Notes from the Pastor
On this page, you can read selected Grace Notes articles from the Pastor from past months and study them in closer detail. Enjoy!
June 2023
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
May the blessing of Almighty God, be and remain upon each of you, in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
As we come to the month of June, we come to that month when many plan and take summer vacations. And why not?! School is out for the summer. The weather is generally very favora-ble. The lake and the cabin are inviting. The RV has been sitting idle for some time. In short, it’s just a nice time of the year to “get away.”
Sadly though, sometimes summer vacations also translate into vacations from God! This should not be the case. Holy scripture reminds us: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day ap-proaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Indeed, Judgement Day is approaching, when Jesus will sud-denly appear. The question is, are we ready for it?? If we are in the midst of summer when Je-sus suddenly comes back, will He find us on vacation from God?
Let’s look at our faith journey through life from another angle. Why do we eat three square meals a day? The answer to this question is simple. Because our bodies need the proper nour-ishment that these meals provide. If we stop being nourished through regular exposure to Word and Sacrament, we very well run the risk of dying spiritually! That’s just one reason why you and I need to be at worship regularly — even during the summer months!
So, if you are traveling this summer and can’t attend church at home, please check with me. I can provide you with a list of sister churches, their worship times, their addresses, etc., along the route of your travel itinerary.
May your month of June, and the rest of your summer be richly blessed!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
May the blessing of Almighty God, be and remain upon each of you, in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
As we come to the month of June, we come to that month when many plan and take summer vacations. And why not?! School is out for the summer. The weather is generally very favora-ble. The lake and the cabin are inviting. The RV has been sitting idle for some time. In short, it’s just a nice time of the year to “get away.”
Sadly though, sometimes summer vacations also translate into vacations from God! This should not be the case. Holy scripture reminds us: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day ap-proaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Indeed, Judgement Day is approaching, when Jesus will sud-denly appear. The question is, are we ready for it?? If we are in the midst of summer when Je-sus suddenly comes back, will He find us on vacation from God?
Let’s look at our faith journey through life from another angle. Why do we eat three square meals a day? The answer to this question is simple. Because our bodies need the proper nour-ishment that these meals provide. If we stop being nourished through regular exposure to Word and Sacrament, we very well run the risk of dying spiritually! That’s just one reason why you and I need to be at worship regularly — even during the summer months!
So, if you are traveling this summer and can’t attend church at home, please check with me. I can provide you with a list of sister churches, their worship times, their addresses, etc., along the route of your travel itinerary.
May your month of June, and the rest of your summer be richly blessed!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
May 2023
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
“April showers bring May flowers!” So goes the old, but popular saying that ushers in the month of May. However, the month of May is about a lot more than flowers. For example, Ascension Day occurs, most of the time, in May. This year, the date is May 18. Ascension Day is always 40 days after Easter, and always on a Thursday. Ascension Day is that day when the Lord, having finished the work the heavenly Father sent Him to do, ascended back to the Fa-ther’s right hand, to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords over the church for which He died. St. Luke sums up Ascension Day so well in the book of Acts: “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white robes stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven will be back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11) Yes, Jesus will come back!! It’s important that the church be doing the work that He has ordained for her while she waits for His return!
Another day that occurs in May is Mother’s Day—always the second Sunday in May—meaning that this year it is May 14. While Mother’s Day is a secular holiday, it is an important day. Since the basic institution of marriage and the traditional family are being attacked by many in our society today, it is important that the Church hold high, mothers, fathers, and children—yes, the family unit as God has created it! It’s interesting to me that after God did the work of crea-tion as recorded in the book of Genesis, Scripture declares, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31a) I find it very disturbing that what God saw as very good, mankind in sinful blindness has to play around with and change. So I encourage you to cele-brate Mother’s Day as it is intended to be celebrated!
Finally, another important day in the month of May is Memorial Day—this year, May 29. Again, we are talking about a secular holiday. That fact doesn’t diminish the importance of this day. On Memorial Day, we especially remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice—fighting in the wars that our nation has been engaged in over the course of her history—in order that we might enjoy the freedoms that we have today. So please remember! Memorial Day is about much more than picnics and barbecues. Memorial Day is about freedom, and paying tribute to those who have made, and continue to make it possible.
As we celebrate these three events, may your month of May be a blessing to you and yours!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
“April showers bring May flowers!” So goes the old, but popular saying that ushers in the month of May. However, the month of May is about a lot more than flowers. For example, Ascension Day occurs, most of the time, in May. This year, the date is May 18. Ascension Day is always 40 days after Easter, and always on a Thursday. Ascension Day is that day when the Lord, having finished the work the heavenly Father sent Him to do, ascended back to the Fa-ther’s right hand, to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords over the church for which He died. St. Luke sums up Ascension Day so well in the book of Acts: “They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white robes stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven will be back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11) Yes, Jesus will come back!! It’s important that the church be doing the work that He has ordained for her while she waits for His return!
