Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
I was with my dad when he passed away on Saturday
morning, August 25, around 5:30 a.m.
That afternoon my dad’s five children met with staff from the
funeral home to plan his funeral. We sat around the table with the
funeral director, Joseph, with his administrative assistant, and with a lady
who works on site at the cemetery. Her name was Mary Jo. During our
sharing and planning we mentioned that my dad had visited my mom's grave every
day since she died in January of 2011.
Mary Jo asked, "Does he drive a bronze car?" Well, yes my
dad drove a bronze Toyota. She then followed up our statement by
reaffirming, "Yes, he was there every day, and sometimes twice a
day. He'd get out and talk, and then get back in his car and drive
away. We haven't seen him in a while.
We wondered where he was." Of course, Dad had given up his
drivers' license in January, so he could no longer visit my mom’s grave unless
someone else took him.
My brother James is Pastor of Amazing Grace Lutheran
Church in Oxford, Florida, just south of Ocala.
James had recently visited with Pastor Bob Besalski, our former pastor
for many years at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, who, in some very real
ways, is still pastor to our family. Bob
lives a block or so from my dad’s former house and kept in touch with him. After hearing the story from Mary Jo, James
related that Bob had told him that he had never seen anyone grieve as long for
his spouse as my dad did. After all, you don’t often hear of someone
visiting the grave of their spouse daily, more than seven years after their
death!
Some might think my dad was grieving. And in a way
he was. Dad sorely missed my mom since she died. But, I tend to
look at Dad's behavior in another way that tells us about who he was and is.
Dad was faithful. In his wedding vows he promised to love and cherish Mom
"till death do us part." My dad didn't just take that to mean till
my mom's death. Dad loved and cherished my mom until his death. So he kept visiting her grave. Dad was faithful. Yes, my dad missed my
mom and longed for her. But he kept living his life. Dad worshiped. He spent time with family. He took care of daily chores. And Dad visited
my mom's grave every day until he stopped driving. Even after he couldn’t
drive, he still sometimes he got to her grave. My dad was faithful.
Faithfulness describes my dad in other areas of his life as
well. At one time or another he served
in every office and on every board possible at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville. Dad wasn't looking for recognition. He didn't demand
respect or privilege. It was part of who He was as a child of God, part
of his relationship with Jesus. Yes, my dad was faithful in his
relationship to his family. He was also faithful in relationship to His
Lord and Savior. Even after he couldn't drive he was in church most every
week. He continued daily times of devotion and prayer. After his
death his granddaughter looked at his devotional material. It was open to Wednesday, August 8, the last
day before he fell and ended up in the hospital. Perhaps the word that best describes my dad,
in my eyes at least, is “faithful.”
Some may see this faithfulness as a virtue in my
dad. But even more, I'm convinced that
my dad's faithfulness is a reflection of the grace and greater faithfulness He
knew he received from Jesus, our Savior. In John 10:11 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The
Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." Jesus’ laying
down His life for us is grace. Jesus’
sacrifice is undeserved love. My dad knew and trusted Jesus' saving
love.
But then, later in chapter 10, Jesus follows up on this
message of grace with a message of His faithfulness. "27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow
me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no
one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28) Jesus doesn't just lay down His life for His
sheep. He gives eternal life to
all who follow Him and believe in Him! Eternal life! No one can take Jesus’ love away from His followers.
Jesus is eternally faithful.
My dad knew he was a sinner who was unbelievably blessed
by the life and the death and the resurrection of his Good Shepherd,
Jesus. Dad believed that this grace of Jesus was eternally true. My
dad heard the voice and the call of his Good Shepherd to follow his faithful
savior. So my dad, as well as he could, sought to live faithfully himself
in his relationship with His Lord. He sought to be a faithful servant in
God's church. And he was faithful to my mom and to our family.
My dad also taught his family faithfulness. With his words and in his actions he called
each of us to honesty and responsibility.
He called us to Christian lives of that put our faith in Jesus into action.
He lived faithfully, and he taught faithfulness.
I hope and pray that I can serve my Lord and honor my
dad's memory by serving Jesus and His church, and my family, by faithfully
reflecting the grace and eternal love of my Good Shepherd.
A Child of God, Praying and Striving to Reflect the
Eternal Faithfulness of Jesus,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
pictures from Dad’s funeral, 8-29-2018, https://photos.app.goo.gl/bMddU1XmpfFgBvHD7.
P.P.S. I updated
the slide show I put together from my dad’s life. You can watch it on
this link. https://photos.app.goo.gl/J4LjF4SRk2csw1NY6
P.P. P.S. I returned home from Florida and took some
family members fishing on Labor Day.
This was a first salmon for my grandson, Jackson. https://photos.app.goo.gl/22x4N7u9avZGXiCU9
P.P.P.P.S. I drew
an “any bull” permit this year and planned to be hunting at this time. I will be gone for a week or a week and a
half. There may not be a “Thoughts from the
Pastor” next week.
******
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 regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me
know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.
******
SUNDAY SCHOOL
STARTS FOR THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR – Sunday School starts for ALL AGES this
Sunday, September 9, at 9:45 a.m.
·
Wooly Lambs – This class taught by Carol
Gustafson is for children beginning at birth, with their parents, until 3 years
old.
·
Sunday School For Elementary Aged Children –
There are classes for children beginning with nursery (aged 3) through 5th
grade.
