FAQ's

Visiting FAQ's

Membership FAQ's

 

Visiting FAQ's - Answers

  • What is the worship schedule? From Labor Day to Memorial Day, our service is at 10:00 AM on Sunday morning. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class begin at 9:00 AM. From Memorial Day to Labor Day (during summer) we have a Sunday morning service at 9:00 AM. Festival Services may have different times.  If they are not listed here, please use our contact page to ask us directly.
  • Who may attend worship services? Anyone! Visitors are always welcome!
  • Am I going to feel "pressured to join" if I visit? Please don't! We plan to greet you and help you to your seat but after that, we will let you get comfortable with the new surroundings. Just remember, if you need anything, please ask!
  • What is the worship service like? At St. John's, we worship with a meaningful blend of old and new, selecting the best of classic and contemporary hymns. Our structured, rather than spontaneous, order of service allows visitors to see what's coming. The reverence of our church setting provides a worship experience that will move you to joy, and the relevance of our message will guide you through the coming week. The mercy of God and the meaning of faith are clearly preached and taught.
  • What are the sermons like at St. John's? The sermons at St. John's are intended to share God's Word in a way that 21st century people appreciate and understand. We strive to bring the Bible to life, making its timeless truths relevant for today's world. From the first words to the final "Amen" our pastor speaks on the level of the listeners, using contemporary anecdotes and intriguing illustrations to give messages of God's grace and guidance from the pulpit.
  • Is this going to cost anything? We want to give something to you when you visit, not take something from you. Although an offering is gathered during our worship service, it is done so as an opportunity for our members to express their faith and love toward God and others by participating in the mission of our church. Visitors need not feel obligated to contribute, and are not expected to do so.
  • How long does a typical Sunday service last? About an hour.

Membership FAQ's - Answers

  • What's so important about being a church member anyway? It's not the status of church membership that's important, but the activity associated with it. The title "member" simply recognizes that a person is engaging in the activities that the Bible has defined for the church. These activities are important for three reasons. 

    • Most importantly, these activities, like hearing God's Word and receiving baptism or communion, connect us to God's mercy and might; they strengthen our faith, increase our hope, and rekindle our love. 
    • Secondly, activities like Bible studies, public worship, service projects, ministry  programs, and even church outings connect us with other Christians in a bond of fellowship and unity; they also allow us to connect with others to love and serve them. 
    • Finally, activities like those mentioned above give us greater opportunity to praise God, thank him for our blessings, and use the gifts that he has given us to honor him in a way we might not be able to do on our own.
  • Do I have to be a member to attend worship services or other events? No. Our worship services, Bible studies, and fellowship activities are all open to members and visitors. We actually plan for visitors to attend, and make every effort to welcome them warmly. While we hope that visitors will consider membership (engaging in and enjoying the activities mentioned above), we don't pressure anyone to join.
  • What's the process for joining St. John's and becoming a member, if I am a member of a sister WELS or ELS congregation? Members of congregations who belong to our church affiliation (the WELS or the ELS) are already in fellowship with us, since the congregations in these church bodies believe and teach the same Bible truths. If such a member wishes to join St. John's, it is called a "transfer" of membership. The procedure includes:
    • Contact Pastor Tuttle at St. John's to arrange an informational meeting.
    • Contact the pastor of your present WELS or ELS church and request a transfer of membership to St. John's.
    • The church leaders at both churches will want to be informed of your decision, so that they can take care of the paperwork. This normally happens in a regularly scheduled meeting of the Church Council.
    • You will be notified once the Church Council has confirmed your transfer of membership. The pastor will make an appointment with you to give you a short orientation or welcome to St. John's.
  • What's the process for joining St. John's and becoming a member, if I am joining from another church or am unchurched? Membership is essentially a participation in the activities mentioned above, including an agreement on their Biblical basis. Therefore, those who wish to join may wish to become familiar with our programs and activities, and will certainly want to inquire about our beliefs and teachings. In the end, the beliefs and teachings of a church, and their Biblical basis, establish fellowship and full participation between members more than any program.

    There are many different church denominations, even Lutheran denominations, that believe and teach many different things. For this reason, we offer a course entitled "New Life In Christ", which is a Bible information class for those from other churches, or for those with no church background at all, who wish to become more familiar with our teachings. This is a natural expectation if such people are considering membership at St. John's. Although the Bible information class prepares people for membership at St. John's, it does not obligate anyone to join. The class is taught by the pastor.Through Bible exploration and insightful discussions, participants come to appreciate a comfortable and casual atmosphere where any question is welcome and receives a Bible-based response. Participants may have scheduling conflicts that cause them to be absent for some classes. This is normal, so the pastor gladly schedules "make-up" classes as needed. When the Bible Information Class is completed, participants may choose to join St. John's as a member by expressing agreement with our beliefs, or wait to learn more, or search for a different church home.
  • I've moved away from my home WELS church, but it's hard to actually go through the process of transferring my membership. What should I do? One of the statements that church membership makes is, "Please care for me spiritually, as I seek to serve God at this church." Absentee membership can certainly be a part of any transition or move, but as it continues for months, and maybe years, it becomes unhealthy for the member and a concern for the church.
  • Do I need to be a member of St. John's to have my wedding there? No. However, we do give preference in scheduling to members, and ask non-members to discuss their plans with the pastor.

    Pre-marital counseling classes are normally offered to all prospective couples, both members and non-members alike.

113 2nd St NE | PO Box 416 | Renville MN 56284-0416 | 320.329.3826