Another day that occurs in May is Mother’s Day—always the second Sunday in May—meaning that this year it is May 14. While Mother’s Day is a secular holiday, it is an important day. Since the basic institution of marriage and the traditional family are being attacked by many in our society today, it is important that the Church hold high, mothers, fathers, and children—yes, the family unit as God has created it! It’s interesting to me that after God did the work of crea-tion as recorded in the book of Genesis, Scripture declares, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31a) I find it very disturbing that what God saw as very good, mankind in sinful blindness has to play around with and change. So I encourage you to cele-brate Mother’s Day as it is intended to be celebrated!
Finally, another important day in the month of May is Memorial Day—this year, May 29. Again, we are talking about a secular holiday. That fact doesn’t diminish the importance of this day. On Memorial Day, we especially remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice—fighting in the wars that our nation has been engaged in over the course of her history—in order that we might enjoy the freedoms that we have today. So please remember! Memorial Day is about much more than picnics and barbecues. Memorial Day is about freedom, and paying tribute to those who have made, and continue to make it possible.
As we celebrate these three events, may your month of May be a blessing to you and yours!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
April 2023
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen! Later this month, the previously mentioned words and phrases will be shared again and again as another Easter and Resurrection celebra-tion comes upon us.
What is the focus of Easter? Of course, it is and has to be Christ’s resurrection. Why is Christ’s resurrection so important? St. Paul, as he writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in his first letter to the Corinthians, answers this question. He says: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (I Corinthians 15:13-14&17) Could the answer be any more clear??? Without Christ’s res-urrection, we have no hope, no future, no forgiveness, no eternal life!!!
To be sure, there were doubters of the resurrection then, even as there are doubters now. Lis-ten again to St. Paul: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (I Corinthians 15:20) Paul, in essence, is saying here — make no mis-take about it! Christ Jesus lives again, just as He said He would! He INDEED rose triumphantly from the grave, meaning that we and all those who have died in faith will be raised trium-phantly too.
That’s why Easter is such a joyful time of the year. Because Christ lives, we will live again in His resurrection victory! So, during this month of April, during the Easter season, and yes, throughout the course of the year, hold your heads high in joy, knowing that your eternal destiny is secure!! For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!!!
On another note, this year of confirmation instruction is coming to an end for seven students at St. Stephen’s. What a joy it has been for me, and I’m sure also for Elder Steve Baker, who has led the lion’s share of the classes, to share the basic doctrines of Holy Scripture with those involved in confirmation!
May your month of April and your Spring truly be blessed!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen! Later this month, the previously mentioned words and phrases will be shared again and again as another Easter and Resurrection celebra-tion comes upon us.
What is the focus of Easter? Of course, it is and has to be Christ’s resurrection. Why is Christ’s resurrection so important? St. Paul, as he writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in his first letter to the Corinthians, answers this question. He says: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (I Corinthians 15:13-14&17) Could the answer be any more clear??? Without Christ’s res-urrection, we have no hope, no future, no forgiveness, no eternal life!!!
To be sure, there were doubters of the resurrection then, even as there are doubters now. Lis-ten again to St. Paul: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (I Corinthians 15:20) Paul, in essence, is saying here — make no mis-take about it! Christ Jesus lives again, just as He said He would! He INDEED rose triumphantly from the grave, meaning that we and all those who have died in faith will be raised trium-phantly too.
That’s why Easter is such a joyful time of the year. Because Christ lives, we will live again in His resurrection victory! So, during this month of April, during the Easter season, and yes, throughout the course of the year, hold your heads high in joy, knowing that your eternal destiny is secure!! For Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!!!
On another note, this year of confirmation instruction is coming to an end for seven students at St. Stephen’s. What a joy it has been for me, and I’m sure also for Elder Steve Baker, who has led the lion’s share of the classes, to share the basic doctrines of Holy Scripture with those involved in confirmation!
May your month of April and your Spring truly be blessed!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
March 2023
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
Psalm 5 has an interesting and unique message for us, the people of God. It reads as follows: “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; Evil may not dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes, You hate all evil-doers. You destroy those who speak lies, the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
The message of this Psalm is probably one of the hardest truths for anyone to honestly grasp. The only way we can reject what it says is to deny that the Bible is God’s Word and contains many lies. So, how so we apply the verse that talks about God’s hatred toward those who do evil and God’s love that moved Him to send Jesus to save us?
First, we are all born with a sinful nature. Because of that truth, we need God’s love and com-passion that looked with pity on our lost condition and moved Him to send Jesus to pay the debt we owe for the sins we have committed.
