WINTERFEST - FEBRUARY 19 - Pork Roast Meal 12noon - Auction and Activities 1:00pm

Visit WELS.net                                   Visit LaCrosse Area Lutheran Schools. org

School Office: 507-643-6440              Saturday Evening Communion Service - 7:30pm, 1st Saturday of each month.

Email: stjohn@acegroup.cc

42685 County Road 12-Nodine

Dakota, MN 55925

Find us: I-90; Nodine Exit 267                                  Click on pictures below for information on our Services and Facilities

                                                                                                                                                                                  POWER HOUR PROGRAM, Ages 0-4

                                                                                                                                                                                  Next Session Begins February 7, 2012

                                                                                                                                         Church Organizations and History (click here)

Pastor Dennis Harbach pastordh@acegroup.cc                                                                                                    Mr. Mark Kutz, Principal stjohnpr@acegroup.cc

                                                                               Click Here to Meet or Contact the rest of our Faculty

A Message from the Pastor

“We know who is in control.  I was reminded the other day why I'm glad that I don't control the weather.   While riding in the hospital elevator I commented about the falling snow to my co-rider.  While I was half-hoping for another round of near spring like temps, this caregiver was almost giddy thinking about the beauty of the white powder covering the ground.   Everyone has a different perspective.   When the snowmobile sits idle for months, thoughts of a blizzard dance in your head.  When your teenage children are driving in their first storm- not so much.  Weather warnings bring joy to the child aching for a snow day.   But if your back is still aching from the last round of shoveling you detest that updated storm team forecast.   And summer isn't much different.  For every farmer praying for rain there is another person asking God for sun to go fishing, play baseball, or to get the lawn mowed.  (Now who prays for that?)  Good thing we are not in control.  But God is.   And his thoughts go beyond just what we decide what might be fun to do for a day.  The Lord uses the weather as a means through which he sustains the earth and its inhabitants.   As the psalm writer says, "The eyes of all look to you, O Lord."   That's a lot of eyes and lives that are depending upon our providing Father.   The weather cycles: rain, sun, wind, evaporation and even snow are God's means for caring for his creation.  Not only that, but the weather is ultimately a testimony to God's faithfulness.   Luke says, "He causes rain to fall on the evil and on the good."   In other words the Lord demonstrates his love for all his creation by sending precipitation both upon those who are counting upon Him- and those who aren't.   God just keeps sending what people need whether they recognize the source or not.   In some ways it's like his sending of a Savior.   Jesus came for everyone, died for everyone, loves everyone- even those who don't know it and risk losing the benefit.   But the Lord's testimony is clear.   God's provision is so abundant that sometimes we even pay farmers not to plant.   He is faithful.   So enjoy the weather.   God sends what is best.   See his love in action through it. It is yet another reason we have to trust in Him.   Anyway, I need to get going.  My children are waking up now and soon they will be asking me again,  "Is there a two-hour delay?"