Surprised AGAIN By God's Christmas Love

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

So Christmas Day has passed (at least for those of the Western Christian traditions).  If you celebrated Christmas with worship, or with family gatherings, or with the giving of gifts, or by observing all of these forms of celebration . . . What Now?  Christians have again gathered to see God humbly come to us in flesh as the baby in the manger.  We have listened as the angel proclaimed “good news of great joy which shall be to all the people.”  (Luke 2:10)  We have heard an army of angels praise God for “peace on earth, goodwill to men” (Luke 2:14 KJV)  We may have even experienced the joy and peace and goodwill of the season as we celebrated the gift of God’s Son.  But, are these blessings just part of this year’s celebration with no continuing benefits?

 

Please consider what we are told about those who were perhaps most surprised by the birth of Jesus, the shepherds.  We read about what the Christmas shepherds did, after finding Jesus, in Luke 2:17-20. 

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 

We can safely say that the shepherds continued sharing joy and peace even after they had seen the infant, Jesus.  They shared with others the messages of the angels (v. 17).  They “glorified and praised God” for all they had experienced. (v. 20)  The birth of Jesus wasn’t just some nice event of the past to be remembered once in a while, or forgotten all together.  The lives of these shepherds were changed forever by the gift of God’s Son, Jesus.

 

As the shepherds were surprised by the Christmas love of God, the members of St. John likewise received a Christmas surprise on Christmas Eve.  I went to the post office that day saying aloud, “I hope I don’t have one of those yellow slips!”  I didn’t want to stand in the Christmas package line.  I didn’t have one yellow slip; I had 5!  And all the boxes were gifts from God’s people outside to bring God’s love to people in the valley.  But, perhaps most surprising was a small box from former St. John members, David and Cathy Grosz, and the members of their Washington congregation, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Rochester.  Please read with me the letter sent by Cathy Grosz with this box.

 

December 19, 2018

 

Dear Pastor Jonathan,

            After hearing about the November 30^th earthquake, and the personal stories from you and others, our hearts were stirred to reach out to the members of St. John’s Church.  David and I met with Pastor Lauren Macan-Wightman of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to determine what our congregation could do to extend Christ-like care to the members of St. John, suffering from the earthquake.

            Pastor Lauren wrote a message in the church’s weekly newsletter, and then made an announcement at Sunday service, inviting folks to respond in two ways.  These were: 1) to write cards of encouragement, and 2) donate $25.00 Fred Meyer gift cards.  We knew most folks of St. John’s could easily access Fred Meyer stores in the valley.

            The response of this small congregation was overwhelming.  It is a rural congregation of mainly older members, many retired.  Their hearts were stirred by the despair experienced by the earthquake.  They reacted with a spirit of generosity.

            Enclosed you will find 36 $25.00 Fred Meyer gift cards ($900 worth) and 54 cards of encouragement.  Pastor Rockey, please disperse these to members of St. John that could use these gifts and cards, especially the elderly folks.  Just tell them that the congregation of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, in Rochester, Washington, cares about them.  They have prayed for your recovery following this disaster.

            The congregation would be pleased to receive any pictures and stories from St. John as an encouragement.

            In Service to God and love for His people,

            David and Cathy Grosz

 

We can see that the lives of the people of St. Mark Lutheran Church have also been changed forever by the birth, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus.  The message of Christmas is a message of sacrificial, giving love.  The people of St. Mark responded to God’s love in Jesus, not because it was Christmas time, but because the earthquake hit Alaska, and because God loved them in the gift of His Son.

 

I pray that the good news of the Christmas angel, that the joy and the peace, the goodwill and the love of God has changed your life forever.  I pray that you too may respond to God’s gift of Jesus by giving of yourselves for others throughout the year.

 

A Child of God, Surprised Again by the Gift of God’s Love,

Pastor Jonathan   

 

P.S.  Please remember Ethan’s Commissioning and Installation Service will be held at St. John Sunday night, December 30, at 6:00 p.m.  There will be a “finger food reception” after the service.  (Ethan’s family will also be here for the service.)  Please sign up to indicate you will be attending.

 

P. P.S.  Here is some information about St. Mark Lutheran

·       I am including a link with 3 pictures.  One of those pictures is of some of the members of St. Mark.  In addition to the Grosz family, some of you may recognize Pastor Elvin Borg and his wife Alice.  Pastor Borg at one time was captain of the LAMP Boat MV Christian and did mission work in Alaska. https://photos.app.goo.gl/fEAwfQw6LM45CXiW6

 

·       For those who are wondering and were not in worship, I gave out cards of encouragement and Fred Meyer gift cards in worship on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I asked everyone 70 years and older to raise their hands, and I had children in grades 4-8 hand out the cards and gifts.  Most in Palmer did not have devastating earthquake damage.  But, it seems everyone had to clean up.  Everyone had some loss.  So at Christmas we shared God’s love from the members of St. Mark with the members of St. John, especially our elderly members.

