E-Vine June 4, 2015

This Week’s Memory Verse

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16 

This Sunday:  Last fall we journeyed through the book of Exodus, walking with the people of God as they were delivered from slavery in Egypt. We saw God’s mighty acts of deliverance in the plagues visited upon Egypt, the Passover, and the parting of the Red Sea. In the wilderness we considered God’s provision in the gift of manna, and what it means to be His people, in the giving of the covenant. We considered the shape of the life of the people of God in the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the meaning of worshiping in His presence as we looked at the construction of the tabernacle. This summer we will pick up the story of God’s deliverance of His people and continue their trek through the wilderness – both physical and spiritual – as He leads them at last across the Jordan to the Promised Land. Today we consider the lure of idolatry in the account of the golden calf.

• Exodus 32: 1-35
• Matthew 22:34-40

• Congregational Meeting June 7 at 11:30.  There will be a voters assembly meeting on June 7 at 11:30  in the Sanctuary.  On the agenda will be the election of four members of the Board of Directors, as well as the Proposed Ministry Plan and Budget for 2015-2016.  The Proposed Ministry Plan and Budget can we downloaded from the website here: https://stjohnslutheran.net/ministry-documents-2/.  Also on that page is a preliminary report on our progress on the ministry plan for 2014-2015.  Information on the nominees for the Board of Directors positions will be posted soon.

• 2015 Church Directories are available for pick-up in the Narthex and the Church Office.

• Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity – Costa Rica Mission Trip – June 13 – 21, 2015

Participants:  Bill and Susan Clark, Haley Cremen, Sam Hoff, Megan Perna, Sal Pagano, Melissa Newton, Pastor Mark.  Participants will be commissioned for this trip in both services on June 7, 2015.

Habitat Costa Rica:  Habitat for Humanity Costa Rica is changing lives and communities throughout the country.  There are currently over 200,000 families in Costa Rica who live in substandard housing: in shacks with dirt or decrepit floors, with inadequate or unsafe weather protection, and with poor sanitation facilities.  Today, over 1500 Costa Rican families have been helped through Habitat of Humanity Costa Rica’s new home projects as well as the home repair and improvement program in the last 17 years.

Trip Cost:  Each participant has covered their in-country cost for the trip.  We hope to cover the cost for airfare ($6,765) through support donations and available Mission Trip funds.  Please prayerfully consider financially supporting this trip.  Donations should be made out to St. John’s Lutheran Church – designated: “Costa Rica Mission Trip”.

• Director of Youth Ministry Installation:  Sam Troemel is finishing his Internship and will be installed as our Director of Youth Ministry.  This will take place in  a special worship service in the Faith Chapel on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 6:00 PM.  A light reception will follow.

• Vacation Bible School: Please pre-register by ASAP to make sure your child receives a T-shirt. Here is the link to the registration form found on the church website:

https://stjohnslutheran.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/VBSREGISTRATION-FORM2015.pdf

Any questions please contact:

• Jenny Gass at jenny_gass@yahoo.com or 707-307-3866
• Joy Dahl at jdahl@stjohnsnapa.org or 707-287-7738

• Aaron Comfort Dog Visits:  If you would like to request a visit from Aaron, please contact Tim or Christy Kramer @ 255-0119.  For an update on his activities, please check out his Facebook page at AaronComfortDog 

• Mission India:  Please keep our Mission India Literacy trainer in your prayers.  As announced in church, we have met the goal for financially supporting our trainer for this year.  But we are still collecting support for Mission India which will go toward supporting other literacy trainers.  To support this ministry financially, please make out your check to St. John’s.  You can use the designated offering envelopes or write on your check that it is for Mission India.  For more information about our partnership with Mission India and the opportunity to change lives and draw them to Christ, see the display in the church entryway.

• St. John’s is on Twitter  Follow us @sjlcnapa on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/sjlcnapa
• Are you on Facebook?  So are we!  https://www.facebook.com/sjlcnapa

• Abide Daily Devotion: How do I let Scripture guide my prayer life?  How can I let Jesus direct what I pray for each day?  The Abide Devotion, written by Pastor Mike, is a daily devotion designed to address these concerns.   You can click here for more information and to subscribe to receive the devotion in your email each morning.