Pastor’s Page - FEBRUARY 2013
GOD LOVES US ALL

Romans 8:12 “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”

Have you every noticed the difference in people? Some are short. Some are tall. Some have red hair, some blond, some brown, some black. And then we have some with blue, green or purple hair--or all three of those colors blended together. We have both men and women, boys and girls, who wear rings in their ears, and in their nose, lips, navels, and various other places.

I don’t profess to understand all the ways that people try to be different. But what I do know is that no matter how different we are from each other, we are all the same. God loves us no matter how we look or what we like or don’t like. The Epistle reading for the First Sunday in Lent says that there is no difference in any of us--”for the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who believe in Him.”

In Bible times, the Jewish people and all the other races at the time were extremely different from one another. They dressed different. They acted different. They talked different. They ate different foods and lived differently from each other. But that didn’t matter to God. He loved the Jewish people and he loved all other races of people. He loved them in the same way that He loves each of us today.

The text goes on in v.13 to say, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God knows that each of us are sinners in our own way--whether we look alike or look different. The Good News is that God sent his Son, Jesus, to die to pay the price for the sins of all of us. God’s gift of eternal life in heaven is for everyone. He doesn’t want anyone to be left out.

In Romans 10:9, the apostle tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s true for everyone, without exception. It doesn’t matter if you have green tinted hair or have a ring in your lip or nose--Christ died for you.

The message of the Christian Church--the message of God’s Word--is that Jesus is Lord of all.

We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, so we are saved and will go to heaven. And we want everyone to go with us!

Pastor Wilman

As mentioned during last Sunday’s service, we have received a $2000 gift from the Cahow’s. The money is to be used for the benefit of the community as well as the church; it may not be used for operating expenses or building maintenance. We need your input and ideas, we also need volunteers for a committee to review those ideas. Please contact Kevin Krarup with ideas or if you wish to be on the committee.

Another committee to volunteer to be on is one to explore the position and condition of the congregation. There will be a meeting on Feb. 10 regarding these two issues after the church service and potluck lunch.

The St. Paul Ladies will meet after the church service the first Sun. of March. In April, they will again have evening meetings the first Thursday of the month.

St. Paul’s annual meeting was Jan. 13th . New officers elected for the positions of president is Kevin Krarup, secretary Lori DeBoer, elder Roger Gust, and trustee Marv Young. Officer installation was held Sunday, Feb. 3 during the worship service.

St. John’s hosts free suppers open to the community on the second Sunday of each month beginning at 6 p.m. followed by games and visiting.

Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday service at 8 pm at St. John’s in Forest. St. Paul’s will serve a soup and sandwich supper beginning at 6 pm on Wed., Feb. 20, followed by Lenten worship at 7 p.m.