THE JOURNEY
There are two types of travelers – those who love road trips and those who just want to get to their destination. Most often, I really just want to get to the place I am going and don’t much want to take a lot time to get there. Others, incorporate the journey into the experience of their trip. The get-away itself is getting away and getting out there. These are the people that vista point turn outs, brown historical marker road signs, roadside diners, and “The World’s Largest (insert object here)” stops have been created for. These are the people who find those great places “off the beaten path” than end up in travel guides and on food travel shows. I long to be a person unencumbered by an itinerary or fear of getting lost. I know that these wanderers are discovering something deeper about themselves and the world around them by allowing themselves this time to explore and simply experience the road. Somehow, my impatience to “get there” always gets in the way. Why is it so hard to simply be on the journey and allow life to unfold before me?
My uncle is a wanderer. He takes trips with printed road maps and loves the challenge of taking roads he hasn’t travelled before. Going places is what he does. But the destination is simply what helps determine what direction he is headed. He goes for the sunsets, the quirky and undiscovered shops, the new terrain, conversations with people who know the place well. He has an unquenchable curiosity and he loves knowing facts and figures most people haven’t heard.
Lent is for this kind of travel. It is a time to be curious about the world around us and discover where God meets us (and others) along the road. It is a time where Jesus is both roadmap showing us various paths from Point A to Point B and gas station attendant pointing out the stops we don’t want to miss along the way. We know the destination is the Cross, but who will we meet along the way and how will our travel log change what we know about ourselves and our God?
Let’s not skip over these interesting miles between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Let’s not spend so much time focused on our own comfort and timelines that we miss out on the new opportunities for love and understanding our God seeks to give us. This Lent, let’s take to the road with eyes and hearts wide-open to the fullness of all our life together has to offer.
In Christ,
Pastor Stephanie
PLEASE JOIN US THROUGHOUT LENT FOR SOUP SUPPERS AND WORSHIP
TUESDAY EVENINGS
6:00 – 6:40 PM Soup Supper
6:45 PM Worship
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 29 Palm Sunday Worship 10:00 AM
No Tuesday Supper or Worship
Thursday, April 2 Maundy Thursday Worship 6:00 PM
Friday, April 3 Good Friday Worship 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunday Worship with Brunch 10:00 AM
DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES
LOVE OUTPOURED: Devotions for Lent 2026. The booklets have recently arrived and will be in the Narthex for you to pick up.
CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The January, February and March 2026 booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at secretary@napavalleylutheran.org or by phone at 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.
COUNCIL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Carol Shirmang
Tom and I moved to Yountville from the Chicago area in the summer of 2001. I taught grades K-1-2 in St. Helena, until retirement in 2013. We joined Emmanuel Church in spring 2002, and made many friends. After the “merger” we continued to be NVLC members.
I joined Council after retirement, and then we returned back to Chicago for 3 years, and came back to Yountville in 2017. I rejoined the council and we started volunteering at the Napa Food Bank. We packed boxes of food twice a month and got to know their staff pretty well (Anthony and James). Then COVID came and volunteering stopped. During this time I delivered NVLC food donations to the Food Bank, and still do.
CANV has a new location and it’s a wonderful place for our Napa families to enjoy our donations. Staff – Anthony and James continue to work – take and weigh all of NLVC donations I deliver. Thanks to all of our members donations!
P.S. Carol delivered 53 pounds of food to the Napa Food bank in February 2026!
COUNCIL UPDATES
The church council met on February12. Pastor Stephanie reported on worship happenings and plans for the season of Lent. She refreshed our memories about discussions at the planning retreat in January. We discussed options for on-line giving and recording of offerings. We approved a bid for re-roofing the sanctuary to be completed before the installation of solar panels. We also discussed the problem of folks “dumping” items on church property, and agreed to post some signs to remind folks not to leave their discarded items for us to deal with. We do need to designate another church member to serve as a voting member for the Synod Assembly this year, as Bill Parks realized that he will be traveling on the date of the business meeting. This will be announced in church, in order that we can identify members who are able to participate in the regional gathering in San Jose on May 30 as well as the June 13 business meeting on Zoom. The minutes of council meetings are posted on the bulletin board in the narthex for more details.
SECOND MILE GIVING FOR MARCH
Each month we designate a ministry partner for our Second Mile Giving emphasis, inviting members to donate as they feel moved to support the work of various synod, Churchwide, and community organizations. This month our Second Mile Giving recipient is COPE FAMILY CENTER. COPE is family resource center. Their mission is to empower parents, nurture children and strengthen communities. COPE provides parents with the education, resources and support they need to raise children who thrive. Melissa Hurtado Torres will join us on Sunday March 1 to share more information about the good work that they do in our community. If you would like to contribute, you can make a donation (checks payable to NVLC) this month – just mark your gift as “2nd Mile Giving” and include it with your offering anytime during March.
