And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (ESV)
Rose Window
Worship and Music
Worship at St. John is a blend of traditional liturgical and user-friendly responsive. (Or as some would call it, low-church liturgical) On any given Sunday our song selections include hymnal favorites and the best of classic praise and worship/gospel. Projected worship enables us to focus on God's word both during the service and the sermon.
Holy Communion is open to all baptized believers who understand that Christ is truly present through the bread and wine to offer us the gift of his body and blood, forgivenesss of sins, strengthening of faith, and the assurance of everlasting life. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of the month and on festival services such as Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.
We are blessed to have a great variety of musical offerings and typically have some sort of special music every week. Our chancel ringers (kid's bells) play once a month during the school year, and our young voices (kid's choir) share their gifts as well. Our junior and high school youth continue sharing their God giving talents through instrumental and vocal music. An adult choir performs on an occasional basis, as does our Praise Team to lead us in learning more contemporary song selections.
On any giving Sunday we choose songs, hymns and spiritual songs from the Lutheran Book of Worship, With One Voice, The Other Song Book, and from the top 50 of Praise and Worship Choruses.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Worship at St. John is a blend of traditional liturgical and user-friendly responsive. (Or as some would call it, low-church liturgical) On any given Sunday our song selections include hymnal favorites and the best of classic praise and worship/gospel. Projected worship enables us to focus on God's word both during the service and the sermon.
Holy Communion is open to all baptized believers who understand that Christ is truly present through the bread and wine to offer us the gift of his body and blood, forgivenesss of sins, strengthening of faith, and the assurance of everlasting life. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of the month and on festival services such as Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday.
We are blessed to have a great variety of musical offerings and typically have some sort of special music every week. Our chancel ringers (kid's bells) play once a month during the school year, and our young voices (kid's choir) share their gifts as well. Our junior and high school youth continue sharing their God giving talents through instrumental and vocal music. An adult choir performs on an occasional basis, as does our Praise Team to lead us in learning more contemporary song selections.
On any giving Sunday we choose songs, hymns and spiritual songs from the Lutheran Book of Worship, With One Voice, The Other Song Book, and from the top 50 of Praise and Worship Choruses.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Education Mural
Education and Youth
At St. John we firmly believe in the importance of imparting a basic understanding of the foundations of our faith through Sunday School, Confirmation, and High School Luther League.
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Sunday School is held at 9:00 a.m. throughout the year, breaking only for June and July in the summer. Classes are for four year-olds through High School (Youth Forum). During the Sunday School hour, 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 Adult Bible Study is held in the church basement.
Vacation Bible School is held during the summer, typically in June. VBS is open to the community and is a great door for your family to check our our church and learn more about the importance of Christian education. Please "follow us" on our Facebook site for dates and times of this year's VBS.
(A link to our Facebook site is on the homepage.)
Lutheran Confirmation classes are held for seventh and eighth grade students on Wednesdays after school. The Rite of Confirmation is typically held the fourth Sunday in April or the first few weeks of May (depending on where Easter falls). During confirmation students learn the six chief parts of Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's Creed, the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, and the Office of the Keys and Confession. Special units are also taught on Lutheran Worship and the life of Martin Luther. Confirmation students are encouraged to attend Confirmation Camp at least once during confirmation.
Luther League is our Senior High youth group. The Luther League meets at least once a month, but often more for service activities and fundraisers. The Luther League does an annual mission/service trip in the summer. St. John also offers a college/secondary school scholarship for students of the congregation who have been active in the church.
At St. John we firmly believe in the importance of imparting a basic understanding of the foundations of our faith through Sunday School, Confirmation, and High School Luther League.
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Sunday School is held at 9:00 a.m. throughout the year, breaking only for June and July in the summer. Classes are for four year-olds through High School (Youth Forum). During the Sunday School hour, 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 Adult Bible Study is held in the church basement.
