The highlight of 1985 was the ordination of two St. John’s “sons,” Philip Berge and William Bogholtz.  The final payment on the mortgage was made, and a cash reserve fund was established to ease cash flow problems.  The Contemporary Service worship book was revised.  Vicar Carol Schnabl, an accomplished musician, evaluated our collection of pianos and arranged to trade them and purchase two new Yamaha pianos to enhance our worship.
“How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” was the 85th Anniversary theme in 1986.  Lois Hoger began work as the first Coordinator of Lay Ministries.  The church offices were renovated and  redecorated, and the first computer was installed.  A National Lutheran Church Women grant, obtained through the efforts of our City Missionary Trudy Grundon and Vicar Sharon Janot, provided $750 for a special community program. St. John’s people provided transportation and child care for survivors of abusive situations; the funds were used to assist these women in creating a group newsletter.  Sharon also accompanied a number of the youth to Camp Sonrise. Congregational Retreats began in the 1980″s.  These retreats provided opportunity for learning, worship, and fellowship and were enhanced when they became Mission Partner Retreats with Atonement Lutheran, Staten Island, and Redeemer Lutheran, New Paltz.
In 1987 the Karis Ministry group was trained by Vicar Peter Devino and began work among the ill and homebound members.  Lay Ministry Coordinator Steve Churchill established some ministry at Vassar College.  The Astor Day Treatment Center leased our education facilities for the school year, providing them with needed space and St. John’s with an opportunity to aid members of our community.  SAM presented a Lenten tableau “The Way of the Cross” for the first time.
Rev. Audrey Foley began assisting with worship, teaching, and visitation in 1988.  Her presence with us over the next several years was indeed a great blessing.  Made aware of the youth member Christine Giancola’s need for a Cochlear Implant, members and friends of St. John’s raised funds and obtained matching grants to provide the $18,000 needed for this device which made such a positive change in Christine’s life.  Vicar Jon Buuck was very involved in social issues; he taught a liberation theology class and arranged for “Bread for the World” to make a presentation at St. John’s. St. John’s welcomed Pastor Wynemah Hinlicky as our Assistant Pastor in June 1989.  Time  and Talent commitments during the Stewardship emphasis indicate an active, caring, concerned people.  Our congregation adopted and received ELCA approval of a new constitution.
At the recommendation of the ELCA and with the encouragement of our Bishop. St. John’s began weekly Communion services in 1990.  Our wonderful Lenten Soup Suppers began this year.  St. John’s members continued active volunteer work at our church and in our community through Dutchess Interfaith Council, Dutchess Outreach, Mental Health Association, Scout programs, Interfaith Towers, Blood Drives, and local as well as global missions projects.  Our facility has been used by many community groups, such as AA, Alanon/Alateen,  square dance clubs, aerobics, Boy and Girl Scout programs, dartball and Weight Watchers.  Pastor Hinlicky continued her ministry with us, spending much of her energy on education and youth, along with interest in wider church missions and retreats and conducting services at Vassar Warner Home and Healing Services at St. Francis Hospital.
The following year, 1991, Bishop William Lazareth celebrated the 90th Anniversary of St. John’s with us on Reformation Day.  “To God Be the Glory” was the theme for this anniversary year, when volunteers accomplished 90 tasks to refurbish and redecorate our building.  During this year another Long Range Planning series was held.  Weekly services of evening prayer began with special prayer services held during the Desert Storm War early in the year.  This led to evening prayer services and the first Healing Services.
Anticipating the birth of her first child as well as a call to part‑time ministry, Pastor Hinlicky resigned in March of 1992 and completed her ministry at St. John’s at the end of the summer. Affiliate Pastor Foley resumed some pastoral duties.  Ecumenical services of Christian Unity were held.  St. John’s member Mary B. Heller was elected to the position of Vice President of the Metro New York Synod.  Al Estes, our cheerful sexton of 25 years, retired and moved from the area.
The economic situation in Dutchess County caused major transitions among our parish families  in 1993 as many people accepted early retirements, transfers, job losses and changes.  Through all of this our Pastor Heller was most encouraging to everyone and, indeed, encouraged each member to assist his neighbors and fellow members in many and various ways.  During this year, the Parish Care Committee was formed.  It is similar to the former Karis Ministry but broader in scope, since it provides education as well as care and visitation.  St. John’s renewed participation in the Seminary Intern program.  A committee was formed to investigate the replacement of the organ.  The following year this committee began to study various types of organs and passed their findings on to the congregation through newsletters entitled “Positively Pipes.”  The publication of a congregational Lenten Devotional Booklet by the SAM group began in 1994.  Golf Ministry began, combining an enjoyment of the outdoors and this sport with Christian fellowship.  Vicar Margay Whitlock interviewed many of the senior members of St. John’s for her Oral History Committee to sustain this project. ber the Parish Care Committee held the first of its  “Holy Smoke‑out” Services in conjunction with the American Cancer Society event.
In April of 1995, following many months of learning about various organs, the congregation voted to proceed with the process of replacing our pipe organ with a new pipe organ at a cost not to exceed $250,000.  This same spring, inspired by the Parable of the Sower, St. John’s members responded generously to the need for a care facility in our community, providing $70,000 in pledges.  On September 21, 1995,   Wartburg Lutheran Services broke ground for the Lutheran Care Center at Concord Village.  Pastor Foley moved to California during this year to be near her family.  Vicar Dwight Hanson established the Eucharistic Ministry program during his internship year.
