Come and check out the Avenue of the Saints Christmas worship this Sunday at 11am!!!!! You will be pleasantly surprised.
11 years ago
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
DEVOTION: At one time wee too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
After the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday, people are looking for answers. They want to know why this happened, and they want to know what to do about it.
Here are the answers to these questions:
Why did this happen? It happened because there is evil in the world and there is evil in each one of us. Sometimes it works itself out in ways like lying, speaking out in words of anger, or any manner of things that seem more acceptable to us but not acceptable to God. Other times it works itself out of people in horrific ways like it did in that school last Friday. The man who did it was extremely mentally disturbed. He was not in his right mind. Anyone who would do such a thing is never sane. This too is a consequence of sin. Sin causes imperfections in all of us as it did to that man.
What can we do about it? While some answer "Get rid of guns so they aren't available to crazy people." and others say, "Get more guns so people can defend themselves and their children from crazy people", and still others say "Lock up all the crazy people." none of these things is going to get rid of malice, anger and other types of sin that cause people to act out in such ways. The only real answer is JESUS!!
Notice what it says in the reading for today. "We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating each other. But when the kindness and love of God, Our Savior appeared...." Satan, sin, death, and hell can only be defeated by Christ! Once people get that into their heads, that is when true change happens.
Give people Jesus this Christmas! Give people the same forgiveness, love, mercy and grace God gave you and you will truly see a change!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we know that the only answer is YOU! Help us to share that answer in a world that is full of malice, anger, envy and hate. Help us share it with people who are hurting because of this tragedy and many others. Help us to love others and forgive others as You have forgiven us. Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Titus?
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After the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday, people are looking for answers. They want to know why this happened, and they want to know what to do about it.
Here are the answers to these questions:
Why did this happen? It happened because there is evil in the world and there is evil in each one of us. Sometimes it works itself out in ways like lying, speaking out in words of anger, or any manner of things that seem more acceptable to us but not acceptable to God. Other times it works itself out of people in horrific ways like it did in that school last Friday. The man who did it was extremely mentally disturbed. He was not in his right mind. Anyone who would do such a thing is never sane. This too is a consequence of sin. Sin causes imperfections in all of us as it did to that man.
What can we do about it? While some answer "Get rid of guns so they aren't available to crazy people." and others say, "Get more guns so people can defend themselves and their children from crazy people", and still others say "Lock up all the crazy people." none of these things is going to get rid of malice, anger and other types of sin that cause people to act out in such ways. The only real answer is JESUS!!
Notice what it says in the reading for today. "We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating each other. But when the kindness and love of God, Our Savior appeared...." Satan, sin, death, and hell can only be defeated by Christ! Once people get that into their heads, that is when true change happens.
Give people Jesus this Christmas! Give people the same forgiveness, love, mercy and grace God gave you and you will truly see a change!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we know that the only answer is YOU! Help us to share that answer in a world that is full of malice, anger, envy and hate. Help us share it with people who are hurting because of this tragedy and many others. Help us to love others and forgive others as You have forgiven us. Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Titus?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Why can and should I be sure of the forgiveness of my sins?
Answer: I can and should be sure of the forgiveness of my sins because God keeps His promises in Christ.
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CALENDAR
Tues- Quilters 9am; no Bible study
Wed- Supper 5:30; worship 6:30; choir practice 7:15
Thurs- Giving Tree Gift Recipients come to get their gifts in afternoon
Fri- Giving Tree gift recipients come to get their gifts in the morning.
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; AVENUE OF THE SAINTS (Christmas Special) 11am
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NEWS
PLENTY OF WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS!!!!
Wed, Dec. 19, at 6:30pm- Come and hear Alaina Heitgerd and Gus Klaustermeier play Christmas music on piano with Barb Dreyer, hear the choir sing two wonderful Christmas songs, and find out all about the New Heaven and New Earth!!
Sat, Dec. 22 at 5pm- Come and hear all about the magnification of the Lord through Mary and through us and sing some wonderful Christmas songs!!
Sun, Dec. 23 at 8:30 or 11am- Come and hear all about the magnification of the Lord through Mary and through us and sing some wonderful Christmas songs!!
Mon, Dec. 24 at 7pm- Celebrate the Nativity with many carols, hear the choir, and find out what it means that God so loved the WORLD that He sent His only Son at Christmas.
Tues, Dec 25, at 9am- Sing MORE Christmas songs and find out what the WORD, that John speaks of is all about.
There is no excuse for not being in worship at least once (if not three different times) within the next seven days! Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn King!!
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ADVENT DINNER AND WORSHIP TOMORROW, DECEMBER 19
SUPPER 5:30
WORSHIP at 6:30!!!
If your elder is Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, or Steve Robine 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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CHOIR PRACTICE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:15. EVERYONE IS STILL WELCOME TO JOIN US!! We need sopranos!!
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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 the community of Newtown, Connecticut that the good news of Christ's salvation might have free course during this most difficult time and that all will find comfort in the salvation won for all mankind in Christ Jesus.
For the family and friends of CLAIRE BLASE, as they mourn her loss.
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. .
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