E-Vine March 26, 2015

This Week’s Memory Verse

 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” ~Luke 10:5-6

This Sunday:   This Sunday is Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday, two celebrations in one service.  We begin with a commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Then we look forward to the events of the coming week, and the Passion of our Lord, culminating with His atoning sacrifice on the cross.  These services also include the “Passing of the Leash” as we welcome our new Comfort Dog.  We will also be installing our Comfort Dog Team and blessing them as they begin this new ministry in our community.

• Zechariah 9:9-12
• Philippians 2:5-11
• Mark 15:1-47

• INVEST Pledge Forms: Please return the pledge form which you received in the mail.  This is a way to state your commitment to invest in your relationship with the Lord and His mission, but also to help us as we plan our ministry and budget for the coming fiscal year.  You can return the form to worship or to the church office.  Additional pledge forms are available in the church entryway.
• Holy Week Schedule and Invitation. . . In the church entryway you may pick up one or more cards with the Holy Week Schedule printed on them.  Please consider taking several to give to friends and neighbors along with your invitation to join us for worship this Holy Week.  A copy of the Holy Week schedule is attached.
• Our K-9 Comfort Dog is here!  We welcome Aaron Comfort Dog to our St. John’s staff!  Handler training will be March 26-29^th.  “Passing of the Leash” will be Palm Sunday, March 29^th, at both services with a reception following each service.
• Comfort Dog Puppy Shower:  Thank you to everyone who contributed toward our Puppy Shower.  The reception was enjoyed by all.  We have purchased food and supplies for Aaron, our newest staff member. Thanks also to Thrivent Financial for the $250 action team card for event expenses. Join us at the “Passing of the Leash”.
• Easter Flowers… The Worship Preparation Team welcomes your donations to cover the cost of flowers used for Easer worship. Please use the envelopes in the pew racks and put them in the offering plate. If your gift is a memorial, names will be listed in the Easter bulletin. Thank you!
• Easter Egg Hunt… We are in need of filled plastic Easter Eggs for our Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday.  There are 2 boxes in the Narthex where you can drop off the eggs before Easter Sunday. You can fill the eggs with candy, little toys, and/or stickers!   Children up to 10 years old are invited to participate on Easter Sunday at 9:45am in Faith Chapel. Please bring a basket to collect the eggs.
• Thrivent Builds Mission Trip…Where: Costa Rica, When: June 13 – 21, 2015, Who: Current college students and those who are 20 and older, What: Assisting a family with the building of their new home, Cost: Thrivent members $940, non-members $1,290, How Many: This event is limited to 15 participants, Registration: Email Pastor Mark for trip and registration details – pastormark@stjohnslutheran.net, Deadline: Registration ends April 15
• 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.
• Attention Concordia Students:  The congregation will now accept applications for student grants for the 2015-2016 academic year.  All members of St. John’s, who plan to attend any of our ten synodical universities or our two seminaries, are eligible to apply.  All you have to do is send a brief note to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, ATTN: Tim Kramer, or an e-mail to tkramer@stjohnslutheran.net, announcing your intent to enroll in the 2015-2016 academic year.  All applications must include the following information:

1. Your Name
2. School Name
3. Student ID or Account #  (if returning student)
4. Degree you are pursuing
5. Year and Level of study (e.g. Junior year, undergrad; 5^th year, teacher certification, or student teaching; graduate studies)
6. Attending Fall Term or Spring Term (or both)
7. Briefly explain why you’re attending Concordia and how you plan to use your studies/future vocation to shine the light of Christ and to witness for Jesus as His kingdom representative in the world.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2015.  Actual grant amount to each student is undetermined but will be based, in part, upon the number of students requesting assistance.  So, if you are considering attending a synodical university–even if you have not made a final decision–please send a brief note informing us of where you are in your decision process so that we can plan accordingly.

• St. John’s is on Twitter  Follow St. John’s on Twitter:  @sjlcnapa.
• Are you on Facebook?  So are we!  https://www.facebook.com/sjlcnapa
• New Narthex Display:   The various crosses are symbols of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.
• 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.   https://stjohnslutheran.net/abide-devotion/