Tuesday, April 28, 2015

DEVOTION:  How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Psalm 94:1
 
Have you ever noticed how beautiful and big our church sanctuary is?  The big huge cross towers over the wonderful altar that so often holds Christ's body and blood.  The beautiful stained glass windows let in just enough light to show God's glory and power.  Even the pews and their cushions welcome weary souls to come and listen to God's sweet word of grace and rest. 
 
When we gather together there is even more beauty to behold.  As our choir sings sweet melodies and harmonies we carried up to heaven for just a moment as their voices join the angels and saints in heaven.  Then the congregation joins together to sing great hymns full of God's Word in praise back to Him for what he has done for us.  Our ears are filled with God's Word both of law to chastise us for our sins and healing Gospel to fill our souls with rest in God's grace.  Then we get to go up to the altar to receive nothing less than the real and true body and blood of Christ, but even on the way up we pass the baptismal font to remind us that we are washed and cleansed in and through it by the water and the Word.  As we hear the benediction we are reminded that the God who loves us is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us. 
 
I could go on and on.  The question I constantly have is why would anyone want to keep himself or herself from such beauty, wonder and majesty?  Why would someone choose another hour of sleep over true rest in God's Word and sacraments?  Could it be that the sin in that person's life is having its way with him or her?  Could it be that the world is pulling the wool over people's eyes and telling them that what the world has is more beautiful and enticing than what God Almighty has for them?  Say it ain't so.  Yet it is.  And people are falling for it hook, line, and sinker.  There's nothing that makes me more sad and discouraged than when people are neglecting worship.
 
Every time I go upstairs to the sanctuary I have to pause for just a moment, because I am always brought to the realization that I am in God's courts, in his dwelling place.  I am truly brought to the realization that I am in his midst! 
 
My prayer is that if you are neglecting God's holy house,  you will realize what you are missing and get back into it.  That you will put all the other stuff aside and take time to come into the real presence of Almighty God!  Give up your selfishness, your bitterness, your tiredness, your busyness, your schedules, and everything else that is hindering you and come into the presence of God once again that he may refresh you and give you the grace you need to make it through your life. 
 
Let us pray:  Lord, make us to come into your courts with thanksgiving and praise so that you may fill us with what we need.  Amen.

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:     What was Thomas also called? (Hint: It's not the doubter or Doubting Thomas)  Didymus (or the Twin)  Good job Dianne and Sandy!
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was Luke's regular day job?
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CALENDAR: 
Tues- Quilting 9-2; NO Bible study
Wed- Praise band practice 5:30; Choir practice 7
Sat- Vendor Fair/Tailgate Sale/ Luncheon 7am-2pm;Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- John Pezold; 11- Sophie Tinnin
Ushers-  8:30- Scott and Alex Heitgerd and Bob and Tom Linke

Altar- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Jim Rahn; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Don and Wanda Turnure; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier 8:30- Tim Linke  11- Randy Sweet
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionists: No projectionists this weekend
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NEWS: 
 
TAILGATE SALE/VENDOR FAIR/ BAKE SALE/LUNCHEON IS THIS SATURDAY FROM 7am-2pm!!!!
There are still plenty of spaces available both inside and outside!!
Vendor booths inside are $25 a space
Tailgate Spaces are $10 for two parking spots
A Space under the pavilion is available for $20 or the whole pavilion for $75!
 
Call the church office to reserve your space!! 456-2888
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QUILT RAFFLE
The quilt is hanging in the church basement and will be awarded to some lucky person at 1pm on Saturday, May 2!!  You may purchase tickets from a quilter or from the church office.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5!! 
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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOOD LIST IS ALL FILLED UP!
Thank you to all who signed up to donate food for this very worthy event!  Please bring your items as close to May 6 as possible for maximum freshness!! 
 
AND DON'T FORGET TO SHOW UP AT 6:30am on MAY 7 FOR OUR PRAYER BREAKFAST!!!
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MORE ALTAR GUILD MEMBERS AND LAY READERS NEEDED!!!
There is a need for some more ALTAR GUILD members especially cleaning up after the late service on communion Sundays
 
There is also a need for some more LAY READERS for all of our services but especially the Saturday service and  11am service on Sunday.
 
