March 2019 Saint John Lutheran Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Imposition of Ashes

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1 Good News March 2019 Saint John Lutheran Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi The Imposition of Ashes Ash Wednesday is the name given to the first day of the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday, originally called dies cinerum (day of ashes), is mentioned in the earliest copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary and probably dates from at least the Eighth Century A.D. One of the earliest descriptions of Ash Wednesday is found in the writings of the Anglo- Saxon abbot Aelfric ( ). In his Lives of the Saints, he writes, We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth as an outward sign of inward repentance and contrition. We do thus likewise. Ashes are mentioned several times in the Old Testament. What is probably the earliest occurrence is found at the end of the book of Job. Job, having been rebuked by God, confesses, Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Other examples are found in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1&3, Isaiah 61:3, Jeremiah 6:26, Ezekiel 27:30, and Daniel 9:3. In the New Testament, Jesus alludes to the practice in Matthew 11:21: Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. In the typical Ash Wednesday observance, Christians are invited to receive the imposition of ashes prior to receiving the Lord s Supper. The ashes are usually inscribed on the forehead in the shape of a cross or impressed on the forehead with the thumb (the thumb being oval produces a mark to indicate the nail wounds of Jesus). Many Christians choose to leave the ashes on their forehead for the remainder of the day, not to be showy and boastful (see Matthew 6:16-18), rather, they do it as a witness that all people are sinners in need of repentance and that through Jesus all sins are forgiven through faith. Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it. It also should be obvious that the imposition of ashes, like similar external practices, is meaningless, even hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance. With this in mind, the rite of ashes on Ash Wednesday is heartily recommended to the Christian as a grand opportunity for repentance and spiritual renewal within the framework of confession and absolution and reception of the Lord s Supper. Join us this Ash Wednesday, March 6 th, for quiet liturgical services at 2pm or at 7pm. A special brief liturgy with imposition of ashes is available from 7:15am to 7:45am. Surprise the World! Love. Like. Jesus. + Hope for the City.

2 March 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 MITES BREADBASKET 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 10 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 3pm Hattiesburg Concert Band RLC #6 17 9:15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship 5pm Movie Night RLC # :15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship RLC # :15 Sunday School 10:30am Worship RLC #27 4 6pm Elders 11 RLC #7 18 RLC # am Newsletter Deadline 5:30pm Women and Money RLC #21 5 RLC #1 12 RLC #8 19 RLC #15 26 RLC #22 6 Ash Wednesday 10am West Hattiesburg Bible Study RLC #2 13 RLC # am West Hattiesburg Bible Study RLC #16 27 RLC #23 7 RLC # :30am Avenues Bible Study 1:30pm Kaffee Klatsch RLC #10 21 RLC # :30am Avenues Bible Study 1:30pm Kaffee Klatsch RLC # RLC #4 15 RLC #11 22 RLC #18 29 RLC #25 2 8:07am Men s Breakfast 10am AA 9 10am AA 10am BOD RLC # am AA RLC # am AA RLC #19 30 HUBFEST 10am AA RLC #26

3 Make this your Lenten discipline: 1) Engage the 40-day Red Letter Challenge. Kickoff is this Sunday, March 3 rd when we ll dedicate and distribute the books during worship. Can t be there then? Let us know and we ll make arrangements to get a book to you. We d love to have 100% participation. Your cost is $15/book, but if that s a deal breaker, then pay what you can. We move forward together when everyone participates! 2) Join a five-week Red Letter Challenge Home/Study Group. We re still finalizing the list of Home and Study Groups. Here s what s on the map at the moment. Each group needs at least five regular folks to make it work; ten is preferred. They run March 10 th through April 13 th. Day & Time Sunday Mornings at 9:15am Sunday Evenings at 4:00pm Monday/Tuesday (to be decided) Wednesdays at 12:05pm Wednesdays at 5:30pm (best time?) Thursday/Friday (to be decided) Location 2001 Hardy Street 501 S. 19 th Avenue Petal (we need a host) 2001 Hardy Street (tentative) 2001 Hardy Street (tentative) Northwest Hattiesburg Saint John Hattiesburg is not alone in the Red Letter Challenge! 51 congregations across North America, represented 30,000 Christians, in 22 states and one Canadian province are all doing the Red Letter Challenge this Lent. Join us! You ll be glad you did! Surprise the World! Love. Like. Jesus. + Hope for the City.