 

·       For those who would like to respond with letters of thanks to David and Cathy, or to the people of St. Mark, the addresses are below.

                        David and Cathy Grosz

                        18214 Wild Violet Lane SW

                        Rochester, WA  98579

 

                        St. Mark Lutheran Church

                        10000 Hwy 12 SW

                        Rochester, WA 98579

                        360-273-9571

 

P.P.P.S.  MUCH has happened in the past week at St. John as we observed Advent and Christmas.  I’ll again share pictures from some of the many “Christmas Activities” of the past week.

·       Here are a few pictures from the December 19^th Advent Meal.  We weren’t sure we would have a main dish.  We ended up with 9 families offering to help with this meal.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/RLs4zS8LvtCBkFpMA

 

·       Here are some pictures from this year’s Confirmation Christmas Stockings Project.  We made stockings December 12 and 19.  They were delivered to My House (homeless teen ministry) on December 21.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/CBKmz49RB6Wndt2S7

 

P.P.P.P.S.  Here are some pictures from the Alaska Rockey family Christmas.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yv2221mjqDpkD7wv7

 

P.P.P.P.P.S.  No fishing this past week on Christmas Eve.

 

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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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The People Walking in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

We in Alaska are now in the darkest season of the year.  This time, around the winter solstice, a person can leave for work in the dark and return home without sunlight as well.  I find this darkness has an affect on my life.  Physically, I think I understand hibernation; it is easier to pull the covers back when my eyes open and there are still stars in the sky.  Emotionally, there are times of longing for the light.  So, I find it easier to become down or discouraged by little things.  And big problems can just seem bigger.  Personally, that is one of the reasons I spend my days off ice fishing in the winter.  It gets me outside into the light.  (I’m not sure what my excuse is for fishing in the summer when there is so much light.)  Darkness, physical darkness, affects the life of Alaskans and those living in the northern latitudes.

 

I confess to finding darkness recently in a meeting of local Lutheran pastors.  We meet monthly for communication and support.  When we gathered in December we had a special guest, Rev. Dr. John Nunes, the President of Concordia University, Bronxville, NY.  As we discussed ministry and issues, President Nunes pointed out that, “Our students have never really known a world without terrorism.  The majority of our students have no memory of the 911 events.”  He went on to say how this dark issue of terrorism, and all it implies, is one that affects the lives of students at this Lutheran college. 

 

Another pastor, younger than I, talked about living with the threat of nuclear war in his days of youth.  He confessed that he firmly expected all out conflict between communist and western powers.  This dark expectation of horrible destruction colored his attitudes about life.

 

Still another pastor shared experiences he has encountered with young people, specifically high school students.  He said that, for many, their world is dark.  They are angry with the world which they have inherited, and its issues and problems.  Places these students visit on the internet often speak of war, and death, and sex.  He said he has found that death is a common topic of conversation.

 

As we gathered, these church workers also spoke of issues that our denomination faces, actually issues that all Christian churches face in today’s world.  There are a lot of questions, but there seem to be few answers that give the outcomes we might desire.  And, there were many medical issues of great concern that we discussed and then prayed over.

 

What a BLESSING that during dark times we have good news that God has acted to bring light and love and life to our world of darkness.  Listen again to the words of Isaiah 9:2, 6-7. 

 

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. . . 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

 

The people to whom Isaiah was writing faced national conquest, defeat, ill-treatment, and deportation.  The northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered by the historically cruel forces Assyria.  The southern kingdom of Judah was facing a coming, similar threat from Babylon.  The nations would be torn apart and places of worship destroyed.  Yet, the darkness faced by God’s chosen people was not only because of outside threats.  Their own rebellion against God, an internal, personal failure, was the greater issue that led to their suffering.  Times were dark, and looked to only become darker.

 

But, for this land of darkness, God sent “a great light.”  Isaiah announces it in this way.  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”  That child promised is the Son of God Himself, born of Mary.  That child is Jesus the Savior of the world.  Jesus did not come because the people of Israel had earned God’s love.  Jesus came because, in their darkness, Israel needed God’s love and forgiveness and life.  Jesus comes into our dark world today as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus comes to a dark world of destruction and sin, of illness and death and brings light because 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  Jesus brings such light to a dark world when by faith, people receive the love of God, and receive forgiveness of their sins, and receive eternal life in heaven as God’s ultimate reality that obliterates the darkness of this sinful world.

