Bishop’s Confirmation Visit, Sunday, May 5 :  Bishop William Wantland will be visiting St. John’s on May 5. Services will be held at 8:00 and 10:00 only, with Confirmation celebrated at the 10:00 mass. All those desiring to be confirmed on May 5th will need to fill out and return a Confirmation form by Tues, April 30th.  

Teen Confirmation Class:  The last Teen Confirmation Class will be held in Guild Parlor on Apr. 7 from 10:15-11:10. See Fr. Klein for questions.

The Season of Lent Booklet:  If you did not receive The Season of Lent booklet in your bulletin on Ash Wednesday or last week, you can pick one up on the table outside the office.

Union Gospel Mission:  St. John’s has committed to serving dinner at Union Gospel Mission on the first Saturday of each month beginning April 6. Parishioners 12 and older are welcome—and encouraged—to take part. If you are interested in serving on this ministry team at any time during the year, please sign up in Mitchell Hall today.

God’s “J-Shaped” People:  Join Fr Klein in a Lenten study and discover how God prepared the world for the Passion of Christ in the Old Testament. We will look at seven key “salvation figures” (Joel, Jacob, Joshua, Joseph, Jonah, Job, Jeremiah) whom God chose that furthered His plan of redemption history (Heb 11:39-40) until all was made perfect in Christ! Join us Sunday Mornings from 10:15—11:10 am.

Lenten Evensong:  Please join us for our Lenten Evensong and reception on March 31 at 5:00pm. Child care will be available.

First Communion Classes:  A First Communion class will be offered on April 3 and April 10 during our Lenten program. For more information, or to sign up, contact Fr. Estes.

DHC/DOK :  DOC/DOK will meet on April 7th, following the 11:15 service. This will be the last meeting until September.

The Liturgy During Lent:  During the season of Lent, our worship takes on a special character.  The mood reflects being in the wilderness.  The season begins with ashes pressed on our foreheads as a sign that a journey has begun.  The ashes trace the sign of the cross marked on us at our baptism.  How do we pick up our cross and follow after Jesus?  Special adjustments are made in the liturgy during Lent.  The Alleluias and joyful canticles, the Gloria in excelsis are omitted from the services.  The color changes to purple; no flowers adorn the altar.  These changes are designed to foster a subdued, meditative spirit to prepare us to enter into Holy Week where the narratives of our Lord’s Passion are read.  And once more we are made sharply aware of the origin of our life in Christ, and the price He paid to attain it for us.  Join us, once again, on the journey…

Bell Choir Performances:  The St. John’s Bell Choir will play during today’s 9:00 mass and the 11:15 mass on April 14. If you have never heard this wonderful group of volunteers perform, be sure to attend!

Vestry Meeting March 26:  The Vestry will meet this Tuesday at 7:00.

St. John’s Lenten Program–The Truth About Money:  This year for our Lenten program we will study on what the Bible has to say about an incredible subject… Money. Our leader is Bob Hampton, CPA, CLU, ChFC. Bob is our treasurer and member of our Finance Committee and former vestry member. He is passionate about Christian stewardship and is a gifted teacher. Bob and his wife Lisa have been members of St John’s for many years.

We will be exploring the following topics:

March 13 Biblical Stewardship

March 20 — Getting Out of Debt

March 27Investing for the Future

April 3 — Giving Back to God

 April 10 — Stewardship of the Culture

Feastivities Gourmet-to-Go Lenten Meals Menu

(Mac & Cheese will be served weekly for the children.)

March 27: Italian Wedding Soup, Cranberry Nut Salad, Garlic Bread

April 3: Southwest Stew, Mandarin Orange Salad, Corn Bread

April 10: Tomato Basil Soup, Caesar Salad, Parmesan Pull Apart Bread