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6/6/2009

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

It is Thursday afternoon and I am sitting, tired, at my computer in the church basement in Kenai where I have been helping with Vacation Bible School. One of the reasons I’m tired is that teaching VBS can be tiring. But, another reason I am tired today is that Steve Arlow and I were sitting in a boat with a guide on the Kenai River at 5:30 a.m. this morning, waiting for the 6:00 a.m. opening time for fishing!! (I’ll actually get this e-mail sent Saturday).

I am near the end of my time out of town, but I am reflecting on a conversation held on Monday with Dee Arlow. A group of St. John members are helping Star of the North Lutheran conduct Vacation Bible School in Kenai this week. We prepared . . . some. Those helping with VBS met 3 times in Palmer to prepare for our week of service. We filled out forms, assigned duties, received materials and studied. But I think all of us may have arrived in Kenai wishing we were even a little more prepared for VBS. I was a little nervous as Monday morning came around.
Was I ready? Were we ready? How would VBS go for the children of Kenai and the members of Star of the North?

At the end of Monday VBS, our first day of serving here, we were genuinely pleased that classes and music and all of VBS had gone so well. And each day since that time has included blessing from our Lord which we have noticed. Dee Arlow and I were talking Monday evening about how well VBS had gone and I reflected that, “We all were working toward the same goal of serving children in the name of Jesus. Each of us has (unique) talents and gifts that we used as a team to accomplish this goal. When God’s people work together with their various gifts God gives us toward the same goal, this is the way things often work out.”
Of course, we also had great partnership from our Kenai members. And most importantly, in the midst of any questions we might have had about ourselves or our preparation, God himself was working in our midst.

Have you ever worked on a team when a project comes together? There is a real joy and satisfaction in the sense of accomplishment of doing a job for the Lord with His people. It’s great when God’s people can use their talents to work together. 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27 says, 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. . . 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. It is truly amazing to be part of the Church, the Body of Christ and to see God Himself working in our midst. Of course we are told in 1 Corinithians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. So special thanks to those who used their gifts as a team to serve God, and the children of Kenai. Our Kenai VBS team included Brittany, Dee, Jenna and Steve Arlow, Sara Guhl, Jake, Jamie, and Kyler Moser, Carlee, Dave, and Marilee Nufer, and Jonathan and Kathy Rockey. Thanks also to the people of Star of the North, and VBS Leaders Shannon Elsey, and DeeAnn and Stan Steffenson.

A Child of God grateful to work with other children of our Lord,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S. St. John VBS is being held July 19-23 at St. John. We need volunteers who can let God work in their midst as we work as a team toward the goal of sharing Jesus with the children of Palmer!!

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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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COMMUNITY PICNIC!!!!!!!

For the last 3 years St. John has held a picnic and INVITED THE COMMUNITY. This year our picnic will be an “Ice Cream Social” rather than a feast of hamburgers and hot dogs. This will be held after the Colony Days Parade on June 13. (The final details of this change are being worked out by our Evangelism and Fellowship Boards. Please watch
in worship and other communications for news on this picnic.)

There are still some items where we need help.

· We are marching in the parade. We need

o CHILDREN ON BIKES.

o ADULTS WHO CAN WALK WITH THE CHILDREN. (Adults will hand out
invitations to the Ice Cream Social).

o WE HAVE OVER 50 St. John T-Shirts and Sweat shirts left.
Everyone marching in the parade will receive one free (until they are gone)!

Also, THANKS TO THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS who is providing a grant so they can join us at our picnic!!!!!!

A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS – “Nooma”

This Sunday we begin a series of video Bible studies that look at the Christian life. These “Nooma” Bible Classes examine everyday events in our lives as an opportunity to see how God is working in our lives, or how we could be living for God. The first such class will be held in the South Fellowship Hall outside the kitchen beginning this Sunday at 9:45 a.m. The topic for Sunday, June 7 is “RAIN.”

NEW BASIC CHRISTIANS TEACHINGS / ADULT MEMBERSHIP CLASSES.

I have been asked about new Basic Christian Teachings Bible Classes which people can attend if they wish to join our congregation.
We have sometimes held these classes for an hour at a time on Sundays, and sometimes held these classes on a Saturday or Sunday, and gone through all the material, somewhat less in depth, in a 6 hour period.

At the present time I am considering holding such a class on either Saturday, June 27, or Sunday afternoon June 28. If you are interested in attending such a class, and have a preference about date and time, please let me know.

In addition, we may start such a class on Sundays beginning in July.
Please keep watch for more information.