Jack’s Winning Words 12/19/17
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name.  You are mine.”  (Isaiah 43:1)  Last Sunday I worshipped at a very large church,  When people came forward for Communion it looked like controlled chaos.  I followed along, one among many.  As the bread was offered to me, the server said, “The Body of Christ, given for you, Jack!”  What?  She said my name!   It was as if the words from Isaiah had come alive.  In this busy, busy world, when we sometimes feel lost in the shuffle, how comforting it is to hear that God knows us.    ;-)  Jack

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  indeed He does!   and how thankful we can be for that.  hope you are enjoying your sojourn to the North!   and remember, the days start getting longer this Friday.  spring is on the way....====JACK:  For me, the start of winter's end begins on Groundhog Day.  In fact, with the mild Minnesota weather that I'm experiencing...it seems as though Spring has already begun.  BTW, thanks for establishing such a church where the personal touch has not been lost in bigness.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  maybe you can explain this to gisela & me:  eating the body & blood of christ?!? ewww... cannibalism!====JACK:  In fact, after the first Easter the followers of Jesus were accused of cannibalism, thinking the followers of Jesus had stolen the body of Jesus from the grave and were eating it.  "This is the body!  This is the blood!"  But, that idea did not last.  Traditional Catholics and some Episcopalians believe that in the mass the bread and wine mystically change into the body and blood of Jesus, while still looking like bread and wine.  It's called Transubstantiation.  Most Lutherans believe that the bread and wine remain bread and wine and become vehicles whereby the Spirit of God is transported to the believer to give spiritual strength and assurance that the person's sins are forgiven.  People generally run into trouble when they mix literalism with figures of speech, whether it be in reading the Bible or in explaining Holy Communion.  I hope that makes some sense to you and your daughter.

FROM TARMART REV:  “The Body of Christ, given for you, Jack!” sure beats the words heard in that old song, "50 Ways To Leave A Lover"-- "...get in the back, Jack!" Merry Christmas!!!! ====JACK:  Probably more appropriate..."It's a strange world we live in, Master Jack."  Do you remember that song.  BTW, what do you AGs do when you attend a communion service where wine is offered instead of grape juice.  At Holy Spirit, both are offered.====REV: I wouldn’t think any problem would occur...I’ve told that story about me  asking for seconds when I partook at one of our Lutheran churches one Sunday morning years back.====JACK:  Years back, when you were into bowing, what did you do when there was a "beer frame?"  You probably said, "Make mine a ROOT BEER!"

FROM WATERFORD JAN:  Big church, medium-size, or small, it's all about the greeting; the friendly personality.  A personal welcome is vital.====JACK:  It's a balance...to know when enough is enough without overwhelming the visitor.  Certain people have the technique.