May 14, 2026 E-Vine – St John's Lutheran Church of Napa CA

Ascension Sunday
“You Will Receive Power”

May 17, 2026

CLICK HERE FOR SERVICE NOTES

As We Gather

Can you imagine what the disciples felt like as Jesus withdrew from them? He had given them the task of making disciples of all the nations. And then left. But that’s not the whole story. He had given them power. He had promised them His Holy Spirit. And with that power and by that Spirit, they changed the world. That same power and Spirit are given to us as well. What is Christ calling us to do as He calls us to make disciples?

Ongoing News and Information

Scavenger Hunt Update for All St. John’s Church & School Families
We want to extend a heartfelt thank‑you to the families who signed up for our May 17 Scavenger Hunt. Your willingness to participate means a lot to us. After looking at the overall interest this year, we’ve decided not to move forward with the full event on that date.

We didn’t want the fun to disappear entirely, though. We’re happy to share that a mini scavenger hunt will be included in our Summer BBQ on June 14, giving everyone a chance to enjoy a little adventure together in a more relaxed, community‑wide setting.

We’re grateful for those who registered early, and we truly hope to bring the full Scavenger Hunt back in the future with even more families involved. Thank you for your understanding, your support, and the way you continue to show up for our St. John’s community.

Summer Worship Series: You Asked For It!
Is there a topic you would like to see addressed in a sermon?

A point of theology?
Living as a Christian in today’s world?
A Christian response to a contemporary concern?
A Bible question?

Beginning June 7, Pastor Mike will be preaching on topics submitted by the people of St. John’s. Please click on this link to submit your topic. Please also provide your name so that Pastor Mike can contact you if there is need for clarification. You can also access the topic survey using the QR code below.

Napa Women’s Center Baby Bottle Drive
Many thanks to Julie Murillo for joining us on Sunday to share about her work with Napa Women’s Center (NWC)! If you were unable to attend, the slides from her presentation are available here. NWC helps women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy by providing free resources, such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, baby clothes and diapers, pregnancy and parenting education, and abortion pill reversal referrals. All services are free and confidential. The NWC is currently conducting a “baby bottle” fundraising drive; the baby bottles can be filled with cash, change and checks. Extra baby bottles are available in the church narthex if you did not already have the chance to pick one up. Please drop off filled bottles at the Father’s Day worship service on June 21. Thank you for being a part of this life affirming ministry! For more information, visit www.napawomenscenter.com or call 707-266-1741.

Pastor Mike’s Bible Class: Revelation (starting this Sunday!)
This Sunday Pastor Mike will begin 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. We will be meeting in Room 10 each Sunday after worship at 11:00 AM.

May 31 – Open Forum Regarding Proposed Budget
There will be an open forum on Sunday, May 31 regarding the proposed 2026-2027 Ministry Plan and Budget, which will be available to review within the next few weeks. The forum will be in the sanctuary and will begin at 11:00 AM.

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.

May 25-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 25 game dates available from May 25 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.

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.

June 7 – Congregational Budget and Election Meeting
The annual budget and election congregational meeting will be on Sunday, June 7 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary. We will be electing candidates for four positions on the Board of Directors. We will also be considering and voting on the proposed 2026-2027 Ministry Plan and Budget.

St. John’s Summer BBQ

June 14 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm on the Patio

Join us as we kick off summer with a campus‑wide BBQ celebrating the heart of St. John’s: our congregation. This relaxed afternoon is all about good food, good company, and the joy of being together as a church family.

We’ll be serving burgers, hot dogs, and brats hot off the grill. Please bring a dessert or salad to share, along with your favorite non‑alcoholic drink. Outdoor games are welcome too if your family has a favorite.

To help us prepare well, please sign up and let us know you’re coming.

bit.ly/SJLSummerBBQ

our use this QR code:

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 (Napa)
A member of our congregation who lives less than a mile from our church is looking for transportation to and from SJLC on Sunday mornings. She uses a walker and may require assistance getting in and out of the vehicle. If you are able to help, please leave your name and contact information (phone and/or e-mail) with the Church Office Manager, Kristy Watkins (churchoffice@stjohnsnapa.org).

In Search of Sunday Transportation (Suisin City)
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.

Confirmation Classes

Congratulations to our 2026 confirmands! Our confirmation classes have wrapped up for this school year, but any current 6th and 7th graders who are interested in participating in confirmation classes in the fall can reach out to Kevin Mathison for more information.

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.

We were blessed to have another one of our West Coast K9 Comfort Dogs onsite. Micah from Light of the Valley in Elk Grove was in the area to offer comfort to all who attended the celebration of life for Mike Quinn. Every seat in the sanctuary was filled. Mike loved working as a Ministry Partner with the Comfort Dogs during his retirement years. Micah was also able to stay over as a “Greeter” the next morning at church.

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
The Women’s Monday Morning Bible Study will be studying the Epistle to the Philippians this month. All women are welcome to join us every Monday morning from in the Sanctuary from 10:00-11:30 AM. 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 will be wrapping up our study of the Epistle to the Ephesians this Saturday. The following Saturday, May 23, we will begin looking at Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. 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.

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

Ascension Sunday “You Will Receive Power”