The Messenger. May 2018 A Publication of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

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1 The Messenger May 2018 A Publication of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia Church Office: Phone - (902) stjohnsmahonebay@gmail.com Pastor Adam: Phone - (902) adamgsnook@gmail.com Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (John 24:47-48) Excerpt from Pastor's Sermon - Easter 3 I would be confidently willing to guess - that, and for most of us - we would eagerly choose the task of sharing a recipe or promoting a service provider far faster than we would ever choose to talk about our faith. Maybe we have come to believe that such conversations are impolite. Perhaps it's been drilled into our subconscious that religion has no place in our schools...or offices...or sports teams...or political decisions. Or, in the end, maybe we're just afraid. Afraid of what others might think...afraid of the sideways glances...afraid of being alienated...afraid of being found-out. And so we've chosen to lock the doors...and bar the windows...and resort to whispering. We have chosen to keep silent! But silence was never a part of God's plan! Because remember, that eventually the empty tomb of Easter propelled those early disciples to go forth; and to tell through words and deeds, what they had seen and heard. [PAUSE] The empty tomb inspired them to become the witnessing body of Christ that our Lord had created them to be! And I want the same to be true for us! It's time that we, also, break the silence! Because, and ready or not, we are witnesses! Jesus isn't predicting the future: you will be witnesses. He isn't asking, would you consider being witnesses if you have the time? He isn't begging, please be witnesses. No! Rather our living God is boldly proclaiming unequivocally and without apology or approval that: we (you and I) already are witnesses! What we choose to do with this good news...with whom we choose to share this story...and how we choose to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ: well those are our choices to make. But rest assured, dear friends, that the joy of the opened and empty tomb was never meant to be hidden and forgotten! Silence didn't win thousands of years ago. And by the grace of God, silence won't win now, either!!! May we be so filled with excitement, that we become incapable of keeping secret the joy of the gospel! May we be so inspired, that we also will join in raising our voices in proclamation of the life-giving good news. And may we be so sustained in the hope of the resurrection, that we will vow to break the silence, proclaiming with unending witness: that the tomb was empty...and so forever it will be! Thanks be to God! Amen!

2 + Cantata: The Lenten Sketches Thank you to everyone who sang and supported this year's Passion Cantata on Palm Sunday evening. This tradition continues to invite people into a deeper experience of the story of our Lord's death. Thank you, especially, to Rebecca Rock for her leadership and creativity! + KAIROS Blanket Exercise The Council of Canadians is planning to hold a Blanket Exercise in Mahone Bay. This is an interactive exercise focused on Indigenous relationships which teaches the history that most of us have never learned. Developed by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition the exercise uses blankets to represent the lands, of what is not known as Canada, and the distinct cultured and nations that live on those lands to this day. A narration goes through the history of treatymaking, colonization, and resistance, resulting in the nation we call Canada. The exercise is followed by a Talking Circle and the whole event may last two hours. This event will be open to the public on Wednesday, May 9 from 7-9pm at the Mahone Bay Centre. + Camp Bursaries Once again this year, the Mahone Bay Interchurch Council will be offering bursaries to any local child who wishes to attend a faithbased camp. To apply, please use the applications posted on the bulletin board. For more information, please speak with Pastor Adam. Applications are due May VON Programs Our local Lunenburg County VON has a vibrant history of providing much needed assistance to local residents. Recently, South Shore Helping Hands came under the VON umbrella. Additionally, VON also offers two meal programs. Wheels to Meals takes place at St. James' hall once per month, and there are also a wide selection of nutritious, low-sodium, home-style meals available through the Frozen Favourites program. For more information, please contact Elisabeth Bailey by calling (902) Mrs. Treva Rhuland Public Interment for Mrs. Treva Rhuland will be held on May 2, 10am, with reception to follow. + Administrative Changes We are delighted to welcome Kelly Wentzell to the administrative team at St. John's! Kelly has assumed the new role of Parish office Manager as of April 9, Her current office hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-2pm. Please drop by the office to visit Kelly and welcome her to our St. John's family! + Stewardship Committee Recently the congregational council has received increased support for fundraising/stewardship events at St. John's! We are tremendously excited by this prospect. As such, we are seeking interested individuals who would lend their time and talents to a new Stewardship Committee. This committee would function as an extension of the council, and would work to brainstorm/develop ways to support the wider ministry of the congregation. For more information, or to offer your gifts to this initiative, please speak with Pastor Adam. + Grocery Gift Cards Orders for the next Grocery Gift Card fundraiser are due to Ethel Joudrey or Sandra Hill by Sunday May 27 th, Remember that you can place your order early - and cheques postdated for Sunday, May 27th are welcome! For more information, or if you have questions, please speak with Ethel or Sandra. + Mothers Day Memorials Anyone wishing to place a Mother s Day Memorial is asked to contact the Church no later than May 8 th so that the memorial can be listed in the Bulletin. + Stay Connected! Are you a member of the Atlantic Ministry Area - Lutheran ELCIC Facebook page? (@atlanticlutherans) This page posts events offered by Lutheran churches across the Atlantic Ministry Area. The posted events are your invitation to attend. To find out more information and what s happening around the Eastern Synod here is the link to their current electronic newsletter.

