Daily Email: Wednesday, October 21, 2015

DEVOTION: Romans 3:19-28

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being^[a] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

 

 

I know a lot of proud Christians.  They are proud of how they are better than other people.  They are proud of how they don't sin as much or that their sins aren't quite as "bad" as others.  They are proud of how they go to church more than most.  They are proud of how they can look down their noses at the sinners all around them.  I know them, because, too often, I am one of them.   Are you?  I bet you are.  I know you are.  It's part of being a human.  Our basic human want is to be above everyone else.  It is to be our own god, to have our own standards, to live by our own rules. 

 

The trouble with that is that you aren't.  You aren't your own god.  You can't make up your own rules, you are no the one who says what's right or wrong for you.  There is One who is much greater than you.  He is the One who made you.  He is the One who redeemed your life from the pit.  He is the One who cares for you daily.  He is the One who continually forgives your sins and gives you new life!

 

Thank God for that.  Can you imagine if you really were in charge of the world?  How messed up would it really be?  I know that if I was in charge of the world it wouldn't be around anymore.  I'm almost positive it would be gone with you too. 

 

But we can be PROUD! We can be proud of our Jesus!  We can be proud of Him, that He loves us, that he forgives us, that he rose from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. 

 

We can be PROUD of our church too!  We can be proud that we believe, teach, and confess the TRUTH!  We can be proud that we keep the focus on Jesus and His salvation.  We can be proud that we have His love in our hearts. 

 

Be proud of your church!  Be proud of your Savior!  And be proud that He loves you enough to die for you! 

 

Let us pray:  Lord, you have given us both grace and the ability to receive that grace through faith.  Thank you!  Make us to be proud of You and You alone.   Amen.

 

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CALENDAR:

Wed- Ladies Aid noon; choir 7pm

Thurs- no school in Warrenton; karate 6:15-7:45

Fri-  no school in Warrenton; Newsletter assembly 9am

Sat-  Worship 5; Hayride and Bonfire at Heitgerds 6-10pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Lydia Miller; 11- Hannah Johnson
Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Roy Bohning 11- Steve Robine
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist-  Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. Perricone, 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Jack Bunge
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NEWS!!!!  PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

 

HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE AT HEITGERD'S HOUSE THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 6-10pm!!

We need people to sign up to bring chili and desserts and to help set up and clean up.  Call the church office or sign up on the sheet that is on the counter in the narthex.

 

WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME!!  Please make plans to do so!!  It's always a fun time to get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ better! 

 

Soda and water will be provided!  You can bring your own adult beverages (beer, wine, etc.) if you'd like. 

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A NEW SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY CALLED "MARRIAGE AND FAMILY:  THE LUTHERAN DIFFERENCE"! 

Do you want to have a clearer definition of marriage according to God's Word?

 

Do you want to be able to explain your views on marriage and family when you get into discussions about it and when you want to teach your kids?

 

Do you want to strengthen your own marriage and family?

 

THEN COME TO BIBLE STUDY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:45!!!!!!!

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QUILT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!  

The drawing was not held at the carnival to give people more time to purchase more tickets.  You may purchase tickets from any quilter or from the church office throughout the week.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.  

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LADIES AID IS SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR $5 a BOX!!  

Once they're gone, that's it.  There won't be another order when they run out!  Get them today!  They're in the basement and you can give money to whoever is in the office. 

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PLEASE ORDER SCRIP !!!!! 

A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!! 

 

The order forms are on the table in the narthex!  Just about every store that you can think of is on the list!  Use the cards just like you would use a debit/credit card and help St. John's make  A LOT of money!

Place your order, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box. 

  
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES!! !

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 October we will be collecting canned veggies. All size cans and even individual portions will be accepted.  The fruit will be delivered to the schools November 1.   We will have a box in the narthex for deposits.

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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 DIANNE HANCE who is recovering from surgery to have a trachea tube and a feeding tube installed on her.

 

For MARIANNE LINKE who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery and had a setback on Friday but is doing better now.

 

For CAL TAMELER as he has cornea transplant surgery on Wednesday.

 

For DON PANHORST who is recovering from his first two chemo treatments.   

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in the Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

 

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.