St. John Lutheran Church
Seek the lost, Nurture the Faithful, Show Compassion
Shine in the Light of Christ
Current News
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7
Click here for church calendar
If using a mobile device, turn the device "sideways" or landscape to access the whole month view and the filters.
Click here for Bulletins and Sermons
If this link does not open an email client, you will need to setup a default email client on either your phone or home computer. Click here for Windows instructions ... MacOS Instructions
Devotion:
Disciples Live in Their Vocations by Grace through Faith in Christ
Those who are sent as “laborers for his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1) depict the wide diversity of vocations to which the disciples of Christ Jesus are called. Whatever our particular stations in life may be, we are called to live and serve by faith in His promises. Our labors do not merit anything before Him, for He is already generous to one and all without partiality. In mercy, He has chosen to bear “the burden of the day and the scorching heat” on our behalf, to make us equal to Himself and to give us what belongs to Him, that is, the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 20:12–15). This way of the Lord is foolishness to the world and foreign to our thoughts, but He draws near, so that “He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6), “have compassion” and “abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). So it is that we are found in Christ Jesus, and He is honored in our bodies, “whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20), by “fruitful labor” (Philippians 1:22) or by suffering. It is by faith in His forgiveness that our works are “worthy of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
Prayer List Requests: If you would like to submit a prayer request, please contact the Church Secretary at 580-353-0556 or email at churchsecretary@stjohnlawton.com. What a friend we have in Jesus...take it to the Lord in Prayer. Church members may find prayer request names after signing in {"log in"} and navigating to this link under the Membership Directory Web Page. If you are unable to sign in, please contact the Church office for directions.
Life Quotes: “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.”
Life Thoughts In The Church Year: Thanks be to God for faithful servants of God who have lifted up the truth of God’s Word in their times. Believers who recognize the difficulties of this life often yearn to be with the Lord as Paul says, “…for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). So, today, we need not fear death or any enemy, but we can rejoice and stand firm in the Holy Spirit, speaking the truth about God’s gifts of life, eternity, and forgiveness. The Lord’s Word makes clear that He wants people everywhere to repent and be cleansed of their sins that they may dwell with Him forever (Psalm 27:4).
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God by Linda Mashburn and Pasty Sampley in memory of their children Patrick Mashburn and Kimberly Sampley-Dean. We wish God’s richest blessings on Linda and Patsy.
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God by the Recklein family in honor of Megan (Recklein) and Dustin Lynn’s 4th wedding anniversary and Kelsy and Clifford Recklein III in honor of their 3rd wedding anniversary. We wish God’s richest blessings on Megan, Dustin, Kelsy and Clifford III.
Altar Flowers: If you would like to place flowers on the altar for an Anniversary, Birthday, Memorial or other special occasion, please remember to sign up on the “Flower Chart.” Please sign your name and the special occasion. The cost is $75.00 for both arrangements. It is permissible to have more than one person sign up for a Sunday and split the cost. You can also call the office at 580 353-0556 and Sandra will sign you up. Please make note that if you sign up for flowers they will be seasonal flowers unless you have a special request you have to let Betty Aliff or Sandra know a WEEK IN ADVANCE. You can either use the envelope or the QR code in the box by the flower chart to cover the cost.
Remembering Our Saints
Click here for our In Memoriam page
Fun Fact…did you know that Martin Luther was the most published author in his era? The advent of the movable type for printing presses such as the renowned Gutenberg Press made it possible to quickly disseminate his works. So to in our time, we can quickly disseminate information. While the internet has been known for a while, we can quickly spread the great news of our Lord and Savior, including our ministries here at St John. If you want to be involved including keeping up to date remotely from your home, please call or email our church secretary (email preferred so we get the spelling right). She will take your email address and put it into our system. From there, we can create a personal member account where you will have access to activities, scheduling, and member only access, including our membership directory. Contact Jonathan Mackay at 808-343-0291 once your email address is submitted and he can work with you to make sure you have access. The member access allows us to quickly disseminate information such as church activities, newsletters, and possibly during the upcoming winter months, maybe last minute church service closures thru text messaging. Committees, need help spreading your message, the church office can help!
As You know. Pastor Schneider has announced his retirement at the end of June 2027. We are in the midst of planning the retirement service and dinner. For now, we want you to SAVE THE DATE: June 27, 2027.
Please note for security reasons if you come into the church from the north door or the kitchen and there are people in the office please make them feel safe and announce yourself.
Announcements! In order to ensure that announcements are included in the weekly bulletin please have them into the office by Thursday at 1 p.m. Click below to submit an announcement. We want to help you get the word out. Our office hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. with an hour lunch from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If this link does not open an email client, you will need to setup a default email client on either your phone or home computer. Click here for Windows instructions ... MacOS Instructions
As part of our care for one another, the church is seeking donations of gently used medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, canes, bedside commodes, shower chairs, etc.). These items help us support those recovering from illness or injury. If you are able to donate or have questions, please contact Sandra or Pastor. Your kindness is a blessing to many.
You can access the pictorial directory on-line by Logging into your account in top right corner. Navigate to >ABOUT US >MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY. Call or see Jonathan Mackay, 808-343-0291, if you are not able to login with your account.
