The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalms 121:7-8
Can you think back to the worship service you attended on Resurrection Sunday?
Was the music special? Were the children excited? Did you greet each other with the age-old salutation of Christians: "Christ is risen"? Did you respond: "He is risen, indeed"? What was it like? Did you leave feeling inspired by the good news that death is not the end of the line for God's people?
No matter what your worship service was like that day, I'm sure it was different from the one which took place at All Nations Christian Assembly Church in Kaduna, Ethiopia.
While the people were worshipping inside, outside an individual was trying to bring his car, filled with explosives, through the front gate.
Security stopped him.
Frustrated, the man threw the switch, blew up himself, his car, and 38 passersby.
The pastor of the congregation said, "We were in the Holy Communion service and I was exhorting my people and all of a sudden we heard a loud noise that shattered all our windows and doors, destroyed our fans, and some of our equipment in the church."
Another individual said, "God saw our heart and saved us."
For that congregation Psalm 121 has a new meaning. In an obvious and powerful way, the Lord had kept them from evil. He had kept their lives. He had kept them when they went to church and when they came from church.
Thankfully, most of our congregations don't have suicide bombers trying to gain entrance to our worship.
Now some people might say, "God didn't keep my church from evil -- certainly not the way He kept that church in Ethiopia." If that is your position, please do not be offended, if I respectfully disagree.
I believe the Lord was watching over and protecting both places. That's right. He watched over the church with the bomber and the church without one.
This is why I believe that we -- like the Jews remembering Passover -- should give thanks for the many times death and disease have passed over us, when problems haven't arisen and terrible troubles were never experienced.
Either way, for the Savior's protection, for our salvation, and for a Lord who preserves us from all evil, we should give thanks.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, far too many times Your people take for granted the ongoing care You so faithfully and continually bestow upon us. Open our eyes so we may see Your care and handiwork in our lives. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What is a "song of ascents" in the Psalms? A prayer for deliverance from false accusers. Some say (Hebrew) for ascents refers to stairs leading to the
temple, hence "a song of the stairs to be used in the temple liturgy. Most believe it refers to the annual religious pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What is an "acrostic" poem?
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CATECHISM
Question: What plan does God use for the reproduction of living things?
Answer: God created living things to reproduce "according to their kinds". Animals, plants, and people can reproduce only living things like themselves.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Thurs- creative crafters 9:30-11:30: 8th grade questioning and reception 7pm
Fri- newsletter assembly 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- early Bible study 8am; 8th grade confirmation service 9am Sunday school/Bible class 10:15am; worship baptism of Grace, Will and Tyler Donsky and receiving of their mom Julie into membership and PRESCHOOL KIDS SINGING 11am
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NEWS:
SUNDAY SCHOOL KIDS SINGING AT WHISPERING PINES THIS SUNDAY at 10:20.
Either meet here at school at 10:15 or just meet over at the big building at Whipsering Pines at 10:20. Let's have a nice big crowd to show the folks how we love Jesus!!
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PEOPLE GETTING BAPTIZED AND RECEIVED INTO MEMBERSHIP THIS WEEKEND (All in the 11am service)
Baptisms: Grace, Will and Tyler Donsky; their mom Julie being received into membership.
GREETINGS ALL YOU St. John's C.H.U.R.C.H. Ministry go-getters!!!!!!!!!!
On Thursday, May 3, 2012 we are hosting a National Day of Prayer observance like we did last year. We are serving a continental breakfast in the church overflow area from 6:30 AM - 7:00 AM.
At 7:00 AM Pastor Klaustermeier will begin a prayer and devotion time in our sanctuary with music by Gene Hilgendorf.
You all have another opportunity to help out by donating the items for the breakfast. We did have a pretty good turnout last year; but we never really know how many to expect. I believe the following list should be plenty to serve the folks who come that morning. Hopefully, some of our Little Lambs and their parents will be able to attend before school begins at 8:15 AM.
Please sign your name by the items listed below
(and note amount you will bring)
Please have your donated items to church
ON Wed. May 2, 2012 for maximum freshness
(Refrigerated items can be put in the refrigerators in the church kitchen - the others on the island in the church kitchen)
PLEASE MARK THE ITEMS YOU BRING
"FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST"
Here is what we will need: PLEASE DO NOT HIT "REPLY" TO RESPOND - EMAIL SANDY ROBINE DIRECT AT: snsrobine@centurytel.net THANK YOU!
