Mid-Week Lenten Series
Lenten Schedule
(all Wednesday evening services are at 7:00pm)
March 01 Galatians 1:1-12 Pastor Lon Kvanli
March 08 Galatians 1:11-21 Pastor Lon Kvanli
March 15 Galatians 3:10 -14 Pastor Heidi Kvanli
March 22 Galatians 3:23 -29 Pastor Lon Kvanli
March 29 Galatians 5 :1, 13–25 Pastor Lon Kvanli Holy
April
April
April 9 9:30am
Easter Flowers
There are sign-up sheets on the Welcome Center for Easter Flowers to help decorate the sanctuary and entryway. If you would like to contribute and purchase a plant, please sign up or call the church office at 605-336-3253. Thank you.
Greetings as we enter the Lenten season. Our choirs have been busy preparing music for the coming month. The Handbell Choir will perform on Sunday, March 19th. On Sunday, March 26th the Adult Choir will be performing the hit song “You Say” made famous by contemporary Christian artist Lauren Daigle. We will be accompanied by Riley Clark on guitar. A big thank you goes out to Peggy and Dale Jorgensen for making their annual Valentine cupcakes for the choir. They were delicious! If you are looking for a fun way to make a joyful noise to the Lord, it’s not too late in the season to join our Adult Choir. We will begin practicing our Holy Week selections in March. There are no auditions or solos (that is, unless you want one!). All are welcome!
Sarah Jo Jorgensen Director of ChoirsMarch Mission Globe
Our mission globe gifts for March will go to Lutheran Disaster Response:Middle East Crisis. Lutheran Disaster Response Gifts to the Middle East Crisis will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. You are encouraged to contribute, above and beyond your regular giving, in the globe at the back of the sanctuary. Please make checks payable to St. John Special Funds. Thank you. All gifts will be sent to the ELCA Gifts Processing Center for distribution. NOT
ABLE TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY?
WELCA has greeting cards for sale in the church office. Birthday, Sympathy, Thinking of you, Encouragement, Get Well, etc. at $6.00 for a box of twelve. There are also beautiful table napkins for $3.50 per package. Stop in and check them out!
LWR (Lutheran World Relief)
We continue to need sheets and materials for makin g quilts. They can be left in the box in front of the office door. We would love for more people join us on Wednesdays for fellowship and quilting. No sewing experience is needed! Coffee is always on. Bring a sack lunch if you would like to. St. John Quilters meet Wednesdays from 9am - 2pm in the Fellowship Hall. We are collecting items to complete some kits. Items listed below can be left in the box in front of the church office door.
Layettes:
* TWO lightweight cotton t-shirts (no Onesies ®)
* TWO long- or short-sleeved gowns or sleepers (without feet)
* TWO receiving blankets, medium-weight cotton or flannel, or crocheted or knitted with lightweight yarn, between 36” and 52” square
* FOUR cloth diapers, flat fold preferred
* ONE jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood, or include a baby cap
* TWO pairs of socks
* ONE hand towel, dark color recommended
* TWO or three bath-size bars of gentle soap in original wrapping; no mini or hotel size bars
* TWO diaper pins or large safety pins
Personal Care Kits:
* ONE Mild bath size bar soaps in the original wrapper
* ONE Sturdy comb
* ONE Nail clipper with or without file
* ONE bath-size towel
Barb Buchanan & LaVonne Schimke
Chairs of Mission Action Service Group
WELCA Bible Study
March 19, 2023 in the church Library immediately following worship
The deadline for the monthly Newsletter is 8:00 a.m. on the 20th of the preceding month. This month it will be Monday, March 20th.
St. John has a Facebook page Check us out! Keep informed about upcoming events, weekly bible verses, special announcements, photos & more!
www.facebook.com/StJohnAmericanLutheranChurchSF
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 12th. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed Saturday night.
