4/29/09

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

Sunday is the day in the Church calendar year called, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” This picture of God as our Shepherd, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of my favorite Scriptural emphases. (If you want to look at just some of the over 50 Biblical passages that talk about God as Shepherd and us as sheep you can look at some of the following
verses: Psalm 23, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:10-16, Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:4-7, John 10:11-18, 27-30, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:20-21, 1 Peter 5:1-4)

In John 10:11, Jesus tells us, “I am THE GOOD SHEPHERD. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In Biblical times shepherds led, fed, protected, and guided their sheep. Jesus does all this for His people. What a comfort to know that God himself shepherds us! But, Jesus is not just our shepherd. Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd who goes the extra step of laying down His life for us.

The fact that Jesus laid down His life down for the sheep leads to the other side of this teaching. If Jesus is the shepherd, we are the sheep.
I have learned over the years that sheep are not necessarily the smartest animal. And Isaiah 53:6 tells us why Jesus needed to lay His life down. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

How often have you (and I) strayed from the Lord and His guidance and His love? I know I need a Shepherd because I need guidance. I need protection. I need nourishment. I need the Good Shepherd because I need my Savior to come and find me when I am the lost sheep. I need the Good Shepherd to forgive me and bring me home in His loving arms.

For people prone to follow our own way and stray from our Lord, the picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, can turn us from our selfish sinful ways. Knowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd can turn us toward following the Shepherd who restores our souls, and leads us in paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake (Psalm 23).

I pray that worship this Sunday blesses you with the peace and joy of knowing Jesus as your Good Shepherd.

Another wandering lamb found by the Good Shepherd,

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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“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. This week May 3, we look at the third new reality, ‘A New Reformation – Releasing God’s People.”


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 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 providing for housing for 17 groups from this choir, a total of
37 people! As of now 14 groups are accounted for. If you can help house a 2-3 people from the choir a sign up sheet is on the table in the
narthex.)