Devotion and News: Monday, February 2, 2015

 

ST. JOHN'S 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 Sacrament
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual need
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
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DEVOTION:
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud has settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Exodus 40:34-35

 

It must've been quite a sight to behold.  As soon as the tabernacle, the Tent of meeting, was finished the glory off the Lord, in the form of a very thick cloud, settled upon it so that no one could enter it, not even Moses.  What glory! 

 

Moses and the Israelites built that tabernacle.  It took a lot of work.  it took a lot of man hours, time, money, and planning.  Yet, still after it was all said and done, it was God's place.  It was HIS, and no one is allowed to enter it without HIS permission.  Even though they had carried out all the plans, even though they had spent all that time weaving the curtains and the robes for the priests, even though they had spent hours sawing and chiseling out the wood, even though they had hammered out the silver and gold, even though they were to set it all up with their own sweat and their own splintered hands IT WAS GOD'S!!

 

And so it is with you today.  Even though you are the one dealing with all the struggles that this body seems to provide, and even though you seem to be the one taking care of your body, and even though you seem to be the one who wakes up to the alarm and goes about your daily life, your work, your school, your family, your home, IT IS GOD'S!!! 

 

That's right!!  Your body is not your own!  It is God's body!  He created it!  He redeemed it!  He sustains it!  He gives it breath!!  He gives it life!  You were bought with a price!  Therefore honor God with your body!  And your body is a temple of the HOLY SPIRIT!  The Holy Spirit is in you! 

 

So what should you do?  Take care of your body!  Honor God with your body.  Surrender your body to Jesus!  Treat your body as the temple of God that it is, and only use it according to His will.  Then, in your times of weakness, when you sin, do not linger in it.  Do not stay in it!  Repent!  Then realize that God has redeemed your body to be His own for all eternity.  He paid for you by His Son's death on the cross.  Your body is His and he loves it.  He loves you!

 

Let us pray:  Lord, remind me daily that my body is yours.  My heart, my soul, my gut, my legs, arms, eyes, ears, and all my senses, are all yours.  Make me treat them as such.  Amen.

 

 

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YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: 
What was the sin that Moses committed that kept him from entering the Promised Land?  He struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. 
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What is an ephod? 

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CALENDAR:  

Mon- Confirmation 5-6pm; Family Night 6-7

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers support group 1pm; karate 5:30-7:30; Praise Band practice 6-8

Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Hailey Blechle, 11- Ian Brunson
Ushers- Figura family
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve McDowell
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp 11- Steve and Katie McDowell
Lay readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer  8:30- Amber Vossen; 11- Steve McDowell
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer

Organist: Melissa Pedersen
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NEWS:   

FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT IS TONIGHT 6-7pm!!

Bring a Mexican dish, or any dish for that matter, to share!  We'd love to see you!!  It's a fun time!  Please join us!

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STEAK DINNER/AUCTION TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets are $25 a piece!!  Raffle Tickets for the $500 drawing are also available.  1 ticket for $10 or 11 tickets for $20. 
  

CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TODAY TO GET YOUR TICKETS IF YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED THEM YET!

 It is always a BLAST!!!   For years this event has become known as a great place to get good deals on things and help out our youth program at the same time!! 

 

 

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NEW ELDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED

The person assigned to be your elder may have changed!!  New lists will be posted asap.  If you need to know who your elder is before they are posted, call the church office. 

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BLUE ENVELOPES

When using the blue offering envelopes for either the Building fund or the DCE fund, please mark them accordingly.  There have been some mix ups recently.

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A NEW ST JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES TO BE PUT TOGETHER

We are attempting to collect your business cards and print them in the monthly newsletter as advertising.  It will be free to member businesses.  Many times members call and ask if there are members in the congregation that are in a certain business or profession.  People would rather do business with a church family member if possible.  Bring your cards to the church office asap as we will start this with the March newsletter. 

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SPECIAL CONCERT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 @ 6PM!!

The Garms family, a southern gospel music group from Minnesota (I know the two don't go together, but you gotta hear them!!),  will be at St. John's on Thursday evening February 19th at 6pm!   It is a family of eight with wonderful voices and a tremendous desire to share the love of the Lord in music!  Mark your calendars right now to come on out for a night of music!!

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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES!!

Make sure you get them and use them for tax purposes, but also to take stock in how much you gave versus how much you had decided in your heart to give last year!

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YOU CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to share joy at a birthday or anniversary or to honor someone's memory!  Altar flowers are $25.  Call Marilyn if you'd like to brighten up the church and honor someone you love at the same time!  456-2888!!  Or you can sign up on the flower chart in the narthex located on the bulletin board. 

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PRAYER REQUESTS:

A PRAYER OF THANKS For JOHN AND JO FAHRNI'S DAUGHTER JENNIFER, who had a good report last week and does not have cancer.

 

For CLAIRE JOHNSON who is dealing with a large mass on her lung and is having great difficulty breathing.

 

For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a fall and a broken collar bone.

 

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with many health problems relating from a stroke.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE, a senior at WHS, a friend to many kids at St. john's, and a rider on Karin's bus since kindergarten, who has a very serious form of cancer.

 

For ELTON TEMME, Harold Temme and Lois Frick's brother, who has had many seizures and is dealing with many other health problems.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
 
For TODD PONDER, former band teacher/director and friend to many at St. John's, who suffered a massive stroke and can't do anything but move his eyes.  He is unable to breathe on his own. Here is a link to a fund that was started to help the family as they will have astronomical hospital and rehab bills for a long time to come.   At the bottom of the page it also has updates as to his progress.  http://www.gofundme.com/hp1ed8?pc=mb_em