Saturday, February 21, 2015

"Do You Show Your Wonders to the Dead?"


Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  That describes this past weekend.

 

As Kathy and I drove to Kenai to lead worship, she noticed that a friend in St. Louis had died.  Otis Woodard was a truly unique individual who had been part of our congregation 35 years ago.  Otis dressed differently and lived differently.  He spent his life working to help inner city people in St. Louis, MO, in the name of Jesus.  Otis’ unique personality pushed some people away, but his actions of faith in Jesus’ name drew many to him.  I had reconnected with Otis in recent years through Facebook and had taken time to visit with him in 2013 and 2014 when I was in St. Louis for work.  Otis was still helping people in need.  Kathy said, “He is going to be sorely missed.”  I agree.  It seems I had just seen him and now he’s gone!

 

Then, on Sunday evening I had just gotten home from Kenai, not even having sat down, when I got a call from Dwayne Jenson.  I didn’t totally understand what Dwayne was saying, but I did hear that his wife, Lisa, had stopped breathing.  She was at the hospital and they were talking stroke.  This did not make sense.  Lisa and family had all be in worship on Wednesday.  I had attended a Stephen Ministry class that Lisa and Cathy Grosz taught on Thursday.  They then taught another class at Dwayne and Lisa’s house on Saturday, working to conclude training for this new Stephen Ministry class.  Lisa was in worship on Sunday morning.  But, when we sat with the doctor at Providence Hospital he told us that Lisa had died.  She had suffered unexpected bleeding in her brain.  It could not be true that this faithful, active wife and mother and active member of St. John could have died.  We were all in shock and disbelief.

 

Then, as we sat in the waiting room at the hospital we learned that David Grosz’ brother, Rod, had passed away that very morning.  David had led worship at St. John while I was preaching in Kenai.  When David got home he had a call telling him that Rod had died.  David’s brother had been ill and we had been praying for him.  Cathy told us, “I just loved Rod.”  But, at we learned of David’s loss we felt hit with another painful blow.  

 

When life hits you between the eyes, do you ever want to shout at God?  I did.  Do you ever get angry with the Lord?  I was.  Do you wonder why he allows the pain and loss?  Well, if you have had questions in the face of the trials and losses of life, you are in good company. The Psalmists often questioned God, displaying anger even.  Listen to Psalm 88:8-13.

 

”8 You have taken from me my closest friends . . . 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.”

 

Actually, the surprising truth is that all these questions which we expect to be answered with a “no,” God answers with His “Yes”!  When faced with life’s tragedies God brings grace and love and salvation.

 

The Psalmist asks God, “10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?”  Actually, God does just that.  In Jesus’ death and resurrection God has defeated death.  God raises the dead and “every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father.”  (Philippians 2:11)

 

The Psalmist asks God, “11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?”  God’s love is declared as he raises the dead and brings all who believe in Jesus to everlasting life in heaven, where we are told, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)  The blessings we receive in heaven in the presence of God show love that cannot be fathomed.  God does show love to those who have been in the grave.

 

“12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?”  Yes, God’s wonders and righteousness give hope when facing death.  God forgives sinners, raises the dead, and gives life in heaven.  Those wonders are shouted to eternity.

 

Sometimes life just hits you between the eyes and, as you collect your wits, you are left wondering what happened.  But, when life seems to offer only tragedy, God gives hope and strength in His love and salvation.  When life seems to offer “No” through loss, God offers “Yes” through Jesus.  The death of loved ones hurts deeply.  But God is stronger than death.  Through Jesus God gives eternal life in heaven and hope in the midst of this world’s tragedies.

 

A Child of God, Full of Questions, Trusting in God,

Pastor Jonathan

 


 

P.P.S.  Monday afternoon with grandchildren, Jackson and Kendall.  https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6118142540856164337?banner=pwa

 

 

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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. . .

 

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LISA JENSON’S MEMORIAL SERVICE – Saturday, 2:00 p.m. at St. John.  We don’t understand life, but we trust in God.  Lisa Jenson was in worship Wednesday, February 11 with her family, and again on February 15.  She taught Stephen Ministry classes on Thursday and Saturday.  And God called her home on Sunday afternoon as he experienced an unexpected bleeding in her brain.

            Lisa’s memorial service will be held at St. John on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

 

CONFIRMATION RETREAT – The Annual Confirmation Retreat is being held at Victory Bible Camp, this weekend, February 20-22.  THANK YOU, JAMIE, FOR TAKING SOLE LEADERSHIP!  Pastor Rockey is not attending in order to conduct the funeral on Saturday.

