MARCH NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

In this issue...


  • Pastor’s Message
  • Order of Worship
  • Important Reminders
  • Lenten Worship & Activities
  • March Food Drive
  • Holy Week Schedule
  • Good News Library
  • Rejoice Activities
  • Community Events
  • Prayers and Links


   320.558.6851  

    http://www.rejoicelutheranchurch.org

From Pastor Jim

John 11:1-45 

1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 

 7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 

 17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 

 28When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus began to weep. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 

 38Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 

 45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 


Who were Martha and Mary?  Yes, sisters to Lazarus.  But what if you learned that current scholarship based on relatively recent discoveries has evidence that there was only Mary in John’s original manuscript?  How does that change how we might look at this story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?  Of all the early manuscripts we now know of, about 20% of the texts only have Mary.  On the oldest known manuscript, somewhere around 200 CE, one can see clearly Martha was added into the text. 

  We have been having animated discussions on the Bible after some fellowship time, and many are now realizing the Bible is not so cut and dried on the development and ongoing interpretations.  I plan to share some pictures of manuscripts illustrating manuscripts where Martha was added in.   

  So, what might this new information mean to the story above.  There is some pretty strong evidence that Mary is actually the same person as Mary Magdalene.  Because she is the one to identify Jesus as the Messiah in John, like Peter does in the synoptic gospels, and she is the first to witness the risen Jesus, who makes her the first to go and tell others, that would put her in a very prominent place in leadership dominated by men. 

  And if these new discoveries can be trusted, why was Mary’s role diminished by subsequent scribes?  I have the rest of the theory to share this coming Sunday. 

 

We pray:  Along with Lazarus, O God, inspire us with the power of your breath.  Bring us to eternal life, unbind us with the worldly concerns that constrain us, and free us to live in your incredible love.  Amen. 


Pastor Jim

Order of Worship


March 26, 2023 ~ 9:30 a.m.  



Greeting 

Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing 

Confession and Forgiveness 

Come, Now is the Time to Worship 

Prayer for the Day 

 Children’s Sermon 

Welcome and Announcements 

Romans 8: 6-11 

John 11: 1-45 

Message 

Offering/Precious Lord Take My Hand 

Offering Prayer 

Invitation to Communion 

Words of Institution 

Prayers of the Church 

Lord’s Prayer 

Distribution/Let Us Break Bread Together 

As We Gather at Your Table 

Blessing 

 In the Cross of Christ, I Glory 

Sending 

Important Reminders

We welcome Tara Harl as Church Coordinator. Please join us on Sunday, March 26 to meet and greet Tara. Tara’s email address is tara@rejoicelutheranchurch.org


LWR Personal Care Kits—We are in need of towels for the kits and are still collecting other items for the kits until Easter: soap, toothbrushes, combs, and nail clippers. 


Please consider purchasing and/or selling our Rejoice Savings Card. This savings card will raise money for Rejoice and community ministries such as the relocation of the food shelf. 


Children’s Handbell Choir! Interested? Email Linda Campana


Worship Volunteers Needed: Please contact Lisa if you are willing to help. Thank you!

Soup Suppers (& Lent) are Back!


  • Wednesdays in Lent
  • Gather for soup at 5:30
  • Worship at 6:30


Dust off your crock pot, find that favorite soup recipe and share the goodness with your Rejoice family. 

Sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall.

Soup Supper Help Needed: We are in need of someone to coordinate the set up, meal service and clean up of our last Lenten Soup Supper on March 29, 2023. Duties include picking up bread from Nelson Bros., heating up soup, ensuring tables are set and ensuring clean up. Thank you for your consideration.  Contact Sue Severson: sseverson34@yahoo.com  

Reset My Login (a Growing in Our Faith Series)  

Meet Sundays through Lent @10:30am in the Fellowship Hall

Love in Action = Care Kits


This Lent, we’re putting God’s love in action by making Lutheran World Relief Personal Care Kits. Across the globe, families have been suffering from compounding crises such as war, violence, natural disasters, disease and extreme weather. We want to announce to the world that Christ makes a new season possible: a Season of Hope. We’re excited to engage in this project as a community during our Lenten journey this year.


Here’s our collection schedule:

 

February 26: Bars of soap

2 bars per kit, 4-5 ounces, any brand, in original wrapping


March 5: Bath towels

light-weight, max size 52” x 27”, dark color recommended


March 12: Toothbrushes

adult size, in original packaging; multi-packs are OK


March 19: Combs


March: 26: Nail clippers

metal, attached file optional

March Food Drive


Annual March Food Shelf Drive now through April 8th. Please consider donating food or money* for our Clearwater food shelf. Donation cart is located in Celebration Hall.

*Matching funds for monetary donations during the drive.

