Email from St. John Lutheran Church

eNews March 2/3, 2024

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THE MINISTRY OF ST. JOHN LUTHERAN

Seward, Nebraska

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Worship

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Church-Wide News

Easter Lilies

Easter Lilies to beautify our sanctuary for Easter can now be ordered. Click here for the order blank. See pricing and payment information on the order blank. Additional forms are available in both narthexes or in the church office.

Deadline for ordering is noon on Mon., Mar. 18.

Charting Our Course - St. John Ministry Plan

You can pick up a hard copy of the St. John Ministry Plan from the church office during the week and on the weekend at the welcome center in the narthex and in the west entrance. Click here for a digital copy. You can also click here to watch the presentation from Nov. 12.

Make sure and view page 8 in the March 2024 Newsletter for Governance Committee information.

March 23/24, Palm Sunday Weekend: normal weekend schedule: 5:30pm; 8:30am; and 11am (Comm.)

March 28, Maundy Thursday: 10am & 6:30pm (Communion at both)

March 29, Good Friday: 10am & 6:30pm (Tenebrae)

March 30, Easter Vigil: 7pm (Communion)

March 31, Easter Sunday: 6:30am; 8:30am; 10:30am (Communion at all service) - NO Sunday School or Adult Bible Studies

Announcements

LCMS Missionary Rachel Krause Visiting St. John on Sunday, March 10

Rachel will introduce herself before services and have a display in the narthex that morning. At 10am in the upstairs Music Room (classroom 108), she will share about the ministry outreach taking place in Leipzig and Chemnitz, Germany, where she assists congregations in bringing the Gospel of Jesus to refugees and immigrants, who are primarily from Iran and Afghanistan. This ministry includes outreach activities that help build relationships with the refugees, including through Sunday school during Farsi worship and activities for neighborhood children at the outreach center. See these sites for more information:

https://www.lcms.org/krause; https://missioncentral.us/category/eurasia/rachel-krause/

If you miss Rachel’s presentation on Sunday morning, you are invited to hear her presentation at Concordia University on Tuesday, March 12, at 12:45pm in the Global Opportunities Center (200 Faculty Lane). Rachel will be the guest speaker at our Missional Leadership class. Contact Julie Hermann if you have any questions.

Missionaries to the Muslims: Nader and Georgette Alaraj

Nader and Georgette Alaraj will speak at St. John on Tuesday, March 5, at 7pm, in our fellowship hall. Originally from Palestine, POBLO Missionary Nader Alaraj started his career as a medical technologist. He met his wife, Georgette, on a visit to Palestine. Both were raised in Christian homes. Nader was among the leaders who organized the Arabic Christian Fellowship of Omaha. Both Nader and Georgette love sharing the Gospel with others in practical ways and are beginning their outreach to non-believers in Lincoln and Omaha,.The Alaraj family visited St. John last summer, and we frequently include them in our Sunday morning prayers. The congregation is invited to hear them speak and learn about sharing the Gospel with our friends and neighbors.

Palm Sunday Coat/Jacket Collection March 23/24

In remembrance of that first Palm Sunday when cloaks were laid down to receive the King of Kings, the Human Care Board will once again be collecting coats and jackets to be given to the Orphan Grain Train. Clean, gently-used or new coats/jackets can be taken into the sanctuary and hung over the end of your pew the weekend of March 23/24. The Orphan Grain Train will distribute the donated coats to those around the world who need them. Thank you in advance for supporting this effort!

Sunday AM Parenting Class

LOVE-Powered Parenting is a new parenting bible study starting on Sun., Mar. 3. Come join Principal Barb Mertens and Jessica Brashear for this 8-week parenting bible study offered in the Centennial Room (located right next to the lunchroom) on Sunday mornings at 10am. [Love-Powered Parenting is written out of a love for parenting and a deep desire to encourage parents. Yes, there are experiences in parenting that can cause deep hurt. Yes, there are realities in parenting that certainly will cause you to feel inept. Yet at the core of it all there is a deep gratefulness for the gift that God gives in the opportunity to love a child.This book is a biblical guide to parenting. And by “biblical guide” we mean these pages are intended to take you on a journey through what the truth of God’s Word has to say about parenting. Authors, Tom & Chaundel Holladay]

Time to Subscribe to or Renew Your Lutheran Witness Subscription

The Lutheran Witness subscription rate this year is $20.65 and can be paid at the church office through Wed., March 27 – you can bring your check/cash to the church office on weekdays from 8am-4pm or place in Brenda Rief’s mailbox any other time (make checks payable to St. John Lutheran Church). The Lutheran Witness can be viewed on-line (current and archived editions) at www.lcms.org/witness.

Coffee and Conversation for Caregivers with Deaconess Jeri

Thurs., March 14, 10am, fellowship hall

This is a safe and confidential place to discuss the challenges of caring for a loved one with physical or cognitive limitations. Typically, the gatherings are the 2nd Thursday of each month. Coffee is provided. If you have any questions, you are welcome to call (402-643-2983) of email Deaconess Jeri – jeri.morrison@stjohnseward.org.

