March 26, 2026 E-Vine – St John's Lutheran Church of Napa CA

Palm Sunday
“The Story of Us”

CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE NOTES.

As We Gather

This 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.

It is very easy to read the account of the Passion of our Lord as a story about Romans and Jews and what happened to Jesus as they sparred and then cooperated. But that would be to misread the entirety of what happened in Jerusalem that week. This is the story of us. Our destiny. Our being. That is what is at issue. And that is what Jesus has come to secure. And redeem.

The service will begin in Faith Chapel.

Ongoing News and Information

Volunteering at the Mission Farm
Now that spring is here, the St. John’s Mission Farm invites you to come help on the farm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to noon. This week we will be planting cucumbers, melons, and zucchini, and next week we will plant corn seed. Everyone is invited; bring a friend. Wear garden clothing, hat, gloves, and a smile!

March 29-April 5 – Holy Week Worship Services
Holy Week commemorates the culminating week in the life of Jesus, and the events at the heart of the salvation which is ours through Him.

Palm Sunday (March 29). On this day, we commemmorate 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 fulfillment that week. We will begin our Palm Sunday service in 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 2) 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 3) 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 4, 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 5), we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with two opportunities to worship. The 8:30 AM service is led with traditional hymns and the choir. The 10:30 AM 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). We invite you to bring a flower or two to decorate our Easter Sunday flower cross.

March 29 – Join Us to Rehearse the Hallelujah Chorus
The Sanctuary Choir will be singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus at the 8:30 AM Easter Service. If you would like to join the choir for this Easter performance, please come rehearse with us this Sunday, March 29, right after the worship service in the Sanctuary. No prior experience necessary – all are welcome!

Pastor Mike’s Bible Class – Angels and Demons
This Sunday, we continue looking at what God’s Word says about angels and fallen angels. We’ll continue our walk through the Old Testament, looking at angels that appear in the propherts, especially Isaiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. We will study what God’s Word says, comparing and contrasting with the views of the popular culture, and what it means for us today. We meet in Room 10 each Sunday after worship at 11:00 AM.

March 30-April 3 – Holy Week Chapel Services
The St. John’s congregation is warmly invited to attend St. John’s Lutheran School’s daily chapel services during Holy Week, which will take place at 8:40 AM each morning in the Sanctuary.

Candy Donations for Easter Egg Hunt
We would be grateful for donations of small, individually-wrapped candies that we can put into the plastic eggs we will be using for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday. Please drop off your donations at the church office any time before Saturday, April 4. Many thanks!

Join the Worship Preparation Team!
Do you ever wonder who prepares the church for our services? Our Worship Preparation Team works quietly to make sure everything is ready for our Sunday and special services. We are currently looking for new members to join us. It is a wonderful way to serve, meet fellow members, and learn about the liturgical life of the church, If you are interested, please contact Doris Klein or Kristy in the church office.

Grant Applications for Concordia University Students
Attention all Concordia University students! Our congregation will now accept applications for student grants for the 2026-2027 academic year. All members of St. John’s who plan to attend any of our six synodical universities or our two seminaries are eligible to apply. All you have to do is email our Business Administrator Howard Scully at hscully@stjohnsnapa.org announcing your intent to enroll for the 2026-27 academic year.

All applications must include the following information:

Your name
School name
Student ID or account # (if returning student)
Degree you are pursuing
Year and level of study (e.g., junior year, undergrad, 5th year, teacher certification, student teaching, graduate studies)
Whether you are attending fall term or spring term (or both)
A brief explanation of why you’re attending Concordia and how you plan to use your studies and future vocation to shine the light of Christ and to witness for Jesus as His kingdom representative in the world.

The deadline for applications is this Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Actual grant amount to each student is undetermined but will be based, in part, upon the number of students requesting assistance. So if you are considering attending a synodical university–even if you have not made a final decision–please send a brief note informing us of where you are in your decision process so that we can plan accordingly.

Endowment Fund Disbursement Application Process
The purpose of the St. John’s Endowment Fund is to receive, to manage and to distribute funding to support and implement the mission and vision of St. John’s Lutheran Church. The value of the fund is approximately $1.4 million. Please refer to the Endowment Fund Bylaws for a complete description of what the funds may be used for, and how they are managed: Endowment Fund Bylaws

Each year up to 5% of the value of the fund is available for disbursement to support the ministry. For some of the funds that make up the overall fund, the disbursements have defined purposes (tuition assistance, etc.) The Endowment Fund Committee is receiving applications for 2026 2027 disbursements from the “SJL Ministries” portion of the endowment fund. The last several years, there has been approximately $36,000 available to be disbursed from this fund.