4 Serving in March Pastor John Karle Music Director Jason Sims Elder Nancy Kaul Altar Care Team Debbie Frederick and Pat Davenport Date March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31 Ushers Warner Boortz & Jerry Frederick Wayland Johnson & Terry Lovdahl Willy Noffke & Ethan Potesta Mark Keyl & Ethan Potesta Warner Boortz Online Giving Online giving is available to members and friends of Saint John via the 'Give' tab on our webpage. Thank you for supporting our work together in Jesus' name. LUTHERAN CAMPUS MISSION Campus Mission Welcome to all college students! We're glad you're here. Please check in with Pastor John after worship today (or text/call at ). West Hattiesburg Bible Study meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at 10am at the home of Shirley Thone, 2 Bluebeard Point. (Phone: ) Bring your Bible as we're working our way through the book of Romans as facilitated by Debbie Frederick. Friends men and women are very welcome here! Next meeting is Wednesday, March 6 th. The Avenues Bible Study meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 10:30am in the middle Sunday School room. For more information, please contact Pat Davenport at They are currently studying of The Screwtape Letters. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 14 th. Sunday Morning Study Groups at 9:15am 1. Group One is a six-week study on the Red Letter Challenge for those who are taking the challenge and working through the book. The format includes videos with the book's author, study of a related Bible passage, table talk discussion questions, and prayer. 2. Group Two is a study of C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." This is the same study taking place every other Thursday morning. Please see the description in The Avenues box. Men s Breakfast Saturday, March 2 nd, 8:07am at The Plaid Rhino located at 122 Carlisle Street. LWML Mites will be collected Sunday, March 3rd. Elders Meeting Monday, March 4 th at 6pm. BOD Meeting Saturday, March 9 th at 10am. Hattiesburg Concert Band will be performing their annual Big Band concert on Sunday, March 10 th at 3pm at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater. Free Family Movie Night Join us on Sunday, March 17 th (St. Patrick s Day) at 5pm in the Fellowship Hall for some fun Saint Patrick s Day activities followed by Wreck It Ralph: Ralph Breaks the Internet. Snacks and drinks are provided. Grab a friend and come watch a movie!

5 Red Letter Challenge Sunday, March 3 rd is the kickoff for this all-congregation, 40-day study of the red letter Gospel words of Jesus. Our discounted bulk cost is $15 per book. We want everyone to participate. This is our special emphasis for the 40 days of Lent, and all of our focus from March 3 rd to April 14 th. Special home groups (although some are meeting at 2001 Hardy Street) are being planned for these six weeks to build relationships and encourage one another. Sign up today for the Red Letter Challenge at the red wall table in the church foyer. Books will be distributed at the end of worship today. The daily reading plan begins Tuesday, March 5 th. Saint John s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be Sunday, April 14 th at 2pm at the home of Aubrey Canfield. Cake and punch will be provided but you are welcome to bring any other snacks as well as your lawn chairs. Kids should bring a basket to collect all their eggs. We are looking for donations of pre-filled candy eggs. No chocolate. To donate eggs, please see Gabby Stringer or Lorhetta Lawrence. Community End of School Bash Celebrate the summer with us on Saturday, May 18th 11am-1pm. As always we will have games and activities for the kids, food, and an appearance from the Hattiesburg Fire Department and Hattiesburg Library. If you are willing to volunteer and help make this event a success, please see Gabby in the office. Ash Wednesday Services 7:15am, 2pm, and 7pm. More information below. The Season of Lent begins at midnight on Mardi Gras, March 5 th. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, when followers of Jesus come together in repentance, heeding Jesus' declaration of the kingdom. You are encouraged to gather with the faithful that day for the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. We will provide three options this year. A spoken liturgy of confession, scriptures, and the imposition of ashes at 7:15am is planned to last minutes. A quiet liturgy of the Great Confession, scriptures, the imposition of ashes, and Holy Communion at 2:00pm and again at 7:00pm is planned to last one hour. As part of our Lenten faith of self-sacrifice and following Jesus, you are encouraged to adopt for yourself a more robust pattern of prayer, fasting, and care for the poor during these forty days. If you would like ideas or advice on how you might begin such a discipline and the shape of it, please freely converse with Pastor John, who is eager to encourage you.

