Sorry this is so late, but I wanted to get the lawn cut before the furnace kicks on outside! Please read this devotion today! It is full of good news! And I think it is a pretty good one (If I do say so myself.) DEVOTION: Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:1-2
I went to see Wilma Weigle yesterday. I wasn't expecting much, because she had a stroke several months ago and hasn't been able to talk since. I sat with Don and Wilma for a little bit and she was laying in bed but acknowledging I was there and every once in a while she would answer one of my questions with a nod or a shake of her head or hand. Finally I asked Don if he thought it would be okay to give her communion. At hearing this Wilma's eyes opened wide as if to say "Yes, I want communion! Are you crazy? Who doesn't want communion."
So, we went through the confession of sins and the Lord's Prayer and she was able to have the Lord's Supper for the first time since before her stroke! The smile she gave me and the sheer joy she had in receiving Christ's body and blood brought tears to my eyes! I'm so thankful to be able to experience times like these! Praise the Lord!
All the rest of that afternoon and evening I kept thinking about that. It made me feel a little ashamed, because I get to receive Christ's body and blood three times a weekend (two if there's no communion in the late service) and yet, how often does such a big smile and sheer joy upon receiving Christ's body and blood come over me? Oh how much I take it for granted! Oh how much I take all of God's gifts for granted.
What about you? Maybe you're in worship every Saturday or Sunday, but how often do you take God's gifts given in worship for granted? DO you appreciate it for what it truly is? Or am I the only one who sins in this?
Have you been putting off worship all together for weeks, months, or even years because you have failed to appreciate the life giving and life changing gifts that God gives you in worship? Is it time to get back to God's house so you can meditate in His Word and receive His body and blood? It is time to get over your grievances against the pastor or one of your brothers and sisters in Christ who has been keeping you from worship because you are unable to forgive him or her?
You may not quite understand this, but as a pastor my heart breaks every time I see someone neglecting or failing to appreciate God's gifts, because I know how I have felt and how I have drifted away at times and how my life became just a little bit more empty when I did. I don't want that for anyone! I want people to grow in Christ. I want people to flourish in the means of grace. And I know it is a good thing to want that, because that is exactly what God wants too!
Lord God, forgive me for not appreciating the great blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation that come to us in Your Son's body and blood.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: How many epistles did Paul write?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________CALENDAR:
Sat- Bible Study 4; Worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Becca Bettlach 11- Kailyn Blechle
Altar guild- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean Up-- Betty Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Don Turnure; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Steve Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Jacob Nagel; 11am- Steve Robine
8:30 Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure
Projectors- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Panhorst; 11- ????
Sat pianist- Kathy Barrow; Sun- Melissa Pedersen
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NEWS: Kelsey updates our website weekly! Check it out!! www.stjohnwarrenton.org_____________________________________________________________________
LABOR DAY FLOAT TRIP-- Float trip will be through Ozark Outdoors. Meet at the river at 10am for a 4 mile float. Please contact Teresa Scott to sign up. She can be reached by email at tscott@usmo.com, cell phone or text at 636-359-5041 or at Schraer heating and air conditioning at 636-456-5041. When signing up, [please provide your best phone contact number and email address, if you have one. More info to follow
__________________________________________________________________MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE CHURCH PICNIC!!!!!
The church picnic is going to be held at CHURCH this year on Sunday, September 7 at noon.
There will be a sign up sheet to tell us how many from your family and friends are coming and what kind of food you will be bringing (Please bring a salad/side dish or dessert to share). Hamburgers, hotdogs, buns, drinks, and eating utensils will be provided.
We will need a few guys to volunteer to help with grilling on Sunday morning. STEVE MCDOWELL and BRENT DAVIS have volunteered to head that up! Thanks guys!
Everyone will need to help with clean up at the end, but it would be good to have a few volunteers to be in charge of clean up.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN INFLATABLE OBSTACLE COURSE AND BOUNCE HOUSE AS WELL AS A GIANT SLIP AND SLIDE FOR THE KIDS!!
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FROM YOUR QUILTERS!!!
I have a person interested in learning to quilt in the evening. Are there any more ladies that work and would be interested in setting up an evening? Also any experienced quilter that might want to work with us as an instructor helper. Please contact Pam Bueltmann 636 745 2500 or pbueltmann@centurytel.net. Lets keep this wonderful old craft going for future generations. Thanks, Pam Bueltmann __________________________________________________________________________________________
MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP Friday, Sept. 26- Sunday Sept. 28 AT MARK TWAIN LAKE!!
Go to t3mensretreat.org for all the info you will need and to sign up!
It would be wonderful to get a big group of guys from St. John's to go! I never miss it!
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MISSION STATEMENT NEEDS REVISION AND UPDATES
Our mission statement needs to be updated to reflect our emphasis on children and youth and to be made more concise and easy to read. I would like to get a group of two or three interested people to help me to formulate something that we can print on all of our materials and share in the community. If you have any interest in that please reply or call 359-1061
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DO YOU HAVE THE INACTIVE MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN'S ON YOUR HEART AND MIND? SO DO I!
God has put the inactive members of St. John's on my heart and mind in different and new ways over the past month. They need our care, concern, prayers and love. I would like to get a committee of two or three people who also have them on their hearts and want to care for them in more and different ways. Please reply or call 359-1061 if interested!
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR WILMA WEIGLE, as she was able to receive the Lord's Supper yesterday for the first time since her surgery. She is still unable to move much or speak much, but Christ is still caring for her body and soul!
For DON AND WANDA TURNURE AND FAMILY, as they mourn the loss of Don's mother Louise Hale.
For MIM DUNN, as she is recovering from a fractured pelvis at home.
For GARRETT SPOEDE as he goes in for yet another surgery. It is outpatient to clean out an infection in his thumb.
For JONAS BORCHERT as he recovers from surgery to remove a lobe of his lung due to cancer and as he awaits word on a new course of treatment.
For the community of FERGUSON, and all of North County, as they deal with the civil unrest, rioting, and looting that continues.
For HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith.
For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she recovers from a car accident and a fall.
For RICK SPINIOLAS as he continues to deal with pancreatic caner and the effects of the chemo on his body.
For LYNN MESSER, a friend of Jo Fahrni, who is has been missing for a month, that she will be found safe and well very soon.
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