The DECEMBER 2022 monthly Vine is available on our website.
To keep up-to-date with what is happening at St. John’s, CLICK HERE .
“Why He Came: Healing”
December 11, 2022
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
We need healing. Our world is in need of healing. So much sickness: physical, mental, emotional. There is so much that is unhealthy and life draining. Jesus came to bring healing. Because of His coming, we live with the hope of a new creation in which there will be perfect healing. As citizens now of this new creation, we strive to be agents of biblical healing in our lives.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 9:30 AM. Please CLICK HERE to download the link to the live-stream itself.
We will be streaming on our Facebook Page as well: CLICK HERE .
What Are Your Favorite Christmas Hymns?
What are your favorite Christmas Hymns? Please share up to six of your favorites with this form. At the Advent Midweek service on Wednesday, December 21, Pastor Mike will countdown the top six Christmas Hymns of St. John’s. Each hymn will be preceded by a few devotional thoughts based on the origin or meaning of the hymns. Please provide your answers by Monday, December 19. (Note: They don’t have to be in our hymnal, but they should be appropriate for worship)
CLICK HERE TO INCLUDE YOUR FAVORITE HYMNS: https://forms.gle/vBi1LJ59yZJQHQnu6
Poinsettia & Christmas Tree Donations
Would you like to donate to support the purchase of our beautiful Christmas trees and poinsettias that decorate our sanctuary? If so, please use a specially-designated envelope that can be found on the stand in the narthex when you enter the church. Thank you for your support!
Lessons and Carols
Next Wednesday’s Advent midweek service (7:00 PM) is a traditional Lessons and Carols, focusing on the promise and fulfillment of the Messiah. The main part of the service consists of nine readings tracing salvation. For each reading, there is a choral response, either sung by the Sanctuary Choir or by the congregation.
Sunday Bible Classes
The Birth of Jesus Christ Do you have questions about the birth of Christ in the Bible? Where do we see reflections of familiar Christmas Hymns, and where do the hymns go too far? Pastor Mike will lead a study of the birth narratives in Luke 1-2, and Matthew 1. All are welcome! Join us in Room 10 at 11:00 on Sunday morning.
Women’s Bible Study (Tuesdays)
The Women’s Bible Study will next meet on December 20th at 10:00 AM in Room 10. All are invited! The study is using “Christ Esteem” by Don Matzat.
Upcoming Advent Midweek Services
The services will be on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Each service will have a different focus. PLEASE NOTE: These services will NOT be streamed live. They may be recorded for later uploading to our YouTube channel
- December 14 – Lessons and Carols: Led by the Sanctuary Choir. A service of Word and Song, tracing the prophecies of the Messiah through the announcement of His birth.
- December 21 – The Hymns of Christmas – We will countdown your favorite Christmas hymns to sing, along with a brief devotion on each one about the hymn’s background and message. Watch for an upcoming survey to indicate your favorites!
St. John’s School Christmas Program
Please join us this Sunday afternoon for the St. John’s School Christmas Programs. There are two programs: 1:30p,m and 3:00pm. The 1:30 program includes the Kindergarten/1st Grade Choir, the 2nd/3rdGrade Choir, the Choraliers and the Handbells. The 3:00 program includes the 4th/5th Choir, the Choraliers and the Handbells.
Christmas Worship
We will have three services in celebration of the birth of the Savior:
- Christmas Eve, 4:00 PM – Children and Family Service, including a birthday cake for Jesus!
- Christmas Eve, 7:00 PM – In Person in the Sanctuary, Communion and Candlelight. This service will include both the worship band and the organ, along with the Sanctuary Choir. This service will also be streamed.
- Christmas Day, 9:30 AM – In Person in the Sanctuary, Communion. This service will also be streamed.
Please join us on Tuesday, December 13th for a Dine and Donate at Mary’s Pizza Shack on Jefferson Street. Mary’s will donate 20% to St. John’s Lutheran School for Dine-In and Take-Out orders all day. Please CLICK HERE for required flyer. Thanks for supporting our school!
Soup Suppers Return!
We will be having soup suppers before the four Advent midweek services, beginning on November 30. Each soup supper will be at 6:00 PM in the Parish Hall. Would you like provide a soup? Please use this link: SOUP SUPPER SIGNUP Slow Cookers are available for use, if needed. Thank you.
Best Practices for Ministry Conference
BPM 2023 will take place on February 16-18 at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, Arizona. Best Practice for Ministry is a free conference for pastors, church workers and lay people. The purpose is to learn and share ideas and practices to help us grow in living God’s Mission. For more information, please click here: https://cclphoenix.org/bpm/
As we have done in the past, St. John’s will be covering lodging for all participants from St. John’s, but not transportation. The conference itself is free. If you are interested, in addition to registering at the link above, please notify the church office.
Surge is back this week! We will be meeting in Room 8 on Tuesday at 6pm for a night of fun, fellowship, and devotion.
Mission Farm News
Please consider a donation to the Mission Farm this December in support of its mission of feeding the hungry people in our community. During December you have two portals through which you can make your donation. You can use the portal that exists on the CanDo GiveGuide website (www.candogiveguide.org). This portal makes it easy to make a donation online, paying for it with a credit card. Or you may elect to send in a check to GiveGuide so that the Farm receives 100% of your donation. If you do it by check, then make the check out to “CanDoGiveGuide”. In the process of making the donation online, you will have indicated that it is for St. John’s Lutheran Mission Farm and will be sending a check.. OR you can simply use the portal of St. John’s Church office, which is always available to you, Use a Designated Gift Offering Envelope, and place a check inside made out to “St. John’s Lutheran Church” and earmark the check for “St. John’s LC Mission Farm”. Place it in the offering plate, or mail it to the Church office.
Christmas Tree Decorating 2022
Christmas tree decorating will take place on Thursday, December 8th (stringing lights on the trees) from 4 – 6 p.m. and Friday, December 9th (hanging ornaments and arranging poinsettias) from 2 -4 p.m. If you would like to assist the Worship Preparation Team on either or both days, please come! Contact Bob or Doris Klein or Betsy Gewirz with any questions.
Right Now Media
Right now media is an online resource providing Christian videos for all ages: Children’s resource, Bible Studies, lectures and more. As a congregation, we have subscribed to Right Now Media, so access is free for all in our St. John’s family. If you haven’t already signed up for Right Now Media, CLICK HERE.
Napa State Hospital Donation UPDATE
Napa State Hospital Volunteer Center is getting ready for the holidays and is seeking donations on behalf of their patients.
Please CLICK HERE for a list of items needed. Or check the “Wish List” flyer attached to the donation box in the narthex to see what items are being requested.
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…
- Youth Events, 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 has changed…
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
Ongoing News and Information
LCC K9 Comfort Dog Info… 
Scrip Info: What is Scrip?… 
Social Media at St. John’s… 
Donate to SJLC through Amazon… 
Mission India…
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