August 20, 2026 E-Vine

You Asked For It!
“For Hearth and Home”
August 23, 2026

 

CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE NOTES

 

As We Gather

In today’s service, we give thanks for God’s gracious gift of family and the calling He places upon every Christian household. A Christian home is not defined by perfection, but by Christ’s presence—by His Word spoken, His forgiveness shared, and His love practiced in daily life. As God welcomes us into His family through Baptism and the Gospel, He also sends us to reflect that same welcome in our homes, our relationships, and our hospitality toward others. We gather today asking the Lord to strengthen our families, bless our homes, and shape our lives so that His grace may be seen in all we do.

 

Ongoing News and Information

 

 


Thank You from the Family of Lenora Balsiger
Lenora Balsiger’s daughters Lezlee and Sydnee would like to thank our St. John’s family for their assistance with Lenora’s memorial service last Friday. In particular, they would like to thank the Large Print Ministry for providing desserts and floral arrangements at the reception.


Passing of Karen Schoenfeld Carafa
Our sister in Christ Karen Schoenfeld Carafa went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 16. Her family is planning a private memorial service. Please pray that the Lord will comfort her husband Tony and other loved ones as they grieve her passing.

 

 

Passing of Michele Arnold and Request to Share Memories
Michele Arnold, a dear member of our St. John’s congregation who recently moved to Oregon with her husband Ken, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 16. Please pray for Ken and the rest of their family as they mourn her loss. Ken has sent us the following request so that he can keep Michele’s memory alive for their young grandchildren: “In memory of Michele, I’m asking people to share any stories, memories, funny moments, or special experiences you have of her. I am collecting them so that her grandchildren will be able to read them someday and learn who Michele was, the people she touched, and the memories she left behind. No story is too small – anything you remember would mean a lot to our family. Please send the stories to marnoldgp@gmail.com. Thank you…Ken Arnold.”


Parking Lot Update
The main parking lot is finished and open. The new lighting will be installed soon. The sidewalk repair is still to come as well. We encourage your continued support of “Make the Rough Places Plain.” As the project winds down, we will be seeking to pay off the small loan we secured as soon as possible. Your offerings for this project will help us to do that; scroll down for more information on how to give to this project.

 

 


Campus-Wide Rekeying
The full campus has now been rekeyed, and we are continuing to issue new keys to all employees and volunteers who need access to the campus. If you need a new key, please come to the church office during business hours to sign one out. If you still have one of the old keys, please turn it in at the church office.


Pastor Mike’s Bible Class: Revelation
Pastor Mike is leading a Bible study series on the Book of Revelation. What is the meaning of this book? What does it say to us today? What are we to make of the striking images and symbols? We will be going through the entire book in the months ahead, seeking to understand and apply Jesus’ revelation to John, and through him, to us today. This Sunday we will be continuing our study of Revelation 7. We will be meeting in Room 10 at 11:00 AM on Sundays after worship.

 

 

August 24-September 23 – Support SJLS at a Giants Game
Support St. John’s Lutheran School by joining the Giants at Oracle Park for one of their select fundraising games! There are 10 game dates available from August 10 to September 23. Bleacher and View Reserve tickets are only $15, and $5 of each ticket purchased will be donated back to our school by purchasing through the QR code in the flyer above.

 


Update from the Mission Farm
So far in the month of August we have harvested and delivered to the Napa County Food Bank 3,618.5 lbs of fresh produce! We are on a roll, praise God, and thanks to our tireless volunteers. There is still a need for harvesters and those willing to help with clean up. The harvest has been early, and perhaps also the cooler weather with chances of rain. When a certain crop is finished we need to clear the field so we can prepare them for next season, adding soil amendments, and keeping the weeds at bay. Also there will be the planting of cool weather crops like cabbages and broccoli. If you would like to help, please visit the farm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to noon.

 

 


September 2 – Come Sing with the Sanctuary Choir!
The Sanctuary Choir will have its first rehearsal of the 2026-27 season on Wednesday, September 2 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Sanctuary. All are welcome to join us – no prior experience necessary! For more information, please reach out to Choir Director Erin Blackwood or Kristy in the church office.

 


September 2 – Confirmation Information Night
It’s almost Confirmation season again! 7th and 8th graders are invited to our Confirmation Information Night on September 2 at 7pm in Room 10. This is designed for both student and parent as we discuss what this year in Confirmation will look like. Contact Kevin Mathison if you have any questions beforehand. 
 

