For youth ministries see the youth page

Music - One of St. John's trademarks is an outstanding music program. Special music in the worship service is more of a weekly expectation than an occasional treat. With two choirs, (Trinity Choir for adults, Carol Choir for elementary age),  our praise band (who sings at our 10:15 worship services), a wind ensemble, a string ensemble, and numerous vocal and instrumental soloists, St. John is well rounded in musical opportunities.

Bible Studies - We have regular bible studies at St. John, please see our bible study page for more information.

Sunday morning greeters - When you walk into St. John for worship you are personally welcomed. Our Sunday morning greeters can be found at each main entrance. Each greeter is guaranteed to have a warm hand on a cold Sunday morning.

Ushers – When you’re looking for that perfect spot to balance a two-year olds potential temper tantrum, a six-year-olds ability to find the family after the young people’s sermon, the ten-year-old’s desire to sprint to Sunday school after church, plus a good spot for mom and dad to hear, see and participate in worship, check with one of our seasoned volunteers. Ushers help out with handing out bulletins, receive the offering, and direct people during communion. Ushers are also the Q&A people to turn to during the service to ask where the bathrooms, drinking fountains, and other information about the church. Several of our ushers are CPR certified. 

Home Baked Outreach - For our new visitors who would like to know more about St. John, we have a ministry that caters to them… literally. A group a people who know about St. John and like to bake goodies call on visitors who live in the area and answer any questions they might have about St. John.

Women's Ministry - These women help with funeral lunches, They hold regular meetings and other events throughout the year.

Clothing Room - A ministry of St. John is to collect clean clothing in good condition and to make it available to those in the community who need apparel at no cost. Open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and by appointment, the clothing room is available to those who need children, youth, teen, and adult clothing. Anyone may drop off items for the clothing room at the church office.

Altar Guild - The colors of the church year are reflected on St. John's altar, pulpit and lectern. A group of people take care of making sure the altar is tended to during season changes. They also tend to the flowers, candles, other maintenance of the linens at the altar, pulpit, and lectern, repairing baptism and funeral banners, and decorating the Easter tree and tending to the poinsettias at Christmas. 

Angel Tree - A Christmas ministry aimed at filling the need of a missing parent. Congregation members adopt a child whose parent is serving time in prison, providing a Christmas present to those who wouldn't receive any Christmas gifts. Congregation members choose a child from a Christmas tree in the narthex, purchase a gift. It is given to the child anonymously from the church.

Card committee - This ministry of St. John makes sure everyone's special events are recognized. They take care of the congregation by sending them recycled cards wishing them well in times of celebration and need.

Scholarships – St. John values higher education and we want to help our students who choose to take this route in their life. Two scholarship opportunities are available for students who attend St. John. EPIC (Educational Partners in Covenant) Scholarship – established to provide a grant to students who choose to attend a Lutheran college. St. John Lutheran Scholarship  - Established to financially help students who choose to attend a non-Lutheran college or university.

Dartball - It's a social match of skill and luck between regional churches. The meets combine baseball and darts into a competitive game. Practice and/or competitions are each Wednesday night during the fall and winter.

Parkinson Support Group – This support group is a gathering of people whose lives are affected by Parkinson's disease who come together to seek information, voice their concerns and mutually share their experiences. The meetings provide an opportunity to discuss experiences and feelings and to share information and solutions to common problems. Contact our church office to learn when this group meets.

Softball - The St. John Sacrificers take to the softball field in the summer to battle against other local congregations. All ages are welcome to participate, and those who just want to watch and cheer are also welcome. We claim to have a spiritual advantage.

Needy Fund – A ministry of St. John that helps people in need in the community. St. John is a distribution point for people who need a little extra financial help to make the emergency ends meet. Typically, after meeting with a pastor, or a lay person, a voucher for the unmet need is available. 

Flood Recovery – In 2008 record flooding hit Charles City and several areas in the Midwest section of the US. Charles City was well prepared, but the aftermath continues today. Pastors are working with local community leaders and emergency management officials to identify people still in need and fulfill their requirements to get back to a new normal.

Alzheimer's Support Group – Are you looking for someone to talk to - someone who understands what it’s like to deal with Alzheimer's disease? Whether you've just been diagnosed or you're caring for a loved one, joining this support group could be a great way to find people who understand what you're experiencing. Contact our church office to learn when this group meets.

Parish Visitors – For people who are homebound our congregation has lay people who bring Christ’s message to them. Visitors from our congregation bring bulletins, communion, and fellowship to those who can’t make it to church. If you would like to be a visitor, or if you would like to be visited please let our church office know.

Newsletter – Putting together a monthly newsletter is no easy task and one that requires several staff members to write, edit, and print the monthly publication. However once it’s come off the presses it’s time for another group of people to assemble the newsletter. This group meets on the last Tuesday of the month in the afternoon to get the newsletter ready and up to the post office standards for bulk mailings. A fun group and a great way to help out.

Radio Broadcasts - For those who can't make it to church but still wish to worship with St. John, we offer radio broadcasts on our local radio station. Tape delayed broadcasts are recorded live at our traditional service (8:00 A.M.), and replayed each Sunday at 9:05 A.M. Tune into KCHA 95.9 FM or Charles City Cable Channel 4 to listen each Sunday.

Bulletin Delivery - To help you follow along with the service, St. John volunteers deliver a Sunday bulletin to those who can't make it to church. Full of information about the events of each week at St. John and announcements, the bulletin is more than just an order of service.

Care Center Worship Services - For those who can't attend church, the church comes to them. Pastors and lay people help conduct services at area nursing homes and assisted living units. A message, scripture readings, and communion all travel to people in our local community.

e-skinny – News can’t always wait for the monthly newsletter, so if we have your e-mail address we send out the e-skinny. It contains the important information on the happenings at St. John. Where did we get the name? Gloria Crumpton, a former secretary at St. John, often called the information sheet inside the bulletin “the skinny” because it contained the information on what’s going on at the church. The name stuck, and this being the electronic version of the skinny, we call it the e-skinny. Make sure we have your e-mail address and you too will get the e-skinny.

Community Food Box – St. John financially supports the area community food box monthly with cash donations. Our SURGE (confirmation) youth along with the congregation as a whole, also conduct an occasional food drive to donate to the people served by this community program.

Coats for Kids – Children need coats for the winter and St. John is helping to keep them warm. We make sure children who need a warm coat have one. Each winter we contact local schools to make sure all the kids have coats that are in good condition. Those who need a coat are contacted and can get a coat at the church. Contributions are accepted year round, and help is offered in the fall and winter.

Meals on wheels – a program where area churches and the local hospital partner to take homebound people meals once a day. St. John was a founding partner in this endeavor following the 1968 tornado. Today we continue our commitment to this ministry by helping to coordinate scheduled deliveries and are periodically called upon to assist other organizations that fall short in reaching the minimum number of volunteers needed.  

MOPS – An international support network of women who share the common bond of preschool age children. The local group offers tips and discussion about parenting, marriage, health and money matters for stay at home and working mothers. St. John is home to the twice-monthly meetings and supports the local group with numerous resources and volunteers.

Funeral lunches – Following the funeral of a loved one, friends and families are welcomed back to the church for a lunch and an opportunity for fellowship. St. John congregation members take care of many of the details and the coordination of these meals. From the initial phone call to request salads, cakes, and volunteers, to the final spoon being washed, St. John takes care of the family in need.