Dear Fellow Children of God,
It was
PERFECT TIMING! On Sunday, December 28, the
last Sunday in 2025, Harrison Graber was baptized at Our Redeemer Lutheran in
Chugiak!
Most
people know that this Wednesday, December 31 is the end of the 2025 calendar year,
and that Thursday, January 1, is the beginning of 2026. There are BIG celebrations around the world when
New Year’s Day rolls around. I’m sure
you know about the ball dropping in Times Square, New York. Other cities and countries have major celebrations
as well. The idea is that the pain and
suffering and trouble of the past year is over.
FINALLY, we get a new start!
Nevertheless,
you and I also know that, just because the calendar rolls over, does not
necessarily mean that the war in the Ukraine is over. The dawning of 2026 does not stop cancer in
those who suffer that dread disease. A
new year does not, on its own, heal families.
Just because the old year is gone does not mean that former problems are
gone from our lives.
But, as I
shared in worship on December 28, God gives a new start daily, in our baptisms.
God inspired St. Paul to write about the baptized life in Romans 6. Listen to these words about new life from
verses 3 and 4. “3
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by
baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Through baptism we die with Jesus to our
sin. (See also Colossians 2:11-12.) He washed away the old and we rise with
Christ so that we too “Walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE.”
God does wash away our sin in baptism, through the death
of Jesus on the cross. In baptism, He forgives
us! God also gives His Holy Spirit in our baptisms. (Acts 2:38-39) As God works and strengthens faith in our
baptisms, we live this new forgiven life.
Also, because of the grace of God for sinners like us, God changes our
hearts so that we want to live for Him.
That is why in Romans 6:11 God teaches, “So you also must
consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” God takes away the sin of our former
transgressions, and makes us new, through faith in Jesus. We begin living that new life in this
world. God also promises that, ultimately,
we will fully live that new life with Him in heaven.
Martin Luther wrote about the blessings and power of baptism
in his Small Catechism. (1529) “What does such baptizing
with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily
contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires,
and that a new man should DAILY emerge and arise to live before God in
righteousness and purity forever.” Luther then quotes the Romans 6
verse we also considered.
Baptism
is not just a one-time part of our life with God. Through our baptisms, because we are joined
to Jesus’ death and resurrection, this new life is a daily blessing, a
daily opportunity. We do not have to
wait for the turning of a calendar. And,
this new life of forgiveness and eternal life for the baptized child of God
brings real blessings, not just an “imagined new start.”
I am not
surprised that people celebrate the arrival of a new year so passionately. The pain caused by the sin in our lives is
something we all want to put behind us.
Thankfully, as a child of God I have a new life daily, through my
baptism, because Jesus died and rose for me! I live in the promise of a totally
new life in heaven. Congratulations, Harrison!
A Child of God, Living A Truly NEW LIFE as a Baptized
Disciple of Jesus!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Here are some
pictures from Harrison’s baptism this past Sunday. https://photos.app.goo.gl/AKusxMTPjzttYyKQ6
P.P.S. I have been
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.
· Christy
Andrews service – Long time, beloved Our Redeemer member, Christy Andrews,
passed away on Sunday, December 28, after a long illness. Initial plans are being made for a service at
Our Redeemer on Saturday, January 10.
·
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. They
did 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, January 9 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, January 4, Keillor’s monologue is
entitled, “The Pastors and the Boat”
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 31, we read
Revelation 22, THE LAST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE. Congratulations to all who
read through Scripture with me.
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 celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
with Worship. Here are a couple of
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/W17nZaFU2zWUbQXh9
·
On Wednesday night, Christmas Eve, Brandon
Holmes proposed to our daughter, Mary, and she accepted. 😊
Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/keE6PZFg9zTj8Kpa7
·
We had a “partial” family Christmas celebration
on Monday, December 29. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ABBMXYXEHY75beNx6
·
I went fishing on Friday, December 26. But with the short days I did not have much
time on the ice. Here are some pictures
from a trip to Walby Lake. However, I
had NO BITES! https://photos.app.goo.gl/ABBMXYXEHY75beNx6
· I did go fishing on Tuesday, December 30. It was late and the sun was setting, but I did catch one nice dolly. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/1atgGHdnEvE3tJBY6
******
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
907-841-4066 – cell
“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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