Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 This Sunday we will have another baptism in early worship.  That might not seem noteworthy.  We have quite a few baptisms at St. John.  (Actually, every baptism is a powerful act of God’s love in our midst worth celebrating!) But, this will be the seventh adult baptism at St. John since May.  In fact we have another adult baptism scheduled for December 21, and another on February 8^th.  God has also worked in our midst for 11 child baptisms in that same period.

 We have had adult baptisms before.  Actually the number has been growing.  But I don’t remember this many adult baptisms in one stretch.  This tells us that the world around us is changing, and with that change, the church has to adapt new ways to reach a changing world. 

 But, mainly this says that God is working in our midst by His Word and Spirit to bring people to faith and to the Church.  God’s working of faith is a mystery.  Perhaps you’ve heard me quote John 3:8 before from the story of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus.  Jesus tells Nicodemus, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."  So when God works and someone comes to faith, or is “born of the Spirit,” we can’t always explain it or understand it.  When God works to bring people to faith in Jesus so they may have eternal life, He gets the credit for His mysterious working.  But we can be joyful and thankful for His working in our midst. 

 The last couple of weeks in worship we have had the opportunity to stop in worship and make a list of  “Blessings for which I am Thankful.”  We have remembered “Blessings of People for which I thank God,” “Blessings of Opportunities and Challenges for which I thank God,” and “Material Blessings for which I thank God.”  This week we will stop and list “Spiritual Blessings for which I thank God.”

 The recent baptisms at St. John are one of those items on my list of “Spiritual Blessings for which I thank God.”.  I am thankful that God is working in our midst to bring people to faith and to the church.  In His mysterious ways that we don’t always understand God is reaching out in love to people in Palmer and in our families through us. 

 My prayer is that God continues to use the people and ministry of St. John to work in a changing world to reach people with His love in Jesus.

Another Blessed Child of God,

 Pastor Jonathan

 P.S.  I am writing this from home.  I have been home sick all week with the flu, and then a digestive tract infection.  But I talked to the doctor on Wednesday, he put me on some medicine yesterday, and my symptoms are better today.  He said I should really be feeling better by tomorrow.

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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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A “SUNDAY OF RESPONDING AND COMMITTING IN THANKFULNESS” will be held in both worship service this 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.

 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!

 THE COMMUNITY ADVENT SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT ST. JOHN, December 3, at 7:00 p.m.  A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. before the service.   The service will include much special music and special chancel dramas. 

            All members are asked to bring Christmas goodies for sharing after the worship service.

 FOR YOUR PRAYERS

• Darien Stengrim, the 11 year old grandson of Bev Stengrim, and son of Jon and Kim Stengrim had surgery in Seattle yesterday (November 20) to remove a brain tumor.
• Joel Stefanski had surgery Wednesday to re-connect his ureter, injured in his fall on August 2.  Joel still has reconstructive surgery on his hip, hopefully in the future.
• Peter Isaackson, son of Emily Stevens and grandson of Pete Probasco, who is being deployed to Iraq for the 3^rd time on December 3.
• Eric and Kathryn Hermon (brother and sister graduates of West Point).  Eric is serving in Iraq and Kathryn in Afghanistan.
• For our country and its leaders, that God would guide and give wisdom and justice and faith to new leaders that our country may continue to be a place of freedom and a blessing to others.
• All families, for God’s love and grace in their homes, especially in this holiday season.

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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!