“We know that we all possess knowledge. KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP – BUT LOVE BUILDS UP. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by GOD”. I COR. 8:1-3 Distinguished New Testament Professor Jack Mac Gorman GRUMBLERS and faultfinders, they follow their own evil de- told of a missionary and his son walking down a jungle trail sires”. (JUDE 16). Moreover, they may quote to me from with a native pastor. They came upon a pile of medicine the Book of James: “Don’t GRUMBLE against each other, sticks planted by a witch doctor in the trail. It was an at- brothers, or you will be judged. The JUDGE is standing at tempt to transfer the illness of the witch doctor’s patient to the door. (JAMES 5:9) some unwitting passerby who stepped over them. The mis- sionary and his son made sport of jumping over the sticks. Knowing these New Testament passages how can I claim the But the native pastor made a wide detour around them say- liberty to indulge in a personal pleasure that I know will hurt ing, “My head KNOWS there is nothing to that, but my feet someone else? Christian love tempers Christian liberty. don’t KNOW IT!” Jesus taught this before Paul did; saying in Mark’s Gospel, The key to Christian living in a pagan culture is LOVE not “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE TENDS TO PUFF US UP – your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” LOVE BUILDS UP. It edifies the one loved and the one lov- Then the Lord immediately added: “The second is this: “Love ing. It often has been said – and rightly so, - that people do your neighbor as yourself.” (MARK 12:29-31) LOVE GOD; not care how much you know – until they know how much LOVE OTHERS there is no commandment greater than you care. these. Here, in exactly the middle of his first letter to the Corinthi- Harry Ironside was an itinerant Bible teacher early in the last ans, St. Paul makes it clear we are to love God and love oth- century. Ironside, while in Pakistan, converted to Christianity ers, ESPECIALLY OUR WEAKER SISTERS and BROTHERS. a young former Muslim tea merchant who increasingly grew in his faith. The young man’s name was Ali. The Corinthian Christians had written to St. Paul about sev- eral concerns, including the issue of eating food sacrificed to At a celebration of Epiphany which is more observed in the idols. Some thought it scandalous; others thought it perfectly eastern Christian Church than in the west a young lady came O.K. Idols, after all, are not real gods. Paul found both posi- around with a tray of sandwiches. Because the selection of tions a little off the mark. Knowledgeable Christians know sandwiches was two kinds of pork, Ali declined. The young there is no God but one. An idol is nothing, and there is but serving lady said, “Why, Mr. Ali, as a baptized Christian you one Lord, Jesus Christ. As important as that knowledge is – surprise me. Are you so under the law that you cannot eat love for God is greater. Knowledge tends to inflate the ego. pork? Don’t you know that a Christian is at liberty to eat any The starting point in the CHRISTIAN life is not knowledge kind of meat?” but a relationship of love for the Lord. “I am at liberty, my dear young lady to eat it,” said Ali, “but I Christian love compels us to live our lives WITH DUE CON- am also at liberty to leave it alone.” My old father, 80 years SIDRATION FOR EVERY ONE FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED old, is still a Muslim. Every three years, I go back to Pakistan – especially those whose conscience may be more sensitive in to give an account of the tea business of which he is still the questionable matters. How can I claim the liberty to indulge head. When he greets me at his door, he will ask me, “Ali, in a personal pleasure that I know will hurt someone else? have those westerners taught you to eat the hog meat yet?” Christian love tempers Christian liberty. “No, Father, I will say, Pork never has passed my lips. Then I I might find a great deal of comfort GRUMBLING LOUDLY will be welcome to go in and preach Christ to him and his AND PUBLICLY about something I perceive as a grievance house guests.” or a gross miscarriage of justice. Yet it saddened the heart of Jesus when HIS disciples began to GRUMBLE. (JOHN 6:43 & “WE KNOW THAT WE POSSESS KNOWLEDGE. 61) KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP – BUT LOVE BUILDS UP.” And my more fundamentalistic Christian sisters and brothers Looking forward to a fruitful Lent with you, may not only point me to that Gospel incident but also point The Reverend David B. Schaeffer to me and say, “David you are like other MEN… 1 Christ’s light shines in our darkness. God’s love conquers hate. Spirit-given faith is stronger than fear. We come seek- ing you, Lord, please guide our paths. “And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). May it be so. Amen. Feb. 4 – 5 5th Sunday of Epiphany / Souper Bowl of Caring Weekend / Holy Communion at all services Feb. 11 – 12 6th Sunday of Epiphany / Youth Worship Weekend Feb. 18 – 19 7th Sunday of Epiphany / Holy Communion at all services Feb. 25 – 26 Transfiguration of Our Lord – Farewell to Alleluia /Food Bank Weekend SOUPER BOWL OF CARING PAJAMA PARTY SUNDAY!! Feb. 4 & 5, 2017 On Sunday, February 19th, St. John’s Sunday School is hosting a Pajama Party as part of Bring-a More than 20 years ago, -Friend Sunday. Please bring as many friends to the Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday school (and church) as you would like! began with just a simple prayer at a Youth Group Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m. We will watch a meeting: “Lord, as we enjoy movie in the Fellowship Hall and serve a special the Super Bowl football game, help us to be treat for everyone, while you relax in your favor- mindful of those without even a bowl of soup to ite pajamas. Come and enjoy Sunday School with eat.” your friends in comfort! Share your love for one Since that day, more than $81 million dollars has another and spread friendship in his Holy Name. been raised across the country for local charities. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around the Super Bowl into one of the nation’s largest celebration of giving and sharing. Through this mission, young people learn what it is like to make a difference in their community as they collect money to help others in need. As in the past, members from our Confirmation FOOD BANK WEEKEND: Classes will be holding soup pots as you leave February 25th & 26th Church on Super Bowl weekend, February 4th & 5th, and you can be a part of this mission that shares God’s love with those of our area in The Nazareth Area Food Bank needs to replenish need by giving generously. Every dollar placed its supply of canned tuna, peanut butter, grape in the Soup Pots will go to the Nazareth Area jelly and soups but we also welcome Food Bank and Safe Harbor in Easton. any other items you would like to donate. We could also use donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The Food Bank also uses the large-sized brown paper bags so if Please make sure the you need to make room in your pantry, drop Church Office has your them off as well. THANK current email! The easiest YOU!! The Nazareth Area way is to send us an email Food Bank truly appreciates at [email protected]. the continued generosity and That way we can send you updates and faithful support of the many reminders about church events - no members of St. John’s. spam, we promise! :-) 2 PASTORAL ACTS We extend our heartfelt Christian sympathy to the families and friends of the following members We gladly received the following new members into the and friends of Saint John’s who passed into eter- family and fellowship of St. John’s congregation in the nal life in the month of December 2016 & Janu- month of December 2016: ary 2017.: JOSEPH SCHEPIS GERALDINE V. SNYDER December 18th Sunday, December 18, 2016 BARBARA A. STAPLES Sunday, December 25, 2016 DOLORES GARR Saturday, January 14, 2017 Received in the months of November & December 2016 and January 2017 We celebrate with those listed below who entered into the holy estate of matrimony according to God’s ordinance in January 2017: DOLORES GARR Evelyn Werkheiser; Roy & Gloria Roth; Louise Matyas; SUSAN LEE COGORNO & Class of 1952 NAHS; Glenn & Kathleen Fehr; Ellsworth THOMAS PAUL WIDA Bush; Barry & Lois Morris January 7th JOAN NAGLE Amy & Randy Stoudt; Cheryl & Richard Katz; Cindy & Gary Olenwine; Keith Koch & Cindy Tsurumaki; Matthew & Kelly Stoudt; Todd Stoudt; Jean Master; Lois Doyle; Harriet Houtz; Kevin & Cindy Schlamp; Adele Roth; Bob & Betty Miller; Dorothy Krebs; Gerald & Louise Weiss; Chris Abel; Doris Hirsch We rejoice that those listed below have been liberat- ed from sin and death by being joined in the death MYRTLE MORRIS and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Janet Wetzel; Eric & Cheryl Wetzel sacrament of Holy Baptism in the month of January 2017: ARBARA STAPLES B ADIAN JON BENDER A&H Sportswear Co., Inc.; Denise Snyder Son of Danny & Beverly (Transue) Gossett Born: June 15, 2009 BETTY STARNER Baptized: January 22, 2017 Beth Knickerbocker 3 ASH WEDNESDAY From ancient times, ashes have been February 25th & 26th marks the final weekend be- used as a symbol of mourning, peni- fore the Lenten season begins, when we celebrate tence, grief and humiliation.