November 30, 2023 E-Vine

The December 2023 monthly Vine is available on our website.

To keep up-to-date with what is happening at St. John’s, CLICK HERE .

Prepare the Way

“Watch”

December 3, 2023

Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.

As We Gather

Advent is a time of watching and waiting.  As we celebrate Christ’s first coming, we anticipate His return in glory.  In our Gospel today, Jesus calls His disciples to “watch” for His return. What does it mean to live lives of hopeful watching? 

Live-stream and in-person worship begin at 9:30 AM. Please CLICK HERE to download the link to the live-stream itself.  

Worship Tech Overhaul

Faith Comes From Hearing

At the open form on November 12, Pastor Mike, Jacob Bartelt, and Joshua Wright presented the recommendations of the Worship Tech consultant that we contracted to assess our worship audio, projection, and streaming and propose solutions to the many issues plaguing our use of tech in worship.  If you’d like to give toward this project, you can make this offering by check or online, just make sure that it is marked “Worship Tech Upgrade.”

For an overview of the project, please click here: https://stjohnslutheran.net/faith-comes-from-hearing/

The presentation on November 12 was recorded and can be viewed and listened to here: https://youtu.be/vEDajtR9xpg

Pastor Mike’s Bookshelf

The Air We Breathe: How We All Came To Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress and Equality

By Glen Scrivener

We all believe in freedom, right?  That people should be treated equally and shown kindness, that we should be striving to make the world a place in which these virtues thrive? The importance of these values are assumed to be obvious to all, and it’s considered heresy to suggest their opposite.

But where did these values come from?  The assumption of many today is that they are self-evident and work hand-in-glove with an enlightened, modern, science-based, secular society.  This is in fact not true.  These values do not naturally flow from nature, from science, or anything that can be proven by naturalistic means.  There have been many cultures which have had very different values, and in some cases, completely the opposite, such as ancient Greece and Rome, and pre-Christian Europe.

So how did our Western culture become a place where freedom, kindness, compass, caring for the weak, and equality became accepted as self-evident and obvious?  The answer, according to Glen Scrivener (and many other writers), is Christianity.   The values of Christianity have been so baked into our Western culture that they seem self-evident when in fact they are not.

One of the challenges of our modern culture is that it champions the fruit of Christianity (these values), but denies their root in Christianity.  How long will our culture maintain its allegiance to these values while denying the biblical story from which they arose?

Glen Scrivener is not the only Christian writing on this topic.  The book “The Secular Creed” which I reviewed a few weeks ago, makes the same contention.  I highly recommend this book as a concise, well-written analysis of our culture and where its most cherished values came from, and what that means for Christians today.

There is a copy of this book, along with previously recommended books on the Church Library cart in the Narthex, available for checking out.  Previous recommendations can be found here: Pastor Mike’s Bookshelf.

Advent Midweek Service Information

Advent Midweek December 6

Gifts of Jesus to Us From A to Z

Christmas begins not with our gift-giving, but with our gift-receiving.  Because of the gift of the baby in the manger, we have been given priceless gifts by our Lord.  What are those gifts?  Let’s count them down from A to Z!  At the Advent Midweek service on December 6, Pastor Mike will count down the most common answers.

Click here for the online form:  https://forms.gle/c3wZ4EPvgBVF7EPk6

Answer as many as you like.  You do not have to have an answer for each letter to complete the form.   There will also be hard copy forms in the church entryway.

Advent Midweek December 13

Favorite Christmas Hymns and Carols (Season 2)

What are your favorite Christmas hymns and carols? Please share up to six of your favorites with this form. At the Advent Midweek service on Wednesday, December 13, Pastor Mike will countdown the top six.  Each hymn or carol will be preceded by a few devotional thoughts based on the origin or meaning of the hymn.  Please provide your answers by Monday, December 11.

Click here for the online form:  https://forms.gle/5Eo6kmQjD7uSQUuJ6

There will also be hard copy forms in the church entryway.

Note 1: Please only vote for hymns or carols that are appropriate for worship.

Note 2:  We will NOT be doing the same carols as last year so please do not vote for “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “O Holy Night”, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Joy to the World”, or “Silent Night.”

Advent Midweek December 20

Lessons and Carols

This is a service of Word and song, tracing the prophecies of the Messiah through the announcement of His birth.  The service will be led by our Sanctuary Choir.

Pastor Mike’s Sunday Bible Class

“Safeguarding the Nature and Sanctity of Human Life”

How does Scripture help us navigate the complex social issues facing the United States? In this class, we will explore what the Bible says about some of the topics that dominate conversations in our culture:  basic human rights, religious freedom, caring for creation, justice in issues of race and poverty, and prioritizing life and family.  We are making use of Right Now Media, as well as other resources in exploring how we can live out biblical values in tangible, practical ways that honor God and show love to our neighbors.

This Sunday we will focus on the sanctity of all human life.  As followers of Jesus, we are called to value human life from the unborn to the dying.  What does this mean for how we respond to these issues in our lives and in our society?    Pastor Mike is leading this class after worship (11:00).  Meeting in Room 10. All are welcome!

      

   

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

New Email Addresses for the Church

Please make a note that we are changing the email addresses for the church.  Please use the following email addresses for correspondence.

• Church Office: churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org
• Pastor Mike: pastormike@stjohnsnapa.org
• Kevin Mathison: kevin@stjohnsnapa.org
• Tim Kramer: tkramer@stjohnsnapa.org

What is different?  The domain “stjohnsnapa.org” instead of “stjohnslutheran.net.”  We are moving away from the “stjohnslutheran.net” so that all emails, church and school, will be “stjohnsnapa.org.”   The old emails will remain active for a time to make sure we don’t miss anything, but please update your address books accordingly.  

Our next Prayer and Praise will be on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 5:00 PM.

Coffee Ministry Needs Help

Do you enjoy the coffee hour after church?    Would you like to be part of this ministry?   We are looking for additional people to join us!   Join a team or get some friends and make a team. Three or four people are ideal.  On the job training will be provided.

Responsibilities are: • arriving prior to service to set up • providing refreshments – may be baked or purchased • making coffee • setting up serving tables and seating • serving the refreshments • clean up

We appreciate the people who help set up and put away tables and chairs and those who contribute refreshments.  This is a welcoming time of fellowship for both members and visitors.  Any questions or willingness to serve – please contact Susan or Bill Clark or the church office.

Women’s Bible Study

Join us  on  the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary.  We are studying the book of Ephesians.   If you have any questions, please contact Judi Rock. 707.738.6707.

Biblical Counseling at St John’s? 

The Biblical Counseling Center of Napa Valley

The Biblical Counseling Center of Napa Valley is a ministry to the families of St. John’s Lutheran Church and all Christians in the greater Napa area. Our center began some 25 years ago to offer strength and direction to those Christians suffering through trials and tribulations using the promises and hope the Bible offers to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.   To learn more, CLICK HERE.  If you, or someone you know, is struggling with life’s stressors, please consider giving us a call at 707-738-5306.   (We are a free ministry to all).      

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 Christmas Donation UPDATE

CLICK HERE to view list of requested items.

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.

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.

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…  Mission India…