Monday, October 22, 2012

DEVOTION:  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"  Matthew 4:4
 
I've often wondered, what is the harm of falling into temptation from time to time?  As long as you're not hurting anyone else what does it matter?  It's all in good fun, isn't it? 
 
What was the harm in jesus actually doing what the devil told him to do?  Why not turnt he stone into bread?  It would've have provided the food he desparately needed.  It would have shown the devil what kind of power he had.  It wasn't going ot hurt anyone. 
 
Yet it would have.  It would have hur the whole human race, because it would have disqualified Jesus as Savior of the world.  He would have given into Satan.  In this one small act of defying Satan, Jesus showed us that He would rather starve than give into Satan. he showed us His power over Satan through His Word.  Through His rejection of Satan's wiles He kicked Satan in the teeth and conquered him for us. 

He also gave us an example to follow.  Instead of giving in and thinking only of himself, He went without food so that we wouldn't go without heaven.  He showed us how to resist temtptation through God's Word.  He showed us how to give of ourselves for the good of the world.  He showed us that man really doesn't live on bread alone, but wil live forever on every Word that flows from God's mouth. 
 
I urge you to think about this when it comes to what God has given to you.  The temptation is to keep it all for yourself.  The temptation is to say, "It's not going to hurt anyone if I keep this."  Or, " I don't need to give.  I need to be given to."   Realize that you don't live on food or money alone.  The only reason you are alive today is because of every Word that flows from the mouth of the Lord. 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, "Help me to realize more and moe every day that I live and move and have my being only because You allow it and make it happen, and let my life express that in how I give back to you what you have first given to me.  Amen.
 
 
 
 
 
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ:  What Gospels have the story of Christmas (Jesus' birth)?  Matthew and Luke.
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MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Where did Jesus go out into to fast for forty days?
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CATECHISM:
QUESTION:  Besides faith, what else does the Holy Spirit create in you by the Gospel?
ANSWER: The Holy SPirit sanctifies me in the true faith, that is, by faith He works a renewal of my whole life-- in spirit, will, attitude, and desires-- so that I now strive to overcome sin and do good works (sanctification the narrow sense).
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CALENDAR: 
Mon- confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Youth Group 6-7pm
Thurs- no school
Fri- no school; assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; REFORMATION CELEBRATION 2pm
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NEWS:
CIRCUIT REFORMATION SERVICE ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 28 AT 2PM!!!!
 St. John's is hosting our 2nd annual circuit wide Reformation service on Sunday, October 28!!!  St Paul's, Jonesburg; St. Paul's, New Melle; Grace; Wellsville, Trinity, Wellsville; Christ, Augusta; Immanuel, Wentzville, and Trinity, Troy will all get together to join our voices and hearts in praising our Lord for His grace and truth which was exclaimed and brought back to the forefront during the Reformation! 
 
Come and join with the rest of your Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ as we celebrate!!
 
Toni Schwartz is leading a mass choir that day!  The choir will practice at 1pm at church. 
 
Call pastor at 359-1061 for more info!!
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 "All Hallows Eve Chili & Hot Dog Supper" AND "Trunk or Treat" being held on Wednesday evening, October 31st at St. John's 
 
1.  WE NEED TRUNKS!!!  We need people to sign up to take up a parking spot for our TRUNK or TREAT!!  Call the office to reserve your spot!!!  456-2888
 
2.  WE NEED CANDY!!  We are asking for your help by donating any kind of bagged Halloween candy so we can assemble 160 bags of "treats" for our supper attendees!  We plan to assemble the bags on Monday, October 29th, so we need to have all the candy donations by no later than Sunday Oct. 28th.    We will put a box for the candy collection in the narthex marked "ALL HALLOWS EVE SUPPER".  
 
***Don't forget too that there is a pumpkin carving/decorating contest that night.  3 prize ribbons will be awarded for carved pumpkins that are brought to church ON Wed. Oct. 31 by 4 PM.  The will be for:  1.  The funniest    2.  The scariest    3.  The best
 
They will be used for centerpieces on the dinner tables!!  You may take your pumpkins home with you after the event ends at 8 PM.
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A SPECIAL COMMITTEE IS BEING FORMED TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SUPPORT A DCE (Director of Christian Education) who wold also be a music director here at St. John's. 
 
If you are interested in serving in this way please call pastor asap.  
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VENDOR FAIR--- CHRISTMAS MARKET
 
Little Lambs is hosting a Vendor Fair on Saturday, December 1 from 8am-2pm.
 
This is for all of those folks who have home based (part time businesses) like Avon, Scentsy, tupperware etc. 
 
First come, first reserve-- no duplicate vendors please.
 
$20 per booth/table  (tables provided)
 
All proceeds go to building fund. 
 
Please contact Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier at 456-2888 ext. 4  or email at
lrausch@centurytel.net or karin.klaustermeier@hotmail.com
 
 
This is a great opportunity to get gifts for Christmas or to make a little extra cash to buy those gifts
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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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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 CHARLIE SMITH as he is recovering from a severe heart attack in the ICU at St. Joe's West.
 
For LIL WINTER as she has been admitted to St. Mary's Hospital for tests and rehab.
 
For DON TURNURE who is having hip replacement surgery today.
 
For JOYCE SCHIEN as she is hospitalized  with feeding tube issues.
 
For PEGGY TALBERT as she reocvers from severe esophagus isses.  (A hiatal hernia and esophagitis) 
 
For JILL JAOBSMEYER as she recovers from emergency gall bladder surgery.
 
For WALT SCHIRR, as recovers from surgery to take care of his vertigo and balance problems.
 
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS of PASTOR ED WILKINSON who passed away this past weekend. 
 
For GENE SIEBOLD who is recovering from pneumonia at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield.
 
 For JEANETTE KOEHLER, who is recovering at Troy Nursing Home from an amputaed toe.
 
 For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER.  She has a very rare spine condition, which has resulted in a spinal fluid leak. They are trying for the 2nd time to do a "blood patch" to stop the leak. Yesterdays try was unsuccessful and they are going to try again today. The only specialist in the US that treats these conditions is out of town until next week, the doctor that is caring for her has only done 1 of these before.
 
For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who fell out of his tree stand while deer hunting on Saturday and broke his sternum and many ribs.  He has many things wrong with him and is in critical condition in the hospital.
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For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH as she recovers from a very bad infection and as she continues to deal with very bad rheumatoid arthritis and other health troubles. 
 
For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he begins a new chemotherapy treatment next Week.
  
For ED, neighbor to the Fosters, who found out he has cancer. 
 
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 DIANNE HANCE'S friend Cindy Schwada.  Josiah is about 2 years old, a beautiful blonde with sparkling blue eyes.  This baby has a tumor
on his brain.