April 10, 2025 E-Vine

Palm Sunday
“Hosanna!  Crucify!”
April 13, 2025

Please CLICK HERE to download the service notes.

As We Gather
Sunday is Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday, two celebrations in one service.  We begin with a commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Then we look forward to the events of the coming week, and the Passion of our Lord, culminating with His atoning sacrifice on the cross. 
 
In the same service, we echo the cries of “Hosanna” during the Triumphal entry, and also the cries of “Crucify” during the trial.  How can the people of God change their cry so quickly?  And yet, we do.  All the time.  It is because of the weakness of our fallen nature that we need a Savior.  And such a Savior we have!   One who responds to our fickle weakness by taking up His cross for us. 
 
The service today begins in Faith Chapel.

Please CLICK HERE to download the link to the live-stream itself.

 

 

                                            
 

Holy Week

Holy week commemorates the culminating week in the life of Jesus, and the events at the heart of the salvation which is ours through Jesus.

 

Palm Sunday (April 13).  On this day, we commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna” from the crowd waving palm branches.  This is a welcome for a King coming in peace, and points ahead to the mission He was bringing to fulfilment that week.  We will begin our Palm Sunday service in the Faith Chapel (weather permitting) and process into the sanctuary with palm branches, praising Jesus. The service will include the preschoolers singing and the dramatic narrative reading of the account of the Passion. 

 

Maundy Thursday (April 17) is a commemoration of Jesus’ “Last Supper.”  At this meal, He transformed the Passover meal into a sharing of Himself in bread and wine as His body and blood.  At our Maundy Thursday worship (7:00 PM), we will also be celebrating the First Communion of those who have been preparing to be welcomed to the Lord’s Supper.

 

Good Friday (April 18) marks the day that Jesus was crucified.  Our evening service (7:00 PM) is a Tenebrae Service.  This is an ancient and beautiful service of gradually darkening the sanctuary as we read the account of the crucifixion and sing hymns and songs in response, ending with the sanctuary in darkness.

 

Easter Vigil (April 19, 8:00 PM)  is the first celebration of the Resurrection and serves as a counterpart to the Good Friday Tenebrae.  We process into a darkened sanctuary with candles, and as we meditate on the history of God’s saving activity, the sanctuary is gradually lightened.

 

On Easter Sunday (April 20), we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with two opportunities to worship.  The 8:30 service is led with traditional hymns and the choir.  The 10:30 service is led by the worship band.  Our Easter morning also includes an egg hunt and an Easter breakfast in the gym (9:00 – 10:30).

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Mike’s Bible Class
The Early Church and the Nicene Creed
What is the history and meaning of the creed we speak together in worship most Sundays?  In this multi-week study, Pastor Mike will be looking at the first four centuries of the Christian Church, leading up to the writing of the Nicene Creed.  This Sunday: The Persecuted Church (AD 200-313).  What was going on and what does it mean for us today?

 

 

 
 

Sanctuary Lighting Upgrade
Let There Be Lights!

The long overdue project to update and enhance the lighting in the sanctuary is here!   What is included in this upgrade?

  • LED lighting throughout the sanctuary, replacing the incandescent lights and original fixtures.
  • Enhanced lighting of the chancel (front of the sanctuary) for better visibility.
  • Updated controls and integration with the worship tech station
  • Better cameras for recording and streaming that can easily be controlled by worship tech for pan, tilt and zoom.

The Board of Directors has approved funds from the Michael Thomas bequest for a portion of this project.  We are inviting the St. John’s community to support the rest.  Our goal is $50,000.  If you would like to make an offering to “Let There Be Lights,” please indicate on your check or online that it is for the lighting project.

 

 

 

 

EASTER SUNDAY FLOWER CROSSWe will again this year have our Easter Flower Cross.  Please bring fresh cut flowers from your garden to decorate our cross between services.

 

 


“The Hallelujah Chorus”  – Join Us!
The Sanctuary Choir will be singing “The Hallelujah Chorus” by G.F. Handel at the 8:30 Easter Service.  If you have sung this before and would like to join the choir for this amazing anthem of praise, we invite you to come join the choir.  Pastor Mike will invite you to join during the service.

 

 

 

Board of Directors Nomination
The Board of Directors is receiving Board nominations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.  There are nine members of the Board of Directors.  Four of these positions are up for election this year.  Board members serve for a two-year term and can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.  If you are interested in nominating someone (or yourself) for the Board of Directors, please click on this link to download information about qualifications and responsibilities.  Also included is a nomination form to be completed and returned to the church office, Paula Schweiger, or Pastor Mike.

 

 

 

 
“You’re invited to join us for breakfast on Easter Sunday. We will begin serving food at 9am and continue to serve through 10:30am to ensure that you can enjoy breakfast no matter which worship service you choose. This is a free breakfast for everybody however the St. John’s youth appreciate any donations made and will utilize them to fund the National Youth Gathering trip in July.”

 

 

 

                                                                 

Save the Date!     Vacation Bible School 

We have officially entered the Vacation Bible School season! This year we will take kids on an adventure of Trusting Jesus in a Wild World at True North VBS! Jesus is the ultimate True North and He is unshakeable at all times. We will be reminding kids that He is our forever friend and Savior all week long. A website for registration will be up at a later date, but in the meantime I ask that you prayerfully consider playing a role in delivering a memorable experience for the kids this summer. The dates are set for Monday-Thursday, June 16-19th, from 9am-Noon. Please contact Kevin Mathison with any questions you may have. 

 

 

High School Youth

Calling all High Schoolers! Come hang out with us and enjoy a delicious Spaghetti Dinner, fun games, and a Gathering themed Bible study. Friends are welcome! 
Saturday, April 12, 6-8:30pm in SJL Gym 


Join us this Sunday after church for High School Hangout.  We will dive into our Bible study on Rightnow Media & play some games together. 

 

 

 

We have added a few members to our team and we are always looking for more. It’s a joy to share the gospel with the young kids at their level each week! If you are interested in serving in Children’s Church occasionally please contact Kevin Mathison or the Church Office. 

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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 whom you may invite.  Who can you pray for?  Who will you invite?  

 

 

 

 

You can CLICK HERE to give your offering online.   

 

                                     

                                 

 

 

 

 

Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study

The Men’s Saturday Morning Bible Study is currently studying the Gospel of Luke. 
Join us for fellowship at 7:30 AM and Bible Study from 8-9 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 resource, 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.

Ongoing News and Information

 


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