6 From the Altar Guild A Study in Prayer Our Master Teacher Jesus was able to be present for all those around him, from little children to all manner of people that he encountered. He could be present because he set aside time for solitude and prayer, thus enabling him to teach, preach, and heal. Solitude can sound like a desire to escape, and perhaps it is necessary to do just that on occasion. Solitude is also a necessary time with God. Being in His stillness allows rest, rejuvenation, and a refocus on matters in our lives. These prayerful moments restore and refresh our body and soul. We all know that it is important to live a balanced life, but we must be mindful to do so. Quiet times of prayer and the solitude of God s presence support us in being more present with others. We have a wonderful opportunity to purposefully move into the solitude of God s presence this month during Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday / Lent When we observe the 40 days of Lent, we replicate Jesus withdrawal into the desert. During this Lenten season, we focus on the Lord while in prayer, study our Lenten Scriptures, and have available to us use of devotional books. It is also a time to recall our Baptism, and it is a time for repentance. Lent is a time many devote themselves in service to others through sharing their time, talents, and God s gifts. Many include the personal practice of self-control through fasting that is, abstaining from certain foods or behaviors. Lent is then a vigil, a preparation in which we must stand watch and stay on guard. But alas, the more committed we are in spending time with the Lord, the more vulnerable and chosen we become as the Evil One pursues us with intent to pull us away from God. Fear not. We have tools at the ready to keep us safe: prayer, those with whom we worship, and the Holy Eucharist. Lent is a preparation, and the Eucharist is the end of a preparation. It is the fulfillment of an expectation. The Body and Blood of Christ fill us with divine life. Looking ahead: Look for the Easter Lily forms toward the end of this month to purchase your plant(s) in memory or in honor of someone. Food for Thought Lent is a favourable season for opening the doors to all those in need and recognizing in them the face of Christ." Pope Francis Chris Keiper Altar Guild Chair

7 Lutheran Women s Missionary League LWML Mites collected on Sunday, February 3, 2019, totaled $ Thank you for your prayers and support of the Mission Grants selected in Convention of the National and Gulf States LWML. Mites will be collected next on Sunday, March 3, At the February LWML meeting, members were encouraged to make plans for the National LWML Convention to be held in Mobile, Alabama, June 20-23, Four members from Saint John Lutheran Ladies Guild will be attending the convention. If you cannot attend the Convention, take the opportunity to attend the opening worship and communion service on Thursday evening. What an inspirational service it will be!!! Just imagine thousands of women and men joining together to worship and sing praises from all over our nation! Registration forms should be sent in by March 14, 2019, for the best price. If you would like to attend and need more information, contact me soon. The theme of the convention - "In Praise to the Lord" (reference 1 Chronicles 16:23-24). Watch for more information on the convention in the Gulf States District "Glad Tidings". Coming on Saturday, May 4th, the Magnolia Zone Spring "Joy Shop" will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi, from 9:00 a.m - 2:00 p.m. Registration fee - $5.00 for lunch. We will get more information as the date approaches. This will be a day of Bible study, fellowship, and final planning for the National Convention with our sisters in Christ. We will carpool for this event - let me know if you plan to attend. There is no LWML meeting in March. The next LWML business meeting will be held on Sunday, April 7, immediately following the worship service. No lunch will be served at this meeting. All women - especially if you are new to Saint John Lutheran - are welcome and invited. Please join in and share your ideas on "serving the Lord". UNTIL NEXT TIME... Serve the Lord with Gladness!!! -Shirley Thone President LWML New Pictures for the Picture Wall We would love for all members to update their photos for our member picture wall. To do this, please meet with Bjorn after worship in the conference room. Confirmation Instruction at Saint John Hattiesburg We are thankful that four of our young people have undertaken confirmation instruction. We invite you to pray for them: Gabriel Wastvedt, Tessa Blair, Catherine Lee, and Cheyenne Thiel. We are also thankful to have three volunteer teachers for the girls class: Ellen Heck, Pat Potesta, and June Songy. Lutheran Study Bibles We have five regular size print Lutheran Study Bibles available for purchase for $50 each. These resourceful ESV translations with extensive study notes may be viewed in the church office. Larger print versions of the Lutheran Study Bible are $59.

