Volume 93, Issue 7 April 3, 2013
“ … This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”. Psalm 118:24
The children’s choir sang these words for us on Easter Sunday and we used them as the refrain in the Psalm. From time to time I have thought about copying this text and putting it where I would see it each morning, as a reminder that no matter what comes in that day, the Lord provides what I need. God has given me the day as a gift to use according to God’s purpose. And God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 118 is a song of promise and thanksgiving, composed in deep gratitude after the author was rescued from some severe crisis. He called on God and God acted, acted to save. He proclaims that God has won the victory for him and calls for all to praise God. A good way to start each day is to thank God for the “steadfast love that endures” and to recognize that God is with us and for us in all we do. If you don’t already do that, now would be a good time to start. It puts the whole day into perspective.
I usually begin with Martin Luther’s morning prayer: I give you thanks, heavenly Father, through your dear Son Jesus Christ, that you have kept us through the night from all harm and danger and brought us in safety to this new day. Keep us this day from all evil and all that would harm us, so that all that we do, in thought, word, and deed, we may serve and please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let your holy angel have charge of me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.
Well, the day is off to a good start. Is that enough? Probably not. The Revised English Bible translates vs.24 by saying “This is the day on which the Lord has acted.” So what has God done this day? Where have you seen God at work every day?
That word of encouragement you received – was God using your co-worker to build you up? The person who cares for the flowers around the building – is that person working with God to care for creation? But what about the traffic jam that made you late for work? What is God doing there? If it’s because people are impatient and cut corners, maybe God needs you to pray for them. If it’s for highway construction, you can thank God that people are willing to do that hard work and for the traffic directors who keep traffic moving. Since you can interpret actions in many ways, sometimes you may see God at work and sometimes you may sense God nudging you to work, to pray for a situation or to act. In all of the above scenarios, God is acting, for you or through you.
Wow! These are powerful thoughts. What would happen in your life if you began to think this way? Let me know what you discover.
God grant you peace and joy. Remember to
tPastor MarthaSue Moll
Thursday, April 4Worship & Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Boy Scout District Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, April 8Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 10Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Scout Training/Fellowship Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 11Social Ministry, 6:00 p.m.
Scout Training/Fellowship Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 14Fellowship Hall reserved, 7-Noon
Girl Scouts, Fellowship Hall, 1-4:00 p.m.
Monday, April 15WELCA, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17Fold messenger, 9:30 a.m.
BIBLE Study, 7:00 p.m., Church Library
Thursday, April 18Scout Training, 6:00 p.m.
Christian Education/Evangelism, 7:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 20Kathryn’s Kloset, 9-11:30 a.m.
Friday, April 5thHam Dinner, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Sunbury
$8 adult; $4 children; children under 5 eat free
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER (USPS-515-660) is published biweekly, annually, by
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
Periodical postage paid at Northumberland, PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to St. John’s Messenger,
300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA17857.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER April 3, 2013 Volume 93, Issue 7
St. John’s Evangelical
LutheranChurch
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
April 7, 2013
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion, Baptism
Next Sunday at St. John’s
April 14, 2013
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Church Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m.-Noon
MarthaSue Moll, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music