Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

I am excited about a new opportunity at St. John to share Jesus with our youngest children.  This Sunday, October 19, we are beginning the “Wooly Lambs” Sunday School class for children aged 18 months to 3 years!  Traditionally Sunday School has been for children aged 3 and up.  But St. John member Carol Gustafson has experienced such a class for her grandchildren and has offered to teach this class.  Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. with Opening Worship in the Sanctuary.  At least one parent is asked to sit with their child in this class.   I am excited about this opportunity for the youngest members of St. John to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ (2 Peter 3:18)  After all, next September my own grandson will be old enough to attend this class!  If you have a child in this age range, I hope you will bring them to this class this week and in the future!

 

But parents and grandparents are not the only ones who are concerned about the faith and upbringing of children.  In my class on the Gospel of Matthew at the seminary in the winter of 2005 I was surprised when I was told that while the Jewish society of Jesus’ time cherished children, nevertheless children were considered unimportant.  The old saying, “Children are to be seen and not heard” seems to have applied to that society.

 

However, please look with me at just some of the verses in Scripture that share God’s concern about the Spiritual nurture and education of our children.

 

• Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

 

• Mark 10:14 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Jesus)

 

• Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones [infants]. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. (Jesus)

 

• John 21:15 b “. . . Feed my lambs." (Jesus)

 

• Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

The bottom line is that, according to these verses, our loving Lord continues to show special concern for the welfare of our children today, especially their spiritual welfare.  The job that God gives parents is to teach their children about Jesus.

 

And this Sunday a new opportunity to share Jesus with our youngest children begins at St. John.  I hope to see you there!

 

A Fellow Child of God,

Pastor Jonathan

 

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.

++++++++

 

THANKS TO THE LADIES OF ST. JOHN AND THE LWML.  A total of 131 quilts and 29 health kits are being sent to Lutheran World Relief to share the love of Jesus with people in times of trial.   Thank you again, Ladies, for your faithful and loving service of our lord and His children!

 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE DONATED TO THE VIDEO PROJECTOR.  At the current time we have reached our goal of $20,000.00 for the installation of this projector.  A team of members will be meeting with the contractor on Thursday, October 23, to discuss the installation so that this tool is best able to serve the work of our Lord and His people at St. John.

 

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS

Ø      Darien Stengrim, 11 year old son of Jon and Kim Stengrim, grandson of Bev Stengrim.  Darien has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is undergoing tests.

 

Ø      Dave Miranda, in Seattle again for continued cancer treatment.

 

Ø      Joel Stefanski, who continues his recovery from a fall on August 2 that shattered his hip and damaged his circulation in his pelvic area.

 

Ø      Phyllis Williams, in Mat Su Regional Health Center recovering from surgery for a bleeding ulcer.

 

Ø      Alice Tobin, in the hospital and still being diagnosed.

 

Ø      Cathy Smith, who had another seizure and dislocated her hip again last Friday.

 

Ø      Our country, as we approach an election day in which leaders will be chosen.  Please pray that God guides the election, and gives wisdom and a sense of justice and righteousness to our leaders, AND TO OUR PEOPLE!

 

+++++++++

 

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!