The Eagle
St. John’s Weekly Newsletter September 20, 2026
Last Sunday’s bulletin included the five-question survey we’ll be taking to our neighbors door-to-door on October 11. “Meeting Our Neighbors” is a relatively easy way to begin to do evangelism in the area around our church, with the sub-goal that our neighbors will find a church home here at St. John’s. The main goal is their salvation through Jesus Christ. Pray that the canvassing effort will bear the fruit God desires.
Pastor Burdick
Man Up!
So far, twenty-one men have signed up to read the book Man Up! The Quest for Masculinity. On September 27 from 7:00-8:00pm we’ll gather in the fellowship hall to discuss chapters 1 and 2. There’s room for more men on the quest. The books (only $10) and the signup sheet are in the atrium. Here are some excerpts from the first two chapters to encourage you:
- Masculinity is not a single trait. It’s a lifestyle, a discipline, a habit cultivated by practice (p. 8)
- A man could appear outwardly masculine – possessing all the external trappings of masculinity – and be labeled soft and unmanly for shirking his duty, for protecting himself instead of others (11).
- The image of God is unique to mankind, and it is given to man and woman alike (19).
- Even if work is mundane, when he has a family, a man’s work is never merely for himself. (37).
Family Day at LCC
Family Day is celebrated today at Lutheran Care Center in Altamont from 1:00-3:00pm. Food, fun, music, and fellowship in the Courtyard. LCC is a gem of Christian Care!
Trinity’s New Pastor
Pastor Kyle Ronchetto has accepted the Call to serve Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Stewardson. His installation will be sometime in October.
LYF!
Youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade are invited to stay after Confirmation Class on Wednesday, September 30 for LYF. We’ll have supper and then a Bible Study/Devotion, followed by some fun games.
Catechism Bible Study
Our Catechism Bible Study is the path toward membership for those who wish to learn what Lutherans believe and practice. It’s also an excellent refresher for all members who desire to review the faith. The next five-week series will be Tuesdays, November 3, 10, 17, 24 and December 1. Each class is from 6:00-8:00pm, and participants will prepare for each session with readings from Luther’s Small Catechism (and the Scriptures included in it). Who will you invite to study alongside you?
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wheeler
Corn Maze with Scavenger Hunt
Fridays 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
1st weekend: September 25 – 27
2nd weekend: October 2 – 4
3rd weekend: October 9 – 11
4th weekend: October 16 – 18
Response to the Gospel
Our Attendance Last Week
Sunday September 13 389
Sunday School 44
Adult Sunday School 50
Our Offering
Sunday September 13 $5,800.35
Online Offering $3,387.00
Total Gen. Fun $9,187.35
Lutherans For Life
The Altamont Area Lutherans for Life will be meeting Wednesday, September 23rd, at 7 pm in the Immanuel Lutheran Church parish hall. The agenda will include planning an event with the area youth, including junior high students from ALIS, St Peter Lutheran School, and Trinity Lutheran School in Stewardson. Please join us. If you have any questions, please contact Anita Ziegler at 217-821-9101
This Week’s Sunday School Lesson
Lesson 4
This week, we learn how God provided “A Merciful Substitute.” God had blessed Abraham with the son he had waited for his entire life; yet now God asks the seemingly impossible— sacrifice your son to Me. By faith, Abraham takes Isaac to the mountain, trusting God, who was able to raise his son from the dead. Abraham completes the test, and God provides the sacrifice.
Stewardship Moments
Matthew 20:9 – “And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.”
Behold the generosity of God! He gives out of His grace, not what we deserve to receive. Living a godly life means living in imitation of God — and surely one of the foundations of God’s being is His generosity.
Our condolences to the family of Bradley Osborne who died in Christ September 13.
Life Chain 2026
Sunday, October 4th, Respect Life Sunday
1:30 pm Prayer Service, Effingham Event Center
2-3 pm Life Chain
LCMS Foundation
The best scenario when creating a Christian estate plan is to work in collaboration. When it comes to estates, many are very motivated by privacy concerns. These privacy concerns can sometimes isolate the individual from others who can offer vital help and support. It is essential to connect with others you trust, and especially those who share faith in Jesus Christ with you. Your LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor is ready to help. Contact Scott Radden @ 618-977-4049 or scott.radden@lfnd.org.
HTLHS Workday
Holy Trinity Lutheran High School will be holding a workday at their initial location in the St. John’s Education Building on Saturday, September 26, starting at 8:00 a.m. They are looking for construction-minded volunteers to help with this project. Tasks scheduled for completion include:
1. Removing 3 walls (2 concrete block walls and 1 stud/drywall) – with cleanup
2. Installing drywall, wall insulation, and drop ceiling in new bathrooms.
If you are able to help out, please contact:
Chris Debolt – (217) 690-0890
Cleo McManaway – (217) 246-3493
Troy Probst – (217) 690-1735
Youth Corner
Hayride & Wiener Roast at
Jim & Kathy Schroeder’s
Sunday, Oct. 18th from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Everyone is invited. Food provided by the Youth Board. You will need to bring a lawn chair. Sign up coming soon.
