St. John's Group Email Agape needs your help

From Kathy Purcell at Agape:
 

Agape Ministry needs your help. We have just mailed out the letter for our annual campaign. We desperately need this campaign to do well. Our goal is $30,000, which is the same it has been for 3 years. Unfortunately, we have lost $175,000 in grant funding over the last 3 years.

 

Agape has two food pantries: one in Warrenton and one in Wright City. We feed about 1,200 people every month out of the food pantries. In addition we help many more with one-time, emergency payments of rent or utilities as needed to avoid homelessness.

 

Last year at this time we had spend $22,000 helping people avoid homelessness. This year we haven't even spent $6,500. I wish I could say this was due to reduced demand, but in fact the demand is higher than ever. What's been reduced is funding. If your church distributes benevolent funds you have probably noticed an increase in requests and an increase in the number of people saying that Agape could not help.

 

In previous years we had the proceeds from the sale of 70 percent Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits and a grant from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. This year we were rejected in our application to both of those sources. We then applied for a grant to the Missouri Foundation for Health, but they also rejected us. The State rejected us because they have their own money troubles. The MFH rejected us because they say our focus is not health related. The three combined equal $175,000. All of this would have been used to prevent homelessness in Warren County.

 

If you have been to our thrift store lately you know we have been blessed with success there. Those proceeds keep our doors open and buy food for our pantries. Donations from your churches also go to buy food. What we're missing – what we need to raise – is money to prevent homelessness. Right now the electric companies cannot disconnect people for unpaid bills because the Cold Weather Rule is in effect. But as it warms up that rule will expire, and I am very concerned about what people will do if we have no funds to assist.

 

I keep hearing that the economy is improving, but I think that is mainly happening on Wall Street. Here on Main Street it's still awfully difficult to find a job, and we still have many, many Warren County residents looking to us for help.  I am afraid that a lot of our families will be sitting in the cold and dark come April.

 

I have attached the letter that went out to households, and the press release that was sent to the newspapers. However, nothing – NOTHING – beats an appeal from the pulpit. Every time I turn to area pastors for help, we see a dramatic increase in donations. PLEASE urge your church members to give to Agape. Even small donations count.

 

If someone did not get a letter they can still give by sending a check to Agape Ministry, 713 Powell, Warrenton, MO 63383, or by calling in a credit card number to 636-456-4645.

 

God bless you for your help. If you have any questions, please call me at 456-4645. I am out of the office until April 4, but while I am gone you can ask for Geri.

 

 

Kathleen Purcell

Agape Ministry of Warren County, Inc.

636-456-4645

Fax 456-7175

 

St. John's Group Email Pancake Breakfast this Saturday 7-10am to support Stephen Ministry

STEPHEN MINISTRY PANCAKE BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY FROM 7-10AM AT CHURCH
 
This Saturday your Stephen Ministers are hosting a pancake breakfast to raise money to send a new person to become a Stephen Leader.  A Stephen Leader is one who is "in charge" of the Stephen Ministers and leads in the process of Stephen Ministry.  Chrissy Groeber is going to go to Stephen Leader training the week after Easter tod be able to do just that. 
 
FREE WILL OFFERINGS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!
 
 
Please support her and this much beloved ministry of our congregation by coming this Saturday to have pancakes, eggs, sausage, and all the yummy stuff that goes with it!
 
 
Peace be with you all!
Pastor

St. John's Group Email Tuesday, March 29, 2011

DEVOTION: 
Then He (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Luke 24:45-47

Keith Gruber of Swan Lake, New York, has a tough time with the idea of repentance.

Last December 27th he was arrested in the community of Liberty. Driving while intoxicated was the charge.

Gruber was eventually let out on $30,000 bail with the understanding he would appear before the judge for his trial.

He kept his promise. True, Gruber arrived at court about an hour and a half late, and when he got there he was drunk, and he was carrying an open can of Busch beer, and he had four unopened cans in his bag -- cans which set off the metal detector when he entered the county courthouse.

When the judge asked Gruber if he had enjoyed his "liquid lunch," the reply was "yes." Gruber's short answer was followed by an apology. The judge can be excused for not thinking Gruber's repentance was all that sincere. Maybe that explains why Gruber found his bail revoked and the day ended up with him in jail.

Gruber is not alone in minimizing the importance of repentance. Today there are many churches that refuse to address the idea of sin or repentance.

This is a terribly sad and unscriptural thing to do.

The prophets preached repentance. John the Baptist called for repentant hearts. And although many people prefer to think Jesus was never judgmental and say the Savior accepted people without expecting or causing any change in their hearts, Scripture says differently.

That's why Jesus says repentance and forgiveness would be preached in His Name to the entire world.

It is God's will and wish that the Holy Spirit call us from what we were and then, having given us a repentant heart, begins the process of encouraging us to live as the Lord wants us to.

That's the way it's supposed to work, but sometimes those sins and shortcomings become so much a part of us we don't want to leave them behind.

This is just one more reason to repent, which I guess means we would be repenting of our unwillingness to repent.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I give thanks You have saved me through Jesus. Send the Holy Spirit so that this day I may leave behind all that would impede the relationship between us which You desire. This I ask in my Savior's Name. Amen.

