August 28, 2025 E-Vine – St John's Lutheran Church of Napa CA

Set Free: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

“Enough!”
August 31, 2025

CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE NOTES.

As We Gather

Does your standing before God depend on something you do, or something God has done? Paul pleads with the Galatians to remember how they received the Spirit—by faith in what Christ has done, not by their own works. But there is something in us that is drawn again and again to basing our identity on our accomplishments – before the world and before God. Today we look at the danger and allure of legalism, and how the gospel sets us free.

Ongoing News and Information

Meet Our Pastoral Call Candidate
We’re pleased to announce that a potential candidate for our associate pastor position will be visiting St. John’s next week. You’re warmly invited to a Meet & Greet in the Sanctuary:

Wednesday, September 3 at 5:00 PM in the St. John’s Sanctuary

This informal gathering is open to everyone—come say hello, ask questions, and get to know the candidate as we discern this next step together.

Also, please mark your calendars for a Congregational Call Meeting:

Sunday, September 14, immediately following worship in the Sanctuary

The purpose of this meeting is to vote on calling a new associate pastor. Your presence and participation are deeply valued as we seek God’s guidance in this important decision.

August 24 – Pastor Mike’s Bible Class – 1 John: Walking in the Light of God’s Love
Join us on Sundays for a study of 1 John. In this poetic sermon by John, he paints a compelling picture of the Christian life as walking in the light and living in God’s love. John emphasizes authentic discipleship, urging followers to live in the truth, reject false teaching, and demonstrate love not just in word but in action. In so doing, we live in the fellowship God has given us – with Himself and with one another. We will be meeting in Room 8 at 11:00 AM.

Meal Train for Theresa Schoenfeld
As many of you know, Theresa Schoenfeld’s son, Brian, is currently recovering from surgery, so let’s surround Theresa with what we do best – good food, warm company, and lots of caring support.

We’ve set up a Meal Train so our church family can provide dinner (and maybe some laughter) over the next few weeks. Whether you’re a master chef, a takeout hero, or just really good at showing up with dessert, you can be part of this blessing!

For more information and to sign up to bring a dinner, please C LICK HERE. Many thanks to all who have brought Theresa meals so far!

Let’s continue to fill Theresa’s table and bring a little peace and comfort during this stressful time!

September 3 – Confirmation Information Night
It’s almost Confirmation season again! 7th and 8th graders are invited to our Confirmation Information Night on September 3 at 7 PM 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 at kevin@stjohnsnapa.org if you have any questions beforehand.

September 8 – Women’s Bible Study Resumes
The Women’s Bible Study will resume on Monday, September 8, and will be meeting in the Sanctuary from 10:00-11:30 AM. This fall, we’ll be studying the Book of Romans. All study materials will be handed out at the start of the study. For more information, please contact Judi Rock at goalyce2041@gmail.com.

September 9 – Dine and Donate
St. John’s Lutheran School invites you to Dine and Donate with Super Duper Burgers on Tuesday, September 9. Just visit the Super Duper Burgers location at 3900 Bel Aire Plaza D (in the Trader Joe’s Shopping Center) any time from 10:30AM to 9:30 PM on September 9. Present this flyer when you order, and Super Duper Burgers will donate 20% of all sales to support our school!

September 13 – High School Kickoff Party
Calling all High Schoolers! Join us on Saturday, September 13 at 5 PM for a fun night full of food & friends & games! Location is currently TBD. Stay tuned for more information… In the meantime, don’t forget about Sunday morning High School Hangouts after church until noon!

September 14 – Church BBQ Bash
Join us on Sunday, September 14 from 12:30-2:30 PM at the Snack Shack & Field for an afternoon of good food, great company, and relaxed summer fun! Scroll down for more information.

September 17 – Foundations: An Overview of the Christian Faith

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 17 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.

October 12 – Oktoberfest
Join us on Sunday, October 12 from 12:30-3:30pm for one of our favorite fall events – Oktoberfest! Scroll down for more information.

Coffee Hour Ministry

In order to continue this ministry every Sunday we are in need of more people to serve and bring goodies.

Our teams are few right now. We are thankful for those who serve and have served. We are thankful for the willing helper who sets up tables and helps with coffee every Sunday, and for all those who contribute and help.

This is a welcoming ministry for visitors and a good time of fellowship for members.

Please prayerfully consider joining us. Contact Susan or Bill Clark at saclarknd@gmail.com or 707-253-2477.

Music Teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School

The Music Teacher position at St. John’s Lutheran School includes classroom instruction for Preschool – Grade 5 and Choir direction for Grades 6-8. This is a part-time position, scheduled for classroom instruction Tuesday and Thursday, and accompaniment/directing of students during our weekly Chapel first thing Wednesday morning. In addition, accompaniment/directing takes place approximately twice a month during our Sunday Worship. For more information, please contact Principal Christy Wood at cwood@stjohnsnapa.org.

