11/25/08

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

Today I got an e-mail from a member living out of town.  This member asked how things were growing at church and I replied.  “There are many blessings, and many challenges.  Praise the Lord for both!”  But, can we and do we actually give thanks for the challenges along with the blessings?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are called to be thankful as God speaks through Paul, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Two and a half weeks ago the doctor told me I was so healthy I was boring.  Last week I did not come to the office because of intestinal illness.  It’s easy to give thanks when your health is good.  (Thank you, Lord!)  What can you give thanks for when you are sick?  Well, a beginning list might be

• Even if I’m sick, I’m still alive.
• I’m thankful for doctors and modern medicine.
• I’m thankful for a wife and family who took care of me.
• I’m thankful for a staff at church that made sure things kept running at church while I was ill.
• I am thankful for the many e-mails wishing me to get better.
• I am thankful . . . you get the picture.  God is so good that we always have reason for thanks.

And, I didn’t even list the spiritual blessings of God’s eternal forgiving love in Jesus which He gives freely through faith. 

Do, you remember the verse repeated over and over again in Psalms?  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, Psalm 136:1 )Yes, God’s love does endure even in the trials of life.  The goodness and love of God is reason for much thanks.

Another Blessed Child of God,

Pastor Jonathan

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.

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THANKSGIVING WORSHIP WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 26 BEGINNING AT 7:30 P.M.   This is a good time to give the Lord thanks, and then spend the holiday with family.  I hope to see you there!!!!  Hopefully, the “Reasons for Thanking God” emphases in worship have helped us remember God’s blessings to us!

A “SUNDAY OF RESPONDING AND COMMITTING IN THANKFULNESS” was held in both worship service on Sunday, November 23.  Having considered the great blessings and gifts of God  in worship the previous weeks in November, St. John members took the opportunity to respond by placing commitments to God’s work for the coming year on the altar.  If you missed the worship service, but would like to fill out a “RESPONSE OF THANKS AND COMMITMENT” form, please e-mail me, and I will e-mail the form to you.

MID WEEK ADVENT WORSHIP SERVICES start on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m.  The following weeks worship is held at 6:30 p.m.  These services are a way to prepare our hearts to receive the first and greatest Christmas gift, God’s Son, our Savior!

MID WEEK ADVENT MEALS are held at 5:30 p.m. before the worship services.  A sign up sheet is in the narthex.  We ask that 3 or 4 families sign up to serve a meal to help in this time of fellowship.  We are in need of people signing up for meals on December 10 and December 17.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website?  The link is:  http://www.st-john-lutheran.org  We hope to have recordings of worship and sermons on our web page soon!