ST JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH

1300 West Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701-2621 | 402-371-1985

stjohnsnorfolk.com | facebook.com/stjohnsnorfolk | stjohn@cableone.net
The Rev. David E. Cox, Interim Senior Pastor
The Rev. Justin R. Wiese, Assistant Pastor & NeLCM
Jacquie Samway, Coordinator of Congregational Care
Jolene Ziebell, Coordinator of Youth Ministries

2017 LENTEN SCHEDULE LETTER: SENT FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Dear sisters & brothers in Christ at St. Johns: The season of Lent is nearly here. Lent is the 40 day period of
time before Easter (not counting Sundays) during which Christians engage in intentional religious practices,
including repentance, additional worship, time for prayer, a daily devotional, fasting, preparation, giving up
something, taking on something, etc. The purpose is to break the routine of everyday life for 40 days, mirroring
the amount of time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness after his baptism. Whatever you choose to do
differently should be jarring enough to reflect on the gift of Jesus, such that when Easter comes, you will be
prepared to shout with a joyful voice, Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

SUMMARY LENTEN SCHEDULE

Date & Times Theme Whats On the Menu at 6 PM

Ash Wed., Mar. 1, 12 PM & 7 PM Ash Wednesday, Year A 6 PM, Chili & Chicken Noodle

Wed, Mar. 8, 6 PM MEALWORSHIP: We Are Church Spaghetti Pie, Garlic Bread

Wed, Mar. 15, 6 PM MEALWORSHIP: We Are One Hot Dogs, Beans

Wed. Mar. 22, 6 PM MEALWORSHIP: We Are Holy Chicken Rice Casserole

Wed. Mar. 29, 6 PM MEALWORSHIP: We Are Catholic Menu To Be Announced

Wed. Apr. 5, 6 PM Passover Seder Meal Lamb, Turkey, Green Beans,

Barley, Dates, Figs, Oranges

Sat. Apr. 8, 5 PM Waving of Palms, 9:45 AM Coffee, Donuts

Sun. Apr. 9, 8:30 & 11 AM Listening to Passion Story

Wed., Apr. 12, 6:30 PM Healing Service: We Are Apostolic NO MEAL

Thurs. Apr. 13, 12 PM & 6:30 PM Maundy Thursday Worship NO MEAL

Fri. Apr. 14, 12 PM & 6:30 PM Good Friday Worship NO MEAL

Sat. Apr. 15, 5 PM Easter Vigil Worship 6 PM New Member Reception

with Appetizers

Sun. Apr. 16, 8:30 & 11 AM 8:30 AM Easter Worship/Sermon 9:45 AM Coffee, Donuts,
11 AM Easter Puppet Message Resurrection Rolls
Ash Wednesday is on March 1. A traditional Ash Wednesday Worship Service with ashes and Holy
Communion will be held at both Noon and 7 PM. At 6 PM, a free-will offering soup supper featuring Chili &
Chicken Noodle will be held, with funds raised going to Haiti through ELCA Global Church Sponsorship.
MEALWORSHIP experiences in March
On the Wednesdays following Ash Wednesday, a new and unique Lenten midweek experience to St.
Johns will be held which combines both a community meal and our time in worship. To simply name this
blended experience, Pastor Justin has coined the phrase MEALWORSHIP. Following the suggested Lenten
Resources from the Nebraska Synod, each week will look at a different theme, as listed in the chart on the front
side of this letter. The outline of a MEALWORSHIP flows like this: Gather & Share; Invocation; Collect/Table
Grace; The Meal is Served; Conversation around Faith Starter Questions Over Meal; Transitional Song; Read &
Reflect with Scripture & Reflection; Talk & Listen (Table Discussion/Reflection); Transitional Song;
Intercessory Prayers; The Great Thanksgiving/Communion; Sending Song; Blessing; Dismissal.
Pastor David, Pastor Justin, and PMA Jacquie participated in a similar experience at Nebraska Synod
Theological Conference, as synod staff modeled the dinner worship so we could take it back to our
congregations for the season of Lent. These MEALWORSHIP experiences will begin at 6 PM in the Fellowship
Hall, and both eating and worship will happen during the same allotted time. This will be a change from how
eating before worship has happened on Wednesdays during Lent in the past. No Worship will be held in the
sanctuary during MEALWORSHIP weeks. MEALWORSHIP will start promptly at 6 PM, and likely conclude
around 7 PM.

Passover Seder Meal Held Wednesday, April 5

On April 5, instead of completing the MEALWORSHIP series as prescribed by the synod resources, we will
enjoy a Passover Seder Meal, led once again by Pastor David and other congregational helpers. As you might
remember from last year, the Passover Seder meal is a living testimony to Gods faithfulness to his people.
Celebrated by Jewish people since they were freed from Egypt, this meal teaches those who eat it to look back
at the past with gratitude, to accept the present with trust, and to anticipate the future with hope. It is from the
bread & wine of the Seder meal that Jesus gives us the Lords Supper to celebrate his presence among us.
You are invited to enjoy this full-fledged 90-minute dinner at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in
St. Johns Fellowship Hall. The ceremonial meal will include samples of lamb, matzo, bitter herbs, & haroses,
& the actual meal will include turkey, green beans, boiled barley, dates, figs, & orange slices. To cover the cost
of this meal, we will be charging a minimum of $5 per person ($20 max. per family), with any donations over
the amount of the expenses of the meal to be donated to St. Johns Haiti ELCA Global Church Sponsorship. We
are asking everyone planning to attend this meal to RSVP through the church office by Monday, April 3, by
calling 402-371-1985, emailing stjohnsnorfolk@cableone.net, or signing up during weekend worship at St.
Johns. Payment will be collected at the meal.

Holy Week Experiences

Palm Saturday/Sunday will be held April 8/9 at our normal Saturday 5 PM and Sunday 8:30 & 11 AM Worship
services. During Holy Week, all evening weekday worship services will be held at 6:30 PM, with Noon services
only on Thursday and Friday. Saturdays Easter Vigil will be held at 5 PM, with a special New Member
Reception to be held following the service at approximately 6 PM, where appetizers and refreshments will be
served.

Lenten Special Offering: Haiti through ELCA Global Church Sponsorship

During this season of Lent, St. Johns Mission Life Team encourages all of St. Johns members to consider a
financial gift to Haiti. Special Haiti envelopes will be available at St. Johns in the back of the sanctuary and in
the fellowship hall during Lent. All funds collected in Haiti envelopes will be sent to ELCA Global Church
Sponsorship.