8 Faith & Finances at Saint John Hattiesburg ABOUT the Faith and Finances Emphasis at Saint John Hattiesburg We want to find meaningful ways to help people with their value-based financial decisions. We re partnering with Thrivent Financial professionals Terry King and Patti Young in 2019 to host a series of workshops and other similar opportunities for you, your family and friends, and your neighbors. The presentations are product-free (They re not selling anything.) and provide strong opportunities for improving your life now and in the future. We d love your help increasing the positive impact of these events by your own participation and by your courageous inviting of others. Please RSVP via the church Events webpage for each workshop you plan to attend. Women and Money March 25 th Monday 5:30pm Today it s critical that women know how to save, invest, and plan for their future. Women have never been in a better position to achieve financial security. This evening workshop will pamper the women in attendance while showing how you can take charge of your financial future, become a more-knowledgeable investor, advocate for yourself in the workplace, plan for retirement, protect your income and assets, and create an estate plan. Refreshments provided. Facilitated by Terry King and Patti Young. RSVP deadline March 21 st. Who Are Our Thrivent Financial Professional Partners? Terry King has worked in this field for 15 years. During that time, he has pursued education and designations to be able to help you navigate through difficult financial decisions. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, Retirement Income Certified Professional, Certified Kingdom Advisor, and Fraternal Insurance Counselor Fellow. He is a member of Lutheran Church of the Pines in Waveland. Patti Young is a member of the Central Gulf Coast Thrivent Team, whose primary responsibility is to encourage and assist members to use the Fraternal Benefits. She enjoys representing Thrivent's culture of Generosity because she values the way of life made possible by using these member benefits. She formerly served as the administrative assistant at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Slidell and currently serves as Treasurer on the Southern District Lutheran Church BOD. Thank you to those who have participated in our Action Team meetings as well as the Making a Difference meeting. These faith and finances classes are tools to help us better ourselves, our church, and our community. Thank you for joining us as we try to Love. Like. Jesus.

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10 Ellen Heck Brenda Ogle Mary Cubley Birthdays in March Glen Stengrim March 3 Brooklyn Noffke March 4 Gabby Stringer March 4 Diahn F. Lee March 5 Ethan Reid March 6 Annette Meyer March 9 Siera Kirkley March 10 Tessa Blair March 11 Willie Pierce March 11 Terry Lovdahl March 14 Cameron Karle March 15 Lynn Pye March 18 Renee Elledge March 20 Kyra Johnson March 29 Alex O Connor March 29 James Elledge March 30 Anniversaries in March Van and Mary Lowry, 51 years March 14 Warner and Darlene Boortz, 37 years March 20 Bob and Doris Schneider, 35 years March 24 Surprise the World! Love. Like. Jesus. + Hope for the City. Saint John Lutheran Church 2001 Hardy Street Hattiesburg MS Telephone: Website: stjohnlutheranchurch@gmail.com Like Us on Facebook: USM Campus Mission Like Us on Facebook: Oktoberfest Hattiesburg Like Us on Facebook: Saint John Church Hattiesburg Like Us on Facebook: Longleaf Heights Neighborhood Association