Worship. No other word in our vocabulary can draw us closer or connect us to God but “worship.” Yet, our understanding of worship

often serves more as a “roadblock” than a highway to God. We’re often led to believe that worship is something that we instigate with God. Worship is often focused on our actions and God’s response to what we are doing for him. Often, the main point of worship is our speech or actions, not God’s. The truth is friends, that worship begins by listening to God speak; worship can’t begin with God listening to us!

Now, there’s no denying that there are actions involved in worship; singing, praying, giving the offering and such. However, all of our

human actions are a response to the main point of worship: to receive the good gifts that Christ gives in His Word-forgiveness, life and salvation! God is the one “doing” in worship; God is the one giving and serving in worship. We’re nothing but the recipients of God’s good and gracious actions! According to the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, one of the teachings that support our Biblical understanding of faith, “the service and worship of the Gospel is to RECEIVE good things from God, while the worship of the Law is to offer and PRESENT our goods to God. (Apology IV:310).

You see, through His miracle of Baptism, God grafts us to Himself in His Son, Jesus (Romans 11:17). We don’t do anything to accomplish that grafting connection. God not only initiates His salvation connection with us, He also preserves that connection! “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

How does God do this for us? Through the living Word and Sacraments that He gives to us in worship. This is why our worship service begins “in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” It’s also the reason that there are public readings of the living Word from the Old and New Testaments in each worship service. The living Word in these readings comes first to refresh us and bring us new life. You know what they do? They feed us the Bread of Life! Worship nourishes us as God Himself serves and gives to us the forgiveness we need so that we can receive his greatest gift of eternal life and salvation! Our “doing” is only responding in love to the gift God is giving to us!

When you know God is the “doer” and you are the “receiver” in worship, you’re freed to hear, learn and inwardly digest what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. As soon as you come into His house of worship and listen and are nourished through His living Word, the Spirit of Truth begins to give you life. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23).

I invite you to invite others to worship with us! Come and receive the Holy Spirit who brings the Father’s grace, love and forgiveness. Hear what God has done and is doing for you. When you come and listen, God will be most pleased with your worship!

To God alone be the Glory!

Pastor Young

From Acts 4:12, we hear this important statement given by Peter and John as they were interrogated by the Sanhedrin: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. That is the message of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is life changing, not only for those who believe this resurrection is theirs also by faith, but also in our everyday lives. Peter and John’s story would go on to tell that they were commanded not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John’s reply was, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Satan would try to bind the mouths of these apostles and prevent the news of Jesus’ resurrection be preached or taught. But the power of the resurrection not only opens graves but also mouths to speak that joy. Like the Psalmist we pray, “O Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.”

On Sunday, May 7 at the 10:45 am service, our 17 catechumens will open their lips to make confession of the faith, and to acknowledge those gifts granted them in their baptism. They will confess there is no other name given among men whereby they must be saved. Salvation belongs to God, and through His Son Jesus Christ, He gives that salvation freely. We as members of the same body of Christ continually keep these catechumens in our prayers.

But what about you? Satan tries to bind your voices from speaking the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. Satan would try to seal your lips much like the Jews and Pilate tried to seal Jesus’ tomb. But the power of Jesus’ resurrection breaks those bonds that hinder the spread of God’s Word. God puts His Words into your mouth to speak words of comfort and consolation to your friend, neighbor, co-worker or family member who needs the news of God’s forgiving and sustaining love. And even your fellow church member needs to hear the assurance of God’s love in their lives.

That is the work of our Board of Elders. They are responsible for

assisting the Pastors in providing spiritual care to the members. That spiritual care takes on different forms. You see them visibly assist in the distribution of the Lord’s Supper and making sure the services are conducted in decency and order. You also see them as they remind the

membership of their duties and responsibilities of being a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School. Their “Building Bridges of Friendship” is a way in which to keep in contact with the members to better connect them to that spiritual care that Word and Sacrament offers. These and many other responsibilities do not occur over one meeting. These are ongoing efforts and results of many meetings and much planning.

St. John's Lutheran Church is blessed to have a Board of dedicated

Elders serving her. Both Pastor Young and I are also blessed to have their support. Yes, Satan will do all he can to thwart the efforts of proclaiming the Gospel, but the sure Word of God defeats Satan every time. You hear that in every worship service. You hear how the Word of God and His Holy Sacraments are your mainstay in this life. It is knowing the importance of the “first day of the week” and spending it in God’s House and how it prepares you and gives you perspective for the remaining days of the week. Your Board of Elders serve the Church in keeping you connected with your Savior and Lord.

Perhaps you have an interest in service to the Lord in this way. I invite you to speak with an Elder about his role, and to present yourself as one willing to serve. Training is free and available, and the retirement benefits are out of this world. I also ask all our members to pray for their Elders, that they are granted wisdom to fulfill their duties and to give them joy in their service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Music Department headed by Beth Hoeppner and Matt Nelson will be presenting a play entitled, “ Jailhouse Rock!” on April 28^th at 12:45 and 7:00 pm. This is a children’s musical created by Celeste Clydesdale and arranged by David T. Clydesdale. It is an upbeat musical teaching children about our freedom in Christ as believers. The musical begins as children are off for a fun week of hiking and swimming at Camp Koinonia. But as they arrive, the skies open up with a torrential downpour and they become ‘stranded” in the Mess Hall…much to their disappointment. As the children feel “locked up” inside, the Camp Director, Mrs. Livingston, and the Junior Counselors, Peter, Paul and Mary teach them about Paul, Silas and Peter’s experiences being “locked up” and how prayer and praise makes a difference.. Also, with a surprise visit via video, Joni Eareckson Tada shares her testimony and teaches the children that God has a sovereign plan for each of us. Even though sometimes we may be confined, we are always free in our hearts. Through these events they learn that true freedom comes from Christ. This is a free will offering event.

Please notice that there is a chart in the church Narthex and in the school hallway depicting how much money we need to collect to finish paying for the school Heating, Venting, and Air project. The total bill is around $80,000 and we have collected around $60,000 primarily through private donations. The school children are collecting money in chapel this 4^th quarter to go to that project which begins on June 7. Any donations from any parishioners would be greatly appreciated. If you are a Thrivent member, make your donation through that vehicle so we can receive matching funds. Thanks for your support to this necessary capital improvement.

Faith Based Tuition is in effect to determine tuition payments for our school families. The parent and child need to come to worship 9 out of the 13 week ends from April through June to qualify for the church member tuition rate. Families who do not meet that 70% rate will be charged either a partial member rate or a full tuition rate which are both significantly higher than the church member rate. This will be reassessed at the semester. This plan was developed by the School Board and will be in effect from April 1,, 2006 and forward. Be advised that this type of program does not put the solitary focus on funds, but focuses on getting families to come to church regularly and receive the spiritual benefits of God. In fact, the Bible provides direct and specific ideas about how to raise godly children. Parents are to provide primary spiritual training…see Deut 1: 31; 6:4-9; 11: 18-21; Ps. 78: 5-8; Luke 8:39; Eph 6:4…Parents should provide spiritual training to instill a passion to love, obey, and serve God…see Matt 10:37; 12: 48-50; 1 Tim 4:7; 2 Tim. 3:15-17. Also, from George Barna’s book entitled…”Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions”…we see that the father is charged with passing on the spiritual blessing to the children. That duty is a serious transfer of God’s blessing and cannot be received through any other means or persons...Gen. 27:2; Sam. 6:20; 1 Chron. 16:43.  We encourage all members of the congregation to pray for the fathers and the mothers of our church families that they may be lifted by the Holy Spirit to successfully perform the duties God has placed on them.

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