Dear Fellow Children of God,
Do you remember waiting for
Christmas morning? I shared recently with the members of Our Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Chugiak, that, as a child, I would wait for weeks, getting more
excited as the day came closer. I was always worried because of some trouble I
had gotten into. Would I get coal? The night before Christmas, I struggled to go
to sleep. I waited with anticipation for Christmas morning.
Of course, part of that excitement for a young boy was
because of the presents. Nevertheless, the whole day was special.
It was different. Often during the year my
parents spent time correcting me, for good reason. I got in trouble at school.
I was scolded and punished for fights with my brother. BUT, on Christmas that was all set
aside. Family would gather. My grandparents came over. We went to church and had a nice meal
together. It was a feast of love. I am thankful that in our family our feast of
love centered in celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Savior.
Yet, even though I am no where close to being a child any
longer, I still wait for the celebration of Christmas. In fact, as I read through my 2 year “Today’s
Light Bible,” I am again nearing the end.
I am reading in the book of Revelation.
Therefore, I can echo the prayer at the end of that book. Jesus declares, "Surely I am coming
soon." And the Apostle John replies, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
(Revelation 22:20) Yes, Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
As I write this devotion on December 17, the horrible
news of the past week still causes me sadness.
There was a mass shooting in Australia this weekend at a Jewish
celebration for the beginning of Hannukkah.
Two students were also killed and others wounded in a shooting at Brown
University in Providence, RI. As I read
through the prophetic book of Revelation, the people of John’s time were facing
violence, and persecution, and other challenges to their faith. God gave this revelation to John in order to
assure disciples of Jesus that “Yes, he HAD died for their sins,” and that “Yes,
Jesus HAD risen and defeated sin and death.”
In spite of their trials God had not abandoned them. So, they prayed for Jesus to come again. In
the trials of our world today I also join in praying, “Amen. Come, Lord
Jesus!”
However, my faith is not just challenged from outside my
mind and heart. I also struggle inside myself, with doubt and anger and
temptation. I struggle to be
faithful. I recently read in my daily
readings about the seven churches to whom John addressed this final book of
Scripture. Two of the seven churches
were indeed faithful in the midst of persecution and even martyrdom. But many of those churches to whom John wrote
were wavering in their faithfulness to the one who had suffered and had died
for them. For example, John wrote to the
church of Laodicea, “15I know your works: you are neither cold
nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm,
and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have
prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable,
poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation
3:15-17) Obviously, our Lord wants
disciples who are fully committed to Him.
God is not happy when we obey, or worship, or thank, or praise Him just
once in a while, only when we feel like it, only when we are in
need. One of my prayers for Christmas is
that the love of God shines through the miraculous birth of Jesus and again
touches hearts. I pray that the
self-giving, saving love of God, lights a spark again in the hearts of believers,
a spark which keeps burning faithfully. Therefore,
I pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
This coming Sunday, December 21, the 4th
Sunday in Advent, the assigned readings are from Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1. In both of these readings we are taught about
Jesus, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall
call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah
7:14) That, after all, is what I really
need. I need to know Jesus and His
presence as I celebrate Christmas. I
need to know Jesus and His presence in order to receive the real gifts of peace
and joy this year. I need Jesus and His
presence through all the craziness in our world, waiting for Him to come
again. I need Jesus and His presence in
the trials of my own weakness.
So, this Christmas I again echo John’s prayer. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
A Child of God, Waiting and Hoping to Receive Jesus this
Christmas, and Eternally!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now
serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
· Pastor
Craig Schultz will begin serving Our Redeemer as Interim / Vacancy Pastor
in January. Pastor Rockey’s last Sunday
at Our Redeemer is January 4. Then he
will go to Gainesville, FL, and serve there where he was scheduled to return
this past fall. Pastor Schultz will
preach at Anchorage Lutheran Church on January 4, and then Our Redeemer
Lutheran on January 11, 2026.
· SPECIAL
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: In
addition to regular Sunday worship at 10:00 each week, Our Redeemer has planned
special worship services through the Holidays.
