LENTEN JOURNEY TO THE EASTER VIGIL
St. John’s will host the Lenten service of the Dutch Fork Community Lutheran Churches on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The theme this year is a Lenten Journey to the Easter Vigil. A meal will be provided by Dupre Catering and Events at 6:00 P.M. with worship at 7:00 P.M. Pastor Tom Cassem will preach.

Please note a change to last week’s announcements:
Donations of desserts are not needed, but we need volunteers to serve the meal and to greet our guests from the other Dutch Fork churches.

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
If you have not already done so, please submit your articles for the April 2026 newsletter today to newsletter@stjohnsirmo.org.
 
EASTER LILIES
If you would like to bring Easter lilies for Easter Sunday, which is on April 5, please have them in the fellowship hall by Friday, April 3. All dedications must be in the office no later than Thursday, April 2 at 10:00 A.M. Please email your dedications or submit them in writing to the office. Written dedications may also be placed in the offering plate.

HYGIENE KITS
Council has decided to repeat our project of creating hygiene kits for the needy. Each of the 50 kits will include the following components, and we still need the following number of each item.
• Bar of Soap (Regular) – 41
• Washcloth – 15
• Toothbrush – 0
• Toothpaste – 31
• Toothbrush Holder/Brush Cap – 6
• Lip Balm – 20
• Tube Socks – 0
• Lotion (Tube or Bottle) – 49
• Bottle of Water – 50
• Small Pack of Tissues – 41
• Small Fleece Blanket – 0

We are requesting donations of these items from the congregation throughout Lent. Please leave all donations on the stage in the Fellowship Hall. Financial donations may be made by placing a check or cash (in an envelope) in the offering plate, with the designation “hygiene kits.” We have received $100 in cash donations.

Contact Pastor Michele or Jan Samson with any questions. 

CREATED TO CREATE: THE 2026 SYNOD ASSEMBLY
Registration is now open for the SC Synod Assembly, which will be held on June 11-13, 2026, at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center in West Columbia, SC. Fellowship events will be hosted at the Marriott Columbia. Early bird registration is open until April 2, 2026, and the cost per person is $175. Standard registration begins on April 3, 2026, and the cost per person increases to $225. Registration closes on May 1, 2026.

St. John’s is entitled to two at-large lay voting members. In addition, a person under age 30 and/or a person of color may also represent St. John’s. The cost of registration fees is included in the approved 2026 budget.

If you are interested in representing St. John’s and helping to elect a new bishop for the SC Synod, please let Pastor Michele or a Council member know. You may also email the office. Please let us know before April 2, 2026, so that we may take advantage of the early bird pricing.

The Assembly offering has been designated to the Bishop Ginny Aebischer Fund, a new fund established by the SC Synod. This fund honors Bishop Ginny’s lifelong connection to youth and family ministries and her 37 years of ministry as an ordained pastor and servant leader in the South Carolina Synod, including 18 years in Synodical Service as Bishop and Assistant to the Bishop. 
 
SHARING GOD’S LOVE
Last Sunday we collected $87.70 in noisy offering. This was combined with the $198.49 collected last month for the Souper Bowl of Caring, and we also added Thrivent Choice grant funds to round up our donation to $300.00. Council designated Sharing God’s Love, a ministry serving the Irmo, Ballentine, and St. Andrews areas since 1984, as the recipient of these funds.

On April 28, 2026, from 8:00 A.M. to noon, Sharing God’s Love is having their Annual Spring Yard Sale in their parking lot at 147 Friarsgate Blvd., Irmo, SC 29063. They are accepting donations of all these items: books, craft supplies, DVDs, electronics, board games, puzzles, sport equipment, toys, home décor, household items, glassware, dishes, frames, jewelry, pictures, purses, and more.

Did you know that you may take your used grocery bags (flattened please) to Sharing God’s Love?

Household Items Needed
New Adult Underwear and Socks
Queen and King Bed Linens
Comforters, Blankets – all sizes
Wash Cloths, Towels
Winter Coats, all sizes
Household Items:
pots, pans, plates, glasses, cookware, bakeware, kitchen linens, small appliances

A list of pantry items needed is available on their website at https://SharingGodsLove.net.

Donation hours are Monday – Saturday from 9:00 A.M. to noon.