3 + Tea & Biscuits Choir Tea & Biscuits Girls Choir is excited to be presenting their eighth annual concert in support of local food banks on Saturday, May 12, :30 pm at St. John's Lutheran Church in Mahone Bay, NS. This spirited choir is polishing up a lush program of snappy folk, Broadway tunes and gorgeous choral arrangements as well as working on great harmonies for featured performances with special guest Jennah Barry. The girls' presentation will be a pleasingly familiar mix of choral, solo and ensemble performances by composers such as Paul Simon, Ella Fitzgerald, Allister MacGillvary, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, as well as by well known choral arrangers such as Mark Hayes, Mac Huff, Daniel Elder and Stuart Calvert. The evening promises full enjoyment for the audience as our principal accompanist, Rebecca Rock and a variety of other instrumentalists including Shelley Mann (flute); Jessica Rhodenizer (Violin/Fiddle); Michael Hermiston (Trumpet/Clarinet); Kerri Dorey (Clarinet/Tenor Sax); Emily Riding (Trombone); Colin Nealis (String Bass); Scott Leonard (Guitar); Justin Mossman (Drums/Percussion); Hamilton Maguire (Percussion) add beauty and interest to each song. It would be wonderful and all are invited to fill the seats of St. John's Lutheran Church for this delightful presentation in support of those in need! Tickets are available at Kinburn Pharmasave in Mahone Bay and Shop on the Corner in Lunenburg. Adults. $ Students $ Children under 5 admitted free About the Choir Tea & Biscuits is an award winning youth choir of very talented enthusiastic young girls with beautiful voices between the ages of 13 and 20 who meet at director Leslee Barry's house for tea and song. Besides sharing their love for music the choir's main incentive is to present a full concert production each spring with all proceeds in support of local food banks. These girls are a dynamic group drawn from the communities of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Bridgewater and Chester and together they create a beautiful warm blended sound. As director, it is a pleasure to help these girls bring great music to life and a privilege to have the opportunity to share it with our community! + Adult Ed: Living Justice For five Tuesdays at 3pm beginning on April 24, join Pastor Adam for a time of Adult Education, fellowship and refreshment. For our spring term, we will be using the CPJ resource entitled Living Justice: A Gospel Response To Poverty as we seek to better understand our Canadian context. There is no registration necessary! Please join in as you are able to do so! We look forward to sharing this time together! + Joy Journal Birthday greetings are extended to the following in the month of May: May 1 May 3 May 4 May 6 May 12 May 15 May 16 May 19 May 22 May 23 May 25 May 29 May 31 Tom Kerwin Derek Lohnes Michael Young Kenneth Knickle Vivian Joudrey Patrick Hirtle Donna Lee Matthews Todd Lohnes Jason Martell Barbara MacKinnon Shirley Hiltz Jennah Barry Sara Whynot Leah Greek Anniversary Wishes are extended to the following: May 16 Abi & David Soeder May 17 Alicia & Jason Strong May 19 Evelyn & Jeff Knickle

4 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church MAHONE BAY GROCERY CARD FUNDRAISING PROGRAM (Includes Sobeys, Lawtons, Sobeys Gas and Foodland) (Includes Superstore, Independant and NoFrills) Participate in the Grocery Card Fundraising Program and benefit the work of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church with every dollar you spend on your regular, everyday grocery purchases. Purchase the cards at face-value and the church receives as much as 5% of your purchase depending on the total volume purchased through the program. Every purchase, in any amount, adds to the total volume. For example, if your family spends $500 per month on groceries, you could be adding $25 to the church without adding to your personal expenses just by purchasing grocery cards through this program - WIN, WIN! The cards are not redeemable for cash, have no service fees, have no expiry dates and operate on a declining balance basis. Cards are available in $50, $100 and $200 denominations. Please note: Purchase of grocery cards via this program are not considered charitable donations to the church. St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church is not responsible for lost or stolen cards Name Phone Number Address Address Order Details: x $50 Grocery Cards x $100 Grocery Cards x $200 Grocery Cards TOTAL ORDER x $50 Grocery Cards x $100 Grocery Cards x $200 Grocery Cards $ Submit cheque (payable to St. John's Lutheran Church) together with order form to Ethel Joudrey or Sandra Hill no later than Saturday, May 27. Delivery of Grocery cards is scheduled for Sunday, June 4.

5 St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church + May 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Additions to the calendar will be printed in the bulletin. An updated calendar can be viewed on our church website. Announcements for the June 2018 calendar are due to the church office by May 18th am-3pm- Office 6-9pm - Leslee 10am - Interment & Reception (T. Rhuland) 5pm - VON Meeting 9am-12pm Office 9am - Camp Mush Clean-Up & Corporation Meeting Easter 6 11am - Worship (Service of the Word) 6:30pm - Leslee 9am-3pm Office 6-9pm - Leslee 2:30pm - Mahone Nursing Worship 7pm - KAIROS Blanket Exercise 5pm - Tea & Biscuits 7:30 pm Tea & Biscuits Choir Concert Mother's Day Easter 7 11am Worship (Communion) 7pm - Council 4pm - 3CF Newsletter Announcements Due to Church Office 3pm - Leslee Recital Day of Pentecost 11am Worship (Service of the Word) 12pm - Fellowship 3pm - Interchurch Council Meeting (Anglican) 10am - Clergy Cluster 27 The Holy Trinity 11am - Worship (Communion) am-2pm - Office am-2pm - Office