Sanctuary Lighting Upgrade

Let There Be Lights!

We are over half-way to reaching our goal of $50,000. Thanks be to God! You can make an offering to support the lighting upgrade for the sanctuary in different ways. For an offering by check, just indicate “Let there Be Lights” in the memo line. For online giving, please use the “Let there Be Lights” option to make your offering. The light installation will be coming soon!

Join us @ The Snack Shack & Field for an afternoon of good food, great company, and relaxed summer fun! Whether you’re here for the brats or just the breeze, this is a gathering for everyone.

On the Menu:

• Juicy burgers

• Classic hot dogs

• Savory brats

(All hot off the grill!)

What to Bring:

• Your favorite non-alcoholic beverage

• A side dish or dessert to share — please make sure it’s fully prepared and ready to eat! (Our Grill Masters will only be cooking church-provided food.)

• Any family-friendly outdoor games you’d like to share—think cornhole, frisbee, or badminton!

We Need a Few Helping Hands:

• Volunteers to set up tables

• Helpers for clean-up after the event

• 1 or 2 Grill Masters to man the BBQ

Please click here to RSVP and volunteer to help. Let’s enjoy the sunshine, share a meal, and spend time together as a church family. Come hungry and ready to relax—we’ll bring the grill!

St. John’s Oktoberfest: Come for the brats, stay for the banter.

Fall is here, and while pumpkin patches and Pinterest mums are great…you know what’s better?

Brats. Beer. Belly laughs. And desserts so mysterious they deserve their own reality show.

We’re serving up:

Brats, hotdogs, and potato salad (professionally handled)

Beer, wine, lemonade, soda, and coffee

Desserts—wildly diverse, lovingly potluck, possibly German in nature

When and Where:

Sunday, October 12 | 12:30–3:30 PM

St. John’s Lutheran Church — Napa, CA

Free entry. Real fun. *Bring a dessert to share! Homemade, store-bought, weirdly shaped—yes, please*

We need volunteers and leaders from the congregation to help Josh Wright make this wonderful event a success. We currently need volunteers and leaders for the five major areas of the event:

Food – Work with caterer to ensure buffet is set up. Also assist with placing desserts and other German-inspired treats on the dessert table.
Beverages – Ensure the beverage area is organized and that adult beverage areas vs non-adult beverage areas are clearly marked and separated. We want to ensure that this is a safe event and that we are abiding by state and city laws.
Set up – Coordinate a team to ensure tables and chairs are set up in the designated areas for food and socializing.
Clean up – Coordinate with a team to clean the area of trash, put tables and chairs away, and return equipment to the appropriate closets.
Entertainment – Work with those that wish to provide entertainment to set up a schedule and time slots or play music from an iPod/radio when live entertainment is not available.

If you’re interested in being a part of this amazing fellowship, please reach out to Josh at joshwright@stjohnsnapa.org or contact the church office. Once we have volunteers signed up, an informational meeting will be scheduled.

September 3 – Confirmation Information Night
It’s almost Confirmation season again! 7th and 8th graders are invited to our Confirmation Information Night on September 3 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 at kevin@stjohnsnapa.org. if you have any questions beforehand.

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 at kevin@stjohnsnapa.org or the church office at churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org.

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

St. John’s LCC K9 Comfort Dog Ministry
Our team sent 13 members to the LCC K9 Comfort Dog Conference inn Northbrook, Illinois in July. There were over 500 humans attending as well as over 90 beautiful Golden Retrievers. We thank Thrivent for assisting us with an Action Team card.

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.

Stephen Ministers Grow in the Lord

The more you focus on the Lord and do God’s work, the more satisfaction you will find. It’s that simple! Are you looking for more satisfaction in your life? Consider serving our congregation as a Stephen Minister. By helping others, you will help God’s kingdom grow – and you will grow too! To learn more about Stephen Ministry and what Stephen Ministers do, 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 Bible Study will resume on Monday, September 8, and will be meeting in the Sanctuary from 10:00-11:30 AM. This fall, we’ll be studying the Book of Romans. All study materials will be handed out at the start of the study. For 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 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.

YouTube Channel:
- www.youtube.com/user/stjohnsnapaca/live
- There are playlists for sermons, Sunday Services, Wednesday Night Worship and teaching on Matthew
RightNow Media Channel
- www.rightnowmedia.org/CustomLibrary/41667
- Scroll down to find recommendations as well as sermon and Gospel of Matthew lessons
Website
- church.stjohnsnapa.org/resources/sermons
- The sermons are arranged by worship series