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The library is OPEN! Come in and check out your next favorite book! Sincere thanks to all the helpers----book checkers and callers, borrowed book returners and you whose support makes it all possible. Thank you everyone!

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Holy Week Schedule


Sunday, April 2nd ~ Palm Sunday

9:30am Worship


Thursday, April 6th ~ Maundy Thursday

6:30pm Worship with Holy Communion


Friday, April 7th ~ Good Friday

6:30pm Worship


Sunday, April 9 ~ Easter

9:30am Worship with Holy Communion

Rejoice Links

Newsletter

Online Giving

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Happening at Rejoice



  • Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9-3
  • Doors are open for walking 9-2:30pm Monday – Thursday. Please ring buzzer by door 1 (Office/Library door)
  • Sundays following worship: Community Food Rescue in the Education Wing
  • Mondays 7pm Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Sundays during Lent at 10:30am: Growing in Our Faith Series-Reset My Login
  • Thursday, April 20: Pete Yanke is coming back for Young at Heart and bringing his friend Dan who plays with him. Remember to call the church office at 320-558-6851 in order to give our great cooks a ‘heads up’ that you will be attending.  Lunch served at 11:30 a.m. with the program following.  Please bring a friend!
  • Sunday, April 23: New Member Orientation. Reception of New Members on May 7th. Forms are available in Celebration Hall if you are interested in finding out about Rejoice membership. Completed forms can be brought to the office drop box. 
  • Sunday, May 14: Confirmation (Affirmation of Baptism)


Women's Bible Study

  • Third Tuesday monthly
  • 10:00 a.m.

Yoga for All

  • Wednesday mornings
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • $10 per class or $32 per month
  • Senior discount: $9 per class or $25 per month

Stitch and Pray

  • Wednesday afternoons
  • 1:00 p.m. in the Rejoice Good News Library
  • Bring your knitting needles and crochet hooks to make prayer shawls for those that are experiencing health or spiritual challenges
  • All levels of skill are welcome

Young @ Heart

  • Third Thursday monthly
  • Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for card playing and fellowship
  • Lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by short program
  • Mark your calendar and call Carol at 320.558.6851 to reserve your spot for a couple of hours of fun and fellowship! Don't forget to invite a friend to join you!

Area Happenings 

Clearwater Fire & Rescue Easter Egg Hunt 10am Saturday, April 1 at the Clearwater Sportsman Park for ages 0-11. Registration 9:30-10am, hunt 10am, basket drawing 10:30am. 


Clearwater – Clear Lake Food Shelf Building Fundraiser April 15th, 4-7pm at the Clearwater American Legion. Pulled Pork Dinner, Silent Auction, and Bake Sale. 

  • Planning Meeting March 20th at 6 pm at the Food Shelf building – All are welcome! 


See the COMMUNITY EVENTS board for current flyers.

Prayer Concerns (* indicates member)

If you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, please use one of the prayer concern requests located on the round table in Celebration Hall and in the Welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member. Requests will be printed for up to four weeks; call the church office at 320.558.6851 to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please resubmit the name and/or concern using one of the prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area. 

We Mourn with:

Ray and Mary Wilson in  the loss of Mary’s cousin Neil Lubke.


Receiving Treatment for Cancer:

*Lee Monk

Sharon Wallace (Lori Lanes)

Duane Pingeon (friend, Lori Lanes)

Layne Lavandowska (friend, Lori Lanes)

Cary Ogden (friend, Pastor Jim Bump)

Judy Schill (mother, Chris Schill)

Dana (niece, Bonnie Badial)

Vern Scott (friend, Lee & Rosemary Monk)

*Lorraine Bluhm

Kim Hillson (friend, Lori Lanes)

Carolyn Bjelland (cousin, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Sami (neighbors’ friend, Jim & Lori Lanes)

Karen Emberton (Kari Line)

JoAnn Stegura (wife, Jerry Stegura)

John Swan (friend, Ron & Lynn Schneider)

Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)

*Pete Lidberg

Others:

*Lorna Cooper

*Mike Barrett

*Gladys Steiger

Konnor (grandson of Brad & Martha Johnson)

*Martha Johnson

Clifford Volkmann (brother-in-law, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Julie Froblom (cousin, Lori Lanes)

Andy Castro (brother-in-law, Chris Schill)

Maxine Sanders (mother, Kevin Sanders)

*Elaine Niesche

Norb & Carol Litzau (friends, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Marlene & Gary Hillson (mother & son, friend, Lori Lanes)

*Charlie Johnson

*Duane Johnson

Kris (sister, Rosemary Monk)

Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)

Jeff Lamb Family (friend, Mark & Karie Gohman)

Rejoice Staff

Jim Bump Lead Pastor

Janelle Rudnigen Music Coordinator

Tara Harl Office Administrator

Lisa Pridgeon Office Assistant

| 320.558.6851 | http://www.rejoicelutheranchurch.org |

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