St John's Lutheran Church is a warm, family friendly Church in the heart of the leafy suburb of Malvern in Adelaide, South Australia. We are passionate about sharing the love of Jesus into our community. We would love for you to join us as we continually grow together in Jesus.
We are in partnership with Concordia College - St John's Campus and a part of the Lutheran Church of Australia.
OUR VISION
We are a Christ-centred, welcoming, vibrant, intergenerational community empowered and equipped by God to serve and share Jesus’ love.
OUR MISSION
We exist to share Jesus’ love by:
· Celebrating in worship;
· Growing in faith;
· Caring for people; and
· Telling others about Jesus
so that the Kingdom of God might grow in and through us.
Worship
God has created us to worship and praise him.
We do this by loving God through serving others. Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30, 31)
Christians have always worshipped on Sundays, the day of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and on other days that remember events in Jesus’ life, such as Good Friday.
As we hear God’s word, receive Jesus’ body and blood in holy communion, and encourage one another in our singing and praying, we are strengthened to worship God 24/7.
St John's is currently in a pastoral vacancy, however we continue to hold regular Worship Services. There is a mix of Guest Preachers, and Lay Readers, supported by some retired pastors in our congregation. Holy Communion continues to be celebrated every week.
St John's offer three opportunities to regularly worship together:
8:30am Worship Service
The 8:30am Service is a warm and welcoming service held weekly in the St John’s Ministry Centre. Various Lutheran liturgies are used on a rotational basis with either a piano, organ or occasionally guitars, to lead the hymns. We also celebrate Holy Communion every week and our Service includes a Children's Talk as well as offering all children Worship Folders containing fun activities.
A team of friendly volunteers offer tea and coffee after each service to allow for some social fellowship.
10:00am Worship Service
The 10:00am Service is a vibrant and friendly weekly service held in the Concordia College Chapel. It is an instrumental service, using contemporary songs, we celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday.
This service includes a weekly Children's Talk as well as a teaching and craft time ministry for children called Bible Detectives for children in ELC-Year 2 and 36’ers for children in Years 3-6, these are held in the Chapel foyer during the Sermon time. Additionally there are Children's Worship Folders for all the children containing fun activities.
A team of friendly volunteers offer tea and coffee after each service to allow for some social fellowship.
10:00am Combined Worship Service
Every fifth Sunday of the month as well as at Easter and at Christmas we have the special and exciting opportunity of the whole congregation, from both services, to worship together in the Concordia College Chapel at 10:00am. The purpose of this service is to bring our two major worshipping communities together. This service includes the celebration of Holy Communion, a Children's Talk and Children's Worship folders containing fun activities for the younger worshippers.
A team of friendly volunteers offer tea and coffee after each service to allow for some social fellowship.
We welcome you at any and all of our Worship Services and we would love to have you join us.
Concordia College-St John's Campus and St John's Lutheran Church has a rich and longstanding history together, beginning with St John's Lutheran Church building and establishing St John's Lutheran School which opened it's doors to 19 students on the 12th of February 1952.
On 1 January 2016, Concordia College and St John’s Lutheran School, which were historically two separate schools, joined together as one school adopting the names Concordia College-Concordia Campus and Concordia College-St John's Campus.
The Concordia College-St John's Campus and St John's Lutheran Church still walk a close path together with Pastor Andrew Brook spending time with the staff and students.
He meets regularly as support for Concordia-St John’s Campus principal, and is a member of the Spiritual Life Team.
He offers pastoral care and conducts pastoral rites as needed. The Lead Pastor is also a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Concordia College Board and attends the regular Board meeting, as well as Concordia Campus Spiritual Life Committee.
This connection has further been strengthened by the appointment of a shared Spiritual Life Coordinator, Paula Meyer, who aids further collaboration and partnership between Church and School.
Students from Concordia College-St John's Campus lead a School Service once a term, at the 10.00am Service at Concordia College Chapel.
LOVE COMES TO LIFE when we treat each other with courtesy and respect, and when the way we behave towards each other reflects the way God loves us.
Demonstrating God’s love for us, by the way we behave towards one another, is central to life in our church. It is important that we clearly articulate the standard of behaviour we expect from one another, not using vague language, but in useful practical terms. The LCA has adopted Standards of Ethical Behaviour that express in simple and clear language how we can demonstrate and declare God's love to one another by how we conduct ourselves in our:
- personal behaviour
- pastoral care
- caring for children
- communications
- financial and administrative matters.
The Professional Standards Department (PSD) assists congregations and other bodies to promote high standards of ethical behaviour and care for all, and especially for children and others in vulnerable circumstance, by providing a comprehensive training program.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
REG
- REG is a convenient, safe and confidential way of giving a regular offering to your congregation.
- Your REG offering can come from your bank, credit union or LLL account.
- You can set up REG to coincide with your regular income (eg salary, pension, dividends) or budget: weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or even half-early.
- REG keeps things confidential. Your congregation doesn't receive any information regarding your identity or the amount of your offering.
How REG benefits you
- No need to remember to bring cash to church.
- If you are away from church, your offering is still made.
- You can apply 'first fruits' principles.
How REG benefits your congregation
- It provides a regular income or cash flow, making budgeting easier.
- It can increase giving through the convenience of direct debits.
- It is safer because there is less cash to handle and bank each week.
St John's Lutheran Church is a part of the Lutheran Church of Australia.
In the words of the classic Lutheran summary of faith, the Lutheran Church of Australia believe that we are saved 'by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith'. In other words, there is nothing we can do to earn God's favour or to gain eternal life. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has won all this and more for us. We also believe that only the Bible is the source of inspiration and teaching.