Dear
Fellow Children of God,
Kathy
and Mary and I are in New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering of our
denomination, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. We are working for the gathering to assist
the 25,000 youth and adults who are gathered under the theme, “In Christ Alone
. . . We Stand.”
You
might ask, “Really? A Christian youth
event in New Orleans?” Believe it or not,
there is a practical reason for this location.
Most people don’t choose to vacation in the heat of the deep south in
July. Vacationers often go north in the
summer to escape the heat of summer. So,
hotel rooms can be booked in July in New Orleans for a group of 25,000 for
lower than peak rates. When churches send large groups of young
people on a trip, finances are a consideration.
But,
this Gathering has also been held in New Orleans 3 previous times because there
are many opportunities for service and growth.
At this Gathering youth and adults will not only spend time in Bible
Study, in classes, and in Mass Events of growth and worship. There will also be servant events in the
community to help in homeless centers, and to clean and do other community
service. Two Habitat for Humanity homes
will be framed in the 5 days of the Gathering.
New Orleans provides many opportunities for service that can help grow
faith in Jesus.
Yet,
even though these are Christian youth gathered for growing in Jesus, when
25,000 people gather there are always issues.
Think about what happens in a town of 25,000 in a normal day. In any normal town there are illnesses and
accidents, and even deaths. The same trials
and losses that occur in our everyday lives also take place during the National
Youth Gathering. So, those attending the gathering experience joys, but they also
experience trials and challenges.
Our
training to help at the gathering has therefore focused on Philippians and has called
us to roles of encouragement. In other
words, Christians are called to be there for one another with words and actions
of faith and love. Consider the words of
Philippians 1. Do you hear Paul speaking
words of encouragement at the beginning of the letter? “2 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” What can
be more encouraging than a wish and prayer for God’s grace and peace for our
lives? Paul encourages the people of
Philippi with this grace and peace which come from Jesus. What a great example for Christians today.
Paul continues his
encouragement of love and faith for the Philippians. 3 I
thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you,” I
don’t know about you, but knowing that people pray for me through the joys and
trials of life encourages me. Paul is
praying for the people of this church he helped start. Think how encouraged the Philippians were when
they read this. Think of the blessings
today when we pray for others.
But, this works both ways. Paul mentions the Philippians encouragement
for him, “I always pray with joy 5
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,”
The Philippians have partnered in ministry with Paul after he left them. They sent a message and gift to Paul while he
was in prison. You see, there is a
relationship between Christians that helps God’s people through life’s
trials. The Philippians faced
persecution. Paul was imprisoned because
of his ministry. Life had trials that
would cause difficulties for anyone. So,
Paul encouraged the Philippians and they responded with messages and gifts of
encouragement for Paul.
Ultimately this encouragement was not just because
the Philippians and Paul were gifted people.
Encouragement comes from God’s love in Jesus. Paul and the Philippians encourage each other
. . . 6 being confident of this, that he who began a
good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. The real source of encouragement is found
in God’s love for us in Jesus.
It can be difficult to live lives of faith and
love in today’s world. Philippians 1
tells us that Jesus is the one who begins faith in our lives. Jesus is ultimately the one who brings us
through life and death into eternity by His death and resurrection. Jesus is the ultimate encourager!
So, it is God’s plan that we have other Christians
who listen to us, who laugh and cry with us.
It is God’s plan that we have other Christians who walk beside us, who
encourage us. Yet, I have often heard
people tell me they can follow Jesus while not being part of a church. I wonder how any Christian can thrive in
faith through the trials of life without the encouragement of others. We need one another for the difficult times
of life.
So, who loves and
encourages you with the love of Jesus? Who
do you love and encourage? We need one
another through the joys and challenges of life. We need God’s Church! Encourage one another in the grace and peace
and love of Jesus.
A
Child of God, Encouraged by my Fellow Believers in Jesus,
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. I will post some pictures next week from the
National Youth Gathering. But, if you go
to the St. John Facebook page, Jamie is posting pictures. Here is the link to our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/stjohnpalmer/
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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 regularly
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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