PREPARING FOR LENT What do you think of when you think of Lent? The traditional ways of observing Lent include: Repentance Fasting Prayer and Works of Love Repentance Repentance is not simply saying you re sorry. It is a matter of re-orienting yourself and your life. It has the sense of doing an about face. Doing a 180 degree turn. Turning to face God instead of being turned away. INTERIM PASTOR S PAGE resource with you. Our Devotional booklet will have one or two Bible verses, a short reflection and a short prayer. Works of Love We do not do good works to get in good with God. We are already in good with God because of Jesus. We do good works because our neighbor needs us. We can help our neighbor both by almsgiving (offerings of money) and by hands on service. Like the Good Samaritan, we help another because we see them lying by the side of the road. We attend to their wounded body and spirit, and we contribute money to help also. We love because Jesus first loves us. Fasting Fasting is not just about giving up something. If you choose to fast from something, you are also choosing to break your attachment to it. If you are going to follow this Lenten discipline, think about something you are really attached to. It does not just have to be food. Alcohol A certain television program Shopping Your cell phone The danger, of course is that this thing becomes your god, and you are utterly dependent on it, which is of course ridiculous. A drink, or a TV show, or shopping or texting or whatever it is can never give you the unconditional Agape Love that God offers. By giving up whatever it is for 40 days, you create the opportunity to examine your relative dependence on that thing vs. your dependence on God. Prayer St. John s is writing its own devotional booklet for Lent. You can opt to receive it on line or as a hard copy. We are aiming to make it as user friendly as possible. Consider beginning and ending your day with prayer. It can be as simple as Lord, to whom can I be a blessing today? Or it can be more involved. Martin Luther recommends saying the Creed and the Lord s Prayer and his morning or evening prayer. I can show you how to download the free catechism app for your phone so you will always have this Ash Wednesday is February 14th. We will have Traditional Worship Services with the Imposition of Ashes in the Nave at Noon and 7:30PM. A soup only supper will be offered at 6PM in the Fellowship Hall. For the next five Wednesdays of Lent, we will merge Dinner Church with our Soup Suppers at 6PM. We will have Midweek Worship in the Chapel at Noon and Soup Supper Service in the Fellowship Hall at 6PM. Soup will be followed by Holden Evening Prayer around the tables. We will be out by 7PM. Please join us in this contemplative season as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Pastor Margay DEACON S CORNER I hope you all are staying warm in these frigid temps. It s nice just to stay at home and stay warm but, we need you here at St John's to participate in all the things that we are doing. It really is fun working with each other on a project, no mater what it is. We are the hands of God and we make a difference in the world. In just 2 weeks it will be February 14, Valentines day and before we know, it will be Ash Wednesday. 1
Our services will be 12 Noon and 7:30 PM in the Nave for disposition of ashes to all. There will also be Dinner Church which will be renamed for Lent as Soup Supper Service at 6:00 PM (note the time is 1 hour earlier). Ash Wednesday Service will follow down in the Nave. I hope you all will come and have a great time. The following Wednesday and each Wednesday in Lent, Soup Supper Services will be Soup at 6 PM followed by Holden evening Prayer. This will be a great time for us to reflect on our past year and to Repent for our sins. Take the time to think about what you have done and what you haven't done and see what you can change. Remember, Repenting is reflecting on your actions and trying to go in a different direction to better yourself. Our Altar Guild is in need of volunteers to help in setting up for services. It doesn't take long to do and we really need more people to help. It doesn't have to be ladies we can also use Men, so don't be afraid to step up and help. Everyone is qualified and we will train you. Your servant in Christ, Deacon Rich DONATE BY TEXT! We welcome your donations through any method you choose to give. And for those who choose to give electronically, we want to offer a special word of thanks. E-Giving is faster, more secure, provides much-needed donation consistency and strengthens our stewardship program. Electronic and traditional givers accustomed to texting can now give through Give+ Text. Make one-time or recurring offerings by simply sending a text to our secure account at 845-250-3898. It s a convenient solution when you can t attend services or don t have cash or checks with you. We hope you ll try this new way to give. A quick guide flyer is