There are services every Wednesday, AND Christmas Day. You might note these on your calendar
o
Mid-Week Advent 3 Worship, The Angel and
Joseph - Wednesday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m.
o
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship
§
Focus on Children – Wednesday, December
24, 5:00 p.m.
§
Christmas Eve for all – Wednesday,
December 24, 7:00 p.m.
o
Christmas Day Worship – Thursday,
December 25, 10:00 a.m.
o
New Year’s Eve Worship – Wednesday,
December 31, at 6:30 p.m.
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee includes
Elder and chairman, Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis,
Scott Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They
have met numerous times.
The first step
in the call process was to complete a congregational self-study we received
from the Northwest District. The
committee asked for and received input from ORLC for this study. Nomination forms for names for a new pastor were
also distributed. The self-study, and
nominations for pastor, were indeed sent to the Northwest District by October
1, 2025.
Our Redeemer
received a list of names of possible future pastors for Our Redeemer from the Northwest
District on Wednesday, November 26. The committee met on Tuesday, December 9 to
clarify their responsibilities, and they will meet again in early January to prepare
to contact the pastors whose names we have received.
OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AT OUR REDEEMER:
·
There are two opportunities a week for exercise
and wellness.
o Matt
Keith leads Chayon Ryu Martial Arts Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30
a.m. in the Our Redeemer Fellowship Hall
o Matt
then teaches an Elder Momentum Class, attended mostly by seniors, at 10:00 a.m.
in the fellowship hall.
·
A “Mom’s Group” meets on the first and
third Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Our Redeemer.
·
An Adult Fellowship Potluck is held the
first Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
- Youth Group
meets after worship on one Sunday each month. The
will NOT meet in December, but return in January.
·
A Memory Café for families dealing
with the issues of dementia was held at Our Redeemer on Friday November 14. There was good attendance, including some
families from the community. The next
Memory Café is scheduled for Friday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m..
·
There are other events planned as
well. Watch the Our Redeemer calendar
and newsletter for information.
Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
·
Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class FINISHED
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” We are now be enjoying Bible Study’s
based on Garrison Keillor monologues, specifically for holiday issues. On Sunday, December 14, Keillor’s monologue
is entitled, “James Lundeen’s Christmas.” Come and join us!
· Sunday
School is held each Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m.! This is a blessing for ALL children and
adults.
·
“Deeply Rooted Small Group” Is held at
Our Redeemer on the first and third Sunday evenings at 5:45 p.m.
·
Confirmation classes began on Sunday,
October 12, after worship services. We finished
fall Confirmation classes on Sunday, December 7. This fall we studied about the Lord’s Prayer. Confirmation Classes resume on Sunday, January
4 after church. We will study about the
Sacraments. Watch for more information.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using
the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, December 17, we read
through Revelation 9. We will soon have completed reading the Scriptures in
a 2 year period!
Feel free to
contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
P.P.P.S. Family Fun
and Fishing!
·
We paid to have lights put on our 30’ blue
spruce tree in the front yard, last Wednesday. The wind disconnected some
lights on December 7. However, during a
short lull in the wind, I also set up our lighted outdoor nativity. Here is a picture from last Thusday, December
11. Of course, the wind began blowing
again on Saturday and Sunday, January 13 and 14. We continue the battle. Here is a picture from last Thursday. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CQKsnpqdWym9e3uB8
·
On Saturday, December 13, we had our annual
Christmas tree cutting outing. Thanks to
the Roelffs’ family for saving a tree on their property we could cut this
year. Here are some pictures of our
tree. https://photos.app.goo.gl/iz5MmdeLE9Bmq1LF9
·
Mary took pictures of Jake's dog, Eska. This is a blanket she gave Jake for
Christmas. https://photos.app.goo.gl/5WMxvGdBbCdBJy6H9
·
Kathy made Christmas quilts for all the
grandchildren, and she wanted them to have their Christmas quilts FOR
Christmas. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yt3zdCkpxxu3gekQ6
·
I have hoped, and even planned, to go ice
fishing. However, on days I have had
free the wind is blowing with gusts up to 90 mph. Thankfully our power did not go out
again. I haven’t been fishing, but here
are a couple of weather reports. https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Nf9DnSkedVsobAYA
*******
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. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
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, Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
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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