IN THIS ISSUE:
Holy Week Schedule
Midweek Lenten Worship
Clergy Renewal Proposal
Day of the Dogs Community Cleanup: March 21
SoJ's Music Camp Featured in ALCM Magazine
Outdoor Workday: March 21
Community Health Screenings: Volunteers Needed
and much more!
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LENTEN SEASON: February 18 to April 2
Before every midweek Lenten Supper (6:00pm) and Service (7:00pm), we'll be taking Wilderness Walks on the trail near Spirit of Joy, starting at 5pm. Join us!
March 11: The next midweek meal will be potatoes and will be hosted by the Men's Bible Study Group. Come enjoy these casual, stress-free meals!
| | March 4th Lenten Worship: | | |
CLERGY RENEWAL PROPOSAL:
Our grant proposal is ready to send to Christian Theological Seminary which administers the Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Program.
What a whirlwind of work and writing! It took us just eight weeks to put together an imaginative, focused, detailed plan. Pastor imagines time for rest, spiritual retreat (in the US as well as Europe), reading, writing spiritual reflections, yoga & exercise, and several hands-on workshops. AND she has a plan for a two-week vacation in Portugal with a longtime friend. Our congregational leave committee imagines a variety of group gatherings for fun and fellowship: an ice cream social, Seguin Theater production, movie night, concert in the park, “First Friday” dinner group, and an “All Congregation Community Service Day" with picnic lunch. And the topper is our plan to offer a weekend retreat at a camp in the Hill Country for the fall. In other words, we want to have some fun, enjoy being together, show Seguin we care, and find God in nature, in the city, and in one another.
BTW Pastor Megan employed Chris Vogt’s videographic services to introduce the proposal and to underscore what we wrote in the “Rationale and Design” section of the proposal. CLICK HERE to watch the video.
Stan Meyer
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DAY OF THE DOGS COMMUNITY CLEANUP:
The TLU athletics department and our West Side community will be sponsoring a spring clean-up day on Saturday, March 21, starting at 8am. TLU athletes and the local community pick up large trash items in the neighborhood then dump them in the city containers. SOJ will sponsor lunch for the group. The lunch will start around 11:30am. Volunteers will be needed to set up and serve the lunch (about an hour and half time total).
A sign up list will be on the back table for lunch items: bottled water, fruit, and cookies. You may also sign up to help with the actual lunch. Contact Nancy Hartfiel if you need more information.
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5TH SUNDAY BENEVOLENCE: MARCH 29
The 2026 Synod Assembly 5th Sunday Offering will go towards enhancing the Tiemann Leadership Endowment, allowing us to continue to provide grants to equip lay leaders, pastors, and deacons in building and strengthening our congregations and ministries.
Please make checks payable to: Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church with memo line reading: for 5th Sunday Benevolence.
Remember that 5th Sunday benevolences are above and beyond giving!
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MUSIC CAMP: HOT OFF THE PRESS!
We’re excited to share that Spirit of Joy’s 2025 Summer Music Camp has been featured in the latest edition of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) In Tempo magazine!
This recognition celebrates not only a wonderful week of music, faith, and fellowship, but also the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and young musicians who made it all possible. It’s a beautiful reflection of how music ministry continues to thrive at Spirit of Joy.
CLICK HERE to read the article.
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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER:
Church Women United is hosting "World Day of Prayer" on Friday, March 6 at St. James Catholic Daughters' House (enter in back) at 2:00pm.
All are welcome to join us (even men) for fellowship, prayer, and food.
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CHRISTIAN CUPBOARD NEEDS:
The Christian Cupboard offers hygiene and cleaning products to clients who need them and they are currently low on these items.
There will be a box on the resource table this Sunday to collect products.
Thank you for your support!
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SOJ OUTDOOR WORKDAY:
It's Spring Cleaning Time at Spirit of Joy!
All are welcome to join us on Saturday, March 21,
beginning at 8:00am. We will work until finished, by 12:00pm at the latest.
We will be distributing mulch to flower beds, trimming plants, and weeding the flower beds.
Contact Arlynn Hartfiel for more details.
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THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS:
Are you a Thrivent Financial member?
March 31, 2026 is the deadline to direct your “Choice Dollars” earned in 2025 to the charity of your choice.
CLICK HERE to be directed to the Thrivent Choice website.
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CONFIRMED PICTURE WALL:
In an effort to help fill our worship space with reminders of our vibrant future as a congregation, we are working to create a picture wall of SOJ confirmands over the last fifteen years.
We will be looking through our own photo libraries, but we are asking any parents of past confirmands to send pictures as well.
