Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for December 21-27, 2025
The Gift of Immanuel… “God with Us”
(Matthew 1:23)
A wise man once said to me: “Let’s not stop and pray that God helps us execute OUR plan. Let’s stop and pray that we may discern what GOD’S plan for us might be in this sticky situation.” Amen, brother. There is of course more than a little chutzpah in thinking we can ever read God’s mind! But the emphasis here is on taking important decisions out of the automatic heat of personal “fight or flight” and beginning to discern how God can be best glorified in spite of difficult or seemingly impossible circumstances. Believing in the promise of “God with us” doesn’t mean believing God simply rubberstamps every decision we care to make. And just because we believe “God is with us” doesn’t mean we really think God will turn every choice we make about enduring in the face of trial into a happy ending. Believing in the promise of “God with us” means living as if God is present not only with me but with the community of God’s people of whom I am called to be a part… and that He empowers and directs me in ways that will ultimately bless and sustain me — even if I don’t see that blessing yet. That kind of living is living that we fail, on a daily basis, to accomplish. What comfort, then, to know that “God with us” (“Immanuel”) is also “God saves” (“Jesus”)! The manner of saving might not be in accordance with my schedule and my list of priorities, but it is always salvation from the biggest and most pressing issue there is: the sin problem!
At times we place too much trust in the experts and pundits we expect will have all the answers. Sometimes they might even seem to get things right! This week we are directed to seek the sign of God’s power among us where we least expect to find it: with a pregnant woman carrying a tiny, unplanned for, baby. Believing that the promise of “God with us” is fulfilled in Jesus, our Savior, we are given the grace to not fight or flee but to wait. To rest. To put our hope in the God who keeps His promises. The God of promises fulfilled is up to something again this Christmas!
A very blessed Christmas to all,
Pastor Jonathan
Please note, the church office will be closed on Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26. Merry Christmas!
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.