Dear St. John Members and Friends,

Today I saw the power of Jesus’ Easter resurrection!

Paul Ziegler’s funeral was held at St. John today.  You know that Paul and his family are active members at St. John.  It was only last summer that Paul received a diagnosis of lung cancer, but in the midst of that bad news Paul knew the good news.  He knew that Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Savior, died for our sins and rose again.  Paul knew Jesus is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house.  Paul knew we are saved by God’s loving grace in Jesus.

Because Paul knew of Jesus’ Easter victory he faced death with faith, and courage, and love.  He continued to spend time with family.  He worshiped when he could.  He continued to plow our parking lot at church into January.  Paul’s faith in Jesus and love for his family shone even more brightly, perhaps because we all knew of His illness.  But, even though Paul was facing death, his faith and love shouted out Jesus’ Easter victory for Paul, and for all of us.

Last Wednesday morning God called Paul home as his wife, Cindy, was reading John 14:6 to him.  "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

“Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!”  And Jesus’ victory is ours through faith and God’s grace.

Living in Easter victory,

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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CHOIR CONCERT – WE NEED HOMES FOR THE CHRISTI CRUX CHOIR to stay!

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 of Concordia University, Portland, will present a concert of sacred music at St. John on Saturday evening, May 9, at 7:00 p.m.  This choir will then sing in our worship service on Mother’s Day, May 10.  Plan now to attend. 

(We are looking for housing for 17 groups from this choir, a total of 37 people!  A sign up sheet is on the table in the narthex.)