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WELCOME TO HOLY WEEK AND OUR THIRD EDITION OF  
NEW ADVENTURES IN WORSHIP  
 Friday, April 3, 2020

Dear People of St. John's,
 
Due to the latest updates - All in-person worship and all activities at church are cancelled through April 30 (at the earliest).  If you have something scheduled at the church, consider it cancelled.  It is a difficult time for all of us in so many different ways.  Please continue to pray for all people, check in on your neighbors and know that God is with us in these uncertain days. 
 
This Sunday begins the most important week in the church year, Holy Week.  How strange and empty to not join together to walk through these days together, but we know it is the best way we can care for our neighbors at this time.  Below I will share what we are offering to celebrate this week and what the Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA is doing. 

St. John's Holy Week Schedule

Sunday, April 5 Palm Sunday

10:30am Facebook Live- St. John's Lutheran Church Westminster, MD  (posted after to YouTube St John's Lutheran Church Westminster, MD)
and our website www.stjohnswestminster.org 
 
Click here to find and follow us on Facebook.      Like us on Facebook
 
Before worship begins find a green leaf or color in your own palm to wave as we begin worship together. Get ready to parade into worship with me that morning. I hope to be live in our beautiful Chapel in the Woods!  (if it isn't too cold and windy).  Please click below to view the service.   

Palm Sunday April 5, 2020 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is one of my favorite services of the whole year and we will not be together to experience it.  Instead, Pastor Nancy Kraft from Ascension Lutheran Church has written a beautiful service you can do yourself with whoever is "at home" with you.  We are enclosing it here.  Gather around a meal and read through the service together.  If you are alone, call or Facetime a friend to join with you.

Celebrate Maundy Thursday At Home

Good Friday

On Good Friday, a pre-recorded video worship will be posted to Facebook, YouTube and our website at 7:00 pm that day.  Gather around with your housemates and hear "The Seven Last Words of Christ" from the cross, brought to you by our members. 
 
Easter Sunday

• Sunrise - Depending on the weather - a very brief service may be shared at Sunrise on Easter.
• 10:30am Facebook Live- St. John's Lutheran Church Westminster, MD  (posted after to YouTube St John's Lutheran Church Westminster, MD) and our website

Taking Faith Home

Looking for a devotion to do together with the people you are at home with?  Click on the link below for a week's worth of devotions and activities.  

Taking Faith Home April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday

From the Delaware-Maryland Synod ELCA

If you have any needs during this time, please contact Pastor Kristin (410.299.4853) or pastorkristindubsky@gmail.com. 

If you know of someone needing prayers, a telephone call or just want to share a news item, please call or email Deb. We will continue to send these notices out until the crisis is over and we can meet again.

 
BULLETIN BOARD 

1. We are discouraging visits during this time.  If you feel a need to visit church, please call us to make sure we are here to let you in.  We need to limit the number of people so we can limit everyone's exposure to one another.
2. All Worship and Activities at the church are cancelled through Saturday, April 30.  
3. Gloria thanks everyone for pitching in and getting these fleece blankets completed. Please return them to Fellowship Hall when you are finished.   There are still  few out.  THANK YOU!
4. The Soup Kitchen Committee would like to say THANKS to all who have previously answered the call for plastic containers, but...but. STOP! We appreciate all that you have brought in, but we are at our limit. Thanks again to all!
5. Because our Easter service has been cancelled, so is our drive to purchase Easter Flowers and Chicks. If you sent an order in, your payment will be returned. If you have any questions, please call the office.
6. If you have any needs during this time, please contact Pastor Kristin (410.299.4853) or pastorkristindubsky@gmail.com. 
7. If you know of someone needing prayers, a joy, a concern, a telephone call or just want to share a news item, please call or email Deb. We will continue to send these notices out until the crisis is over and we can meet again.   

A Member's Note

Good morning everyone!  I hope all of you are doing well!  

We are in a very strange and challenging time.  I doubt that any of us would have predicted such a crisis in our lifetime, but it is here.  Continue to pray for God's guidance, comfort and assurance.  Pray for those affected by the virus--the sick, the hospital staff members, the first responders,  those ministering to the many that need spiritual support at this time, family members and friends.  Pray for those in positions of authority as they make critical decisions.  Pray for those whose livelihoods have been taken away.  Pray for the entire family of God, all 7 billion plus.

Because of the crisis and the rules placed into effect, there will be no Men and Sons of the Congregation Banquet on April 22.  There will be no Westminster District Men's Dinner on April 27.  All other activities and gatherings will be evaluated and determined as time progresses.  If we are able to meet in May, I will let you know, but I have my doubts. None of us can accurately predict the future so we continue to move forward as the days and minutes allow us to do so.

Continue to support the mission of the St. John's Congregation with your prayers, telephone calls to one another, Facebook listings and the like.  Remember that your financial support is also important during this time.  And as your confinement to home continues, maybe you will be able to develop some new talents, or to refine a talent that has not had your priority due to time constraints.

For now, stay home, stay safe and pray often.

God's peace be with all of you!
Dennis

You belong to God. Wash your hands, stay safe,  pray for one another because we are praying for you.