St. John’s Golf Ministry for Duffers and Pros
Everyone is welcome to come and join with us for great fellowship while improving their golf skills, getting exercise and enjoying nature. We welcome all skill levels and ages. There are about 30 on our roster, half of whom are members and the other half nonmembers from the community. We encourage all in the community to join with us and to bring their children and grandchildren too. Our objective of having people of the community at large as well as of all ages and skills continues to be met.
We play 9 holes at the Vassar College Golf Course every Wednesday at 9 AM from early April until Thanksgiving. The only cost is individual greens fees and a luncheon at the end of the season. You don’t have to participate each week. Frequently, contests are held in which all skill levels have a chance to win. Contests include fewest putts, zero putts, low gross, low net and, occasionally, a contest playing the course with only 3 clubs of your choice.
We average 12 to 16 players per week and play in groups of 3 or 4. This offers great fellowship coupled with some exercise and a chance to get to know many people.
For any information call the church office at (845) 452-21550; Fred Oberender at (845) 897-5470; or Dave Maxcy at (845) 462-6284.
Reading Group
St. John’s Reading Group meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM, with a break during the summer months. They discuss a wide range of novels suggested by all members of the group. No experience needed, everyone is welcome to drop in. The schedule of meeting dates are available in the church kiosks or by emailing jjones@stjohnselc.org. Click here for a list of this year’s books.
60+ Exercise Group
Twice a week a group of people both from St. John’s and from the wider community engage in exercise and instruction on keeping healthy and fit. This program has been extremely well received and helpful in keeping people in shape as they age. This program is offered through Dutchess County Office of the Aging.
Special Events
St. John’s has many special events throughout the course of a year that encourage fellowship and fun. We have an annual potluck dinner in January and as other occasions arise. We also have regular Soup Suppers on Wednesdays during Lent where we gather for a hot bowl of delicious soup along with bread and desserts before attending the Lenten Service. Our Lenten services are very different each year, revolving around a theme or idea. They are inspiring as well as thought provoking and serve as an important part of St. John’s Lenten Journey together.
Bunco is a popular night at church where congregants as well as community friends come to participate in a night of fun a laughter; playing the game in teams, mixing up those teams after every round of play and passing around the booby prize after rolling the dreaded double 3’s. Young children as well as adults play during the intergenerational night of fun.
Our Youth Group has an annual Dinner/Talent Show that stresses the capacity of our Fellowship Hall as many come out to eat a tasty meal and share their talents. We have had musicians, joke tellers, magicians, handbell choirs and fire breathers. (Don’t worry – we had the fire extinguisher handy!)
Our small groups, although focused on serious things such as Bible study take “field trips” to go out to dinner, see movies, or attend other community activities just for fun. Sometimes small groups join together to plan congregation events such as a Progressive Dinner. This is where we begin a meal together in one location, then travel from house to house for various courses, ending up together again for dessert.
All these special events, while entertaining, serve to help us know one another better and bond us as a faith community. We welcome all in the community to attend these events to experience why St. John’s Lutheran Church is such a special group.
