Song 2:11-12 (NRSV)

I don’t know about turtledoves, singing-ok, but winter is surely passing and with each day signs of the “new,” spring up everywhere.  Finally.

Take a look at what is springing up in the new Youth Rooms and elsewhere!

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Steve Terry, Dir. for Senior High and Young Adults, will share details about the upcoming Fall Rite of Confirmation including the Faith Share and rehearsal dinner.  You’ll also hear about all the great opportunities for 9-12th graders at St. John’s including CHAOS, Extreme Faith Bible Study and more.

The orientation starts immediately after the midweek Lenten service (which parents are encouraged to attend) and will be held in the Fellowship Hall.  Families are encouraged to bring their calendars to schedule their summer Faith Share.

Questions?  Contact Steve in the church office.

WHO: 8th graders and parents
WHAT: Rite of Confirmation/Senior High Orientation
WHEN: Wednesday, March 10 at approx. 7:45pm
WHERE: Fellowship Hall

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• Bead-board/plank ceiling is being installed in new upper balcony.  The two balconies will have identical ceilings.
• Lots of painting work is being done in the Youth Rooms Cooridor and individual youth rooms.

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Download more info and a registration info HERE.

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For more about Lent follow this LINK.

Walking through the new building you see all kinds of signs.  Signs of tearing down, building up, progress, effort, and lots of work yet to be done.  It makes you wonder how something as complex as a new building is ever finished?  Maybe it never is.  If you own a house you know work is never done!

Our Lenten experience is similar to the building process.  We need work – we aren’t perfect.  We fail… ourselves, others, God.  Often.  We often fail.  Sometimes it is hard to see progress in our spiritual lives or even let God be our lives (let alone be a part of our lives).  Lent is our time to see our faults, admit them, and return to faith in God who always forgives and always lifts us up.  It takes work to create a building and it takes work on our parts (through God’s help) to build up our faith.  Our best laid plans (be it in the Church Alive/building process or in our personal lives) needs to be centered on God’s best laid plans. 

Take time this Lenten season to pray, serve and read God’s Word in ways you haven’t done before.  You will see progress!

Speaking of progress… we got into the upper and lower floors and WHOA, lots of progress so take a look.

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Heads-up, this opportunity is NOT for 8th graders/families going to Workcamp! You’ll be helping that weekend with the Workcamp Garage Sale. Ok, for the rest of us… The Mothers of Multiples Club needs help unloading/loading, setting up and tearing down of display racks for their annual garage sale fundraiser. The Club will donate money ($300+) to our Jr. High Ministry which will be used for our NEW Youth Room and we’ll give 10% to Haiti Relief! Help at one or the other OR BOTH!

Thursday, March 4 (6:00-8:00pm, time is approximate): Unload racks at storage area and move to trailer, setup at Interstate Center. 8-12 people needed, indoor and outdoor work.

Saturday, March 6 (11:30am-1:30pm): Disassemble racks at Interstate Center and move to trailer, unload at storage area. 8-12 people needed, indoor and outdoor work.

To help or get more info email ROB now! (click name)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NRSV)

Don’t give up in these cold days!  Spring nears – rebirth!  No matter the hardships, obstacles and weights upon your shoulders… dig deep into your own personal Lenten journey and walk with Christ in His life, death and resurrection.  Let prayer, scripture study, worship, service and sharing help move the obstacles of your life to focus everything on a mighty savior.

For more info on Lent and Holy Week and St. John’s, CLICK HERE.

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 CLICK HERE to be transported to the Church Alive Website!

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Embrace God’s Grace in March- Serve!
Nothing does more for the soul than to give to others!  We have two upcoming opportunities to help your family (and especially your 6-8th grader) grow in faith through service to others.  We hope you’ll consider these possibilities to help! 

Mothers of Multiples Garage Sale – March 4 and 6
Heads-up, this opportunity is NOT for 8th graders/families going to Workcamp! You’ll be helping that weekend with the Workcamp Garage Sale.  Ok, for the rest of us…  The Mothers of Multiples Club needs help unloading/loading, setting up and tearing down of display racks for their annual garage sale fundraiser.   The Club will donate money ($300+) to our Jr. High Ministry which will be used for our NEW Youth Room and we’ll give 10% to Haiti Relief!  Help at one or the other OR BOTH!  

Thursday, March 4 (6:00-8:00pm, time is approximate): Unload racks at storage area and move to trailer, setup at Interstate Center.  8-12 people needed, indoor and outdoor work.

Saturday, March 6 (11:30am-1:30pm): Disassemble racks at Interstate Center and move to trailer, unload at storage area.  8-12 people needed, indoor and outdoor work.

To help or get more info email ROB now! (click name)

Noah’s Ark Pancake Breakfast – March 7
Noah’s Ark Preschool serves up their annual pancake fundraiser on Sunday, March 7 and would love for 6-8th graders to get involved.  Whether you are an alum of the preschool or not, have fun helping out the preschool by raising needed funds!  Our youth have been helping out for many years and your help is greatly appreciated!

Serve at 8:15-10:15am or 10:30am-12:30pm

To help or get more info email WENDY IVERSON now! (click name)

Sign-up sheet is also available in the Atrium this Wed. night and Genesis this Sunday.

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A great time learning and serving!  For more pictures CLICK HERE for the Thrive Gallery.

Visit Recycling For Families Website

Become a Recycling For Families Facebook Fan

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So much work, what is it all for?  Everything we can create is awesome and perfect, right?  If we think it, grab it, build it, create it, God loves it right?   The disciple Stephen says:

Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says,
‘Heaven is my throne,
     and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
     or what is the place of my rest?
Did not my hand make all these things?’    Acts 7:48-50 (NRSV)

We don’t worship our church building, our homes, cars, etc.  They’re nice, they’re often beautiful, but they don’t compare to God’s glory.  No, we delight in worshipping God, the great I AM!  Lent is almost here and Ash Wednesday services are next week (2/17/10) and thus begins a time of reflection and preparation for all that Christ has done and is doing.  Lent can be a great time to NOT: build the perfect home theater, buy the most-awesome cell phone, plan the perfect vacation, or develop the greatest financial plan.  You can do all those things, just don’t let them come between you and God.  We worship only God, everything else should be mere tools for us to use in ministry.  We won’t be worshipping our building when it’s complete, we will be worshipping inside and outside our building now and when it is complete.  Praise God for the tools and resources He has shared with us!

Continue to pray for all our workers in the Church Alive project and continue to find ways to share God’s tools with others!  So let everything be God’s work and our hands to do His plan.

Click any picture for a larger version.

CLICK HERE to be transported to the Church Alive Website!

CLICK HERE to see all Church Alive/Jr. High Edition Posts!