Mission Adventure Daycamp!

Get your summer off to a GREAT START with St. John's Mission Adventure DayCamp June 6th-9th! Learn new ways to serve God daily! Mission projects, crafts, games, prayers, snacks & MORE! Daycamp is for 1st – 6th grades and it's FREE! Our Adventure occurs from 9 a.m.- Noon at St. John's. Group size is limited--we have only 20 student spots left--so register today by calling 402-371-1985 or contacting tnerem@yahoo.com.

Faith Leader

Our prayers for God's blessings to our St. John's Faith Leader classes (2 this year!) as they prepare for their final retreat this weekend. Lift up the participants and leaders in their journey!

Confirmation Preparations

The Confirmation Class of 2011 will have rehearsal and pictures on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 PM. Confirmation Sunday is May 8!

Mary Magdalene

It is over! He is dead! His body has been taken down from the cross and taken to the burial place. And, once more Mary Magdalee was crying. So many tears in her life -- tears of shame and guilt, tears of happiness and joy, and now, tears of agony and pain. She had taken her spices to prepare his body for burial but she had not taken enough. Now his body would have to lie there unfinished until after the Sabbath had passed. Saturday was like living a nightmare over and over again. Like everything was done and yet somehow undone. He was dead and buried yet the burial was incomplete. Just like her life without her Lord -- undone and incomplete. Join us for Easter Sunday services at 8:30 or 11 AM to hear the rest of Mary's witness.

Bulletin Announcements 04.24.2011

Click here for the Easter Sunday, April 24, bulletin announcements.

Pastoral Letter -- Easter 2011

Click here to read Pastor Ed's Easter letter to the congregation.

St. John's 2011 Easter Cantata: Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2 will be posted as soon as it is done being processed. Stay tuned!

Pastor Ed's Palm Sunday Message

The Centurion

The last twelve hours have been the most difficult of my life. Never, as a Roman soldier, have I had such difficulty following so many orders. I had heard this man who stood on trial. He was not a revolutionary. His motivation and message was love -- and peace from God. But, I am a soldier -- a man under authority to Rome. I followed orders -- orders that led me to beat this man unmercifully. Then I was told to crucify him. I wanted to object, but I am a soldier so I nailed him to the cross. Then to assure his death, I pierced his side with my sword. What happened when he died, I could not believe nor will I ever forget. Join us in worship on Good Friday, April 22, at 12 Noon and 7:30 pm.

Holy Week

Thank you to our St. John's Majesty Choir for bringing their gift of music to our Palm Sunday weekend services. What a beautiful experience! Two additional selections from "Whispers of the Passion" will be sung by the Majesty Choir during Holy Week -- "Nocturne of Grace" on Maundy Thursday and "Contemplation of the Cross" on Good Friday. Maundy Thursday's 7:30 PM evening service will include the washing of feet and Holy Communion. We'll hear from the disciple Peter from "By My Hand . . . For My Sake". Good Friday's evening service at 7:30 PM is a Tenebrae Service (a service of darkness). The Centurion will speak from the foot of the cross. On Saturday (7:30 PM) at Easter Vigil, new members will be received. Easter Sunday services are at 8:30 & 11 AM with Mary Magdalene speaking from the garden tomb. Everyone is invited to join us for worship!

Bulletin Announcements 04.17.2011

Click here for the Palm Sunday, April 17, bulletin announcements.

Acolyte Training

Are you in 3rd through 8th grade? Have you been trained as an acolyte? Now's the chance to jump in! Two training sessions have been scheduled -- Wednesdays, April 13 and April 20, both at 5:15 PM. Attend just one session -- whichever time works best for you!

Peter

"The Rock" they called him, but now he was more like sand -- unsteady and uncertain. So many times he had failed his master. He had believed enough to step out of the boat, but the minute he was threatened with a wave, he gave into fear and sank. Jesus had saved him. At the Passover supper Jesus said, "You will deny me three times." But Peter was adamant, "I will never forsake you." Yet here he was, face down in the dirt, tears streaming from his eyes. He had failed his Lord. Worse yet, he had denied even knowing him. He had promised to lay down his life for Jesus but it was Jesus who laid down hi slife for him. Peter remembered that last look Jesus gave him. Not the look he deserved but, in the midst of his great agony, he looked upon Peter with love and with a look that said "remember me." And he would. Join us for Maundy Thursday services, April 21, at 12 Noon and 7:30 pm.

Re-upholstering Pews

Re-upholstering Pews, a set on Flickr.

Re-upholstering of the pews began Tuesday morning and will continue through Wednesday. Temporary mess -- beginnings of an updated sanctuary!

St. John's Gardeners

Palm Sunday, April 17, at 10 AM (between services), please meet with Betty in the library if you are interested in helping with some garden projects here at St. John's. We would love to have your help in making our campus beautiful. Any help you can give would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

"By My Hand . . . For My Sake"

"What did I do -- or fail to do?" A father always wonders when a child turns out badly. The thief, Dismas, hung on the cross to the right of Jesus; and for his father this had been a day of shame. Shame because only the worst, the most detestable of criminals are crucified. But there was also the shame he felt for himself. This is the fate he had led his son to. And today here he stood hiding amongst the crowd -- watching. "Wait, did you hear that? I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Join us for services at 12 Noon or 7 PM on Wednesday, April 13, as we hear from the thief's father from "By My Hand . . . For My Sake."

Installation of Sign

Installation of Sign, a set on Flickr.

We're testing out Flickr and want to see what happens. Enjoy these pictures!

"Whispers of the Passion"

Join us Palm Sunday weekend at all services April 16-17 as the St. John's Majesty Choir presents the cantata "Whispers of the Passion". Through song, follow Christ's journey to the cross.

Holy Week Worship Schedule

Maundy Thursday, April 21

Services at 12 Noon & 7:30 PM

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Good Friday, April 22

Services at 12 Noon & 7:30 PM

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Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 23

Service at 7:30 PM

New Members Received

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Easter Sunday, April 24

Services at 8:30 & 11 AM

No Fellowship Hour between services

Bulletin Announcements 04.10.11

Click here for announcements for April 10, 2011.

Join PACE (1st-6th graders & parents) for a road trip to see

"ASTRONAUT"

at the Fred G. Dale Planetarium in Wayne, Nebraska

Sunday, April 17th

Caravan leaves from the church at 1:15 p.m.

FREE show begins at 2 p.m.

Dairy Queen afterwards is "Dutch treat" (everyone pays for their own).

Please call Tracy at 371-1985 or e-mail tnerem@yahoo.com

BEFORE APRIL 14TH if your family will be joining our caravan.

Children must be accompanied by their parents to participate in this trip!

Camp Carol Joy Holling

Have you thought about summer camp yet? Camp Carol Joy has something for all ages -- even family groups! Find out about all the wonderful adventures waiting for you at Camp Carol Joy. Contact camp at http://www.nlom.org/ for more information about your summer fun!

Pilate arrives Wednesday

Pilate should have known. His wife even warned him about this "righteous man." The only reason those miserable religious leaders even brought him to his court was because no one could be put to death without Pilate's approval. And death was what they wanted. Pilate consoled himself by publicly washing his hands of the blood. "I did not nail him to the cross! He was not crucified by my hand!" Or was he? Join us Wednesday at noon or 7 PM for lenten worship services to hear Pilate's story from "By My Hand...For My Sake."