HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Palm/Passion Weekend …

Saturday March 24 at 5:00 pm and Sunday, March 25 at 9:00 am

Our worship begins with the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, as he greeted by the crowds who place their cloaks and palm branches on the road, singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Both our Senior Choir and Hand Bell Choir will be sharing their gifts of praise. Then, we turn to the events that mark the Passion of Our Lord According to Mark, allowing the depth of his love for us and all the world to sink in. The worship concludes with Holy Communion.

Maundy Thursday … March 29 … 7:00 pm

With nightfall, our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to begin the Three Days, during which we participate once again in the saving power of Jesus' passing over from death to life. At the heart of the Maundy Thursday liturgy is Jesus' amazing sacrifice for us that draws us into communion with God and each other. 

Good Friday … Friday, March 30 … Noon and 7:00pm

It has been our custom to gather as a united community of Christ on Good Friday to worship together as our Lord Jesus is placed upon the cross to die for us and for the sin of the world. 

Community Good Friday Worship Service

Friday, March 30^th       12 Noon

Trinity United Methodist Church, 135 Adams Street

This year’s community Good Friday Service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church.  The hour-long worship will feature the drama “Good Friday” by The Skit Guys, a dramatic retelling of Jesus’ last day, featuring the voices of six individuals who were close to Jesus before his death on the cross.  

This ecumenical worship service is being planned by the Port Clinton Ministerial Association and includes participation from the pastors of Firelands Presbyterian Church, Grace Baptist Church, Immaculate Conception Church, Port Clinton Church of the Nazarene, St. John Lutheran Church, and Trinity United Methodist Church.

Then, at 7:00 pm as the darkness begins to creep in, we will worship here at St. John, also in a service of Tenebrae, as light is extinguished candle by candle, and we recall the suffering, the loneliness, the bitter agony, and finally the last breath of Jesus, who completes God’s plan of salvation.  We will hear the story of our Lord’s Crucifixion according to John. We leave in utter silence.

Easter Vigil … Saturday, March 31 … 5:00pm

We assemble in the Parish Hall as the Paschal candle is lit … “May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.”  This is our Passover with Christ from darkness to light, from captivity to freedom, from death to life. Tonight, is the heart of our celebration of the Three Days and the pinnacle of the church's year. The resurrection of Christ is proclaimed in word and sign, and we gather around a pillar of fire, hear ancient stories of our faith, remember our baptism, and share the food and drink of the Promised Land. Raised with Christ, we go forth into the world aflame with the good news of the resurrection.

Easter Sunrise … Sunday, April 1 … 6:45 am … OUTDOORS … AT WATER WORKS PARK!

In the darkness of the “first day of the week” we gather to anticipate the message of the angel of the Lord who announces to all, “He is not here, for he has been raised!” This is NOT AN APRIL FOOL’S JOKE! This service, weather permitting, will be held along the lake shore in Water Works Park. We will be gathering near the Port Clinton Light House.  Please bring a lawn chair, and a blanket.  If the weather is too severe, worship will be held at St. John.  Youth from our congregation will be leading this Sunrise Service.  Come and be among the first to shout, “He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!”

The Resurrection of our Lord … Sunday, April 1 … 9:00am

On this day the Lord has acted! On the first day of the week God began creation, transforming darkness into light. On this, the "eighth day" of the week, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. We celebrate this new creation in the waters of baptism and in the feast of victory. With great joy, accompanied by our Senior Choir and Handbell Choir, we celebrate this day of days, even as we begin the great fifty days of Easter. Filled with hope, we go forth to share with all the world the news that “Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!” 

Easter Sunrise … Sunday, April 1 … 6:45 am … OUTDOORS … AT WATER WORKS PARK!

In the darkness of the “first day of the week” we gather to anticipate the message of the angel of the Lord who announces to all, “He is not here, for he has been raised!” This is NOT AN APRIL FOOL’S JOKE! This service, weather permitting, will be held along the lake shore in Water Works Park. We will be gathering near the Port Clinton Light House.  Please bring a lawn chair, and a blanket.  If the weather is too severe, worship will be held at St. John.  Youth from our congregation will be leading this Sunrise Service.  Come and be among the first to shout, “He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!”

The Resurrection of our Lord … Sunday, April 1 … 9:00am

On this day the Lord has acted! On the first day of the week God began creation, transforming darkness into light. On this, the "eighth day" of the week, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. We celebrate this new creation in the waters of baptism and in the feast of victory. With great joy, accompanied by our Senior Choir and Handbell Choir, we celebrate this day of days, even as we begin the great fifty days of Easter. Filled with hope, we go forth to share with all the world the news that “Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!”  

The Easter season is a “week of weeks” … meaning that from The Resurrection of Our Lord our celebration of what God has done for us and for all the world will continue on for seven, absolutely wonderful weeks of unbridled joy! Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The 2018 NWOS Assembly will be held June 8 and 9 at Bowling Green State University. If you are interested in serving as a Voting Member, representing St. John, please contact Pastor Jim Lehman. Don’t delay! This opportunity will go fast😊!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 YOUTH GATHERING

Well, we are on our way to the 2018 ELCA National Youth Gathering that will be held in Houston, Texas … June 27-July 1, 2018!

On September 15 … our group was registered! We have 10 youth from St. John and 3 adult leaders! Also, participating will be 3 youth and one adult leader from St. Paul, Danbury and 2 youth and 1 adult leader from Peace! Making our Grand Total … 15 youth and 5 adults! 

