Third Sunday in Advent
“The Gift of Joy”
December 12, 2021
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
As We Gather
We celebrate today the gift of joy that is ours because of the coming of Christ. The joy that is ours in Christ is grounded in Him, His life, His death and His resurrection. This is deeper and richer than what we commonly refer to as “happiness.” Happiness has to do with circumstances, which by nature are constantly changing. Christ Joy is grounded in the unchanging character of God and the saving work of Jesus. May God grant each of us His joy as we celebrate the coming of the Savior.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 9:30 AM. Please CLICK HERE to download the handout, and to link to the live-stream itself.
We will be streaming on our Facebook Page as well: CLICK HERE
Advent Midweek Series
“Lessons and Carols from Around the World”
December 15, 2021
Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.
The Sanctuhttps://stjohnslutheran.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Health-and-Healing-December-8.pdfary Choir will lead us in a service of Scripture readings and Carols on Wednesday evening, December 15 at 7:00 pm. This service follows the plan of salvation in Word and Song, culminating in the coming of the Savior.
Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 7:00 PM. Please CLICK HERE to link to the live-stream. We will be streaming on our Facebook Page as well: CLICK HERE
Christmas Worship
We will have three services in celebration of the birth of the Savior:
- Christmas Eve, 4:00 PM – Children and Family Service
- Christmas Eve, 7:00 PM – In-Person in the Sanctuary, Communion and Candlelight. This service will also be streamed.
- Christmas Day – This service, which will be pre-recorded, will be available online only, and will be made available Christmas Day morning.
Prayer & Praise and Cookie Exchange
The next Prayer and Praise service will be on Saturday, December 18 at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. This service of song and prayer will focus on the birth of Christ. In addition to singing and praying, there will also be a devotional message.
Christmas Cookie Exchange details!
Our Prayer & Praise Team is putting on a Christmas Cookie exchange the night of the 18th! It will be starting at 6PM and go till 6:45PM. Our Christmas P&P service will be after at 7PM!! Come and celebrate the Christmas season with us for our cookie exchange and Christmas service. For the cookie exchange, please pack 6ish cookies into individually wrapped cellophane or other bag of some sort and bring 3-4 bags! If you could RSVP at this link that would be helpful!!
St. John’s Lutheran School Christmas Programs
The School Christmas programs will be on Sunday afternoon, December 12. There will be two programs, each with different classes and music groups. The Choraliers and the Hand bells will take part in both programs.
- 1:00 – 1:30 Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade
- 1:45 – 2:25 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
Poinsettias and Christmas Trees
We are gratefully accepting donations for poinsettias and Christmas trees that will adorn our sanctuary. Please use a designated offering envelope or one provided in the Narthex as you enter. Thank you!
2022 Offering Envelopes are coming
– Please dispose of your 2021 envelopes after December 31, 2021
Our 2022 offering envelopes are available in the Narthex. If you currently don’t have an envelope box for 2021 and would like one for 2022, please contact Christy in the church office ASAP.
Open Forum December 5
If you would like to view a recording of the December 5 Open Forum, please contact the church office.
Mission Farm News
CanDo’s Give!Guide 2021 is off and running. The purpose of the Give!Guide campaign, which runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 31, is to encourage donations in support of non-profit organizations that serve the Napa Community . . . organizations like our own St. John’s Lutheran Mission Farm! The Give!Guide makes it easy to make a contribution on line, or if you wish, you can mail a check ($10 minimum). Check out Give!Guide’s website (www.CanDoGiveGuide.org) and see an array of non-profits, some 50+. You can support as many as you wish. Check out the website, then check us out, and while you are there why not make a donation(s)? While you can make donations in support of our Farm at any time of the year through our regular offering system, I encourage you to make a gift now through the Give!Guide campaign. The real-time posting of the donations totals, especially at the early stage of the campaign, encourages other gifts.. Thank you in advance — Farmer Ted.
Solar Panel Project
“The Rising of the Sun”
We are happy to announce that we are installing a solar panel system–often referred to as photovoltaic, or PV, system—on campus. Once completed, this system will provide most of the congregation’s electrical needs.
For more information, please click here: https://stjohnslutheran.net/the-rising-of-the-sun/
Youth News
Attention all current and soon to be high school families! On Thursday, December 16th, we will be hosting an information meeting regarding the 2022 National Youth Gathering in Houston. This will take place at 7pm in the Sanctuary. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Mathison.
Save the Date – Ladies’ Tea March 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM – 2 PM.
Details to follow!
The DECEMBER 2021 monthly Vine is available on our website.
To keep up-to-date with what is happening at St. John’s, CLICK HERE
Best Practices for Ministry Conference
BPM is back! BPM 2022 will take place on February 17-19 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 ASAP. Hotel rooms area at a premium so don’t delay!
Christmas Shopping? Support SJLS through Scrip!
As you begin to think about your holiday shopping, please see everything available through Scrip. Planning a trip to Disneyland? Yes, there is Disney Scrip. Do you shop QVC? Yes, Scrip for QVC too. There is Scrip for pretty much anything you can think of. If you cannot find exactly what you need, you can always purchase a VISA gift card ($50, $100, $250) with no loading fee!! Visa cards are also able to be used at Costco.
Planning a corporate or family party where you will be giving out gift cards? Purchase them right here with us!
Scrip is available in the school office during school hours. If we do not have what you need in stock, orders are placed weekly and we will get it to you quickly. You can always order anytime of the day or night through the RaiseRight app. Download the app to your phone, use our enrollment code 912E7L6F9161 and start shopping. Ecards are available for many items so you may shop right away or you can have your order shipped to the school office to be picked up during working hours.
Scrip Holiday Gift Guide: CLICK HERE
Scrip Order Form: CLICK HERE
We look forward to helping take the stress off of your holiday shopping! Give us a call at 707.226.7970 ext 101 with any questions.~Cindy Zeller
Give+ App is Changing…
The Give+ Mobile App from VANCO will shut down 1 Oct 21 and will no longer be available for download as a mobile app. The new app is called VANCO Mobile.
Giving through Vanco Moblie 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.
Sunday Morning Coffee Fellowship is back.
Looking for help with preparing coffee, refreshments, and set up for Sunday morning fellowship. Please contact Bill or Susan Clark at 707-253-2477 or cwillclark@comcast.net if you would like to help.
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.
Napa State Hospital Donation UPDATE
Napa State has changed their donation request list. Please note the following…
Needed:
- calendars
- greeting cards-no glitter
- fabric
- construction paper
- crayons
- water color paints
NO LONGER ACCEPTED:
Magazines and yarn
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.
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