Help with our Mobile Food Pantry Today!

St. John's UCC will join with the Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church TODAY to distribute food through our mobile food pantry. Volunteers are needed at 5:00PM to unload groceries, pack boxes, direct traffic, register clients, distribute groceries, set up and teardown work stations, and to deliver surplus groceries to charities.   Drive thru distribution begins at 6:00 PM .  Feel free to contact Teresa Markoski at (616) 690-4566 or email her at tmarkoski2004@yahoo.com for more details.  Donations to our mobile food pantry are welcome by selecting Food Truck on the Church App Give tab or by mailing a check to St. John's UCC, 1904 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI  49504.  Thank you for your efforts in supporting our community. 

Location:
The Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church
1550 Oswego Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
March 3, 2021 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Join us for Evening Prayer and Fellowship tonight at 7:30!

Join us tonight via Zoom at 7:30 pm for a brief Service of Evening Prayer.
It's an opportunity to see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, and catch up with each other and it's a great time to pause and reconnect during the middle of the week.

You can join from any digital device by clicking this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84551334188?pwd=VDhxY3BsdC8yVmdtMVd3NUsyREg3UT09

If you'd prefer to call in, you may do so by dialing (312) 626 6799, entering 845 5133 4188 when prompted for a meeting ID, and 947736 when prompted for a passcode.

The liturgy for evening prayer can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Y-fn4mSdXP6SdaiPoAP8h2NAxQEf44j/view?usp=sharing

The second session of the class on Confronting Racism will follow Evening Prayer and utilize the same Zoom link and meeting information.

Evening Prayer and Fellowship normally happens at 6:30 pm each Wednesday but moves to 7:30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month due to our mobile Food Pantry.

Confronting Racism Class TONIGHT at 8 pm

Please join us TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 3, at 8 pm for the second session of our class on Confronting Racism. The class will meet for about an hour and focus on developing a fundamental understanding of racism.

Please read the following article as preparation for the discussion:

https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/Racism-101_Handout.pdf

To join the discussion with any digital device, simply click here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84551334188?pwd=VDhxY3BsdC8yVmdtMVd3NUsyREg3UT09.

If you would rather just call in by phone, dial (312) 626-6799 and enter 845 5133 4188 when prompted for a meeting ID and then 947736 when prompted for a passcode.

Additional resources for the class are posted on our website under the "Confronting Racism Resources" section at the bottom of the front page.

The class will normally meet at 7 pm, but moves to 8 pm tonight and each first Wednesday of the month due to our mobile food pantry.

Confronting Racism Class TONIGHT at 7 pm

Please join us TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 24, at 7 pm
for the first session of our class on Confronting Racism.
The class will meet for about an hour
and focus on the question of why it's so difficult to talk about racism.
Please read the following article as preparation for the discussion:

https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/Why-Is-It-So-Difficult-to-Talk-about-Racism_Handout.pdf

To join the discussion with any digital device, simply click here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84551334188?pwd=VDhxY3BsdC8yVmdtMVd3NUsyREg3UT09.

If you would rather just call in by phone, dial (312) 626-6799
and enter 845 5133 4188 when prompted for a meeting ID
and then 947736 when prompted for a passcode.

Additional resources for the class are posted on our website
under the "Confronting Racism Resources" section
at the bottom of the front page.

Join us for Evening Prayer and Fellowship tonight at 6:30!

Join us tonight via Zoom at 6:30 pm for a brief Service of Evening Prayer.
It's an opportunity to see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, and catch up with each other
and it's a great time to pause and reconnect during the middle of the week.

You can join from any digital device by clicking this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84551334188?pwd=VDhxY3BsdC8yVmdtMVd3NUsyREg3UT09

If you'd prefer to call in, you may do so by dialing (312) 626 6799, entering 845 5133 4188 when prompted for a meeting ID, and 947736 when prompted for a passcode.

The liturgy for evening prayer can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HcjatTPgLJtNFS9PB4XxHlJbu4EeZmwt/view?usp=sharing

The first session of the class on Confronting Racism will follow Evening Prayer and utilize the same Zoom link and meeting information.

Wednesday, March 03, 2021: Food Truck

A Feeding America Food Truck drive thru only mobile food pantry is scheduled at The Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church on Wednesday, March 3.  Volunteers will gather at 5:00PM. Distribution starts at 6:00 PM.  If you or someone you know is in need of food, feel free to stop by and share information   Donations to Food Truck can be designated on the St. John's Church App under giving, personal checks can be written and mailed to St. John's UCC, 1934 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. If you would like further information, please contact Teresa Markoski at 616-690-4566 or at tmarkoski2004@yahoo.com.  

Location:

The Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church
1550 Oswego Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Mar 3, 2021 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Add to my calendar

Confronting Racism Class this Wednesday at 7 pm

Please join us this Wednesday, February 24, at 7 pm for the first session of our class on Confronting Racism.
The class will meet for about an hour
and focus on the question of why it's so difficult to talk about racism.
Please read the following article as preparation for the discussion:

https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/Why-Is-It-So-Difficult-to-Talk-about-Racism_Handout.pdf

To join the discussion with any digital device, simply click here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84551334188?pwd=VDhxY3BsdC8yVmdtMVd3NUsyREg3UT09.

