​Hi everyone my formal name is Earl Moses Haynes but you can just call me Earl. I live with Cheryl and Bill.  They named me Earl, after Earl Scruggs and then gave me the Biblical middle name of Moses.  I believe it is obvious by my pic, I am truly in the strictest sense, a puppy and have only been around 13 weeks.  Some might say that I am too young to provide any wisdom or that it is not worth one’s time to listen to a pup of my young age.   I beg to differ, no pun intended.  Not only do I believe it is important to listen to pups like me I believe it is important to listen to the young people in the world who will someday be leading and taking care of this planet we all share.  Even as a puppy, I know full well how to show love to Cheryl, Bill, and even my canine friends Smarty Jones and Baxter.  The younger generations in this world know how to show love for their neighbor too and I believe many of them are concerned about their neighbor and showing love for their neighbor as well.  Jesus listened and cared for children in scripture during those days that children were pretty much at the bottom of the food chain.  In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”  The children, young people and pups like me matter to Jesus and I think that’s awesome.

​Hi everyone I’m Bubbies.  I “belong” across the road from Cheryl and Perley but spend a great deal of time with my second mom Cheryl.  You might call me an adopted member of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet family.  You see, Cheryl feeds me and she is the one that tends to all my medical needs, makes sure I get check-ups and shots.  She is the one that ensures that I stay healthy and fed.  I’ll admit, I grumble when she takes me to Lakeland Animal Hospital but after it is all over I’m OK. I know she is doing what is best for me.  Good parents are like that, they do what is best for us even when we don’t understand how what they are doing is the best at the time.  Of course. God is that perfect parent that lets all of us make decisions on our own.  Sometimes through those decisions and actions we hurt ourselves and we hurt other people.  God does not treat us as Marionettes on a string.  We are all allowed to make those decisions and mistakes.  However God is always there with open arms, welcoming us back, giving us strength to pick up the pieces of our lives, change our ways and begin again. It is such a joy to have a loving God that welcomes us back and loves us all.

​Hi everyone I’m Dinah.  I will admit I am not a formal member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family but I do have a couple of connections.  You see I am a formally trained comfort dog for Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn Illinois.  Two of my handlers, those people who take me places, just happen to be Pastor Colleen’s brother Lamar and his wife Kathy.  I’ve also been to Benton KY on a couple of occasions.   That picture of me in the car was taken when I was on my way to Benton.  When in Benton I visit those students and others affected by that nasty shooting that took place at the school.  My job is to be a friend and provide a calming influence to humans that will allow them to open up their hearts and receive help for what is affecting them.  We all need a great deal of help these days with this pandemic and all the turmoil in our country and the world.  I might look a little sad in that picture of me in the pool.  That’s because I don’t get to get around to see people the same way I did before this pandemic. I too have had to keep a social distance.  Instead of visiting people in nursing homes and letting them pet my fur, I have to look in at them from the window and it’s just not the same. When I get down I remember my Bible verse, yes, I have one of those.  It is Genesis 28:15 “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  I don’t believe God is done with any of us and God will be with us, through all those tragedies we face in this life, all the turmoil in our country and this pandemic.   

Hi everyone I’m Minty and I live with Cheryl and Perley. They call me the magician and I am delighted to be a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I guess I should say a little about why they call me the magician.  You see, I have this wonderful, at least I think it is wonderful, ability to vanish in a flash.  Some of my favorite words are “now you see me”  “now you don’t”  Wouldn’t it be great if we could make some of those issues going on in our lives and our country disappear in a flash like I do around the house.  Think about all those things we might want to go away, COVID-19, cancer and racism are all at the top of my list and I suspect you have more that you would add to my list.  Unfortunately we can’t make them all disappear.  It takes work and cooperation and powers beyond what I have as a furry kitty or what you have as a human.  The good news is that we have our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit whom we can lean on.  We can bring all of our cares about the big things in our lives as well as those things that annoy us to God in prayer.  God will listen and give us strength to endure whatever it is that we want to disappear from our lives. 

​Hi everyone I’m Thor and I live with Nick, Caroline, Peter and Gemma. I am delighted to be a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I was given the name Thor because when I was a mere pup, I tried to carry around toys that were larger than I was and sling them around like the mighty Thor of mythology would his big hammer.  Then I grew up and decided brains, at least for me, were more important than brawn. You see, I love to be with people and sleeping alone in my own bed is, well lonely and boring.  I try to sneak into Peter’s room and sleep with him when or if I can get away with it.  I was almost successful one night but Caroline caught me.  I made it all the way to Peter’s bed.  Because I love people so much, I can relate to all those out there who are not able to see their favorite people during this pandemic and especially those who live by themselves.  It is tough and I would love to just lay my head on your lap and be there for you.  Although I can’t be there with you, there is someone who is with you all the time during this pandemic, before it started and will be with you when it is finally over.  That someone is our Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  You and I are not alone at all, God is with us walking beside us, living inside and surrounding us with reminders of God’s presence through all of God’s beautiful creation.

​Hi everyone I’m Princess and I live with Cheryl and Kent. I am delighted to be a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I’m a member because Cheryl and Kent were kind enough to let me stay with them. You see, several years ago, I wondered into a group of wonderful youth from St. Matthew by the Lake and they saw that I needed a friend and a home.  They put me in the back of a wonderful pastor’s truck without his knowledge (hint- it was the one before Pastor Colleen). One thing led to another and eventually it was decided that I could stay with Kent and Cheryl and their daughter Devyn (the one who really believed I needed a home).  Kent and Cheryl really showed their love for me and now I get more love from Cheryl since she is working from home.  As you can see from my picture, I have my very own place that I claim as my own when Kent is not sitting here.  I feel really safe in this spot and it is really warm and comfy especially right after Kent gets up.  Of course I keep this spot warm for Kent too.  We take care of each other especially since Devyn has gone off to live on her own.  As followers of Jesus Christ we all take care of each other.  It’s one of the ways we show our love for one another and our love for God.  We do all this because of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus.    

​Hi everyone I’m Annie and I live with Steve and Lee.  I have been a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family beginning with the day Steve and Lee joined St. Matthew by the Lake.  You see, Steve and Lee adopted me back when they were living in the Chicago area.  However, that is not where my story begins.  When I was just puppy I lived in Texas and I was abandoned.  My owners moved and left me tied to a tree.  Neighbors gave me food and water and then the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) rescued me.  I was actually featured on Animal Planet in 2009 and then transferred to Rover Rescue in Lee, Illinois.  Steve drove 2 ½ hours to come and adopt me.  That was a long time ago.  I’ll be 12 years old later this year and dearly love Steve and Lee.  During this pandemic I really love it that they are sheltering in place.  I get to spend more time with them and I follow Steve everyone.  You know we are called to follow Jesus too.  And we find shelter in God who is our refuge and our strength.  It says in Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”  I’m sure many of us are feeling that the earth has changed, our lives are trembling and it seems that there are waters roaring and foaming all around us. This pandemic can be terrifying.  I hope that when you are feeling terrified or just a little worried you will give your fear and your feelings up to God and let God carry that heavy load.  It makes things so much easier.

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.