If you feel as though you could help your congregation in either of these ways, please reply to this email and we'll give you any training you need and put you on the schedule! 
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PASTOR IS BIKING ACROSS MISSOURI JUNE 21-26!
As much as I need to get in shape, this is more to raise money for www.leadachild.org.   If you'd like to donate to this most worthy cause, go to the website, click on the donate button, find the space that says "Lead a Child Bible club, enter your amount and enter my name.  Then you can pay by check, e-check, or credit/debit card.
 
Thank you for your support!
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CALLING ALL BAKERS!!!
If you have never been involved in one of our church activities (and even if you have), here is a new challenge for you!!  There will be a cake/dessert booth at the carnival on September 12!  The carnival will be open from 11am until dusk!  Donations of baked good and workers to man the booth will be needed!!  Desserts needing refrigeration cannot be accepted.  Work shifts will be for two hours beginning at 10am and will go till closing time.  To eliminate many, many phone calls, a sign up sheet has been placed on the narthex where you can volunteer!! 
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LITTLE LAMBS IS ENROLLING NOW FOR THE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR!!
Only a few spaces left!  Get those registrations in today!!  Get your registration forms from the preschool or from the church office.
 
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DID YOU HAVE FUN WITH THE TRAVELING FELLOWWSHIP GROUP AT THEIR LAST EVENT? 
Well the next trip is already in the works!  They will be taking a trip to Rocheport and Arrow Rock, MO on August 22!!  They will have dinner at the J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock and then enjoy the play "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Lyceum Theater.  Cost will be determined by number of people going.  It should run between $60 and $70 per person.  Sign up soon as there seems to be a lot of interest. 
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STEPHEN MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!!
Stephen Ministry Leadership Training will be held April 12-18, 2015 in St. Louis at a hotel near the airport.  If anyone is interested in being part of this ministry, and wants more details, call Joanne Hachtel, 636-745-8711.
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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET NEEDS TO GET FILLED UP!!!  We have no one signed up till May 16!!  Please sign up!
Apr. 26- Gary and Joanna Hoelscher
May 3-  Rich and Lois Boeger
May 10- Ava Campbell w/ help from Gary and Teresa Scott
May 17-
May 24-
May 31-
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ST. JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES
If you didn't get your business card in this month's newsletter get them in to the office for the April newsletter!! This advertising is free to members.  Many times members call and ask if there are members who are in a certain business or profession.  People would always rather do business with fellow church members when they can.

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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD?  ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register online and have it swiped each time you shop. 
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SAVE THE DATE!!!!  OUR FIRST ANNUAL FALL CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 12, 2015!!!
We are looking for ideas for carnival games and also donations of carnival game prizes for the vent.  Please donate prizes into the cardboard box in the narthex.  Also, if any one has an idea for a carnival game, or a game itself they would like to donate please contact Joanna Hoelscher at 636-485-0635 or Karla Christophene at 314-397-1375.

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PRAYER REQUESTS:

For JOHN HACHTEL as he recovers from a very minor "mini" stroke.  He is at home, doing well, and is not having any symptoms.

 

For LIL WINTER as she recovers from having part of her colon removed due to infection.

 

For MOLLY HENDERSHOT who is recovering at Delmar Gardens after falling and breaking her leg right below the hip socket.  .

 

For JANE KESSEL (Freddie's wife) who is hospitalized with possible after a fall.  She is hospitalized because of continued shortness of breath.

 

For CAROL KOHRS who is recovering at home from an infection.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE who is home from the hospital recovering from chemo treatment.  

 

For DAVE KOHRS who has stopped receiving chemo treatments and has placed himself on hospice care.

 

For BONNIE FRENZIA who is spending some time in Delmar Gardens for rehab.


For OUR CONGREGATION AS WE SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BUILDING PROGRAM!!

 

For OUR DCE INTERN, KELSEY OVERBECK, that the Lord moves a congregation in need of her abilities to call her into full time DCE ministry.

 

For DAVE TINNIN'S MOM, JANE, as she continues to recover from several strokes and seizures.
 
For WILMA WEIGLE as she is having a lot of difficulty with congestion and possible pneumonia. .

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
  


 


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