CALL TO PRAYER FOR OUR NATION: Please join Pastor Jeff and Susan for a season of prayer and fasting. We will be praying for peace for the Twin Cities and justice surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Pray for an end to the violence and looting and destruction. Pray for the protection and safety of all those trying to respond to the emergencies of each day.
 
Pray for the healing of our nation.
 
Pray for the end of violence and additional outbreaks occurring in cities all around the country.
 
(I want to acknowledge the lack of reference to the violence in Minneapolis in our worship broadcast this morning--because of the pre-recording of worship earlier in the week, the events of the last 3 days were not known at the time of recording.)

Good morning members and friends of St. John’s UMC!
 
This coming weekend worship will be on the radio again @ 9:00 on station 1420 am; We will have a link on Facebook and our website to join us at 10:00.
 
Scripture text: John 14:16-17, I Kings 19:4-8
 Message: “Holy Spirit, the Comforter” (Pastor Jae is preaching)
 This weekend we celebrate Pentecost: the birthday of the church. This special day in Scripture (Acts chapter 2) highlights the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s presence among us, and one of the roles that the Spirit adds to our lives is called Advocate (or Counselor/Comforter). There is mystery surrounding the person and work of the Holy Spirit. We tend to avoid what we haven’t experienced. Or hold back when we’re not sure about something. Sometimes we’re afraid to open ourselves fully to all God wants to make available to us in this spiritual journey. But I hope you can reach out to the gift of God’s Spirit and embrace what God is offering to you this weekend.
 
I invite you to join worship on Sunday at one of the times listed above.
 
Pastor Jeff

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
This Saturday, May 30 from 9:00 to noon, the Trustees are inviting volunteers to help spread mulch around the church gardens. Please reply to this email if you want to help out. (Shane Gross, chair of Trustees is coordinating this effort.) Volunteers can bring wheelbarrows and shovels; face masks suggested.
 
Update on the Friendly Thrift Store at the Center: the Thrift Store is preparing to open sometime in early July. Their board is going through a change in managers. A new part-time manager will be hired (20-25 hours/week) in June; applications are being accepted. Many are asking about when they can bring clothing donations, but the process to receive donations is going to change due to new COVID19 guidelines. Please be patient until an outside receptacle can be setup and secured. All clothing will be quarantined 72 hours before it can be brought inside and processed.

Good afternoon members and friends of St. John’s UMC!
 
Food Pantry Sunday—DRIVE BY drop off will be Tuesday, May 19
(Pastor Jeff & a volunteer will be at the church portico (drive thru entrance)
9:00-10:00  Tuesday morning
4:30-5:30   Tuesday afternoon
The Food Pantry at the Center has re-opened. Please help stock their shelves!
 
This coming weekend worship will be on the radio again @ 9:00 on station 1420 am; We will have a link on Facebook & YouTube to join us at 10:00 (Facebook has been unstable the last 2 Sundays so come into the YouTube premier if it hesitates for you)
 
Scripture text: John 4:19-26
Message: “Our Home, Holy Place” (Pastor Jae is preaching)
At the time of Christ, one topic of debate focused on, “Where is the correct place to worship God? On a holy mountain? Or in the Jerusalem synagogue?” We are now faced with our version of this question. How do we worship God when we cannot go to the sacred space located within our church? Jesus points us towards God’s desire. Jesus invites us to worship in Spirit and truth... and we can do this during the pandemic: at home, on the radio, with TV or computer.
 
I invite you to join worship on Sunday at one of the times listed above.
 
Pastor Jeff