Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

It has been quite a week.  Sunday night was a real joy!  Our President, Peter Probasco, counted 54 people at the All-Board Meeting.  There were even a number of others who let us know about schedule conflicts.  At this meeting many plans were made and communicated as we seek to do the work of our Savior, Jesus, here in Palmer.  What a joy to have so many people committed to serving our Lord and doing His work in this place!  As your Pastor I say, ‘THANK YOU!’

Of course, life is not all joy.  On Monday we got notice that Janet Hughes, the sister of members Herman Griese and Marti Parker, had passed away on Monday morning in Texas.  Janet had cancer that had gone into remission and returned.  We had prayed for Janet and her family.  The remission was a wonderful gift of God.  Now she leaves a husband and two teenage children who need God’s comfort.

Then on Tuesday, Cliff Proetz let us know that after continued deterioration in Sandy’s health, and after consultation with physicians, nurses, and family, the decision has been made to discontinue dialysis for Sandy.  Doctors had actually suggested this in December when Sandy was in the hospital.  Dialysis was actually stopped on Monday.  Obviously, this is a time of grieving for everyone who knows this woman of faith.

In the midst of these ups and downs, in our Wednesday Lifelight Bible Study on ‘Law and Gospel we read and discussed the following verse from Galatians 5:6  ‘For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.’

Knowing and trusting God’s love helps us to receive the joys and blessings of life, and helps us to face the trials in life, even death, because of Jesus’ dying and rising.  Knowing God’s love, and sharing this love with others, comforting them, assuring them, helping them, listening to them, even letting them care for us . . . all this helps us to face life as a child of God.  Faith and love!  That’s what really counts (on this Valentine’s Day).

I pray that in this ‘up and down world’ that you have faith that knows and trusts God’s love for you in Jesus.  I pray that in this ‘up and down world’ God’s love moves you and others in reaching out to care for each other.  I pray that faith and love not only help you with your life, but make you a witness to others of the difference God makes in this world, and forever.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Jonathan

• I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends.  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.

• Please keep Herman and Linda Griese and Marti Parker in prayer at the death of Janet Hughes, Herman and Marti’s sister. 

• Please keep Proetz family in prayer in these last days of Sandy’s life.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE ST. JOHN WEB PAGE???  Go to http://www.st-john-lutheran.org/ and see what you think.  If you have suggestions for information or communication that could help our web page, please let the church office, or Jacki Rose – our ‘web master’ - know.  You can e-mail Jacki at jackirose@gci.net.  Jacki is only a volunteer.  We are thankful for her work on this.  Ryan Murphy and Eric Hurst have been  resources too.

MID WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP AND MEALS HAVE HAD GOOD ATTENDANCE!  I heard a report that we had about 70-75 people at the meal last night, and more in worship.  We continue to consider ‘Places of the Passion’ in our worship, using pictures from the Rockey’s trip to the Holy Land last November.  Remember, the meal is at 5:30 p.m., and the service is at 6:30 p.m.  Remaining service themes are:

February 20-Lent 3                  ‘The Garden of Gethsemane – Desperate Prayer’         

February 27-Lent 4                  ‘The High Priest’s House – Voluntary Injustice’

March 5 -Lent 5                       ‘The Hill of Torture and Death’

March 12 –Lent6                     ‘The Tomb of Defeat and Victory’

ALL LENTEN FELLOWSHIP MEALS are signed up for, however, on March 12, the last meal, only Steve and Dee Arlow have volunteered to serve so far.  If you would like to help the Arlows serve, please sign up on the sign up sheet on the table in the narthex.  Thanks to all who have already served, and volunteered.

AN ACOLYTE TRAINING MEETING will be held for all those in Second Grade this year and older THIS Saturday, February 16.  The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m.  After a meeting and class, we will go to McDonalds for lunch.  If you have a child, or grand child who is this age, please encourage them to attend.

NEW HYMNALS  -  St. John voted in its Congregation Meeting on December 2 to purchase the new Lutheran Service Book (LSB) hymnals of our denomination for use at St. John.  We have purchased 250 hymnals at $20.00 each, and they should begin arriving this week.  If you would like to buy hymnals for congregational use you can sign up on the signup sheet in the narthex.  At the current time donations have been committed for 225 of the 250 hymnals we committed to buy. Please place your donation in the offering plate with a note in the memo that the donation is for hymnals.

            Also, if you desire to dedicate the hymnal you donate, please call the church office to let us know how to write the dedication.

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENTS

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL INSTEAD OF IN THE MAIL???  There are many advantages to receiving a newsletter by e-mail.  They include

• Those who receive the newsletter by e-mail will it faster than if they receive it in the mail.
• Receiving the newsletter by e-mail will save money on printing, paper, and postage.
• Receiving the newsletter by e-mail will save volunteer time.

If you would like to receive your newsletter in this way, please e-mail Judy Stahancyk, our administrative assistant and let her know.  Judy’s office e-mail is stjohn@mtaonline.net.  Judy will send you an e-mail with a link to our newsletter on our web page.  You can read the newsletter on line, or you can print it out.