Daily Devotion: Monday, November 24, 2014

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
 
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
 

 

"
Good Question"
November 24, 2014 
Daily Devotions, fall, leavesWhen I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Psalms 8:3-4
When President Theodore Roosevelt and his friends were at his home in Sagamore Hill, after an evening of conversation they would go out on the front lawn and search the skies until they found the faint spot of light mist beyond the lower left-hand corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.

Then Roosevelt, or someone else in the party, would recite, "That is the spiral galaxy in Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of 100 million galaxies. It consists of 1 billion suns, each larger than our sun."

Then Roosevelt would grin and say, "Now I think we are small enough! Let's go to bed."

This past week I was, like Roosevelt, reminded how small we are.

That was because the U.S. Space Agency has announced that Voyager 1 has entered interstellar space. And why did that bit of news make me feel small? Simple, Voyager 1 was launched in 1977, when I was not yet 30 years old. For the last 36 years the probe has been chugging along at 38,000 miles an hour.

It is now 12 billion miles from the sun.

As the psalmist said, "When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him?"

Good question, and it is a question for which no one has a logical answer.

All anyone can say is this: in His power the Lord brought into being all that is and ever will be. In His wisdom He put humankind in charge of His perfect creation and then, after our sin, in His grace, He decided to save us.

Unbelievable!

The Lord who had made 100 million galaxies, with each composed of 1 billion suns, has decided that He was willing to send His Son into this world to carry our sins and die the death we deserved. Now, because the Lord is mindful of us, all who are brought to faith in the risen Redeemer are forgiven and granted eternal life.

Which leads us to the conclusion: the universe is an impressive thing, but God's grace is more so.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in Your grace You sent Your Son to seek and save sinners. Forgive humankind when they think they know, understand and are empowered to judge You. Let us see how small we are, how great You are, and how much we need You. This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Pastor KlausIn Christ I remain His servant and yours,


Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
 
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Today Read:
Ezekiel 22-23; 1 Peter 1

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   Who was the first person to preach a sermon at Pentecost? Peter
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the name of the paralytic man who was bedridden for eight years and who was healed by Peter?
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Little Lambs sharing meal 11am; Confirmation 5:-6:15
Tues- Little Lambs sharing meal 11am; Quilting 9-2;
Wed- Thanksgiving Eve worship 7pm
Thurs- Thanksgiving Day-- office closed
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11;  DECORATE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS AT NOON!!  Lunch provided!!
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK

Acolytes- Wed- Devin Miller; 8:30- Lydia Miller  11- George Pezold
Altar guild- Set up- Cheri Hofeldt; Clean Up- Lois Boeger; Weekend-- Set up- Lucille Luebke Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Greeters- 8:30- Sharon Spoede; 11- ??????
Communion Assistants- Wed- Steve Robine;  Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Randy Sweet  11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Jim Rahn, 8:30- Randy Sweet, 11- Lynn Figura
Ushers- Wed- Figura family;  Sun- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
Projectors- Sat-- Pam; Sun 8:30- Kailyn Blechle   11-- Bella Linstruth

Pianists/organists Wed-Melissa Pedersen;  Sat- Molly Hendershot; Sun- Melissa Pedersen  11am- Doug Walters
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NEWS:
THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP AT 7PM ON WEDNESDAY!!!  Be there to give thanks to God!
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CHRISTMAS DECORATING THIS SUNDAY AT NOON!!
Please help decorate our church for the Advent and Christmas Season!!  Pizza will be served for those who help!!  The more people we get the quicker it will go!!
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ADVENT DINNERS AND WORSHIP BEGIN DECEMBER 3!!
Supper at 5:30
Your elder will be calling you to direct you as to when to bring food!  Please come to all of the dinners though!  Yu can't beat fried chicken and tons of great sides every Wednesday night!  A small free will donation is appreciated to offset the cost of the chicken.  Please also make sure you bring your dishes home after supper!  And please be aware that they will not be washed.
 
Worship at 6:30
Our worship theme is COME, LORD JESUS! Focusing on the Lord's Prayer and the Common table prayer, we will talk about what it means that we want Jesus to come into the world, into our hearts, and into eternity!!
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SUPPORT THE LAYING OF WREATHS AT THE GRAVES OF OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE
Larry Schulze is selling wreaths to be used at a wreath laying ceremony at the graves of veterans with an organization called Wreaths Across America.  You can purchase/sponsor them for $15 each. 
 
Call Larry Schulze at 636-359-1069 to order yours or if you have questions or need more info. 

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ST. JOHN'S NEW MISSION STATEMENT
 
As the body of Christ, we strive to make disciples of all, focusing on the next generation, through growing....
UP in God's Word and Sacraments
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual needs
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
 
Memorize it!  Get used to it!  Live it!  It is YOUR mission statement as a member of St. John's Lutheran Church!
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A VOLUNTEER IS NEEDED TO BE A DELEGATE TO THE MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION IN SPRINGFIELD, MO JUNE 14-16
All voting members (men or women) are eligible.  In order for our congregation to have a complete voice we need to have complete representation!  Please call me or reply to this email if you would like to serve your church in this way!!
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WE STILL NEED ONE MORE ELDER!!!
 
Elder duties- 
1. Assist the pastor in the spiritual matters of the congregation.
2. Consider complaints and grievances according to Matthew 18:15-18
3. Make every effort to get inactive members back to worship and supporting the church as they have pledged to God to do.
4.  See to it that all worship is held in an orderly and joyful manner.
5. Prepare a list of candidates during a vacancy.
6. Consider salary and benefits for all staff and make recommendations.
7. Consider those who are eligible for membership.
8. Be a good Christian example with regular worship and Bible study attendance and in their Christian conduct and conversation.
 
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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For the family of JUDY WHEELER, (Sean Wheeler, Lindsay Smith and Matt Wheeler's Grandma and friend to many in the congregation).  Her visitation will be tonight from 4-8 at Martin Funeral Home.
 
For ELTON TEMME, brother of  Harold Temme and Lois Frick, who had a seizure this past Tuesday.
 
For Alan Dreyer's  mom VIRGINIA, as she deals with late  stage parkinsons. She is having trouble  swallowing and has developed a  fever.
 
For SAFETY, PEACE, AND THAT COMMON SENSE AND COOLER HEADS PREVAIL in the trouble in Ferguson.
 
For GUS KLAUSTERMEIER, as he recovers from influenza A.
 
For ROSETTA JONES who fell and broke her wrist and is recovering from surgery on it at Delmar Gardens.
 
For BEVERLY WAALEN who has been placed on hospice care and is nearing the end of her earthly life.
 
 
For OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH in the United States, that we would continue to be able to freely speak the truth even in the face of opposition.
 
For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.
 
For MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith. 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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