Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
In our culture, people look to summer as a time for rest,
recreation, and renewal. School is out
and many school year activities are completed.
Families often take vacation during the summer months because children
are free. I do think that in generations
past, summer actually did seem to be less busy.
At least that is my impression.
But, in our current times of instant information, and a
desire for instant gratification, it just seems that, while the summer months
have less regular daily events scheduled, there are more of those special
events - big activities that need a lot of planning. Any families that are involved in sports
knows that schedules ramp up during summer.
I also have a sports event to plan this summer as well. I am the coordinator for the annual Palmer Kiwanis
Golf Tournament on August 9.
At St. John, during June, we will host the Colony Days
picnic this Saturday, and march in the Colony Days parade. Then we will offer Vacation Bible School June
17-21. Both of these events are outreach-minded
ministry that require a lot of volunteers and a lot of coordination. Just because summer has arrived does not mean
that life becomes less hectic.
In July, St. John has 18 people attending the National
Youth Gathering. In addition to the
youth and adult chaperones participating in the actual gathering, they will
also volunteer for a servant event on a native American reservation. Also, St. John members Jenny Carlson,
Jonathan and Kathy Rockey, and Jamie Walters will all be working as volunteer
leaders for the Gathering. Do you know
what it takes to coordinate between 20,000-30,000 youth and adults for 5 days?
Oh, and in addition to that large event at the beginning
of July, 8 St. John members will also be heading to the native village of Eek,
to conduct Vacation Bible School, July 24-28.
Last year a total of 70 children attended VBS at one time or another. This labor of love includes the work of
planning lessons, transporting craft and snack supplies, transporting food, and
the daily efforts to gain the attention of the children with the love of Jesus.
August also has a number of large events planned. The Board of Directors for the Northwest
District of the Lutheran Church (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington) will be
visiting the state July 31-August 4. I’ll
be helping to lead a tour of many of the congregations of our denomination in
the state, and St. John will host the Board of Directors for a meal on
Saturday, August 3. And then, there is
the retirement worship service and celebration planned for Sunday afternoon,
August 25. I’m not supposed to have
anything to do with this other than to attend.
However, I hear lots of conversation about plans and meetings.
Even in times when life is supposed to slow down, we
still have much that keeps us busy, perhaps overly busy! All the events listed above are worthwhile
activities that contribute to the work of the Lord and the welfare of our
families and community. So, we all grow
weary and tired. We all need rest. It is
good to consider God’s wisdom about the rest we need and desire.
First, please remember God has given the Sabbath as a day
of rest. We read in Exodus 20.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it
holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day
is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither
you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your
animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the
heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the
seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
(Exodus 20:8-11) When people
of Jesus’ time used the Sabbath more as a law than as a gift of God, Jesus
re-instructed the religious leaders of His time. 27 “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for
man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’"
(Mark 2:27-28) The Sabbath, the regular day of worship, in intended
by God to bless people with a weekly opportunity for rest and renewal.
But there is another story from the life and ministry of
Jesus which teaches lessons we need as summer approaches. Please listen to these words from Mark
6. “30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and
reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people
were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to
them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some
rest." 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark
6:30-32)
First, it is good to go away, away from the demands of
daily life and work. Jesus took His
disciples to “a quiet place,” away
from the press of all the people crowding around Him, so that they could get
some rest.
However, rest is not just found in “getting away.” Jesus tells His disciples, "Come
with ME by yourselves to a quiet
place and get some rest." Real rest is found in time with Jesus. We don’t have to
earn His love. We receive rest from the struggles
of life through the grace and forgiveness of God. God gives rest in Jesus’ life and death and
resurrection, in Jesus Himself. So Jesus
says, "Come with ME . . . and get some rest."
This summer as you
seek rest from the weariness of work and life, don’t leave Jesus behind. If you travel to another location, perhaps
you can worship there. If you go
camping, perhaps you can have family devotions.
When life is busy it is not time to stay away from worship, but to spend
time with God and His people so the He can give us rest in His love and
forgiveness.
May God give you rest
in Jesus, this summer, and throughout the year.
A Child of God, Thankful that God Gives Rest for Busy and
Hectic Lives - in Jesus,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some baptism pictures from the
baptism of Charlie and Robin-Tatem Larsen, last Sunday, June 2. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NsLGnaaXEwXYzk198
P.P.S. Last winter we took offerings for a fire-suppression
vent hood in the kitchen. It is still being installed. Here are some MORE NEW pictures from the new vent
hood installation. (Word is that the workmen are now waiting on a city
inspection before they can proceed.) https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tw7qnd56BoD52AZ98
P.P.P.S. Halibut fishing did not work last Friday in
Seward. The weather knocked us off the
ocean. So Friday evening I went trout
fishing in Palmer. Here is a picture of
the fish I kept. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dJ75685H52e4Fzxa7
******
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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