Ministries
Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gifts well.
—1 Peter 4:10
Helping People in Our Community and Abroad
...purpose is to demonstrate the no-strings attached love of Jesus to our community, to show our community that the church is alive and well and cares very much for the people living here and to give people from all different churches the chance to work with each other, building friend- ships and serving Jesus together.
..women who are committed to supporting local mission work by collecting stamps and soup can labels. They also sort clothing for the Salvation Army.
… a service ministry providing much-needed beds and the hope of Jesus to the Columbus OH area.
... mission is to assist financially burdened families to give girls a prom dress and accessories of their dreams so that they can enjoy their high school prom. Dresses for Divas takes place each year at the end of March and is a one day event.
This ministry provides and serves evening meals at Faith Mission – a Christian based organization that provides assistance for homeless men and women on an emergency walk-in basis and is located in downtown Columbus.
Members of this team help to raise the awareness of the hunger issues within our church, community and central Ohio area through bulletin and eagle articles. They also assist with food drives and the local LSS food pantry.
...committed to supporting activities benefiting Lutheran Social Services such as collecting canned goods for a local food pantry and Campbell’s labels to benefit a local elementary school.
Volunteers are needed to deliver a hot nutritious meal and a smile to homebound seniors in Grove City.
This ministry combines prayer and knitting for the ministry of others including, hospice patients, the elderly, and others who needed a special blessing. This ministry strives to bring God's love through the comfort and warmth of hand-made items.
...women who possess sewing skills make quilts, robes, layettes and pillows for distribution locally and overseas.
Helping Congregation Members in Need
... helps families in need within the Congregation year-round. All referrals, gifts and dollar amounts are kept strictly confidential. The leader of this ministry is responsible for working with the Pastors in purchasing gifts, gift certificates, or any other necessary items and preparing them for delivery by the Pastors.
This ministry is committed to providing a dinner for the families of any member of St. John’s after the funeral. Volunteers are asked to cook, serve and offer compassion to the bereaved.
..meets monthly to make greeting cards for the purpose of recognizing and supporting each other during times of celebration, challenges, holidays and sorrow while promoting fellowship within the group.
...committed to taking communion to the homebound members of our Congregation.
...committed to visiting and caring for the homebound members of the Congregation.
..consists of lay volunteers who assist the pastors in visiting our hospitalized parishioners. Each volunteer is assigned one day a month. They focus on sharing the love of Christ with each other in the hopes of bringing peace, support and comfort.
...is a special worship service held the first Sunday is Advent for families who have lost a loved one during the calendar year. A time of fellowship and support is provided for the families immediately following the service.
Assisting with Worship
...committed to the care and preparation of all materials used in contemporary and traditional worship in the front of the Church, baptism, communion, weddings and arrange for delivering the flowers after the services.
...volunteers assist the Pastor during Holy Communion.
...are responsible for passing out bulletins before each service while greeting and welcoming those coming to worship.
Volunteers can participate by reading scripture, leading prayer, giving a “sermonette,” playing the piano/organ or singing one morning during the week.
...participates in the worship service by reading the Bible lessons of the day to the Congregation.
...committed to operating the sound system and running PowerPoint presentations to enhance worship, teaching, and ministries.
...are committed to assisting worshippers, collecting the weekly offerings, ringing the bells as well as other duties necessary to ensure that the worship services run smoothly.
Helping with Church Administration and Finance
..consists of three members of the Congregation with an accounting/ financial background who perform random audits of the financial records from the previous year.
...is managed by three members of the Congregation with a financial background who are responsible for researching and securing wise investments that produce a high return with security of invested principal.
....meets once a month to review the financial position of the church, address any financial concerns, works with staff and team leaders to prepare church budget and monitors spending. They also work closely with the Endowment Team and Audit Team.
Volunteers are needed to answer phones, greet visitors during the week, assemble Sunday bulletins and prepare the EAGLE for mailing.
...is responsible for updating and maintaining information on the website for St. John’s.
Keeping Our Church Campus Beautiful and Welcoming
...is committed to the care, upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds of St. John’s.
...volunteers are needed to decorate the Church for the Christmas and Easter season.