 

There is a reason that Alaskans shoot off their fireworks in the winter rather than in the summer.  It is hard to see the fireworks in the light of summer, but during this dark time the light of the fireworks really shines.  Similarly, if you travel around to many neighborhoods you will find many displays of Christmas lights.  When the leaves are gone and the sky is dark, these colorful lights bring some beauty and hope to our dark world. 

 

I pray that in whatever darkness you find in your world, the Great Light, Jesus, God’s Son and the Savior of the world, brings the light of God’s love and life to you and your loved ones this Christmas.

 

A Child of God, Thankful that, “The People Walking in Darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT,”

Pastor Jonathan   

 

P.S.  I’ll again share pictures from some of the many “Christmas Activities” of the past week.

·       Here are a few pictures from Last Week’s Advent Meal. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vw78w2dT5Lx1mrZ1A

 

·       Here are some pictures from this year’s Confirmation Christmas Stockings Project.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/4gyJVhm7XEKjCiN78

 

P.P.S.  I did go ice fishing on Monday.  Here are pictures from that trip.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/EZuy69ydR6X2nDRJ6

 

P.P.P.S.  Please remember Ethan’s Commissioning and Installation Service will be held at St. John Sunday night, December 30, at 6:00 p.m.  There will be a “finger food reception” after the service.  (Ethan’s family will also be here for the service.)  Please sign up to indicate you will be attending.

 

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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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And A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by Christmas? Do the preparations for Christmas drain your energy in the season of joy?  Are the expectations for Christmas unrealistic and, therefore, disheartening or even depressing at times? Instead of longing for a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, do you just wish at times that Christmas were done and over?

 

According to the Christmas angel Christmas is a time of “great joy . . . for all people”.  (Luke 2:10)  But the hectic nature of the way we observe Christmas can steal the joy, and can cause us to even miss the birth of Jesus.  However, sometimes children can point us to the joy of the season, in spite of all the expectations and preparations, in spite of the hectic busy-ness. 

 

Last week was one of those busy weeks of preparation for Christmas.  We started Advent worship and Advent meals last Wednesday evening.  Our family cut our Christmas tree in our annual outing on Saturday.  Sunday afternoon a group from church went Christmas caroling, bringing the good news of Jesus to some of our elderly members.  Then the Mat-Su Chorus presented a Christmas concert later that afternoon at St. John.  Christmas busy-ness was rampant.  But, in the middle of all these “Christmas activities” the children of St. John broke through it all to bring joy to me and to others.  The Sunday School Christmas program was presented in late worship.  What a program!

 

Seeing 20 children up front in the church, singing Christmas songs is a joyful sight all by itself.  I was also delighted to see other children reading the Christmas story, and acting it out.  And, as  is often the case, there were some special moments in this year’s program.  When the angel Gabriel tells Mary and tells Joseph good news about the birth of Jesus, and when the answer is a simple, “Okay,” there are laughs.  When King Herod is a young girl, not a young boy, and then Herod throws a fit when he / she is tricked by the wise men, that’s pretty funny.  When Herod dies and is carried out of the church across the shoulder of another Sunday School student, well, that’s something I’ve never seen before!  And when the characters walk out of church at the end of the program and a “Christmas chicken” walks out with them, that’s definitely a different touch.  The smiles on the faces of the children and the bounce in their steps told us the joy of the Christmas message had gotten through to them.  The joy of the children got through to me, and I believe to others as well.  At least the comments of fellow congregation members indicated that joy to me.

 

Isaiah prophesied the radical changes the Messiah would make in the world, as he wrote the prophesy of chapter 11. 

 

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.    (Isaiah 11:1-6)

 

The change Jesus the Messiah would bring is not so much in outward actions.  The changes that Jesus brought are found in the relationship of people to their Creator and Lord.  And, I am convinced that it is not an accident that God Himself came in humility as a child.  Children can have a one-track mind when confronted with the unusual and the special.  So the special, unusual joy of Christmas holds the focus of these children.  No wonder we are told, “and a little child will lead them.”

 

And, no wonder Jesus told the disciples.  “"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  (Mark 10:14-15)  We can learn a lot from children about believing in God’s Christmas love, and about receiving the joy of God’s greatest gift.

 

When a young, female, King Herod is thrown across the shoulders of another Sunday School student and carried out of the church, it does more than cause laughter.  The joy of the children presenting the Christmas story shows how unusual, how special, how wonderful, and life-saving God’s love for us in Jesus is.

 

I pray you get to hear some children sing Christmas songs.  And, maybe “the Christmas chicken” will bring a smile to your face as you remember the joyful love of God.  Surely, the baby Jesus in a manger is meant to show the love of God for His people, and the joy of that love.

