"Growing in Christ Through Worship, Learning, Fellowship, and Service."

Ring Out - Week of April 6, 2025

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Introduction to Sunday’s Worship

Our God makes all things new. In the first reading God promises it. In the gospel Mary anticipates it, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. In the second reading Paul recalls his transformation from the persecutor Saul into an apostle. In baptism, God’s new person (you!) rises daily from the deadly mire of trespasses and sins.The psalm sets the tone this day: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!” Happy are those who have “become the righteousness of God” in the merits of Christ Jesus. Happy are those for whom the forgiveness of God has “rolled away . . . the disgrace” of former times. Happy is the father at the return of his prodigal son. Happy are we that our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Rejoice!

Download Bulletin

Sunday Worship will be live-streamed on YouTube beginning at 9:45 on Sunday morning. An email with the link will be sent on Sunday morning. You can also watch a recorded version later by visiting our YouTube Page.

You can open or print the bulletin and follow along with the service.

Watch the Live Stream

On the Calendar...

The Week Ahead

Sunday, April 6

9:00 am Adult SS

9:00 am Choir

9:30 am Children's SS

10:00 am Worship

Monday, April 7

10:30 am Quilting

6:30 pm Scouts

Tuesday, April 8

Noon Lively Leisures

6:00 pm Congregation Council

Wednesday, April 9

6:30 pm Final Wednesdays in Lent✝️

Thursday, April 10

5:30 pm Handbells

6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal

Friday, April 11

7:00 pm Youth Friday Night @ The Movies 🎬

Sunday, April 13

🌿 Palm Sunday

9:00 am Adult SS

9:00 am Choir

9:30 am Children's SS

10:00 am Worship

4:00 pm Youth Gathering

Sunday Ministries

LECTOR/INTERCESSOR

April 6 Kim Haberman

April 13 Barbara Albright

COMMUNION

ASSISTANT

April 6 Margaret Garrison

April 13 Samantha Hillegass

ACOLYTES

April 6

April 13 Joshua Rinker

GREETERS

April 6 Laura Overby

April 13 Theresa Steele

VIDEOGRAPHER

April 6

April 13

APRIL USHERS

Chip Popovici, Jimmy Harris, Jeff Jones, Jeff Gilbert, Phil Tesh

APRIL BUILDING SUPERVISORS

Jeff Gilbert & Chip Popovici

ALTAR FLOWERS

April 6

April 13 (palms) Ann & Chip Blackwelder

Online Calendar

Happy Birthday!

6 April - David Clary, Mark Murphy

9 April - Myers Jones

11 April - Alison Monk

Announcements

Holy Week Worship

Sunday, April 13 - Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)

Congregation gathers inside in the pews (not outside)

10am

Thursday, April 17 - Maundy Thursday

Holy Communion

Noon - Spoken Liturgy (in-person)

7pm - Worship Service (in-person and streamed)

Friday, April 18 - Good Friday

The Death of Our Lord

Noon - Worship Service (in-person and streamed)

Sunday, April 20 - Easter Sunday

The Resurrection of Our Lord

Prelude Music with Instrumentalists

9:45am

Holy Communion

10am

Music for Lent & Holy Week

Join us for a musical journey!

The St. James Music Ministry has prepared special selections to uplift your spirit and deepen your worship experience during this sacred season.

Check out the full schedule of music and performances at sjnc.net/choirs

and join us as we worship through song.

Honor a Loved One this Easter

Celebrate Easter by honoring your loved ones while helping to adorn our sanctuary with beautiful decorations. Tribute names will be listed in the Ring Out newsletter and in the Easter Sunday bulletin.

Order Deadline: April 13, 2025

Cost:

$20 each

Place your order online or by completing the insert in Sunday's bulletin.

Volunteer for Worship

Thank you to our Evangelism Committee, especially Ashley and Jeff, for getting our Holy Week banner up on the lawn!

We still have a couple of worship volunteer opportunities to fill for Holy Week services.

If you are interested in volunteering, click here to view openings and sign up.

Lively Leisures

Please join us Tuesday, April 8 at noon for our Lively Leisures program. This month's program will include a tour of the new Novi Apartments in Downtown Concord!

Friday Night @ The Movies

Join us for a fun movie night at St. James in the Flex Room Friday, April 11 from 7:00 – 9:15 p.m. We’ll have pizza, games, and screen a movie (movie TBA). Bring a friend, kick back, and enjoy the evening!

Please RSVP to assist us with planning!

Apply Now! - John & Alma Cook Memorial Scholarship is Open for Applicants

Attention Students!

In 1968, John M. Cook, Jr. established an endowment to assist college and graduate students who are members of St. James Lutheran Church by helping with their tuition expenses.

The Cook Trust Fund Committee is now accepting applications for the 2025/2026 academic school year.

Interested applicants can email holly@sjnc.net for an application. Please confirm if you are a first-time or returning applicant so you will receive the appropriate forms.

**Earlier deadline this year!**

APPLICATIONS DUE BY MAY 11, 2025

Lesson Summary

Christ Dies and Rises to New Life - Matthew 24:39-40,45-54

This Sunday, we will talk about the greatest event in the history of the Universe: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! I know this is premature, but we will not meet on Easter morning, and I wanted to make sure we thoroughly cover this extremely important event. The miracle of the Resurrection is covered in all four Gospels, and today, we will look at St. Matthew's recounting of these events. Imagine the shock, joy, fear, and awe the women who first discovered the empty tomb must have felt. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ opens the way for us to go to the Heavenly Father and be with Him for Eternity in spite of our sinfulness!

Memorials & Honorariums from March

Save the Dates - Vacation Bible School 2025

Children and Volunteers!

Please save the dates for this year's Vacation Bible School July 20 - 22, 2025. All volunteers will be required to have a current Safe Gatherings background check. Please contact holly@sjnc.net to receive instructions on how to complete this process.