St. John's Lutheran
Church and School
The Mission
The Journal of St. John's Reaching Farther
March 6 - 12, 2021
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Third Sunday in Lent
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 5:05 PM
"The 505" Contemporary Worship Service
(In-Person and Livestreamed)
Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Traditional Worship Service
(In-Person and Livestreamed)
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"The POWER of the Cross:
Emptying Oneself"
Preaching: Senior Pastor Ben Roberts
Worship Leader: Associate Pastor Mark Stapleton
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11
Holy Gospel: John 13:1-17
How much influence do you have? How many “likes” did your post get? How many “followers” do you have? How much of your life is spent trying to gain…or maintain…status and reputation in the eyes of others so that you can have “power” over them? As we continue our Lenten series, “The POWER of the Cross”, we hear from St. Paul the kind of status and privilege Jesus had when He came into this world: none. Even though “He was in the form of God”, He made Himself nothing…literally “emptied Himself”…and took on the form of a servant. He shows this when He washes His own disciples’ feet. He shows this kind of power most strikingly when He became “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Because of this rejection of status and reputation, He is now highly exalted…and we are saved from our humiliating sin. And because of His great sacrifice for us, we “empty ourselves”, showing the kind of power Jesus gives us in our service to others.
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Click on the button above to register for this week'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 began the week of February 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 grey 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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In Jesus' story about the Good Samaritan, a man helped a stranger who was badly hurt and needed help. He was kind to someone he didn't know, but he wanted to be a good neighbor. |
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ARE YOU A GOOD NEIGHBOR? Being kind to others isn't always easy - we'll find out what the Bible tells us about kindness in our story. We'll watch a great video and have fun with a GOOD NEIGHBOR RELAY RACE! |
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DON’T MISS THE GOOD NEIGHBOR RELAY RACE!
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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@gmal.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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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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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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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. If you did not have a photo taken for the directory, please see the Church Office Manager about acquiring a church directory.
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.
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CONNECT...in BIBLE STUDY AND SMALL GROUPS!
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Attention All High School Youth! |
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New events coming soon!
Look forward to these dates:
March 6, 6:30 - 8 PM
- Badminton in the Gym at St. John's
March 20 - 6 to 8:30 pm
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Pizza and Escape Room - Pickup and drop off at St. John’s. Please RSVP by March 17th to Nic Stolarczyk.
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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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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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Fifth Grade
Eagles in Action Project
Phil’s Friends is a Christian nonprofit organization started by Phil Zielke, who has survived cancer twice. This group brings support and hope to those affected by cancer in the United States. They create amazing care packages, ongoing support through their Cards of Hope program, and spiritual support through prayer. See the Ministries article for more information.
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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 15 & 29, 7:45 am at Door A.
when you are placing an order.
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MEALS TO GO:
TRIP ORDER DATES:
ANTONINO'S FUNDRAISER:
- Tuesday, March 16
- Order ahead on 3/15
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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Celebrate Lutheran Schools Week
March 8 - 12
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Read the Wings for information on special school activities this week: Sports Day, Crazy Hair Day, Buddy Buddy Day, Mix Match Day and Spirit Day.
Support the School by showing your SPIRIT on Friday, March 12!
Order your Mask today!
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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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