Monday, July 29, 2013

DEVOTION:  "God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8
 
Every once in a while I just have a Bible verse that pops into my head that I just can't shake?  It just seems to stick with me until I get it down in a devotion or have an opportunity to speak it to someone.  That's what happened with the verse above today.  It just got into my head, and it wouldn't leave me alone. 
 
What a wonderful verse to have stuck in your head.  "While we were still sinners Christ died for us."  Can you fathom that?  When we were still identified by our sin, while were still His enemies, the Father sent His Son to die for us.  Since you and I have received the benefits of that death, the salvation of our souls, through faith in Christ, we are no longer identified by our sin.  We are identified by the Christ living in us. 
 
Maybe that is why that verse got stuck in my head this morning.  I have Jesus living in me, and His presence even effects my mind!  What a wonderful God we have that He can remind us of such wonderful things every day! 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, thank you for reminding me of Your love in so many different ways each day.  Amen.
 
 
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MONDAY'S QUIZ:  How did Jeremiah learn of the plot that the men of his own hometown had against him?
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CALENDAR
Tues- Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- MINISTRY GROWTH CAMPAIGN MEETING 7pm
Thurs- ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT GROUP 1pm; RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE 3-7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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MINISTRY GROWTH PRESENTATION WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7pm!
Aaron Hansen, DCE from Zion Lutheran Church, Harvester, will be at church to talk about what he does as a DCE there.   
 
EVERYONE WHO HASN'T MADE IT TO A  MEETING YET IS EXPECTED TO BE THERE!!!
 
 
 
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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE THIS THURSDAY 3-7pm!!
You can call the church office to make an appointment or just show up. 
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SIGN UP TO GET YOUR PICTURES TAKEN FOR OUR PICTORIAL DIRECTORY!!!
Time for us to get a new directory!!  And guess what else!!! If you buy pictures from the photographer, (Lifetouch) St. John's gets 5% of all sales.  You can also get some money off of your purchase by giving them your email address or by bringing in canned goods for their "Feed the Hungry" drive.  Sign up by calling the church office TODAY or at the sign up table in the narthex before or after worship the next two weekends. 
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SUPPORT OUR MISSIONARY DENISE SCHLESSELMAN!!!!!
She will be leaving in a month for the Czech Republic to do mission work for a year and most probably two!!  She needs your support!  First she needs PRAYER support.  Pray for her safety, for her witness and for her life, that God would do His work through her. 
 
Secondly she needs your FINANCIAL support!  She is trying to get 75% of her needed funding in either one time gifts or pledges. 
 
Please pray about God's will for you in this and support her as best as you can!! 
 
Go to www.lcms.org/schlesselman to learn more about how you can support her.  You can also call her directly at 260-579-2942 and she will tell you more about it!!
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STILL PLENTY OF SPACES LEFT FOR OUR GOLF OUTING  (4 person scramble) SATURDAY MORNING AUGUST 10th. 
$60 per person includes- 2 mulligans, Special hole contests, Cash prizes by flight, Lunch with pork steaks and sides.
7am- Registration begins
8am- Shotgun start
1pm Lunch and awards
 $15 per person for Lunch only
 Hole Sponsorship (tee box sign) $50 per hole
 Entry flyers with all of the details are available in the narthex or  the office!!
 
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For WILMA WEIGLE who is recovering from a slight stroke and will have to have surgery soon.
 
For ROSETTA JONES as she recovers from a broken hip.
 
For WILMA SMITH who is hospitalized with problems due to dementia.
 
For JILL JACOBSMEYER as she recovers from knee surgery at home. 
 
For RUTH WALTERS who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.  She is back at work, but still in quite a bit of pain.
 
For NANCY SPINIOLAS who is having sever back pain .
 
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is recovering from bladder surgery due to cancer.  
For RICK SPINIOLAS who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and continues to go through treatments.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, and Pat King's cousin on your prayers today as well. 
For TYLER WEST, a little brother of a preschooler, who is going to have to have a third surgery to remove a tumor on his brain. .   
 
PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN
I have been compiling a list of servicemen who are members of St John's so that we can pray for them.  Below is a list of them and where they are currently stationed.  Please note that their stationing changes quickly, so this may not even be up to date, but it is the last known whereabouts that I have of these guys. 
 
Danny Dreyer-  Army- 2nd Lieutenant- Ranger, GERMANY
 
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
 
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
 
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
 
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Jacksonville, Florida
 
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
 
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
 
 
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list.
 
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!
 
 
Pray for these guys.  Some of these guys are in harm's way right now, others are training to put themselves in harm's way.  All of them have volunteered to serve and protect their country (which is you).