Let us know you're planning to be at church!

 

Daily Readings

Sunday - Psalm 92

Monday - Psalm 93

Tuesday - Psalm 94

Wednesday - Psalm 95

Thursday - Psalm 96

Friday - Psalm 97

Saturday - Psalm 98

Catechism Reflection

Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God so that we do not use his name superstitiously, or use it to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call on him in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

"Now, therefore, I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in which we baptize."
These words will be spoken to our confirmation students this Sunday as they make a public affirmation of faith. It is significant that we ask them to confess the faith of the Church rather than asking them to lay out all the details of their personal belief system. The Christian faith, the faith in which we baptize, is not just whatever you want it to be. It is not a hodgepodge of beliefs picked up from here and there and woven together into a personal creed. It is a public faith. We confess that there are some things that are true about God and some things that are not.
That's a tough sell in a world where everyone wants affirmation of themselves and whatever they happen to think. Whatever an individual says or believes about God is to be honored because religion is personal, a matter of opinion.
But the Living God will not be twisted and shaped into whatever suits our feelings at the moment. "I am who I am" is what he says when Moses wants to know his name. Not "I am whoever you think I am."
And this one who is beyond us, "who is who he is" quite apart from whether we know him or not, has chosen to come right to where we live, right into our midst. He is not content to stay beyond us. He has chosen to be Emmanuel - God with us. He has chosen to be our Savior. He has chosen to put away our sins, wash us clean forever. And despite our tendency to use his name in vain, for our own purposes, he has promised that even our faults and failures will not undo what he has done.
This is the faith of the Church, the faith in which we baptize.

This Week at St. Johns

Tuesday 10am Bible Study via Zoom

Wednesday 6pm 8th Grade Confirmation Class
                    650pm 9th Grade Confirmation Class              

Sunday 9am Worship
             945am Sunday School

If you are in need of pastoral assistance during this time, please contact the church office or Pastor Julie. 

We will keep you informed of any changes as information becomes available. If you have not provided the church with your email address or cell phone number, this would be a great time to do that!