Our Story

St. John's Lutheran Church traces its humble beginnings to a  small group of German Lutherans  who gathered for worship in borrowed spaces, being led by the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rock Island.  Sometimes they numbered three or four and at other times up to twenty-five or thirty.  After calling their first pastor, Edward Geske, the congregation was officially organized in 1918.

St. John's Lutheran Church is now a congregation of around 690 baptized members, united as one, loving  family in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The members of St. John's  Lutheran Church are people who are committed to God's Word, and  have a heart for those around us.  The members are always seeking to introduce new people to their faithful confessional theology and rich liturgical worship and music to God's glory.  The congregation strives to serve its community through its food pantry and other service projects.  The congregation is always looking for new members who seek to grow in faith and serve the Lord with gladness.

 The  members of St. John's are a people who gather around Word and Sacrament. We  believe that God creates and sustains saving faith in Christ through the  means of grace. In the Sacrament of Baptism the Spirit creates saving faith,  and gives us a new life. We continue in this new life as we gather around the  Word when it is taught and preached. In this way we believe that, by the Holy  Spirit's blessings, we receive the power to believe in Christ and lead lives  which are pleasing to Him.  In the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we  know that our faith is nourished and sustained as we receive the very body  and blood of Christ. Through these means, as we worship together in the  timeless liturgy of the Church, we trust our God to continue to give us  growth as a loving, Christian family.

St. John's  is a family church, and a teaching church. Because we are a people of the  Book, we operate programs of Christian Education for people of all ages. Some  of the programs we regularly operate are: Sunday School for all ages,  Mid-week school for 5th thru 7th grade children, Vacation Bible School one  week each summer, intensive adult Bible Study that meets weekly during the  school year, and various other groups.

 St. John's  is a caring church. For over 30 years we have served the needy in our  community through the collection and distribution of food from our food  pantry. We have a parish nurse to care for the needs of our  members, and help us in serving the health needs of those around us. We offer seminars and  meetings for grief support.   We offer various  forms of emotional, and material support are offered to others in their time  of trouble. We  conduct annual blood drives for the community.  Our pastor has  participated as a volunteer chaplain for the community through  Illini Hospital and the East Moline Police Department. 

 St. John's  is an open church. Because we believe that Jesus died for all people and that  there is no sin that cannot be forgiven except the sin of unbelief, we  welcome all to come and see the great things that the Lord is doing among us.  Three times each year an extensive class is conducted to describe in detail  our beliefs. Taught by our pastors, the class covers the essential teachings  of the Bible and the Lutheran church  to assist those who contemplating membership.

 St. John's  unites with congregations who share its confession in the The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. There are  some 6,100 US congregations; with 2.6 million baptized members. While this  association is currently experiencing a crisis in theology and practice, we  still believe that by joining with other congregations, we combine our  strengths and resources to do things that individual congregations can't do.  We send missionaries to other countries, maintain colleges and seminaries to  train pastors and teachers, provide loan funds for building churches, and  operate a health and retirement system for full-time workers.  Together  we coordinate missionaries in 55 other countries and connect with nearly two  dozen partner churches worldwide. We provide food and medicine where there is  famine, and we give support and instruction so other people can become  self-sufficient.