Thurs. Feb 20, 2014

DEVOTION: Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  The Story p. 94
 
The news has been very bad lately.  The last week has seen murders, kidnappings, terrorism, and plain old hate.  The world is full of bad news.  It is very easy to get discouraged.  It is very to give up and say, "What's the use?" 
 
But that isn't what God tells us.  He tells us to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep the faith.  He tells us that we need not get discouraged and think that we are fighting an impossible battle.  The battle is the Lord's after all and He will win it. 
 
You can imagine the impossible odds that Joshua had to face, armies twice as big as his with giants nine feet tall, Jericho with fortified impenetrable walls, and 1.5 million people who seemed constantly disobedient.  Yet God continued to reassure Joshua over and over again and give him victory after victory. 
 
The same reassurance and victory is ours!  All we have to do is say the name of Jesus and Satan will flee from us.  We may fall into temptation from time to time, but the Lord provides the way out through constant repentance and forgiveness.  We may get down and discouraged as we hear all the bad news that so often hits too close to home, but the Lord Jesus has overcome this world and through Him we have and always will overcome it as well. 
 
The victory is the Lord's!  Be encouraged!  Stand firm!  Keep fighting the good fight of faith!  Get to church!  Receive His body and blood!  Hear His Word!  Get Christ's peace!
 
Let us pray:  Lord God help us to rest in Your power, Your forgiveness, and Your truth.  Amen. 
 
 
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What city did the walls come a tumbling down on? Jericho
 
(Good job Dianne and Sandy!)
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ:  How many men and women were killed at Israel's battle with Ai?
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CALENDAR:
Fri- 30 Hour Famine Begins at 8pm
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm; 30 Hr Famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school (The Story Chapter 6)
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- need someone......; 11- Isabella Linstruth
Altar guild- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean up- Betty Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach
Greeters- 8:30- Bob Linke; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Communion Assistants- Sat- Don Turnure; 8:30- Randy Sweet
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; Sun- Randy Sweet;  11am- Emily Brunson
Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot
8:30 Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
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NEWS:
THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!
Just wanted to thank the tons of you who came to our steak dinner and auction this past Saturday!! We raised $8,400!!  With the $1500 matching funds from Thrivent it puts us to almost $10,000! 
 
WE HAVE A GREAT BUNCH OF KIDS AND A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PARENTS!!!  The kids will be doing a lot of service, helping out a lot of people and growing a lot in their faith especially when we get our DCE intern! 
 
Thank you parents also for your continued faithfulness in raising up your kids in the Lord!  You are all a great inspiration to me!!
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THE COMFORT DOGS WILL BE AT WARRIOR RIDGE ELEMENTARY THIS FRIDAY (TOMORROW)!
If you don't know who the comfort dogs are go to http://lutheranchurchcharities.org/ and check them out.  These dogs and their handlers are a tremendous blessing from the Lord!!
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THIS WEEK:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 7  "The Battle Begins"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about this very important time in our world history.
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30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!
From Friday at noon until Saturday at 6pm a group of kids, and maybe an adult or two, will be fasting to raise money for those who have no food.    Just $35 will pay for food for one person for a whole month!  Consider giving to this cause this weekend!  We will have a special door offering for it!  Our goal is to raise $1,000 by Easter! 
 
Anyone can join us.  It is not just for the youth to participate.  If you want to participate in this Famine with us come up to church at 8pm on Friday and hang out with us!!  Let me know if you are coming!!
 
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GOOD SHEPHERD MORTGAGE IS GETTING PAID OFF!!!
If you weren't at our voter's meeting this past Sunday you missed the vote to pay off our Good Shepherd mortgage!  This will save us over $10,000 this year and over $2,000 in interest.  It will also free up money to reduce our $17,000 deficit on our budget.
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DCE PLACEMENT DIRECTOR TO BE HERE NEXT WEEK!!
You may be wondering what is going on with that DCE Intern we voted on last year.  The application has been received and now the director of placement from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska will be here to visit with us next week (specific day is yet to be determined.)  We are drawing closer to the day when we will have more ministry help!
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT WILL OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ON MARCH 1ST!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee.  Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.  Enrollment for the community will be gin April 1.  For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
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HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
The FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THOSE KILLED IN JONESBURG this past Friday.
 
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
 
MARY AUBUCHON AND FAMILY as they are mourning the loss of her brother Floyd.
 
Sandy Robine's friend Patrice who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
 
JAYME VESSEL, an "almost" member of St. John's who is due to have a baby girl on the 17th, but it may come sooner due to frequent contractions.

COUGAR CLIFFORD, 15 year old who had an accident playing in the snow on Jan 7 and broke his neck.  He has undergone extensive surgery and is recovering but is still unable to move his legs.   

Terry McKenzie's cousin's sister-in-law who has a bad brain injury.

 

JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.
 







 
 
 
 


 
 
         





           



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