A Lutheran Congregation on West Fourth Street
St. John's Lutheran Church sits on West Fourth Street in Rush City, Minnesota, the main east-west road through the small Chisago County town. An electronic sign and bell tower mark the building, which stands directly across from the Chisago County Fairgrounds. The congregation is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, one of more than 6,100 LCMS congregations in the United States.
Mission Rooted in Word and Sacrament
The congregation's stated mission: "God has called us to be a growing, caring group of believers in Jesus Christ who encourage and strengthen one another through Word and Sacrament as we reach out into our community and world with the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to bring all people into His body, the church, as responsible members."
In a written commentary on the mission, the congregation emphasizes the centrality of Word and Sacrament. God's Word (the Holy Scriptures), Baptism, and the Lord's Supper are the tools through which the Holy Spirit creates faith and nurtures the Christian life. "While faith is personal - no one can believe for another - faith is never private," the commentary states. "God's will is that we are united to one another as active members of the body of Christ. We are responsible towards one another because the love of Christ compels us."
What St. John's Believes
St. John's teaches the Bible-based doctrines of Martin Luther that shaped the sixteenth-century Reformation, summarized in three Latin phrases: Sola Gratia (grace alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), and Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone).
The congregation confesses belief in the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three persons coequal and coeternal, one God. The Son, Jesus Christ, became truly human to suffer and die for the sins of all people and rose again in victory over death and Satan. The Holy Spirit creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments.
Specific teachings of the congregation include:
- All people are sinful from conception and unable to reconcile themselves to God by their own efforts.
- Salvation comes only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who atoned for all sins on the cross.
- Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is the only Savior.
- The Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant, infallible written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice.
- The waters of Holy Baptism work forgiveness of sins, deliver from death and the devil, and give eternal salvation to all who receive this mark in the name of the Triune God.
- The body and blood of Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Altar, bringing forgiveness, life, and salvation to all who faithfully partake.
- God created the world in six twenty-four-hour days, and the stories of creation, the flood, Moses, Jonah, and all figures in Holy Scripture were real historical events and people.
- Marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman.
- The sanctity of human life is upheld from conception until natural death.
- Jesus shall return one day visibly and bodily to judge all people. Those who believe in Him will live forever; unbelievers will be condemned to an eternity in damnation.
Sunday Morning at St. John's
Worship services are held each Sunday morning at 10:30. A shortened service is also broadcast on KBEK 95.5 FM at 9:00 on Sundays for listeners in the local area. The full services are available to watch or download online, allowing members to worship in person, on the radio, or from home.
Sunday School, Confirmation, and Bible Study
Christian education is a regular part of life at St. John's. Sunday School meets on Sunday mornings at 9:50 for children ages three and up, who learn Bible stories through song, Bible readings, video, and craft.
Confirmation classes are held on Monday evenings. Sixth graders meet from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and seventh graders and up meet from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Those interested in joining can speak with the pastor.
A Monday morning Bible study also meets at 10:00 a.m. for adults who want to dig deeper into the Scripture texts that will appear in the upcoming Sunday worship service.
A Shared Ministry with St. Stephen's
St. John's is in ministry with St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Braham, Minnesota. The two congregations share a pastor and share activities and relationships across their communities. St. Stephen's is located at 400 SE 8th Street, Braham, MN 55006.
Lutheran Women's Missionary League
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) of St. John's meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the church. The women of the LWML are dedicated to spreading the love of Christ through projects and missions, both locally and through the Minnesota North District LWML.
Reaching Out: Fostering Families and Lutheran Hour Ministries
One of the organizations St. John's has actively supported is Fostering Families, Inc. Members of the congregation have made 126 fleece-tied quilts for Fostering Families to give out at Christmas. The church has also hosted benefit concerts, including a Christmas concert that raised funds for the Sweet Dreams Project of Fostering Families.
Through Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. John's participates in the Project Connect booklet and audio ministry, which connects God's Word to real-life situations. A wide variety of topics is available as both written booklets and audio recordings, covering subjects such as marriage, grief, addiction, anxiety, parenting, finances, and faith.
The Building, the Bell Tower, and the Cemetery
The church building sits at 980 West Fourth Street, also known as Chisago County Road 1, the main east-west road through Rush City. An electronic sign and bell tower make the building easy to spot, and the parking lot sits directly across from the Chisago County Fairgrounds.
St. John's also maintains St. John's Cemetery (also known as Saint John's German Lutheran Cemetery), located above the northeast shoreline of Rush Lake, about five miles northwest of Rush City on the west side of Rush Lake Trail (County Highway 1).
Pastor and Office
Pastor Paul currently serves as vacancy pastor for St. John's, shared with the congregation from St. John Lutheran of Weber. The church office is staffed by Karen, who is available Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to answer questions about activities, events, appointments, and general information.
Joining the Congregation
Adults become members of St. John's in one of four ways:
- Transfer of Membership from another LCMS Lutheran congregation.
- Profession of Faith when coming from another Lutheran congregation outside the LCMS.
- Reaffirmation of Faith when a confirmed Lutheran without a current church home wants to re-establish communicant status.
- Adult Confirmation for those coming from either no previous church background or a non-Lutheran background.
Anyone interested in learning more can speak with the pastor.