3/4/08

Dear Friends and Members of St. John,

 If you were in worship on Sunday you heard me say ‘I saw God work last Friday night.’  In the sermon I was discussing how we can share Jesus’ love with others.  We can share how He died and rose to win eternal life for us.  I also said we can share how God works His love in our lives today.

 What I saw last Friday was God working ‘today’ in the birth of my first grandson.  Now, I know that millions of babies are born every year.  But this was the first grandbaby for my wife and I, (and our son and daughter-in-law’s first child, obviously.)  There were health concerns for our daughter-in-law, Erin, as the pregnancy neared the end, so, the baby was born by C-Section.  There were also some problems with the birth.  The doctor even came out and asked us to pray.  (Thank you doctor!)  We had prayed together in the room before the delivery, but you never saw so many people get quiet, bow their heads, and go to the Lord.  It wasn’t 5 minutes later we were told by one person, then another, that things were going better, well even.  Some may see that as a coincidence, but I know God acted in love and power, even through the doctor, and through our prayers.

 Yes, there are millions of babies born every year, and God cares for each of His children.  He cares for Jacob Andrew Rockey, and He cares for each of you.  He cares enough that he sent His child, His only Son, to suffer and die to save us.  But, He is also with us to love and care for us every day!

 So, do you see the amazing love of God which is there for you . . . eternally but also today?  Everyday?

 Yours in Christ,

Pastor Rockey

 P.S.  If you want to see some pictures of Jacob Andrew Rockey, and dad Josh and mom Erin, you can go to the following link:      http://picasaweb.google.com/jonrock53/JacobAndrewRockey

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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.

MID WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP AND MEALS CONTINUE.  Last week we looked at  ‘The High Priest’s House – Voluntary Injustice,’  as 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:

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

March 12 –Lent 6                     ‘The Tomb of Defeat and Victory’

I Hope to see many of you at the Lenten Service next Wednesday.

 Also, Let me share that new Sunday Adult Bible Classes should start on Sunday, March 16.  This Sunday I will show an AWESOME DVD called ' How Great Is Our God!"

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR THE PASSOVER!!!  There are two sign up sheets on the back table in the Narthex concerning Passover.

• One signup is for those who plan to attend the meal.  This helps us to plan for the food.
• Another signup is for those who want to help in preparation for the meal.  The preparation is broken down into smaller jobs.  We can still use some more help, especially in set up and take down, and also in making the Charoseth, and the green salad.

READER SIGNUP  Would you be willing to read in worship.  If you think you can commit to the first Sunday, or second Sunday, or third Sunday, or fourth Sunday, or if you can be a fill in reader, please put you name on the sign up sheet on the back table.

NEW HYMNALS HAVE ARRIVED

The worship Board is making plans to start using the New Hymnals the first Sunday in April in early worship.  That will give the hymnals time to arrive, and give us time to start to learn some parts from the services, and hopefully to get name plates printed.

If you have purchased a hymnal and wish it dedicated in memory of some person or ministry, please call or e-mail the church office to let us know how to write the dedication.

Our goal was to have 125 of the 250 hymnals donated by members.  We now have over 250 hymnals donated by members!!!  THANK YOU! 

CONTINUING ANNOUNCEMENT

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.

HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE ST. JOHN WEB PAGE???  I am thankful and rather proud of the good work which has made the St. John web page something we can use as a ministry tool.

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.