Need a 2027 calendar? We have some in the new rack in the Narthex, Help yourself!
Concordia Resource Program. Did you know Concordia has a wonderful resource program that you can sign up for and get great benefits. You can get free shipping with qualifying orders, discounts and member-exclusive offers. There is a order form on the credenza in front of the office with lots of offers. Sign-up at cph.org/resource-program.
Please don’t forget, we are always collecting pull tabs and aluminum cans. The funds from our efforts aid various outreach programs.
St. John LWML will serve its Annual Turkey Dinner on Friday, November 6th. We need all hands-on deck to make the dinner a success, so save the date and make plans to attend. Watch for more details in the coming months. Thank you in advance for all your support. Tell your friends and neighbors!
Ladies! The Wednesday morning Bible Study has started up at 11a.m. on Wednesdays in the LWML room. We will are looking at “Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust.” If you still need a book, please see Barb Schneider. The start date for the evening group will be forthcoming.
SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER: We will be having a fun silent auction and white elephant sale for the upcoming fundraiser on Sept. 20th for Sandra Harr. What is a white elephant, you ask? It's any nice quality item -- such as a vase, a framed picture, memorabilia, etc. -- that you are willing to purchase or part with for a good cause! Don't have a white elephant? Think about donating a gift card to a restaurant or your favorite oil change shop. If you have an item or items to donate, please place them near the LWML room (west end of the fellowship hall) on the table provided there. Please put your name on your donations so we can acknowledge your kind deed. If you have questions, contact Sharon Greene @ 580-695 0655. And thank you in advance!
Book Club - Greetings from Book Club! We will be on summer break for July, so we have two books to read during break: The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bojalian and The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. We chose these books to help celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence since each is set in different time periods of American history. BONUS: read 1776 by David McCullough to be eligible for a special prize!
Have You Taken Control of Your Health Today? Lifeline Screening will be here at Saint John Lutheran Church of Lawton on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 offering safe, painless, non-invasive preventive health screenings that are typically not a part of a routine physical. To be more proactive about your health for yourself, your family and your community, please register for these health screenings today. Please refer to the insert to get more information about how you can sign up. There is no time like the present to take action!
Three ways to register:
• Call toll-free: 1-800-324-9458 promo code HABC001
• Online: LLSA.SOCIAL/HABC
• Text: the word circle to 216-279-1607
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS:
Please join us for Sunday School from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Whether your child is new to St. John or has been attending for years, we offer a nurturing environment where they can explore God's Word in age-appropriate ways. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about helping children understand Biblical truths and apply them to everyday life. We can't wait to grow together in faith!
Sunday School Registration & Ice Cream Social! Join us as we kick off a brand-new year of Sunday School with a sweet celebration for the whole family. Come enjoy fellowship, fun, and your favorite ice cream treats while registering your children for the upcoming Sunday School year. On Sunday, September 13th immediately after Sunday service. In the Fellowship Hall. Bring your kids, invite a friend, and get ready for a great year of learning and growing together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Known, Redeemed, Loved! Join the women of the Lawton Zone for a day of Bible study and mission opportunity and information on Saturday, September 12 at First Lutheran Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and lunch is provided. Registration is encouraged in advance – forms are located in the foyer on the credenza as well as a signup sheet for anyone interested in carpooling. Need more information? Please contact Sharon Greene at 580-695-0655 or talk to Barb Schneider. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1b)
The Lutheran Hour can be heard every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. on K-LAW 101.3 FM. You can also download The Lutheran Hour app for free and listen anytime, anywhere. Find it on the Apple app store, the Amazon Kindle Fire and on Google Play. Or simply listen on your desktop, tablet or smartphone at www.lutheranhour.org.
Did you know you can email your Board of Directors? Their email addresses are listed on the Membership Directory page, dedicated to St John Members only. To do so, Login in the top right corner of stjohnlawton.com and navigate to "> About Us > Membership Directory". If you have issues with login or need to submit for one, please call Jonathan Mackay at 808-343-0291.
Giving opportunities. The way that the world accomplishes charitable giving has changed dramatically along with the way we pay our bills. Checks are not as common as they once were, and St. John Lutheran is endeavoring to stay current with the financial trends of today. St. John offers several ways to give your offerings. Certainly, of course, you can still put your check or cash in your offering envelope and put it in the offering plate as they are most assuredly accepted. We also have several electronic avenues for giving. The "Give" next to this announcement, "Give" icon on bottom of each page, or the "Give" in the top menu will take you to our electronic page where you can select the area to which you desire to give (like Altar Flowers, LWML, Missions, etc.). There are many opportunities on that page. If you want to go directly to the General Offering QR code, use the code on the card in the pocket in the pew. We also can have the church initiate a monthly EFT that directly draws your offering from your bank account and transfers it to the church bank account. Please contact Deb Simmons for more information. If you don’t have an envelope, please ask an usher or Deb Simmons.
Internet Church Calendar: If you are having issues seeing the whole month calendar on your phone, we suggest you rotate your phone to the "Landscape" position, i.e. sideways. Then you will be able to see the whole month. Click here to access the Church Calendar
