DEVOTION: Now the king was attracted to esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval mor than any other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.... But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality.... Esther 2:17 and 20 At first glance, this story sounds like a fairy tale, a cinderella story, yet God had bigger plans than a poor little Jewish girl becoming a queen. He decided that through her she would save all the Israelites from certain demise. Through her God brought about the safety of his people.
Sound familiar? Wasn't there someone else through whom God saved His people. Oh yeah, there was that one guy, Jesus, who was born in a stable and laid in a manger. Didn't he die on a cross to save all mankind for all time?
The Old Testament is full of reminders of Jesus and what He did for us. The most unlikely of characters can do the biggest things in our lives.
Today I encourage you to think about how you can remind others of Christ. Maybe it is simply by a word of encouragement, love, or forgiveness. Maybe it is by an action of mercy or grace. What can you do to bring a remonder of Christ to someone who needs it today?
I also want to encourage you to look for reminders of Jesus for yourself, but especially to remind you to look for Him where you know He is found, in His Word and Sacraments. You know you will find Him in worship! He always reveals Himself to us there!
Prayer: Lord God, help me to be a reminder of Jesus and to be reminded of Him every day in every way. Amen.
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: When did the word of the Lord come to the prophet Zechariah? On the 24th day of the 11th month, the month of Shebat, in the 2nd year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berekiah, the SOn of Iddo (Thanks Dianne) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: WHo was Mordecai?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Who is the Holy SPirit?
Answer: The Holy Spirit is the third person o fthe Trinity, true God with the Father and the SOn-- therefore not merely the power or energy of God.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Jonesburg nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers caregivers support group 1pm
Sat- Dolores DeBlaze visitation 9-11am, funeral 11am; luncheon to follow; worship 5pm; G.L. Woods presentation 6:30pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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NEWS:
DOLORES DEBLAZE VISITATION AND FUNERAL THIS SATURDAY, Visitation 9-11am, Funeral 11am; Luncheon to follow.
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G.L. WOODS TO SPEAK on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, at 6:30pm at CHURCH!!
His story is an amazing one of transformation. IN 2004 he was flying down the dirt track in his dirt bike, when he crashed and flew over his handlbars landing on his neck which instantly pralyzed him from the neck down. His life changed in an instant. yet, God did a miracle in him. Not only did he give him back his lower body so that he was able to walk, but he gave him a vibrant faith and the ability to speak boldly about it. Come and hear his story! Go to www.glwoods.com to learn more about his story. He is a native of Jonesburg. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS HAS A FEW OPENINGS IN BOTH THE THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLD CLASSES!! THEY ARE EXPANDING!!
Call the church office 456-2888 and ask to talk to Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier for further info.
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SUNDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP!!
We need folks to sign up to bring donuts!! Please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board right outside the kitchen!! If you partake of the donuts every week and haven't brought any, maybe it's your turn!!
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PARENTING CLASS EVERY SUNDAY AT 9:45
Could you use some help in learning how to deal with your children? Want to have fun, laugh, and get some encouragement at the same time? Come to the "From Me to We" class in the Sunday school room closest to the closet this Sunday and grow!
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS PATRIOT PACKAGES
As we all know, our military forces are still spread throughout the world. Many of our loved ones are deployed and arond the world and on bases throughout our own country. Ptriot Packages, formerly known as G4U "Goodies for You" is a small yet effective way that we can care for all those men and women in a very real and practical way. A group of people get together once a month to fill care packages to send out. These packages have very specific items that these soldiers request, that are scarce or nonexistent where they are.
What they need from us is money so that they can buy the specific items they need. As always, make checks payable to St. John's and in the memo line write "patriot Packages". Also, as always, this should be above and beyond your regular offerings.
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PRAYERS:
For FAMILY AND FRIENDS DOLORES DEBLAZE as she passed from death to life early Sunday morning.
For TONY PERRICONE who is having knee surgery at 10:30 this morning.
For JOYCE SCHIEN who is hospitalized with shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat.
For STEVE, a friend of Tony and Sandra Perricone, who is a husband, and a father of 2 and is undergoing tests for fluid on the brain.
For JOSIAH TULEY, great nephew of my friend Cindy Schwada. Josiah is about 2 years old, a beautiful blonde with sparkling blue eyes. This baby has a tumor
on his brain.
For CAL TAMELER who is recovering from eye surgery.
For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he and his family find ou the results of his PET scan today.
For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.
