JOINT WORSHIP SERVICE
We will join Pomaria Lutheran Church for their worship service on September 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM. During the service, our new SC Synod bishop, the Rev. Wade Roof, will participate in the dedication of Pomaria’s newly completed building addition. The dedication service will be followed by a reception.
Breakfast will be served at St. John’s at 8:00 AM for those who would like to enjoy a meal and fellowship before heading to Pomaria.
YOUTH GROUP
The youth group will meet today at 1:30 PM. They will make mid-term exam study aid kits for students at Newberry College, the South Carolina Lutheran College. Youth are requested to bring at least two dozen snack items to go into the kits or a large bag of Halloween candy.)
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Please submit all articles for the October 2026 newsletter to Denise Henry at newsletter@stjohnsirmo.org by next Sunday, September 27, 2026.
NOISY OFFERING
Next Sunday, September 27, 2026, we will collect noisy offering for the Safe Space Dinners program, an outreach ministry of Reformation Lutheran Church in Columbia. Safe Space Dinners is a ministry for homeless LGBTQIA+ youth, including people of color. On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, these youth, ages 14-23 years old, are offered a safe space and time to gather to rest and recharge, a home-cooked meal, and a bag of items they will find helpful in their day-to-day life. There is no preaching, no conversion therapy attempts; only support and comfort. This is a ministry of giving – nothing more.
We previously collected items and $80 for this project for “God’s Work. Our Hands” day of service. The noisy offering collected next month on Sunday, October 18 will also be donated to this program.
MINI-VBS
On Thursday, September 17th St. John’s hosted a mini-VBS for children in Pre K4 through 5th grade. Our Bible story was Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. We had 11 children participating and 6 helpers.
MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY
Join us on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM in the Sunday School building as we use Martin Luther’s Large Catechism to explore what the Ten Commandments mean and how they continue to shape our lives of faith today. On Wednesday we will study the ninth and tenth commandments “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21)
INSTALLATION OF THE REV. WADE ROOF
The installation of the Rev. Wade Roof as Bishop of the South Carolina Synod will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:30 AM at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC, with a reception to follow.
WEEKEND RETREAT FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS
A weekend retreat for all elementary aged kids will be held on October 10-11, 2026 at Camp Kinard in Batesburg-Leesville, SC. This is a great chance for our kids to learn more about Jesus and meet other Lutherans from across the South Carolina Synod.
There will also be a track for parents!
CALLING VOLUNTEERS
Beginning in October, we plan to assign an usher on a weekly basis. With only one usher each week, we need an additional person to assist in counting the offerings after the worship service. The positions of usher and counter are open to men and women.
Volunteers for the counter position and volunteers not currently serving as an usher, altar guild member, lector, or communion assistant should contact either Jan Samson or the church office at (803) 781-3311 or office@stjohnsirmo.org.
FALL FISH FRY
The LMM fall fish fry will be held on Thursday, October 15 in the fellowship hall. Donations of desserts are requested.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING MEETINGS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
Council has been busy this year drafting a cemetery policy and updating our constitution. These documents will soon be distributed to voting members. Then on the Sundays listed below, instead of Bible study at 10:00 AM following breakfast, there will be open meetings for members to provide comments and ask questions.
• On October 4,2026, the topic will be the cemetery policy.
• On November 1, 2026, the topic will be the constitution.
Also, on November 1, following the worship service, we will hold a work session to develop the spending plan for 2027. More details will be provided in the upcoming weeks.
Readings for Next Sunday |
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 |
Psalm 25:1-9 |
Philippians 2:1-13 |
Matthew 21:23-32 |
Serving on September 27 | 18th Sunday after Pentecost |
Worship Leader | Pastor Michele Fischer |
Organist | Kathy Hendrix |
Flowers | Available |
Altar Guild (green) | Lynn Martin |
Lector | Jan Samson |
Communion Assistant | Lynn Martin |
Ushers/Greeters | Charles Eleazer, Doug Truax |
What's Happening at | St. John's |
Sunday, September 13 | 16th Sunday after Pentecost |
9:30 am | Break Fast |
10:00 am | Bible Study |
11:00 am | Worship service |
12:30 pm | Council Meeting |
Wednesday, September 16 | |
10:30 am | Bible Study |
Thursday, September 17 | |
12:30 pm | Mini-VBS |
Sunday, September 20 | 17th Sunday after Pentecost |
8:00 am | Break Fast |
10:00 am | Worship service at Pomaria |
1:30 pm | Youth Group |
Upcoming Events | |
September 17 12:30 pm | Mini VBS |
September 19 10:00 am | Revolutionary War Presentation at Union Lutheran Church in Leesville |
September 20 10:00 am | Joint Worship Service at Pomaria LC |
September 20 1:30 pm | Youth Group |
October 24 10:30 am | Installation of New SC Synod Bishop, Rev. Roof (St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC) |
In Our Prayers
Members
Glenn Lindler
Kathy Lindler
Grieving Family and Friends of:
Betty Ann Samson (Samsons’ sister-in-law)
Heyward Shealy (Glenn Lindler’s Former Boss and Friend)
Family and Friends
C. J. Allen (Friend of Doug and Judy Truax)
Rita Boozer (Our Friend at Pomaria Lutheran Church)
Jason Bradshaw (Tim Bradshaw’s son)
Donna DiRusso (Bethany Carlson’s Mother-in-Law)
Ann Derrick Heilig (Steve Derrick’s Sister)
Gary Hydrick (Friend of the Samsons)
Keith McAlister (Friend of Tim and Nancy Bradshaw)
Brianna McCarthy (Mother of Zoe Bell’s Friend, Sawyer)
Kay Miller (Friend of the Bradshaws)
Liam Moore (Jon Moore’s son)
Paula Perry (Neighbor and Friend of Many Members of St. John’s)
Sam Perry (Neighbor and Friend of Many Members of St. John’s)
Rick Samson (Sam’s brother)
Clergy and Staff
Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry & Staff
Bishop-Elect Wade Roof
Pastor Michele Fischer
In Our Armed Forces
Connor Truax (US Army)