Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

I prayed for you last week. 

You see, a number of years ago I started taking my church directory moose hunting.  While I sit at the ponds and wait for the moose to answer my calls (isn’t that a picture), I have often prayed through the church directory (and prayed through a list of my family members and church concerns).  So last week while I was in moose camp I had an opportunity to pray for each of you by name concerning your life and faith.  It took 3 days during the 3-5 hours in the morning and evening times at the pond to make it through the directory.  But, last week while hunting I prayed for each of you by name.

I don’t tell you this to brag, but God calls us to pray for each other.  God uses the Apostle Paul to call the church to “put on the whole armor of God” as we face the spiritual battles of life.  As part of this armor of God Paul writes in Ephesians 6:18, “. . . keep on praying for all the saints.”

We all need help to live our faith in this sinful world and that is God’s plan for the church.  We are a family of God’s children.  God’s plan for the church is that we help one another live in faith and love, in righteousness and mission.

One of the best ways we can help one another is to commend the members of our Christian family to the loving hands of God in prayer.  (Worship, Bible Class, service and mission opportunities, and fellowship are other ways we support one another as our faith and hope and love are assaulted.)

I know I am not alone in praying for you.  Many of you have told me over the years that you pray for me as your pastor, as a child of God.  (That is what Paul encourages in the next 2 verses of Ephesians 6.  19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. )  Thank you for YOUR prayers!  I need them too.

But, I want you to know that last week I prayed for each of you by name.  I am sure that God is blessing you by His grace in His answers.

A fellow member of the Body of Christ,

Pastor Jonathan

P.S.  I want you to know that the St. John staff also prays for church members by name weekly in our staff devotions and meeting on Tuesday mornings.

P.P.S.  No moose so far.  I plan to go hunting again September 22-27.

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

            a. There is a new class called "Wooly Lambs" for children aged 1 ½ - 3 taught by Carol Gustafson.  (However, this class does not start until October 19.)

b.  Regular classes are held for children from age 3 through High School.

c. Adult Classes this year will start in the following areas

1) A Ladies' Study will meet in the Cry Room.,

2) Dave Nufer will teach a class on Christian relationships,

3) Pastor Rockey will teach a Class on 1 Peter and the "Call to Holiness."

Plan now to attend Sunday School yourself, and with your children and grandchildren!!!  (2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.)

OUR DCE JAMIE JENNEMANN AND PHILIP WALTERS will be married at St. John on Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 p.m.   They have invited the whole church. Check out the following web site for information.  http://philipandjamie.blogspot.com/

PERMANENT FUNDS AND ENERGY CHECKS COME ON FRIDAY.  Wow, $3269.00 a person!

            When she was healthy enough to attend worship June Liebing would stand up every year when permanent funds arrived.  (June moved to the valley in 1932.  She is currently living in the Palmer Pioneer Home.)  June would stand up in worship and say something like, “The Permanent Funds come from the oil in the ground.  That oil is a gift to us from God who is the creator of the world and its oil.  I recommend you donate to the church from the gift he is giving you.”

            My wife Kathy and I, and our family, have tithed off our permanent fund checks for years.  I encourage you to consider how you can use this gift God will give you this week.

AT THE CURRENT TIME, THE NEXT SUNDAY I KNOW I WILL MISS WORSHIP FOR ANY REASON IS FEBRUARY 22 (for the Confirmation Retreat).  I know I have been gone for school and work and 3 weeks of vacation.  However, I expect to be in worship every Sunday in the foreseeable future. 

            (Kathy and I have not vacationed together, partly because of her surgery in April.  I may take a week or two of remaining vacation to vacation with Kathy.)

TRIPS TO GERMANY AND THE HOLY LAND  - After Kathy and Jamie and I traveled to the Holy Land last November, we discussed traveling there again in 2009.  We even met with about 15 people who want to travel with us to the Holy Land in the Fall of 2009, and 15 who wanted to travel to Germany and Luther Land.

            Recent communications with the travel company indicate that costs are rising with gas and travel prices.  Costs may be closer to $4000.00 a person than the $3000.00 originally indicated. 

            Anyway, I will let you know more information soon on our plans.

AS I WRITE THIS I am in Portland, OR, at a District Meeting.  I return Thursday night, September 11.  I will be stopping over in Seattle to visit with Dave Miranda and Joel Stefanski (if he is still in Seattle.)  Please keep these men in your prayers.