Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Life at St. John has been extremely busy, in a good way,
since the beginning of Lent. Since, Ash
Wednesday, February 14 this year, God has worked to grow His people through mid-week
Lenten worship and fellowship meals, through a Confirmation Retreat and a
marriage retreat, through a ski outing and a congregational ice fishing outing. We learned through a presentation by Jews for
Jesus followed by a Passover meal.
Seventh grade students received first communion. Our high school youth
group led Good Friday worship, and families enjoyed the Easter festival. On Easter morning we celebrated Jesus’ rising
from the dead with 3 worship services, and with our Easter breakfast. In addition, the week after Easter we
celebrated Confirmation Day for 11 students.
At the same time we have been working on plans for a congregational
outing to see Mary Poppins, on plans for the upcoming community picnic, and we
are planning for a congregational trip to possibly lead Vacation Bible School
in Akiak. Whew!! I’m ready for a vacation!
But, during the day on Tuesday, before Kathy and I left for
vacation that evening, I visited a family who had lost a son. I also visited with a member who will have
brain surgery next week. I was also
called to the hospital for a member who is in critical condition. In some ways, even though I’m ready for a
vacation, it is hard to leave. It is
hard to leave when people need God’s care, and when, as a pastor, that is what I
am called to do, to care for God’s sheep.
In the back of my mind are God’s words spoken by the Old
Testament prophet, Ezekiel, against the self-serving priests of Ezekiel’s time.
2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and
say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of
Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the
flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the
choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not
strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not
brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly
and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when
they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
I don’t want to neglect the sheep and lambs of God. Actually, I find that it is an honor and a privilege,
not just a job, to bring God’s love to His people. Yet, because of work travel,
or vacations, in the past I have missed weddings, anniversaries, funerals, and
other important events in the lives of God’s people. I care for the people of St. John and regret having
missed these occasions.
However, I have a book of pastoral theology on my shelf
that is entitled, “The Under-shepherd Under Christ.” David reminds people of all ages who the real
Shepherd is. You know the first line of
Psalm 23. “The LORD is my shepherd,” God is THE shepherd. A pastor is an “under-shepherd,”
In John 10 Jesus gives more insight into the relationship
of God as shepherd for His people. Jesus
taught about Himself, 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep. . . . 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know
them, and they follow me. 28 I give them
eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my
hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can
snatch them out of my Father's hand. (John 10:11, 27-28) Only God is the real
Shepherd, the real care-giver of His sheep.
Only God can forgive, can heal, and give eternal life. The job of a pastor, in fact the job of God’s
church, is to point to Jesus as the source of love and life which God’s people
need.
So, on Tuesday I read
from Psalm 23 to our member in the hospital.
I shared the John 10 verse above with our member facing surgery. I also contacted some others who will help
provide care for those facing these issues of life while I am gone.
It is good to get
away, to rest, to refresh, to re-create, to be renewed. But, it is also a blessing to share the Good
Shepherd and all His blessings with the people of God and the sheep of God. Thank you for giving me that joy and that
privilege.
A Child of God, Thankful for the Privilege of Caring for
God’s Sheep,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Confirmation
Day was celebrated on Sunday, April 8, at St. John. This year those confirmed included Amber
Alexander, Regina Carlson, Kai Kastar, John Merritt, Thomas Merritt, Jack
Nance, Jacob Osterkamp, Luke Peltier, Cooper Singleton, Dezzy Watkins, and
Julia Watkins. Here are pictures from
Confirmation Day. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TdCiR7K8EZYLq0r33
P.P.S. While on a
trip to Portland I got to visit with David Grosz on April 6. David is doing well in his recovery from
cancer, and will travel to Mongolia and Hong Kong for the World Mission Prayer
League at the end of May. Here is a
picture of David. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TEhVFBfHCAVmvvCE3
P.P.P.S. Because
of leaving on vacation, these are probably pictures of my last (I think) ice
fishing outing of Spring 2018. Kym
Miller and I both kept a limit of rainbow trout. https://photos.app.goo.gl/f291Vl281u6YJ4B22
******
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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