ELCA REGION 2 LENTEN CHALLENGE
Join the 2026 ELCA Region 2 Lenten Challenge with the theme “Lord, When Did We See You?” based on Matthew 25:37–40. This six-week Lenten journey invites participants to grow in learning, care, and advocacy for underserved communities through meaningful spiritual practices. Learn more and sign up at lentenchallenge.org.
SAVE THE DATE: LUTHERAN LOBBY DAY
The Lutheran Office of Public Policy has set a date for our annual Lobby Day. Join us Wednesday, May 20th in Sacramento for a day of meeting with our legislators. We meet at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 8:30 am and will wrap up our day at 4:00 pm. Please register at https://lutheranpublicpolicyca.org/lutheran-lobby-day-2026.
Conference 2, Bridges, will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 8th, 2:30 pm at All Saints Novato. This meeting is for both rostered leaders and laity. If you are interested in participating or carpooling, please contact Pastor Stephanie or Leanne Martinsen.
GRATITUDE
Dear Pastor Johnson,
We would like to thank Napa Valley Lutheran Church for your recent donation of gift cards for $830.00 and in-kind donation of hand-knit hats valued at $500.00 to bode in Napa. Your generous gift will fuel our mission to find sustainable solutions to homelessness. Indeed, your support will greatly aid Abode’s commitment to help people in need in the Napa Valley, where we manage 21 programs that provide housing and wraparound services.
Our effort – bolstered by your assistance – continue to yield positive outcomes throughout Napa and the entire Bay Ara. Last year, Abode served 16,758 people in eight Bay Area Counties – including 895 individuals in Napa County. In addition, more than 2,750 individuals last year exited from our Bay Area programs into permanent housing.
We could not have produced those excellent results without supporters like you….Again, thank you for your thoughtfulness in making this gift and helping Abode to ensure that everyone has a home.
Warm regards,
Vivian Wan, MSW, Chief Executive Officer Abode and
Alyssa Wieting CFRE, Vice President, Fundraising and Communications.
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Dear Friends,
We are reaching out with deep gratitude for your recent support of Community Action of Napa Valley. Your donation of $430, received on 1/29/2026, for our Food Bank Program, plays a vital role in our work. Your generosity directly helps individuals, families, children, and seniors across Napa County access nutritious food and essential support services during a time of heightened need.
Since 1965, CANV has worked to increase self-determination and self-sufficiency for low-income residents in our community. Whether through the Napa Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, CANV Kids, or our supportive services programs, your contribution makes it possible to meet people where they are and offer care, dignity and hope…
With gratitude,
Drene Johnson, Executive Director
THE WOMEN OF NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH are invited to meet together each month in Luther Hall. Our next meeting is Wednesday March 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are interested, please notify Pastor Stephanie so she can make sure you are mailed your own copy of Gather, the quarterly magazine published by WELCA. During our meetings we discuss the themes presented in the magazine along with projects we may be interested in supporting or undertaking ourselves. Gather with us for community, prayer, and partnership in the Gospel. Please also let Pastor Stephanie know if you wish to be included but are unable to attend our monthly meetings.
WEDNESDAY BOOK DISCUSSION
We will wrap up our discussion of Elders Rising on March 4th and will take a hiatus until Wednesday, April 15th. Our next book for discussion will be The Virtues of Aging by Jimmy Carter available in multiple formats. You can purchase it wherever you prefer including Napa Bookmine and Barnes and Noble, though it may need to be ordered so give time for shipping.
LUNCH BUNCH will be on Thursday March 26th at 12:45 PM at Angele, 540 Main Street. Call Carol Holmes for reservations.
HELP!
We are looking for a few more members to step up and help with worship. We would like to schedule regular greeters to help welcome members and visitors, in addition to the ushers and assisting ministers that have been so faithful. Please contact Pastor Stephanie or Jill Jameson to let them know if you are interested, and we will be happy to provide you with a bit of training and add you to the schedule.
Thank you to the members of our congregation that have been sending in your contributions to the church office. It is much appreciated. Your financial giving to NVLC is still necessary for us to meet the needs of the congregation. Remember, that although we did not provide boxes of offering envelopes, as in past years, we still have the opportunity to make special offerings for special occasions, any occasion that is special to you!
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