St. John’s was designated “The Bishop’s Church” in 1996.  Metro New York Synod Bishop James Sudbrock became an active member of our congregation for this year.  He worshipped with us at all festivals, taught, and led discussions following the Lenten Soup Suppers. The supplemental hymnal “With One Voice” was introduced.  The Organ Fund campaign was extremely successful.  Our Vicar Jason Talsness was very involved with the youth, and Jason and his wife Alexandra were very committed to serving  ill and homebound members. Our 95th Anniversary was celebrated in October with Bishop Herbert Chilstrom delivering the sermon on October 6th.  The theme for the anniversary year was “The Church’s One Foundation.”
Pastor Heller”s report of his ministry for 1997 describes this as  “A year of surprise, joy, promise and hope for St. John’s.” Our Vicar Shauna Hannan was instrumental in the encouragement  of small groups.  “YAM,” a new young adult fellowship and service group, was formed.   A Book Discussion Group was begun as well.  At the  St. John’s Expo in September, the fellowship hall was filled with wonderful exhibits from each of the different committees and organizations, to indicate to our members the variety of activities St. John’s has to offer.  A new sound system was installed in the nave. At a special congregational meeting on October 26th, approval was given for ordering a new pipe organ from Casavant Freres.  A Building Accessibility Committee was formed in August to improve some conditions in our building.  This committee was made aware of an Eyegaze System which would improve young member Rebecca Seto”s life tremendously.  The Luther League held two car washes and a dessert auction to begin the fund‑raising.  Sunday School children performed “Good Deeds” to earn funds.  An Italian Fiesta dinner, talent show and auction capped off these events, and with matching funds, a total of $31,000 was raised by St. John’s and St. Andrews Lutheran, Smithtown, Rebecca’s grandparents parish.
Building Accessibility Committee activity continued in 1998 with the installation of a wheelchair lift in the education entryway and the addition of elevator stops.  A Disability Expo provided opportunity for everyone to observe Rebecca’s Eyegaze System and to learn from the many other wonderful exhibits available.  St. John’s received a plaque and $200 in recognition of our efforts from the ELCA Division for Church in Society.  Professor Randy Nelson from the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota spent several days at St. John’s, observing a successful internship parish.  Vicar Eric Evers created and taught a Relational Evangelism course.  Parish Care began a bereavement hospitality service.  A very dedicated committee created new liturgy for the contemporary worship service.  On June 21st, Pastor Heller announced that he had accepted a part‑time call as Chaplain at the Lutheran Care Center.  Late in the fall, St. John’s gave him a fine celebration with an Italian Festival Dinner and “A Tribute to the Main Man” on Saturday evening and an inspiring Reformation Service the following morning.  St. John’s people are deeply grateful for the blessings of 23 years of ministry with Pastor Heller and his family.
During the Interim  (November 1998‑ September 2000), St. John’s congregation was indeed fortunate to have Pastor William Eggers as Intentional Interim Minister.  Pastor Eggers arrived with a walking stick to remind us that he would be with us for a brief time period.  Together with the Interim Steering Committee the congregation was led through a six month period  of self‑study of our congregation and its ministry to create a Congregational Profile of our Pastoral needs for our future ministry.    As Lay President,  Bob Knapp wrote, “Pastor Eggers listened, taught, then questioned, prodded and sometimes pushed us into expanding our thoughts with regard to the possibilities for ministry.”   St. John’s was also fortunate to have our “Interim Interim” Pastor Donald Hoger”s assistance.  As Pastor Ward wrote, “I thank him for his grace filled faithfulness and commitment to gift all of us with his dedication, humor, and leadership.  His on‑going work in our congregation is an ongoing blessing to us all.”
Throughout the years, St. John’s members have been reaching out into our community.   Recently, with the opening of the Lutheran Care Center at Concord Village, many new volunteer opportunities have opened.  St. John’s members are involved in ministry at the Care Center in a variety of ways including visits, activities, eucharistic ministry, and assistance with worship services.  Our children make and send greeting cards and crafts; our musicians play and sing for the residents.  A Sunday School class meets there four times a year, sharing their lesson and activities with the residents.   Handbells were purchased in 1999, and four handbell choirs were formed.   The Casavant Freres pipe organ was installed during the summer of 1999 and dedicated on the morning of November 7th, with a glorious concert that afternoon. That same day, Rev. John R. Heller was designated Pastor Emeritus of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
St. John’s contributed generously to  the Jubilee 2000 Fund. Congregational funds of $16,500 were enhanced by $4,000 in individual pledges.  Led by the Holy Spirit, the Call Committee worked and prayed, interviewed and listened, for an entire year.  By July 2000 their efforts were rewarded by the availability of Rev. Daniel B. Ward to become our spiritual leader.  Pastor Ward was our first Vicar in 1976‑1977.  He led worship and preached the sermon on August 6, 2000, and at a special congregational meeting following the 9:30 service, the call was unanimously approved, and he and his family became a part of St. John’s.  Pastor Ward was installed as Senior Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church on October 22, 2000, with Pastor Richard H. Mueller, Dean of the Hudson Conference, presiding and Pastor.
St. John’s 1901 – 1923
St. John’s 1923 – 1956
St. John’s 1956 – 1984
St. John’s 1985 – 2000
St. Johns 2001 – Present