4/7/09
Dear St. John Members and Friends,
I continue to rejoice in the good news of our Lord to Kristin Kopperud who received a heart transplant last Saturday after waiting for 3 ½ years. Since Saturday every meeting or Bible class I have attended, most phone calls and conversations have included mutual rejoicing over this goodness of God. In fact, if you go to Kristin’s “Caring Bridge” page and read her guest book you will read of “tears of joy” from Alaska to Iowa, from Washington to Nebraska, from Missouri to Hawaii, from New Jersey to Minnesota. What a blessing it is for Kristin to receive this promise of new life. What a blessing Kristin has been to all of us who can join in rejoicing in the love of God and the hope and new lease on life Kristin has received. (The “Guest Book” Link is below.)
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/specialhumanbeing/guestbook
It may seem impossible, but this week we celebrate an even greater gift of new life. This Holy week we remember Jesus’ Last Supper. We remember His betrayal and trial. We remember in repentance the death of the very Son of God our sins caused. But after remembering Jesus’ suffering and death for our sin, we get to celebrate the total victory of God over our sin, the total victory of God over death, and the victory of Jesus over Satan and the forces of evil. Life can do its worst. Christ has RISEN!
I pray the power and love and victory of Jesus’ resurrection gives you the joy and hope of new life in Jesus. I pray that you not only receive this new life in heaven, but also that you live in the joy and power of this new life in your life in this world.
Living in Jesus’ victory over my sin and trouble,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. If you are in Palmer, please join us for Easter morning worship at 7:00, 9:00, or 11:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast is served from 8-10:00 a.m.
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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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PASSOVER MEAL There is still time to sign up to attend the Passover Meal of lamb and traditional foods at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. Please call the church office at 745-3338 and tell Administrative Assistant Judy Stahancyk you’ll be attending, or leave a message on the answering machine.
GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP will be led by the high school youth of St. John again this Friday at 7:30 p.m. Your Holy Week worship experience and your faith in God’s love for you will be blessed by attending.
THE EASTER FESTIVAL is held this Saturday for all families and children at St. John from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This festival will include games, a Taco lunch, and an Easter Egg Hunt. Please note the time. This event is held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., (NOT 10:00 to noon.)
IF YOU WISH TO DONATE EASTER LILIES for our Easter Worship, please bring them to the church this week of April 5, for Easter morning, April 12. The lilies will be kept in a dark room until Easter Morning. These lilies really help to beautify Easter Worship! Please place your name on the bottom of the lily.
CHOIR CONCERT – The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod operates 10 colleges around the United States. The closest campus to Palmer is Concordia University in Portland, OR.
Christi Crux, the traveling choir will present a concert of sacred music at St. John on Saturday evening, May 9. This choir will then sing in our worship service on Mother’s Day, May 10. Plan now to attend. (We will be looking for housing for 10 groups from this choir. A sign up sheet is on the table in the narthex.)
“THE PRESENT FUTURE – SIX TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR THE CHURCH” by Reggie McNeal is the Bible Class now being taught by Pastor Rockey on Sunday mornings in the area outside the kitchen. This video series looks at the change in our society and possible church responses. (NO Bible Class this Sunday because of the Easter Breakfast.) (Our class materials have arrived!)
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THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DONATED NEW BIBLES FOR WORSHIP – We have donations for 155 Bibles. (If someone would like to donate 5 more Bibles, this will allow us to order 10 “cases.”)(Shipping will be about $180.00)
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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