Anticipating Worship (April 2)

The Fifth Sunday in Lent


Worship Focus:  Christ makes alive and gives life.

Scripture Readings:
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 116
Romans 8:11-19
John 11:17-27,38-45

Sermon Meditation:  John 11:17-27,38-45

Yes, Lord, I Believe You
1.  Because of your promise
2.  Because of your power

Prayer of the Day:  Eternal God and Father, help us to remember Jesus, who obeyed your will and bore the cross for our salvation that through his anguish, pain, and death we may receive forgiveness of sins and inherit eternal life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


Happy Lent!

Open Forum

Hopefully by now, you have read the letter (in your church box) from the elders regarding the open forum on Sunday, April 2.  Everyone is encouraged to make plans to attend. Between now and April 2,  please commit this matter to regular prayer, confident of God's grace. Then come hear the ideas of others and share your own thoughts for the future of St. John. To God be the glory!

Open Forum

 Hopefully by now, you have read the letter (in your church box) from the elders regarding the open forum on Sunday, April 2.  Everyone is encouraged to make plans to attend. Between now and April 2,  please commit this matter to regular prayer, confident of God's grace. Then come hear the ideas of others and share your own thoughts for the future of St. John. To God be the glory!

Open Forum

Hopefully by now, you have read the letter (in your church box) from the elders regarding the open forum on Sunday, April 2.  Everyone is encouraged to make plans to attend. Between now and
April 2,  please commit this matter to regular prayer, confident of God's grace. Then come hear the ideas of others and share your own thoughts for the future of St. John. To God be the glory!

Anticipating Worship (March 26)

The Fourth Sunday in Lent


Worship Focus:  Christ’s selfless service leads to our selfless service.

Scripture Readings:
Hosea 5:15-6:3
Psalms 42-43
Romans 8:1-10
Matthew 20:17-28

Sermon Meditation:  Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus Explains Life
1.  The Christ serves
2.  The Christian serves

Prayer of the Day:  Almighty God, we confess that we deserve to be punished for our evil deeds.  But we ask you graciously to cleanse us from all sin and to comfort us with your salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Happy Lent!

Lenten Service - Repent: Turn to Jesus

We will gather for worship again tomorrow for our fourth midweek Lenten service.

We will go to the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus.  We will consider the sleeping disciples and the suffering Savior.  The devotion is based on Mark 14:32-38.  The thought is "turn to Jesus when you face temptations."

Remember that we have two opportunities to gather with one another and around the Word - 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM.  There will be a meal in between.

Anticipating Worship (March 19)

The Third Sunday in Lent


Worship Focus:  As the Light of the world, Jesus gives spiritual sight.

Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 42:14-21
Psalm 143
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-7,13-17,34-39

Sermon Meditation:  Isaiah 42:14-21

There Is Light during Lent
1.  It is bright
2.  It is right

Prayer of the Day:  Almighty God, look with favor on your humble servants and stretch out the right hand of your power to defend us against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


Happy Lent!

Did You Know?

Did you know that St. John Church belongs to an organization that is specially designed to inform women of our church about our home and world mission work and gives them an opportunity to support it in various ways?  The organization is LWMS, Lutheran Women's Missionary Society.  It is a national group. Our local chapter is made up of about 40 participating WELS congregations in this area and is called the St. Croix Circuit. Every confirmed lady of St. John is automatically a member of LWMS by virtue of her membership at St. John. The LWMS holds two rallies a year in this St Croix River area, one in April and the other in October.  It also sponsors a huge national rally every June, somewhere around the U.S. You have probably noticed envelopes in your mailbox from time to time with LWMS stamped on it. Twice a year we give our ladies an opportunity to fund the LWMS mission work in this area and internationally. (The most recent Home Missions gift went to Hmong Evangelist Training, and the World Missions donations went to East Asia Project.) St. Croix LWMS circuit thanks you for those past gifts and urges all of us to consider contributing at any time. If you are interested in knowing more about LWMS, or interested in attending the spring rally (on April 22) please speak to our congregation's representatives, Jean Rindal or Jean Koepsell. You can also go to www.lwms.org.
** There were LWMS offering envelopes included in last Sunday’s service folder, please return them with your gifts by Sunday, March 26th. Thank you.

Encouragement

All St. John members are asked to check their boxes in the church narthex for an important letter from the Elders.  It addresses our current situation.  There needs to be openness and honesty.

Please read this in preparation for the first of our open forums.  That will be on April 2 after worship.  We are addressing the issues by learning from one another and leaning on our God.  The Lord of the Church will bless us and keep us.

Spring Ahead!

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12th. Remember to set your clocks

ahead 1 hour before turning in.  Spring Ahead!

Anticipating Worship (March 12)

The Second Sunday in Lent

Worship Focus:  Faith trusts all of God’s promises which are meant for all.

Scripture Readings:
Genesis 12:1-8
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5,13-17
John 4:5-26

Sermon Meditation:  Genesis 12:1-8

Follow Your Father's Faith
1.  As you listen with attention
2.  As you live with action

Prayer of the Day:  Almighty God, you see that we have no power to defend ourselves.  Guard and keep us both outwardly and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


Happy Lent!

Letter from Miss Cindy Lendt

Dear members of St. John Lutheran,

On Sunday I received a divine call to teach at St. John’s Lutheran School in Neillsville, WI. The school is in need of a teacher for grades 3-5 who can also be in charge of the music program. I will spend the next few weeks considering where I can best serve God next school year with the talents he has given me, either here in St. Paul or in Neillsville. Please pray that God blesses me with his guidance and wisdom during this time. To him be the glory!

In our Savior’s Name,

Cindy Lendt

Anticipating Worship (March 5)

The First Sunday in Lent


Worship Focus:  Christ has defeated the devil and death to give us the victory.

Scripture Readings:
Genesis 2:7-9,15-17;3:1-7,14,15
Psalm 130
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon Meditation:  Genesis 2:7-9,15-17;3:1-7,14,15

There Is Life in the Garden
1.  Seen in the Lord God's immense goodness
2.  Seen in the Lord God's intense grace

Prayer of the Day:  Lord our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within us and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his crafty deceits and empty promises.  Keep us steadfast in your Word, and when we fall, raise us up again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.


Happy Lent!