News & Notes
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​​Friendly Rider:
Anyone desiring to use Friendly Rider on Sunday morning to attend worship services, just call and tell them your destination. There will be no charge to you.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Financial Secretary:
We are still looking for someone to fill one of the Financial Secretary positions. This is not a huge time commitment. See Carol S. or Pastor for details.
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Audio Tech:
(This is a fancy name for the person who runs the Power Point on Sunday morning.) We are in DESPERATE NEED of people to help in this area if we're going to be able to continue to have Divine Service on screens. See Josh S. or Pastor for more details.
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Stitch & Chatter Quilters
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The Stitch & Chatter quilters have quilts for sale. These quilts are located in the fellowship hall and are tagged with prices and the approximate sizes. Checks can be made out to Stitch & Chatter and left in the church office or mailed to the church.
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Most of the quilts made by Stitch & Chatter are donated to missions, the Empty Stocking Fund, fire victims, and members who might be in need of them.
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Lutheran Island Camp Registration
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Our congregation pays the registration fee for any youth from St. John who wishes to attend Lutheran Island Camp.
For a positive change in your life, plan to attend
Lutheran Island Camp this summer!
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​​​​Our next meeting will be Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
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LWML members served the first Lenten supper at 5:00 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 18.​
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Palm Sunday, March 29, LWML will have "Muffins for Mites" for sale after the worship service. All money donated for the muffins will be forwarded the Minnesota North LWML for our mite-funded mission grants.
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Board of Elders:
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Walking Together into the Season of Lent
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​As winter slowly loosens its grip and the days grow longer, the Church invites us into a sacred season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Lent is a 40-day journey that prepares our hearts for the joy of Easter through prayer, fasting, generosity, and intentional turning toward God. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when we receive ashes as a visible reminder of our humanity and our deep need for God's grace. These ashes are not a sign of shame, but of hope--marking the beginning of a season where God meets us exactly where we are and gently calls us closer.
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A Season of Reflection
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Lent is an opportunity to pause and examine our lives. What draws us closer to God? What distracts us or pulls us away? This is a season not meant to burden us, but to create space--space to listen, to repent, and to realign our hearts with Christ.
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Prayer, Fasting, and Giving
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Traditionally, Lent invites us into three spiritual practices: Prayer--Deepening our relationship with God through Scripture, worship, and quiet listening.
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Fasting--Letting go of something that distracts us so we can depend more fully on God.
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Almsgiving--Sharing generously with others, reflecting Christ's love through acts of compassion and service.
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Whether it's giving up a habit, adding a daily prayer time, or finding new ways to serve, these practices help shape us into people of humility, empathy, and faith.
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Growing Together as a Church
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This Lent, we encourage everyone--individuals, families, and small groups--to walk this journey together. Attend worship, participate in service opportunities, and support one another in prayer. Lent is not meant to be walked alone; it is a shared journey of faith.
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Looking Ahead to Easter
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Lent reminds us that transformation often comes through surrender and hope blooms after waiting. As we walk through the wilderness of Lent, we do so with confidence--knowing that the story does not end at the cross, but with the empty tomb.
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May this Lenten season be a time of deepened faith, renewed hope, and a closer walk with God.
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"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)
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Blessings as we begin this holy journey together.
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Matt D.
On behalf of the Board of Elders ​
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Board of Evangelism:
There are several instances during the ministry of Jesus that he charged his disciples to tell no one about what they had seen or heard. For example, Jesus asked his disciples in Mark 8: 27-30 how people identified him as well as how the disciples identified him, Peter replied (v. 29) "You are the Christ." Jesus told them to tell no one about Him. Jesus also told Peter, James, and John to tell no one what they had witnessed when he healed a twelve-year-old girl (Mark 5:41-43) or the spectacular scene on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:3-9). The time was not right for "telling" until Jesus' ministry was complete and He had risen from the dead.
Because we live in the post-resurrection era, the time IS right for telling. Jesus' last command to his disciples before He ascended into heaven was "Go tell." We read in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
With His help, let us winsomely and boldly share with others the gospel of Christ. Our neighbors, as well as all people across the world, need to hear the good news more than ever before!
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Greeting Card Ministry
Be sure and check out the new selection of various Greeting Cards available for sale in the library. Napkins are available as well.
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