Orange Juice 1 gallon-----------------------------------------------------------------------Barb Dreyer - Thanks Barb!
Milk 1 gallon-----------------------------------------------------------------------Joanne Hachtel - Thanks Joanne!
Cream (1/2 & 1/2) 1 quart-------------------------------------------------------------------------Sandy Robine
Muffins 3 dozen total
1 dz. BLUEBERRY-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dianne Feldkamp - Thanks Dianne!
1 dz._______________
1 dz.________________
Donuts 3 dozen total
1 dz.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Doug & Ruth Walters - Thanks Doug & Ruth
1 dz.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Julie Schaumberg - Thanks Julie!
1 dz-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Julie Schaumberg - Thanks Julie!
Fruit Yogurt 6 containers total (sugg. strawberry, peach, mixed berry)-------------------------------------------------Linda Callies - Thanks Linda!
Bananas 8 each total
4 ea.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Denise Schlesselman - Thanks Denise!
4 ea.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bagels (Plain or sesame) 1 dozen---------------------------------------------------------------------------Don & Wanda Turnure - Thanks Don & Wanda!
Cream Cheese (Plain) 1 container--------------------------------------------------------------------Dianne Hance - Thanks Dianne!
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter 2 containers total------------------------------------------------------------Terry McKenzie - Thanks Terry!
English Muffins 1 dozen--------------------------------------------------------------------------Terry McKenzie - Thanks Terry!
Preserves 1 jar ea. of Strawberry & Grape
Strawberry---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grape---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dianne Hance - Thanks Dianne!
Also 1 jar of No Sugar Apricot Preserves __________________________
1 Dozen Hard Boiled Eggs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Marilyn Foster - Thanks Marilyn!
Banana Bread-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Molly Hendershot - Thanks Molly!
National Day of Prayer
Breakfast
St. John's Lutheran Church
950 South Hwy. 47
Warrenton, MO 63383
Thursday – May 3, 2012
Continental Breakfast: 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
(overflow area of the church sanctuary)
Devotion and Prayers: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
Pastor Jeremy Klaustermeier
Organist: Mr. Gene Hilgendorf
(The church will be left open until 12:00 PM
for those wishing to come by and pray)
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
RSVP would be appreciated 456-2888, but not necessary
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Children should be 3 years old by August 1. Call the church office to sign them up TODAY!
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TAILGATE SALE AND FLEA MARKET iS SATURDAY, MAY 5, 7am-1pm
This is held in conjunction with the Ladies Aid Craft and Bake Sale and Luncheon
Two ways you can help.
1. You can donate GENTLY used items to Little Lambs who will sell them under the pavilion that day. You can buy a parking spot or two or three for $10 a piece and sell your own things
Donations are going to the purchase of a "hands on" science lab and curriculum for Little Lambs.
Drop of dates are April 30-May 4.
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HELP TO FEED HUNGRY KIDS IN WARREN COUNTY WITH OPERATION BACKPACK
In the preschool room there is a box that you can put food in to feed extremely low income children in Warren County. Many of these kids get fed every day at school for breakfast and lunch, but what about the weekend? What the food listed below does for many of these children is gets them through the weekend when food is especially scarce.
If you want more information about this program or you want to donate money to this causeyou can call Erin Waters at 359-9219 or email her at erinwaters@centurytel.net.
Here is the list of food you can bring
cereal (single serve sizes)
oatmeal (instant packets)
hot chocolate mix
juice boxes
peanut butter
jelly (squeezable bottles)
soup
spaghettios or beefaroni
mac and cheese
corn
green beans
granola bars
fruit snacks
pudding cup
raisin boxes
applesauce cups
fruit cups
cereal bards
pretzels
individually wrapped crackers or cookies
bread
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THIS MONTH IS LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
This month's mission spolight is TURNING POINT. Turning Point is the emergency women's (and their children's) shelter in Warren County. If women feel they are in danger or they have no where else to turn they can call Turning Point and receive the help they need.
It is a worthwhile and well established mission to support. Go to http://turningpointdvs-com.doodlekit.com/home to check out more about it and to donate directly to it. You can also donate by using your special offering envelopes and writing Turning Point on the memo line on your check.
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