Pre-orders can be done after services March 9/10 and March 16/17. Glazed donuts - $12/dozen; Specialty Flavors sold by the dozen - $14/dozen - Chocolate Iced; Glazed Kreme Filled; Glazed Raspberry Filled and Glazed Lemon Filled. 12 oz bags of ground coffee - $10/bag- Classic or Decaf. If you have any questions, contact Kathy.Miller@cune.edu

New to the Mobile Library

The DVD The Jesus Revolution: a true story of a charismatic hippie street preacher who teamed up with a pastor to form a phenomenal team ministry.

The Boxcar Children: Blue Bay Mystery: The Aldens explore a deserted island suspecting that a castaway is living somewhere on the island.

The Boxcar Children: Mike’s Mystery: The Alden’s must help find the real culprit who started a house fire.

Love-Powered Parenting: You can love your kids the way Jesus loves you…and Love-Powered Parenting will show you how.

My First Catechism: A first step resource to help parents teach the faith to their children.

You can check out these items from the Mobile Library on Sunday mornings.

Art for All Ages (sponsored by the Human Care Board)

Do you have someone who enjoys creating pictures, drawings, or paintings in your home? Help them experience the blessing of sharing their talents by creating artwork to give to others! Artwork can be placed in the red baskets in the church office, the school office, and the welcome center in the narthex. Any type of art that would bring joy created by any age is acceptable. The collected artwork will be shared with the homebound and residents of care facilities in Seward. Last year, the response from those receiving artwork was very positive. Thanks for helping to brighten someone's day!

The Dishes Are Piling Up

If you recently brought food to a church event, please check the hallway by the church offices and reclaim your dish.

Direct Your Thrivent Choice® Dollars

Help support the Ministry of St. John and direct your Thrivent Choice® dollars by Mar. 31, 2024. Eligible Thrivent clients with membership: please consider directing Choice Dollars® to St John Lutheran Church, St John Lutheran School or St John Child Development Center!

Lutheran Women's Missionary League Seward Zone Spring Workshop - All Women Are Invited!

Sat., Mar. 16, 9am registration, St. John Fellowship Hall

The LWML Seward Zone invites the ladies and young women of St. John to the Spring Workshop. There will be a devotion, Bible study and since this is a workshop, they will be making Easter cards and preparing the favors for the National LWML Convention in 2025 in Omaha, NE

Service Opportunities!

St. John Thanksgiving Dinner Coordinator Needed

The Human Care Board is looking for someone to serve in the capacity of organizing the St. John Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Anyone interested would need to be available the day before Thanksgiving as well as Thanksgiving Day. Whoever takes on this role would be highly supported by the Human Care Board members. If you feel called to serve in this capacity or would like more information about what is involved, please call the church office (402-643-2983).

Interested in Helping with St. John Weddings?

Would you like to help coordinate? This involves all the details of the special day. (we will train) Bless these brides and families by contacting the church office for more information.

Quilt Top Sewers Needed

The women who tie quilts for the comforters meet weekly and complete 4-6 quilts each Tuesday. They are in need of simple quilt tops that measure 84" x 64". Fabric is available at the CDC quilt room. If you are willing to sew tops and need further directions, check in with them on Tuesday mornings at the quilt room from 10am-12:pm or contact Glenda Dobbertein at 402-643-9394.

Child Development Center "Natural Playground" Helpers Needed!

The Child Development Center is participating in a program that helps with natural playgrounds called ECHO. We need people who can be involved with some planning, recruiting some help and giving some expert advice. If you have experience with outdoor environments, playgrounds, or have an interest with helping with this, please email Lisa Aring, director, at lisa.aring@stjohnseward.org

Communion Set-up & Clean-up and Linen & Vestment Laundering

Help is needed in all three of these areas. If you would like to assist with these "altar guild" duties, please contact the church office (402-643-2983).

Drivers for Out-of-Town Appointments

St. John provides rides to medical appointments, church and special events. We currently need more volunteers who can drive to Lincoln. Call Sue Wickersham at 402-643-6287 if you would like to serve in this way.

College Scholarships Available

LCEF Nebraska District College Scholarship

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Nebraska District College Scholarship was developed to encourage college students in the Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) to pursue their educational goals. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA or current full-time post-secondary student at an accredited institution with at least one year of courses remaining and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applicants must also be a member of a congregation belonging to the Nebraska District LCMS. Applications close April 14, 2024. Winners will be announced on May 6, 2024. Learn more and complete your application at lcef.org/nebraskascholarship.

Nebraska District Student Aid/Scholarships and Other Resources

Nebraska District financial support is available to anyone preparing for full-time service in the church. Applicants must be enrolled at a Concordia University System school; Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; or Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Applicants must hold membership at a Nebraska District congregation, demonstrate financial need, and have completed their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The deadline for completing this application process is May 1 for the first semester and December 1 for the second semester. Only one application is needed per academic year. Click here to apply.

Other Scholarships (LWML Nebraska North and South, Nebraska LLL, the Gil and Blondie Vogt Scholarship Fund) can be found on the District's website at THIS LINK.