Notes from the Organ Bench

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven; a time to…”  While it talks about change, which I no not like, it speaks of hope-a hope for change and the change that hope brings.

Our grandson is now walking.  After 13 months of lying, sitting and then crawling, with that first independent step our world and his has greatly changed.  Though it was easier when he was limited, it is wonderful seeing the excitement on his face as he travels on his own and makes new discoveries.  Change- but not in a bad way.

This newsletter covers February and March, a time when we will see change at St. John’s.  With the “moving on” of our ministers and an interim coming, we begin to prepare for a new minister who will also be “moving on” to St. John’s.  In March we will begin Lent, the “moving on” time ending with Easter.  Change- but not in a bad way either.

When the Pastors’ letter came out, many of the choir children said that they were sad that the pastors were leaving.  One of the children asked, “Since the pastors are leaving, are we still going to have choir?”  Not sure where this was going, I responded, \”Of course.  I’m not leaving.”  Thank goodness her response was, “Good.”  So, the music program will continue through the change.

To everything there is a season.  Maybe these next two months will be a time for you to seek something new.  In March, the Adult Choir will begin working on the year’s Good Friday Cantata.  We will again be presenting We Remember Calvary, a tenebrae service which moves from light to darkness symbolizing Christ’s journey to His crucifixion.  The service includes many familiar hymns. During Lent Adult Choir rehearsals will begin after the Wednesday evening Lenten services, with focus on the cantata beginning at approximately 8:15.

The Children’s, Tween and Handbell Choirs have grown, but new members are always welcome.  Instrumentalists are also welcome.  You may contact me through e-mail at mrequard1@gmail.com, by church phone 410-665-1234 x. 14, at home at 410-838-5256, on in person at church on Sundays.  However you decide to weather the change, remember to keep

Making a Joyful Noise,

Martha Requard

Director of Music

Michelle Evans is the new St. John's Herald newsletter editor. The next edition of The Herald will be the April edition. Please send your newsletter items to Michelle at newsletter@stjohnsparkville.org by March 15. Please include information for April.

Click here to read the latest newsletter!

St. John's Herald - February - March 2014

For a full story about the disaster please see article at Huffington Post. (Picture on left taken from the tweets at this site)

Governor Pat Quinn of has declared seven counties state disaster areas after severe storms generating tornadoes and high winds ripped across Illinois. Hundreds of homes and businesses have been damaged or destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people are without power, and numerous roads throughout  the state have been closed by fallen trees and downed power lines. At least six people are reported dead and dozens more injured

There are different ways to respond. LWR offers the following:

• If you would like to volunteer or offer assistance to survivors, please contact Lutheran Disaster Response at 847/635-4653. Do not show up and volunteer; you will be turned away. 
• If you would like to send items, please refrain as well, you can offer a monetary donation to the survivors through Lutheran Social Services of Illinois or ELCA Disaster Response. 
• Ways to Give 
  

Checks or money orders should be sent to: 
Lutheran Disaster Response Illinois 
LSSI 
1001 E Touhy Ave Suite 50 
Des Plaines, IL 60018 
or 
Lutheran Disaster Response 
39330 Treasury Center 
Chicago, IL 60694-9300 

Write "IL Tornadoes" on your check memo line. 

Please consider donating to those in need in the Philippines. You can donate through Lutheran World Relief. Click here to provide financial support and to see updates to what is happening.

Also, there are links on this site that provide different responses that we can do as a congregation. If your Ministry Team, Sunday School Class, Bible Study Group can provide support by assembling different kits so that LWR will have stock to respond to this and other emerging situations around the world, click on the type of project at the LWR web site, follow the instructions and get started. 

The Labyrinth Ministry Team is pleased to announce a new prayer ministry in conjunction with our labyrinth, A Place Of Grace.  If you would like the Labyrinth Ministry Team Members to pray for you and your needs, all you have to do is write them down. As we receive your requests we will lift them up in prayer. You do not have to provide your name or other personal information if it makes you uncomfortable. Your prayer requests can be specific or general/anonymous; we will simply pray for you and your needs during the coming month.

We would like to thank Lou Scarletti for the beautiful blue Prayer Box he constructed for this new ministry. Feel free to place your prayer requests in the Prayer Box as often as you like.  Thank you!