Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Last weekend, February 15-17, 32 people attended our 2019
Confirmation Retreat at Victory Bible Camp.
This year the retreat theme was about “Christian Relationships.” We had sessions that studied about our “Relationship
with God”, our “Relationships with Others – Friends,” our “Relationships Between
Boys and Girls,” and our “Relationships that are Difficult – A Sacrifice.” We always wonder how much these middle school
boys and girls actually retain from the lessons that are taught. But, when the 7th grade class
shared, in Sunday worship, a skit which they had written about gossiping, and about
forgiving others because of Jesus’ forgiveness, we knew that something had
gotten through.
Sometimes I and others in leadership have asked the
question, “Is it worth the time away from the rest of the church, is it worth the
extra effort to produce a retreat program, and is it worth the expense of using
Victory Bible Camp to justify a retreat?
This year half of our confirmation students attended. There were two others who registered but became
sick. There were another two students
who would have attended, but were traveling out of state. At the same time a number of other students
chose not to attend. Is it worth all the
extra effort to hold the retreat?
But, this year as in past year we had students who were
sad the retreat ended. One sixth grade
boy asked me, “When is the next retreat?”
I had two eighth grade girls ask, “Can we come along next year and serve
as counselors?” We even had a ninth
grade member of our youth group asking to attend the retreat this year, but we
had trouble finding the right place he would fit in. Obviously, the large majority of the 6th
– 8th grade students truly enjoy the retreat, even though we spend
perhaps 8 hours of the retreat in study of God’s Word and His plan for our
lives.
There are some obvious reasons the retreat touches the
lives of the children. I’m not sure
there is a more beautiful place than Victory Bible Camp in the winter. The lodge and cabins are set between shear
mountain cliffs that surround the camp, and beside two quiet lakes. The children get to play in the gym, skate on
one lake, and tube down a steep hill to another lake. They even find great delight in falling down
and climbing up steep hills of snow! The
food is great. It is invigorating and mind-clearing
to be outdoors in the beautiful winter our Lord has created.
Another key to making the retreat work is that the
students aren’t coming to class after a full day of school. Wednesdays works well for us for confirmation
classes. These confirmation classes have
been held on Wednesday afternoons at St. John for over 30 years. But, when the students arrive they have
already spent a full day learning and studying, a full day of dealing with
teachers, and a full day of dealing with other students. There are times that Wednesday classes can
make Confirmation just seem like a really
LONG school day! But, when sessions
are held on Saturday, even though there are 2 times of worship and four
sessions of Bible Study, the minds of the students are fresh. They seem to participate more and to learn
more. And, it seems from observation
that the lessons don’t just teach the mind, but also touch the heart.
We do have questions about the
value of all this time and effort to put on a retreat. But, perhaps Jesus answers those questions
best. Last week I read to the 3 and 4
year old pre-school classes about “Jesus and the Boys and Girls.” You can read this account in Matthew 19:13-15,
Mark 10:13-15, and Luke 18:15-17. The
disciples of Jesus knew that Jesus’ ministry was important, and that Jesus was
very busy teaching and healing. These
disciples tried to send the children away when parents brought them to
Jesus. But, in each of these accounts we
hear Jesus scold the disciples and welcome the children with these words, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16) Jesus did not just come to die and rise for
adults. Jesus specifically calls the
children to Himself.
Every year at the retreat there are some “new”
experiences. A young boy asked me
something this year I have never been asked.
When we got to camp and gathered about 7:30 p.m. to start our program
this boy asked me, “When do we get to go to bed?” In 25 years of retreats, I’ve never heard
that question before. I have heard, “Do
we have to go to bed?” but never the question this boy asked. I told the boy that our schedule said lights
are out at midnight. And when he
continued to question me I told him that “We are to be in our cabins at 11:00
p.m., and devotions are over at 10:30 p.m. if you want to go to bed then.” His response surprised me, “Can’t we go to
bed now?” Yet, through the weekend this
young man participated, answered questions appropriately, showed he was
learning. And at the end of the weekend,
this is the boy who asked me, “When is our next retreat?”
When we ask the question, “Is it worth it to hold the
Confirmation Retreat?”, I wonder if we are not like Jesus’ disciples. Even though people in Jesus’ day weren’t all
that sure about taking time for children, they were important to Jesus. We will continue the confirmation retreat
because it is a way that we do what Jesus said.
"Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.”
A Child of God, Seeking to Bring Children to Jesus, and
Jesus to Children,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Confirmation Class was lively on February 13
as the days are getting longer and the weather was clear and sunny. Here are some pictures of our “lively”
students. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xZ5CyYeHQGrRUNf27
P.P.S. Confirmation Camp was held at Victory Bible
Camp from February 15-17. We had a good Retreat.
In fact, this year the Lawton
family attended the whole retreat, from 3rd grader, Lorelai, to high
school juniors Rebecca and Isaac, and confirmation student Nathaniel, along
with mom and dad. We are thinking that
next year our Confirmation Retreat might also serve as a family retreat. J
P.P.P.S. During
Confirmation Camp Reuben Carlson and Pastor Rockey went fishing. Here is the catch. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fDb4ABjJPpgBBV1i6
P.P.P.P.S. I came
home from the retreat, coughing. It got
worse. But, on Monday I went fishing to
check things out for Shane Woods Ice Fishing Outing, March 31. (On Tuesday the doctor diagnosed me with
influenza A. I know of 5 others who left
the retreat and became sick.
Nonetheless, here are some pictures from the Monday fishing excursion. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XoxjhuvvZM3Xs4DL8
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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 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.
******
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