At St. John's Lutheran Church and School we are aware of the power of music and the arts for shaping our response to God and equipping us for service in His world. Blessed with an encouraging membership and a facility that physically and acoustically supports robust music-making, we are committed to sharing these gifts with the community into which God has called us. At St. John's we want our members and our guests to come into contact with great music, and we work hard to heighten the caliber and scope of our musical offerings.

But even more importantly, we are shaped for response to God and service in His world by the cross of Jesus Christ. For us, music and the arts are, above all, ways to announce the good news that God has loved the world in Jesus from eternity. That news is the basis for any of the singing and playing and dancing and rejoicing that happens here.

The 2008-2009 Concert and Festival season at St. John's provides a wonderful opportunity for outreach. Be sure to invite your friends, family, neighbors or co-workers and pray that they would find St. John's a place where they meet Jesus and experience the support of a church.

• Sunday, January 4, 4:00pm - Taizé Evening Prayer service sung at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst in celebration of Epiphany.

• Sunday, February 8, 4:00pm - Concordia St. Paul's "Good News Players" will provide a concert of drama and music under the direction of Dr. Paul Burkart.

• Sunday, February 15, 7:00pm - The West Suburban Youth Orchestra will present a concert. Members of our own congregation participate in this award-winning youth orchestra.

• Sunday, March 22, 4:00pm - A Taizé Evening Prayer Service will be sung at Redeemer, Elmhurst.

• Sunday, May 10, 8:00am and 10:45am worship services - "The Good Shepherd" will be presented by our Senior Choir, select children's choir and a gutairist. This is a wonderful opportunity to invite members of the community to hear the Gospel presented in a beautiful musical.