Parish Services

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY after PENTECOST
October 18, 2026 

The Readings for this Upcoming Sunday
We Are Recreated in the Image of God by the Cross of Christ 

Plotting against Jesus, the Pharisees attempted “to entangle him in his words” by asking about the payment of taxes to Caesar (Matt. 22:15). The Lord pointed to coins required for the tax, and He answered that we should “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). But if coins bearing the image of Caesar should be rendered to him, then man — who is made in the image of God — must be rendered to the Lord. That tax is paid for us by the Lord Jesus, the image of God in the flesh, by His self-offering on the cross. And from His cross, as the Lord’s anointed, He reigns as the true Caesar over all nations “from the rising of the sun and from the west” (Is. 45:6). The Lord once called and anointed Cyrus “to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings” (Is. 45:1). Now by the preaching of the Gospel, “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:5), foreigners from all over the world are “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9–10).

Reformation Worship Service
Saturday, October 31, 2026 - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Worship Services

We warmly invite you to attend our Worship Services each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. We are thankful to have as our guest Pastor on Sunday to be Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen. We are glad to welcome Rev. Jurchen to St. John's.

In addition, as we continue through this time of pastoral vacancy, we are deeply mindful of the Lord’s faithful care for St. John’s, Cordova. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to our Interim Pastor, Pastor Kitzing, and each of the various guest pastors who have faithfully filled our pulpit (Pastor Arnold Jurchen, Pastor Pete Jurchen, Pastor Cartwright, Pastor Dahlke and Pastor Matthias.) We thank them for bringing us Christ’s gifts through the pure preaching of the Word and the faithful administration of the Sacraments. We deeply appreciate your service, your leadership, and your partnership in the Gospel during our season of transition.

Sunday School & Adult Bible Class
  • Sunday School classes happen each Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.
  • Adult Bible Study on Sunday mornings beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come study the Word of God with us!
Visitors and the Lord's Supper

Those desiring membership at St. John's are asked to speak with the Pastor or an Elder. In order to receive the Lord's Supper, instruction in the Christian faith according to the Scriptures and Luther's Small Catechism is necessary. ( Close Communion information...)

Visitation of the Hospitalized and Homebound

There are circumstances in life that might land someone in the hospital. The Pastor considers it a high priority to visit when one of our members is in the hospital. But he, or the churuch itself, might not always get the message. Sometimes people forget. Sometimes you might assume that someone else will let the Pastor or one of the Elders know. The church office would rather get five calls or messages letting him know than none at all.