Vacation Bible School is held during the summer, typically in June. VBS is open to the community and is a great door for your family to check our our church and learn more about the importance of Christian education. Please "follow us" on our Facebook site for dates and times of this year's VBS.
(A link to our Facebook site is on the homepage.)
Lutheran Confirmation classes are held for seventh and eighth grade students on Wednesdays after school. The Rite of Confirmation is typically held the fourth Sunday in April or the first few weeks of May (depending on where Easter falls). During confirmation students learn the six chief parts of Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism: the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's Creed, the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, and the Office of the Keys and Confession. Special units are also taught on Lutheran Worship and the life of Martin Luther. Confirmation students are encouraged to attend Confirmation Camp at least once during confirmation.
Luther League is our Senior High youth group. The Luther League meets at least once a month, but often more for service activities and fundraisers. The Luther League does an annual mission/service trip in the summer. St. John also offers a college/secondary school scholarship for students of the congregation who have been active in the church.
Fellowship and Service
The early Christian church devoted themselves to "the fellowship," meaning to their own local congregation as a communion of saints whose lives intertwine through compassion, prayer and support. Fellowship at St. John is largely informal. Our beautiful peace garden outside the main entrance to the church serves as the weekly spot to catch up on community and family news. There are also numerous fellowship meals throughout the year including the Ash Wednesday soup supper and Easter breakfast.
Service to congregation and community is also quite informal, but is often spearheaded by our Women's Ministry, Church Council or Luther League. God has blessed and equipped every member of St. John with specific spiritual gifts to be used to the service of our Lord through the congregation.
The early Christian church devoted themselves to "the fellowship," meaning to their own local congregation as a communion of saints whose lives intertwine through compassion, prayer and support. Fellowship at St. John is largely informal. Our beautiful peace garden outside the main entrance to the church serves as the weekly spot to catch up on community and family news. There are also numerous fellowship meals throughout the year including the Ash Wednesday soup supper and Easter breakfast.
Service to congregation and community is also quite informal, but is often spearheaded by our Women's Ministry, Church Council or Luther League. God has blessed and equipped every member of St. John with specific spiritual gifts to be used to the service of our Lord through the congregation.
Council and Administration
Church structure and administration begin with the congregational assembly, the legislative body of the congregation. The congregational assembly meets annually at the end of January to elect the church council, approve the budget, and oversee the general direction of the church. The Church Council consists of officers and members assigned to each of the standing committees of the congregation: property, worship, education and cemetery.
Church structure and administration begin with the congregational assembly, the legislative body of the congregation. The congregational assembly meets annually at the end of January to elect the church council, approve the budget, and oversee the general direction of the church. The Church Council consists of officers and members assigned to each of the standing committees of the congregation: property, worship, education and cemetery.
St. John Lutheran Cemetery
One of the benefits to membership at St. John is our own church cemetery, located about a mile northwest of Sterling on county road 610. The cemetery is administered and maintained by the Church Council through a special standing cemetery committee. Information on availability of plots, maintenance of the cemetery, or other issues can be directed through the church office. Contact the church office for information or our Cemetary Use Policy.
One of the benefits to membership at St. John is our own church cemetery, located about a mile northwest of Sterling on county road 610. The cemetery is administered and maintained by the Church Council through a special standing cemetery committee. Information on availability of plots, maintenance of the cemetery, or other issues can be directed through the church office. Contact the church office for information or our Cemetary Use Policy.
Missions
St. John supports numerous missions through its Benevolence fund, including:
In addition, the congregation provides funding for confirmation students to attend confirmation camp at Carol Joy Holling and a scholarship fund for high school and seminary students.
St. John supports numerous missions through its Benevolence fund, including:
- Johnson County Back-Pack Program
- Local needs for food, gas or utililties
- Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
- People's City Mission in Lincoln
- Camp Carol Joy Holling
- Heartland District & National office of LCMC
- Annual International Mission Project
In addition, the congregation provides funding for confirmation students to attend confirmation camp at Carol Joy Holling and a scholarship fund for high school and seminary students.
