e-Skinny March 15, 2019   

      
         Sunday Services 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. 

March 17        No Sunday School
March 20        Newsletter deadline
                       Wednesday night activities resume
March 24        Drive in Movie Social 4 p.m.
March 25        Book Club:  Hissy Fit  by Mary Kay Andrews
March 25-29   Meals on Wheels
March 26        Women's Bible Study
March 28        Do Day Quilters
March 31        Stephen Ministry Informational Meeting 9:15 a.m.
April 1-5         Meals on Wheels
April 14          Palm Sunday Breakfast
April 21          Easter  
April 28          Save The Date for  Ladies Luncheon  
   
                              
Wednesday Night Supper March 20
Baked Chicken, cheesy potatoes, corn, Eclair dessert

Meals on Wheels sign-up sheets are in the Narthex for drivers needed the weeks of
March 25-29 & April 1 - 5


The glass box that will be in the Narthex starting March 10th is for your Lenten Offering. Please consider an extra gift of at least a dollar a day during the approximately 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter.


If you would like to donate toward the Easter lilies this year, call Kathy in the office at 228-3397.




REMINDER: Those students attending a Lutheran college who would like to receive an EPIC grant must notify the church by May 1st.
St. John scholarship applications for non-Lutheran colleges can be emailed to you and should be emailed to the office by April 1st.   


Lenten Activity calendars are available on the glass case in the Narthex and outside the church office.
 
Dates to remember...   
Easter is April 21st.
Vacation Bible School will be July 30-August 2 & VBS will sing at St. John on August 4th.


THRIVENT members designate your Choice Dollars by March 31st.
Call 1-800-8847-4839 to designate or for more information!

2019 Sound & Video Pledge Drive
Pledge sheets are available on the glass case in the Narthex. We need your help to reach our goal! Fill out the sheet & drop it in the Stereo Speaker in the Narthex!


Lenten Services
Wednesdays in Lent worship services will be 
4:30 & 6:15 p.m.
The theme for Wednesday Lenten services is
"Cultivating & Letting Go"

March 20th: "Letting Go of Anxiety & Busyness to Cultivate Calm"
March 27th: "Letting Go of Fear to Cultivate Confidence in God"
April 3rd: "Letting go of Hurts to Cultivate Peace"
April 10th: Letting Go of Doubt to Cultivate Hope"

No Confirmation during Lent, but Confirmation Students are expected to attend Lenten Services. Students, please make sure to fill out the purple attendance slips that is in the bulletin and drop it in the offering plate. 

Members of the Congregational Church invite you to join them for Lenten services at their church beginning on March 13th. Pastor Forest Cornelius will offer a brief service beginning at 12:00 noon with lunch and fellowship to follow. Services will continue each Wednesday in Lent. If you have any questions or need a ride, please call the church office at 641-228-5310. The Congregational Church is located at 502 N Jackson St. We hope to see you there!


Adult Sunday School - 9:05 a.m.
Susan Leeper will lead the study on "Miracles of Jesus"
March 24, 31 & April 6, 14, 28



Noisy Bucket Sunday
Bring your loose change to church on Sunday, March 24th, when the Stewardship Board will be hosting a "Noisy Bucket" offering. This offering will be taken separately and apart from the traditional offering and all coins (or dollars if you prefer) will be collected in tin buckets and gathered in one large bucket at the front of the church. Kids young and old can enjoy this giving and fun event. Let's see if we can fill the bucket!  The money this year will go to the Summer Youth Mission Trip to South Dakota.



Drive-In Movie Social 
 Who doesn't love a
good old-fashioned drive-in movie theater?
Join us on March 24th at 4 P.M. for an evening  with your friends. The movie will be announced soon . All you need to bring is a blanket and a lawn  chair or a box large enough for a kid (or adult!) to sit in. We will start the evening by turning the boxes into cars.  
We'll provide you with supper and concessions (pizza, bars, popcorn and candy) and a great ambience to enjoy the movie. All people of all ages are invited!  Free will donation for the pizza.


Stephen Ministry Informational Meeting
Stephen Ministry is a program that trains lay people to do one-to-one Christian care-giving with people in and close to our congregation who are going through difficulties.
More than 13,000 congregations are enrolled in Stephen Ministry. Our Church Council has voted to proceed with making St. John a Stephen Ministry Congregation, as well. We currently have 14 people signed up who are interested in becoming Stephen Ministers and there's room for more! Pastor Russ Leeper will hold an informational meeting about Stephen Ministry in our chapel on Sunday, March 31 at 9:15 AM. If you have questions but can't make it to the meeting, feel free to contact either Pastor Russ Leeper at St. John Lutheran (641-228-3397) or Rev. Norm Bauer at Messiah Lutheran (641-228-6772) for more information. Also, check out www.stephenministries.org for more information about Stephen Ministry. 



Save the Date! Family board will host a Ladies' Luncheon
April 28th at 11:30 a.m.
Watch the bulletin & April newsletter for more information.


Prayer Shawl Ministry
 
Now is a good time to be working on those shawls, whether you want to quilt, knit or crochet.  We sent out about 12 in December and could use some to  
replenish our stock and be ready for those in need of one. 
I just finished 2 shawls and lap robes during these cold wintry days and we got some quilted items in, too.  I put out a challenge to make one or two for this worthwhile ministry. There are many more blustery days ahead to nestle down and work on one.
If you think of someone in a trying circumstance, then please come check one out and give that person a visit. They are available through the office during office hours.

 
Stained Glass Ministry

I haven't forgotten this, but decided that I will need some dedicated help to continue this ministry. If anyone would like to be involved with this please let me know at petefishj@mchsi.com
I will also wait until some of our snowbirds return from the south to get started, but I need more help this time to make it resume.
My vision of this is to make small crosses to send with some of our Stephen Ministry people when that gets started and also to make a few more items for people that didn't get sun-catchers and jewelry last   time. Money from this would go into the 150th Anniversary fund.
Laurie and I can show you how to do the stained glass, with the intention that some crosses get made, but also so you can make something for yourself.  This could be done at a minimal cost because we have the glass, but the jewelry findings and special solder has a cost.  If that interests you, consider signing up when we get that all figured out. Just a heads up for now.    


St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
641-228-3397
e-skinny@stjohncharlescity.com 
Editor:  Janet Petefish