DCE Intern Molly Gowen – Our new DCE Intern will be Molly Gowen from Concordia University Chicago. Molly will be arriving at St. John’s on June 1 and will be installed on June 2. Please keep her in your prayers!
Witness to the Resurrection
In the book of Acts, the apostles identified themselves as “eyewitnesses of the resurrection.” They were the ones who saw the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes. But being a witness of the resurrection is more than having seen Jesus. It means actively bearing witness through word and deed. Although we have not seen with our physical eyes the resurrected Lord, we are called to be “Witnesses of the Resurrection” just the same. By the way we live our lives, by the way we speak, by the way we face challenges, hardships and death, we bear witness to the resurrection.
Our worship series in April is entitled: “Witness to the Resurrection.” We are going to look at four ways in which we can actively engage in witness, and so share with others the resurrection of Jesus.
- April 7 – Witness by our Lives: We have a covenant oneness with the resurrected Lord. Therefore our lives are shaped by his resurrection, and so we are called to live in such a way that our lives give evidence that the Lord is indeed raised from the dead. How does my life give witness to the resurrection of Jesus?
- April 14 – Witness by our Words: If we believe in the resurrection, we will want to speak of the resurrection. Every day provides opportunities to live this witness. How can my words give witness to the resurrection of Jesus?
- April 21 – Witness by our Death: Those who believe in the resurrection through Christ will approach suffering and death differently. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We have hope because Christ is raised from the dead.
- April 28 – Witness by our Memorial Services: In many cases the final witness we can give on this earth is a Memorial Service that proclaims the resurrection. What a gift to give our loved ones, sharing with them our testimony of faith in the Risen Jesus!
Holy Week Worship Schedule
Palm Sunday, March 24
We begin with celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but then our attention shifts to the cross and the passion of our Lord. (Worship may begin in the Faith Chapel if weather permits)
Maundy Thursday, March 28
We commemorate the Lord’s Last Supper and His gift to us in Holy Communion. Communion Services at 1:00 and 7:00 PM. The evening service will also be first Communion for those who have recently completed the Communion preparation classes.
Good Friday, March 29
We commemorate our Lord’s love for us in laying down His life for us on the cross. Worship at 1:00 and 7:00 PM. The 7:00 PM service will be a Tenebrae service, with a gradual darkening of the church as we meditate on the saving work of Christ.
Easter Vigil, March 30
Liturgically, Easter begins at sundown on Easter Eve, following the Jewish custom of beginning the new day at sundown. We begin our Easter celebration with this beautiful service of Light at 8:00 PM on Saturday. We re-affirm our new birth in Baptism, receiving the sign of the cross in water upon our foreheads, a forgiving counterpart to the ashes of repentance on Ash Wednesday. (Worship may begin in the Faith Chapel if weather permits)
Easter Sunday, March 31
The holy people of God are a joyful people because resurrection is the final word. No matter what troubles may confront us, Christ has overcome, and in Him we rejoice. There will be Communion on this Sunday at both the 8:30 and 10:15 AM services.
Covenant and Kingdom
Covenant and Kingdom
Lent Series
Can you see the forest for the trees? That well known expression describes the problem we sometimes have in seeing the big picture because we are bogged down in the details of the little picture. If we could just step back and see the big picture, we’d better understand how all the little pieces fit together.
Can we see the forest of the Bible for all the trees? The Bible is a big book. Very big. Because of that we sometimes find it intimidating. Or confusing. How do all these stories, teachings and poetry fit together? We know that it is about Jesus and our response to Him. But we need more than that to make sense of it all. What is the big picture? What is the forest? If I could better see the forest, I would better understand the trees. And myself. And my God.
There is a big picture in the Bible. Overarching themes that when understood help us in understanding the truth of Scripture, and applying it to our lives.
Think of it is as DNA. Every cell in your body has DNA, which describes and defines you physically. This double spiral runs through every cell of your body. There is DNA that runs through the Bible. One strand is Covenant, one strand is Kingdom. There is a warp and a weft of this richly woven fabric of Scripture. There is longitude and latitude that God has drawn for your life. There are two themes that will give you the big picture.