 

Foundations: An Overview of the Christian Faith – starting September 9
What are the essential teachings of the Christian faith? What do they mean in our lives and in our world today? Pastor Mike will be leading a nine-session overview of the basic teachings on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM starting on September 9 in Room 8. This study in basic Christianity will cover all the essential teachings, how they fit together into one compelling story, and what they mean for our lives today. This class is required for those who are interested in membership at St. John’s. But it is also helpful for those who seek to better understand the Christian story in order to grow in their faith and be better equipped to share it with others. If you would like to participate, please reach out to Pastor Mike or Kristy in the church office.

 

 


September 12 – Memorial Service for Lois Johnson
We give thanks for the life and faith of our sister Lois Johnson, who passed from this earthly life into the presence of her Savior on Saturday, August 15. A memorial service for her will be held on Saturday, September 12 at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary, with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. All at St. John’s are warmly invited to attend. Please continue to lift up her husband Ron and the rest of their family in prayer as they grieve her passing.

 

 


September 13 – Ministry Fair
St. John’s, get ready… our Ministry Fair is taking over Coffee Hour! On September 13, Coffee Hour becomes a full‑on celebration of the ministries that make our church family thrive. You’ll get to meet ministry leaders, hear their passion for serving, and learn why each ministry is so important to the life of our church. This is your chance to explore, connect, and discover where your gifts might make a difference. Come for the fellowship, stay for the fun, and don’t miss the surprises we have planned. It’s going to be joyful, lively, and full of the kind of community that makes St. John’s feel like home. 

 

 


Chemo Care for the Scully Family
Many thanks to our wonderful congregation for providing such care and support for the Scully family during Rebecca’s recovery from her recent surgery. She is now moving on to the chemotherapy phase of her treatment plan, and to help the Scully family focus on rest and healing, we have put together a “Chemo Care” website with links to items that would be most helpful for them as they navigate this next phase. For more information and to contribute, please click here. Thank you all so much for your generosity, prayers, and support during Rebecca’s recovery! 

 

   

For more than 60 years, our main parking lot has served St. John’s well. But as we all know, it is now in serious need of repair. In addition, several sections of the sidewalks along Linda Vista Avenue and Trojan Road have been lifted and broken by tree roots, creatng uneven and unsafe walking areas.

 

“Make the Rough Places Plain” (Isaiah 40:4) is our congregation’s project to:

  • Repave the parking lot
  • Improve parking lot lighting
  • Repair the damaged sidewalk sections

Our goal is to complete the work this summer, so that when school begins, the “rough places” will indeed be made plain – a safer, well-lit parking lot and level sidewalks for all who come onto or walk by our campus.

Project Budget: $280,000

  • Parking Lot Repaving – $200,000
  • Improved Parking Lot Lighting – $50,000
  • Sidewalk Repair – $30,000

We have applied for assistance through the City of Napa’s Sidewalk Cost Share Program and are awaiting their response.

 

How You Can Help
Please prayerfully consider making a special offering to support “Make the Rough Places Plain.”
Gifts may be made by check or online at this link.

 

As of August 16, 2026, we have received:

  • $152,131 in donations
  • $50,000 pledged by the Association of Parents and Teachers

Praise God for His generosity through His people!

 

 

 

Submit Your Ideas for a New St. John’s Lutheran Logo!
Calling All Artists & Designers! We’re dreaming up a new St. John’s Lutheran Campus logo, and we’d love your creative input. If you have experience in graphic design or clean‑line illustration, we invite you to submit a concept featuring grapes and grapevines (with grapes clearly visible), an eagle either flying above or resting in the vines, and a cross placed in the background. The design should be simple enough to print across many different materials.

 

Please turn in your concept to the church office or email joshwright@stjohnsnapa.org by November 1, 2026.

 

Your artistry helps shape the visual identity of our campus!

 

Preschool Openings at St. John’s Lutheran School
St. John’s Lutheran has openings in the 4-year-old/3 day program (Green Group) for the upcoming school year.  Within the program, families may choose to have their child enrolled in 1/2 day (8:30am-12:00pm), 3/4 day (7:30am-3:00pm) or full day (7:30am-5:30pm) options.  To be eligible to enroll in this program, children must be 4 years old by September 1, 2026.  The first day of school is Wednesday, August 19.