available. We thank you and all givers for supporting our mission. NEW MEMBER CLASSES There will be two New Member classes in February: 1. What does it mean to be a member of St. John's? This class is offered February 11, 11:15 in the Book Nook. Jesus calls disciples, not members not volunteers, but our human organization makes us a "membership organization." So if you want to fully participate in the life of St. John's (including voting on issues and having the right to hold elective office), you must "join." You can join in several ways: You can join by transfer of membership if you are an active member of another Lutheran congregation (as well as some other denominations). Or you can join by Baptism (if you have never been baptized) or Affirmation of Baptism (if you have already been baptized). What you are agreeing to, if you join: To attend worship regularly. To share the good news of Jesus' love with others, 2
through your words and through your actions. To work for justice and peace. To support the work of this congregation with your time, skills and money. 2. What does it mean to be a Lutheran? This class is offered February 18, 11:15am in Pastor's office. A simple overview of Luther's theology based on the Small Catechism. We will discuss the meaning of the Lord's Prayer, The Creed and the 10 Commandments, Baptism and Holy communion. New Members will be joining February 25; New Member reception to follow the 10am service in the Meet & Greet Room An Ashy Valentine February 2018 LAY MINISTRY If you go to www.gideons.org you will learn all kinds of facts about Gideons International, a group whose mission is to get the Bible into the hands of people. Here are a few facts about this organization: *Active in 200 countries *Over 171,000 members and 96,000 auxiliaries (spouses) *Over 12,000 "camps" (local chapters). there is one camp in Dutchess County *About 2.2 billion scriptures distributed since starting in 1899 with about 87 million in 2016. Currently being distributed in more than 90 languages. *Finances for the purchase of scriptures are largely provided by freewill offerings of local congregations. They cost about $1.30 per copy. As you can see, the Gideons have a passion to get the Bible into the hands of people and share Jesus, a mandate they see as given by Christ for all Christians to take seriously. At St. John's Lutheran we too take this seriously and our Social Ministry Mission Team (SMMT) works at collecting funds to purchase Bibles. Last year people donated $2917 to be used to buy Bibles which were handed out to people in Nepal Uganda and China. Like the Gideons, The SMMT has a passion to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. At St. John's we also have an Evangelism Mission Team (EMT) whose purpose is to help share the Good News of Jesus with others. EMT purchases Bibles for people to take or to hand out, but they also reach out in other various ways, including cleaning the environment through the Adopt-a- Highway Program, engaging with people and handing out free items at the Arlington Street Fair and caring about the needs of pedestrians on Wilbur by installing benches on our property for their comfort. Often the first step in sharing the Good News of Jesus is just caring and showing love. It would be wonderful if, as you read this, you have a burning desire to share Jesus with others by getting involved in one of these ministries, especially SMMT and EMT which are right here at St. John's. Please contact me if you want more info on how to help in these ministries. (845-452-1550) But even if you do not belong to either of these groups, there are ways you too can share about Jesus. For example, when in a conversation with work colleagues about the weekend why not add a comment about having attended worship or something you found particularly meaningful in the Bible study you attended or talk about an upcoming church event you hope to attend. When you simply share faith as part of your daily life, you may find people accept and respect that you are a Christian and some will respond. It may even lead to deeper opportunities such as inviting others to church, 3
praying with those who are hurting and sharing God's Word with someone who feels lonely. JOURNAL DEADLINE March Edition February 11th Please note that the Journal deadline is the 2nd Sunday of the Month. Please make sure all submissions are in by that date. When submitting, please forward in Microsoft Word or an e-mail. Please send submissions to Carol Versace (carolav_nd@yahoo.com) Please include name and phone number in case of questions. This year is unique. February 14 is both Valentine's Day AND Ash Wednesday. So if you get ashes imparted to you February 14, remind yourself that we are all but dust, yet God's amazing love gives meaning and hope to our lives. Make it your Lenten discipline to share that love and hope with others. Make it your Lenten discipline to share verses from the Bible with others and perhaps hand out a Bible