St. John's Lutheran
Church and School
The Mission
The Journal of St. John's Reaching Farther
February 27 - March 5, 2021
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Second Sunday in Lent
Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 5:05 PM
"The 505" Contemporary Worship Service
(In-Person and Livestreamed)
Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Traditional Worship Service
(In-Person and Livestreamed)
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"The POWER of the Cross:
Not My Will, But Yours"
Preaching: Senior Pastor Ben Roberts
Worship Leader: Associate Pastor Mark Stapleton
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 63:15-17
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17
Holy Gospel: John 5:19-21, 30-36
We live in a nation that has a founding document called the “Declaration of Independence”. This not only describes a founding document; it describes how so many of us live. We want the power to declare our “independence”, that we want to do what we want and live how we want to. But what if our “independent” life goes against what our Father wills for us? What if our “independence” reveals our failure to love God and others? As we continue our Lenten series, “The POWER of the Cross”, we hear Jesus derive a power that is completely contrary to “independence”: a complete dependence on the Father. Whatever Jesus thought, said and did was all according to the will of His Father. This was demonstrated in Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” This was most powerfully demonstrated when Jesus submitted to the Father’s will at the cross, willingly dying for us who stray in our “independence”. When Jesus obeys His Father’s will, it means forgiveness, life and salvation for us. It also means that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, constantly show our absolute dependence on the Father when we pray, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”
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Click on the button above to register for this weekend's worship opportunities and to obtain additional information about our In-Person and Livestreamed Worship Services.
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Sunday Sermon Series
"The POWER of the Cross:
The World’s, The Lord’s and Ours"
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Every day we turn on the news, check our social media feeds or engage in our day-to-day relationships, we see people of all kinds striving to obtain and exercise “power”. Even though it may not seem like it, in this day and age, we as Christians have “power” that we get to exercise. But the power that we exercise in relation to others can be for their good…or for their harm. Furthermore, this power that we possess can reveal our faith in Jesus Christ…or it can reveal the sin deep within us, deserving of God’s wrath and death. But when God’s Son, Jesus, comes among us, He brings with Him a power that only He possesses. As He makes His way to Jerusalem, He demonstrates a power that is “not of this world”. As He suffers and dies on a cross, He shows a power that is in opposition to the world’s power…and, at the same time, conquers it. In this Lenten series, “The POWER of the Cross”, we will take a look at all kinds of power:
· Worldly power, which the evil one, “the prince of this world”, uses in fallen humanity to manipulate, dominate and control;
· How our use of worldly power reveals our sinfulness and need for deliverance;
· The power that Jesus possesses offers that deliverance, demonstrated not only during His earthly ministry, but especially in His humiliation, suffering and death on the cross of Calvary;
· How the power of Jesus transforms us by forgiving our sinful use of power and giving us His power to share with the world.
In a day and age when so many are tempted to use their power for evil, Jesus gives us hope, forgiveness and new life through “The POWER of the Cross”!
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Lenten Opportunities
Midweek Lenten Series: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
The mercy of God for Christ’s sake, illumined for us in the Scriptures, is no small, generic, everybody-knows-that kind of mercy. God is “rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4 ESV) and “abounding in steadfast love” (Ex. 34:6 ESV). The enormity of God’s mercy drove Paul to his knees. He fervently pleaded that others, too, might “have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:18–19 ESV). Such mercy stirred the souls of God’s Old Testament people as well, who exulted, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. … The steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting” (Ps. 103:11, 17 ESV). This Lenten Series explores different facets of God’s enormous mercy for sinners, as we meditate on the holy sufferings of our Lord during the Lenten season. Interwoven throughout our meditation is Jesus’ summons to reflect God’s enormous mercy to our neighbor: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36 ESV).
Lenten Midweek Services
Wednesday, February 24 - Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 7 PM (30 min.)
Small Group Bible Study Sessions
This year's Lenten Bible Study will be led by Pastor Mark on a variety of weekdays/times, and on Sunday mornings by Pastor Ben. All sessions will be held on Zoom. The Sunday morning session will be held in person and on Zoom. The study will last 5 weeks. Study Sessions will begin the week of Monday, Feb. 22 and go through Thursday, March 25th. Each Study Session will last approx. 1 hour. The Study will be: Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails".
St. John's Lenten Devotional Booklet
Our yearly Lenten Devotional booklet was sent electronically to members in the Lenten Opportunities email linked below and is available through our website.
Print copies are available in the Gray bin outside door A
and on the table just inside door A.
Additional and sign up information regarding Lenten Opportunities may be found in the Lenten Information email that was sent on Thursday, February 11. You may view that email by clicking on the link below.
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CONNECT...in SUNDAY MORNING EDUCATION
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Adult Education Class ~ MORE THAN THE MESSAGE ~ 10:15-11:15am
NOTE: More Than the Message will return with a new series after Easter.
