As many of you know, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday down in Joplin helping a little bit with the recovery efforts with the tornado. Tuesday we spent part of the afternoon carrying hundreds of cases of bottled water into Immanuel's school gym and the rest of the afternoon at a couple different houses carrying all the trash, trees, and building materials to the curb to be picked up. Wednesday was spent helping a family move their belongings from their destroyed home and a storage unit to their new place.
It was hard work and the folks there have tons more hard work ahead of them for weeks and months to come. You would think that there would be a lot of crushed spirits and downtrodden faces and lives in that city.
You would be wrong. What I found, especially among the many Christian people I worked for and with, was a sense of joy and peace. I saw smiles on many faces and eagerness to serve and pitch in wherever needed. I saw a lot of overly joyful and thankful people for the thousands of volunteers that were down there serving. No one really complained about the work they had to do. They may have been overwhelmed by the enormity of it all, but neither discouraged nor willing to give up. I was reminded of the old wise saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."
All of this kind of reminded me of the Christian life in general. Every Christian who lives for any amount of time on this earth will go through tragedy. Some will go through more than others, while still others will go through harsher tragedy at times. But what I am reminded of is what Paul says in Romans and what the above passage from Proverbs says. We have joy in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope which never disappoints us.
When we go through tragedies like the ones in Joplin or in our own personal lives, it is for the production of the hope that does nto disappoint us. It is to remind us that life on this earth is fragile and temporary and that eternal life is what it is all about. It is to remind us that we can only find true comfort, hope, and joy in Jesus and never in the things of this world. A joyful heart truly is good medicine because it is a byproduct of God's love and peace in us.
Please continue to pray for the folks in Joplin as they recover from this tragedy that they will continue to have joy in their suffering and patient endurance as God continues to help them and us through life's journey.
Prayer: Lord God, bless us all when we go through times of struggle and tragedy to remind us that we don't have everything under control, neither do we trust in our own abilities, but that you havve bought us with Your own precious blood and our life truly belongs to You. Amen.
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TODAY'S QUIZ:
Which one is your favorite in that passage from Proverbs?
Here's one of my favorites: Proverbs 15:32 "Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
Come to Bible class this Sunday after church to talk more about your favorite Proverbs and to learn more of the wisdom of God.
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CATECHISM:
Question: What are the Ten Commandments?
Answer: They are the Law of God.
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BIRTHDAYS:
Sun- Wilma Schaefer
Tues- Tina Toedebusch
Wed- Ken Foster
Thurs- Denis Angell, Zach Busby, Austin heitgerd, Dave Merx, Jessica Williams
Fri- Teresa Ketterer, Isabella Linstruth
Sun- Alaina Heitgerd
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Mon- Zach and Jessica Busby; Gene and Mary Hilgendorf
Tues- Dennis and Donna Perrey
Sat- Lenoard and Beverly Waalen
Sun- Jerry and Lisa Pezold
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CALENDAR:
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm;
Sun- worship 9am; Adult Bible class 10:30; Elders 11:30
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WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector- Sat- I NEED SOMEONE!!! Sun- McKenzie
Elder- Sat- Turnure, Sun- Talbert
Ushers- Luebke, Callies, Sweet, ?
Acolyte- Groeber
Lay reader- Sat- Mauch; Sun- Junker
Greeters- Weigle
Altar- Setup- Luebke; Clean Up- Koprowski
Organist- Hilgendorf
Tellers- Team #2
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NEWS:
BISCUITS AND GRAVY WILL BE SERVED AFTER CHURCH THIS SUNDAY!
Karin wanted to serve some good sausage gravy and biscuits this Sunday for fellowship time. Come on down, eat some biscuits and gravy and stay for Bible class!
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Proverbs: Week #2
We will get in to the preeminence of God and how we should trust in Him rather than ourselves. PLEASE JOIN US!!!
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Below is straight from the Immanuel, Joplin Website
TORNADO Recovery at Immanuel Lutheran Church - Joplin, Missouri -
Church is Open as Free Clinic
Primary and Wound Care
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Relief Center Open 9:00 am- 7:00pm
Emotional Care and Support Group
Volunteers, Victims, and Anyone in the Community Welcome
Contact the Church Office for details.
You Can Adopt A Youth:
Adopt a youth affected by natural disaster to attend the June 24th Missouri District Sr. High Youth Gathering. The cost is $149 per person. There are at least eight sr. high youth in Immanuel, Joplin's youth group who lost their homes or had significant damage. (maybe more with friends who could be invited, need a much deserved break and would hear the Good News.)
We would like to provide full scholarships for these youth. Click here for more information.
Volunteers Needed:
Special Appeal: We are in need of doctors and nurses to staff our onsite clinic. If you are a medical professional and can donate some of your time to help Immanuel please click here and register as a volunteer for Joplin. Note specifically that you are a doctor or nurse so that we can assign you to work in the clinic.
All volunteers should register at www.lutheranchurchcharities.org. They will be assisting in scheduling crews to help at Immanuel. After clicking on "Volunteer," scroll down to bottom of page to enter information.
Immediate Relief Supplies Needed:
Canned and Dried Goods
Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Detergent
Towels
Sheets (No Blankets)
New Pillows
We are no longer accepting clothing, baby items, toiletries and blankets
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.)
For NORBERT HEITGERD who is at home and will be receiving hospice care.
For PAT MANESS who is back at Parklane Nursing Home.
For RUTH CANTRELL as she continues to recover after a biopsy of a tumor on her pituitary gland.
For DIANNE HANCE as she continues to recover after a kidney infection.
For BRETT RITCHEY who is back at home and doing well.
For KEN MEYER, Robyn McNew's brother, as he continues to miraculously recover from a severe heartattack and a two week coma.
A prayer of thanksgiving for HARPER ELISE EBERT, a new daughter for Derek and Andrea Ebert.
For DWAYNE SEXTON, Joan's son, who has been diagnosed with kidney cancer.
For LISA RAUSCH'S MOM who is hospitalized after falling and breaking her hip.
For JOPLIN as they continue to recover.
For ST JOHN'S as we continue to go through our CARE process.
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