St. John's Group Email Monday, January 23, 2012

DEVOTION: 

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. Psalms 119:161

North Korea, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iran, the Maldives, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Iraq and Pakistan.

Can you tell me what these nations have in common?

According to Open Doors USA, these are, in order, the top ten countries where Christians are persecuted. You've heard the expression, "It's a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there?" Well, our brothers and sisters are not just trying to live in these countries, they actually do live there.

They live there and, fearing persecution, they practice an underground form of Christianity.

In most of these countries that means no church buildings on every corner; it means no Bible studies at the local coffee shop, no wearing a cross or crucifix, no Sunday school or parochial school. It means no Christian TV or radio (although radio can beam in from other countries.)

You get the idea?

All of this means the church in these places is dying. Right?

Actually, the answer is wrong. Rev. Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, an organization which monitors persecution, says so many Muslims are converting to Christianity in nations like Iran that they may constitute a fourth major branch of the global church (along with Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians.)

Can you believe it?

For these people to believe in Christ means they run the risk of losing friends, business, family and life. Still they believe.

Sort of reminds me of that hymn: "Take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife; let these all be gone; they yet have nothing won; the kingdom ours remaineth."

Won't you join with me in praying for these souls?

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks for the power of the Holy Spirit. In spite of the barriers men have erected, in spite of the hatred unbelievers show, Your work continues on. Now may I do what I can to share the Savior with those who hate Him. This I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen.


 
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:    When Joseph first saw his brother Benjamin what did he do?  He wept   (Dolores Deblaze is our winner for today.)
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the first plague that God brought upon Egypt?
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CATECHISM: 

10th commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Question: What coveting does God forbid in the tenth commandment?
Answer: God forbids every sinful desire to take from our neighbor that person's spouse or workers.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Mon- confirmation 5pm; High school youth 6:30om
Tues- quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30;12:15
Wed- bells 6:30; choir 7:30
Thurs- nothing
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat-  worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9; Bible Study and Sunday school 10:15; WORSHIP 11am 
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NEWS: 
BIBLE 101: A NEW ONLINE "INTRODUCTORY" BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S!!!
 
 
What is it?  Bible 101 is a new online product from Concordia Publishing House that increases Biblical literacy in adults. 
 
It is for all levels of learning and knowledge.  Even pastors learn things from this course. 
 
 
Participants simply log into Bible 101 and enter an online learning environment.  Members start out by learning essential Bible basics from "square one" and then build upon that as they progress through the course.
 
Here are som of the features of Bible 101
online- uses proven online educational strategies and models that facilitate retention among multiple learning styles.
 
videos- throughout the week, participants can access videos that relate to the lesson
 
discussion forum- participants are not left on their own as they are connected to a community where they can correspond, question, and encourage each other.
 
podcasts- daily devotional for each weekday
 
quizzes- test your knowledge and easily benchmakr where you are in your learning cycle.
 
printing- easily print the materials for even more easy access. 
 
 
Please call or reply to this email to let me know that you want to sign up for this wonderful opportunity.  I will sign you up!  The congregation has already paid the annual fee so IT IS FREE for you!!!
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HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MEETING EVERY MONDAY 6:30-7:15
We will be starting a short series called "Sports and Christianity, How they Mix and How they don't" .  We will also be spending some time in prayer for each other, for our friends, and for our school.  Please make plans on coming and bring friends!!
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DOT DAEHNKE'S MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 AT 11am, WITH LUNCHEON TO FOLLOW. 
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YOUTH SERVANT EVENT THIS SUMMER!!!!!!   8-12 GRADERS AND ADULT LEADERS WILL BE GOING TO JOPLIN, JULY 9-14!!!
All who want to go need to sign up.  Directions on how to sign up are as follows:
 
1. Go to lutheranchurchcharities.org
2. Click on "volunteer in Joplin"
3. Go to bottom of page and click on "click here to register individually"
4. Fill out all of the required info. (Your group's name is St John's Warrenton, MO)
5. Click submit at the end of the page.
 
