Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
If you go through the drive through at McDonalds, they have a number of things posted with days remaining to those events. One makes me laugh. An employee who is counting her days to retirement. She has over a year to go, but who’s counting? Apparently, she is. One that made me sad was the number of days left until the start of LP High School. I won’t mention the number because I don’t want to make you sad also. There is still plenty of summer enjoyment to have but unfortunately, the end is coming.
Speaking of summer, the Redig family is going on vacation. Patty and I are celebrating our fortieth wedding anniversary early and bringing the clan to the state of Washington. I will be out of the building from July 17th through July 25th. Paul Baker will be preaching for me the weekend of the 20th & 21st. Please contact Paul Baker or Dave Kromphardt if you need anything pastoral.
Since I will be on vacation, there will be no Pastor letter on July 22nd.
We have many things going on at the end of July. We finally came up with a date to feed the Pistol Shrimp players, coaches and interns. We will be hosting them in Fellowship Hall on July 25th at 5:00 p.m. If you and your family would like to stop by and eat with them, please let Eloide know. There is another function going on in Fellowship Hall until 3:00 but we can sneak into the kitchen beforehand. If it is anything like last year, these boys can eat.
Don’t forget that we also have Vacation Bible School starting at 6:00 p.m. on July 18th and 19th. If you can help with your time, please let Donna or Missy know.
We also have Sunday Brunch planned after our outdoor service on July 28th. I was so impressed by some of the usual Sunday people coming to the Pot Luck we had on Saturday last month. I hope that some of the usual Saturday people will return the favor. Remember, we have one church. Let’s make an effort to come together on July 28th.
Last year, Rev. Dr. Jon Pedersen and I switched pulpits. He is the pastor of Shepherd of the Hill in Lockport, which was my home church until I came to Peru. Pastor Sue Hoff also worked with Pastor Pedersen. We got to talking and decided to do a pulpit exchange between the three of us. August 3rd and 4th Pastor Pedersen will be preaching here at St. John’s, while on August 10th and 11th, Pastor Hoff will be preaching. One weekend, I will be in Lockport and the other weekend I will be in Moline, at Salem Lutheran Church. It will be a chance for you to hear two new voices with different perspectives. I will still be in the office during the weekday.
A couple of things to remember:
“God’s grace is sufficient…” (2 Cor. 12:9). Always is and always will be.
Scatter seed!
Don’t ever forget who you are and whose you are. You are, yes, you are a child of God. Alleluia !
Pastor Tom
815-223-1144
Readings for the July 20th & 21st – 9th Week After Pentecost
Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 23 Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Readings for the July 27th & 28th – 10th Week After Pentecost
2 Kings 4:22-24 Psalm 145:10-18 Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6:1-21