This groups meets on a regular basis to weed flowerbeds, plant flowers, beautify the grounds, etc. Each person is responsible for maintaining a small section of the property.
Community Fellowship and Outreach
The Fun in the Son Carnival is community event that is held in conjunction with Vacation Bible School. Volunteers are needed to assist with planning, publicity, set-up, games, crafts, food, clean-up, etc.
This event is a community outreach event designed to celebrate the Easter Season. The event consists of a meal, crafts and an egg hunt.
...is a fun afternoon open to the community that includes pumpkin carvings, bobbing for apples, games, decorating pumpkin cookies, making crafts, and ending the day with trick or treating in the parking lot.
Adults Teaching and Shepherding Young People
...takes place the first Sunday of each month during the 10:45 am service. It is an opportunity for children to celebrate their love for the Lord. Children's Church is a worship experience focused totally on children and building their understanding of the Bible and promoting a meaningful relationship with God.
...a ministry designed to enhance the worship service through the use of puppets.
...committed to organizing and executing the annual Sunday School Christmas Program by using music and drama.
...promote the spiritual growth and transformation of the children of St. John’s. Sunday school teachers engage in a teaching ministry with chil- dren that emphasizes fun, religious identity, community, and learning.
...committed to providing a spirit-filled and spirit-lead ministry that touch- es the hearts and lives of children each summer.
Musical Groups
...committed to enhance our worship services with special music and to lead the Congregation in singing.
...committed to enhancing the worship services through special music designed for women’s voices.
...committed to be in a hand bell choir that enhances the worship services.
...plans most all aspects of the 10:45 am worship service from scripture readings to children’s sermons to the praise and worship music.
Church Fellowship
Volunteers are responsible for planning, organizing, executing, and publicizing this annual event.
This ministry provides fellowship with other Lutheran churches in Frank- lin County while playing dartball.
...volunteers prepare breakfast during Holy Week prior to the morning devotions.
...is a casually organized fellowship of “seasoned citizens” who gather together on a monthly basis to share food, fun and fellowship.
...is a time for the veterans of our congregation to share a meal together and be honored for their service to our country.
Health and Wholeness Activities
A Christ-centered weight-loss and healthy living program that will help you create balance in the four core areas of your life—spiritual, physical, mental and emotional. Give Christ first place in your life and you will be on your way to a life of balance, health and victory.
...committed to caring for our parishioners by supporting physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness.
Volunteers are needed to help with registration and serve light refreshments to donors during blood drives.
...is a fitness community. The vision is to create a fitness experience that changes people from the inside out, and this vision is accomplished by focusing on the heart as a muscle AND a soul. People don’t have to get fit in order to be fit at REFIT – our workouts are designed for every body regardless of age, shape, size or ability.
Adult Faith Education Ministries
...committed to providing access to a collection of Christian resources to help people mature in their faith. The Church librarians are responsible for purchasing, organizing, maintaining, and promoting the collections.
...an annual program designed to enlighten and encourage members of the Congregation to give of their time, talents and treasures.
Adult Mission Trips
We partner with the ministry of Genesis Diez to spend a week with children from an orphanage in Mexico and we partner with Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cleveland to spend a week in a remote village of Alaska. Regardless of the mission trip you go on, you’ll remember it for a life-time as you reach out in love to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Disciple Groups
…small men’s and women’s groups meet weekly to explore God’s Word and support each other in their walk of faith.
... exists to encourage and equip moms of young children to grow in their relationship with Jesus through fellowship with other moms and the study of God's Word.
...prays for the spiritual needs of our Congregation.
...committed to men encouraging other men to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
These groups provide a means for women to grow in their spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ through Biblical teaching, prayer, and Bible study.
Hospitality and New Member Support
Shepherds are committed to making contact with new members at least once a month, inform them of special events and occasions within the church, invite them to attend church functions and help introduce and connect them with other members.
...committed to welcoming visitors with a gift and information about St. John’s as well as personal follow-up.
Children and
Youth Ministries
...is a group of adults & youth, who serve the Church by acolyting at the traditional worship services on Sunday morning.
... is a simple fundraiser that helps send youth to summer camps. AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets you enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St. John’s. Talk to the youth staff about details.
