St. John's Lutheran Church of Topeka, KS
Opportunities for Involvement at St. John's
Please contact the church office for further information about any of these opportunities for involvement.
WORSHIP
- Sunday Services - 8:15am and 11:00am
- Wednesday Evening Services - 5:30pm throughout the year
- Advent & Lenten Services - 12:15pm and 6:30pm during the weeks leading to Christmas and Easter. A congregational meal precedes most evening services.
- Liturgical Assistants - high school youth assist in each service as torch bearers, acolyte, and crucifer
- Ushers - assist during services with seating, distribution of bulletins, and gathering of the Offering
- Greeters -welcome worshipers as they arrive for services
- Altar Guild - prepare for and clean up after communion, maintain and change the altar paraments
- Flowers - members can sign up to provide flowers for the altar
- Supervised Nursery- volunteers assist paid worker(s) from 8:00am to 12:00pm on Sundays; for children under age three whose parents wish to attend worship and Bible class
- Assistants for Parents with Young Children - volunteers offer to assist parents with children in church during services
- Audio Recording for the Homebound - record services, duplicate CDs and tapes, and oversee their delivery to homebound members
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
- Sunday Adult Bible Class - two or three classes are offered each Sunday morning at 9:45am
- High School Sunday Bible Class - for 9th - 12th graders; taught by the pastors; in the Youth Room (basement level near elevator)
- Junior High Sunday Bible School Class - for 7th & 8th graders; in the Youth Room (basement level near elevator)
- Sunday School - for children ages 3 through 6th grade (second floor near the Library)
- Weekday Bible Studies
- Lifelight - a ten-week in-depth study of a book of the Bible led by DCE Hintz; offered twice each year at three different times each week.
- Women's Bible Study - led by Deaconess Linda on Tuesday mornings
- College Bible Study - taught by Pastor Stark on Tuesday evenings at Washburn
- Lutheran Catechesis for Adults - a class that prepares adults for communicant membership in the Lutheran Church, taught by the pastors and offered two or three times each year; meeting on Sunday mornings during the Bible class hour
- Lutheran Catechesis for Youth - a two-year preparation for communicant membership, normally for 7th & 8th graders, meeting on Wednesday nights at 6:30; includes an annual weekend retreat
- Monthly Book Discussion- periodically pastors lead a discussion of a theological book one Sunday afternoon a month
- Men's Bible Study - led by the pastors on the 3rd Tuesday morning of each month at 6:30am
- Topeka Lutheran School - Lutheran day school education from Kindergarten through the 8th grade located at 701 SW Roosevelt, phone 357-0382; tuition assistance available for church members; catechesis (i.e. confirmation instruction) taught by our pastors to St. John's students at TLS
- Early Childhood Program - child care for infants through age four at Topeka Lutheran School's Center for Young Children, located at 1732 SW Gage, phone 272-1704; plus a Lutheran part-time preschool program for ages 3 & 4 at the TLS main campus at 701 SW Roosevelt
- Vacation Bible School - Christian education for members and guests during five successive evenings in the summertime; an adult Bible class is also offered
- Adult Education Convocation - a Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning event, held once or twice each year on a topic of broad interest to the whole congregation
ELECTED AND APPOINTED LEADERSHIP
- Voter's Assembly - guides and authorizes the work of the congregation through the Church Council and boards; men of the congregation age 21 and older are eligible to join
- Board of Elders - assists the called staff with the spiritual needs and the worship life of the congregation; elected from the Voters' Assembly
- Board of Parish Education - assists the ministry to children and high school youth, as well as the Christian education activities of the congregation; elected from the Voters' Assembly
- Youth Ministry Team - appointed volunteers assist the called staff in planning and carrying out events for the high school youth of the congregation
- Junior High Ministry Team - appointed volunteers assist the called staff in planning and carrying out events for the 7th and 8th graders of the congregation
- Children's Ministry Team - appointed volunteers assist the called staff in planning and carrying out programs for the younger children of the congregation
- Board of Missions & Evangelism - guides congregational efforts in missions and evangelism; elected from the Voters' Assembly
- World Missions Team - volunteers assist the Board of Missions and Evangelism in developing and implementing plan
- Local Evangelism Team - volunteers assist the Board of Missions and Evangelism in calling on church visitors and developing and implementing plans related to evangelism in the Topeka community
- Fellowship and Integration Team - volunteers assist the Board of Missions and Evangelism in developing and implementing plans related to parish fellowship and the integration (assimilation) of new members into the congregation
