December 4, 2025 E-Vine – St John's Lutheran Church of Napa CA

Advent: Preparing the Way

“Repent!”
December 7, 2025

CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE NOTES.

As We Gather

John the Baptist was called by the Lord to prepare the way for the Messiah. And much of his preparation centered on one word: Repent! Why is repentance so critical for preparing for the Lord? What does it mean to repent? And how does our Lord respond to our repentance?

Ongoing News and Information

Pastor Mike’s Bible Class

3 John: Faithfulness and Fellowship
Join us this Sunday as we conclude our study of the letters of John with a discussion of 3 John, a personal letter to Gaius, a beloved church member. In this brief letter, John touches on the importance of faithfulness, fellowship and hospitality. What does John’s message mean for us today in our congregation? We will be meeting in Room 8 at 11:00 AM.

Starting December 7: Angels and Demons
If we take the scriptures seriously, we will acknowledge that there is a spiritual realm and there are spiritual beings all around us that we cannot see. The Bible is full of references to angels as God’s servants. (Including the first Christmas!) And in the Gospels, we see Jesus engaged in (one-sided) conflict with demons. In this multi-week study, we’re going to look at and discuss what the Bible says about these spiritual beings, compare and contrast with the views of popular culture, and what it means for us today. We will start this study by looking at the angels in the Christmas story. We meet in Room 8 each Sunday after worship at 11:00 AM.

2026 Offering Envelopes
The 2026 offering envelopes are ready to pick up in the narthex. We have 2026 envelopes ready for everyone who had 2025 envelopes. If you do not yet have offering envelopes and would like to order some, please contact Kristy in the Church Office at churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org.

December 9 – Dine and Donate at Habit Burger
The St. John’s Lutheran School Athletic Program invites you to Dine and Donate with Habit Burger on Tuesday, November 9. Just visit the Habit Burger location at 1735 Trancas St any time from 4:00-9:00 PM on November 9 and present a flyer (available in the church narthex) at checkout, or use code GIVEBACK if ordering online or on one of the in-restaurant kiosks, and Habit Burger will donate 20% of all sales to support our athletic program!

Advent Wednesday Services
During the season of Advent, we also offer worship services on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM. Each service is unique with a different focus and style. Before each service there will be a soup supper in the Parish Hall starting at 6:00 (see below for more information and to sign up to help at one of the soup suppers). Here are the themes of our remaining Advent services:

December 10 – The ABCs of Christmas: We will go through the alphabet identifying words and phrases from the biblical account of the first Christmas. The Choraliers will be singing and the handbells will be ringing.
December 17 – Lessons and Carols: Led by the Sanctuary Choir. A service of Word and Song, tracing the prophecies of the Messiah through the announcement of His birth.

Support the Mission Farm Through the 2025 Give!Guide

The St. John’s Mission Farm is participating once again in the CanDo Napa Valley Give!Guide campaign. This year’s campaign kicked off November 1, and runs through December 31. Please visit CanDoGiveGuide.org and look for the St. John’s Mission Farm under the “Community” grouping. You can donate either by credit card or mail in a check to the address provided. Donation minimum is $10. Many thanks for your support!

December 14 – St. John’s Lutheran School Christmas Program (Grades K-8)
St. John’s Lutheran School will hold its annual Christmas program on Sunday, December 14 in the Sanctuary, with grades K-3 performing at 1:00 PM and grades 4-8 performing at 2:00 PM. Our Choraliers and Handbells will be sharing their gifts of music at both performances. We invite you to come and celebrate the birth of Jesus with the students at St. John’s.

December 17 – St. John’s Lutheran Preschool Christmas Program
St. John’s Lutheran Preschool will hold its annual Christmas program on Wednesday, December 17 at 8:45 AM during Chapel in the Parish Hall. We invite you to come and celebrate the birth of Jesus with our youngest St. John’s students.

December 21 – Christmas Singalong
Mark your calendars for a festive Christmas celebration and singalong at Pastor Mike and Teresa Schmid’s house on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 PM. We invite children and teens to perform a Christmas-themed musical piece of their choosing. If your child would like to play or sing at the event, please contact Kristy Watkins at churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org to sign up.

Date TBD – High School Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange
We are looking for a new date for our High School Christmas Party, and will let you know as soon as have it! We’ll do a white elephant gift exchange ($20 limit) that you won’t want to miss out on. Come celebrate the birth of our King!

December 24 – Christmas Eve Worship Services
We will have two services in the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve:

4:00 PM: Children and family service, including a birthday cake for Jesus!
7:00 PM: Traditional Christmas Eve service with Communion and concluding by candlelight. This service will include a chamber ensemble and the Sanctuary Choir.

December 25 – Christmas Day Worship Service
Join us in the Sanctuary on Christmas Day at 9:30 AM to celebrate the birth of our Savior. This service will include Communion and the Sanctuary Choir.

Charitable Contributions Reminder for Donors
Church Law & Tax has provided a helpful information packet outlining year-end giving reminders as you prepare your 2025 tax returns. We have several copies available in the narthex, and you can also access the packet electronically using this link.

February 12-14, 2026 – Best Practices for Ministry Conference

BPM is back! Best Practices for Ministry is a free annual conference for pastors, church workers, and lay people. The purpose is to learn and share ideas and practices to help us grow in living God’s Mission. BPM 2026 will take place on February 12-14 at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, please go to: cclphoenix.org/bpm/

As we have done in the past, St. John’s will be covering lodging for all participants from St. John’s, but not transportation. The conference itself is free. If you are interested in attending, please contact Kristy in the Church Office so we can add you to our hotel room block. Please also register for the conference using the link above.