If you have an idea for a ministry disbursement and would like to submit an application, please click on this link to download an application: Endowment Fund Application. The deadline for applications is this Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Please send or drop off applications to the church office. The Endowment Fund Committee will then review all applications and make recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Lent Midweek Series: “To the Churches…and to Us”
The season of Lent invites us to listen again for Christ’s voice. In Revelation 2–3, Jesus speaks to seven churches—calling them to remember, to repent, to endure, and to return. These ancient words still search our hearts and strengthen our faith today. As we walk through Lent, we hear Christ addressing His people with truth and mercy, inviting us to renewed love and deeper trust in the One who walks among His churches still. Next Thursday, April 2, at our Maundy Thursday service, we will look at the letter to the church in Laodicea.

April 2 – Laodicea: “I Will Come In and Eat With You”
Laodicea’s lukewarmness meets Christ’s persistent love (Revelation 3:14-21). On this night of the Supper, we hear His promise: “I will come in and eat with you.” As we gather at His table, we open our hearts again to the One who knocks and comes in with His grace.

April 5 – Easter Sunday
Flower Cross
We will continue our annual tradition of having our St. John’s families bring flowers to decorate our Easter Sunday flower cross. Please bring a flower or two from your garden to the Easter service. No green thumb? No worries! Store-bought flowers are welcome as well.

Easter Breakfast
The St. John’s Lutheran Youth invite you to join us for breakfast on Easter Sunday in the Parish Hall. We will begin serving food at 9 AM and continue to serve through 10:30 AM to ensure that you can enjoy breakfast no matter which worship service you choose. This is a free breakfast, but donations in support of the Youth Ministry are much appreciated!

Easter Egg Hunt
We’ll meet up around 10:00 AM in Faith Chapel for our annual Egg Hunt. Kids are encouraged to bring their own baskets for collecting the eggs that they find.

The St. John’s Lutheran Church App is coming!
We are happy to introduce a new tool to help us stay better informed and connected at St. John’s. This is an app for your phone or pad called the “Church Center” App. It will give you one easy place to find events, groups, giving, and updates from St. John’s.

The Church Center App for St. John’s builds on what we already use. Church Center is part of Planning Center, which our staff and many volunteers already use on Sunday mornings for all the ways people serve each week, as well as planning the worship service itself.

Event registrations, like Wine and the Word, will be quick and simple. You can update your own contact information, manage giving, and stay connected throughout the week. The app also includes an optional, privacy-friendly church directory. You choose what information you share -it’s a great way to learn names and build community.

We’ll share more details in the coming weeks, including how to download and us the app and how to join the directory.

April 12 – Information Meeting for VBS Volunteers
It’s almost VBS season! We invite students and volunteers to begin signing up right away. There is no doubt that the students will sign up in the masses, but we are always looking for adult volunteers to join our VBS crew for the week! Whether you’re definitely available to help or find yourself on the fence about it, we will be hosting a Volunteers Meeting on Sunday, April 12 following Worship. We would love you to attend to hear the plan for this year’s VBS and ask any questions you may have. For more information, reach out to Kevin Mathison.

Board of Directors Nominations
The Board of Directors is receiving Board nominations for the 2026-2027 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, Board Chair Martin Meissenhalter, or Pastor Mike Schmid.

April 14 – Board of Directors Information Forum
There will be a Board Information Forum on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM in the Library for those who are interested in being nominated for the board. This forum is also open to anyone who just wants to learn more about the governance polity of St. John’s, and how the Board works.

April 2-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 32 game dates available from April 2 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.

April 25 – Boots, Bubbles, & BBQ Fundraiser in Support of St. John’s Lutheran School
Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and fundraising at Boots, Bubbles, & BBQ on Saturday, April 25 at 5:00 PM, benefiting St. John’s Lutheran School! This exciting community-building night, held right here at St. John’s, will feature a lively auction, great company, and the chance to make a big impact for our school. Don’t miss out – come for the fun, stay for the cause, and help us support our students. For more information, and to buy tickets, please click on this link.

