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Our Senior Pastor welcomes you to our weekly Friday Blessings update! In This IssueWorship This Weekend Mission Equador & Vacation Bible School Preaching Pastor Wells is preaching at all worship
services this weekend, including our special L.I.G.H.T. service at
on Sunday evening.
L.I.G.H.T. stands for Living In God's House Together. We have L.I.G.H.T. on the second Sunday of each month. It is a particularly reflective and meditative worship experience and also designed for those who may have had a busy weekend and were unable to worship here on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. If you've never tried it, consider L.I.G.H.T. as an option this weekend! Bring along a friend! Traditional Services are held in the Sanctuary. All other services are in the Parish Life Center. For More Information St. John's Website |
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WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND This weekend, the Gospel comes from Mark 6:14-29. It is actually a terrible story about a horrible event, caused by the blatant misuse of power and authority. It is the story of the death of John the Baptist, a brutal and violent expression of a weak king, consumed by fear and lust, and a perverse understanding of his own power and authority. On one level, Herod has enough power to simply issue an order and a man's life is finished. From one point of view, that's power! But the violent death of John the Baptist reveals a significant weakness in that kind of power. Herod's act, which is supposed to silence this prophet of God, does not stop the witness of John the Baptist. It turns out that we are still reading about him and his story is still remembered. The words and witness of John the Baptist continue into the centuries.
In a workshop by Rich Melheim, which I attended yesterday, we talked about the most effective ways in which the Biblical message can be transmitted to children. Melheim says it is when "the brain meets the body meets the environment." In the workshop, we experienced ways in which that Biblical word becomes written on our hearts and minds in such a way that we will never forget it. The verse that we actually worked on and "enacted with sign language and words together" comes from Joshua 1:9 . . . "Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Obviously, I remember it! And that verse expresses exactly what John the Baptist did. Our prayers continue for
The Reverend
Knight Wells
P.S. Congratulations to Pastor Al Weidlich (former pastor of St. John’s) and Pastor Jim Reents. On Sunday, July 19th Pastor Weidlich will celebrate 55 years of ministry with a reception at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Decatur. Pastor Reents and his wife Karyl will be celebrating 40 years of ministry with a reception in their honor at St. John's on Sunday, July 19th. Look for more details in next week’s Friday Blessings.
Cards for Pastor Weidlich can be sent to:
Rev. Al Weidlich First Evangelical Lutheran Church 250 W Decatur St Decatur, IL 62522
Cards for Pastor Reents can be dropped off or mailed to the St. John's church office. PRAYER: God of the covenant, in our baptism you call us to proclaim the coming of your kingdom. Give us the courage you gave the apostles, that we may faIhfully witness to your love and peace in every circumstance of life, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. |
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