 

 

MID WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP  Lenten worship services are held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday from February 18 to March 25, preceded by a Lenten Meal.  This year’s Lenten Theme is “Nailed to the Cross.”  consider Jesus’ victory over our sins as He “nailed them to the cross.”  (Colossians 2:14).  We will consider Jesus victory as we examine Jesus’ words from the cross and the sins and struggles they address.  Our services will follow this schedule

 

February 18               Father Forgive Them (Luke 23:34)                         Denial

February 25               My God, My God      (Matthew 27:46)                    Despair and Doubt

March 4                      Today You’ll be with Me (Luke 23:43)                   Guilt

March 11                    “I Thirst”                   (John 19:28)                           Physical Pain

March 18                    “Woman Behold Your Son” (John 19:30)              Grief  

March 25                    “Into Your Hands”   (Luke 23:46)                          Death and Comfort

 

Plan now to grow in God’s grace and love this Lent with your fellow children of God at St. John.

 

MID WEEK LENTEN MEALS - Each Wednesday during Lent at 5:30 p.m. meals will be served before our mid-week Lenten worship.  These meals provide an opportunity for fellowship and make it easier for people to attend Wednesday Lenten Worship, since you don’t have to bring anything after work for a pot luck meal, and there is no cost.

            St. John members have signed up to prepare all the meals.  Come and enjoy a time of fellowship and Christian love. 

 

PLANNING PROCESS – ONE SERVICE ON MARCH 1 – We will continue the planning process on Sunday, March 1.  As with our worship on January 25, there will be one service at 10:00 a.m. on March 1 with a meal following the service.  At this meal we will look at the results of the Discovery and Dreaming Session on January 25, and we will look at the demographics of our area.  Then we will work toward a mission statement by responding to 3 questions. 

·         What is God’s plan for us as His people?  (Some of that is answered from our January 25 gathering.)

·         What are the opportunities and needs in our community? (The demographics will help with this answer.)

·         How can our unique blessings best serve God and the His people in our community?  (This will give us focus for our mission statement.)

After the meal and meeting a group will compile the responses and begin crafting a mission or vision statement.  The congregation will then respond to these efforts by e-mail and ultimately approve the mission statement. 

This mission statement will help us focus as we make plans on April 19 at our last Planning meeting.

 

SOUP COOK-OFF AND CONTEST – The meal after the March 1 service will be a “Soup Cook-off and Contest.”  The five people on the planning process committee will each make a soup.  Church members will taste the various soups and vote on their favorite.  Any congregational member who wants to join in the “Soup Cook-off and Contest” is also welcome to do so.

 

CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHED BY JAMIE WALTERS – Wiggles’s Easter Journey” was written and published by St. John DCE, Jamie Walters.  Congratulations, Jamie!! You can find this Easter story for children on Amazon at the following link. 


 

STEPHEN MINISTRY – Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry of uniquely Christian care for people in time of stress or need.  A class of new Stephen Ministers is finishing their training near the end of February.  Those completing 50 hours of training include Dena Jeffers, Amy Peltier, Judy Stahancyk, and Jim and Kathy Summers.  With Lisa’s death Stephen Ministry has lost a gifted leader.  Please pray that God blesses these new Stephen Minister and blesses Christian caring given by our new Stephen Ministers. 

 

FRED MEYER REWARDS PROGRAM – The Fred Meyer Program gives cash credit to Rewards program members.  The Community Rewards Program matches those cash credits for various charities whom Rewards program members name.  A few St. John members have linked their cards to St. John and last month our congregation received $88.03 from the rewards program.

            If you would like to join this effort it is quite easy.  You can check this link to go to the Community Rewards Explanation page - https://www.fredmeyer.com/topic/community-rewards-4 

Once you get to this page

·         Click “Link your reward card now.” 

·         Then fill in information including your rewards card number. 

·         Find St. John Lutheran.  It lists our address PO Box 774.  Our organization number is 80567.

·         Then Click “Enroll.”

This will link your card to St. John.  You will still receive your rewards and so will St. John.  There is a total community limit to the Community Rewards Program.

 

JEREMY WEDGE BENEFIT DINNER AUCTION.  St. John Lutheran will help members of Trinity Lutheran Church with a dinner auction on Saturday, March 21, to benefit Jeremy Wedge.  This dinner auction will be held at the Palmer Moose Club beginning at 4:30 p.m. 

Jeremy is the 29 year old son of St. John member, Mike Wedge.  Jeremy is married.  He and Ashley have one child, Hannah, and are expecting another child in the next 2 months.  Jeremy and family have worshiped at St. John a number of times in the last month.

 Jeremy was diagnosed with re-occurrence of brain cancer last fall, and underwent surgery and treatment in November and December at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. 

St. John members have been asked to help in three ways.

·         We can donation items for auction. 

·         We can attend and donate to the auction.

·         There is help needed with setting up tables and chairs before the auction.

 

Diana Christensen is communicating with the team from Trinity Lutheran.  If you want more information you could call Diana and ask.

 

MARRIAGE RETREAT – A Marriage Retreat is planned for March 20-22 at the Alaska Sunset View Lodge in Big Lake.  Cost is $200.00 a couple for the weekend.  All those attending will help in preparing one of the 5 meals.  If you want to attend please talk to Kathy Rockey or call Judy Stahancyk in the church office.

 

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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!!

 

  

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