Still need one more bell ringer for Friday 2-3pm!

PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!!  That is the one hour that I can't ring bells on Friday, because I have to take Cara to an eye appointment.  Someone please take the bell ringing for 2-3pm on Friday! 
 
Thanks in advance!!!

December 12, 2012

DEVOTION:  Paul answered, " I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried.  I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.  If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die.  But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them.  I appeal to Caesar."   After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar:  To Caesar you will go!"
 
Have you ever seen one of those lawyer T.V. commercials when they say, "Know your rights"?  It usually means that if you are hurt by someone else or hurt on the job, or you are wronged in some way, you have the right to be taken care of and to be helped.  In the same way, if you have been wrongly accused of something, you also have the right to defend yourself and to prove your innocence. 
 
That is what Paul was doing here.  He was wrongly accused of stirring up a riot.  he was also accused of not paying his taxes to Caesar (the same thing they accused Jesus of).  He was wrongly accused of wronging the Jews.  All of this was done to keep him quiet and to keep him from proclaiming the Gospel and the resurrection.  (By the way, they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way back to Jerusalem.)
 
Instead of keeping quiet, Paul used the opportunity to further spread the Gospel.  He knew his rights and he was able to go to Rome to where he shared the Gospel with thousands of people.  And as we see, one of the most famous Christian places in all the world, the Vatican, is there in Rome. 
 
Today, I want you to make sure you know your rights. Know that you can proclaim the Gospel freely wherever you go.  It is the freedom of Religion, the first amendment!!  Know that you can even use opposition against the Gospel as a way to proclaim the Gospel!   
 
Another right as a Christian is to live your life in joy!  You are a child of God.  You have been adopted as His sons and daughters.  And since you have been adopted you enjoy the full rights and privileges of children of God!  Namely eternal life!  You have the rights to it!  Enjoy it every day! 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, help me to enjoy my rights as a citizen of heaven, as a citizen of these free United States, and as your child!  And help me to exercise those rights wherever I go.  Amen.
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MONDAY'S QUIZ:  When Paul went back through Macedonia, because the Jews had made a plot against him when he was about to sail for Syria, who accompanied him?  (I'll leave this up for another day since no one answered it yesterday.)
 
Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, Tychicicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What was the lawyer's name who went down with the high priest Ananias to Caesarea with some elders to bring charges against Paul before the governor.

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CATECHISM:
Question: How do you receive this forgiveness of sins?

Answer: I receive this forgiveness through faith, that is, by believing the Gospel.

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CALENDAR

Wed-  Ladies Aid Christmas luncheon noon; Advent Supper 5:30; worship 6:30; choir 7:15

Thurs- nothing

Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm

Sat- Christmas Program practice 10-11am; worship 5pm
Sun- Deadline to get Giving Tree gifts in; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Sunday school Christmas program 11am; Little Lambs Christmas program 6pm __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS

GIVING TREE GIFTS DUE THIS SUNDAY!!!

Make sure you have your wrapped gifts in to church by this Sunday!   

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GOOD NEWS CLUB NEEDS Please help!!!

 1. MONEY:  Another thing we are responsible for is providing funds for materials.  Since it is not in the budget, this depends on individual donations.  If you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause, please call me about it. 

 

3. HELPERS:  A third thing that is needed are helpers.  They meet every Wednesday from 2:45-4:15 at Rebecca Boone Elementary.  Call me if you'd like to help out!

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SECOND ADVENT DINNER AND WORSHIP TONIGHT, DECEMBER 12

SUPPER 5:30
WORSHIP at 6:30!!!
If your elder is DAVE WINTER, JIM RAHN, or STEVE MCDOWELL  please bring two of the following:  vegetable, salad, or dessert.  Don't forget that worship is at 6:30, a half hour earlier this year!!!

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LAST SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE THIS SATURDAY Dec. 15- 10-11am,   Taco Bar after practice to celebrate!!  (Come hungry!)
Performance is Sunday, Dec. 16 at the 11am service!!!
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CHOIR PRACTICE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:15. 

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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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HURRICANE 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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PRAYERS: 

For BETH RITTER, daughter of Dave and Carol Kohrs, who is in ICU with many complications from an unknown illness.

 

For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

 

For SANDRA PERRICONE'S SISTER, KAREN,  as she continues to deal with her heart issues.

  

For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength very slowly as she is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.

 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .