A JOURNEY FROM ASH WEDNESDAY THROUGH BRIGHT SUNDAY
On Ash Wednesday, March 5th, Dr. Foust will begin leading us through the season of Lent toward our celebrations on Easter Sunday on April 20th and Bright Sunday on April 27th. Throughout this meaningful season of reflection and renewal, we will focus our worship on Jesus’ last words from the cross. Our theme for this spring is CROSSWALK. For the past two months, we have introduced an emphasis of prayer to accentuate this theme. During Lent, CROSSWALK will include 40-days of prayer.
In coming weeks, we will be hearing more from our Converge Task Force. As we delineate our vision and goals for the next few years, we will be Walking forward into new possibilities and new opportunities as we begin our second century. This year is a sort of CROSSWALK for St. John’s. We are Crossing into a new chapter of our congregation’s life and ministry. Together, we are Walking as followers of Jesus, disciples (learners) of his way of active obedience to God. We are Crossing over into a new experience of faithfulness and ministry.
Let us begin by listening again to hear Jesus’ words from the Cross. Let us take up our Cross and Walk as his disciples into the future. Let us step into this season of spiritual preparation willing to will God’s will.
- Ash Wednesday, March 5th, at 6:30pm, God’s Forgiveness of Sin; Homily: ‘Sins of Ignorance Can Be Hard to Forgive’; Luke 23:32-34 – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
- Sunday, March 9th, at 10:30am, God’s Inclusive Love; Sermon: ‘Promises for a Desperate People’; Luke 23:39-43 – “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
- Sunday, March 16th, at 10:30am, Faithfulness of God; Sermon: ‘Honest to God’; Matthew 27:45-46 – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- Sunday, March 23rd, at 10:30am, The Church as a New Shape of Family (Heritage & Hope Sunday); Sermon: ‘No One is Left Behind’; John 19:21-27 – “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.”
- Sunday, March 30th, at 10:30am, Hopeful Prayers of Commitment; Sermon: ‘Jesus Teaches Us How to Die’; Luke 23:44-49 – “Into your hands I comment my spirit.”
- Sunday, April 6th, at 10:30am, Jesus as the Water of Life; Sermon: ‘Dehydrated Faith’; John 19:28-29 – “I am thirsty.”
- Sunday, April 13th, at 10:30am, Keeping the Faith, Finishing the Course Faithfully; Sermon: ‘He Did Not Whisper’; John 19:29-30 – “It is finished.”
- Maundy Thursday, April 17th, at 7:00pm, Looking Beyond What Looks Like the End; Homily: ‘Love One Another AS I Have Loved You’; John 13:1-38 – We Remember Jesus’ Betrayal & Death in Communion
- Sunday, April 20th, at 10:30am, God’s Resurrection of Jesus Christ; Sermon: ‘The Amazing Race’ – Luke 24:1-12
- Sunday, April 27th, at 10:30am, Bright Sunday; Sermon: ‘Jesus Brightens Your Walk’ – Luke 24:13-35
CROSSWALK 40-DAYS OF PRAYER: Please sign up using Sign-up Genius HERE for 1 or more of 120 time slots to pray for our church, our diaconate, our church council, our Converge task force, and our staff. We will offer opportunities each morning, afternoon, and evening from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.