Join Pastor Ben, either in-person at St. John's or online on Zoom, for a study of the passage that the worship service message is based upon. Gain more insights and teachings than can be packed into a 15 minute message! Strengthen your faith in Jesus and the life He has for you! See the article below for details.
Sunday School Education ~ 10:15 - 11:15 AM
Join the Sunday School Class either in-person or online. Lesson materials will be sent to all Sunday School and Wednesday Bible School families. If you do not receive your package, contact Dalyne Shinneman at dalyne.shinneman@gmail.com or call 630.772.1688. See the article below for details.
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JESUS HELPS A SICK FRIEND! |
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When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he traveled to the village of Bethany where Lazarus lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had died, and the sisters had placed their brother's body in a tomb. "If only you had been here," Martha sobbed, "my brother wouldn't have died." Jesus comforted the sisters and then surprised everyone with these amazing words: "My friend Lazarus sleeps, but I will wake him up," What did this mean? How could Jesus "wake him up"? We'll find out what happens in our Bible story!
Lesson materials will be sent to all Sunday School and Wednesday Bible School families. If you do not receive your package, contact Dalyne Shinneman at dalyne.shinneman@gmail.com or call 630.772.1688.
Sunday School in-person meets in the Heritage Room from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Come join us!
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CONNECT...through CHURCH NEWS!
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Note: If your Mission gets clipped in your email, click your "view entire message" link to go on reading about opportunities at St. John's.
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February greetings from Stewardship! As we continue our focus on St. John's newest charity partner, The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education, we are still in need of just 2 volunteers to help host e-learning craft projects beginning next week. This is an easy, assistant role (on-line only via Zoom) while we make craft projects (15-20 mins) with the kids around the corner in Countryside. To give you a better understanding of how amazing the Center's children (and adults) are, please click on the brief video links below, and may God bless your support of our community's children.
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Church Directories are here!
Church directories are available for pick up in the grey pick up bin outside Door A.
Please take the one labeled with your name.
NOTE: Church directories not picked up by the Monday after Easter will be removed from this location and returned to the church office for pick up.
If you did not have a photo taken for the directory, please see the Church Office Manager about acquiring a church directory.
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Portals of Prayer
The Portals of Prayer devotionals for January - March 2021 are available for pick up in the grey bin outside Door A.
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Winter LWML Quarterly
Magazines are available for pickup in the grey pickup bin outside Door A. Please pick one up at your convenience.
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CONNECT...in BIBLE STUDY AND SMALL GROUPS!
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St. John's currently has five small groups meeting
Click "HERE" for additional information on these opportunities!
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Attention All High School Youth! |
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New events coming soon!
Look forward to these dates:
March 6, 6:15 - 8 PM
March 20, 6:15 - 8 PM
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CONNECT...through ST. JOHN'S MINISTRIES!
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Our "St. John's Ministries" e-mail is sent out every Monday.
To view the current e-mail and obtain additional information about these wonderful in-reach and outreach events, click the button below.
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Kindergarten
Eagles in Action Project
The Boards of Caring Ministries and Evangelism are partnering with St. John’s Kindergarten class to support their Eagles in Action project for the month of February. We are collecting donations for Chicago Hopes for Kids.
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how to donate gift cards to families in need during COVID-19
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As COVID-19 widens and families are impacted by hardships related to closed schools, limited access to childcare, work limitations, and more, we have a unique opportunity to help support our community and families.
Purchase gift cards through our school’s fundraiser for essential goods such as groceries, gas, restaurants, and cleaning supplies, to donate to those in our community.
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Try the RaiseRight App!
Click on the TRIP logo for more information!
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Use the RaiseRight App or your TRIP cards with many choices for your shopping needs. Get ready for spring weather! When buying clothing, home decor, or anything – start with TRIP cards. See attached article by clicking on the TRIP logo to see participating retailers and regular order dates.
Our next order dates are:
March 01, 15 & 29, 7:45 am at Door A.
when you are placing an order.
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MEALS TO GO:
TRIP ORDER DATES:
FOOD PANTRY NEEDS:
- February's featured item is PAPER TOWELS
- Please deposit featured item in the box in the narthex.
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CONNECT...with ST. JOHN"S SCHOOL! |
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We congratulate the following students for earning Accelerated Reader Certificates:
Ready 3: George Sherby
Ready 4: Avery Johnson, Olivia Wozniak
Ready 5: Gianni Damergis
Independent 1: Viona Corona
Super 1: Rowen Smith
Keep up the good work!
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St. John’s Golf Outing
first committee meeting via Zoom on Wednesday March 3rd at 7pm
Click on the link above to read it in the Wings!
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Saturday Worship
505 Contemporary
Worship Service at 5:05 p.m.
(Click "here" for the song playlist)
Sunday Worship
Traditional Worship Service
at 9:00 a.m.
PLEASE NOTE: All Worship Services will be available on our Livestream YouTube Page shortly after they are Livestreamed.
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Office: (708) 354-1690 x210
St. John's Lutheran Church and School
505 S. Park Rd. La Grange, IL 60525
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