9/20/10

Dear Fellow Children of God,

If you read the news carefully today, you might have seen the story about the 3 year old in Raleigh, NC, who was left unattended in a car with the vehicle still running.  After the mom left the child alone the 3 year old put the car in reverse and the car crashed into another vehicle.  (  http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/6002191/ )  Thankfully there were no injuries.  Ignoring the actions of the mother for a moment, you and I both know that children are not allowed to drive.  It takes maturity, training, and skill in order to drive safely.  A person must pass a test to show they have grown in ability to drive safely before receiving the privilege.

God has called us to His love in Jesus, and God has also given us the task of sharing that love with others.  Our lives are to give glory to God.  But, God doesn’t send us out without help.  He strengthens us in numerous ways to help us glorify or praise Him with our lives.  In 2 Peter 3:18 we are told, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  Before we are sent out to glorify God with our lives, He calls us to grow in grace and knowledge so that we are equipped to share His love.

So, before you share God’s love, where do you go for strengthening?  Peter also writes in 1 Peter 1:23,  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  God uses His Word to create and strengthen faith in His children.  That is the reason Jesus himself established the Church.  (Matthew 16:19)  In the Church God works by His Spirit, through the Word and through the Sacraments, to strengthen people so that they are not like a 3 year old operating a dangerous vehicle, but have grown in knowledge and grace so that they have God’s presence and guidance in this important task.

The process of discipleship is actually quite simple, even looking at these two verses from Peter.

• God calls us to a new life of faith in His love
• God strengthens us so that we grow in grace and knowledge.
• Having been strengthened by God we share His love with others.

So, how are you growing in grace and knowledge for this important task of discipleship?  Sunday School and Sunday Adult Bible Classes start for this school you this Sunday, September 12 at 9:45 a.m.  Along with God’s blessings in worship and the encouragement of other Christians, Bible Class and Sunday School are tools that God uses to strengthen and equip us by His Word for the important task of sharing the good news of His love with others.  

Living as a child of God is not easy.  When it comes to telling others about Jesus, you wouldn’t want to be like a 3 year old behind the wheel of a car, would you?

A Child of God, Seeking to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus,
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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SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS BETWEEN WORSHIP SERVICES THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Plan now to bring your children and grand children, . . .and to attend an adult class yourself.  There are classes for everyone from the age of 18 months and older!
We have teachers.  However, we can still use guides to escort groups of children to their station for the day.  Please call Jamie Walters at church at 745-3338 and let her know if you would can help.

SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASSES ALSO BEGIN THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12.

• Mary Jo Lentz will be teaching a class on  "The Power of One Christ-Like Life" by Francis Frangipane.  This class meets in the cry room and addresses apathy, anger, judgment and resignation toward sin, and answers the question 'What difference can one person make?'.  The study includes twelve brief biographies of outstanding Christians who provide real-life examples of the ability of a godly intercessor to impact the world for Christ.

 

• Randy Luffberry will teach a class on Old Testament Prophets.

• Kathy Rockey will teach, “Bible Stories For Adults,” a class that gives adults an opportunity to look again at the Bible stories that are taught to our children.  This class will include the old Sunday School pictures and flannel-graph.  Sounds like fun!

 

NEW MEMBERS will be received in worship this Sunday.  Praise the Lord!

PRAYER REQUESTS?  – Every year while moose hunting I take my copy of the church directory and pray for all our church members and friends.  I will leave for hunting this year on Monday, September 13.
     Is there anything about which you would like me to pray for you?  If so, please let me know.  A couple of people have already shared prayer requests with me.  I’d be glad to include your specific request in my prayers while hunting.

STEPHEN MINISTRY CLASS – Would you like to serve as a Stephen Minister at St. John?
 A Stephen Minister is a trained servant of God working to bring ‘uniquely Christian care’ to people in need.  A Stephen Minister is not a pastor or counselor.  They are a Christian friend, trained to listen, to bring the Lord and His love and resources to a person in need.  A Stephen Minister is trained to trust God’s love through a difficult time, not to fix the problem. 
A new class will begin on Thursday evening, October 7.  This class will provide 50 hours of training from October to February.  There will be a charge of $49.95 for the packet of the official Stephen Ministry training materials.  Commissioned Stephen Ministers are required to commit to serving at least 2 years in this ministry. 
Many who have served as Stephen Ministers have told me time and again that while God used them to help others, they felt they were blessed even more than those they helped.  I urge you to consider serving in this ministry.

DIVORCE CARE is a class and support opportunity that uses materials from many Christian experts in the field of rebuilding one’s life after divorce.  Bev DuBos will be leading this video based small group at St. John beginning in September.  If you are interested please call Bev and let her know at 745-0514, or call the church at 745-3338.

THE PROPHET is a presentation by dramatic monologue of verses from Old Testament prophets in the Bible by Shakespearian actor, Brad Sherrill of Atlanta, GA.  The Prophet will have 4 shows in Anchorage, one in Soldotna, one in Wasilla, and one in Palmer at St. John on Saturday evening, October 30.  Plan now to attend this 90 minute presentation that looks at judgment and hope as God speaks. 
            The Alaska Christian Conference is bringing Mr. Sherrill to Alaska.  He previously presented The Gospel of John in dramatic form.  Tickets will cost $15.00 and be on sale.  Any proceeds exceeding cost will help the local Food Banks.

CONGREGATIONAL DIRECTORIES HAVE BEEN PRINTED UP AND ARE AVAILABLE ON THE counter in the narthex!  Please take one, and sign your name that you picked one up.

FINANCIAL NEEDS UPDATE – I have shared with you in previous e-mails that giving for 2010 was about 12.6% behind 2009 giving through April.  The economy is down.  Some of our members have lost their jobs, and some have moved away.
            Thank you.  Many have responded.  We are still behind giving for last year.  In June we were behind 5.6% instead of 12.6%.  As of the end of July we are behind 4.4%
Please continue to be faithful to our Lord as He is faithful to you.