6/28/08

Dear Fellow Children of God,

As I sit in my office I am looking at pictures from Vacation Bible School held this past week.  What a joy and blessing that was.  It is wonderful to see children delighting in singing praises to God, to see children learning, rejoicing, and singing about God’s love in Jesus as they run around and leave with their parents.  What a joy to see children tell their parents about God’s love.  It was a good week.

I am telling you this not so much because I want to revel in a success, though it is good to rejoice as God works His love in our midst.  But I tell you about VBS more because I want to thank the volunteers and workers behind the scenes.  The Board of Education, Stephanie Hartman, Amanda Leonard, Dave and Marcy Sutton, and especially Kim Kirby, along with DCE Jamie Jennemann did yoeman’s work and put in untold hours preparing and offering the VBS this year.  In addition, we had many volunteers who led children, prepared meals, prepared lessons and crafts and snacks, led music, cleaned and set up.  There was a lot of work involved, as there always is, in preparing for this worthwhile event, and these people deserve our thanks.  THANK YOU VBS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS!

God’s work is always worthwhile for us to spend time and energy doing.  Often there are blessings and benefits we will never know till we get to heaven.  I am sure that is true of our VBS this year.  But, working for the Lord in His church usually takes time and energy in a day when we all seem stretched to the max.  Yet, many people still do give of their time and energy in ways that require a lot. 

Thank you to all of you who help us to do God’s work at St. John.  Thank you again to this year’s VBS staff and volunteers!  May you know the joy and blessings of your labor!  (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Another servant of the Great Servant,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  VBS Children will sing in late worship tomorrow.  I hope you enjoy it.

P.P.S.  I will send some VBS pictures in a couple of subsequent e-mail messages.

++++++++

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.

+++

K-SCOPE  - Kaleidoscope is a high school youth camp that our LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) congregations have offered every 3 years for about 30 years.  This is a week of intense growth in faith and Christian relationships that involves some leadership training.  Those who have attended K-Scope and the National Youth Gathering say that the Gathering is great, but K-Scope is even more life changing.  I am still receiving e-mail messages from the youth who attended K-Scope in 2005.

K-Scope will be offered for Alaskan High School youth next month, July 20-25.  If you know of a high school student going into 10^th grade or older who you think should be going to K-Scope, encourage them to attend.  I will include a registration form on this e-mail message.  Or, please tell me and I will talk to them.  Cost is $250.00 a student, but there is financial help available.

CAMP COOK STILL NEEDED!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are looking for someone who could cook for Kaleidoscope camp.  We expect about 40 adults and participant, and camp is held from 3:00 p.m. on Sunday July 20 to Friday noon, July 25.  Cooking would mean preparing breakfast, lunch, and supper for participants.  K-Scope will be held at Meier Lake Camp.  The person who has cooked for the last 4 K-Scopes cannot get off work to cook.

            If you can volunteer in this way, please tell Jamie or Pastor Rockey.

PRAYERS  - Please keep the following people in your prayers.

• Dave Miranda is now in Seattle preparing for treatment on his kidney cancer that spread to his liver.  Dave and family were all in worship on Sunday, and were able to commune together before Dave and Lynn’s departure last Sunday night.  Please keep Dave and the doctors and the family in prayer for successful treatment and for God’s grace
• Paul Ziegler – Paul continues to undergo treatment for lung cancer, and has started his second round of chemo-therapy this last week.  Paul’s wife, Cindy, and son, Chris, were among the helpers at VBS this week.  Please keep Paul and his family and doctors in prayer.
• Pat Mills – Pat is Mary Colberg’s mom, and has severe cancer and is undergoing treatment.  Please keep Pat and family in prayer.
• Kristin Kopperud – Kristin continues waiting in St. Louis for a heart transplant.  PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE HER  a heart, soon!
• Katlyn Griese and David Heck were married on Saturday at St. John.  We thank God for their faith and love and pray His continued blessings.
• Mervyn Jones was a long time worshipper at St. John.  The round gray table in the cry room was donated by Mervyn when he closed up the shoe shop he ran in the Cottonwood Creek Mall.  Mervyn passed away on Thursday morning from kidney failure.  Please keep Mervyn’s family in prayer.

KRISTIN KOPPERUD wrote one of the most moving messages on Thursday, June 26 on her Caring Bridge web page that updates friends and family on her progress.  She has since written another message today.  I encourage you to click the link below, read what Kristin wrote on Thursday by clicking “read journal” at the bottom of today’s message.  Please send Kristin a message of love and faith!

            http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/specialhumanbeing

ADULT MEMBER CLASS – A new adult member class will be held in my office on Sunday mornings between worship services beginning tomorrow, June 29.  This class that starts at 9:30 a.m. 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, we have requests for a new class.  Feel free to attend and grow with us!