BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

Greetings Friends,

I hope you all have had an enjoyable summer! I suspect if you and your family are anything like me and mine, you’ve been PLENTY BUSY! And… I suspect with the up and coming school year, fall programing and sports; things probably won’t change much. We always seem to have SO MUCH TO DO and with so much  to do perhaps we miss out on other things that are important for our lives. So much of our lives can be a juggling act as we consider our packed and overflowing schedules.  I like this quote from Martin Luther : “I have so much to do, I am going to spend 3 hours praying.”  Now, perhaps in reading this you are thinking to yourself, “good one pastor! Sure thing but let me see you do it first.” If you were thinking that, well, you got me! So… maybe it isn’t 3 hours a day, but there is something in this. It is important for us in our busyness to have a “grounding,” a time and a place to recharge, reconnect and refocus. If we are always so consumed and always on the go eventually we are going to fizzle out. If we are always so consumed and always on the go we can so quickly lose sight of what is important and what we need most. And what is this? Our FAITH AND FAMILY. 

 Now, maybe in all the hustle and bustle faith hasn’t left you and in all “the stuff” you are spending time with your family. But the question I think we have to ask is this: “where is our primary focus in all of it?”

– Are we focused on the strength that comes from our never fading faith? 

– Are we focused on our Jesus who came to secure for us life to the full?

– Are we focused on “quality time” with our family and not necessarily “quantity in our time?”

There is a real quality and great joy in enjoying the so many things on our calendars, but in our calendars     – are we “carving out” quality time uninterrupted with our faith family at St. John’s…. Connecting       and  reconnecting, charging and re-charging as we are being present for one another building one another up and gearing each other up for the week?  Are we connecting intentionally with our Jesus through Word and Sacrament? The Jesus who promised to be with us always. The Jesus whose Word endures forever and preserves us in every season.                                                                                                                                                

– are we “carving out-” scheduling in quality time uninterrupted with our family at home…. Connecting And reconnecting, charging and re-charging as we are being present for one another. As we are taking In special time that we cant get back. 

With the summer months nearly behind us now and with the fall schedule starting to take shape, I truly hope  we  can find a way to make some time REGULARLY for faith life here at St. John’s. I know that the church is often just ONE SLICE OF THE PIE, but what is faith and faith nurture through regular connection to St. John’s was center? What would that look like? How would faith impact all the other stuff? How would faith impact our attitude and approach?    

With the summer months nearly behind us now and with the fall schedule starting to take shape, I truly hope we can find a way to make some time Uninterrupted for family.   So often quality time unhindered with our family  becomes ONE SLICE OF THE PIE, but what if a day was designated just for family? What would that look like? How would that time impact all the other stuff? How would it impact our attitude and approach? How would it impact our memories later in life?

Friends, when God shared the 10 Commandments with Moses he gave the third Commandment which says: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word sabbat meaning “rest from labor”. God wants for us to have a day set apart—focused on him (and subsequently focused on family). This is a day the Lord has made for us… let us rejoice and be glad. Let’s not be burdened and suggest “its just another thing for the schedule.” Instead, lets embrace it as God intended it to be; a day to be refreshed and renewed for the week ahead through WORSHIP,    REST, and RELATIONSHIP building.

As Christians  we observe the Sabbath day on Sunday (or Saturday). If I can be so bold, I think its time to “TAKE BACK OUR SUNDAY.”  It is sure to make all of the difference! The focus will be where it needs to be on GOD and FAMILY.

If you have been away from St. John’s for a while, if you are reading this, I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK. YOU ARE MISSED.   Please accept this personal invitation from me and your family of faith.  It is noticed when you aren’t here! You’re never forgotten! And you presence brings a unique brightness to this church when you are here. 

This year, in joining with a national observance called “BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY” I am hoping and praying to FILL The pews on September 14 and 15 as we take back Sunday to connect, re-connect, charge and re-charge!   I too hope that we can keep it going into every Sunday! What a difference it will make!!

And one last thing, this church is for everyone! If you have a friend or know a family without a church home, invite them… Please! 

Looking forward to seeing you  soon!

Pastor Galen