·
Middle School and High School Classes – There
are separate classes for Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School.
·
Adult Classes –
o Acts
will continue through September taught by Jim Summers
§ -September
9 - Acts chapters 25-26
§ -September
16 - Acts chapter 27
§ -September
23 - Acts chapter 28
§ -September
30 - After Acts (the rest of the story)
o Christian
Stewardship Principles is another opportunity to grow taught by the
Stewardship Board beginning October 7.
o A
Book of the Bible (to be determined) – will be taught beginning in October.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
THE LUTHERAN
CHURCH EXTESION FUND (LCEF) is a bank run by our denomination that exists
for the purpose of growing God’s Church. This bank takes deposits from
church members and then makes loans to churches for buildings, and to church
workers for homes. The rates paid to member investors, and the rates
charged churches and church workers are usually better than commercial rates.
St. John’s loan is with
LCEF. Our current rate of interest is 3.75%. However, we could
lower the rate by 1/8 % if we have 15% of communicant members as
investors. We would need 90 new investors for this break. We can
lower our rate by ¼% if we have 25% of our communicant members, or 167 individuals
as investors.
On Sunday, August 12, the Church
Council voted to try to at least reach the goal of 100 investors in LCEF.
This doesn’t have to be 100 families, but 100 individual accounts. So,
for example, grandparents can start accounts for grandchildren. We will
hear more about this opportunity in worship in the coming weeks.
Information and applications are
on a table in the narthex.
ST. JOHN ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
DID YOU KNOW THAT
SUNDAY SERMONS ARE RECORDED AND OFFERED ON LINE ON OUR ST. JOHN WEBSITE? The July and August recordings are
available here: http://www.stjohnpalmer.org/main_pages/worship.htm.
Prayer Ministry
Opportunity – There are Elders in Pastor Allen’s former office between
worship who are available for prayer each Sunday between services.
TUESDAY
·
Promise
Keepers Men’s Group – Promise Keepers will meet on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
beginning on Tuesday, October 2. This
year we will study the book “Gospel DNA”.
Come and join us.
WEDNESDAY
·
Quilting
– The St. John Ladies Quilt from 9:30 to 11:30 each Wednesday morning. These quilts are distributed to those in need
to share Jesus love in our local community, our state, and around the world.
·
Lifelight
– Lifelight Bible Classes are held at noon.
We share a pot luck lunch of leftovers.
Classes will start on October 3.
This year we will study Genesis.
·
CONFIRMATION
– Wednesday Confirmation classes for those in grades 6-8 will begin on Wednesday,
October 3, at 2:45 p.m.
·
WEDNESDAY
WORSHIP – Wednesday worship is offered each week at 6:30 p.m. at St.
John. This service gives another worship opportunity to God’s family in
addition to Sunday worship services. If a person cannot worship on
Sunday, the same readings from Sunday are used on Wednesdays, with a different
sermon from the Sunday morning sermon. In addition, if someone wants an
additional opportunity for growth and fellowship and praise, Wednesday worship
can provide that opportunity. Come and join us on Wednesday evenings at
6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY YOUTH
ACTIVITIES
·
Middle
School Youth meet at St. John from 5-6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
·
High
School Youth meet at St. John on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
FRIDAY
•
FRIDAY - NEW
ORIGINAL BIBLE STUDY – Twenty and thirty something’s meet at the home of Hunter
and Elizabeth Richard, 340 North Bonanza, on Friday nights for Food, Fellowship,
and Bible Study.
SATURDAY
•
SATURDAY ST.
JOHN MEN’S BREAKFAST - The St. John men’s group, Promise Keepers, is meeting on
Saturday mornings this summer at the Noisy Goose at 7:30 a.m. for food and
fellowship. ALL MEN are invited to join us. “Fathers, feel free to
bring your sons too! This group meets even when the pastor is out of
town.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND
FELLOWSHIP
“CHRISTMAS MARKET, MUSIC, AND LUTHER TRIP”
TO AUSTRIA AND GERMANY AT THE END OF 2019
Pastor Jonathan and Kathy Rockey will be leading a trip
to Germany November 26-December 10, 2019. We will start in Vienna and end
in Berlin. The focus of this trip will be Christmas markets, music, and
Martin Luther. Information about the itinerary, cost, and registration
can be found at this link from Luther Tours. - https://www.christiantravelplanners.com/tours/item/181-christmas-markets-austria-and-germany.html
Already, about 25 people
have indicated an interest in attending. If you want to know more about
this trip talk to Pastor Rockey or Kathy.
+++++++
DID YOU KNOW THAT
MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ST. JOHN is available on our church website?
On our web page you can find sermons, newsletters, and these weekly
devotions. The link is: http://www.stjohnpalmer.org
In fact, IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE
YOUR MONTHLY CHURCH NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL please e-mail Judy Stahancyk and let
her know. You can call at 745-3338, or e-mail Judy at judy@stjohnpalmer.org.
If you receive the newsletter by e-mail it saves printing, postage, and time
compiling the newsletter. Also, you receive the monthly newsletter more
quickly!!
Jonathan Rockey, Child of God, Husband, Father, Son,
Grandfather
Senior Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church
907-841-4066 - cell
907-746-5131 - home
907-745-3338 - church
907-746-6117 - fax
