Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Maybe you noticed that I missed worship
at St. John last Sunday, February 25.
Actually, I was at Victory Bible Camp as 28 of us (32 on Saturday)
participated in the annual St. John Confirmation Retreat. This year’s theme was “Be Holy – Different from
the World.” We considered many verses of
Scripture surrounding this theme, especially Romans 12:2 which says, “Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing
and perfect will.”
At the retreat we listened to God’s
call in our lives to be holy. We talked about how God “transforms us” so that
we are different than the world around us in our relationship with our Creator,
our Savior, and our Comforter. We talked
about how God “transforms us” so that we are different than the world in our relationships
with others. We also talked about how
God “transforms us” so that we are different than the world in our care for our
bodies.
You will be glad to know that the retreat went very
well. Often middle school students are
distracted when it comes to studying. Sometimes they are worried about their
image, or how others view them. There
are times that middle school students, being self-conscious about themselves,
can also pick on one another and be mean.
Maybe some of you remember those days yourselves.
However, this weekend I watched new people fit in with
the larger group and be accepted. I
watched shy people speak and share. I observed
our students showing care for one another, instead picking on one another. I saw young people express their faith and
help lead worship. I watched learning
which translated to faith in action. I returned
from this year’s retreat encouraged, as I do most years.
You may wonder about why confirmation retreats can be so
effective. Why do these students listen
in a retreat setting, when often they have trouble listening in a
classroom? I find some insight from
Jesus’ parable of the sower or planter.
Jesus teaches about a farmer who plants seed. Some of the seed grows and bears fruit, but
some does not grow. Jesus explains why
in Matthew 13. Verses 22-23, especially
speak to me.
18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower
means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that
fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with
joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who
received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but
the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it
unfruitful. 23 But the one who received
the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands
it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was
sown."
One of the situations at a retreat that is different from
a classroom has to do with distractions.
First, those attending are in a beautiful setting, away from their
everyday chores and worries. In regular
classes we tell students to put away their electronics. But just last week I found one of my students
looking at their phone during class.
However, at Victory, there is no cell signal. Phones don’t work and “the worries of this
life and the deceitfulness of wealth” cannot so easily distract from the truth
of the word of God. Over a weekend, the
Word of God has a chance to sink in to hearts full of trouble and distractions. The students have an opportunity to encourage
and care for one another. It is
wonderful to see the Word of God work in the lives of His people and bear fruit.
You may hear me joke about going on a retreat with “middle
school students. . . PRAY for me!” But, I
confess, there is still a middle school student inside me. I personally enjoy these retreats. I love to see God work in the lives of these
young people so that they know His love and His promises are real. I find joy in seeing God’s children act like
brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps
you want to rejoice and thank God with me.
A Child of God, Rejoicing to See God Work in the Lives of
Middle School Students,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
pictures from Lenten Fellowship meal served by the Berberichs, the Colbergs,
and the Knuths on February 21. https://photos.app.goo.gl/qiRchAwpDos8pVJf2
P.P.S. As
mentioned above, the Confirmation Retreat was held last weekend, February
23-25, at Victory Bible Camp. Here is a
link to a few pictures. (If you would like a copy of the retreat program and
Bible Studies I can share that with you.)
P.P.P.S. Some of us went fishing at the confirmation
retreat and we caught a couple of nice fish. Here are fish pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vTgIomtcBtG6DdP63
******
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.
******
No comments:
Post a Comment