June 15-19 – Vacation Bible School
Join us for an adventure to Rainforest Falls this summer! St. John’s Lutheran Church is hosting VBS for preschoolers through rising 4th graders on June 15-19 (Monday-Friday) from 9am-Noon.. Each day our campers will be reminded of God’s immense love for them as they travel through Rooted Bible Adventures, run and play at Wild Rainforest Games, create memorable take homes with Rainforest Crafts, and enjoy some of the tastiest treats the Falls has to offer. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Don’t hesitate to invite a friend! In order to offer this awesome week of fun we rely on numerous volunteers and we would love you to consider joining the team this year. Register here!

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).

Fifth Grade Teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School

Our beloved Mr. Newton is retiring at the end of this school year after 50 years of teaching at St. John’s, and we are looking for a new teacher to lead the 5th grade class starting this fall. If you are interested, or know someone else who might be a good fit, please reach out to Principal Christy Wood at cwood@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.

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
N.T. Wright

As we head into Holy Week and prepare for Easter’s celebration of the Resurrection, I want to recommend an excellent book on the meaning of resurrection for our lives. N. T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope has been both personally and professionally helpful to me in clarifying and presenting the biblical view of heaven and resurrection.

It’s common to think of Christian hope in the face of death as simply “going to heaven when we die.” But as Wright points out, that is a thin and ultimately unsatisfying view that does not reflect the fullness of Scripture. Instead, he calls us to recover the New Testament’s robust vision of resurrection and new creation, grounding our hope in the biblical promise of bodily resurrection and the renewal of all things. Our hope is not simply “life after death,” but what Wright calls “life after life after death.” Yes, we go to be with the Lord when we die, but Scripture speaks of that as an intermediate state. Our ultimate hope is the resurrection of the dead and the redemption of the fallen creation in the new heavens and new earth.

Flowing from this renewed hope, Wright shows how the resurrection reshapes the way we live in the world today. The resurrection is not merely “pie in the sky when we die,” but gives deeper meaning to our pursuit of justice, our creation of beauty, our witness to Christ, and even our daily vocations. These become anticipatory signs of God’s coming kingdom—small but real foretastes of the world God intends to make new. The good we do, the beauty we create, and the love we show become previews of the perfection of the new creation, where justice, beauty, and love will be complete. With this in mind, we are invited to live with a deeper sense of purpose, grounded in the risen Christ and the future he has already begun.

I highly recommend this book. Wright not only lays out the biblical foundation for a hope rooted in the resurrection of Christ, he does so in a way that encourages a vision of living in that hope every day.

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

Confirmation Classes
Confirmation, for 7th and 8th graders desiring to know more about God, will be meeting on Wednesday nights throughout the school year right here at St. John’s. We will meet next month on April 8, 5, 22, and 29 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.

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 the SJL Library. 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 at kevin@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
Your St. John’s Comfort Dog team continues to prepare for the arrival of our new LCC K9 Comfort Dog. We will reach the two-year predicted wait time in September of 2026 though the date is not guaranteed. We continue to meet monthly, on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM in Room 10, where we are studying the “Nine Arts of Spiritual Conversation”. Our meetings also include prayer time and fellowship. Being a part of this team is like joining together with family.

In March, Tim and Christy Kramer attended an LCC Top Dog Gathering in Illinois to meet with other Top Dogs from around the country to enjoy encouragement, sharing of ideas and processes, and ministry experiences to further enhance each other’s ministries. The theme was “Be the salt and the light” focusing on Matthew 5:13-16.

Another area of focus at the gathering was team building – how to build up current members as well as encourage new members. There are several different roles on the Comfort Dog Team, and we need more people to join us. Please contact Tim or Christy for more information at (707)681-1917..

We were blessed to have Rahab Comfort Dog from St. Andrew in Stockton for several days. Our team was able to take her on many visits while in Napa including Piner’s Nursing Home, St. John’s school, a shut-in visit, St. John’s special needs Bible study, Alta Heights Elementary, and spent time at a Marriage and Family Therapist’s office helping clients. It is so important for us to keep up our skills as well as maintain relationships in our community while we wait for our dog. We are grateful to Rahab’s team for sharing her with us.

Thank you again for your continued prayer and financial support. Please consider joining us in showing the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus to those hurting and in need.

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 is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a system through which individuals are trained and organized to help provide one-on-one Christian caregiving to adults. This multiplies the amount of caring ministry St. John’s can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life. For more information about this ministry contact Penni Cremen (707-483-9321) or Pastor Mike at the church office (707-255-0119).

Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study
All women are welcome to join us every Monday morning from 10:00-11:30 AM in the Sanctuary, We are currently studying the Book of Romans, 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 to the Ephesians. 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

Palm Sunday “The Story of Us”