Hi everyone, I believe it is obvious that I am a German Shepherd.  Yes there are 2 of us German Shepherds who are members of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I live with Greta and Rick who call me the Queen and I have never met that other German Shepherd although I have been told we look alike. I am a true credit to my breed, I stand guard over Rick’s truck from the passenger seat, am a faithful companion, and at times like any other dog I get sad and put my head between my paws looking for pets and love from Rick and Greta.  I also love it when I come to the church with Rick and Pastor comes out and gives me pets. I have a keen sense of smell and I can tell you, she lives with that other German Shepherd.  Like the name of my breed implies, we German Shepherds are shepherding dogs who also stand guard over all those we love and have been placed in our care.  I think it is pretty cool that several of the readings for this Sunday are about shepherds, shepherding and of course sheep.  1 Peter 2:25 says “ for you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.  John 10 talks about the shepherd as the one who enters by the gate and that the sheep know the shepherd. I expect that most of you know Psalm 23 which is all about the Lord as the shepherd.  It is difficult for this “Queen” shepherd to admit that the Lord is the Greatest Shepherd of all although that is true.  I also believe that the Lord, the Greatest Shepherd created us German Shepherds to help with guarding, and loving humans like Greta, Rick and those others who have found comfort and joy in petting my fur.   ​

​Hi everyone, I’m Baxter and in addition to being a member of St. Matthew by the Lake pet family, I have actually visited St. Matthew by the Lake. I live with Pat and Jim and Pat has taken me with her when she stopped in to see Dianne and Pastor.  I feel like is fitting, to visit the church considering my middle name is “Christian” and I have a brown and white cross on my chest. I have a whole lot of energy and love to play and play and play and play.  Did I mention that I liked to play?  Some people might say I play too much and that you can have too much of a good thing.  I disagree and believe Jesus would also agree me. Remember that time in John chapter 2 when he turned 120 to 180 gallons of water into wine for that wedding at Cana?  That was a whole lot of wine for the number of guests and this leads me to believe Jesus was all about abundance.  Jesus’ abundance wasn’t about money or what we could purchase.  Jesus’ was all about abundant life, grace upon grace, forgiveness of all sins, unconditional love, and eternal life.  Now that is a whole lot of abundance.  Next time when you feel like someone is doing too much of something good, like my playing, I hope you will remember Jesus was all about the abundance of what we cannot buy with our money.

​Let me introduce myself, I’m Honey and I live with Caroline, Nick, Peter and Gemma.  I am a newer member of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet Family.  How do you like my swim ring?  I’m wearing this hoping that it will warm up soon so that we can all go swimming in a pool or the Lake.  My family is looking for some warm weather and hoping to get out and get wet.  You know there is another way Christians get wet.  They get wet when they are baptized.  Some people get immersed in water from head to toe and others get water sprinkled on their head.  Either way they get wet.  During this season of Easter, you know that time between Easter and Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, St. Matthew by the Lake will be celebrating and remembering the gift of baptism during each service.  I hear Pastor Colleen will not only be reading words but she may be pouring some water in the font on at least one Sunday.  Remember, God claims people as children of God through the waters of baptism and that is one awesome gift that comes with forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. I don’t remember any animals being baptized in the Bible but I do know God still loves us pets and all creations, although baptism is for humans.

​Hi everyone I’m Zoie, I live with Lucy and Lynn and I too am a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet Family.  Lynn and Lucy really saved my life.  I was what some call a “failed adoption” and almost lost my life at the shelter. Lucy and Lynn came along just in time to adopt me and that saved my life..  I was not the easiest kitty to have when I came to live with Lucy and Lynn.  I had been abused and didn’t know that I could trust them. I actually had nightmares where my paws would jerk and I would cry in my sleep.  Those were difficult times. This May, it will be 8 years since I came to live with Lucy and Lynn and I have learned to trust them.  When we have been abused and/or heard harmful untruths about people or about God it becomes difficult to trust.  I had to experience the love and kindness from Lucy and Lynn for a long time before I let myself trust.  If you have someone who is having difficulty with their faith, trust and belief in God, please don’t give up on them.  Sometimes it takes those of us who have been hurt a long time before we come around and learn it is true that God loves us all with unconditional love.  Love so amazing that he gave us his son Jesus who gave his life for us all.

​Hi everyone I’m Taku the English lab and I come from a long line of pure bred dogs.  I am proud of my heritage and I just love people. And, I’m Arnie the hound and I am very different from Taku, Andy adopted me from a shelter and I am so glad he did.  My life before adoption by Andy was pretty rough.  We are members of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet family and as you guessed it, we live with Andy.  Although we look very different and come from very different backgrounds we are still family.  You know it is great to be a member of a family and family is not all about blood lines.  When we came to live with Andy he treated us both as part of his family, it didn’t matter if one of us came from great breeding stock and one of us came from a shelter.  We are both loved.  God’s love is like that too.  God does not look at our outward appearance or our family tree.  God looks at our heart and we are all part of God’s family and God’s creation.  Now that is great news that is worth barking and howling about, even in the middle of this pandemic. Stay safe, and remember God loves us all with unconditional love and we are all part of God’s family.

Bog Post 7 Gemma
            Gemma here, yes that’s me.  I’m new to the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet family.  Carolyn recently adopted me and I am so happy she did.  I love to be close to Carolyn and receive all the love she is willing to bestow on me.  In the middle of this pandemic, I get a whole lot more attention, because it is better that we all shelter at home rather than run around in crowds and risk getting that nasty virus.  We can receive and show God’s love from home.  We can fold our hands and pray.  I have also heard that pastor Colleen has been looking into some technology that we can use to connect in other ways and even see one another on the screens of our computers or other devises all at the same time.  When she finds one that is secure and easy to use I am sure she will share it with all of us and we will become more connected despite this pandemic.  Before I sign off I’d like to leave you with a quote from Scripture.  I believe it is a great one to remember when that cabin fever flares up and tempers tend to get short.  “…be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. 

Hi everyone, my name is Obie, short for Obadiah, you know the prophet Obadiah in the Old Testament. The book of Obadiah is rather short, only one chapter and 21 verses located right after the book of Amos and before the book of Jonah.  As you may already know, like all the other pets you have met I am member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I’ve also got a case of cabin fever.  You know the feeling.  I’m tired of this sheltering in place and living with the same people day after day, no company, no time to go outside and chase birds or other creatures.   I live with Mary and Bob and like the sign by my picture says “I’m staying home because they won’t open the door.” Yes, they are sheltering because of a virus but I believe they are having me shelter too because of another creature that tried to greet me at the door.  It was one of those black ones with a white stripe down its back and a really bushy tail.  We are all trying to stay safe in the middle of this pandemic and I am doing my best to provide some love and entertainment for Mary and Bob.  I hope that you will remember that when we shelter and do our best to care for those we love we are also showing our love for God.