Daily Email: Tuesday, September 1, 2015

DEVOTION:  I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.  Ezekiel 36:26-27
 
The Israelites thought all was lost and it sure looked that way.  They were being overrun by the Babylonians.  They were being tortured and killed.  They were being taken captive to a foreign land and made to be slaves.  All seemed lost. 
 
Maybe you are going through tough circumstances today.  I know A LOT of you are.  I could spend the next five minutes just listing all of the different things people are going through.  Oh the drama.....  
 
In the middle of all of this mess that the Israelites are dealing with there is a promise that comes directly from God.  It is stated above.  The "problem", if you want to call it that, is that most of the people wouldn't see this promise fulfilled on earth.  They wouldn't get to participate in the rebuilding of the wall.  They wouldn't get to leave Babylon on foot and return to their hometown.  They wouldn't get to experience freedom in this life. 
 
They would experience a much greater freedom, an eternal rest, a complete and full new heart and spirit in paradise.  They wouldn't get the healing they desired on earth.  They would get something much greater, something far more spectacular, an eternal freedom in the heavens with the Lord God Almighty!
 
You may be praying for freedom from the pain you are in.  You may be praying for God to fix your broken relationships.  You may be praying that God take all your problems away.  You may be praying for your loved one to be healed from their cancer.  It could happen.  If God wills he can change hearts and minds.  If God wills he can heal cancer. If God wills he can give you your dream job and take care of you financially.  What we know that God for sure wills is that you live forever with Him, and when you take your last labored breath here on earth it will be the first eternal breath you will take with him.  Which one is better?  TO be healed of your cancer on earth or to be completely healed of everything in paradise?  Whatever God's will is for you in this life is good.  It is a wonderful thing no matter what it is.  It is even a better will for you in paradise!  Perfect peace, safety, and freedom!
 
Please pray with me:  Lord God, Your will be done.  Amen.
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LAST TIME'S QUIZ:      Who was Gedaliah?  2 Kings 25:22-26   Gedaliah was appointed governor over the oldest and poorest people who were left in Judah after the majority of them were taken captive. .  He told the people not to be afraid of the Babylonians, but to serve the king of Babylon and live in the land and it should be well with them.  The people didn't like that idea, and so they assassinated Gedaliah and fled to Egypt because they were afraid of the Chaldeans/Babylonians.
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  Where is Mount Seir?
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Choir practice 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimer's support group
Sat-  Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45

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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Devin Miller; 11- George Pezold

Ushers-  Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover

Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Pam Linke

Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Steve Robine

Greeters- 8:30- Don and Donna Sherman; 11- Joan Sexton

Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Steve Robine

Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; Sun- 8:30- Terry McKenzie

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NEWS!!!!  PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
 
CHOIR RESUMES THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2  7-8pm!!!
Choir is open to all people who love to sing from high school age on up.  We welcome old and new faces!!  Please prayerfully consider serving our Lord and Savior by singing His praises with us. 
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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET--
No one is signed up to bring donuts this coming weekend. 
 
Who'd like to do it?  Please reply to this message.
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CARNIVAL NEEDS
The carnival committee is in need of the following items to make our first annual carnival the best it can be. 
Pop up canopies for stations
Coolers for ice and drinks
Your email address--  Send it to me and I will pass it on to Marcia Sevier.  She will send you an invitation to the carnival that you can in turn send to as many people as you want to invite.  You will also receive a coupon that you can share with friends as well.  Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 
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OPERATION BACKPACK TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AT ST. JOHN'S!!
Many children in our community are very poor.  They are able to get some of their meals at school during the week, but often go hungry on weekends.  Operation backpack is a way that our community has decided to help these kids. 
 
Every month throughout the school year, each church participating will take one food item and collect just that food item.  At the end of the month the food will be delivered to school.  The school officials along with volunteers will distribute the food to kids backpacks to take home.   
Throughout the month of September we will be collecting canned fruit . All size cans and even individual portions will be accepted.  The fruit will be delivered to the schools October 1.   We will have a box in the narthex for deposits.
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SHOP WITH SCRIP!!  A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!!
A new fundraiser was unveiled at our last voter's meeting!!  You may purchase gift cards from church to be used as you would any other gift card.  The only difference is that you purchase it from church and St. John's gets a percentage of the sale.  Order forms are on the counter in the narthex.  The first order will be place next Sunday, August 30.  Place your order for, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box.  For additional information or to get your questions answered, call the church office.  456-2888.
 
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FLOAT TRIP!  FLOAT TRIP!!  FLOAT TRIP!!! FLOAT TRIP!!!!
Do you enjoy the outdoors?  Do you like to float down lazy rivers with friends?  Do you enjoy rafts and coolers filled with all sorts of beverages and snacks?  Then sign up and join us for the fourth annual Labor Day float trip! 

 

DETAILS:

1. We will once again go through Ozark Outdoors. 

A. Canoe rental is $20 per person.  A child can ride for free as the THIRD person in the canoe. 

B. Single person kayaks are available at $28 per person. 

C. Rafts are available at $29 per person.  Children 7-12 yrs old can ride for $15 and children under 7 are free if raft minimums are met. 

D. Tubes are $25 per person

E. Rides on the bus are $30 a person if you have your own equipment. 

 

2. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IS IT IS A FLOAT AND NOT A RACE!  Float a little, stop, have a snakcc and a drink, wait for the rest of the group and then move on. 

 

3. What will you need?  Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, cooler, drinks, lunch, and a positive attitude. 

 

4. Contact Teresa Scott to sign up
tscott@usmo.com , 359-5041, or Schraer Heating and Cooling at 456-5041.  When signing up please provide your email address and BEST contact number.
 

5. If you choose to spend the weekend down there, please make camping, hotel, or cabin arrangements through Ozark Outdoors,
www.ozarkoutdoors.net or with Onondaga State Park.  Currently there are reservable basic sites available for the weekend at Onandaga. 
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UNMARKED BLUE ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING EXPANSION PROGRAM
If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that!  Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!

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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD?  ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs. 
 

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GENERAL PRAYERS:
For SANDY ROBINE as she continues to recover from her knee replacement.
 
For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering well from illness and has moved to Whispering Pines.
 
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is back int he Czech Republic to continue her mission work.
 
For CORA CLUVER'S DAD, who may get to go home soon after spending a couple months in the hospital and rehab after a severe motorcycle accident and becoming  paralyzed from the waist down.
 
For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are BOTH on hospice care.
 
For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with the after effects of a severe stroke almost two years ago.  

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