 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   Who was Manoah?  Samson's dad
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ:  How old was Saul when he became king?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: How can forgiveness, life, and salvation be obtained through bodily eating and drinking??
Answer:
Not simply the eating and drinking, but the words of Christ together with His body and blood under the bread and wine are the way through which these blessings are given.  "We do not claim this of bread and wine-- since in itself bread is bread-- but of that bread and wine which are Christ's body and blood and with which the words are coupled.  These and no other, we say, are the treasure through which forgiveness is obtained".  Christ's words of promisehave put these gifts into the scarment, and the believer receives them there through faith. 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIRTHDAYS:
Mon- Sarah Owenby
Tues- Bonnie Frenzia, Bob Linke, Natlie Nagel
Wed- Kay Stark
Sat- Rhonda Peery, Randy Sweet
Sun- Terry McKenzie, Jennifer Miller, Robert Morris
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ANNIVERSARIES
Larry and Libby Pailer
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- supper 5:30l bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30
Thurs- nothing
Fri- Youth group to Winter Jam and Lock in @ Holy Cross, Ofallon
Sat- Pancake breakfast to support Stephen Ministry 7-10am; one time choir practice 8:30; worship 5
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Sunday school and Bible study 10:30
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector-  Wed- Schlesselmann;  Sat- Mckenzie; NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR SUNDAY
Elder- Sat- Dieckmann; Sun- Talbert
Ushers- Wed- Dreyer, Feldkamp, Herzog, Klover; Sun- Hofeldt, Linke, Berryman, Turnure
Acolyte- Wed- Jaeger; Sun- Keele
Lay reader- Sat- Dieckmann; Sun- Schirr
Greeters-  Kohrs
Altar- Setup- Hance  cleanup- Bettlach/Schirr
Organist- Hilgendorf
Pianist- Dreyer
Tellers- Team #1
______________________________________________________________________________
A LOT OF EMPTY DATES AND there is no one signed up for this Sunday!!
 
PROJECTOR SCHEDULE NEEDS TO BE FILLED!!!
Let's keep this going till every date is signed and accounted for
  



March 23-Peper
 
March 26- No projector
March 27- No projector
 
March 30- Schlesselmann
 
April 2- McKenzie
April 3-
 
April 6-
 
April 9-
April 10-Woolf
 
April 13-
 
April 16- Conner Figura
April 17-
 
April 21 (Maundy Thursday)- Mckenzie
April 22- (Good Friday)-
 
April 24 (Easter)- 6am                              10:30am-
 
April 30- Mckenzie
May 1- Figura
 
May 7-
May 8-
 
May 14-
May 15-Woolf
 
May 21-
May 22- Mckenzie
 
May 28- Figura
May 29- Schlesselmann 
 
June 4- Mckenzie
June 5- Panhorst
 
June 11-
June 12- Mckenzie
 
June 18-
June 19-Woolf
 
June 25-
June 26- Panhorst
 
July 2- Mckenzie
July 3-
 
July 9-
July 10- Figura
 
July 16-
July 17-Woolf
 
July 23-
July 24- Panhorst
 
July 30-
July 31- Mckenzie


 
 
______________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS: 
SUPPER TOMORROW NIGHT IS BAKED POTATO BAR AND CHILI!!  5:30pm
 
WORSHIP WILL FOCUS ON THE MIRACLE OF THE SPLITTING ROCKS AT THE TIEM OF JESUS' DEATH!!  7pm
 
Come out and partake of God's goodness in its many various forms. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8th - 12 GRADERS!!!!  Wanna have some good CLEAN fun this Friday night?
Come with us to the Winter Jam Concert at the St. Charles Family Arena and then continue on throught he night till 7AM at the lock in at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ofallon.  Call Mrs. Mauch at 297-1014 for all the details!!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
ONE TIME CHOIR PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Thursday, 3/31 @ 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, 4/2 @ 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, 4/7 @ 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, 4/9 @ 8:30 a.m
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
JUNIOR HIGH KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME @ Camp Windermere this past weekend. 
We sang A LOT.
We listened A LOT.
We worked A LITTLE.
We goofed around A LOT.
We grew in our faith A LOT.
 
A big thank you to all who have and continue to support the youth of our church in many and different ways!
 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP'S NEXT TRIP IS TO CHARLESTON, MO TO THE AZALEA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL ON SAT., APRIL 16.

They could take FIVE more people, so if you want to go or know someone who wants to go, call Marilyn TODAY.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN JAPAN with LCMS World Relief
The folks in Japan have been dealing with the effects of a very severe earthquake that caused a lot of destruction.  We truly need to continue to help them in any way we can.  Go to LCMS.org/help  to see how you can help. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY LENTEN SUPPERS ARE HOSTED BY OUR JR AND SR HI YOUTH GROUPS
 Thrivent will match all of the money we raise from our Lenten Dinners!  Please support your youth group throughout the Lenten Season!  
 
March 30- Baked potato bar with all the fixin's, salad, dessert
April 6- Chicken pot pie, salad, peaches, dessert
April 13- taco bar, chips and salsa, fruit salad, dessert
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS:  (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.)  
For ANNA HOELSCHER who is home from the hospital and doing well.
 
For FREDDIE KESSEL who is doing well at home with his new pacemaker.
 
For LANEY WOOLF who is doing much better.
 
For ED KOHRS who is @ Delmar Gardens recovering from hip replacement and will probably get to go home in a week or two.   

For MARILYN FOSTER as she has a very problematic back today
 
For LIL WINTER, who is dealing well with her many health problems.
 




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