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Hello St. John’s Family,
One of the most fulfilling aspects of serving God as a pastor is the opportunity to see others give of themselves in service to God. When someone who has experienced God’s goodness responds by offering their talents and abilities in service to God, a powerful witness is revealed: God is honored and blessed through the act of serving and blessing others. This past Sunday, we were blessed by powerful and uplifting musical offerings in our Music Sunday worship services. That’s not a surprise – we’re blessed on a weekly basis by the offerings of our Bell Choirs, Vocal Choirs, Praise Band, and special music. Sometimes, though, I think we can lose sight of the ongoing commitment given to our music ministries: the many hours of rehearsals; the early arrivals for setup; the commitment to serve in multiple services on Sundays and holidays. All these are offerings given to God’s glory, and they culminate in powerful moments like last Sunday. Thank you to all who respond to God’s calling by investing their gifts and talents in serving God through the Music Ministries at St. John’s, and to Roy Nelson, Alissa Nelson, and Brian Barber for your excellent leadership! God is honored and we are uplifted through your faithful service!
This is a time of the year when examples of God’s goodness, beauty, and wonder are abundant and easy to see. Spring and early summer bring new life in the natural world. We’ve enjoyed a family of foxes on our property (as have multiple congregants – apparently, it’s been a prolific year for local foxes!). Fawns are also abundant, along with newly hatched songbirds in our yards. Many summer flowers will soon burst into bloom. Yet, I’ve recently seen God in a rather odd place: some rapidly growing pole beans. Yes, pole beans!
Looking for ways to grow beans in a limited space, I decided to try pole beans this year. I’ve watched what my wife teasingly refers to as “Jim’s Magic Beans” – otherwise known as “Professor Copperfield’s Miracle Legumes” in an episode of The Office – grow rapidly, quickly ascending their stakes. Trial and error revealed some stakes work well, yet if the diameter is too large, the bean shoots will not train up them. A little research revealed how different species are very particular – right down to whether they wrap around the pole clockwise or counterclockwise (mine are counterclockwise!). Further, different species of plants climb in different ways. Pole beans are “twining stem” climbers… not to be confused with “twining leaf “climbers like Clematis or “leaf tendril” climbers like sweet peas and squash.
Though that may be far more than you ever care to know about climbing beans, observing and learning more of the unique ways plants grow has reminded me of the awe and wonder God imprinted upon the natural world. Yes, our selective genetics and breeding can influence these characteristics; it is God, though, who set all creation in motion and formed its framework. We will see the goodness and glory of “the work of God’s fingers,” as the Psalmist says, anywhere and everywhere when we pause, look closely, and allow ourselves to wonder. Even in pole beans.
This Sunday in worship we’ll pause to reflect on our relationship with God and God’s wondrous creation as we explore Psalm 8. We’ll thank God for the gift of fathers, recognize the dedicated workers who serve in Christian Education at St. John’s, and praise our Triune God. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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