Thursday, May 10, 2012

DEVOTION: 

But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1 Like most teen-aged girls, Megan Gillan was planning on going to her high school prom. Indeed, plans had been made for her to attend the event with a number of her friends. Tragically, Gillan was found dead at her parent's home on January 19th. Her passing was a terrible experience for her friends, classmates and school. It was almost two months later, March 16th to be exact, when Gillan's parents received a letter from her school. Since letters of sympathy were still coming in to the mourning parents, they thought nothing of this unusual epistle. They thought nothing of it until they read the letter. They were shocked to find the school had decreed Gillan would probably not be able to attend the prom. The letter shared that her attendance was 60.4 percent and the school requires 92 percent before a child can attend prom. Gillan's mother said she screamed when she first saw the letter. She shouted, "If they want her to attend that much, I'll take Megan's remains. It's disgusting!" The school says the letter was a software-generated mistake. I'm sure the school's explanation is probably true. Even so, it shouldn't have happened. Almost all of us have found ourselves at the receiving end of a computer-generated mistake. It can be a bank error, a mass-mailing error, a computer-card error, or even a government IRS error. In a world filled with sinful human beings making mistakes, such things happen. Thankfully, there are no such mistakes being made in heaven. I'm not worried that when I die the doors to heaven are going to be shut because some angel made a mistake and moved my name into the "REJECT" column. I'm not afraid I'm going to end up in the wrong place because they got me confused with "KENNETH KLAUS" from Walla Walla, Washington. Scripture is clear: we don't have to be afraid. The Lord who made us is keeping track of us. He knows where we are, who we are and, most importantly, He knows what we believe. Because of His Son's sacrificial death for sinners, believers on the living Christ are saved. They know where they're going when they die, and so does He. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, when You promised to send Your Son to save us, You thought about me. When Jesus carried the sins of the world, my transgressions were in that great pile. When Jesus said we can go to the Father only through Him, He extended an invitation to the world and to me as a person. For that invitation, in Jesus' Name I give thanks. Amen.

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:    According to Psalm 146, how long does the Lord reign?  forever  (Good job Dianne and Doug!)
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  How many Psalms are there?
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CATECHISM
Question: Why are there evil and suffering in this world?
Answer: Evil and suffering are in the world because of sin.  But in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has demonstrated His power over sin and death.  God in His almighty power and love causes all things to workt ogether for good to those who live Him.
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CHURCH CALENDAR:
Thurs- nothing
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun-  early Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Sunday school 10:15; worship 11am
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NEWS: 

VOTER'S MEETING ON SUNDAY, MAY 20, at 10:15!!

Two important items are on the agenda.

1. The building committee will present their newest ideas and findings, and the plan for the future.

 

2. First we will vote whether or not to keep the 11am service (In January it was only decided that it would be temporary until this May meeting whenw e would decide whether or not to make it permanent.)  Then, if and when we decide to keep the 11am service, we will decide how to best change the service times so that we have enough time for fellowship and Sunday school between services.

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ALPHA CLASS CONTINUES THIS WEEK AND EVERY TUESDAY at  6:30pm!!! 

Everyone is always welcome even if you haven't been to a class yet!  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 THE MONTH OF MAY IS LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF AND HUMAN CARE

Lutheran World Relief is often the first to arrive when disaster strikes in this country and around the world.  If you care to donate to this cause make your checks payable to St John's and clearly makr the designated envelope for Lutheran World Relief.  As always these donations should be over and above your normal tithes and offerings. 

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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.) 

For ROGER BOEGER who is recovering from emergency heart surgery at St Joes Lake St. Louis

 

For  BRANDON BUESCHDECKER, a friend of Ben HGoelscher, who is having major heart surgery on Friday. 

 

For ALL OF THOSE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.  That they would go in the direction God wants them to go and continue to lead them in the right way!

 

For DANNY DREYER as he becomes a commissoned officer in the months ahead. 

 

For PAM BROWN who fractured her back on Saturday, she is recovering at Progress West and should be able to go home this week.

 

For JOHN COULBORN, former member of St. John', who now lives in Texas.  He has a severe infection in his knee that has just been replaced. 

 

For KARIN KLAUSTERMEIER'S DAD, BOB LAMPEN, who will be going through radiation and chemotherapy treatments for several different cancers throughout his body.

 

For CAROLINE BUELTMANN who is recovering at her daughter's home from some heart troubles and is doing much better.

 

For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is undergoing more treatments for cancer.

 

For LIBBY PAILER as she continues to recover well at home from heart surgery.

 

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she deals with chemo treatments for stage four lung cancer.   

  

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is recovering well at the Cedars.

     

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is improving well and is gaining strength as he deals with his cancer.