Outreach

St. John’s is called to embody the love of Christ. We believe our mission is to serve those in need in our neighborhood, in the city of Atlanta, and in the world. Working for social justice plays a significant role in our ministry of discipleship, and the congregation provides a wide variety of opportunities for members to be involved.

Six Star Refugee Partnership

Six Star Refugee Partnership is an ecumenical ministry whose mission is to mentor and assist refugee families during their transition to self-reliance, and to advocate on behalf of the refugee community. St. John’s supports Six Star by providing board members, volunteer workers and tutors, by collecting donations for sponsored families, and providing financial support to the program. Families are provided with housing for a period up to two years, and directly assisted with English tutoring, enrolling children in school, obtaining medical care, transportation, obtaining employment, and adjusting to the community. Families come to Six Star through the International Rescue Committee (IRC) (www.six-star-refugee.org).

Atlanta Hunger Walk

St. John's participates in the annual Hunger Walk sponsored by the Atlanta Community Food Bank. In 2008, we raised $10,000 to fight hunger in the Atlanta region. In 2009, the Walk was cancelled due to snow, but St. John's again led the way, raising more than any other participating Lutheran church.

Over sixty St. John's members marched in the 2007 Hunger Walk

Despite the snow, St. John's Hunger Walkers were set to go in 2009.

Habitat for Humanity

St. John’s supports the mission of Habitat and in 2007 volunteers worked every Saturday from February through August to build a Habitat house in Conley, GA which became the home of a wonderful family. We look forward to future work with Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity House Dedication, August 2007

Lutherans Concerned/North America

St. John’s is a member of the Reconciling in Christ program of Lutherans Concerned/North America, a roster of congregations in the Lutheran Church that invites gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to participate fully in the life of the church. The Southeast synod chapter of RIC meets regularly at St. John’s.

Urban Immersion Camp

St. John’s Lutheran Church partners with Lutheridge and Lutherock to provide one-week summer urban immersion experiences for youth in the Southeast. Groups complete service projects in Atlanta and then return to the church for Bible study, reflection, and fun. For more information on bringing your group to one of these camps, visit www.llmi.net.

Building Ministry

St. John’s sees our building as a tool for outreach to support groups that are doing important work for compassion, justice, and service to our community. Groups using St. John’s as their “home” include: Atlanta Bead Society, Augustine Fellowship, Druid Hills Civic Association, Fairness for Prisoner’s Families, Kairos Outside, Master's Place, Come As You Are Ministry, Reconciling in Christ (SE Synod chapter), and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Retreat Center

One wing of the historic Stonehenge Mansion has been converted into a dorm-style retreat center that is available for groups who plan to come to Atlanta for retreats, urban immersion experiences, and special conferences. The center can sleep up to 25 people in bunk beds. There are four showers available. Groups are able to use the kitchen and the rest of the church’s facilities as available during their stay. Cost for the retreat center is $15 per person per night. For more information on booking your group, please contact the church office.

Angel Tree party

Angel Tree

Every December, St. John’s hosts other area Lutheran congregations in wrapping special presents, then gathering for the annual Christmas party for families. Angel Tree® is designed to reach the innocent victims of crime who are often forgotten…children of prisoners. Angel Tree® touches those children with the love of Christ at Christmas by providing them with special Christmas gifts. Members of local churches volunteer to sponsor these children by purchasing gifts based on information gathered by PF volunteers and prison chaplains. The prisoner writes a card to be presented along with the gift, assuring the children that Mommy or Daddy misses and loves them. The true gift of Angel Tree® is the strengthening of the family bond while the family is apart.

Intown Community Assistance

Together with neighboring churches, St. John's participates in ecumenical ministry, serving those in need on the Ponce corridor. Volunteers assist with a food pantry and clothes closet. St. John's contributes financial support and each Sunday, the congregation collects an offering of non-perishable food.

Sandwich Sunday

On the fourth Sunday of each month, members donate sandwich makings, and stay after church to make 100 sack lunches for those who are hungry in our neighborhood.

Fair Trade Coffee

By purchasing Equal Exchange coffee, tea, hot chocolate and chocolate bars through Lutheran World Relief, we contribute to LWR, promote awareness of "fair trade" and make these items available for purchase by the congregation, as well as serving Equal Exchange coffee every Sunday morning and at other other church events. . Fair Trade assures consumers that the coffee we drink was purchased under fair conditions. To become Fair Trade certified, an importer must meet stringent international criteria; paying a set minimum price per pound, providing much needed credit to farmers, and providing technical assistance, such as help transitioning to organic farming. Fair Trade for coffee farmers means community development, health, education, and environmental stewardship (www.lwr.org/fairtrade).

Bread for the World

St. John’s is a member congregation of Bread for the World (www.bread.org), which seeks to end hunger by influencing public policy. We participate in offerings of letters to Members of Congress on issues affecting domestic and international food policy and hunger.

Micah Six Project

St. John's is a Micah Six congregation with the National Council of Churches, committed to the principles of Micah 6:8 - What does the Lord require, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God?

Monthly Giving Focus

Each month, St. John’s has a special offering focus. Special giving has included the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Atlanta Hunger Walk, GA Interfaith Power and Light, Seminary Scholarship Fund, Druid Hills Night Shelter, Reconciling in Christ (SE Chapter), Youth Scholarship Fund, ELCA Disaster Fund, ELCA Southeastern Synod, Pastor's Discretionary Fund, Lutheran Campus Ministry.

Blessing of the pets