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Welcome to our weekly posting of the Midweek Lenten Worship services that would ordinarily been held each Wednesday morning and evening during this Lenten season. Here you will find a copy of the Bulletin to download and read along with video presentations by Pastor Rayl of the Liturgy and the Sermon. We hope you find this helpful, inspirational and a way to continue to feel connected, during these extraordinary and challenging times, to your worshiping, praying and serving community of faith at First St. John Lutheran Church

This week in our Lenten worship we will see how Jesus sets out for Jerusalem, knowing what lies ahead for him during the week we now call Holy Week. According to God’s plan and foreknowledge, Jesus will be delivered into the hands of his enemies, tried and condemned and crucified. But also according to God’s plan, he will rise, and he will one day raise us up from death. Jesus told his disciples what lay ahead for him in Jerusalem and, obedient to his heavenly Father, he took up his final steps to the cross. We follow our Savior through life, into death and into eternal life in his presence.

Click Here to View a Copy of the Third Wednesday in Lent 2020 Bulletin

Click on the link below to view the Liturgy for the Third Week Lenten worship service. You can download a copy of the bulletin and follow along if you wish. Blessings!

Lent 2020 Midweek Liturgy Week 3

Click on the link below to view the Sermon for the Third Week Lenten worship service: To Seek and To Save – Up To Jerusalem”

Lent 2020 Midweek Sermon Week 3

MESSAGE FROM BISHOP EATON OF THE E.L.C.A.

March 15, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

“In her message to the members of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America and all Christians about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said that even though “this is a time of disruption. It is also a time for us to live and act as faithful people of God.”

LET US PRAY – “God, our peace and our strength, we pray for our nation and the world as we face new uncertainties around coronavirus. Protect the most vulnerable among us, especially all who are currently sick or in isolation. Grant wisdom, patience, and clarity to health care workers, especially as their work caring for others puts them at great risk. Guide us as we consider how best to prepare and respond in our families, congregations, workplaces, and communities. Give us courage to face these days not with fear but with compassion, concern, and acts of service, trusting that you abide with us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

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INFORMATION FROM THE NWOHIO SYNOD ABOUT COVID-19

March 14, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

COVID-19 and Our Communities

As people of faith, we strive to be guided by Jesus in all circumstances. Jesus spent his days protecting the vulnerable and caring for those in need. We encourage parish leadership to gather to discuss appropriate responses to COVID 19. As the situation evolves it is important for us to discern how we might best meet the needs of our communities. Consider:

1. Who is most vulnerable in your community?
2. How have responses to the virus created new needs?
3. Who will feed those who are hungry if shelters, pantries, and schools close?
4. What resources can our parish offer?

In some situations, the best way to care for others is to distance ourselves. In other circumstances, we may be called upon to come to the aid of those who are in need.

How to Talk With Our Children About COVID-19

In times of uncertainty it is easy to overlook our responsibility to thoughtfully guide children through this time. Our parishes and families can model healthy responses to COVID 19. We should not be afraid to discuss the coronavirus with children. When we are accessible to our children’s questions and fears, we teach them that we are worthy of their trust. It is important for us to be factual, but age appropriate. It is often best for us to filter news reports. As adults, we set the emotional tone, knowing that children are intuitive and can sense anxiety. We can reassure children in our communities that we are doing everything we can to keep them and their community safe. It is also important for us to fold these conversations into normal healthy routines. As Peter Steineke aptly said, “good structure corrals anxiety”.

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PRAYER FOR CONCERN OF COVID-19

March 14, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

A Prayer for Healing by Kerry Weber

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care. Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another. Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.n

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us. Amen

America Magazine: The Jesuit Review (March 2, 2020)

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Worship Resources for March 15, 2020

March 14, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

Sermon for Sunday, March 15, 2020 – Second Sunday in Lent

Bulletin for March 15 – Traditional Worship Service

Announcements for Week of March 15, 2020

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COVID-19 CANCELS SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

March 13, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

March 13, 2020

From Pastor Rayl

Good afternoon everyone,

I sent you and earlier letter stating that FSJ would continue to hold services on Sunday mornings. This has changed since the Governor issued his directive yesterday banning all gatherings of 100 people or more. After lengthy discussion between myself, Mark Ackerman, church council and other leaders in the congregation, it has been decided that we will cancel both worship services on the next two Sundays, (March 15 & 22) this includes J.A.M. Sunday school and Catechism classes. We will plan on holding services on Sunday, March 29; but that is under review due to any changes or advise.

