Monday, November 5, 2012

DEVOTION:  (from Pastor)
Each one should give as he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  II Corinthians 9:7-8
 
Yesterday I talked about giving in terms of where your heart is.  Here's the deal.  We all know that there are a lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet.  We all have financial difficulties we are going through.  Here's the questions you should ask yourself. 
 
1.  Do you wish you could give more?  By this I mean, do you know that your offering is going to the sharing of the Gospel and the increase of God's kingdom, and do you want to participate in that increase and that sharing of the Gospel? 
 
2. Does your budget and your giving reflect the heart of God?  By this I mean, are there things you spend money on that neither glorify God or are according to His will that you could instead be giving to him? 
 
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   Where is your heart?   These are tough questions to ask, but ones that are necessary to get everything straight and be the best witness to God's mercy and grace that you can be. 
 
You all know the needs of the church!  There are two main things we are working on, as far as inceasing the church's and God's influence in the congregation itself and the community at large. 
 
One is the building program.  It isn't something that we have talked about for a while, yet it is something that would greatly benefit our own membership as well as the community in hundreds of different ways.  Can you give to that?  Can you give more to that if you are already giving to it?
 
The other is what was voted on on October 15.  We voted to call a DCE (director of Christian education) and music ministry.  THis is a person who will help me out greatly, but will also increase the ministry scope throughout our own congregation and throughout the community!  He/she will be mostly responsible for youth and music ministry.  Just imaigne the opportunities and enhancements that will come about when we are able to get this person on board.  The key to this is that we can only get this person on board when we have  a solid plan in place to be able to afford it.  We have a team in place to begin working on it this week, but it will take the effort and sacrifice of every member of our church!!! 
 
I want to encourage you to pray hard about this in the coming days, weeks, and months ahead.  Pray that God directs you to do everything that you can to be His hands, feet, mouth, and heart to do His will in these matters, so that His will is done!
 
Prayer:  Lord God help me to be an integral part in your mission, dong all that I can to be your hands, feet, and mouth as you increase your kingdom through me.  Amen.
 
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THURSDAY'S QUESTION: What happened to Peter when he looked down as he was waliking on the water?  He got nervous, doubted, and began to sink.
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MONDAY'S QUESTION:  What did Jesus do to heal the man born blind?
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CATECHISM:
Question:  Then, why are not all people saved? 
Answer:  Many reject the Word and resist the Holy Spirit; therefore they remain in unbelief and under God's judgment by their own fault. 
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CALENDAR: 
Mon- confirmation 5:6:16; (A crew will be setting up for elections beginnning at 6:30pm)
Tues- Elections 6am-7pm; Quilters 9-2; no Bible study
Wed- 8th graders to LHS for Teens talk to Teens leave at 5:15pm 
Thurs- Adult membership instruction class 6pm (everyone is welcome)
Fri- nothing
Sat- Patriot Packing (formerly Goodies 4 You G 4 U) at the ARMORY at 9am:  worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; elders meeting noon; Bus trip to see the Rockettes leaves at 1pm
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NEWS: EVERY BIT OF NEWS IS NEW TODAY!!!
CHOIR PRACTICE STARTS THIS WEDNESDAY AT 6:30pm
Molly Hendershot has graciously volunteered to lead/direct a choir to sing on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas.  Practice will start this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm.  Please call her to let her know you will be joining this special choir.  636-488-5751
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HELP NEEDED FOR GOOD NEWS CLUB STARTING AT REBECCA BOONE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 at 2:45
Denise Schlesselmann and Mary Aubuchon have graciously volunteered to help get this wonderful opportunity to bring lost children to Christ and to strengthen the faith of those already in Christ!!  They need some more helpers though!
 
It is every Wednesday from 2:45-4:15.  If you can help, even if it is just once or twice a month, please call me 359-1061, and I will direct you to the proper place.
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS BOX
The Sunday school is accepting donations to fill Christmas shoe boxes.  See the list on the bulletin board downstairs by church office for items that an be included in a shoe box.  If anyone would like to do a box on your own, please read the directions.  If you have any questions, call Christy Winn at 314-479-5543 or email her at christymwinn@hotmail.com.
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PATRIOT PACKAGES (FORMERLY G4U) PACKING THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 at 9am!!!!!!
Thrivent will supply lunch so please come and help pack goodie bags for our soldiers serving overseas.  They are still accepting goodie bags and skull caps and are collecting other items.  A complete list can be found in the narthex or on the bulletin board by the church office.  If you have any other questions call Denise Schlesselmann at 260-579-2942
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CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE
Christmas is only a month and a half away.  Time to get those Christmas cards!  Where can you get good Christian ones?  how about downstairs at church?  They are in the display case!  Stop by and pick some up!  You can pay Marilyn in the office. 
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FREE PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE WORKSHOP NEXT WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 at 7PM at the Embassy Suites in St. Charles!!
RSVP to Tonya Goslin by email at tonyagoslin@thrivent.com or call 636-219-7919.  Light refreshments will be served. 
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TWO BEAUTIFUL QUILTS FOR RAFFLE AND BID!!!
Two queen size quilts are hanging in the church basement.  The blue one is being auctioned off.  The starting bid is $300. 
 
The green one is being raffled off.  Tickets are $1 a piece or 6 for $5. 
 
Both quilts will be awarded on December 1 at the end of our vendor fair. 
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ALL LADIES CHRISTMAS PARTY--- DECEMBER 3 at IMO'S AT 6pm
Please sign the list on the counter in the narthex by Wed, Nov 28 so rexervations can be made.  Bring a wrapped $10 gift for a fun gift exchange.
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HURRICAN SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS THE LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LHF translates, publishes and distributes Lutheran materials throughout the world.  It is not subsidized by the LCMS or any other church body, but is dependent on individual donations.  If you care to make a donation, make your check payable to St. John's and place in a deisgnated envelope, clearly marked "Lutheran Heritage FOundation".  As usual, these donations should be over and above your normal tithes, commitments, and offerings to St. John's.   
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PRAYERS: 
For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he goes on hospice care today.
 
For BARB DREYER'S DAD as he is dealing with many physical illnesses and weaknesses and her mother as she cares for him.
  
For LIL WINTER as she is doing rehabilitation as Delmar Gardens in OFallon. .
 
For DON TURNURE who is recovering well from hip replacement surgery.
 
For JOYCE SCHIEN as she is recovering well from pneumonia at Delmar Gardens in OFallon.
 
For PEGGY TALBERT as she recovers from severe esophagus issues and is still not feeling well.  (A hiatal hernia and esophagitis) 
 
For WALT SCHIRR, as recovers from surgery to take care of his vertigo and balance problems.
  
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 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 recovering well (the tumor was benign) and he may be getting to go home from the hospital soon.  He had a stroke because of the tumor and is still working on regaining control of some of his movements.