 

A Child of God, Thankful for Little Children Who Know the Joy of Christmas,

Pastor Jonathan   

 

P.S.  I’ll share pictures from some of the many “Christmas Activities” of the past week.

·       Here are some pictures from this year’s Sunday School Christmas Program.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/KVh77KdsJL5ZBK3dA

 

·       Here are a few pictures from Last Week’s Advent Meal.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nnz86hYGmuBq3ZBb7

 

·       Here are some pictures from this year’s Christmas Caroling.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/4gyJVhm7XEKjCiN78

 

·       Here are some pictures of our Rockey Family Christmas Tree Outing.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/pJ7ifbPLnzoLTA5WA

 

P.P.S.  I did go ice fishing Monday.  The wind was blowing, but I went west where it did not blow as badly.  However, the dogs got cold.  Anyway, I caught two nice rainbow trout.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/ACvbPdjCMu3CVKRd6

 

P.P.P.S.  Ethan now has a new Alaskan phone number.  You might want to put this in your records: 907-982-2074.

 

 

 

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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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Finding Strength in the Presence of God

Dear Members and Friends of St. John,

 

Last week was quite a week.  I’m sure you all felt it.

 

But, in addition to the earthquake, first, for me was preparation for our yearly Voters’ Meeting.  This is an important meeting for our work at St. John dealing with issues like elections and people committed to doing God’s work in the congregation, dealing with issues like a budget and church finances, dealing with important issues like building repairs.

 

On top of the preparation for that meeting, I was personally facing the emotional stress of announcing my retirement date.  I have really struggled with this decision.  I believe I made the right decision, at least I believe so right now.  Someone did later text me a message of support.  They facetiously said they would not stay mad at me for long. I replied that, “In some ways I’m mad at me.”  The stress of that announcement was present for me all week.

 

And then on Friday the earthquake hit.  It was the biggest earthquake I’ve experienced.  Perhaps you read my devotion last Friday.  There was a shaking and quaking in the roads and buildings and homes which we all experienced.  Then, there are all the nerves and emotions that were shaken up.  Our dogs are still in the “extremely needy” category.  The nerves of many people are still on edge, as well, as each new aftershock hits.

 

So, when all these issues are tugging on our minds and hearts, how does God help us?  Where does God send us?  The Lord simply tells us that . . . He is with us.

 

In last week’s Old Testament Lesson God promises the struggling people of Israel that He really is coming.  14 "'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 15 "'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.' Jesus is the righteous branch who came from David’s line and brings salvation and safety to God’s people with His presence.  As God says, "'The days are coming,” (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

 

When Jesus was with His disciples, getting ready to leave this world, He nevertheless promised that He is always with them.  “ . . . surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." With the knowledge of Jesus’ presence, the disciples could themselves “make disciples of all nations.”  (Matthew 28:20 b)

 

When Jesus left this earth and ascended into heaven, He promised to physically come again.  Angels told the disciples, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)  Jesus IS coming again!

 

When a mother leaves a child with someone else so she can go to work, so she can go shopping, or simply so she can do some other chore, often the baby will reach out to mom, crying.  Baby wants the one they trust.  Baby wants mom.

 

When we face the stresses of life we not only want God, we need God.  And, throughout history, God promises He is with us.  So, in this Advent-Christmas season, it might help simply to remember the words of the angel about the name of Jesus.  22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:22-23)

 

When important issues stress us, when the earth shakes, when life changes, God is with us.  He came as Jesus.  He is with us today.  He is coming again to take us to be with Himself forever in heaven.  God is with us in His love.  God is with us with His grace and forgiveness and strength.  God is with us promising eternal life in His presence.  God’s presence in our lives gives us strength to go forward in the stresses, in the disasters, and in the changes we face.

 

A Child of God, Finding Strength in the Presence of God,

Pastor Jonathan   

 

P.S.  Ethan now has an Alaskan phone number.  You might want to put this in your records: 907-982-2074.

 

P.P.S.  Tuesday I read the Christmas story to the Parent Share Preschool Cubs class.  Here is a picture.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/9FNdFASxh3UzrDvU7

 

P.P.P.S.  I took Mary and some grandkids fishing on Monday.  Lots of fishing, no catching.  We left too late.  Here are some beautiful pictures taken by Mary.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/gQWKiiDWmbELipbG9

 

P.P.P.P.S.  For those who were not at the Voters’ Meeting, I am including at the end of this devotion the statement I read at that meeting concerning my retirement.

 

P.P.P.P.P.S.  Also included at the end of this message is an excerpt from our denomination concerning spiritual resources in time of a disaster, like an earthquake.

 

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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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