GLOBAL MISSION EMPHASIS WEEKEND

This weekend is a very special one for us at St. John's, as we welcome Bishop Warren Freiheit, from the Central Southern Illinois Synod, to our congregation to be the preacher for our Global Mission Weekend. Bishop Freiheit will preach at all of our worship services. In the past, Bishop Freiheit has traveled to Madagascar and met with pastors and evangelists from our sister synod, Malagasy Synod, and he will be sharing some of those experiences with us. As a missionary sponsoring congregation, we also support the work of Patricia Bentsen, who is currently working in Madagascar in the ministry of health care and prisoners.

Part of being a church in mission is to understand ourselves as being called into service. As baptized Christians, each one of us has a "calling" from God. We have been called to live out our faith in service to God and to one another. The story of the "calling of Samuel" (I Samuel 3:1-20) is an example of the way in which God comes to us and calls us into service. That call is not always obvious and sometimes it is not easy to discern. In the same way, the call of Jesus to Philip and Nathanael, as described in the Gospel lesson from John 1:43-51, shows the process of discernment that always comes when God calls us into service. Our understanding of a "calling" is often seen in terms of professional ministry within the life of the church (pastor, youth minister, church musician, evangelist or missionary). Although these church-related callings are certainly possibilities, God also calls each one of us as a baptized child, to live out our faith as we are led by the Holy Spirit. At first the call may go unheeded, but if we continue to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit, the call will become clearer and clearer. In the Gospel for this weekend, Nathanael was very skeptical when he first heard Jesus' call to him. He wrote Jesus off because "he came from Nazareth." But he soon discovered that where we come from isn't nearly as important as where we are going. The Gospel tells us again and again that Jesus always sees more in us than we see in ourselves! God has a plan for your life. God has a purpose for your life. God has a "calling" for your life. Join us for worship this weekend and be open to the promptings of the spirit as you once again, listen for "the call."

Watch for the various displays in the Atrium and Narthex describing our new mission project in Ecuador, "Build a School." In addition to our regular offering, please bring any "loose change" you may have with you, as our youth will receive a "Noisy Can Offering" at each worship service which will go to support the Aypud School Fund and New Horizons Orphanage.

Four photos are included from Madagascar to show some of the work of Patricia Bentsen's prison ministry. The photos include: 1) A couple of prisoners cleaning the dried beans in the kitchen area, away from where the hard-core prisoners are incarcerated. 2) Beans and meat, which were cooked in huge cauldrons, ready to be dished up. 3) Some of the Mpiandry dishing up the food. These Mpiandry were divided into three sections. 4) View of the Tsiafahy prison fortress seen from a distance. (Up-close photos are not allowed.)

Patricia Bentsen writes: "On Tuesday, December 30th, a group of Mpiandry or "Shepherds" traveled to Tsiafahy Prison, around 20 kilometers from Antananarivo. This is where the hard-core prisoners are incarcerated along with political prisoners. The majority of the hard-core prisoners are on "death row." From what I have been told, these prisoners remain inside a fortress-type building 24 hours a day, receiving one cup of cooked cassava (low nutritional value) once a day. When the Mpiandry conduct worship services on Tuesday afternoons, only the political prisoners are allowed contact with the Mpiandry. The others remain behind a metal grill. Those who desire the "laying on of hands" kneel in this separated area with one Mpiandry praying for all the prisoners while the other Mpiandry raise their hands in a blessing gesture. On December 30th, these Mpiandry prepared a meal of rice, meat, and beans for ALL the in-mates. With 561 men imprisoned at Tsiafahy, it took many hours to prepare and cook the meal... cleaning the rice and beans before having the food cooked in huge cauldrons. This is probably the best meal they have eaten in months. This meal reminds me of the verses in Luke 14 where it says (paraphrased), "When you give a feast, invite those who are unable to invite you back."

PRAYER FOR GLOBAL MISSION: Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world to yourself. We praise and bless you for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the earth a community of love has been gathered together by their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants call upon your name; for the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Alive in Christ,