The Messenger

March 2019 A Publication of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia www.stjohnsmahonebay.ca

Church Office: Phone - (902) 624-9660 Email – stjohnsmahonebay@gmail.com Pastor Adam: Phone - (902) 212-0439 Email - adamgsnook@gmail.com

Then grant, O God, that we may, too, return in fast and prayer to you.

Our spirits strengthened with your grace, and give us joy to see your face.

(ELW 320 - The Glory Of These Forty Days) Before I entered Seminary, as I was wading my way through the Candidacy process, I was invited to participate in a number of assessment tests. These tools typically contained a series of question intended to facilitate self reflection. Though I grumbled at the time, they were actually quite effective. I have, on numerous occasions, revisited them as a way to reflect on my personal life and wider ministry in God's kingdom. Lent is an opportunity for us to carry out a similar sort of self reflection and personal evaluation. As Hymn 320 prompts us, this is indeed the time for us to return in fast and prayer to God. While scripture may not provide us with a booklet full of questions (similar to the evaluations I completed years ago); the passages which guide us along our Lenten journey do indeed provide us with ample material for self reflection. Here are a few examples:

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness (Lent 1 / Luke 4:1-13). How do we experience temptation in our own lives?

God promises a son to Abram (Lent 2 / Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18). How do we trust God's bold promises?

Paul preaches about relying on God (Lent 3 / 1 Corinthians 10:1-13). How do we rely on God to provide for our daily needs?

The prodigal son is welcomed home (Lent 4 / Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32). How do we mirror God's forgiveness by forgiving others?

Isaiah prophesies that God is about to do a new thing (Lent 5 / Isaiah 43:16-21). How do we ready ourselves for God's fresh expression of love and grace?

Paul reminds us of our God's deep humanity (Palm Sunday / Philippians 2:5-11). What does it mean for us to experience God as a human?

Jesus washes his friend's feet (Maundy Thursday / John 13:1-17, 31b-35). How has Jesus washed our feet? How are we called to wash the feet of our neighbours?

God forgives! (Good Friday / John 18:1-19:42). What does it mean to be forgiven?

Jesus LIVES! (Easter Sunday / John 20:1-18). How will we go forth in joy to share the good news?

May these passages of scripture guide our return to God through fasting, repentance, prayer and reflection. And once we have

journeyed the road of Lent, may we arrive at the empty tomb with joyful hearts ready for praise. Blessed Lent, my friends! May these days be an opportunity to deepen our faith! Pastor Adam

+ Winter Storm Policy Our cancellation policy states that in the event of inclement weather, the chairpersons of council in consultation with Pastor Adam, will make a determination by 9:30am. An announcement will be made on CKBW, on our Facebook page, and on our Answering Machine.

+ Mid-Week Lenten Worship Following the success of last year's program, we will once again be offering a soup and bread supper on Wednesday evenings at 5:30pm; with a service of Holden Evening Prayer following at 7pm. Our 2019 Mid-Week Lenten theme will be Praying With The Saints. Through story, song, prayer and scripture, we will rejoice in God's saints and reflect on what it means for us to be in mission and ministry for others. Each Sunday, Barbara Februar will be painting contemporary 'Icons' that will then be used as a focus for Wednesday evening worship. If you would like to provide a pot of soup or a loaf of bread, please sign up on the sheet in the Christian Education Centre.

All are welcome.

+ Gift Card Fundraiser Gift cards will be available for pick-up on Sunday, March 3rd. Thank you for your continued support of this program.

+ Time Change

Daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 10th. Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday evening, March 9, 2019.

+ Easter Memorials Anyone wishing to place a memorial in the church in memory of a loved one for Easter is asked to contact the Church Office as soon as possible.

+ Camp Bursaries Once again this year, the Mahone Bay Interchurch Council will be offering bursaries to any local child who wishes to attend a faith-based camp. To apply, please use the applications posted on the bulletin board. For more information, please speak with Pastor Adam. Applications are due May 17.

+ Ice Cream & Pie Social There will be an Ice Cream & Apple Pie Social at the Upper Northfield Community Hall on Saturday, March 9 from 6-8pm! This year they will also be offering Banana Splits and Ice Cream Sundaes...just in case you don't like homemade apple pie! Please consider joining our brothers and sisters for this fun event.

+ Community Breakfast On Saturday, March 2; our Fundraising Committee will be hosting a Community Breakfast (instead of the traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper). Enjoy homemade pancakes, sausages, homemade bread, baked beans, and scrambled eggs with tea/coffee/juice. Adults - $8; Under 12 - $4; Under 5 - FREE! A sign up sheet for donations/volunteers can be found on the Christian Education Centre bulletin board.

