Dear Fellow Children of God,
Tuesday evening, March 25, as my wife Kathy and I were eating
supper, we discussed my day at work.
Among other things, I visited 9 people in their home or at the hospital.
Pastor Chris Kollman and I visited 5 people at one time at Oak Hammock. Then I visited Larry and Gayle Davis in their
home, and Guillermo and Barbara Luna-Victoria in the hospital. For various reasons of health or age, these folks
have challenges in getting out. A home
visit is an easy and effective way to bring the love of Jesus to those who have
trouble making it to church at times.
Kathy and I then recounted home visits each of us had
made over the last 46 years. Kathy
served as a visiting nurse in St. Louis in the early 80’s, and again as a
hospice nurse in Alaska in the late 90’s.
She remembers many people and homes she visited, and their unique
personalities. I have made visits on
church members and friend now in many congregations. Kathy and I shared memories with one another
of those visits.
Then, as we talked, Kathy and I also commented on some
special visits. I used to bring my
children and later my grandchildren with me when I visited people in their
homes. I remember Minnie Rose. She was in the nursing care unit of a
Lutheran nursing home, “Altenheim,” in St. Louis. When I began visiting Minnie, she said little
or nothing because of dementia. But
after our son, Joshua, was born, I brought him with me on many of my visits. As soon as she saw my infant son in arms,
Minne spoke! “What is his name? How old is he? Is he your first child?” It is amazing how people respond to some
caring attention, perhaps especially from children.
I also used to take Josh with me when I conducted worship
services at the Tower Hill Nursing home in North St. Louis. One day I arrived to lead worship without my
son. Some of the residents suggested I
not return again without him. 😊 The folks in this home considered it a gift
to have an infant child come to visit them.
In Alaska, I once took grandchildren Jacob and Emmalee
with me one day as I visited 10 separate individuals. One elderly lady, named Diane, was lonely. She
was not officially a member of St. John. Diane was a friend of a friend of the
congregation. But she had asked me to
spend time with her as I visited the other lady, so I did. On this particular visit, after I had read
and prayed with Diane, and had served her communion, Jacob and Emma hugged her
as we were about to leave. I remember a
tear in Diane’s eye. It is amazing how a
little caring attention for a lonely person makes such a difference!
This week in worship we will consider two separate calls
from God to love others. In Wednesday
Lenten worship we hear God’s call to turn from selfishly serving only ourselves
toward loving and serving others. In
some ways that sounds very simple. But,
in other ways, caring for others really is not very simple. Consider Jesus.
Then, in Sunday worship, we will again listen to Jesus’ wonderful
parable of the Prodigal Son. Jesus is
calling the Pharisees and scribes to turn from pride and self-righteousness so that
they instead care for the “tax collectors and sinners.” As before, this sounds simple. But, in other ways, caring for others really is
not easy. Again, consider what it cost
Jesus to love us!
Did you ever think that loving others takes an attitude
of humble repentance? Repentance is a
turning away from sin, and turning toward our Lord and His will. It is natural to care for ourselves, to serve
ourselves. Love and care for another
requires us to turn away from our natural selfishness, and toward the needs of another. When we love others, we live the Lenten call to
repent.
During Lent we especially focus on the care and the love which
Jesus gives in His suffering and death. God teaches that Jesus’ sacrificial
death and his love are His gift to us, so that we can love and care for others. “10 In this is love, not that
we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another.” (1 John 4:10-11) Jesus loves and cares for us so that we can
love and care for others. Because Lent
shows Jesus’s love for us, Lent also calls us to care and to love others.
As I visited people on Tuesday, everyone thanked me for
visiting. In all honesty, I am thankful
for the privilege of bringing the love of Jesus to His children, of whatever
age. It is an honor to be in the homes
of the saints of our Lord!
Do you know anyone who is lonely? Do you know anyone who feels rejected? Do you know anyone whose sins and failures
make them feel unlovable? Do you know anyone for whom a simple word of
encouragement would make all the difference?
When we love others, we really practice the repentance of Lent, and we live
in the love of Jesus!
A Child of God, Seeking to Practice the Repentance of
Lent, and to Live the Love of Jesus!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I continue
to serve as part-time assistant pastor at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, Florida, with Pastor Chris Kollmann. Kathy and I will return
home to Alaska on May 5.
·
LENTEN SERVICES 2025 – “Conventional Wisdom vs.
God’s Wisdom. This year=s theme for Mid-Week Lenten Worship is "Conventional Wisdom vs. God's Wisdom." Lent 2025 will look at how the world thinks, with its sinful belief that it
holds the key to wisdom. We will
contrast that to God"s
wisdom, the better wisdom for healthy and faithful lives.
Lent 1 - God's
Wisdom Concerning Glory Palm Sunday,
Upper Room
Lent 2 - God's Wisdom Concerning Prayer Gethsemane (‘Not my will but your Will’ - Does God answer prayer?)
