I am thrilled to be the new Office Administrator at St. John’s.  I am a retired teacher who taught for 30 years in a variety of grade levels, but mostly in Kindergarten and 4-Year-OldKindergarten, in the Wisconsin Heights School District.  My husband and I live in Mazomanie and have a 22-year-old son.  I enjoy reading, doing crafts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.  I am very excited to begin my “second act” here at St. John’s.  Please feel free to stop in the office and introduce yourself.

Angie Updike

Are you ready to make St. John’s your church home? We invite all visitors and those interested in membership to join our upcoming orientation class! If you know someone looking for a new church home, please pass this invitation along. We have set the following dates for our new member process:

New Member Orientation Class: Sunday, January 25th, at 9:15 AM (between worship services).
New Member Welcome Sunday: Sunday, February 1st, at the 8:00 AM worship service, followed by a reception

Please contact Pastor Tom if you are interested in joining, simply learning more about the possibility of joining, or are unable to attend class on the 25th.

Please join us for worship!

Regular Worship Times:

We have worship at 8am and 10:30am every Sunday in the fall, winter and spring months. Fellowship, Adult and Children’s Education take place at 9:15am between services. Our summer worship schedule is one service at 9am on Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

All services are available in our sanctuary or on Zoom.  To join by Zoom, use this link St. John’s Worship.  You can also join us using the link on our webpage in the upper right hand corner, “Join Us Live for Worship.” 

 

 

“Hello, I’m Pastor Tom Kreis, and I’m passionate about connecting faith to the messy, beautiful realities of our everyday lives. My sermons attempt to challenge us to embrace a radical, Christ-like love, pushing past societal labels like ‘enemy’ to see the inherent dignity in every person. This conviction is born from many years of life experience and is at the very heart of my ministry.

My journey into pastoring began later in life, a testament to God’s patient calling. For 22 years, Karen and I were rooted at Norway Grove Lutheran Church, a community where our daughter was baptized and confirmed, and where my own faith truly deepened. It was there that I felt compelled to embark in seminary studies, a decision that has been fulfilling. I’m forever grateful to the pastors and congregation of Norway Grove for nurturing that call and shaping the servant I strive to be today.

Karen, my wonderful wife of 32 years, and I live near Orfordville, Wisconsin. We’re incredibly proud of our 28-year-old daughter Katie and her husband, Josh, who, with their dog Luther, call Cedar Falls, Iowa, home.

My path to ministry took a few interesting turns. I started life in Janesville, Wisconsin, and my family moved to Brownsville, Texas. Our family moved back to Wisconsin when I was a junior in High School, and I graduated from Darlington High School. I then went to UW-Platteville and graduated with a degree in Political Science. Before seminary, I spent 17 years in manufacturing at Penda Corporation and then a decade in the insurance industry with American Family. These experiences in the business world gifted me with a unique lens, helping me understand the diverse joys and challenges faced by people from all walks of life.

Ultimately, graduating from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, wasn’t just a degree – it was the culmination of a lifelong journey of faith leading to service. Karen and I love to travel and cherish every moment spent with friends and family, finding joy in connection, much like the connection I strive to build within the church community.”

Pastor Tom begins as Lead Pastor at St John’s in September 2025.

(August 2025)

We are getting ready to launch another year of Sunday School for your children! Here are some important dates and information as we prepare:

1. Join us for Rally Day on Sunday 9/21/25 at 9:15am. This is the day for your child to become familiar with their teacher and classroom. We’ll start with a large group activity in the Sanctuary, followed by classroom time with projects and fun. See https://tinyurl.com/StJohnRallyDay for all information.
2. If you haven’t already, complete the Sunday School Registration Form at https://tinyurl.com/StJohnSundayReg.
3. The first day of regular class is Sunday 9/28/25 at 9:15am.
4. Each year, we help the students share God’s blessings through an offering project. This year’s Sunday School Offering Project is for the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry. See https://tinyurl.com/StJohnOffering for all information. Donations are accepted every week!
5. You can find the entire Sunday School Calendar at https://tinyurl.com/SunSchoolCalendar. Updates will be provided as they happen.