One of the chief tasks of the Christian Church is to help people know with certainty that there is no hope for a blessed end without the forgiveness of sins. That was the message of much of the Old Testament. But throughout the Old Testament, God promised One would be sent who would make full atonement for all sinners. That One was sent as promised. His name was and is Jesus. Everyone who believes in Him has everlasting life.
We, members of the Christian Church, are reviewing the life and sacrifice Jesus made for us during this Lenten season. God has accepted His sacrifice so He can now declare, “Whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The examples that you, God’s people give to others by your faithful worship and living under His direction is important. Keep on keeping on! It is my sincere prayer that as we view Jesus’ life and death this season and His resurrection at Easter, we will bow to serve Him until life comes to an end on this earth!
May your month of March truly be a blessing for you!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
Dear Members of God’s Families at St. John’s and St. Stephen’s,
Psalm 5 has an interesting and unique message for us, the people of God. It reads as follows: “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish. For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; Evil may not dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes, You hate all evil-doers. You destroy those who speak lies, the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”
The message of this Psalm is probably one of the hardest truths for anyone to honestly grasp. The only way we can reject what it says is to deny that the Bible is God’s Word and contains many lies. So, how so we apply the verse that talks about God’s hatred toward those who do evil and God’s love that moved Him to send Jesus to save us?
First, we are all born with a sinful nature. Because of that truth, we need God’s love and com-passion that looked with pity on our lost condition and moved Him to send Jesus to pay the debt we owe for the sins we have committed.
One of the chief tasks of the Christian Church is to help people know with certainty that there is no hope for a blessed end without the forgiveness of sins. That was the message of much of the Old Testament. But throughout the Old Testament, God promised One would be sent who would make full atonement for all sinners. That One was sent as promised. His name was and is Jesus. Everyone who believes in Him has everlasting life.
We, members of the Christian Church, are reviewing the life and sacrifice Jesus made for us during this Lenten season. God has accepted His sacrifice so He can now declare, “Whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The examples that you, God’s people give to others by your faithful worship and living under His direction is important. Keep on keeping on! It is my sincere prayer that as we view Jesus’ life and death this season and His resurrection at Easter, we will bow to serve Him until life comes to an end on this earth!
May your month of March truly be a blessing for you!
Your Vacancy Pastor in Christ,
Rev. George W. Sagissor III
October 2022
Members of St. John’s & St. Stephen’s Lutheran Churches!
As we await news from the pastor being called regarding the call to our congregations we carry on with our mission and ministry. There is much evidence that God continues to work with and for us as we work in our individual churches and as we work together. We have two great churches!
A special thanks to our elders and church council president/vice president who have been working with our Circuit Visitor, Rev. Jacob Gillard, to make sure that we have men to lead us in worship and confirmation classes, and to make shut-in calls. It has taken a lot of communi-cation between the congregations and Pastor Gillard, and it has taken a lot of coordination for Pastor Gillard, but it is working well. We continue to have wonderful worship services led by gifted and faithful men of God. We hope you can join us at either church.
In addition to meaningful worship services, Sunday School, confirmation, Bible studies, women’s groups, elder meetings, council meetings, quilters, and fellowship continue. We have had quite a few people get their pictures taken for the directory. We do have a lot of people left to get pictures taken, and hope to get some times set up for everyone to get their pictures taken soon. Please make sure to get your picture taken when these times are available, or if you are unable to come in to get it taken, please submit a color picture to your church office. We would love to have all members of each church to be included into the directory.
"We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Members of St. John’s & St. Stephen’s Lutheran Churches!
As we await news from the pastor being called regarding the call to our congregations we carry on with our mission and ministry. There is much evidence that God continues to work with and for us as we work in our individual churches and as we work together. We have two great churches!
A special thanks to our elders and church council president/vice president who have been working with our Circuit Visitor, Rev. Jacob Gillard, to make sure that we have men to lead us in worship and confirmation classes, and to make shut-in calls. It has taken a lot of communi-cation between the congregations and Pastor Gillard, and it has taken a lot of coordination for Pastor Gillard, but it is working well. We continue to have wonderful worship services led by gifted and faithful men of God. We hope you can join us at either church.
In addition to meaningful worship services, Sunday School, confirmation, Bible studies, women’s groups, elder meetings, council meetings, quilters, and fellowship continue. We have had quite a few people get their pictures taken for the directory. We do have a lot of people left to get pictures taken, and hope to get some times set up for everyone to get their pictures taken soon. Please make sure to get your picture taken when these times are available, or if you are unable to come in to get it taken, please submit a color picture to your church office. We would love to have all members of each church to be included into the directory.
"We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28