Monday, June 1, 2015

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). 

 

"
The Good Old Days" 
June 1, 2015  
Spanish Daily Devotion Jesus Illustration 7-11-13But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
The good old days.

A lot of people speak fondly of the "good old days." That's because our rose-colored glasses (and selective memories) help us see the good times of those years and ignore that which was uncomfortable and hurtful. If truth is remembered accurately, and we are brave enough to say it, most of us will admit our high school years weren't always the good old days.

Without working too hard, most of us can remember cruel words that left lasting scars, the betrayal of best friends and true loves that were neither true nor real.

This takes us to Mary Lapkowicz and Ben Moser.

A few years ago, when Moser and Lapkowicz were in fourth grade, he was very kind to her, a girl who has Down syndrome. If she was being left out of an activity, he brought her in. If she was sad, he tried to cheer her up. Having seen his cousin's prom, Moser even told Lapkowicz he would, when the time was right, take her to prom.

As I say, that was a few years ago, and things change.

Eventually, Moser moved away, and the two lost track of each other. Moser became quarterback of his high school football team, and Lapkowicz, well, her father was the one who took her to high school homecoming. Moser and Lapkowicz lived separate lives, until his football team played her school. The two ran into each other and shared memories.

Now that could be the end of the story, but it's not. A short time later, Moser bought some balloons and wrote "PROM" on them. Remembering his promise from years ago, Moser asked Lapkowicz to prom. She said yes and the quarterback and the Down syndrome girl -- gussied up in a fancy, purple gown -- attended the festive occasion together.

A pretty good story, don't you think?

It's the kind of story that reminds Christians of their relationship with the Lord. Long ago, shortly after humankind had sinned, the Lord made a promise. He promised He would send a Savior to take us away from sin, the devil, and death. It was a promise that would offer unbelievable and unexpected happiness to believers in His Son.

It was a promise which many people were sure He had forgotten -- or had no intention of keeping.

But God remembered, and He kept that promise. And because He did, the present lives of believers have been changed and our eternity, well, our eternity ... those will be the real "good, old days."

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we give thanks for those people who remember and keep their promises. We are even more grateful for Your fulfillment of a promise made to save us from our spiritual enemies. Grant us grace to love our Savior who first loved us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
What other book besides the actual book of Jeremiah, did Jeremiah write? Lamentations
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Whose advice did Rehoboam take when the people asked him to make their burden (yoke) lighter? 
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CALENDAR:
Mon- FAMILY NIGHT 5:30pm!!
Tues- Quilting 9-2; No Bible study
Wed- Praise Band Practice 5:30
Thurs- Alzheimer's support group 1pm; Marliyn leaves for vacation
Sat- Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Jacob Cluver; 11- Alaina Heitgerd
Ushers-  Figura Family

Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve Robine

Greeters- 8:30- Allan and Barb Dreyer; 11- Joann Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- John Hachtel 8:30- Jennifer Figura  11- Steve Robine
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Sophie Tinnin; 11am- Terry McKenzie
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NEWS:
LITTLE LAMBS STILL HAS A FEW SPACES LEFT IN THE FOUR YEAR OLD CLASS!! 
If you know of someone that wants to enroll their 4 year old, tell them to register NOW so they will not be disappointed!
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MARILYN WILL BE ON VACATION STARTING THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 4---- MONDAY, JUNE 22. 
The church office will be closed during this period.  If you have any matters pertaining to the church office that need to be addressed, please do so by Wednesday!
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A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR FABULOUS CHOIR FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THIS YEAR!  YOU GUYS ROCK!
Jo Fahrni
Donna Lindsey
Kailyn Blechle
Janice Walters
Sandy Robine
Lois Boeger
Sharon Spoede
Rebecca Bettlach
Kay Stark
Don Nolte
Doug Walters
Jim Rahn
Alan Hofeldt
John Hachtel
Steve Robine
Tim Sherman
 
And an extra special thanks to Barb Dreyer for directing and organizing such a beautiful choir throughout the year! 
 
They will be taking a break for the months of June and July and part of August.  If you'd like to be a part of this fantastic choir please call Barb Dreyer at 456-8278
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PASTOR IS STILL IN NEED OF MORE SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE-A-THON ACROSS MISSOUR!!
My goal is to raise $1,500 for Lead a Child!  One of, if not the, best mission organization within the Synod.  We provide funds for kids in Third World countries to go to Christian schools. 
 
Please go to leadachild.org, click on the "donate" button and follow the instructions.  Or you can just give me a check and I will send it on to them. 
 
A special thank you to those who have already donated!  Right now I am at $650!  Almost half way there!
 
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NEXT PLANNING MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY,  JUNE 28 at NOON!  IT WILL BE A POTLUCK LUNCH!!!  EVERYONE IS INVITED!
 
WE WILL ANSWER TWO QUESTONS AT THIS MEETING:
1. What do we do well?
2. What do we need to improve our ministry?
 
The answers to these two questions will help us to focus our efforts and put together a master plan so that we can focus on building to fit our ministry needs and goals.
 
WE NEED INPUT FROM EVERYONE!!  THIS IS YOUR TIME!  BRING YOUR ANSWERS (along with a dish to share)!
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TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP'S NEXT ADVENTURE IS TO ROCHEPORT AND ARROW ROCK, MO.
They will have dinner and the J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock and then enjoy a live play "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Lyceum Theater.  Cost will be determined by number of people going, but should run between $60 and $70 per person.  SIGN UP SOON!  A $25 deposit is due by this Sunday!! Please give your deposit to Marilyn or put it in her mailbox or on her desk.  Don't put it in the offering plate.
 
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KITCHEN TOWELS AND DISH CLOTHS ARE MISSING!!
Check your drawers and laundry piles and bring them back!   
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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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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 CARA KLAUSTERMEIER who is recovering well at home.
 
For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are now BOTH on hospice care.
 
 For BONNIE FRENZIA, who is undergoing radiation treatments at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.
 

For OUR DCE INTERN, KELSEY OVERBECK, that the Lord's will is done concerning her call to a church to be a full time DCE.

 

For LIL WINTER recovering at home.

 

For MOLLY HENDERSHOT recovering at home.

.

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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