St. John’s Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran church serving Wood Lake and southwest Minnesota. St. John’s is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. 

     We here at St. John’s aim to preach Christ crucified to troubled sinners. The center of our church life is our Sunday morning Divine Services during which we encounter a powerful but merciful God. We provide videos of our services. An explanation of our divine service can be found here as well as teaching videos of the basics of the Christian faith. Daily video devotions for families as well as daily devotions for adults (video and audio) can be found on our website.

     We also think highly of education and music. Sunday morning classes are offered for all ages. More in-depth study, called catechesis, is offered during the week for 5th through 8th graders. We also pay the tuition for our member children to attend either Samuel Lutheran School of Marshall or St. John Lutheran School of Redwood Falls. We are an association member of Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown, SD.

     Our adult choir, junior choir, Sunday School choir, and chime choirs help beautify our services and give glory to our God. In late winter of each year, we host a hymn festival which features the best of Lutheran hymnody, using organ, choirs, instruments, and the voices of those who join us for this uplifting event. We also offer free music lessons and a free music and bible academy in the summer for all the children of our community. Click here for more information about our Summer Music Program and Bible Academy. 

     We also aim to reach out to our neighbors with opportunities to beautify our town, help those in need, and ultimately give them hope in the risen Christ who takes away the sins of the world.

     We have many groups at St. John’s. Our Board of Elders assist our pastor in the day-to-day operations of the congregation. WACS (Women Alive in Christ’s Service) fundraise and volunteer for the benefit of our church and community. The Young Ladies of the Lord (YLL) similarly plan service and fellowship activities throughout the year. The Acolyte Corps is a group of boys and young men who serve as liturgical assistants in our services. We have a men’s breakfast Bible study every Thursday morning. Table Talk is an event held at the parsonage (the pastor’s house) during which a free flow of ideas concerning theology, art, history, politics, etc. is fostered with an eye to what God has to say about it all. Grandviews from the Vineyard is a group which puts on speaking events. They bring in speakers to touch on a variety of topics and their relation in God and culture.