3/27/08

Dear Friends and Members of St. John,

I was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, on March 27, 1967.  (Karl Kopperud was confirmed on the same day at St. John.)  I still have many memories of my confirmation.  Some of my memories include that we dressed in robes.  I remember that my grandfather came from Massachusetts to FL to attend my Confirmation.  My class thought it was a mark of honor that we were the first class confirmed in the new church building.  I can still remember some conversations with others being confirmed that day.  I also remember that after Confirmation worship my family had lunch at home joined by my grandfather, our pastor and his wife, and Dr. Ernest G. Schweibert, noted Luther Scholar.  (I visited with my Pastor in January.)

I remember all those details, but one item sticks out in my mind.  My grandfather and I bonded in some special ways in my childhood.  During Confirmation Day I spoke, as did all the other Confirmation Students.  I talked about wanting to live for the Lord, and maybe being a pastor.  What I especially remember, however, was that after the service my grandfather came up to me and with obvious meaning put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘I’m proud of you.  I hope you do a better job of keeping your promises than I did.’

Because my grandfather was so special to me, his comments surprised me, and it still sticks with me.  I knew him as a man who knew His Lord and who lived his faith by example.  But this man I looked up to knew of his struggles.  He wanted me to live my relationship with Jesus in a way that was even more faithful than his walk. 

So, this Sunday 13 young people will be confirmed at St. John.  Do you remember your Confirmation Day?  Or, if you weren’t ‘confirmed,’ do you remember stating publicly that you believe that Jesus is your Savior and you intend to live for Him?  That kind of confession, after all, is what Confirmation Day is about.  How are you doing with your promises?

Guess what, even when we fail, God is faithful.  When we were sinful, Jesus died for our sins.  (Romans 5:8)  God continues to love, continues to forgive, and continues to call us to be His children.  And in Philippians 1:6 God makes this promise about our walk with Him, ‘he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’

 Perhaps this Sunday as you listen to these 13 young people promise to live for Jesus this can be a time of reflection.  You can rejoice in the love of God Who keeps calling us to His love, to His forgiveness, and to the gift of His Spirit working in you!  How have you done with your promises?  Where do you need to grow?  This is an opportunity for you to remember God’s faithfulness, and an opportunity to again commit your life to God in response to His faithfulness and love. 

Your fellow Christian Pilgrim

Pastor Jonathan

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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.  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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CONFIRMATION DAY at St. John this Sunday, March 30.  A Total of 13 young people will be confirmed; Ian Ahrens, Brittney Anderson, Jenna Arlow, Aaron Butcher, Taylor Cottingham, Jessica Dennis, Stewart Forrest, Jared Gilden, Conner Hannam, David Ingalls, Sarah Olson, Kalah Statz, and Chris Ziegler.  They will share their faith in the Lord and their desire to live for him. 

Confirmation ceremonies will take place in late worship.  This is also a time that those of us who are already confirmed can remember our vows to the Lord.

 Last week, Holy Week, was a big week at St. John.  THANKS to all who

• cooked for Passover,
• cooked for Easter Breakfast,
• to all the youth who put on our Good Friday Service,
• to the Senior choir, Junior Choir, Bell Choir, instrumentalists, and soloists who helped make our worship special.
• to those in the office who put together bulletins,
• to all who helped with our worship services.

 He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Hallelujah!

 READER SIGNUP  - Could you read Scriptures in late worship for the fourth or fifth Sundays for late worship?  If you think you can commit to help with Scripture readings in worship, please put you name on the sign up sheet on the back table. 

Pastor Rockey has also written a pamphlet on reading that would help people know what is expected as they read for Sunday worship.

 THANK YOU! - At the February Elders’ meeting the Elders said to me, ‘Pastor, we think you need a month to get your doctoral paper written.  When do you want to take off?’  In all honesty, I have struggled with time to work on my paper, which is actually partially written. 

So, I am taking April to work on my paper.  Pastor Allen, Randy Luffberry, and Dave Nufer will be filling in for worship and other areas.  Judy still knows how and when to get in touch with me, but you should know where I will be.  And, THANK YOU, for this gift!

 SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASSES – New Sunday Adult Bible Classes are being offered in March, April, and May.  Following is a list of classes.

• COMMUTER BIBLE CLASS, taught by April Miranda.  April will have a set of tapes or CD’s people can listen to on the way to work in Anchorage (or elsewhere), and then discuss and study this during Sunday School Hour.
• Ken Davis – Christian Comedian Studies, taught by Pastor Allen.  These will be held Sundays, April 6, 20, and 27.
• Ezra, taught by Randy Luffberry, April and May.
• Jesus the One and Only, a Beth Moore Ladies’ Bible Study held in the Cry Room, and
• Places of the Scripture – taught by Pastor Rockey in March and May, using pictures from His trip to the Holy Land, and stories from the Bible about those places.

 WE ARE HOPING TO PUT OUR SURVEYS ON THE WEB!!

• Our TIME AND TALENTS SURVEY we hope will be posted on the web site this year, as well as inserted in bulletins and newsletters.  These Time and Talent surveys help us do the work God gives our congregation.

• A WORSHIP SURVEY we hope will be posted on the web site.  This survey will help us plan worship and keep it meaningful.

 CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENT

 HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE ST. JOHN WEB PAGE???  Our web page is up and running and is a tool we can use as for ministry.

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, so her time is limited, but she is doing a wonderful job for our congregation..  We are thankful for Jacki’s continuing work on this web page.  Ryan Murphy and Eric Hurst have been resources too.

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.