+ Anglican Shrove Tuesday Our neighbours at St. James will be hosting a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in support of the CGL/CBL on Tuesday, March 5 from 5-7pm. $5/Person.

+ Council Members The newly elected Council will be Installed in their role of Christian Service on Sunday, March 10. Our current council members are as follows: Tim Aulenback Chairperson Michelle Temple Vice-Chairperson Hamilton Maguire Secretary Mark Lowe Abby Maguire Youth Member Tara Maquire Brian Parnall Jean Rodenhiser Sara Whynot Doug Keddy Treasurer

+ ELFEC Presentation Jeff Pym, director of the Evangelical Lutheran Foundation of Eastern Canada (that oversees church-wide investment & grant opportunities) will visit St. John's on March 2 at 1pm. Anyone interested in participating in this opportunity is asked to please speak with Pastor Adam.

+ World Day of Prayer Our World Day of Prayer service, hosted by the Interchurch Council of Mahone Bay, will be held on Friday, March 1 at 11am at Trinity United Church. All are invited to a pre-service time of fellowship with muffins and coffee at 10:30am. (Snow Date: March 8).

+Paint Night Thank you to everyone who attended our Paint Night fundraiser. A great group of people enjoyed a fun-filled evening together - and left with some wonderful works of art! A special thank you to our Fundraising Committee for making this event a possibility!

+ Common Table Update Thank you to Donnie & Beverly Eisnor for their kind and gracious hospitality in support of our February Common Table event. Our Common Table program will take a break during the months of March & April. During these months it will be replaced by the mid-week Lenten Soup & Bread dinners. Common Table will resume in May. We are looking for sponsors for that meal. If you are interested in knowing more about how you can contribute to the

facilitation of this great program, please speak with Pastor Adam.

+ Joy Journal Birthday greetings are extended to the following in the month of March; March 1 Linda Veinot March 2 Melinda Kerwin Aaden Mason March 3 Rhonda Joudrey Jayme Keddy Nathaniel Snook March 5 Lamechien Barry Susan Fralick March 7 Tim Aulenback March 8 Pr. Steve Kristenson Reena Joudrey March 11 Pat Joudrey Nathan Whynot March 12 Margaret Capone March 15 Gail Nauss March 16 Rebecca Rock March 17 Arlene Parks March 19 Jonathan Wawin Charlene Mailman Kelsey Doucette Brayden Barron March 20 Leeann Dolimount March 21 Krista McDow March 22 Andrew Wentzell March 23 Doug Barry March 24 Heather Daurie Owen Wamboldt Anna (Wentzell) Bellows Shirley Richardson March 26 Alex Achenbach March 27 Lillian Boyd March 31 Ethel Joudrey Arthur Hamm

Anniversary Wishes are extended to the following couples in the month of March: March 3 Elaine & David Veinotte March 27 Lamechien & Douglas Barry March 31 Rosalie & Burleigh Ernst

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church + March 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Additions to the calendar will be printed in the bulletin. An updated calendar can be viewed on our church website.

Announcements for the April 2019 calendar are due to the church office by March 22, 2019.

1 9am-2pm - Office 11am - Word Day of Prayer (United)

2 8-11am - Community Breakfast 1pm - ELFEC Presentation

3 TRANSFIGURATION 11am - Worship (WORD) 11am – Sunday School

4

5 9am-2pm-Office

6

ASH WEDNESDAY

7pm – Worship

7 9am-2pm – Office 6:30pm – Choir 8pm - Handbells

8 9am – 2pm - Office

9 6pm - Homemade Ice Cream Social (Upper Northfield)

10

LENT 1 11am – Worship (COMMUNION) 11am – Sunday School

11

5pm - VON

12 9am-2pm-Office

13 5:30pm – Soup Supper 7pm – Mid-Week Lent

14 9am-2pm – Office 6:30pm – Choir 8pm - Handbells

15 9am-2pm - Office

16

17

LENT 2 11am – Worship (WORD) 11am – Sunday School 12pm – Fellowship

18 19 9am-2pm – Office 7pm – Council Mt

20 2:30pm – Mahone Nursing Home Worship 5:30pm – Soup Supper 7pm – Mid-Week Lent

21 9am-2pm – Office 6:30pm – Choir 8pm - Handbells

22 9am-2pm - Office

23

24

LENT 3 11am – Worship (COMMUNION) 11am – Sunday School

25 26 9am-2pm - Office

27 5:30pm – Soup Supper 7pm – Mid-Week Lent

28 9am-2pm-Office 6:30pm – Choir 8pm - Handbells

29 9am-2pm - Office 4pm - 3CF

30

31

LENT 4 11 am – Worship (WORD) 11am – Sunday School