From the Pastor’s Desk

The kids are back at C-FC and elsewhere for the new school year. So are we here at St. Johns. First, Sunday School resumes on Sunday, September 7 during the 10:30am service with a special Rally Sunday. Then Confirmation Exploration Registration and Orientation will be Wednesday September 24 at 6:30pm, with the first class held on October 3 at 3:30pm. Please see me for more information about these classes.

Yet you are never not learning as Christians. In fact, being a Christian means you are disciples. And disciple is defined as being a student of a teacher or leader.

So there is no “back to school” in being a Christian. Though the intensity may vary depending on where you are or what is happening in life, we are always called to learn more about God, about how we are to live this life of faith in a particular moment, as well as to seek ways to share what we are learning with others through both our words and deed.

There isn’t a test, final exam, or dissertation. There is only love, the love of God for us, our love of God, and love for others. We may get things incorrect, or ‘sin’-which comes from the Greek archery term to miss the mark. We may try to do the bare minimum, enough to get by. But we also don’t have to cram for a final or hope that we wrote enough in our blue book (yes, I’m showing my age.) For there are no “F”s – only love and grace by God and the opportunity to do it differently next time, or to learn that what we thought was always the right way wasn’t necessarily what God is asking us to do all this time.

So maybe there isn’t a set back to school time for Christians and followers of Jesus. But there is always more to learn. More to learn about God and each other. There won’t be an A+ or diploma awarded – for the end goal of this learning isn’t to expand our knowledge or be the top person on trivia game night. We learn more deeply of God’s love for us, and through that become closer to God and to each other on this planet.

There may not be an official “back to school” season in our faith. But there is always more to learn, and sometimes unlearn. There is always more to discover, ways we can be surprised anew at the depth of God’s love for us, and the relationship that enables with our Creator and with each other. And best yet, we aren’t left on our own to do it. In fact, in seems to work best when we find other “study partners” and become part of Christ’s body in the world: alive, growing and learning together. We are always learning how to ways that enable us to unselfishly and compassionate love others, and to love God in ways that embody and bring us closer to that love. We are always learning how to be loved by God and others that recognizes and rejoices that no matter who you are, you are God’s beloved. And so is everyone else. What a great lesson plan!


God's grace and peace.
Pastor Deb Kunkel