The SJLCMinute
Church Events
March 1 12:00 Noon SAM’s Meeting
6:00 Abbey Dinner with Communion
March 2 7:00 am Lenten Study*
12:00 pm Lenten Study ZOOM
March 5 2nd Sunday in Lent
7:30 am Lenten Prayer ZOOM
12:15 pm Lenten Prayer In-Person
First Sunday Lunch Bunch (Youth)
March 7 6:45 Youth Lenten Bible Study: The BIG Questions in the Bible
March 8 6:00 PM Abbey Dinner with Communion
March 9 7:30 am Lenten Study*
12:00 pm Lenten Study ZOOM
6:30 WINE Meeting
March 12 Daylight Savings Time Begins … Spring Forward before Worship!
Your Generosity Made a BIG Difference at Our FatTuesday Dinner and Guatemala Special Offering
On Fat Tuesday, you enjoyed pancakes and fruit, contributing over $400 to SJLCYouth Ministry!
And this past Sunday, the St. John’s family received a special offering for our delegation going to Guatemala, with over $1200.00 raised to support students and teachers at the Milagro Center. The St. John’s members along with folks from Peace Lutheran, Christ Lutheran in Nashville, and Epiphany Lutheran in Sewanee, GA head out March 1 for ten days of learning and ministry. Our prayers surround them. Thank you for generous support of this faithful ministry partnership!
BEGINNING THIS WEDNESDAY! March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 6:00 to 7:00 PM | Sparks Fellowship Hall
Please note: this is a dinner with prayer, scripture, conversation, and Communion all in one. Starts at 6, ends at 7 — in time for early bedtimes and choir rehearsal!
Do we have to be silent like monks? Definitely not!
Will there be a nursery? Yes! Kids are encouraged to participate, but we’ll have helpers on hand, should kids need a break from parents — or
Why the name,Abbey Dinners? First, we’re borrowing from Southside Abbey in Chattanooga, a worship expression founded by Tyson House alumnus, the Rev. Dr. Bob Leopold.
Second, our denominational founders, Martin and Katie Luther, lived in an abandoned monastery, and they hosted many dinner conversations, some of which were published as Luther’s Table Talk.
Third and most important, this meal is modeled on the first Communion, when Jesus blessed bread, saying, “This is my body, given for you." Then, after they had eaten, he blessed wine, “my blood, poured out for you, for the forgiveness of sin,” and led them out into the world.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH | MARCH 2023LENTEN ADULT FAITH FORMATION
Sundays during Lent and Easter
During Lent and beyond, adults will be exploring the parables of Jesus, drawing from a thoughtprovoking book by Vanderbilt professor Amy-Jill Levine, Short Stories by Jesus: the Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi. Levine suggests Je-
BISHOP KEVIN VISITS ST. JOHN’S
Sunday, March 5 4:00 PM
Rostered Ministers (retired or active) are invited to join Bishop Kevin Strickland this Sunday for an opportunity to renew your ordination vows, receive oils for use in ministry rites, receive Holy Communion, and gather with one another in prayer. Following each of these services, Bishop Strickland will offer a time of conversation. Spouses are also welcomed to attend these services. As well, lay church staff are welcomed
4:00 PM
Worship in the Sanctuary
5:00 PM
Reception in Sparks Fellowship Hall
We look forward to hosting Bishop Kevin; please join us!
Special Opportunities for Lenten Devotion
Join us either online before worship or in person after worship for a time of intentional prayer. We will remember those closest to us, members of the congregation, community ministry partners, folks in surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, our unhoused neighbors, and friends across town and around the world. In-person prayer will include intentional prayer walks in the neighborhood.
consider Christ’s passion through William Willemon’s Thank God It’s Friday: Encountering the Seven Last Words from the Cross. You may order the book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or christianbook.com. We will read a chapter each week.
This is an opportunity to prepare intentionally for Holy Week.