11/16/08

 

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

Last night as Kathy and I came home from a night out we looked back at the past week.  We had participated in:

Whew!  Is your life always busy?  Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  Overburdened?  Always tired? 

 

I was reading my daily devotion this week and came across the following verses from Psalm 62.

1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  (Psalm 62:1-2)

 

Rest for our soul and spirit is found in God alone.  According to this verse rest is found in His salvation, in His care and protection!  Rest for the soul is not found in time off, vacations, or recreation that take us away from God.  (This verse is echoed in other Scripture verses such as Psalm 23:3a, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 127:1-2, Matthew 11:28, and Hebrews 4:1-3.) Rest is found in God and His love.

 

So, where are you weary?  How could the assurance of God’s love in Jesus bring you peace and rest?  How could the priorities of God help your hectic schedule?  1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 

 

If you read to the end of Psalm 62 we are told how and why God can give us rest.  11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.  God is strong AND loving.  So in God’s love and strength, weary people find rest for their souls!

 

I’ll see you in worship where God’s love and strength will bring you rest.

 

Another Pilgrim toward God’s eternal rest,

 

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  We are working on nominations for officers and board members at St. John and I have reminded the people on the nominating committee to please be sensitive to the busy lives that people have.  While the Lord has called us in love to faith, and while He gives the Church the work of sharing Jesus with others, we also have to be sensitive to the busy lives that St. John Members and Disciples have.  But, if rest is found in God alone we will also want to do His work.  Please consider how you might serve if you are asked.

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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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THANKS FOR ALL WHO HELPED AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL YOUTH AUCTION.   The youth provided a night of fellowship.  Many items were purchased.  About $3500.00 was raised for youth ministry and trips at St. John.  THANK YOU!

 

NOVEMBER WORSHIP EMPHASES!  During the Sundays in November our Worship will have a focus on “Reasons for Thanking God.”  Each Sunday in worship we will fill out forms that help us remember blessings of God for which we are thankful. 

v     On November 9 we will remember “Opportunities and Challenges for Which to Thank God.” 

v     On November 16 we will remember, “Material Blessings for which to Thank God.” 

v     And, on November 23, we will remember “Spiritual Blessings for which to thank God.” 

Remembering our reasons to thank God will help us to respond to God’s love in worship on November 23.  November 23 is our Stewardship Sunday when we have an opportunity to place on the altar, “My Plans to Respond to God’s Love.”  Remembering our reasons to thank God will also help us to prepare for our Thanksgiving Worship Service on Wednesday evening, November 26, at 7:30 p.m.

 

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP will be held on Wednesday night, November 26, at 7:30 p.m.  The choir will sing.  We will remember this national holiday of thanks by thanking the Lord who blesses us so abundantly.  Hopefully, the “Reasons for Thanking God” emphases in worship will help us remember God’s blessings to us!

            This Thanksgiving Worship Service is a good way to remember God’s goodness and still have a family day of vacation.  I hope to see you there!

 

NOVEMBER SERMON SERIES!  Along with our worship emphasis of Thankfulness, our sermons will be based on Gospel Lessons and focus on “The Urgency of the Last Days.”  The assigned Bible readings for November point to the End Times.  The Coming of the Lord creates an urgency to live our faith so that we are ready for His coming.  Hopefully these sermons will help us to see God’s purpose for our lives, and to live that purpose in joy.

 

A “SUNDAY OF RESPONDING AND COMMITTING IN THANKFULNESS” will be held in both worship service on Sunday, November 23.  Having considered the great blessings and gifts of God  in worship the previous weeks in November, St. John members will have an opportunity to respond by placing commitments to God’s work for the coming year on the altar. 

            The Budget Committee has been working on a budget that will be sent in the mail, and acted upon at our Voters’ Meeting on December 7.  We have good news and challenging news. 

            November 23 is also the last Sunday of the “Church Year,” before we begin a new year with Advent preparation for the coming of Jesus.

            Hopefully this day of “Responding and Committing in Thankfulness” will be a celebration for all God’s people at St. John.  The Stewardship Board will also be providing healthy snacks after each worship service.

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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  We hope to have recordings of worship and sermons on our web page soon!