Meals-On-Wheels
St. John is responsible for Meals-on-Wheels drivers and helpers for Tuesdays. If you are interested in helping out with this important community activity, please contact the church office or Phil or Jackie Johnson. The meals are picked up at Active Generations and delivered on the west side of Sioux Falls. Thank you!
Remember – you can sign up for just one Tuesday if you wish. Any and all help is needed and appreciated!
Project CAR Drivers Needed You Are The Key!
Volunteers are the key to independence and quality of life for seniors.
Project CAR (Call A Ride) offers transportation to Sunday church services, and other church functions, and medical appointments for the elderly members of six different churches. This transportation is a crucial element in their ability to remain connected to their church and community. Project CAR provides vehicles, gas, etc. Please call the Project CAR office (332-2777) for more information. Men, women, retired, working, young, young at heart … We Need You!
Support Our Youth! GIFT CARDS
Gift Cards for our local grocery stores are available to purchase weekdays in the church office or after worship. Gift Cards may be purchased in varying denominations allowing you to purchase merchandise at the respective businesses up to the face value of each card. In most instances, Gift Cards purchased at St. John result in a 5% profit from participating businesses to our St. John Youth to help with summer camps and servant events.
THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING GIFT CARDS AT ST. JOHN!
AngelFoods
The freezer is stocked, and AngelFoods are ready to be delivered to anyone you know who needs a visit, a lift, some comfort food and our prayers. Just stop by the church kitchen anytime to pick up a meal. AngelFoods are for friends, family, neighbors … anyone who needs our Christian love and support. Please sign the sheet on the top of the freezer when you take a meal for delivery. Thank you.
Dear friends at St. John American Lutheran, thank you for your generous monthly donation of $130 to The Community Outreach! Through your donations, you have helped families move in to or stay in their housing; keep their water, gas and electricity on; and get to and from work. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with you.
The Community Outreach
Dear St. John members, “Comfort O Comfort my People” says your God. Isaiah 40:1 Each of you St. John members certainly do your part in following that Bible verse! The Carol Okrina family can attest to that! Your past and continuing actions have fulfilled that command for us. Thank you! God’s blessings to all!
The family of Carol
J. Okrina Third class mail cannot be forwarded. If you change your address, let us know so you receive your next Newsletter. You will also save th e church the 62 cost of address corrections.
Thrivent Choice Dollars
The Thrivent Choice® program is a charitable grant program that allows members to recommend where Thrivent Financial distributes a portion of its charitable grant funds each year. It is a joint program of Thrivent and its member chapters.
Choice Dollars® – Eligible benefit members can help direct Thrivent Choice Dollars to thousands of nonprofit organizations, including congregations, two of which are St. John American Lutheran and Project CAR. (St. John is one of the sponsoring congregations of Project CAR.) You have until March 31st to direct your funds. Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more. Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt. If your Choice Dollars are not designated, they will be distributed as Thrivent chooses. When the time comes for you to make your Thrivent designations, please consider St. John and Project CAR. Those funds will be directly deposited in St. John and Project CAR bank accounts. Thank you.
Online & E-giving
Throughout the year, many of you already support the congregation with your time, talent and financial contr ibutions. But greater participation is always welcome. We encourage you to consider our electronic giving program. We accept donations made from your bank account and credit card or debit cards. It takes just a few minutes to set up a recurring giving plan .
Visit our website (www.stjohnlutheran.net) and click on the “Help us Grow/Giving” button. Thank you for sharing your blessings and for your continued support of our church. Your spirited generosity ensures we can carry our message and our works throughout our community and beyond for years to come!
“AEFT”
AEFT, or Automated Electronic Funds Transfe r, is also available at St. John. With this program, you can transfer money from your checking or savings account once a month to St. John Lutheran’s General Fund. This tool can help keep you on track for your yearly financial commitments. If you are interested in using AEFT, please contact Joanne Pesicka, church secretary at 605-336-3253. She will help you get it set up. Thank you!
