Welcome!
I welcome your comments regarding our shared ministry at St. Paul.
If you would rather comment privately please, email me at Prshepherd@westriv.com
"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes,
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up."
I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.
Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know.
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful.
Pastor Dennis
from my perspective…
Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.
Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!”
Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.”
Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?”
I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance.
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become.
Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV)
Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.
Covid-19
by Pastor Dennis on 03/14/20
This week Pastor, Lee and Dawn Alderin and Charlene Sampson
were involved in a North Dakota State Health Department Webinar concerning the
CoronaVirus.
You can access current information at ndflu.com and https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus
One message was clear –take time to prepare and don’t
panic. Most of what was suggested is
already in place as our response to seasonal flu. i.e. giving the sign of Peace
and availability of sanitizer.
Wash hands often with warm water and soap – wash for at
least 20 seconds. Sanitize in between – about the time it takes to pray the
Lord’s Prayer or confess the Apostle’s Creed.
Stay home when sick. Exactly what mom always taught. If you are sick stay home and take care of
yourself. You can find past sermons on the website and YouTube.
Cover coughs and
sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. Virus are spread through respiratory
droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Lastly, avoid close
contact with others, who may be sick. (about 6 feet). Therefore, we will
avoid shaking hands and give the Sign of Peace until the crises subsides.
We invite you to continue to pray for those around the world
who are ill; for those who are experiencing paralyzing fear because of this
virus; for all medical workers who are caring for the ill and for researchers
trying to find the best treatments in the sure and certain hope that Our Lord
is with us and will walk with us through this time of trial.