or 2. Make it your Lenten discipline to share the best "valentine" the world has ever been given--god's love in Jesus. Jeanne Jones Director of Lay Ministry LIVING LUTHERAN A monthly magazine from Augsburg-Fortress with many interesting articles about the work of the ELCA, its congregations and members. Regular price is $19.95. A special congregation price of $9.95 is available. If you are interested in a subscription pick up an order form from the wall in the church office and write a check to St. John's for $9.95, Memo: Living Lutheran by Sunday February 25, 2018. Questions, please contact Bob Deik 462-4118. LENTEN SERVICE SCHEDULE Ash Wednesday, February 14 12pm Ash Wednesday Service, Nave 6pm Soup Supper, Fellowship Hall 7:30pm, Ash Wednesday Service, Nave Mid-Week Lenten Services, February 21- March 21 12pm Lenten Service, Chapel Brown Bag Lunch to follow service, Meet & Greet Room 6pm Soup Supper Service (Supper and Holden Evening Prayer), Fellowship Hall 4
AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM We welcome the following new members who made a public Affirmation of Their Baptism on November 26, 2017. Amanda Christine Moreau Paul Francis Murray Kelly Ann Gerardi Kaleigh Marie Beecher Diane Rosengren Kaleigh Amanda Sheftic We welcome the following new members who made a public Affirmation of Their Baptism on December 31, 2017. Kevin Allen Moyer Jacquemae Marie Moyer Hayley Amanda Moyer Kassandra Lynn Boughton UPCOMING EVENTS *Nave=Main Worship Space Food Pantry is open 1st & 3rd Sundays, 9-11am in Church Office Feb. 3 Mardi Gras Dinner and Show (put on by Youth Group) 6pm, Fellowship Hall Feb. 4 Souper Bowl of Caring Collection Meatball Event 11:15am, Fellowship Hall Feb. 11 "What does it mean to be a member of St. John's?" New Member Class 11:15am, Book Nook Feb. 14 Ash Wednesday Service 12pm, Nave Soup Supper 6pm, Fellowship Hall (Note during Lent we are combining our normal Lenten Soup Suppers with Dinner Church and calling them "Soup Supper Services." These will begin at 6pm each Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, we will just have a soup supper (no service) since there is an Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30pm. Traditional Ash Wednesday Service 7:30pm, Nave Feb. 18 "What does it mean to be a Lutheran Christian?" New Member Class 11:15am, Book Nook Feb. 21-Mar. 21 Mid-Week Lenten Service 12pm, Chapel (Brown bag lunch after) Soup Supper Service 6pm, Fellowship Hall Feb. 25 New Member Reception 11:15am, Meet & Greet Room Mar. 4 "Do One Thing Differently" Workshop 11:15am, Book Nook 5
Easter Flower Contribution In Loving Memory of: SYMPATHY We extend our prayers of sympathy and concern to the family and friends of: Name(s) By Amount Envelope # This form, together with your contribution should be placed in the Easter Flower folder in the Church Office. Please make the check payable to: St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church Contributions must be received by Sunday, March 18. Angelo Michetti, brother of Diane Michetti, who died on November 19, 2017 at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. Ray Skov, who died on November 27, 2017 at the Lutheran Care Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. Art Kaiser, who died on December 4, 2017 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Robert Kort, son of Marion Kort, who died on November 10, 2017 in Groton, MA. Donna Pedersen, daughter-in-law of Tom and Charlotte Pedersen; sister-in-law of Jennifer Pedersen; and aunt of Zach and Sydney DiGregorio, who died on December 4, 2017. Nolan Evanicki, friend of Kaleigh Sheftic, who died on November 18, 2017. Stemi Gorman, mother of Lee and mother-in-law of Judie Pagones, who died on December 21, 2017 in Poughkeepsie, NY. 6
DINNER CHURCH Dinner Church During Lent During Lent we are doing something a little different with Dinner Church. On Ash Wednesday there will only be a Soup Supper, and no worship service at 6pm since there is worship service at noon and 7:30pm that day. Each Wednesday from February 21- March 21 there will be a Soup Supper Service at 6pm. Soup and fellowship will last for about 35-40 minutes, then a brief, noncommunion service will take place at the tables (Holden Evening Prayer.) Note these Soups Suppers start at a different time than Dinner Church; they will begin at 6pm. During Holy Week on Wednesday, March 28 we will not have a Soup Supper Service nor will we have Dinner Church since traditionally we have not had a Soup Supper that night and there are many services planned from Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday. BAPTISMS We welcome Austyn Augustus Moyer and Aubrey Lynn Moyer as new members of St. John's through the Rite of Baptism. Austyn and Aubrey were baptized on December 31, 2017. February 14-AshWednesday Soup Supper only, 6pm February 21-March 21-Wednesdays in Lent Soup Supper Service, 6pm March 28-Wednesday during Holy Week No Soups Supper Service, No Dinner Church 7