E-Vine February 4, 2017

This Week’s Memory Verse

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             As We Gather

Marriage is glorious.  Marriage is hard.  Both are statements are true.  Anyone who has been married more than a week knows that it is not a fairy tale come true.  How do we thrive in marriage?  How do we live up to the expectations?  Where do we find the power to live the covenant that we have pledged to God and to one another?  Today we look at the power for marriage made available to us by our Savior.

• First Reading Genesis 3:1-20
• Psalm Psalm 121
• Second Reading Ephesians 5:15-33
• Holy Gospel John 15:9-17

• Sanctuary Seating Survey: The survey regarding the seating in the sanctuary is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HQGWW8H   The summary of the January 22 Open Forum is available on the church website at   https://stjohnslutheran.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sanctuary-Seating-Update-01272017-1.pdf   Hard Copies of both are available in the church office and will be available in the Parish Hall on Sunday. We recommend that you review that summary before completing this survey.

• Online:  Are you on Facebook?  Twitter?  Follow and Friend St. Johns!  @sjlcnapa

• Saturday Worship… St. John’s will host its first monthly As You Are Saturday night worship on February 4^th from 5:00-6:00 pm in the gym.  Youth Ministry Director, Sam Troemel, will lead the group in roughly 30 minutes of worship before opening social hour where students from our school will perform a preview of their L.E.S.T. vocal ensembles.  Refreshments and snacks will be available.  Please don’t feel a need to dress a certain way or line-up a sitter for your kids.  We invite everyone to come as they are to hear God’s Word and feel God’s love in a casual setting.

• Communion Learning Event:  Instruction for preparing to receive Holy Communion for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders with their parents will be held on three Monday evenings, March 13, 20, and 27, 2017 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.  A letter and registration form was sent out to those in the 6^th – 8^th grades who have not yet participated in this learning event.  If you did not receive this letter, please contact Pastor Mark so that one can be sent to you.  First Communion will be on Maundy Thursday, April 13^th in the 7:00 PM service.

• Financial Peace University:  We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan!  Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you’ve dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more!  Each of the 9 weekly classes are about one hour and forty-five minutes long.  The next session will be held at St. John’s on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 PM from February 12 to April 9, 2017.  Materials are $93 (plus $9.30 shipping) per household.  Register and order materials for the class online at http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/classes/1033891

• CNH DISTRICT Mission Conference: “Missionary People” is the theme for the 2017 CNH District Missions Conference, held on Saturday, March 4, 2017.  To register, please first contact the church office. For information, go to www.cnh-lcms.org.  All are welcome!  The deadline to register is Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Click here to get more information or to register.

• Recycle your Household Batteries at SJL: St. John’s Lutheran is working with Napa Recycling on collecting and disposing of any household batteries you may have; AAA, AA, C, D & 9 volt batteries. We will not accept automotive or drill batteries, only standard household batteries. Containers are available in the school office, church office and room 10.  Now you no longer need to question what to do with these batteries.  Bring them to one of our locations mentioned above, drop them in the container and we will do the rest! Thank you for supporting our efforts in keeping our landfills clean.

• SJLS Plant Sale Fundraiser:  The plants available are all locally grown, by Wild Boar Farms Nursery and most are locally bred varieties that Wild Boar Farms has created.  You will find cherry tomatoes, open pollinated tomatoes, some hybrid varieties, as well as some of our some of our Blue tomato varieties, Indigo Apple, Blue Beauty and Blue Boar Berries.  For pictures and descriptions please visit www.wildboarfarms.com and click on Plant Fundraisers then click on the “click here to view & print the current fundraising assortment”.  The order form is attached; please note that all forms must be turned in to the school office by Thursday, February 16, 2017.

• Marriage Workshop:  Drs. Les and Leslie are excited to be bringing their “Fight Night” event to Napa on February 24^th at First Christian Church.  A fun date night for couples of any age or stage.  Filled with humor, fresh insight, and practical, new strategies for turning conflict into a means for deeper intimacy. You and your spouse will laugh while you learn new ways to instantly improve your relationship.  And did we mention you will have a blast while gaining practical tips to strengthen communication.  For tickets: https://tickets.buzztix.com/event/fnnapa

• Thrivent Builds Mission Trip:  The summer 2017 mission trip will be on the Hawaiian island of Kauai from July 3 to 13.  A team of 12 people will assist in the building of a new home with Habitat for Humanity.  The event is open to current college students and those who are 20 and older.  The estimated cost is $620 for Thrivent members and $920 for non-Thrivent members.  Email Pastor Mark for trip details and application pastormark@stjohnslutheran.net.  The application deadline is January 31, 2017.

• Children’s Church Teachers: Erika Boudreaux, Teresa Schmid & Jenny Gass

• Built on the Rock Construction in Full Swing.  Setup for Sunday worship in the Parish Hall is on Saturday evenings at 6:00 PM.  We have set up an online tool for signing up to help.  Please contact Kathy Fitzgerald at kathyfitzgerald@sbcglobal.net to add your name to the list.

• Built on the Rock Update: Through January 29^th, $162,065 has been offered for “Built on the Rock,” the Earthquake Repair and Seismic Upgrade.  We need $23,935 more to reach the goal of $186,000.

• NEW St. John’s Facilities Online Calendar:  Looking for a room for a meeting or event?  You can now view this calendar online.  Go to https://teamup.com/ks059311afd6a21c57   If you would like to book a room/location on campus for an event/meeting, please contact Christy Kramer at the church office to be added to the calendar.  Please note:  You may only use the facility if you have pre-reserved your requested room/location with Christy Kramer.       

• ASPCA Recognizes Ruthie Comfort Dog:  Remember Ruthie Comfort Dog?  She came to Napa to help after our earthquake and the Valley fires.  She has been given a special award by ASPCA “Dog of the Year”.  To view, click here:

• Aaron Comfort Dog… New team members are always welcome!  Come join us and observe how this amazing ministry works.  Please contact Tim or Christy Kramer if you would like to “shadow” during one of our events!

• Mission India:  Please keep this year’s Mission India Literacy trainers in your prayers.  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 www.missionindia.org.

• Aaron Comfort Dog Contact Info:  If you would like to request a visit from Aaron, please contact Tim or Christy Kramer @ 255-0119.  For an update on his activities, please check out his Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages at AaronComfortDog.  And at NapaValleyComfortDogs.org

• Campus Security:  Please remember to check that doors are properly closed and locked as you leave the room you are using.  Thanks for helping us take care of our campus.

• 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.