DEVOTION: And he (a rich man) said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent." He (Abraham) said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." Luke 16:30-31
A voice from beyond the grave.
Sounds like something from Edgar Allen Poe, doesn't it? Well, this story has nothing to do with Poe or horror stories, and it really doesn't have anything to do with support of one candidate or another. (We really don't do politics in the Daily Devotions.)
The voice from beyond the grave to which I refer belongs to Jim Harrison whose cancer ended his life on February 27th. Before Harrison passed away, he wrote part of his newspaper obituary. It reads
"In lieu of flowers, at Jim's request, please make a donation to ANYONE running against Barack Hussein Obama or the American Cancer Society."
It was Harrison's way of trying to reach out and influence the living after he was dead and buried. Whether his idea works or not is anybody's guess.
Those who study Scripture know it isn't the first time that kind of thing has been tried. In Jesus' story about the rich man and Lazarus, the condemned rich man asks that Lazarus be allowed to come back from the dead and give a warning to the still-living brothers of the rich man.
The request was turned down. "After all," came the reply, "Your brothers have Moses and the Prophets, if they don't listen to those fellows, they're not going to pay attention -- even if someone was to return from the dead."
The parable was right.
We know it is right because almost 2,000 years ago God's Son did rise from the grave and showed Himself to His disciples and the world. Again and again He spoke with them, visited with them, ate with them and even touched them.
Yes, Jesus returned from the dead and many people have refused His offer of salvation. It's amazing, but it's true. People prefer to live in doubt and denial rather than hear the words of the Savior: "... Blessed are those who have not seen but believe" (John 20:29b).
If you're one of those not-having-seen-the-Savior individuals, today would be a good day to give thanks for the Holy Spirit's work in your heart and life.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel. By Your great grace I have been given faith in the living Savior who does not speak from the grave, but has returned to life and conquered the grave. May I share Him whenever I am able. In His Name. Amen. _________________________________________________________________________________________________YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who named David to be the successor of Saul? The prophet Samuel (Actually God did, but he had Samuel do the annointing.) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________TODAY'S QUIZ: What was the name of the Phillistine that David killed with a sling and a stone? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ CATECHISM:
Question: Who receives the Sacrament worthily?Answer: Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training, but that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Larry and Libby Pailer
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________CALENDAR:Thurs- nothingFri- Youth group to Winter Jam and Lock in @ Holy Cross, OfallonSat- Pancake breakfast to support Stephen Ministry 7-10am; one time choir practice 8:30; worship 5Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Sunday school and Bible study 10:30_______________________________________________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERSProjector- Wed- Schlesselmann; Sat- Mckenzie; NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR SUNDAY YETElder- Sat- Dieckmann; Sun- TalbertUshers- Wed- Dreyer, Feldkamp, Herzog, Klover; Sun- Hofeldt, Linke, Berryman, TurnureAcolyte- Wed- Jaeger; Sun- KeeleLay reader- Sat- Dieckmann; Sun- SchirrGreeters- KohrsAltar- Setup- Hance cleanup- Bettlach/SchirrOrganist- HilgendorfPianist- DreyerTellers- Team #1______________________________________________________________________________A LOT OF EMPTY DATES AND there is no one signed up for this Sunday!! PROJECTOR SCHEDULE NEEDS TO BE FILLED!!!April 2- McKenzie
April 3-
April 6- Mckenzie
April 9-
April 10-
WoolfApril 13-
April 16- Conner Figura
April 17-
April 21 (Maundy Thursday)- Mckenzie
April 22- (Good Friday)- Mckenzie
April 24 (Easter)- 6am 10:30am-
April 30- Mckenzie
May 1- Figura
May 7-
May 8-
May 14-
May 15-
WoolfMay 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-
WoolfJune 25-
June 26- Panhorst
July 2- Mckenzie
July 3-
July 9-
July 10- Figura
July 16-
July 17-
WoolfJuly 23-
July 24- Panhorst
July 30-
July 31- Mckenzie
______________________________________________________________________________________NEWS: 8th-12th GRADERS ARE ALL INVITED TO JOIN US @ ST CHARLES FAMILY ARENA FOR WINTER JAM 2011!! CALL TONI MAUCH @ 297-1014 FOR MORE INFO!! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________AGAPE DESPERATELY NEEDS OUR HELP!!!!
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
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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 through the 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
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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!
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 ELAINE SCHAUER who is having knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus today.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is still having problems with her eye and with headaches. THe cause has yet to be identified.
For ED KOHRS who is @ Delmar Gardens recovering from hip replacement and will probably get to go home in a week or two.
For LIL WINTER, who is dealing well with her many health problems.
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