Lent 3 - God's Wisdom About Forgiveness Judas - Forgiveness Can't be Real . . . for me
Lent 4 - God's Wisdom Concerning Selfishness Peter-s Denial - Take Care of # 1
Lent 5 - God's Wisdom Concerning Power Pilate - The Government Has the Power
Lent 6 - God's
Wisdom Concerning Death Ladies at the
Tomb - Death is
Final
·
MID WEEK LENTEN MEALS - Each Wednesday
during Lent at 5:00 p.m. First Lutheran families will serve meals before our
mid-week Lenten worship. These meals
provide an opportunity for fellowship and make it easier for people to attend
Wednesday Lenten Worship, since we don=t
have to bring anything after work for a potluck meal, and there is no cost. Come and enjoy the meals and the time with
God’s people!
WE STILL NEED SOMEONE TO SERVE
THE LAST LENTEN MEAL ON APRIL 9!
·
PASSOVER –We will celebrate a PASSOVER
MEAL of lamb, green salad, charoseth (apple and raisin relish), unleavened
bread, and wine or grape juice at 6:00 p.m. on Maundy Thursday,
April 17. (This time gives people a
chance to arrive from work.) The Passover was a Jewish celebration of God
saving His people from slavery in Egypt.
However, this ceremony also helps Christians understand Jesus’ Passion
and His Easter victory.
The
Recommended Donation is $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.
PLEASE SIGN UP IN THE NARTHEX AT CHURCH! This helps us to know how much food to
prepare. Last year 56 people attended
the First Lutheran Passover Meal. So far
this year, 31 have signed up.
·
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 2 We began a New Member
Class at First Lutheran. IN THE LIBRARY AT 8:45 A.M. Seven people have attended, but others
can join us, if you wish. Our Class is
entitled “Basic Christian Teachings.” If
someone wants to learn more, or to refresh their knowledge, come and join
us. There is no commitment to join
FLC just because a person attends the class.
On Sunday, March 30, we are handing out catechisms.
Pastor Chris
will teach the Adult Sunday School class on The Pastoral Epistles, and Pastor
Rockey will teach the new member class.
·
STEPHEN MINISTRY IS COMING BACK! – First
Lutheran is re-activating the Stephen Ministry program. Stephen Ministry is an organized and
supervised plan for Christian caring.
Stephen Ministers are trained to listen, to bring Jesus to people’s
troubles. They are trained to walk
alongside others as Christian friends, bringing the saving love of God.
Angie Burr,
Jean Halabrin, and Dana Lucas STARTED leadership training on February 10 and
finished on March 17. We will commission
our leadership team in worship, most likely on April 6!
·
SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING until
May, and GROWING! Children begin in worship at 10:00 a.m.. Early in the
service, after the Children’s Message, children leave for a lesson, for a
craft, and a snack.
Parents,
Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Neighbors, PLEASE bring your children to
Sunday School.
Also, as our
Sunday School grows, we need more teachers, so students can be separated by
ages in classes. We have 3 new helpers,
but could use a few more. IF YOU ARE
WILLING TO HELP ONCE A MONTH PLEASE SPEAK TO SHERYL SHIVER OR Katherine Gross..
THANK YOU
Sunday School Teachers and staff!
·
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on
Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m. We are studying “The
Case for Christ” and discussing defending our Christian faith. Come and join us!
ALSO,
there will be College Lunch for students in the Fellowship Hall after
worship.
·
WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN
2024 and 2025 using the “Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday,
March 26, we read through Ezekiel 42.
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. Fishing and Family Fun:
· We
planted azaleas a few years ago. They
are getting healthy. Here are a couple
of pictures from March 15, 2025. https://photos.app.goo.gl/S9YS9Jxyt3tBqeZB6
· St.
Patrick’s Day Dinner at the Rockey residence, March 17, 2025. Corned beef and cabbage, homemade biscuits
and homemade strawberry jelly!!! https://photos.app.goo.gl/RBGbRan8GLn9DUgV9
· March
17-22 was a week for golf. I golfed
in 2 tournaments, and played 5 times. On
Saturday, March 22, two pastors and two elders from First Lutheran played in a
tournament for “Josh’s Place,” a place where young people receive acceptance
and care. Here is a picture of Nathan
Gude, Jonathan Rockey, Chris Kollmann, and Jeff Thinschmidt. https://photos.app.goo.gl/WAKxNbBhEBvx5TVk9
· On
Sunday, March 22, I went fishing on the Suwannee River after church. Recent trips there have not been great for
catching. But, I did have some bites
this time, and caught a nice 18” bass. I
also saw about 10 gators. Here are some
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/xcMK2fbX37TdkQBe7
*******
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
First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.)
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, First Lutheran
Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor Emeritus, St. John
Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
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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