St. John's Lutheran Church
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning. It is the lifting of a burden or the canceling of a debt.
—Martin Luther King Jr.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
July 11th
The men of St. John’s will be meeting Saturday morning for breakfast and study on July 11th at 8:00 a.m.
Following the meal will be a brief program concluding by 9:00 a.m.
Women's Bible Study . . .
. . . will be canceled until September. Any questions, please contact Cheryl Mechling at rock92@comcast.net.
Rock of our Salvation Worship
Love makes us worthy
Unlike God, who loves unconditionally, humans often make choices and set limits when doling out affection. But Thomas Merton reminds us, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.”
The Boat
My life is falling apart. My work environment is toxic and I’m barely surviving and all you can say is, “Have you been to church?!?”
In Scandinavia a boat usually hangs in the sanctuary above the congregation. It is a small model. It is a reminder that the church is the boat. The main part of the sanctuary is called the “nave—” the same root word as “navy.”
We, like Peter, often are caught trying to walk on water. But the sea is not calm. The sea is chaos. The sea has the wind and the waves of life crashing in around us. Life is often a tempest. From where is our help to come?
The boat is our refuge. Jesus gives us the boat in order for us to come in out of the storm and find shelter, comfort, peace. It is a place of safety. When our lives are falling apart we need the Church more, not less. The worst thing we can do for our mental and emotional health is neglect going to Church. That is where we meet the Great Physician.
Worship is a gift from God. Spend time with God: praising Him, listening to His Word for our lives, being reminded of who we are and whose we are—we desperately need these things. Come be fed with His “very life to feed us.” The Lord provides.
Come out of the storm.
See you in Worship.
Pastor Johnson
