at http://www.crossmenconf.org and encourage the men in your life to join us!

After more than 25 years of debate, planning and waiting, St. John’s voted overwhelmingly on January 2st to proceed with detailed construction drawings and groundbreaking on the church’s school site at 3607 45th Street in Two Rivers.  While the downtown structure will always hold a special place in our hearts, families and the history of our congregation, handicapped accessibility, plumbing, electrical and maintenance concerns made it clear that in order for the congregation to continue to reach out and serve others with the Word – as our forefathers made possible for us, change was inevitable.  Planned is a 1.8 million dollar structure, attached to the school and office building, to include worship seating for 225, handicapped accessible parking, seating and restrooms, a fireside room, multipurpose room and more.  Discussion at the meeting also included a targeted emphasis on refocusing on evangelism in our community, to our own former members and the rest of Two Rivers.

After traveling the last two years to our sister congregation in Ixonia to enjoy their mens’ confernce, the men of St. John’s have scheduled and welcome all to their own.  Slated for March 17th in the St. John’s School facility at 3607 45th in Two Rivers, the Cross+Men conference this year will run from 9am – 2pm.  Featuring three speakers, music, worship, food and fellowship, the conference the 2018 version of this conference will focus on “boasting in a God who is our strength and certainty.”  While men are often tempted to boast in ways that drive wedges and hurt between them, the honesty of the cross and of our brokenness give us a chance to brag about someone who pulls us together, and offers us true fellowship with one another.

Early registration for the conference is now open with the cost for early/regular/last minute registration $25/$30/$35 respectively.

Check it out and encourage a friend – the web site is www.crossmenconf.org

January 8th, the voters of St. John’s extended a divine call to Pastor Martin Luchterhand of Fort Myers, Florida.  Some might remember Pastor Luchterhand’s father, Lyle, who served at Bethany in Manitowoc.  Pastor Luchterhand and his wife Wendy have been blessed with four children, ages 22,21,19 & 11.  Born in Milwaukee, and a 1994 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Pastor has served congregations in South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin and Florida.  Please keep this family, as well as the congregation of nearly 100 that he serves in the sunshine state, in your prayers.  You can contact, and please do contact Pastor Luchterhand with well wishes, encouragements and what you see as our needs at pastor at (replace the at with @) crownlifelutheran.com

Due to the weather, Advent worship, soup supper and choir rehearsal are cancelled tonight, December 13th.  Be safe and God bless!

On Monday afternoon, Pastor Kurbis, to whom we extended a divine call to serve us as associate pastor, returned that call and indicated he will continue to serve God’s people in North Carolina. Pastor Kurbis writes:

Date: December 4, 2017
To: St. John’s Lutheran Church in Two Rivers, WI

Greetings, brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus, our advent King!

Deliberating a call is a very humbling process. It’s humbling because God works through his Church
to call jars of clay to share the treasure of the gospel. It’s humbling because clarity requires being in
the Word and applying what the Spirit says. It’s humbling because the Word and prayer drive us to
our knees as nothing else can. It’s also humbling because God has moved his people to share
thoughts and prayers that are focused on the good of His Kingdom. How good and gracious God
always is!

Throughout this humbling process it has become clear to me that it is best for me to stay where I
am: serving the saints at Living Savior and sharing the gospel with the greater Asheville area.

While it has become clear that I need to be here, some other things have become clear as well. God
has blessed your congregation immensely. I thank him for that. The ministry opportunities that he
has given you are also blessings from him. The zeal and desire to seize those opportunities come
from the God who is at work in you who believe. God has his man in mind for you.

I thank you for your prayers and will continue to remember you in mine.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Pastor Caleb Kurbis

_______________

St. John’s next call meeting has been scheduled for Monday, January 8th at 6:30pm in the school music room!