St. John’s Lutheran Church
New COVID Guidelines
In light of the new guidelines announced by the state of California this week, we are adopting the following guidelines moving forward.
Worship and other Church Events
- The social distancing restrictions are no more. The chairs in the sanctuary will be moved to the normal spacing. You are free to move around the sanctuary to greet other worshipers.
- For those who are fully vaccinated, masks are no longer required. For those who are not vaccinated, masks continue to be recommended.
- We will not be checking for vaccination status at any church events, nor denying people access based on vaccination status, or whether they are wearing a mask
- Singing is permitted (and strongly encouraged!) during worship.
- We will return to continuous Communion with worshipers coming forward to receive Communion. Those who have communed may go to the Communion rail for a time of prayer.
- The cry room is open and available.
Food at Church Events
Food may be available at fellowship events, receptions and dinners. Food will be served and/or plated for participants. We will not have food/snack items available in a “self-serve” fashion unless they are individually packaged.
General Guidelines
- We continue to encourage everyone to make wise choices, not only for their own safety but especially for the safety of others. For Christians, our primary concern is not the assertion and exercising of our individual rights, so much as it is showing love for our neighbor, laying down our rights and freedoms if need be.
- Part of loving one another is looking upon each other with compassion and kindness. As Paul writes “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)”. Resist the temptation to make uncharitable assumptions or judgments about our fellow Christians’ decisions regarding how they respond to the COVID risk. Well intentioned followers of Jesus can and do disagree, but that should never get in the way of loving one another and treating one another with kindness.
- We also encourage everyone to continue to make use of available hand sanitizer.
- Please stay home if you are feeling unwell. The services will continue to be streamed.
Click here for a video of Pastor Mike explaining these changes: https://youtu.be/rDI6KOgW0zc
Strength in our Weakness
“This Treasure in Jars of Clay”
June 27, 2021
As We Gather
In Sunday’s reading from 2 Corinthians the Apostle Paul continues to defend the ministry of the Gospel. Those attacking this ministry criticize him for his poor speaking ability and his lowliness. Paul makes it clear that the power of the Gospel comes from God and not his style or delivery. The treasure is the truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ which the Creator puts into us, jars of clay. These earthen vessels were fragile and had no value on their own. It is the contents that gave them worth. The surpassing power for the ministry of the Gospel and life as a follower of Christ doesn’t come from within, but only from God.
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
Wednesday Night Worship June 30
“Fasting and Feasting”
Pastor Mark will be leading Wednesday Night Worship this week (June 30 at 7:00 pm.) We will continue our walk through the Gospel of Matthew. This week we will focus on Jesus’ words about when it is appropriate to fast and when it is appropriate to feast. What does this mean for us today?
To access, please go to our streaming page CLICK HERE
Congregational Meeting Results
At the congregational meeting on June 13, the congregation adopted the proposed Ministry Plan and Budget for 2021-2022 with no modifications. The following slate of candidates was elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors: Dean Bledsoe, Andrea Clark, Judi Rock, and Paul Schweiger. They will join Board members who are in the middle of their two year terms: Michele Arnold, Lori Gutierrez, John Van Hofwegen, Clare King, and Todd Yoder.
Kindergarten Teacher Search/Call
Kindergarten Teacher Melissa Ebeling will not be returning to teach in the fall, as she has her family are moving this summer. We thank God for Melissa’s ministry among us and pray God’s richest blessings upon her, Kyle and Ellie as the make this transition.
We have begun the search/call process for a new kindergarten teacher. If you have names of candidates whom you believe to be qualified for this ministry position, please submit them to Christy Wood (cwood@stjohnsnapa.org).
Family and Children Resources
“Children’s Church Lesson” This is a weekly Sunday School/Children’s Church type lesson for parents to lead with small children. Please use this at home during this time when we are unable to offer our regular Children’s Church. Here are this week’s suggestions:
- THIS WEEK’S LESSON CLICK HERE
- THIS WEEK’S VIDEO CLICK HERE
Youth Ministry
Summer is here already?! Or maybe you’ve been waiting and now it’s finally here! Either way we have some summer fun planned for youth ministry. Follow our page on Instagram @stjohnsnapayouth to stay up to date on what’s happening in the summer.
From our Director of Children’s Ministry
We are now looking for Children’s Church volunteers! SJL is going to start up Children’s Church again in September 2021. Children’s Church is for children in Preschool up to 4th grade. I would like to hear back from all of our former CC teachers as well as some new volunteers! The commitment is typically one Sunday per month if we receive at least 8 volunteers! One class meets in the preschool building at that is for kids Preschool-1st Grade. The other class meets in the school library and that is for kids 2nd-4th grade. Please help us make this a reality for our kids to return to Children’s Church! If you have any questions or would like more information don’t hesitate to reach out to Janis King.
Please click on these link from Janis King… Children’s Ministry Volunteer CLICK HERE
June 2021 monthly Vine is available on our website.
To keep up-to-date with what is happening at St. John’s, CLICK HERE
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
Right Now Media Recommendation
HOW TO READ 2 CORINTHIANS Created by RightNow Team@RightNow Media
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Training/Post/View/231126
The Bible can be hard to interpret. It’s lengthy, packed full of characters, and sometimes difficult to tie into daily life. 2 Corinthians, for example, teaches Christians to live a cruciform life characterized by humility. In this post, The Bible Project breaks down the book of 2 Corinthians into digestible pieces so we can understand and apply its truths.
If you haven’t already signed up for Right Now Media, CLICK HERE.
Support SJLS through Scrip! Easiest Fundraiser Ever!!
Click here to watch a video on how easy Scrip is using the RaiseRight app. Remember there are always cards you can purchase in the school office especially our local vendors, Foodshed, Hop Creek and Tarla Bar and Grill, but using the RaiseRight app is so convenient for all of your everyday purchases.
Ongoing News and Information
Donate to SJLC through Amazon…
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
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