If you have a child who went through confirmation, could you please email Christa Strauss the following information:
1. Full name of confirmand
2. Date of confirmation
3. Attached pictures of the confirmation, focusing on group shots or other images reflecting the joy of the day.
Thank you!
christastrauss77@gmail.com
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Free Community Health Screenings: Spirit of Joy has teamed up with Texas Lutheran University Nursing Program to offer health screening at our Casita on Monday mornings. We are walking the neighborhood with some of the nursing students to encourage our neighbors to take advantage of this program. We could use a few volunteer walkers to help over the next few weeks. If you’re interested in walking on Monday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30, please contact Karen Wallock at 830-305-0024.
Help us spread the word of this worthy endeavor!
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SCHEDULE TIME WITH PASTOR MEGAN:
You may now use the following link to schedule a meeting (personal or business) with Pastor Megan.
This links directly with her schedule, so no worries about duplication. Contact Chris with any questions.
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SAFE CAMPUS
NOTICE:
Spirit of Joy is a welcoming and inclusive community. For everyone's safety, our campus is gun-free, smoke-free, and drug-free both inside and outside of all buildings.
The use of alcohol is restricted and permitted only with prior Council permission.
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VISIT
US:
Monday through Thursday:
9:00AM to 4:00PM
Friday: by appointment only.
Worship is held Sundays at 9:30am in our Worship Center.
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Prayer Requests:
Government and Elected Officials
MEMBERS:
Lynna Kraus
Patsy Heckmann
MILITARY:
Jordan Kranda (Grandson-in-Law of Craig & Lorna Wagner)
FAMILY OF MEMBERS:
Sean Stevens (Son of Debbie and Ken Stevens), Mary Short (Sister of Lynna Kraus and Nancy Kempf), Jackie Ross (Cousin of Denise Crettenden), Judy and John Semmler (Sister & Brother-in-Law of Chris Frels), Donald Olson (Grandfather of Pastor Megan), Dan Clark (Brother of Stephen Clark), Jeff Clark (Brother of Bruce Clark), Bill Lester (Father of Rebecca Clark), Michele Buckley (Sister of Patty Buckley), Jennifer Bulgerin (Niece of Bobbie Maddox)
FRIENDS OF MEMBERS:
Sherry Moltz (Friend of Martha Rinn), Gail Damerau (Friend of Sharon Frels), Megan Neville (Friend of Denise Crettenden), Rose Mercado (Friend of Mary Ruby), Jeanna Black (Friend of Alfrieda Leiter)
If you would like to add any name, please send an email to chris@spiritofjoylc.com. We will include all individuals with health, emotional or family/work issues for a period of two weeks. At the end of that period, their name will be removed if a call/email has not been received regarding their continued inclusion.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP LIVESTREAM LINK:
Can’t make it to Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church for worship?
THE 9:30AM Service streams LIVE every Sunday on YOUTUBE.
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BREEZE:
Having issues accessing your BREEZE account? Stan Meyer is here to help!
Email Stan if you want to change something in your profile, or update your password.
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SOJ
CALENDAR:
Want to know what’s going on at SOJ this month?
Click on the link below to access our PUBLIC calendar.
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March 8:
Assisting Minister: Leah Matocha
Lay Reader: Ryan Jeffords
In-Person Greeter: Karen Wallock
Online Greeter: Mark Shellard
Ushers: Arlynn Hartfiel, Milly Watson
PrayGround: Jessica Cain, Xander Khalil, Natalie Ramirez
Altar Setup: Cathy Cordes, Becky Geinzer
Communion Assistants: Denise and Eleanor Crettenden, Robin Shellard
Worship Slide Technician: Diane Lippe
Flowers: None Needed
Refreshments: Diane and Larry Lippe
Kitchen Manager: Jennifer Ehlers
Council Member Lock-Up: Lois Hartzog
Council Member Count Money: Lorne Davis
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March 15:
Assisting Minister: Jim Dyess
Lay Reader: Lorna Wagner
In-Person Greeter: Jennifer Ehlers
Online Greeter: Emily Khalil
Ushers: Mike Peters, Dave Legore
PrayGround: Caitlyn Andima, Kellsey Ballard
Altar Setup: Cathy Cordes, Nancy Doerr
Communion Assistants: Nancy and Arlynn Hartfiel, Nancy Doerr
Worship Slide Technician: Becky Geinzer
Flowers: Arlynn and Nancy Hartfiel
Refreshments: Keith and Helene Stadtmueller
Kitchen Manager: Jennifer Ehlers
Council Member Lock-Up: Bruce Clark
Council Member Count Money: Xander Khalil
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*Friday, March 13, from 7:30am to 11:00am
(GROUP 3)
*Saturday, March 14, from 7:30am to 11:00am
(GROUP 3)
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*Friday, March 27, from 7:30am to 11:00am
(GROUP 1)
*Saturday, March 28, from 7:30am to 11:00am
(GROUP 1)
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