12/23/08

Dear Fellow Beloved Children of God,

There is one time each year I enjoy getting in trouble! (Some may question that “one time” claim.) We set aside money during the year to buy Christmas presents, and then we have a budget for how much we can spend when Christmas comes. Most every year I get in trouble because I spend more than budgeted on my wife! I did it again this year . . . and I got in trouble again (sort of). But, I love my wife and I want to know that I love her. This is just one way I can show it.

In our Garrison Keillor Bible Class Sunday we started off as I asked people, “What is the favorite Christmas gift you have given? Can you remember the joy of someone else receiving this token of your love? It is indeed more blessed to give than to receive.

With all this in mind, please consider the love of God that caused Him to gift us with His Son, His ONLY Son, His BELOVED Son. But that is exactly what God did. He gave the most priceless gift ever given to us!
God really loves us.

In the coming year when life is tough, when you are down, when you have failed God or others, remember that God knows your struggles and your failure. Yet, knowing all that God still sent Jesus! He really loves you!

Rejoicing in God’s Gift of Love,
Pastor Jonathan

P.S. I sent a picture link of our Christmas tree cutting expedition last week. Many have asked what the decorated tree looked like. You can click the link below to see some more pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/ChristmasTreeOuting2008?feat=direc
tlink

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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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PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF God’s Son.





SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

* A CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLE-LIGHT CHILDREN’S WORSHIP SERVICE will be
held again at St. John on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. This service will include a telling of the Christmas story, Christmas Carols, and a candle lighting ceremony.

* A Traditional Christmas Carol Candle-light worship will be held
at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. Plan on inviting your friends!

* CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP will be held again this year at St. John
at 11:00 a.m. This worship will include the reading of the traditional Christmas story, devotional readings from a Paul Maier* book on the First Christmas, and a short communion liturgy. As we celebrate the coming of ‘Immanuel - God with us’, we will experience that coming in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Please plan to attend!

* NEW YEAR’S EVE WORSHIP will be held at St. John on Wednesday
night, December 31, at 7:00 p.m. This is a good way to end one year and begin another, with the Lord and His blessings. This also will be a communion service.


PASTOR ROCKEY IS SERVING LUNCH FOR RETURNING COLLEGE STUDENTS (and young
adults) at church on Friday, December 26, at noon!. He will serve home made chicken soup and salad. All college students are encouraged to come and enjoy the food, catch up with friends, and share their faith stories. (Later that night is the yearly game night at the Grieses for this same group. Call Herman, Linda, Katlyn (David), or Lauren at
357-0703 for more information.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO WENT CHRISMAS CAROLING. Sixteen people brought the love of God in Christmas song to six folks who are part of our Christian family. Thank you for sharing God’s love!

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DID YOU KNOW THAT MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website? The link is: http://www.st-john-lutheran.org
<http://www.st-john-lutheran.org/> We hope to have recordings of
worship and sermons on our web page soon!