If you have asked yourself this question, you are not alone. Jeremiah lamented when his faithfulness didn’t seem to make any difference (Jeremiah 20). The disciples of Jesus faced persecution for proclaiming the good news (Matthew 10). After the Apostle Paul writes that we are saved by grace, not our good works, he knows the question, ‘why be good’ will follow (Romans 6). So, why be good?...

Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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God loves us so much that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:1-8). God did not wait for us to get our act together, or prove ourselves worthy, or earn his grace. God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, who loves us, and has saved us, and will one day make all things well. Our hope is in Christ, and this hope does not disappoint us.

Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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Growing up in church, I heard many different ways to explain the Trinity - the Trinity is like an egg, an apple, a three-leaf clover. While helpful, these metaphors can’t fully explain the Trinity, because the Trinity is not an intellectual construct, the Trinity is God. The one true God is an eternal, joyous, generous, wondrous, and mysterious relationship of three Persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - who love each other completely and forever, and who generate life, all life, our life, in overflowing love.

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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The Holy Spirit is the breath of life who sustains all human beings and the whole creation (Genesis 2:5). The Holy Spirit is the refining fire who illuminates our lives (John 14:25-27). The Holy Spirit is the mighty wind who empowered the disciples on Pentecost Sunday to proclaim the good news of life in Christ (Acts 2:1-21). May we also be open to the powerful, refining, life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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When Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:1-11): he went to prepare a place for us all in our heavenly home; he entrusted his healing work to his followers - including us; and he promised we would share his good news by the power of the Holy Spirit, “you will be my witnesses.” With your words, and actions, and life, how are you witnessing to our good and gracious Lord Jesus Christ?

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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In his Farewell Discourse (John 14-17), Jesus assures his disciples – then and now – that he will send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who comforts us, gives us peace, guides us in the truth. The Holy Spirit comes alongside us and nudges us toward grace. The Holy Spirit reveals what is real and authentic and good and helps us discern “what Jesus would do?” The Holy gives us life and shows us how to live it. Are you open to the healing work of the Holy Spirit in your life?

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

 • Online stjohnslutheran.church

 • Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

 • Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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In the midst of a debate about his identity and mission, Jesus states, “I am the Good Shepherd,” and “I am the Gate for the Sheep” (John 10:1-16). With these “I am” statements, Jesus helps his listeners understand that he is the Lord our Shepherd (Psalm 23), who leads us in the way of goodness and mercy, who walks with us through the darkest valleys, who gives us abundant life, now and forever.

Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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As the two disciples walking on The Road to Emmaus discovered (Luke 24:13-35), the risen Jesus is really with us on our journey, even when we don’t recognize his presence. In this sermon, I share the ways in which Jesus is present with us here and now, and how Jesus has been practicing “gastrodiplomacy” (a word I learned recently visiting Sunnylands) for over 2,000 years.

Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

• Online stjohnslutheran.church

• Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

• Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

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This week's sermon is brought to us by Pastor Jim Schoenrock. (John 20:19-31)

Each of us has a different-looking architectural design in our heads. So when I see, I may not exactly see what you see. Or even if we see the same thing, we may interpret it differently according to our inner constructs. So, what does this say about seeing? About believing something to be so? Perhaps, instead of saying that seeing is believing, we need to say instead that believing is seeing.

Sermon written by Lori Wagner.

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Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.

Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email [email protected] and request to be added!

If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at [email protected].

We continue to be deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John’s community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.”

Thank you!

Ways you can Give:

 • Online stjohnslutheran.church

 • Text "Give" to 760-330-2326

 • Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211

For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John’s, please email the Church Office at [email protected] or call us at 760-345-2122

CCLI Streaming & Podcast License # CSPL129016