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
October 10th
The men of St. John’s will be meeting Saturday morning for breakfast and study on October 10th at 8:00 a.m.
Following the meal will be a brief program concluding by 9:00 a.m.
Women's Bible Study . . .
. . . will return at King's restaurant Tuesday, October 13th. 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.”
It all began with the bequests of Helen Biehl and Lorhetta M. Odonnell. Their gifts were used as seed money to begin our building program which meant purchasing the MTW building and the Montgomery building, tearing them down and putting up a parking lot.
Many of us gave. Many more bequests were received. The sacristy entrance was built. Then, we embarked upon phase two: the 2.6 million dollar addition. It is hard to remember back before it was built!
Now we have been notified of the Corbin and Pat Bowser Bequest of $334,038.38. Council voted to tithe the bequest (as we always do in order to provide an example for our members, and to make sure the work of Christ never stops at our door—St. John’s giving is global). The tithe will go to the North American Lutheran Church and the North American Lutheran Seminary.
The remainder will go into the Capital Campaign Fund to pay off the loan to the Goodrich Fund ($166,500) and provide the beginning funding for phase 3, ($134,134.54). Phase 3, ball-parked at $650,000, is renovating the Ed. Building. The two major expenditures for the project will be renovating the outside, (new windows and a new skin) and renovating the Old Fellowship Hall.
During worship on September 20th, we symbolically burnt the Phase 2 mortgage. Now for phase 3!
Please notice that not one penny is going toward the Current Account. Corbin and Pat were faithful givers while they were alive. Their bequest continues that faithfulness.
May we all be inspired to follow their example!
See you in Worship.
Pastor Johnson