 

If you know anyone who may be interested, please have them contact SJL’s Admissions Counselor, Kristin Goller, at 707-226-7970, Ext. 125 or kgoller@stjohnsnapa.org.

 


 In Search of Rental Home (Napa)
A family in our congregation is seeking to rent a house, townhouse or apartment with at least 2 bedrooms within walking distance of St. John’s beginning in August or September. If you have any leads, please reach out to Jeff at 650-804-6218. Many thanks!

 

 

    

 

September 2 – Confirmation Information Night

It’s almost Confirmation season again! 7th and 8th graders are invited to our Confirmation Information Night on September 2 at 7pm in Room 10. This is designed for both student and parent as we discuss what this year in Confirmation will look like. Contact Kevin Mathison if you have any questions beforehand. 

 


Tuesday Night High School Hangouts
Tuesday is Youth Night! We’re kicking things off with an apologetics series to better prepare ourselves for sharing our faith. Join us as we dive into the Word and have a little fun while doing so! Invite a friend and come join us! We’ll meet on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30 PM in Kevin Mathison’s office. For more information, please contact Kevin Mathison.

 

 

Join Us For Children’s Church!
All children ages preschool through 5th grade are invited to join us for Children’s Church, an age-specific time of teaching and fellowship during the main worship service every Sunday morning. The children will spend the first part of the service in the sanctuary, then join their teachers for Children’s Church in one of the classrooms. The children then rejoin their families for the last part of the worship service. We are also looking for more adults and teens to help lead these classes, so if you are interested, please reach out to Kevin Mathison.

 

Follow St. John’s Youth Ministry on Social Media to keep up with all the latest information! 
Facebook: SJL Napa Youth Ministry
Instagram: St. John’s Lutheran Napa Youth 

 

                                                                             
 

Every week is an opportunity to invite someone to join with us in worship, whether in person or online. The first step, though, is to pray for those who you may invite.  Who can you pray for?  Who will you invite?  

 

 

 

You can CLICK HERE to give your offering online.   

 

 

 

 

What Happens When You Ask for Help from a Stephen Minister?

When you ask for help from a Stephen Minister, a Stephen Leader will contact you to talk more about Stephen Ministry and what it can mean to you. If your needs can be best served by a Stephen Minister, you will be matched with someone who will support you through this tough time. Confidentiality is a top priority for the Stephen Ministry team. You do not need to be concerned that other people will discover that you have requested help. Everything discussed with your Stephen Minister remains confidential. To find out more about Stephen Ministry or to request a Stephen Minister, contact Penni Cremen (707-483-9321) or Pastor Mike at the church office (707-255-0119).
 

 

Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study

The Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study has wrapped up for the summer, but we will resume in September with a study of Genesis. In the meantime, if you would like more information, please contact Judi Rock at goalyce2041@gmail.com.

 

Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study

The Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study is currently studying Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. All men are welcome to join us every Saturday morning in Room 10. Breakfast will be at 7:30 AM, and the Bible study will be from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.

 

 

 

Biblical Counseling at St John’s? 
The Biblical Counseling Center of Napa Valley

The Biblical Counseling Center of Napa Valley is a ministry to the families of St. John’s Lutheran Church and all Christians in the greater Napa area. Our center began some 25 years ago to offer strength and direction to those Christians suffering through trials and tribulations using the promises and hope the Bible offers to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  To learn more, CLICK HERE.  If you, or someone you know, is struggling with life’s stressors, please consider giving us a call at 707-738-5306.  (We are a free ministry to all).

 

 

 


Right Now Media
Right Now Media is an online resource providing Christian videos for all ages – children’s resources, Bible studies, lectures, and more. As a congregation, we have subscribed to Right Now Media, so access is free for all in our St. John’s family. If you haven’t already signed up for Right Now Media, CLICK HERE.

 

Where do I find sermons and services that I missed?

You can find previous sermons in three places.  The full services are available on the YouTube channel.

 

 

More Links to Check Out

 

 


Church Calendar

 

Scrip Info: What is Scrip?…

 

 

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Our mailing address is:
St. John’s Lutheran Church   3521 Linda Vista Ave.  Napa, CA 94558