At the moment we will continue with Lent worship on Wednesday, both morning and evening (11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.). During these services we will be use “distancing measures” to provide the necessary spacing between us. We will still hold the Church Council meeting on Tuesday, (March 17). Other meetings will be considered on an individual basis and notice sent to the participants.

As my previous email asked, so I emphasize again. the need to continue your stewardship contributions either by mailing them to the church office, setting them aside to bring later, or going to the church website and going the Vanco link to make an online gift. At this time, the church office will remain open during the week, and I will be at the church as needed during the week . You can also check TV channels 13 and 11 for notices of closings. Also know that we are joining a large number of churches in Lucas and Wood counties in canceling services during the crisis.

Please check the church website (www.firststjohn.com) for further information, copies of worship services, sermons, prayers and devotions. We will work to post things as the days progress.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me (pastor1@firststjohn.com and 567-395-0143) or Mark Ackerman the congregational president. We will keep everyone updated as things change and require.

Thank you for your faithful support as disciples of Jesus.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,

My God, my rock in whom I take refuge.”

Blessings, Pastor Rayl

Pastor Jerald Rayl, Pastor
First St. John Lutheran Church
2471 Seaman Street
Toledo, Ohio 43605
Mobile: 567-395-0143
Office: 419-691-7222
Email: pastor1@firststjohn.com

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F.S.J. STATEMENT ON COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)

March 12, 2020 by admin · Leave a Comment

Date: March 11, 2020

Re: First St. John and COVID-19- (coronavirus)

To: Our members and friends

From: Pastor Jerald Rayl

Greetings everyone in the healing name of Jesus,

We are all attentive to the news and information about the COVID-19. There is a lot being said, some factual and some not. I want to let you know that Mark Ackerman, the congregational president, and I have been monitoring and discussing what is being reported. We wanted to let you know what is being considered as our response to the situation.

First, we will abide by all the directives made by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and what is directed and required by our local, state and national health and government officials. So far, there is nothing that is directing for the canceling of church worship services, meetings or events. And we are not planning to do so at this moment, so we will continue to hold services at the scheduled times on Sunday, and Wednesday. This can change at any time, and we will let you know as quickly as possible.

However, we are making some changes in how we do things. We will no longer promote shaking hands as a greeting in church, especially during the Sharing of the Peace. Instead we are asking everyone to greet each other by putting your hand over your heart, doing the “elbow bump” or making the “peace sign” with your two fingers. I prefer these to doing the “fist bump” because it still is hand contact, and using a fist seems to me to look too much like striking out or hitting the other person.

The Altar Guild will be using food service plastic gloves to prepare the bread and wine for communion. I will continue as I always have, to use hand sanitizer before I distribute the communion wafers. You are encouraged if you have it to bring your own small container of hand sanitizer to church to use as you wish. Our cleaning crew is regularly disinfecting the door handles and opening bars on all the doors of the church. And we will continue to stock the pews with boxes of tissues which you can use if you should cough or sneeze. Our Day School has already communicated its policy and procedures to our children’s families.

At this time, attending worship services is an individual and personal choice. If you do choose to not attend, please remember your stewardship contributions by mailing your envelope to the church office, or using the link on the church website to go to Vanco to make an online contribution. We will also be attempting to post an audio recording of the worship services on the website which you can listen to, and we are working on also having a video available soon.

If there are changes to these procedures, we will keep you informed. If you have any question, please contact the church office, or myself via email, text message or voice. Thank you for your continued faithful support of our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor Jerald Rayl

Pastor1@firststjohn.com

567-395-0143

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