St. John Participants include:

Abi Frattaroli       Tatyana Kowalski           Rebekah Koehl     Lillian Reiman             Olivia McDougall

Cara Linn              Ileana Garza                   Will Segaard          Nate Frattaroli             Elliot Auxter                 

Pastor Jim Lehman                                       Jean Lehman        Angie Auxter

Youth Gatherings are an amazing opportunity to experience the “largeness” and the excitement of what it means to be Church! There are five program areas that will be a part of the Gathering: Synod Day; Service Learning; Interactive Learning, Community Life and Mass Gatherings. If you want to learn more, go to these resources: ELCA.org/gathering … facebook.com/youthgathering … Twitter ... @elcagathering.

OUR NEXT GETTING READY EVENT WILL BE SUNDAY, APRIL 8 FROM NOON-4:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE ONE WORSHIP SERVICE OF EASTER SUNDAY, THE EASTER BREAKFAST WILL FOLLOW AT 10:15 AM. SAFELY WORSHIP St. John will be hosting a 4-hour workshop on Saturday, May 5 … for area congregations. This workshop will be led by Scott Frank from Safety Intact that is “empowering, engaging and relevant.” Topics to be covered are: Recognizing Risk … Safety Teams … and Response Options. Scott Frank is a retired Ottawa County Sheriff’s Deputy. If you would like to come and learn, please contact the Church Office and make a reservation. VACATION PLANS Pastor Jim and Jean will be heading south for some time in sunny Florida with Brad, Alexis and our three grandchildren … Addison, Hudson and Holden. We have been told they, “really, really miss us!” We will be gone April 13 through 19. Pastor Bob Butcher will be leading worship and preaching on the weekend of April 14 and 15. CONTINUING EDUCATION Pastor Jim will be on a Seasons of Renewal Retreat as a part of his fulfillment of continuing expectations for Rostered Leaders.  Pastor Jim will on retreat April 3-May 1 at Our Lady of the Pines in Fremont. LUTHERAN-ROMAN CATHOLIC SUPPER CONVERSATION On Sunday, April 29 at 5:00 pm … Port Clinton Lutherans and Roman Catholics will gather at Immaculate Conception to share in a simple meal of Soup and Salad … and then engage in conversation as we continue to explore what we share in common as sisters and brothers in Christ, and where we are different. This gathering is an extension of what began as we participated together in the 500th Commemoration of the Lutheran Reformation. Catholics will be providing soup; while Lutherans will be bringing salad and bread. All are invited, even if this is your first time to participate in this conversation. Off to Camp at LMC … June 10-15, 2018 Before we know it … spring will be in the air, school will be out … and will be time for us to head off for our week of Camp at Lutheran Memorial Camp.  As we have shared with all of you parents and students, we expect that all our Confirmation Ministry participants WILL attend Camp at least once during the years they are in our Confirmation program. My recommendation is that all youth go to camp after their first year, so that they have the chance to attend camp TWICE! PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED THE WEEK OF JUNE 10-15 INCLUDE: Slippery Seals … Grades: K-2 Rising Stars … Grades: 3-5 Confirmation … Grades 6-8 Sr. High …Grades 9-12 One of the reasons we have selected this date for camp is that there is a program for ALL AGES this same week! This means that we can have all our St. John youth at camp at the same time, PLUS Pastor Jim will be in residence. LIFT OFF TO HOUSTON … Over the next month or so … we are inviting those who would like to support this great opportunity for deepening faith and its practice in daily life for the youth from our congregation, St. Paul and Peace … to select an envelope (or two or more) off of our Lift Off to Houston display … at the entrance to the Parish Hall. Each envelope has a dollar amount printed on it … ranging from $10.00 to $100.00. Select the envelope(s) of your choosing. Inside you will find one of the REASONS we are going to Houston, and a Bible verse for you to look up that is connected with that particular reason. You may turn in your gift into the church office in that envelope or one of your own.Checks can be made out to St. John, with Youth Gathering in the memo line. Envelopes are marked for $100.00; $50.00; $25.00 and $10.00. When all the envelopes are taken (there are 144 of them scattered among the three churches), and money received, we will be very, very close to having what we need to make this trip possible. So, please be generous in your support. VOTING MEMBERS NEEDED The 2018 NWOS Assembly will be held June 8 and 9 at Bowling Green State University. If you are interested in serving as a Voting Member, representing St. John, please contact Pastor Jim Lehman. Don’t delay! This opportunity will go fast😊! WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY RETURNS … Beginning on Wednesday, April 25 a six-week series on The Revelation to John will begin. We will gather at 6:30 pm. Revelation is a rich book of the Bible to study. God is profoundly concerned with the plight of the world, and faithful even amid the ordeals, tribulations, and plagues of the present and future. God is also exalted in the highest heavens, and brings about a renewed creation. In the end, the promise that Jesus will return is reason for hope, anticipation, and expectation. This 6-session course explores selected passages from Revelation. 1.      Revealing Revelation (Revelation 1:1-20) 2.     Life and Faith in Pergamum and Laodicea (Revelation 2:12-17, 3:14-22) 3.     Visions of God and the Lamb (Revelation 4:1-6a, 5:1-10) 4.     Destruction and Protection (Revelation 6:15-7:17) 5.     The Great “Battle” (Revelation 12:1-17) 6.     Our New Home is Here, But Not Here (Revelation 21:1-8) and Jesus Is Coming, Soon (Revelation 22:8-21)