Let me know if you want to go.  ALL ADULTS ARE WELCOME!!!!
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New worship service starting THIS  Sunday, January 29 at 11am.  
 
BELOW AREE SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP AND THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS:
1. Will we need to change the usher schedule?  Not at this time.  For now we are going to treat it as we would a Saturday service as far as that is concerned.  If it takes off and we find that ushers are necessary for this service we will change it later in the year.
 
2. Will this change the other services in any way?  NO.  Nothing about our other services will change.  The 11am service is just an additional option for those who want it. 
 
3. What kind of music will there be?  It will be a variety of songs, (children's songs, contemporary songs,  familiar songs), but the music will be different than our traditional services
 
 
What we ask of you from now until January 29 is that you support this endeavor, that you invite people who would, for whatever reason, like to attend this type of worship, and that you pray for this endeavor and for our church in general that it would be blessed beyond measure in 2012.
 
If you have any skills or talents that you feel would benefit this service please contact me at 359-1061. 
 
Then on January 29, COME to the service and participate. 
 
The vision is that this will be a great blessing to our church and that it will fit the needs of young families, kids, teenagers, and the young at heart so that we can bring more people into the body of Christ this year than ever before.  
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PASTOR NOW HAS TEXTING ON HIS PHONE
I know it is about five years too late, but I have finally joined the 21st century's most used form of communication.  If texting is the best way to communicate with you, I urge you to give me your cell phone number so I can communicate better with you in 2012.  I am even thinking of sending out a "Bible Verse Text of the Day" to all who would want it. 
 
I especially want to urge our young people to send me their cell numbers so I can better communicate with them.   
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YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION
***SAVE THE DATE***  The date of the Youth Group Steak Dinner and Auction has been set for Saturday, February 11, 2012.   Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.  Please join us for a night of fun and fundraising.  We will be having the old favorites:  silent auction  and 50/50 drawing as well as the new favorites: live auction, dessert dash, wine raffle, and the WILD HEARTS JACKPOT DRAWING where there is a chance to win $500.00.
 
Tickets for the WILD HEARTS $500 DRAWING are on sale now.  Please ask a youth group member to get  yours.  The tickets are 1 for $10 but for an additional $10 you can get 10 more tickets and have 11 chances at winning! 
 
The youth will begin selling dinner/auction tickets at the beginning of January in the narthex after services. Tickets are $15 per person.  Bid only tickets are $5.00.   You may also contact Marilyn to reserve tickets.
In order to guarantee that you get to sit with a special group of family or friends, you may want to consider purchasing a table of 8 for $120.
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A MOMENT OF GRACE FLORIST IS DONATING 10% oF EACH ST. JOHN'S MEMBER'S SALE BACK TO THE CHURCH
Each time you purchase flowers and other gifts from A MOMENT OF GRACE and tell them you are a member at St. John's, the church receives a tithe from them.   A Moment of Grace is located at 511 N Hwy 47 and the phone number is 456-9334.
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For THE RAUSCH FAMILY and all family and friend of KEN SUTOR (Lisa Rausch's dad) as he was called to his heavenly home early Sunday morning.
 
For HANK SCHMIDT who is hospitalized with a heart rate that is way too high.
 
For BETTY TAMELER who is recovering from knee replacement surgery at Delmar Gardens nursing home.
 
For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a broken hip at St Jospeh's hospital rehab.
 
For the FAMILY OF DOT DAEHNKE, as she passed away this past Thursday.  Memorial service is still pending. 
 
For ANNA HOELSCHER who is recovering at Jonesburg Nursing Home after falling and breaking her hip.
 
For MRS SISSON (1st grade teacher at Daniel Boone) AND HER NEW BABY, CHLOE, as they both grow stronger with each passing day.  Baby Chloe has about 2 mor emonths in the hospital.   
  
For KEN WAGNER who is home and is doing well, although he still has a LONG way to go.
 
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.   
       


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