8/5/08

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

Sometimes the directions our Lord has for our lives seem overwhelming!  This past Sunday the Fellowship and Evangelism boards and a Thrivent representative discussed Galatians 6:9-10.  This verse says, 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

So, how are you progressing in “doing good to all people?”  That is quite an assignment from our Lord.  And then, He calls us to show extra special goodness to fellow Christians.  If you are like me, I expect that you feel you have quite a way to go on this task we have as Christians.

However, I have an opportunity for you to follow through on this directive from our Lord.  On Saturday, August 23, St. John will offer a “Community Picnic” for the people in Palmer.  When the Fair Parade concludes downtown we will serve free hot dogs, hamburgers, and other goodies  at our church to people in town.  In addition, we have plans for music and square dancing.  All this is intended to make people welcome at St. John, and perhaps even provide some opportunities to share Jesus with someone who might not know Him

As the boards discussed Galatians 6, it was thought that the picnic is not only a way to be friendly to people in our community, but possibly a way that someone might begin the journey to learning about Jesus.  That is the best good we could do.  In addition, we discussed that when God’s people serve, they are the ones who really grow.  This picnic becomes an opportunity to grow in service, in faith, and in love as God uses us.

So, this e-mail ‘Thought from the Pastor’ is a request for help.  In our community picnic last year we served over 400 hamburgers, and more hot dogs.  There are sign up sheets on the table in the narthex.  Please sign up to let us know you can help in one or more of the following ways.

• First, we need people to bring side dishes (salad, beans, chips) and desserts for the picnic.
• We also need people to help set up and take down microphones, stage, tables and chairs.
• Finally, it would be good to have St. John members mingling, dancing, and greeting, in the name of Jesus, those who attend the picnic.

This picnic really is a way that we can reach out even to people we don’t know and begin the task of doing ‘good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

A Fellow Pilgrim following our Lord,

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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IN AUGUST WE ARE MEDITATING IN WORSHIP ON THE TOPICS OF  A SERMON SERIES based on requests from congregational members.  The following topics are being examined based on God’s Word during the month of August.

            August 3           “When God’s Response to Prayer is (heavy) Silence”

            August 10         “Earth Stewardship”    

            August 17         “Similarities between Christian and Native Worship”

            August 24         “The Difference between Worship and Evangelism”

            August 10         “Meditation and Rest with God”

(All these sermons will be posted on our web page:   http://www.st-john-lutheran.org )

K-Scope went Great! A total of 32 young people and 10 counselors attended, 18 of these youth from St. John.  Youth and adults grew in knowledge, in faith, and in love.  Thank you to the dedicated staff (and cooks) who gave a week of their valuable time to lead these children of God.

COLLECTION FOR OUR MILITARY SERVICE PEOPLE IN HARM’S WAY. 

Our box collecting items for our military in harms way is going well.  A box is full in the Narthex to send to those in Iraq and Afghanistan.  However, we are sending this ‘Care Package’ to 3 people, so we want to make sure we have gifts of love for each of these young people.  Please continue to bring in your donations including the following:

            - Chap stick

            - Baby powder

            - Baby Wipes

            - Phone Cards

            - Hard Candy (individually wrapped)

            - Beef Jerky

            - Crystal Light Individual Drink Packets

            - Note cards with envelopes

            - Playing cards

            - Mechanical Pencils

            - hand held video games

            - Cushioned absorbent socks.

A box is in the back of the church to collect these items so we can send them to those serving us.

ADULT MEMBER CLASS – Two new adult information and membership classes are being held at St. John in my office.  One class is being held on Sunday mornings between worship services.  This class that starts at 9:30 a.m. The other class is being held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.  These classes will examine basic teaching of the Christian faith from Scripture as a way for Christians to grow, and for new people to enter God’s family at St. John.  While we are still receiving members from our last class, but we have requests for a new class.  Feel free to attend and grow with us!