Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

It’s most fitting that we greet a new year shortly after greeting Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, in his humble manger and in our humble hearts.  Martin Luther had this to say about the incarnation, “We must both read and meditate upon the Nativity.  There is such richness and goodness in this Nativity that we should see and deeply understand, we should be dissolved in perpetual joy.  Truly it is marvelous in our eyes that God should place a little child in the lap of a virgin and that all blessedness should lie in him.  And this Child belongs to all humankind.  God feeds the whole world through a Babe nursing at Mary’s breast.  This must be our daily exercise: to be transformed into Christ, being nourished by this food.”

            Be nourished!  At this beginning of 2012, this time of new beginnings, how will you be nourished in your faith?  How will you be transformed into Christ to nourish others?  We share a great menu at St. John’s!  We who have been blessed to be a member of this Body of Christ for some time share the great privilege of being the most humble of servants to all those who God is sending to us through God’s Holy Spirit.  (Mark 9:33-37)  Those who share the privilege of serving Christ in the world know the great nourishment we receive in life is through serving others with the love of Christ.

            The wonder and joy I see on the faces of those who volunteer or participate in weekly worship, at Loaves and Fishes, the Our Saviour’s Homeless Shelter, the Minnesota State Correctional Facility for Women, CAP food shelf, CAP Christmas Gift Tree, funeral lunches, Sunday School, confirmation, senior high youth ministry, ELCA National Youth Gathering, Bible studies, Day Camp, Go Fish, Musicals with a Mission, our worship music ministry, visitation ministry, and many others all speak to the truth that we are fed when we serve Jesus Christ out of our love and devotion to God and our neighbor.  All of our ministries are led, encouraged and sustained by lay followers of Jesus Christ. 

            Our ministries are also sustained by the relationship of each member with God through their financial contributions to St. John’s.  Jesus is very clear in teaching that we can’t separate our money from our faith.  We are nourished by our financial contributions to St. John’s as well as our sharing of time and talents.  It is a decision each disciple of Christ must make.  Each must determine what is best to cut out of their daily life in order to make room for Christ’s fulfilling nourishment – but there is always a decision to make, something that must be left behind in order to move ahead with Christ.  (Mark 10:17-31)

            Are we ready to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with even more people?  Are you ready to offer your gifts to do so?  Many joyful glimpses of the “Kingdom of God come near” lie ahead for us as we join together as disciples and servants.  I am thankful to God for the privilege of serving as your pastor and for the joy of being dissolved with you in the perpetual joy oflife in Christ and in serving Christ at St. John’s.  My invitation is serious – please contact me as the Holy Spirit moves you or connect with those leading our many ministries.

            Love in Christ,

            Pastor Randy