Our journey through Lent has been showing us the ways that God is “All In”  for us and how we too can be all in for God.   Through all of this we have seen the truth that God acted first.  God sent Jesus to live among us, to die for us, and to shower us with the gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and love.  In return God asks us to also go “All in.”  All in in our worship, our love for one another, and our care for all of God’s creation. 

Remaining in our Lenten journey is the focus on relationships in which Jesus demonstrates for us how to be in relationship with both God and each other with the story of the Blind Man.  The final week brings us the idea of Letting Go with the story of the death of Lazarus.  Sometimes, we need to let go of our own expectations, our own need for control and simply allow God to do the work.  When we cling to what we know, it’s difficult for us to see the possibilities of what can be. 

And then we are headed into our holiest week of the year, starting with the journey to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and ending with the Risen Christ on Easter Sunday!  I hope that you can join us for this journey through Holy Week, as we not only recall what Christ has done for us, but also see what Christ is still up to among his Resurrection People.

When I think about Easter, I always think about new life and all the ways that God reveals God’s self to us within the new life.  Not only are we beginning the season of Spring which always brings new life, but we are also in the process of taking on new ministries here at St. John’s.  We are transitioning some of the vital ministries from Christ United Methodist Church so that they continue to be available for our community.  The Blessing Shed, which will be moved to the parking lot at St. John’s sometime this Spring, provides a place for community members to share their abundance with others in need.  The Born Again Boutique provides a way to swap out quality gently used 

clothing items that no longer fit or are needed, in exchange for ones that do.  This ministry served over 1,000 people in our community in 2025.  We expect to transition this ministry to St. John’s sometime in June.  I am grateful for the leaders who have stepped forward for these ministries, Randy Stine for the Blessing Shed and Holly Bedisky and Pam Miller for the Born Again Boutique.

However, these are not the only ministries that are in need of volunteers.  We also need help on our altar guild who prepares our worship space each week and ensures that all is ready for Sunday worship service.  The Garden Crew is looking for some new members who are willing to get heir hands in the dirt and help maintain our beautiful flower beds. We are also looking for some folks who will be willing to take communion out to our homebound folks monthly, see details later in the newsletter.  Which of these new things is God calling you to be all in for?   

 

May we be open to the ways that God is inviting us to go All In this Lenten season and beyond as we seek to follow our Lord Jesus Christ in all things. 

Blessings,

 Pastor Karla