3/3/2009
Dear St. John Members and Friends,
It was just about a year ago (February 29, 2008) that our first grandson, Jacob Andrew Rockey, was born. What an exciting event and day!
In fact, becoming a grandparent was so exciting that I discovered some new technology, and now have a “Picasa Web Album Page” where I can share photos of Jacob (and other exciting life events). You can go to my web page right now at the link below and look at some of those photos. (They say grandparents are horrible with pictures of their grand babies. I don’t know what they are talking about!)
http://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/JacobAndGrandpa?feat=directlink
All of us actually have even better news: THE GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ! Jesus cared so much for people caught in their sin that He left heaven, lived and suffered for us, died a criminal’s death to pay for our sin, and rose to win us victory in this life and eternally. What a FRIEND we have in Jesus!
So, if we are excited about sharing good news like new grand babies, how do we do in sharing the good news of Jesus? March 29 at St. John is “Friendship Sunday.” We are asking members and friends to bring a friend with them to worship on that day. In worship in the next couple of Sundays you will be given help in thinking about people who may not know Jesus, or may not attend worship. In worship in the next couple of Sundays you will be helped to pray about inviting a friend or family member to St. John. So, you won’t be asked to do this alone, you will be helped and guided in the process.
It is important to let you know that you are also not being asked to be aggressive or rude in inviting a friend to worship. In 1 Peter 3:15 God tells us, “15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. . .”
Who do you know that could use a friend like Jesus? Please begin praying now so that God can use you to gently and respectfully invite a friend to worship on March 29 in order to share your Savior, and your best friend, Jesus.
A child of God, full of hope because of Jesus,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. And the Lord is blessing us with two more expected grand children this year!
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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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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME THIS WEEKEND! Did you know that this Saturday night, Sunday morning, is the beginning of Daylight Savings’ Time this year. With Daylight Savings starting the beginning of March for the first time, many may be caught by surprise.
By the way, worship starts on Sunday morning at 8:15 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. Alaska DAYLIGHT Time.
NEW BIBLES FOR WORSHIP – We will be buying new Bibles for our sanctuary in the coming months.
Our current Bibles are over 15 years old, and the majority show their wear. The St. John Church Council approved the purchase of new Bibles. The Large Print NIV Bible we currently have, which we will be purchasing again, cost $8.72 a piece, or $139.52 a case. Our hope is to buy about 150 new Bibles for the sanctuary, and use many of the sanctuary Bible in Bible Classes.
LENTEN WORSHIP 2009
LENT 2009 –Wednesday, February 25 is Ash Wednesday beginning the Lenten Season for 2009!
Each Wednesday night in Lent we will have a worship service at 6:30 p.m. to remember the suffering and death of Jesus to save us. This year our Lenten worship will gather around the theme, “Modern Day Sins.”
Ash Wednesday Independence, pride
Lent 2 Relative truth
Lent 3 Gossip and Lying
Lent 4 Entertainment and the Pursuit of Pleasure
Lent 5 Substance abuse
Lent 6 Lust and sexual temptation
Please note, worship begins at 6:30 p.m., not 7:00 p.m. each Wednesday night, following our Lenten Meal.
LENTEN FELLOWSHIP MEALS - Each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. a meal is served before worship. Members of St. John are asked to volunteer to serve these meals to make it easier to attend Wednesday night worship. This also gives a wonderful opportunity to spend time with God’s people, and to meet new members. There is no cost. This is not a pot luck meal, so you don’t need to bring anything. Plan on attending!
People have already signed up for the first five meals! At this time we only need a group of families to sign up to serve the last meal on April 1!
SUNDAYS IN LENT - The Gospel lessons assigned for the Lenten season this year focus on Jesus’ call to continue as His child through the suffering in this world. So, in worship during March this year we will focus on this call of Jesus to endure suffering with his help, ending with Friendship Sunday on March 29. Our worship will follow these themes.
March 1 Persevering in Repentance and Faith through Suffering
March 8 Accepting the Reality of Sin and Suffering in this World
March 15 Suffering through Sin in God’s Church
March 22 Believing in God, even when suffering comes from our own sin.
March 29 Serving by Sharing Jesus, the friend who suffers and dies for me.others
I pray that these worship services help you in your trials, so that God may work good for you and through you through life’s suffering.
THE SHANE WOODS MEMORIAL ICE FISHING DAY – Sunday, March 15 the St. John men’s group, Promise Keepers, will sponsor “The Shane Woods Memorial Ice Fishing Day.” This event will be held after worship. The Promise Keepers will provide the ice-fishing gear and the Family and Children’s Board will provide snacks and hot chocolate.
Shane was killed in the Iraq war in August 2006. However, right before Shane left for Iraq he helped the Promise Keepers in a similar ice fishing outing at Finger Lake. Shane helped many children catch their fish that day.
The intent of this event is to provide an opportunity for children to go ice fishing and to remember Shane.
A GATHERING OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAMILY – Wayne Woods’ Elders group will meet at the Rockey’s home in March. Letters will go out and phone calls will be made when the date is determined. Hopefully these gatherings will help us get to know each other as God’s people, and help us to be united in doing the Lord’s work.
Please check the bulletin board in the back of the church to see who your elder is. Also, if you can’t find your name let us know. Sometimes mistakes are made when changing the lists each year. Watch for more information.
PRAYER CHAIN - If you want to receive prayer requests from our prayer chain by e-mail, you can e-mail Jacki Rose at Jacki Rose at jackirose@gci.net.
NEEDED – TV’S, COMPUTERS. Recently all our TV’s and DVD players were being used by Sunday School classes, and one or two more were needed. Also, we have two older computers being used at St. John that could use replacing.
If you are getting a new (flat screen?) TV or computer, and have a used one in good condition, please think about donating a TV or computer to St. John for church use.
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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