Opportunities 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.