- Human Care Team - volunteers assist the Board of Missions and Evangelism in developing and implementing plans related to the care of individuals in need, in the congregation, in the community, and beyond
- Publicity Team - volunteers assist the Board of Missions and Evangelism in promoting and publicizing the congregation in the community
- Board of Christian Stewardship - guides and oversees the financial assets of the congregation and promotes a scripturally-informed stewardship of God-given resources; elected from the Voters' Assembly
- Board of Trustees - oversees the maintenance and upkeep of the physical property of the congregation; elected from the Voters' Assembly
- St. John's Representatives to the Lutheran School Association of Topeka - appointed volunteers serve as the congregation's representatives on the various boards that govern Topeka Lutheran School and the Early Childhood Program
FELLOWSHIP & SERVICE
- Women's League - women of all ages joining together for fellowship, service, and Bible study in affiliation with the Lutheran Women's Missionary League ( LWML )
- Dorcas Circle - a smaller group of the Women's League that meets monthly for fellowship, service, and Bible study on the 2nd Tuesday at 1:30pm
- Sarah Circle - a smaller group of the Women's League that meets monthly for fellowship, service, and Bible study on the 2nd Monday at 7:00pm
- Quarterly Meetings - combined meetings of all circles with a special project or speaker; all women of the congregation are invited to attend.
- World and Domestic Missions - Quilts, health kits, and school kits are made and assembled locally to be distributed throughout the world by Lutheran World Relief
- Zone Rallies and District and National Conventions - provide expanded opportunities for fellowship, service, and Bible study
- Funeral Luncheons - provided as a service by the Women's League
- Receptions- provided by the Women's League for anniversaries, weddings, etc
- Nursing Home Visits - sharing company and devotions with nursing home residents on the second Thursday of each month
- Salad Supper - held annually in the Spring for women, daughters, and granddaughters of the congregation
- Christmas Luncheon & Bazaar - held annually in December for the congregation and community with proceeds going to mission work
- Christian Fellowship - adult fellowship and service group, affiliated with the Lutheran Laymen's League ( LHM ), that usually meets on the 4th Sunday evening of most months
- Lutheran Youth Fellowship - centered in worship and Sunday morning Bible study, the high school youth also come together for social and service events, as well as fund raising projects for special trips
- Junior High Youth Group - The youth in Grades 7-8 meet quarterly for fellowship activities
- Monthly Breakfasts - are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month following the early service. Various organizations take turns hosting the event under the direction of the Fellowship and Integration Team
- Sunday Social Hour Helpers - help serve coffee, etc., and clean-up after the social hour each
- Lutheran Braille Workers - assembly of Spanish language Bible materials in sight-saving print; meets weekly on Thursday mornings
- Lutheran World Relief Sewing Group - making quilts, comforters, etc. for distribution worldwide; meets Wednesday mornings
- Congregational Picnic - held annually in the summertime on a Sunday evening; many volunteers needed
- Christmas Caroling & Chili Supper - caroling to our homebound members, followed by a chili supper at the church; held annually on a Saturday afternoon in December
- Oktoberfest - a Sunday noon meal and fellowship event at the church in October; many volunteers needed
- Spring Smorgasbord - hosted annually in April for the congregation and community by the Christian Fellowship group, with proceeds going to mission work
- Stephen Ministry - trained individuals visit homebound members and have devotions with them
- Meals for Families with Newborn Children - prepared and delivered by volunteers
- New Member Sponsors - Sponsors assist in helping to welcome new members through one-on-one interaction.
- Office Volunteers - assist the secretaries with printing/assembly of newsletter and other major mailings; record attendance and contribution information on computer; assist the Financial Secretary in tallying contributions
- Annual Church Cleaning - Members join together annually on a Saturday morning in the Spring to clean the entire facility and oil the woodwork
MUSIC (All choir rehearsals are on Thursday evenings except for Choristers)
- Kantorei - Adults and high school youth combine their voices to enhance worship
- Klingerei - Adults and high school youth play handbells and choir chimes in worship
- Choristers - Children in the 2nd through high school sing in worship services. Rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Undercroft
- Glockenchor - Children in the 4th through 8th Grades (and interested parents) play handbells and choir chimes in worship
- Instrumental Music - Members are encouraged to make their instrumental music skills known for service to the congregation.