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MARCH NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

In this issue...


  • Pastor’s Message
  • Order of Worship
  • Important Reminders
  • Easter Flower Sales
  • Lenten Worship & Activities
  • March Food Drive
  • Holy Week Schedule
  • Good News Library
  • Rejoice Activities
  • Community Events
  • Prayers and Links


   320.558.6851  

    http://www.rejoicelutheranchurch.org

From Pastor Jim

John 9:1-41 

Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that he regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God. 

1As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 

 13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” 

 18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. 

 35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” 

 

Like last week, our gospel reading is long.  This story centers around Jesus being the light of the world by which we see.  As I mentioned in last week’s sermon, “seeing” in John is a metaphor for “belief.”  Often, our confirmation bias does not allow us to see the things of God because we have preconceived notions that are based in previous inabilities to see.  Like some of the Pharisees in this story, we find ourselves resonating with their question, “Surely we are not blind, are we? 

 

This story presents a great opportunity for us to reflect on how open we are to admitting we could be wrong.  It invites us to an openness for God to direct and redirect what God is doing in our lives and world, just as Jesus did when he walked the earth. 

 

We pray:  God, open our hearts with more than enough room for the mystery to understand what it means to be loved and led by your Spirit, that we might find ourselves among those who see.  Amen. 


Pastor Jim

Order of Worship

March 19, 2023 ~ 9:30 a.m.  

 Greeting 

 God, Whose Almighty Word 

 Confession and Forgiveness 

 Messiah 

 Prayer of the Day 

  Children’s Sermon 

 Welcome and Announcements 

 Psalm 23 

 John 9:1-41 

 Message 

 Offering/Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone 

 Offering Prayer 

Prayers of the Church 

 Lord’s Prayer 

 Blessing 

   Be Thou My Vision 

 Sending 

Important Reminders

We welcome Tara Harl as Church Coordinator. Please join us on Sunday, March 26 to meet and greet Tara. Tara’s email address is tara@rejoicelutheranchurch.org


Noisy Offering this Sunday, March 19th to support our Clearwater Food Shelf.


Please consider purchasing and/or selling our Rejoice Savings Card. This savings card will raise money for Rejoice and community ministries such as the relocation of the food shelf. 


Children’s Handbell Choir! Interested? Email Linda Campana


Worship Volunteers Needed: Please contact Lisa if you are willing to help. Thank you!

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Easter Flower Sales


Let’s beautify our church sanctuary this Easter by purchasing potted flowering plants and potted bulb gardens in memory and/or in honor of loved ones. Plants are $19 & order slips are available in Celebration Hall.


Deadline: Monday, March 20 

Soup Suppers (& Lent) are Back!


  • Wednesdays in Lent
  • Gather for soup at 5:30
  • Worship at 6:30


Dust off your crock pot, find that favorite soup recipe and share the goodness with your Rejoice family. 

Sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall.

Soup Supper Help Needed: We are in need of someone to coordinate the set up, meal service and clean up of our last Lenten Soup Supper on March 29, 2023. Duties include picking up bread from Nelson Bros., heating up soup, ensuring tables are set and ensuring clean up. Thank you for your consideration.  Contact Sue Severson: sseverson34@yahoo.com  

Reset My Login (a Growing in Our Faith Series)  

Meet Sundays through Lent @10:30am in the Fellowship Hall

Love in Action = Care Kits


This Lent, we’re putting God’s love in action by making Lutheran World Relief Personal Care Kits. Across the globe, families have been suffering from compounding crises such as war, violence, natural disasters, disease and extreme weather. We want to announce to the world that Christ makes a new season possible: a Season of Hope. We’re excited to engage in this project as a community during our Lenten journey this year.


Here’s our collection schedule:

 

February 26: Bars of soap

2 bars per kit, 4-5 ounces, any brand, in original wrapping


March 5: Bath towels

light-weight, max size 52” x 27”, dark color recommended


March 12: Toothbrushes

adult size, in original packaging; multi-packs are OK


March 19: Combs


March: 26: Nail clippers

metal, attached file optional

March Food Drive


Annual March Food Shelf Drive now through April 8th. Please consider donating food or money* for our Clearwater food shelf. Donation cart is located in Celebration Hall.

*Matching funds for monetary donations during the drive.

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Holy Week Schedule


Sunday, April 2nd ~ Palm Sunday

9:30am Worship


Thursday, April 6th ~ Maundy Thursday

6:30pm Worship with Holy Communion


Friday, April 7th ~ Good Friday

6:30pm Worship


Sunday, April 9 ~ Easter

9:30am Worship with Holy Communion

Rejoice Links

Newsletter

Online Giving

Facebook

YouTube

Shop

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Good News Library


The library is closed for inventory and will re-open Sunday, March 12 or when inventory has been completed.  

Sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation!

Happening at Rejoice



  • Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9-3
  • Doors are open for walking 9-2:30pm Monday – Thursday. Please ring buzzer by door 1 (Office/Library door)
  • Sundays following worship: Community Food Rescue in the Education Wing
  • Mondays 7pm Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Sundays during Lent at 10:30am: Growing in Our Faith Series-Reset My Login
  • Sunday, March 19: Noisy Offering to support the food shelf
  • Monday, March 20: Deadline to order Easter flowers for the sanctuary
  • Sunday, April 23: New Member Orientation. Reception of New Members on May 7th. Contact the office for more information.
  • Sunday, May 14: Confirmation (Affirmation of Baptism)


Women's Bible Study

  • Third Tuesday monthly
  • 10:00 a.m.

Yoga for All

  • Wednesday mornings
  • 9:00 a.m.
  • $10 per class or $32 per month
  • Senior discount: $9 per class or $25 per month

Stitch and Pray

  • Wednesday afternoons
  • 1:00 p.m. in the Rejoice Good News Library
  • Bring your knitting needles and crochet hooks to make prayer shawls for those that are experiencing health or spiritual challenges
  • All levels of skill are welcome

Young @ Heart

  • Third Thursday monthly
  • Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for card playing and fellowship
  • Lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by short program
  • Mark your calendar and call Carol at 320.558.6851 to reserve your spot for a couple of hours of fun and fellowship! Don't forget to invite a friend to join you!

Area Happenings 

Clearwater Fire & Rescue Easter Egg Hunt 10am Saturday, April 1 at the Clearwater Sportsman Park for ages 0-11. Registration 9:30-10am, hunt 10am, basket drawing 10:30am. 


Clearwater – Clear Lake Food Shelf Building Fundraiser April 15th, 4-7pm at the Clearwater American Legion. Pulled Pork Dinner, Silent Auction, and Bake Sale. 

  • Planning Meeting March 20th at 6 pm at the Food Shelf building – All are welcome! 


See the COMMUNITY EVENTS board for current flyers.

Prayer Concerns (* indicates member)

If you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, please use one of the prayer concern requests located on the round table in Celebration Hall and in the Welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member. Requests will be printed for up to four weeks; call the church office at 320.558.6851 to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please resubmit the name and/or concern using one of the prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area. 

We Mourn with:

Bill and Gail Bradford in the loss of Gail’s sister-in-law, Jeanie Anderson. 


Receiving Treatment for Cancer:

*Lee Monk

Sharon Wallace (Lori Lanes)

Duane Pingeon (friend, Lori Lanes)

Layne Lavandowska (friend, Lori Lanes)

Neil Lubke  (cousin, Mary Wilson)

Courtney Percell (cousin, Mary Wilson)

Cary Ogden (friend, Pastor Jim Bump)

Judy Schill (mother, Chris Schill)

Dana (niece, Bonnie Badial)

Vern Scott (friend, Lee & Rosemary Monk)

*Lorraine Bluhm

Kim Hillson (friend, Lori Lanes)

Carolyn Bjelland (cousin, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Sami (neighbors’ friend, Jim & Lori Lanes)

Karen Emberton (Kari Line)

JoAnn Stegura (wife, Jerry Stegura)

John Swan (friend, Ron & Lynn Schneider)

Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)

*Pete Lidberg

Others:

*Lorna Cooper

*Mike Barrett

*Gladys Steiger

Konnor (grandson of Brad & Martha Johnson)

*Martha Johnson

Clifford Volkmann (brother-in-law, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Julie Froblom (cousin, Lori Lanes)

Andy Castro (brother-in-law, Chris Schill)

Maxine Sanders (mother, Kevin Sanders)

*Elaine Niesche

Norb & Carol Litzau (friends, Duane & Darlene Johnson)

Marlene & Gary Hillson (mother & son, friend, Lori Lanes)

*Charlie Johnson

*Duane Johnson

Kris (sister, Rosemary Monk)

Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)

Jeff Lamb Family (friend, Mark & Karie Gohman)

Rejoice Staff

Jim Bump Lead Pastor

Janelle Rudnigen Music Coordinator

Tara Harl Office Administrator

Lisa Pridgeon Office Assistant

| 320.558.6851 | http://www.rejoicelutheranchurch.org |

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