Dear Ones in Jesus’ Love,

This week has been a week of God’s molding and shaping at St. John’s.  So much is humming along at high speed and so much is drawing us deeper in our discipleship and following our Lord Jesus.  Here’s God’s molding and shaping that’s been so joyful:

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 

Our schools are busy being the Lord’s instruments of molding and shaping young people.  Our kindergarten and first grade playground is near my office and I so enjoy hearing the children at play.  This fall our schools are nearly at capacity and we have a few seats left.  As a matter of fact, we may have only one empty seat in our Pre School.  This is a ministry that we do together.  This is a ministry as a congregation of which we are 100% supportive.  Much thanks to our faculty, staff and our Interim Principal Mrs. Robin Gomes.  Her work at the back to school nights was so encouraging and her steady hand is guiding this ministry.  Please join me in prayer for her and for all our students.  Our students are enfolded in the love of Jesus and challenged to grow in their lives.  It’s a good time to be shaped and molded.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

The curriculum for our Fall Life Group Launch is almost ready to go.  We have over 800 people signed up for Life Groups at this early date.  Our time together as a congregation will begin the first Sunday of October and we will be challenged to go deeper in our faith and in relationships through Life Groups.  I can’t encourage you strongly enough to let the Scriptures speak to you.  The lessons are creative, deep and relevant.  I’m excited for the good results in your life as God molds and shapes you through his Word and some new friend connections.

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” 

This molding and shaping is literal.  As you turn toward the corner of Almond and Center Streets this week, you will see the results of the incredible molding and shaping on our Historic Sanctuary.  The result will shake you.  The outside work of the Sanctuary is almost complete and it will make you joyful.  The seismic work, the weather sealing, the painting, all leaves us with a Sanctuary that is ready to stand for another 100 years.  Please drive by, smile, give thanks to God, and join me in turning toward gladness that comes from going to the house of the Lord.  Pledges continue to come in.  People continue to support with a gracious spirit and tolerance in a time of upheaval.  Thanks so much for your good work and for you grace.  Please set aside November 14 for the Sanctuary’s Re-dedication and November 15 for Festival Services that lead us to be grateful for the Lord’s work in our church and a renewed call to mission and service to our community in Jesus’ name.  We are so close to being to the end of this significant project!  We can do it!

This summer has been a time of personal renewal for me.  I have had some time off for vacation and through that, God shaped and formed me in my heart and restored energy, health and hope.  There has been a time of renewal in the Word as I have gone back to school and been renewed in my intellect and thinking.  God has renewed me through this congregation and amazing goodness of the Lord reaching out through encouraging people.  I pray, as your pastor, that you will be renewed this fall.  God never finishes molding and shaping us.  He uses his Word and his Sacraments.  He uses godly encouragement from loved ones.  He uses circumstance and life.  In all these, he shapes and molds us.  My prayer for you is that God would lead you, through his molding and shaping, to a deeper and closer walk with him.

Much love for you all in Jesus!  Happy Labor Day!  Enjoy the Street Fair!

Pastor Timothy M. Klinkenberg
Senior Pastor