1/13/09

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

 I did something the other day that perhaps the rest of you Alaskans have done.  I was driving down my street on the way home after an evening meeting.  The sun had gone down hours before.  It was dark.  But with the white snow on the ground and the full moon in the sky I could still see.  I could see the mountains.  I could see the trees.  I could see the houses. I turned off the headlights on my car and drove (No one else was on the road.).  It is quite an experience to drive by moonlight in the deep dark of an Alaskan winter night.

 In this dark time of year many can feel the darkness.  We can become down or discouraged more easily.  Some fall into depression in this time of low light.  But, in this dark time there is a light of joy and hope.

 John 1 tells us about the darkness and about Jesus, 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5)  God tells us that this world is dark because of sin.  But Jesus and His righteousness and love and grace is light.  The love and life of Jesus bring light to our dark world.

 Psalm 119 also tells us about light in this dark world.  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)  God gives us His Word as a light to direct us through the sin and darkness of this world.  In the Scriptures God gives direction, He gives forgiveness, He gives light in Jesus.  No wonder Jesus is called “The Word of God” and “The Light of the World.”

 If you are struggling as you experience the darkness of January, let me point you to the Light. 

• Studying God’s Word can give you assurance of God’s love for you in Jesus, and direction for your life in this dark world.  (The Bible we are using to read as a congregation in two years is called the “Today’s Light Bible.”) 
• Worship and Bible study are opportunities to use God’s Word and point to Jesus.  In worship and Bible study we receive and share the light of God’s love and the light of Jesus in the midst of this world’s sin and darkness as we 
• Spending time in fellowship with other Christians can help spread the Light of God in our lives and others’. 
• Receiving God’s love in concrete form through the Lord’s Supper can bring the light of God’s love and forgiveness to lives that know the darkness of sin and guilt.

 It can be exhilarating to drive down a dark road under the moonlight of an Alaskan night.  There is strength and peace and joy in the darkness of this world when we seek the light of our Lord and His Word. 

 In other words, a good way to fight the winter blues is to be involved in experiencing and sharing the Light of the World. 

Walking in the Light of God’s Son,

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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THANK YOU EVERYONE.  In worship on Sunday we thanked 25 people who had finished 3 or 6 years of serving as an officer or a board member.  Those people are listed below. 

            However, many people who are not on boards or serve as officers also serve the Lord by doing volunteer work at the church.  Some of those groups include:

·        The altar Guild

·        The Ushers

·        The acolytes

·        The Quilters

·        The Senior Choir

·        The Junior Choir

·        The Joyful Noise singers

·        The Promise Keepers

·        The Stephen Ministers . . .  (and on and on and on)

THANK YOU to all who serve the Lord at St. John.  And, thank you to the people listed below who finished 1 or two terms as a board member or officer.

                Adult Education                   Josh Rockey, April Miranda

                Education                              Kim Kirby

                Elders                                     John Glaser, Kent Johnson, Wayne Woods

                Evangelism                            Joe Ahrens, Paula Dobbs

                Family and Children             Michelle Richards, Temple Christiansen

                Fellowship                             Julie Ogden, Shelia Olson

                Financial Secretary              Julie Foster

                Human Needs                       Donna Hermon, Phyllis Craig

                Stewardship                          Mary Olson

                Trustees                                                Norm Dietz, Jerry Christiansen, Frank Finn,

                Vice President                       Karl Kopperud

                Worship                                                Sharon Allen, Jodie Anderson, Rhoda Zanella

                Youth                                     Diedre Berberich, Kathy Rockey

 JUDY STAHANCYK IS LOOKING FOR HELP TO FILL IN WHILE SHE IS ON VACATION THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY.  Actually, she let me know she may have found someone to fill in.  However, there is still help needed on February 13.  In addition, Judy can always use more volunteers for putting bulletins or newsletters together, or filing, or doing other chores in the office.  Call Judy and offer to help if you have time. 

NEW MEMBER CLASS – If you have been attending St. John and wish to join there are many ways to accomplish joining this Christian congregation.  One of the best ways is to attend a membership class. 

Pastor Rockey will be teaching “An Overview of Biblical Teaching.”  Even if you have been a Lutheran before, attending this class can be a good refresher!  This class will meet in the Fellowship Hall outside the kitchen.

Class has just begun, so there is still plenty of time to begin attending. 

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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 

• All these “Thoughts from the Pastor” are found on our web page.
• Past Sermons are found on our web page.
• The new Video Projection system will be installed soon, and part of that system will allow us to record services.  We hope to have files of sermons in audio available on the web page as well.