The APRIL 2022 monthly Vine is available on our website.
To keep up-to-date with what is happening at St. John’s, CLICK HERE .
Maundy Thursday
“A Covenant Meal”
April 14, 2022
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
“This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” This Thursday we celebrate and commemorate the covenant meal which Jesus has given to us, His Church: “Do this in memory of Me.” This meal celebrates, illustrates, and incarnates our covenant oneness with Christ. It confirms us in our identity and empowers us for the kingdom work to which Christ sends us. May the reality that we celebrate tonight shape our lives each day!
The service concludes with the “stripping of the altar,” the removal of all items and ornamentation from the chancel, representing the humbling and persecution of Christ after His arrest.
Five young people will be making their first Communion. We rejoice with them and their families at this occasion.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 7:00 PM.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
April 15, 2022
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
We celebrate victory in defeat, life in death, innocence in condemnation. We celebrate the great exchange, that He who knew no sin because sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, the condemnation of One becomes acquittal for all, apparent defeat for One became victory for all, and the brutal death of One became the entrance to eternal life for all who trust in Him. This is the good tragedy we celebrate on Friday of Holy Week.
The service includes the reading of the Passion as part of the Tenebrae, the Service of Shadows. The sanctuary will gradually grow darker as candles are extinguished and lights are dimmed. This is to represent the extinguishing of the life of the Son of God, our Savior. May God bless our meditation this evening as He draws us to the cross.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 7:00 PM.
Easter Vigil
April 16, 2022
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
The Vigil of Easter is a special service designed to remember our Lord’s resurrection. Moving from darkness to light, we remember that Jesus is our Light, we recall the mighty acts of God, and we pause to remember our Baptism. We do all this in the context of the greatest event in history: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Everyone will assemble in the Faith Chapel for the beginning of the service.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 8:00 PM.
Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of Our Lord
“The Tomb is Empty”
April 17, 2022
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia! A weekend is a relatively short period of time. They go by so quickly. Yet, the time from the death to the resurrection of Jesus must have seemed like an eternity for His disciples. They were most likely hiding in fear and struggling with guilt, anger, frustration, grief, and a multitude of other emotions. All these emotions left them with feelings of emptiness and hopelessness; now what? They had hoped He was the Messiah. Then news came that the tomb was empty. Peter and John ran to the tomb. As the truth of the resurrection unfolds on that first Easter day, the significance of the empty tomb fills the emptiness of their hearts with joy, hope, and peace. The resurrection of Jesus Christ continues to bring hope and peace and joy into the midst of our emptiness. The tomb is empty! He is our Messiah! Alleluia!
There will be two communion services on Easter with Pastor Mark Heine as our guest preacher.
The 8:30 service will be a traditional service in the Sanctuary with choir and organ. The 10:30 service will be include the worship band leading the singing.
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE: Both services will be in the sanctuary.
Please note that only the 8:30 Easter service will be streamed.
Hallelujah Chorus on Easter Sunday
The Sanctuary Choir will be singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah at the 8:30 service on Easter Sunday. If you would like to join the choir for this great anthem of praise, please stop by the organ bench in the sanctuary and pick up the sheet music. There are also lots of practice parts on YouTube. There will be a warm up and run through on Easter morning at 8:10.
Easter Flower Cross
The flower Cross will be out and ready for fresh flowers to be placed on it this Easter! Please bring fresh flowers with you on Easter Sunday to add to the Cross. If you have any questions regarding the Flower Cross please contact Penni Cremen.
Please Join Us For Easter Breakfast!
Where: St. John’s Lutheran Parish Hall
When: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17, 2022
Sponsored by: St. John’s Lutheran Youth
Our Menu:
- Egg Bake Casserole
- Assorted Pastries
- Fresh Fruit
- Assorted Juices
- Milk, Coffee and Tea
- Free Will Donation: All proceeds from this year’s breakfast will support our youth budget including the LCMS National Youth Gathering & the CNH Jr. District Youth Gathering.
Stephen Ministry Survey
In order to better serve our St. John’s community, we would like your input on a few questions. Please click on this link to go to a brief five-question survey that should only take a minute of your time. Thank you for your feedback! Stephen Ministry Survey.
You Are Invited to SJLS Chapel on May 11
You are invited to join the St. John’s students for chapel on Wednesday, May 11, at 8:40 in the morning. For many years, Mrs. Gewirz’s 3rd grade class sponsored students who attend the Garuna Christian (Lutheran) Schools in Cambodia, and they are encouraging everyone at St. John’s to join in, too! The students are called “Garuna Kids”. They live in a country where 98% are Buddhist. The Gospel message is new to them, and you are helping them to hear this Good News. Did you know that the word “Garuna” means grace?
For more information, Click Here
VBS Volunteers!
We are so excited to be able to offer VBS this year! It feels like forever since we last put one on. We are opening registration to kids who have at least one year of preschool under their belts through incoming 5th graders.
The only way this will be possible is with many helping hands. This link will allow you to register as a volunteer as well. Click here to Register!
Please consider joining us for VBS this summer as we hope to impact as many kids with the Good News of Jesus as we can! Incoming 7th Graders and above are eligible to volunteer for VBS. VBS will take place June 20-24 from 9am- Noon.
Kevin Mathison, Director of Youth Ministry
As a Thrivent member, you are eligible for two Thrivent Action Teams per year. Thrivent Action Teams are a great way to make a positive impact in your community. Thrivent offers all the resources you need to get started, including up to $250 in seed money. Your team below provide the passion that brings your project to life. Here are some ideas on how you can help us here at St. John’s…
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Youth Easter Breakfast, VBS, Mission Farm, Large Print Ministry and LCC K9 Comfort Dog Ministry
Please call the church office if you are inspired to help with projects like these above and much more. Christy Kramer will be happy to help you apply for your Action Team Card.
CLICK HERE for instructions. CLICK HERE for more information.
Give+ App is Changing…
The Give+ Mobile App from VANCO shut down 1 Oct 21 and no longer is available for download as a mobile app. The new app is called VANCO Mobile.
Giving through Vanco Mobile is easy! Just download the new app and create a new user profile in VANCO Mobile.
Do you wish to receive the E-Vine by text?
Signing up is simple. Just text “sjlctext” to 855-906-0515. When an e-vine is sent out, you will receive a text with a link which will take you to the current e-vine. If you currently receive the e-vine by email, you will continue to receive it that way as well, unless you request for it to stop.
Drivers Needed
We have members that no longer drive and need a ride to and from church on Sunday mornings. If you can help, please contact the church office.
Where do I find sermons and services that I missed?
You can find previous sermons in three places. The full services are available on the YouTube channel.
- YouTube Channel:
- https://www.youtube.com/user/stjohnsnapaca/live
- There are playlists for sermons, Sunday Services, Wednesday Night Worship and teaching on Matthew
- RightNow Media Channel
- https://www.rightnowmedia.org/CustomLibrary/41667
- Scroll down to find recommendations as well as sermon and Gospel of Matthew lessons
- Website
- https://stjohnslutheran.net/sermons-2/
- The sermons are arranged by worship series
If you haven’t already signed up for Right Now Media, CLICK HERE.