In Search of Sunday Transportation
A young adult with special needs, who lives in Suisun City, is looking for transportation to and from SJLC on Sunday mornings. He is ambulatory and needs no special accommodations, just a ride. He is friendly and talkative! If you are able to help him out, please leave your name and contact information (phone and/or e-mail) with the Church Office Manager, Kristy Watkins (churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org).

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.

CHRISTMAS ENCOUNTER: A NIGHT TO SHINE

December 7th
5:00 PM
St. John’s Lutheran Church

The star is rising, and we’re stepping into something brand new—our FIRST EVER Christmas Encounter.

What’s waiting for you:

• A high-energy concert of beloved Lutheran Christmas music with our Praise Band + Special Guests

• The Christmas story brought to life in a pageant starring our very own kids

• A community celebration with dinner + special crafts for the children

This isn’t just another holiday service—it’s a night to gather, sing, and let the story of our Savior shine brighter than ever.

All are welcome. Come ready to encounter joy, music, and fellowship under the glow of the season.

Sign‑Up Info:
Please sign up using either this link or the QR code below and let us know:

How many will be in your party
If you’d be willing to help support the after‑party by bringing a salad or dessert

St. John’s Fam, Advent is here!

Advent has begun, and with it our Wednesday evening services—a midweek pause to breathe, reflect, and gather. And of course, no Advent Wednesday is complete without our tradition of soup suppers beforehand.

This is more than just a meal. It’s a chance to sit shoulder-to-shoulder, share stories, laugh a little, and warm up together before stepping into the evening service.

Here’s what to know:

• Soup suppers happen before each Wednesday service.
• Gather your group, your family, or your “secret recipe squad” and think about hosting one of the suppers.
• We invite volunteers to help set up, serve food (several soups, salads (optional), and desserts), and help clean up. If you’d like to volunteer for one of the suppers, please sign up at this link.

Let’s make this Advent season one where the tables are full, the soup pots are stirred with love (and maybe a little friendly competition), and the midweek gatherings feel like the heartbeat of our community.

Pastor Mike’s Bookshelf

Wonderfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body
John W. Kleinig

What does it mean that we have bodies? That God created us as body–soul beings rather than disembodied spirits? How should this shape the way we understand ourselves? And what does it mean that the eternal Son of God took on a real human body as the incarnate Word made flesh?

A few months ago, I reviewed Sam Allberry’s What God Has to Say About Our Bodies. Kleinig’s book addresses many of the same concerns. In fact, more has been written on the theology of the body in the past twenty years than in the previous several centuries. Cultural questions surrounding gender, sexuality, and identity have pushed Christians to revisit doctrines of creation that were once assumed and are no longer taken for granted by some. Are our bodies meaningful? What significance lies in God creating us with bodies—and specifically, in creating us male and female?

John Kleinig, an Australian Lutheran pastor and theologian, approaches these questions with careful biblical reflection, drawing deeply from Luther and the Lutheran Confessions. His analysis is both thorough and rich. While his writing can be dense at times, it rewards patient reading with profound theological insight that speaks directly to the challenges of our age.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore the theology of the body with depth and seriousness. I have placed a copy of this book on the bookshelf in the church narthex. Previous recommendations can be found here: church.stjohnsnapa.org/resources/pastor-mikes-bookshelf

Sanctuary Lighting Upgrade

Let There Be Lights!

Wonderful news – thanks to your generosity, we have reached our initial $50,000 goal for the new sanctuary lights! However, we now have a “stretch goal” to cover a small cost overrun for the project. We need approximately $2,200 more to cover both the initial and stretch goals.

If you feel led to continue donating toward this project, we would be most grateful. Any “Let There Be Lights” contributions received over and above the initial and stretch goals will reduce the amount of available reserves needed to fund the project.

For an offering by check, please indicate “Let there Be Lights” on the memo line (and on your envelope, if applicable). For online giving, please use the “Let there Be Lights” option to make your designation. Thank you again to all who have helped brighten our sanctuary with your offerings!

Confirmation Classes
Confirmation, for 7th and 8th graders desiring to know more about God, will be meeting throughout the school year right here at St. John’s. Our next meeting will be on December 17 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Library. If you have any questions or desire to get involved, please contact Kevin Mathison at kevin@stjohnsnapa.org.

High School Hangouts to Resume December 14
High School Hangouts after the worship service have been on hiatus as we get ready for this Sunday’s Christmas Pageant, but will resume on Sunday, December 14. All high schoolers are invited to gather after the worship service in Kevin Mathison’s office, where we’ll enjoy games, snacks, and fellowship as we dive into God’s Word and talk about what it means for our lives today. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin at kevin@stjohnsnapa.org.

December 7 – Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal and Pageant!
We will have a dress rehearsal for our Christmas Pageant this Sunday immediately after the worship service, then the kids will take the stage at 5:00 PM during the Christmas Encounter event. The kids have been working hard, and we can’t wait to see them bring glory to God with their performances!

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
We’re taking the month of December off and will resume meeting in January to continue our study of the Book of Romans. We meet on Monday mornings from 10:00-11:30 AM in the Sanctuary, and all study materials will be handed out when we meet. 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 Epistle (letter) to the Galatians. 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 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