This big picture of Scripture is Covenant and Kingdom. What do we mean by this? Covenant is about relationship. Kingdom is about responsibility. Covenant is about being. Kingdom is about doing. Covenant is about identity. Kingdom is about representing. Click here for more information.
Our Lent series this year is called Covenant and Kingdom. This will be the focus on the Sundays of Lent as well as the Wednesday evenings.
This will be an immersive series:
- There is a book to read throughout this series. Covenant and Kingdom by Mike Breen. We will have some copies available for purchase. You can also order it here:http://weare3dm.com/store/covenant-kingdom-the-dna-of-the-bible-paperback. It is also available as a Kindle or Nook book for $9.99. Click here for more information and a reading schedule.
- We will be focusing on these themes during worship throughout Lent. (Keep in mind that if you miss a week, you can always catch up by watching or listening to the sermon on the St. John’s website.)
- February 17 – Abraham and the Covenant
- February 24 – Joseph and the Kingdom
- March 3 – Moses
- March 10 – Jesus and the temptation
- March 17 – Jesus and the Cross
- March 24 – Jesus, Paul and the Church
- The following Wednesday evenings will provide further application of those themes, as well as opportunity for small group discussion
An Invitation to Trust: Ten for Ten
An Invitation To Trust: Ten for Ten
Faith empowers us to give generously. What we do with our pocketbooks is a reflection of the condition of our hearts. Our willingness to give is an indicator of where the priorities in our lives are. Tithing (giving 10 percent) is a statement of faith. If our hearts are filled with the love of Christ, His love will be visible in what we do and give. As Christians today, we are motivated for stewardship by the gift of God’s grace through His Son. Our giving can have no greater foundation than the Gospel of forgiveness.
During the following weeks, we will be challenged to tithe or to grow in the grace of giving by increasing our proportionate amount of giving. Giving is an important part of our worship and praise of Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Our giving gives our Lord honor and gratitude for Who He is and what He has done.
Tithing is given to us as a guide for proportionate giving. As New Testament Christians, tithing is an expectation rather than a command. For some of us, tithing is already a reality and, through God’s grace, He may be setting a higher standard for us to achieve. For many others, the tithe will be a big leap forward and will be a big test of faith. In Ephesians 3:20-21, Paul’s words promise us that our faith in God to enable our giving is well-placed. “Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us to Him be glory in all the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
We will be exploring what God’s Word says to us on this topic over three weeks beginning on January 20. Then we will be invited to take a ten week challenge on Tithing. Those who do not currently tithe will be invited to try it for ten weeks. Those who currently tithe will be invited to consider a proportionate increase for ten weeks. And through it all, we will be trusting in God’s gracious promises to provide for all of our needs so that we can be generous.
With You I Am Well Pleased
Those are the words that the Father speaks about Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:17). The Father loves the Son and is “well pleased” with Him. What’s interesting about this is that at this point in His ministry, Jesus hasn’t really done anything. He’s just beginning. And yet the Father announces that He takes delight in Him and is in fact proud of Him. It is a picture of grace. The Father’s “well pleased” pronouncement isn’t based on Jesus’ accomplishments. It’s based on the love of the Father.
Jesus’ baptism is a model for our own. Although to all appearances our baptisms aren’t as dramatic as Jesus’ – we don’t see the heavens torn open, see doves flying down, and audibly hear the Father’s voice – the same pronouncement is made regarding us: “Here is my son. Here is my daughter, whom I love. With him, with her, I am well pleased.”
Maybe you are beginning to make plans for a new year, resolutions to improve what you do, habits that lead to greater health, or practices that improve your growth in other areas. That’s all well and good, and may God bless you in those endeavors. But one thing that we can’t make a resolution to improve on is the amount of love that we receive from the Father. His pronouncement of love, His taking delight in us isn’t based on what we have accomplished, or what we resolve to accomplish in the new year. But rather it is based solely on His love for us.
So as you head off into a new year, may you step off from this foundation. You are a child of the Father, who loves you, and He is delighted in you, as He always will be.