If you would rather just call in by phone, dial (312) 626-6799
and enter 845 5133 4188 when prompted for a meeting ID
and then 947736 when prompted for a passcode.

Additional resources for the class are posted on our website
under the "Confronting Racism Resources" section
at the bottom of the front page.

This Sunday, February 21, 2021

Dear St. John's Family:

I pray that you are well and finding some glimmers of hope in these difficult days.

Please join us for Bible Study this morning at 9:00 am.  We'll be meeting by Zoom Conference.  To join with any digital device, simply click here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931107725?pwd=RkpYOTJmMHVSMUd1SGJ4U2EyMEdpZz09.

  If you would rather just call in by phone, dial (253) 215-8782 and enter 931 107 725 when prompted for a meeting ID. 701133.

The materials for Bible Study are attached below this message.

Also, please plan to join us for worship via livestream on Facebook at 10:00 am.  You'll be able to share prayer requests with the community and we will still celebrate Holy Communion.  To celebrate Holy Communion, please have some bread or a cracker and some juice (whatever you have will work and God will be OK with it). To participate, you can view the St. John's UCC page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsuccgr/ or, if you don't have a Facebook account, watch on our website at https://stjohnsuccgr.org/  

We'll gather after worship for a time of fellowship by Zoom conference.  To join with any digital device, simply click here:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/192123229?pwd=Z203SlNXWmRmdnFFWDg4RlltZlVqdz09

 If you would rather just call in by phone, dial (253) 215-8782 and enter 192 123 229 when prompted for a meeting ID.730577

The weekly Journal, a children's bulletin for the week's lectionary readings, and a devotional guide for the week are also attached below this message.  Please share them with your family and friends and know that we are joined together across the distances and difficulties that separate us.

We are able to provide all of these wonderful services because of your continuing generosity and support.  This is a difficult time for many, but if you are able to give to support our ministries, please so do.  You can make a donation or set up regular giving by clicking here:  http://www.stjohnsuccgr.org/give .  You can also simply mail your check to the church at 1934 Bridge ST NW, Grand Rapids, MI  49504.  Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting St. John's.

Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

With love and hope,
Pastor Wes

Youth Bible Study
Order of Service
Weekly Journal
Children's Bulletin
Weekly Devotion
Sunday Bible Study

Lent Devotional

Lenten Family Worship Center Guide

Lenten Action Guide

Join us for our virtual Ash Wednesday Service tonight at 7:00 pm

Please join us tonight at 7 pm for our virtual Ash Wednesday Service.  It will be streaming live via our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

St. John's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsuccgr

St. John's YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYMCDJfYlVyfKOUdH9raxw

To prepare for the service, please have some ashes, soil, or water available.  For adults, if you would like to make ashes, please take a small piece of paper and write on it the things that you feel separate you from God, from others, and from being your true self as a beloved child of God.  Place that piece of paper in a small metal pot for which you have a tightly fitting lid.  Carry the pot and lid outside to an openly ventilated area and place it on a level surface.  Light the piece of paper on fire and allow it to burn completely.  When it is finished, place the lid on the pot and allow the ashes to cool.  Once they have sufficiently cooled, pour them into a small glass dish or plate for use during the service.  As an alternative, you may use either a small amount of soil from a plant or your yard or simply a small amount of water in a cup.

We will also celebrate Holy Communion, during the service, so please have bread or a cracker and juice or wine prepared.

As we move into the season of Lent, we have provided several resources for your spiritual nourishment. 

Lenten Devotional
https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/2021-Lent-Devotional.pdf

Lenten Action Guide
https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/Lenten-Action-Guide-2021.pdf

Lenten Family Worship Center Guide
https://stjohnsuccgr.org/s/Lenten-Family-Worship-Center-Guide-Combined.pdf

Ash Wednesday Liturgy
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tIkZNxuRzajO_sZRnvg1FqwNOUznDhPB/view?usp=sharing

Due to the Ash Wednesday service, there will be no regular service of evening prayer or fellowship tonight.

Resources for Lent 2021

Dear St. John's Family,

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a somber day of reflection, and the first day of the season of Lent, a time of renewal and growth in our life as Christians.  As we move into this holy season, St. John's is making several resources available to you to help with your spiritual journey through this season.  Thank you to the worship team for producing the Action Guide and to the education team for producing the Family Worship Center Guide.  Click the links below to access these items.

Lenten Devotional

Lenten Action Guide

Lenten Family Worship Center Guide

Please share these resources with friends and family and be sure to join us tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, at 7 pm for our virtual Ash Wednesday service livestreaming via Facebook and YouTube.  Click either of the links below to access the service.

St. John's Facebook page

St. John's YouTube Channel

May this holy season be a time of deepening faith, growing relationships, and compassionate action.

With love and hope,

Pastor Wes