Rev. Carey Miller, Interim Pastor    --    Mr. Larry Benner, Organist/Choir Director

Worship at St. John's is many things - not simply one style or another. We intentionally refuse to limit ourselves in terms of music, preferring to use a variety of music styles. And while we do use a pipe organ for a large portion of our music, all other instruments are welcome and routinely appear from time to time.

On a typical Sunday we will normally have a couple of older hymns as well as a Gospel-era hymn. We also will always have a contemporary praise song or chorus. There is an anthem by the choir each week, and these selections come from every field and era of Christian music. There is also, once or twice a month, special music performed by our junior choir. These songs tend to be very uplifting but are not always vocals - members of the junior choir also perform instrumentals on occasion.

From week to week, we tend to follow an order of worship that creates a sense of familiarity on one hand, but that is flexible on the other. On communion Sundays, we practice open communion meaning that participation in the communion service is not restricted but open to all who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Sermons are a mix, sometimes following church seasons but also preaching topical sermons at times. Sermons are typically 20 minutes in length and while we enjoy moments of humor, we understand that sermons can be very reassuring and know that they also need to challenge us to be better Christians. There is also a children's sermon each week that is usually tied in with that day's Scripture reading.

In all, our worship service strives to provide an inviting and meaningful place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come and celebrate our faith and to be spiritually fed, comforted and challenged that we might go forth in service to the Lord.

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LECTIONARY SELECTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

The following is this month's selection of scripture passages taken from the Common Lectionary. This three year rotation of texts takes us through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The underlined selection is the one that will be highlighted on the back of that Sunday's Bulletin.

March 7, Third Sunday in Lent, Violet - Open Invitation,  Amistad Sunday

Psalms 63:1-8

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Luke 13:1-9

Isaiah 55:1-9

March 14, Fourth Sunday in Lent, Violet - Embracing Love,  One Great Hour of Sharing

Joshua 5:9-12

Psalms 32

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

March 21, Fifth Sunday in Lent, Violet - Something New

Psalms 126

Philippians 3:4b-14

John 12:1-8

Isaiah 43:16-21

March 28, Sixth Sunday in Lent, Violet or Red - Into Jerusalem,  Palm / Passion Sunday

Psalms 118:1-2, 19-29 (Liturgy of the Palms)

Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalms 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 22:14-23:56 (Liturgy of the Passion)

Luke 19:28-40

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MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICES

LENTEN WEDNESDAY WORSHIP & SOUP SUPPERS

Wednesday evening worship during Lent is being revived again. Our church, St. John's Lutheran Church, Richlandtown, and St. Paul's, Applebachsville will join together to sponsor these services. The evening will include a Soup Supper beginning at 6:30 pm. All services will be held at St. John's Lutheran Activities Center with worship beginning at 7:30 pm. The five services will be based on the theme "Living Lent - The Animals Tell the Story. The animals (of all things!) mentioned near or during the Passion of our Lord, serve as windows in Jesus' life, teaching and saving in this dramatic service series for Lent. These are OUR JOINT services with St. John's and St. Paul's Lutheran. The pastors will participate in dialogue sermons each week.

WEEK 1 - FEBRUARY 24:

The donkey tells of a peaceful Savior

WEEK 2 - MARCH 3:

The dove tells of an angry Savior

WEEK 3 - MARCH 10:

The camel tells of a warning Savior

WEEK 4 - MARCH 17:

The hen tells of a grieving Savior

WEEK 5 - MARCH 24:

The vulture tells of a coming Savior

HOLY WEEK