Lifetime Plan for Giving
Scott Radden will be here Sunday, October 4 during the Sunday School hour for a presentation on the Lifetime Plan for Giving. He will be sharing information regarding financial planning, will preparedness, and tax advantaged ways to transfer money to heirs and charitable organizations when we go home to the Lord. “Ruth and I went through the estate planning program with Scott a couple years ago. Scott is friendly, well informed, and, most of all, very helpful and patient. We learned a lot, developed a plan, consulted family members and finalized a plan for the near and distant future that we believe will benefit our family and also honor our favorite charities and our faith.” –Fred and Ruth Bray
Prayer List
Ethan Galvan, Roger Fritch, Steve Rubin, Gerry Thoman, Katie Cook, Nikki Bishop, Alan Phelps, Carroll Wilson, Terry Simmons, Lynn Kuhn, Eileen Wall, and Lyle & Jane Tolch in thanksgiving for 60 years of marriage.
Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles dinner will be on Thursday, September 24, at 12 noon. The meal will be catered by “Lickin’ My Chicken – Pullin’ My Pork.” The menu will be Bar-B-Que chicken, beef brisket and spare ribs, mac & cheese, green beans and desserts. Cheryl Pruemer will be our guest and will speak about the E.A.S.T.E.R. Program held here at St. John’s. Everyone is welcome to attend. We ask that you please sign the name of each person who will be attending on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the atrium by Sunday, September 20. Items to be collected this month are notebooks that fit into a shoebox.
Life Quote
“I firmly believe that the sanctity of human life is the most important issue of our day and that by means of informing and educating the public, as well as by applying Christian love and compassion to those directly affected by the trauma of abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia, the pro-life position will prevail, and our nation will again uphold the dignity and sanctity of human life.” Rev. Paul Clark, Lutherans For Life of Michigan – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
Operation Christmas Child
Shoeboxes have arrived and are in the atrium for pick up until Nov 23. Feel free to take more than one. Since 1993, Samaritan’s Purse has delivered shoebox gifts to boys & girls in over 170 nations and territories, including 50 hard-to-reach countries.
Faith Lutheran Church
Annual Soup Supper
Rt. 33 Shumway, IL
Sunday, October 25, 2026
4:00p.m. to 7:00p.m
Menu: Homemade Chili &
Chicken Noodle Soup Ham
& Cheese & Hot Dogs
Pie, Cake & Drink
FREE WILL OFFERING
All proceeds will go to
Enduring Freedom
Ministries of Shumway
Birthdays This Week
9-20 Jill Daniels
9-21 Katie French, Kendall Jackson
9-23 Maddux Wyckoff
9-24 Rylee Rothrock, Vicki Darling
9-25 Angie Sipe, Dick Hulskotter, Jeanette Worman, Tanner Veach
9-26 Allie Wendling, Cindy Schilling, Gerry Thoman, Jason Smith
Dear St. John’s Family, Thank you so much for your generosity over the last few weeks. We are so thankful for each and every one of you. We are continuing to pray for you & ask for your prayers for us during this transition. We love you all! – The Dilles
Anniversaries This Week
9-20-2008 Mike & Linda Nolan
9-20-1986 Dennis & Nancy Johnson
9-23-1995 Keith & Alice Knight
9-23-2023 Kyle & Claire Gibson
9-23-2006 Kyle & Rachael Pennington
9-24-2016 Cory & Meghan Wahl
9-24-1977 Danny & Karen Stevenson
9-25-2021 Brandon & Camron Willis
9-25-2021 Mack & Mikayla McWhorter
9-25-2009 Samuel & Kylee Hewing
9-26-2015 Richard E & Kimberly Ohnesorge
CALENDAR
September 20- September 26, 2026
Sunday 20
8:00 a.m. Worship w/HC Bible Sunday
9:15 a.m. Sunday School/ Cancer Care Bags
10:30 a.m. Worship w/HC Bible Sunday
10:30 a.m. Kolten Price Baptism
Monday 21
11:00 a.m. Bradley Osborne Funeral
1:00 p.m. Cemetery Meeting
4:00 p.m. Board of Evangelism
5:15 p.m. Choir Practice
Tuesday 22
10:00 a.m. Preschool Grandparents Day
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Food Pantry
Wednesday 23
9:30 a.m. Preschool Chapel
10:00 a.m. Preschool Grandparents Day
10:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m. Quilting
10:00 a.m. Bible Study
1:00 p.m. Office Staff Devotion and Meeting
5:00 p.m. Bell Practice
5:00 p.m. Confirmation
Thursday 24
9:30 a.m. Preschool Chapel
12:00 noon Golden Eagles
Friday 25
Pastor Burdick Sabbath
Saturday 26
8:00 a.m. Band Practice
8:00 a.m. HTLHS Workday
9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. E.A.S.T.E.R.
5:30 p.m. Worship w/HC