Dear
Fellow Children of God,
Do you like to sing?
My observation is that people sang more in decades past, but don’t sing
out loud as much today. I believe that
when I was a child even my adult male relatives sang in worship. And, when I gathered at my grandfather’s home
he often broke out into songs. None of
my relatives had what you might call “performing voices,” but we could carry a
tune, and at times we were LOUD!
However, last month I was on a family Spring Break Cruise
we had been planning for a couple of years.
Two of my granddaughters asked me during our evening meal if I didn’t
want to sing in the ship karaoke contest.
I was let off the hook because our family was scheduled for a late meal,
and the singing contest was completed by the time we finished eating. But, I told them, “I get to ‘sing karaoke’
every Sunday. We have the words on
screens for the hymns. I sing loudly
(even if I sometimes sing the wrong words), and I’m a worship leader.” My wife Kathy chimed in, “He’s sort of right,
you know. He even chants some of the
liturgy.” My answer to the question, by the way, is that I do personally enjoy
singing.
In
the Old Testament Psalms God’s people are encouraged, “ . . . Oh sing to the LORD a new song;” (Ps. 96:1).
In the New Testament Paul encourages different kinds of worship through
song in the following way, “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
(Colossians 3:16 ESV) “ (see also
Ephesians 5:18-20)
Notice
that God inspired Paul to call the Colossians toward teaching and admonishing
(encouraging and correcting) through music.
Paul’s first call to God’s people was to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Worship is a response to the presence of
Christ living in us, in part through His word.
Paul’s call suggests that there are various styles of music. He mentions “Psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs.” But, the Ephesians were not only
to worship with their minds, by teaching, but with thankfulness in their
hearts. Perhaps Martin Luther was thinking of these words of St. Paul when he
is supposed to have said, “He who sings . . . prays TWICE.”
Let
me share a joy I have experienced during the last 6 months. As I serve as vacancy pastor I have prepared
for Sunday worship on Thursday mornings by reviewing and singing through the
upcoming worship service with our musicians.
I’m not sure I ever considered this preparation in the 3 previous
locations where I served. But our musicians in those congregations all worked
full-time at other jobs and were not available.
However, in my current situation that is not the case. So, with our musician playing, I join in
singing through the hymns, and songs, and liturgy. There is some wisdom to this practice in that
I at least begin to get on the same page with our musician. Sometimes I need to learn parts before I lead
worship on Sundays. Sometime we discuss
themes and goals for leading God’s people in worshiping Him. Sometimes we make changes as we prepare. But, if the words of hymns and songs speak to
one’s mind, the notes and music speak to a person’s heart. What a treat this musical preparation for
worship has been!
Do
you enjoy singing? If there is any
reason for joy and thankfulness in our world it is that our Heavenly Father created
us in love, and when we rebelled He saved us through sending His son,
Jesus. During Easter we remember and
give thanks for God’s amazing love given in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. His Easter rising and the gift of eternal
life through faith give us peace and hope through Jesus’ victory over sin and
death. Those are wonderful reasons which inspire poetry and praise and thanks
and music. And, we have the privilege of
praying and praising twice, the joy of worshiping with mind and with our hearts,
in words and through the tune of the music.
I
hope you find joy in singing, especially singing praise and thanks to God. I do.
A
Child of God, Making a Joyful Noise to the Lord!
Pastor
Jonathan
NEWS
AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
VOLUNTEER
SUNDAY AND FISH FRY AND COOKOUT - On Sunday, April 21 we will have an
opportunity to volunteer for helping with God’s work at First Lutheran. After worship we will have tables for
the various areas of service staffed by people who serve in those areas. You can get information and sign up to help if
you want.
As encouragement to stay WE WILL HAVE
A FISH FRY AND COOKOUT!!!! Pastor Rockey
is donating fish from his trips this year.
Steve Rockey will be frying bass.
Others will be cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. We ask those attending bring a side dish
or dessert to share in this time of fellowship and ministry.
CALL
COMMITTEE NEWS – First
Lutheran was informed during Holy Week that we would not be assigned Timothy
Handrick as Deferred Vicar. He has been
assigned to another congregation.
However, we have completed our self-study, and will begin collecting
names of possible candidates for the call of pastor at First Lutheran. Nomination Forms for possible candidates for
a new pastor are included in bulletins from Sunday, April 7 - 20.
A
STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS continues on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. On March 24 we started book 2 of the Acts
study, chapter 13, the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys. Come and join us in studying about the history
of the early Christian Church!
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. As of March 30
we finished Numbers, and start we started reading in Deuteronomy on April
1. Deuteronomy comes from the Latin word
“deuteron” which means “second.” This
book is the second telling God God’s law to His people as they enter the
Promised Land. Feel free to contact
Pastor Rockey if you have any questions at 907-841-4066, or at
jonrock53@mtaonline.net
SUNDAY
SCHOOL IS HELD EACH SUNDAY DURING WORSHIP. PLEASE bring your children
and grandchildren!
BASIC
TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE / NEW MEMBER CLASS –This class began on February
11th, after worship in the Besalski Fellowship
Hall. But, we have only just begun. There is still time to join the
class. This is also a good way to refresh you knowledge of God’s
Word. PLEASE NOTE, JUST BECAUSE A PERSON ATTENDS THE
CLASS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE COMMITTED TO JOINING FIRST LUTHERAN.
If you are interested in learning and growing, we would love to have you join
us. We will complete the whole class in a one day lesson on Sunday, April 21
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST – The week after Easter I took it a little easy. Though I made it to the office 3 times, I
also found time to fish and golf.
· On Thursday, April 4, I spent part of the afternoon on Santa
Fe Lake trying out a new trolling motor and fishing. However there rewe 20+ mile an hour winds,
and waves on the lake of 3 feet, with LOTS of whitecaps. No bites, no fish!
· On Saturday, April 6, I went fishing with my brother, James,
at Tsala-Apopka Chain of Lakes. It was
quite cool, and windy. We had some
bites, but only caught 1 fish in 5 or so hours of fishing. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TEnRMyrWhXmTCWFJA
· On Sunday, April
7, after worship I went fishing in a favorite lake. The weather was warm, there was no wind, and
the fish were biting. In about two hours
I had a limit of 5 nice bass. Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/4Gh5YFpRJm2byrH17
*******
ABOUT
THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time
senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a
weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the
Pastor." When I retired many asked me to continue writing these
devotions. So I have continued writing. However, with life's
changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child
of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it
right to only send this message to those who asked to receive it.
(Currently I am serving as Vacancy Pastor for First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, FL.)
So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you
understand. And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish
to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my
distribution list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan
Rockey
Child
of God
Husband,
Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor
Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
How
great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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