From Pastor Brauer:

“Come Forth!” Imagine hearing this command—when you are dead in the grave! Lazarus did, and so will each person on the Last Day. We also believe that the Holy Spirit will give us and all believers in Christ eternal life on that Last Day when we are raised from the dead. But we already HAVE been raised to new life through the waters of Baptism! Faith has begun in the hearts of the baptized, faith that confesses Jesus. “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus said. “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Do YOU believe this? Putting to death the works of your flesh gives evidence of this faith, for you are no longer living according to the flesh but by the Spirit, the same Spirit who gives you peace.

"A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT"

Romans 8:1-11: Most people who have been released from prison or any other kind of bondage come out with the desire to live the rest of their lives to the full. Jesus has rescued us from the horrible bondage of sin, death and the devil so that we may no longer live for ourselves but rather for Him who died for us and rose again. That’s at the heart of Christian stewardship. (LCMS)

Dishes: There are many unclaimed dishes in the Ladies Lounge. If you have provided food for a church function recently, please check to see if you have picked up your empty dish! Please pick them up no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 20. The remaining dishes will be donated to the Thrift Shop for resale. Thank you.

SSAC is Coming! No, it’s not a Russian spy group! It is an organization within our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod designed to ‘strengthen schools and churches.’ The weekend of March 29-April 1 will see us hosting this team of district education executives as they make interviews, take observations, and worship with us. They will assess our strengths and provide a plan to make improvements for our school and church operations. Please welcome these visitors!

Parish Fellowship-Upcoming Events: Today is our “Something Green” Fest during Fellowship Coffee hour. Enjoy the special treats prepared by the Board members and in some cases, spouses. If you have not attended one of these fests, please come – all children are welcome before going to Sunday School and all adults before attending Bible study. A $2.00 donation per family is requested to help defray the costs of supplies used throughout the year as well as the hog roast.

The last Lenten Soup Supper will be served Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 5:30 p.m.; we’ll serve until 6:15 p.m. We will not chase you out at 6:15, but we need time to clean up after supper so we can go to the worship services too. This leaves you time for fellowship. As usual there will be three choices of soup to choose from (Minestrone, Chili and Chicken Noodle), along with breads, crackers, fruit, dessert and beverages. A freewill offering will be accepted. See you all there.

Finally, mark your calendars for our next Progressive Dinner on April 18.

See today’s insert.

Market Day News: Please place an order for Market Day this month. This is a huge promotion month and the school can benefit greatly if you would purchase a brunch item off of page 2 or 3. Each item you buy for your family gives extra profit to the school. You can place your order online at www.marketday.com or fill out a form which can be found outside the church office and some have been placed here in the church on the table outside the sanctuary. If you have any questions please call Heather Alexander. Filled out forms need to be placed in the Market Day mailbox by Friday March 15 and internet orders are due no later than Wednesday March 19 by 12:00 noon. New and returning customers are greatly appreciated.

Recycling: The next can collection date coincides with the May Market Day. Save your pop cans, steel cans and scrap metal to turn in between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24. The last can collection netted $133.65 for the Church Door Fund. Thank you to the two drivers, Dick Rutz and Mark Foglesong, and to all the donors.

From Sunday School: We would like to invite all children to hear the good news of Easter and enjoy an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 AM. Please meet in the church basement seated in the Sunday school pews (no head starts). Please note this coincides with Market Day pick-up, so parents can pick-up their Easter orders while the kids pick-up eggs! Bring a friend to share the joy! Please remember that there will be no Sunday School on Easter Sunday.

Discipleship Class: Prospects for our next Discipleship class are being gathered for a class to begin sometime this spring. If you or someone you know who would be interested in studying the basics of Christian doctrine and would like to become a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, then please call the church office and be included on the list. We will contact those who sign up to inform when and where this class will begin and meet. This class is always open to all members as well, serving as a way to refresh their understanding of the catechism as well as to meet those new to St. John’s. Please consider this as a way of in-reach for yourself and your out-reach to family or friends who would like to know more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Easter Lilies: It is time for us to start asking for donations for the Easter Lilies. We do appreciate all of your help in the past and pray that you will be so generous again this year. The cost per lily is $12.00. You can make your donation to the Church Office, Marilyn Boardman, Mary Jo Uebele, or Sherrill Lee. Please let us know at that time if you will be picking up your lily. The lilies will be taken down after the 2^nd service on the Sunday following Easter – (March 30th.) If you are going to take your lily, please be there to pick it up at that time. If not for yourself, maybe you know someone who would really appreciate a flower and a visit from you. Thank you again for your donations to the flower fund.

From Shadetree Mechanics: Shadetree is going to start meeting again to work on spring projects.  We will meet the first and third Thursday of the month, beginning on March 20 at 7:00 PM. If you have a project for us to work on, please call Jim Peters or Luke Vandercar. Anyone who would like to join us for “fellowship & fixing” is welcome too! For more details, please call Jim or Luke.

Worship with Holy Communion, 10:00 a.m.