Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

Yesterday Kathy and I kept a tradition.  It was the Monday after Thanksgiving and we made our annual Christmas shopping trip.  We don’t have everything purchased, but we do have most of our shopping done and plans for what needs finishing.

However, we did have a problem.  We tried to buy an ornament that actually spoke of or portrayed the Christmas story at Hallmark.  We could find Star Wars ornaments, Elvis ornaments, Wizard of Oz ornaments, but there were only a couple of ornaments that actually portrayed the story of Jesus’ birth.   We tried to buy toys for our grandchildren that talked about Christmas or Bible Stories.  We had the same experience.  Even though in the past we have found nice Christmas toys at Walmart, even though we asked the employees this year, we could not find any Christian Christmas toys.

The Bible reading for this coming Sunday will call God’s people to “Prepare the Way for the Lord.”  Christmas is about the gift of love we receive in God’s Son.  So, preparing for Christmas during this time of Advent means focusing on Jesus.

In the middle of the hurried pace of life before Christmas, there are such opportunities.  At, St. John some of those include:

• Advent Devotionals prepared by Alaska Church Workers and Lay Ministers, available in the back of the sanctuary.
• The Community Advent service – This Wednesday, December 3, at 7:00 p.m. at St. John with LOTS of special music!  There is a meal at 5:30 p.m.
• Our Mid Week Advent Services, Wednesday, December 10 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. Meals are at 5:30 p.m.  (Please sign up if you can help serve a meal!!!)
• The Children’s Christmas Program, Sunday, December 14 during late service.
• Christmas Caroling to our elderly on Sunday, December 21 at 2:00 p.m.
• Many Christmas concerts including
  • The Mat Su Stringed Orchestra Christmas Concert – at St. John on Friday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m.
  • “The Messiah,” performed with singers from many Palmer Christian Churches including St. John members, held at First Baptist Church on Sunday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m.
  • The Alaska Children’s Choir Christmas Concert. Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John.
  • The Cantora Arctica Women’s Choir Christmas Concert, Sunday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John.

Yes, there are many products and activities that can take our focus away from the coming Savior.  But, if we look, we can find ways to prepare for Jesus’ coming.

Another Child of God preparing for the Coming of 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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WE HAVE 2 BIG EVENTS at St. John this week.

• OUR COMMUNITY ADVENT SERVICE is held at 7:00 p.m. on this Wednesday, December 3.  The Meal is served beginning at 5:30 p.m.  EVERYONE IS ASKED TO BRING CHRISTMAS GOODIES to share after the service!!!

There are 6 choir anthems, special chancel dramas, and specials instruments for this service.  Your preparation for Jesus’ coming will be blessed by attending.

• Our Annual VOTERS’ MEETING is held after late service this Sunday, December 7. 

There is a pot luck before the meeting.  EVERYONE IS ASKED TO BRING A MAIN DISH AND A SIDE DISH. 

The Voters’ Meeting itself will start around 1:00 p.m.  In this meeting we will vote on new officers and board members.  We will vote on a new budget.  We will prepare for the upcoming District Convention.  This is always an important meeting.  All members and friends are asked to attend and participate.

MID WEEK ADVENT WORSHIP SERVICES on Wednesday, December 10 and 17 start at 6:30 p.m.  These services are a way to prepare our hearts to receive the first and greatest Christmas gift, God’s Son, our Savior!

MID WEEK ADVENT MEALS are held at 5:30 p.m. before the worship services.  A sign up sheet is in the narthex.  We ask that 3 or 4 families sign up to serve a meal to help in this time of fellowship.  We are in need of people signing up for meals on December 10 and December 17.

For your Prayers:

• Dave Miranda is in Seattle again for cancer treatment.  Dave learned yesterday that his cancer has grown.  The doctors will be trying new treatment.  Please keep Dave in your prayers.
• Kristin Kopperud will be spending Christmas in St. Louis this holiday season, still waiting for a heart transplant.  Kristin, a 26 year old member of St. John and daughter of Karl and Melanie Kopperud left Palmer on August 12, 2005 for what was to be a 3-6 month wait for a heart.  Please keep Kristin in prayer.  You can see Kristin’s Caring Bridge blog site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/specialhumanbeing.
• Joel Stefanski continues to recover from his fall on August 2, 2008, at the Palmer State Fairgrounds.  Joel recently had surgery for repairing his ureter.  He still has possible surgery for veins in his legs, and possible surgery for rebuilding his hip.  Please keep Joel in prayer.  Joel’s Caring Bridge Web site is http://www.caringbridge.org:80/visit/joelstefanski
• Peter Isaakson is being deployed again today, December 2, to Iraq for his third tour.  He joins members Erik Hermon in Iraq and Erik’s sister, Kathryn Hermon, serving in Afghanistan.  Please keep our service people serving in harms way in your prayers for God’s physical and spiritual protection.
• Member Randall Rittner Dennis reported to Basic Training in the Air Force today.  Randall has asked for our prayers during this time of basic training.
• Please pray for our country during this time of change and economic trouble.

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