6/1/08

Dear Friends and Members of St. John,

 

Do you remember the story of Jesus teaching in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry?  The account is found in Luke 4 and I am inserting it below.

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.  15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.  16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.  17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:14-20)

 

This is a sermon of Jesus.  (Jesus’ sermon was pretty short wasn’t it?  Of course, we also have the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5-7.)   Jesus applied God’s Word to the lives of God’s people, and they were blessed by this knowledge and assurance and guidance.

 

I have been telling you for a couple of weeks that I am interested in topics that may interest you about our lives of faith.  I am looking for suggestions for sermon topics.  Of course, we will need to be able to address the topics based on God’s Word, but I am interested in what interests and in what concerns you.  I already have 4 requests.  People have already asked for sermons that address:

• Meditation and times of silence.
• God’s answers or silence to my prayers.
• Comparisons between native religion and Christian teachings.
• Environmental Stewardship.

 

So my question is, What topics would you like us to consider in worship based on God’s Word?  Please reply this e-mail and send me your thoughts and requests.  I pray God will bless us by such study of His Word (though I can’t promise my sermons will be as short as that of Jesus in Luke 4).

 

Your fellow student of God’s Word,

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.  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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ANNOUNCEMENT:   Jamie Jennemann, our DCE, will be supervising a “Summer Children’s Ministry Intern” as a way to do the ministry we plan through our boards.  Applications for this position may be found in the church office, and must be turned in by 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 9.  Please ask Jamie, or a Council member for more information.

 

VACATION TIME -   I leave today, Sunday, June 1, to attend the wedding of my niece and god daughter in FL.  I will return to Alaska on Tuesday afternoon, June 10.  This vacation time will also allow me to spend time with family. 

            During the summer MANY travel.  Please keep travelers in prayers.