…is a great parenting /grandparenting resource for St. John’s members. Request to get on our AXIS email list and check out the printed articles on the wall across from the youth office.
Organized and led by youth, families have the opportunity to help purchase and assemble bicycles that will be delivered at Christmas time to low-income families in the community.
...is the ministry of remembering and celebrating youth at their birthday with a caring note from the church.
This service project is a youth-led project. Blankets are cut and tied and given to the bed brigade, to be delivered with the beds in February. You can get involved by tying and/or sponsoring a blanket.
...is a program that helps 7th and 8th grade students investigate the faith given to them at their baptism. Experiences include advances, learning events, Sunday School, service projects, and summer trips.
...are offered during the Catechism years in order to give students an opportunity to explore their faith in a church or camp setting. Each class attends two Advances during their Catechism experience.
...are offered during the catechism experience to 7th and 8th graders throughout the school year. Learning events cover the basic parts of the catechism; including The Ten Commandments, Holy Communion, The Apostles Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. Baptism is covered at the a Catechism Advance.
...meets on Sunday mornings, during the Sunday School hour. Middle school youth “trot” through the entire Bible in two years. Each week students learn a Bible point and then separate into small groups to discuss and apply the point to everyday life.
...is a place for children to sing and make a joyful noise for God. Practice is on Thursday nights, before CONNECT.
...takes place during the sermon time at contemporary worship; giving children the opportunity to learn more about the bible through song, a memory verse, and bible activities.
Every December, youth, families, and adults go Christmas caroling to the friends and families of our members who are unable to get out during the Christmas season.
On Thursday nights, during the school year, children (ages 4 through Grade 6) attend CONNECT! Highlights include dinner with friends, play time in the gym, songs, hands-on devotions, teen leaders (Grades 7 – 12), and faith-webbing adults!
... is where soon-to-be confirmed students share their faith stories with others. It's a beautiful time of faith witnessing and celebrating our young people.
…is a summer event to grow in faith and serve like Jesus. Grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12 meet separately and have an experience uniquely desgned for them.
High Schoolers meet together on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour for fellowship, sharing, and exploring their faith.
Our vision is to wrap children and youth in a web of faith so loving and caring that they will know Christ and always want to stay connected with the church.
Throughout the year family-friendly events are offered...Trunk or Treat & Easter Family Fun are two favorites!
…are family devotions to do at home during Advent, Holy Week, and throughout the Summer. Each box comes with all the supplies you need to create lasting memories together!
…is just another amazing way to do family devotions with children. It’s packed with QR codes that direct children to safe sites to learn about Jesus and faith!
… is a time for friendship, exploring faith, and serving…geared specifically for high school students! GLOW meets once a month throughout the school year, usually on a Saturday night.
Join us as we continue to faith web with our college-aged students through caring cards and special packages sent by adults from St. John's.
...is a time to celebrate and recognize high school graduates, blessing them in prayer and wrapping them in hand-made gifts from the Prayer Shawl ministry.
...are for high school age youth who want to explore the Bible using the IQA approach (insights, questions, and applications).
It costs you nothing! Every time you use your Kroger card, monies go to the youth program helping send youth to summer camps and service trips. See youth staff on how to sign up for the Kroger Community Rewards Program.
...is an outreach ministry to children who live in war-torn or poverty stricken countries. Every fall we collect shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and candy. These boxes are shipped to Samaritan’s Purse who distributes them throughout the world.
Partnering with parents and the church, our hope is to impart faith skills that help youth grow in their personal faith while also equipping them with the necessary faith skills to serve and lead whenever a ministry moment arises.
Rebates for gift cards earn money for youth going on summer church trips and camps. Gift cards are available from over 125 different retail stores and restaurants. Talk to the youth staff on how to join SCRIP.
Throughout confirmation, students are required to do at least eight different service projects. The goal is to plug our students into the life and mission of the church. In high school, students are encouraged to continue to live out their faith in service to others.
Held Super Bowl weekend, it is a youth-led event where we raise monies for our local food pantries. Youth also enjoy shopping and delivering the food.
Held in the summer, it’s a fun way to experience faith! St. John’s offers Vacation Bible School in the mornings, typically during a week in July.