St. John is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Headquartered in Chicago, the ELCA was formed in 1988 through the merger of three Lutheran denominations.
St. John is part of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA, which is headquartered in Rochester, MN. The SE MN Synod consists of 184 congregations, with 30,000 baptized members.
St. John was founded in 1870, and is one of the oldest congregations in Steele County. Currently, we have some 1,600 baptized members. St. John has been located at 1301 Lincoln Avenue since 1959. Prior to that, the church was housed on Oak Street near downtown Owatonna.
Saturdays: 5:00 PM
A Contemporary Family Service is held each Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
in the sanctuary for members and others that enjoy contemporary Christian
Rock. Everyone is welcome. Holy Communion is part of each Sat. service.
Sundays: 8:00 AM
Our 8:00 service is a traditional liturgical service.
Sundays: 10:30 AM
The 10:30 service is "blended" using both traditional and contemporary hymns with accompaniment on the grand piano and acoustic instruments. The singing of liturgy and hymns is lead by worship leaders.
Thursdays: 6:30 PM
This service is more informal. We gather in the Fireside Room (located just
off the kitchen; use the north entrance of the church). This service offers an
opportunity to worship if you will be gone on a Sunday.
*An unstaffed nursery is available during all services.
*The Thursday evening and Sunday morning services use the new ELCA hymnal.
*The Holy Communion schedule for Sundays varies monthly. Please check the "Calendar of Events" page for the monthly schedule.
For a detailed list of the Sunday Worship agenda, visit our Order of Worship page, updated weekly.
There are many opportunities at St. John for you to become involved. As Lutherans, we speak of "the priesthood of all believers," which means we are ALL called by our Lord Jesus to serve. We hope that as a member you will find a place within our church which utilizes the skills and talents God has given you!
Some examples of service possibilities:
reading lessons for worship,
serving as liturgist,
instrumental accompanist or soloist,
ushering,
greeting,
serving on the church council,
serving on a committee,
helping through a service group.
If you have any questions or would like some help in finding a place to serve within our church, please contact the church office at 451-7293, or one of the committee members listed on our e-mail page.
 | ST. JOHN SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday school educational opportunities exist for children ages three (3) through senior high school. If you have children in this span, OR if you would like to help in this vital ministry, please join in! |
| ALTAR GUILD For those who would like to assist in worship preparation, the St. John Altar Guild is ready to welcome you! Service here includes preparing for communion, maintaining altar paraments, and any special arrangements needed for worship. |
| ADULT EDUCATION An Adult Forum Class is offered each Sunday at 9:15, during the school year. All adults are welcome. Topics vary, as does approach, so be ready for variety! |
| CHOIR AND HAND BELLS The senior choir practices at 5:00 pm on Wednesday evenings; hand bell choirs for youth and adults practice on Wednesdays. Come and make a joyful noise to the Lord! Contact persons: Jean Weiss (Senior Choir); Marilyn Pedersen, 455-2785 (Hand bell Choir) |
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WORSHIP LEADERS |
*The leaders for the 10:30 blended service practice on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm.
*Piano, acoustic guitar and drums accompany the singers in this group.
*Anyone high school age and older who enjoys a variety of worship music is encouraged to participate.
*Contact person is Jim Hoffman (451-9254).
| MEN OF ST. JOHN We meet every Wednesday at 11:45 for bible study and fellowship and lunch at The Pizza Ranch in Owatonna...come join us! |
| WOMEN'S CIRCLES Fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and service opportunities await you in one of our circles. |
| ST. JOHN YOUTH GROUP We offer social and service opportunities for youth grades K-12. Make sure your children become a part of this dynamic program! Contact person: Nathan Holt. Visit the Youth page for more information on events! |
| SEWING GROUP - "Mission in Action" For those women who like to use their sewing skills to serve others, our sewing group meets every Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. We welcome people of all skill levels. Join us for fellowship and service! |
ANNIVERSARY NEWS ON THE ST. JOHN LUTHERAN ORGAN:
Thirty years ago on Sunday, November 7, l976, a vesper service led by renowned organist Merrill N. Davis III dedicated our new 51-rank Hendrickson pipe organ to the glory of God. What a marvelous addition this fine instrument has been in leading us in liturgy and song in praise to our Lord, and what a joy it is to play and hear!
In l973 when our congregation voted to invest in a pipe organ rather than purchase an electronic instrument, the St. John Organ Committee of Chairman Wayne Dreier, O.W. Rye, Wm. Marquardt, Werner Jenke, and Shirley Erickson visited several sites to determine which type of pipe organ would be most suitable for our church building. Four organ builders were selected, and our organ specification sheet, designed primarily by Dr. Robert Kendall of St. Olaf College, was sent to each of the companies for their bids. An $87,000.00 bid, plus a reputation as a fine organ builder, won the contract for The Charles Hendrickson Organ Company of St. Peter, MN.
In June l976, installation of our magnificent organ began. It was exciting to witness the arrival and gradual assembly of 2682 pipes of various shapes and sizes, oak casework, blowers, the console, rectifiers, electrical switches and valves galore, plus countless miles of wiring and to see it evolve into a majestic and spectacular piece of artistry. Though not completely finished, the organ was first played for church services in early July 1976.
Our investment of $87,000.00 has increased in value over the years-both musically and financially-for our church and also as a resource to the broader community. In l996 the replacement value had risen to $750.000.00; in 2006 the value is estimated to exceed $1.25 million. Thank you to all who helped to make this fine purchase possible. With proper care and maintenance, our pipe organ will continue for many decades to lead our congregation in glorifying our Lord and Savior. PRAISE BE TO GOD!
Shirley Erickson, St. John Lutheran Church organist
Click here to view a Photo of this Organ