9/1/2008

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

In the August 24 sermon from our sermon series in August we discussed worship and looked at Psalm 150. Psalm 150 says:

1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

This Psalm describes many different ways and styles for God’s people to praise and worship the Lord. ( I remember Lillian Stamm quoting this Psalm in a Voters’ Meeting in the mid 1990’s when St. John was discussing some new forms of worship.)

Last year St. John conducted some long range strategic planning. Two of our 5 long term goals were about worship! After discussion we agreed in our long range plans that we want to work so that a) worship is passionate, and b) there is variety in our worship. (These goals can be difficult goals when 230 people all have different ideas about worship. Ultimately, however, worship is about really God and His love, even more than our own thoughts and desires.)

In the coming months the Worship Board of St. John will be conducting fund raising to pay for the planned video projector for worship (especially in late worship.) Our goal is to raise a total of $20,000.00 to pay for the equipment and installation. We have decided to have a meal and auction of services (and maybe some goods) after worship on October 5 to help raise these funds. Some people have already indicated the services they might offer.

Help with check book and finances from a book keeper.
A massage from a licensed masseuse
Help with computers from a person whose job is working on computers.
An ice fishing trip in the winter with the Pastor.

I am writing this a month ahead of time so you can plan to help in this effort. First, perhaps you have a service or something you would like to donate. If so, a signup sheet will be on the back table in the narthex where you can sign up to donate your talents and time for this auction. Or, maybe you want to be considering now what might interest you and you want to bid on.

God has loved us in mercy and power through Jesus life, death and resurrection. The purpose of this effort is that we want to be responding to God’s call in Psalm 150:6

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Praising God with His People,

Pastor Jonathan

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P.S. I’m leaving today (September 1) for a week of vacation – Moose Hunting!

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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SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. Opening worship begins at 9:30 a.m. in the church.

There is a new class called “Wooly Lambs” for children aged 1 ½ - 3 taught by Carol Gustafson.
Regular classes are held for children from age 3 through High School.
Adult Classes this year will start in the following areas (a A Ladies’ Study will meet in the Cry Room., b) Dave Nufer will teach a class on Christian relationships, c) Pastor Rockey will teach a Class on 1 Peter and the “Call to Holiness.”

Plan now to attend!!!