Rambling's From The Rev.

Pastor Jim Johnson
St. Luke Lutheran Church
May 2008
"1st Month of Sabbatical"

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My first month of sabbatical was defined by work. The very first week I was home with kids during their spring break, while trying to prepare for a sermon – both were a lot of work! Yes, the very first Sunday I had off I agreed to preach at the previous congregation I served in Everett, near Lake Stevens, for their twenty-fifth anniversary. Upon our return, I spent a week doing some study at home and a lot of yard work, and some preparation for up coming travel. I then spent two weeks up at Priest Lake in isolation (though my family came to visit on the first weekend) reading several books in research for a paper I will write in June. I have also been fortunate to have the opportunity to worship at various churches: Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Everett, Colbert Presbyterian in Colbert, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Colbert. My time, so far, has been enriching, renewing, and rewarding. Thank you!

I also want to say a great deal of thanks for the ongoing tremendous work I hear is happening in my absence. I hear we had a youth gathering of nearly three-hundred people at our church for an all-nighter over the weekend of the synod assembly. Wow! I hear Jim Scollard gave an outstanding seminar at the synod assembly on multi-media. I hear Suzie Buell is hard at work preparing for small group ministry initiatives to introduce to the congregation. I hear Debbie Wraspir is wrapping up another fantastic year of Sunday School and has begun preparation for what will no doubt be another great VBS. I hear Diane Wenke is in full swing preparing for our upcoming Living Liturgy event to be held at St. Luke in October. I hear Therese has a new copy machine at church, and a new grand son living at her home. I hear we have a new staff person for our youth ministry coming in the fall. And I hear Shelley Bryan-Wee is well received and appreciated.

I also hear that there has been remarkable work done to our facilities. I hear the property of the White House on Graves Rd. has been cleared. I hear that our remodel projects of the new library and old kitchen are nearly complete (if not complete). And I want to say thank you to the anonymous, and very generous memorials that nearly covered the cost of those projects. And I thank the numerous men and women who have worked on those projects – volunteering all of the labor. Thanks to others who have done all of the shopping, pricing, and behind the scenes planning. Thanks to Ziggys who have been very gracious and generous to St. Luke on those projects, as well as others. And thanks to the men’s group who have continued to provide breakfasts to raise money to cover remaining costs.

While there may be others whom I’m forgetting to thank (and for that I apologize in advance), there is one whom I especially want to thank, and that is Sandy Randolph, our Church Administrator, who has been the glue holding the ministry, the work and workers, together – not only in my absence, but while I’m present as well.

Thank you, congregation, for all the work you do for Christ’s ministry – not only at and through St. Luke, but in your daily lives as well.

Peace be with you,
Pastor Jim