Daily Email: Monday, December 21, 2015

 
DEVOTION: Isaiah 7:10-14 (ESV)
¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ "Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." ¹² But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test." ¹³ And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.^[
 
We usually read this passage at Christmas, but it is quite an interesting story all together.  Ahaz was a wicked King who wouldn't listen to God, and because he didn't listen to God or do what he said, the kingdom grew weaker and weaker.  God was trying to help them out, but they were, in essence, refusing His help.  They had become too self righteous. 
 
To show how them all, including King Ahaz himself, how self righteous and indignant they had become, God tells Ahaz to "ask for a sign".  That's all he's got to do, but he won't do it.  He wants to show his own self-righteousness and throw it in God's face. 
 
That is when God, through Isaiah gives them this prophecy "Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."  While Ahaz would have had no clue what this prophecy was about, generations later this prophecy would come to full fruition in Jesus. 
 
Maybe your own heart has been hard and proud lately, and you are living in your own stubborn self righteousness.  REPENT!  Maybe you are struggling with thinking things like "I don't need to go to church to be a good Christian", or "I don't need the church."  REPENT!  Maybe in your pride and arrogance you can't hear God's clear and certain call to forgive your brother and to be forgiven.  REPENT!! 
 
Don't be like Ahaz who's ears were so stopped up with self-righteousness that he couldn't hear God calling him to repentance.  Open your ears and listen to what GOD ALMIGHTY is calling you to today!!
 
Prayer:  Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.  Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.  Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Immanuel, GOD WITH US!  Amen.
 
 
 

__________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Mon- Irma Travelet visitation 9-11, Funeral at 11; Burial immediately after; NO CONFIRMATION CLASS
Tues- Quilters 9-2
Wed- Youth to distribute gifts at Children's Hospital 10am; Choir practice 7pm

Thurs- Christmas Eve worship 7pm
Fri- Christmas Day worship 10am
Sat- NO WORSHIP
Sun- Worship 10am
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  Christmas Eve- Jacob Cluver; Christmas Day- Gus Klaustermeier; Sun- Zach Hoelscher

Ushers- Christmas Eve- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Tate, Doug Walters; Christmas Day- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun- Bob and Tom Linke, Scott and Alex Heitgerd

Altar- Christmas Eve/Day set up Linda Callies; Christmas Eve/Day Clean Up Terry McKenzie; Sun- Set up, Don Hance  Clean up Lynn Russell and Elanie Schauer

 
Elders- Christmas Eve John Hachtel; Christmas Day Rich Talbert

Greeters- Sun- Ken and Marilyn Foster

Lay readers- Sun- Allan Dreyer

Sat. Pianist- NONE

Organist-  Eve- Rachel Menscher; Day- Molly Hendershot; Sun Molly

Projectionists: NONE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:     Find a prophecy about Jesus in the book of Micah?
 
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2  Good job Pat King

__________________________________________________________________

 TODAY'S QUIZ;  Find a prophecy about Jesus in the book of Isaiah (Besides Isaiah 7:10-14)

__________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS!!!! 

IRMA TRAVELET VISITATION AND FUNERAL TODAY

Visitation- 9-11am

Funeral- 11am

Burial in Warrenton Cemetery Immediately following

 

(No luncheon)

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________

THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE!!

Christmas Eve- 7pm

Christmas Day- 10am

Sunday, Dec. 27- 10 am

 

(Please note that there is no Saturday service and that there is only one service on Sunday with no Sunday school or adult Bible class.)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

HOPE FULL LIVING DEVOTIONS FOR SENIORS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM CHURCH FOR $8 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!!

"Hope Full Living" is a daily devotional booklet just for seniors that Pastor contributes to.  He usually has one or two of his own devotions in it.  If we get 10 or more people to order it and each person gives $8 we can order them in bulk and have them mailed to church.  Order yours today by calling the church office!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER IS BEGINNING NEW CLASS SESSIONS on JANUARY 4!!

They also have the gym open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 8am-noon.

 

It's in the old NIKE store in the mall. 

 

There are discounts for Senior and Kids.  Stop by to sign up today!

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

OPERATION BACKPACK FOR DECEMBER IS CANNED SOUP AND RAMEN NOODLES!!! 

Please help feed the less fortunate kids in Warrenton and Warren County, all of whom get two meals at school during the school week, but go hungry on weekends. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX!!!

If you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have offering envelopes!  Take them home!  Put money in them!  And Bring them back as your offering to the Lord!

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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!
________________________________________________________________________________________
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. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL PRAYERS:

For the family and friends of IRMA TRAVELET, as her visitation and funeral is today.

 

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

 

For MARIANNE LINKE, who has been moved to Warrenton Manor and is receiving treatment and antibiotics for a very stubborn infection.

 

For CAL TAMELER as he deals with the reality that he has lost sight in his right eye. 

 

For the PANHORSTS as they have sold their house in Innsbrook and have moved to Chesterfield, and as soon as Don is done with chemotherapy treatments will be moving down to Florida permanently, that God would bless them in their new endeavors.  

 

For DONNNA LINDSEY'S DAD, as he has been moved to Lincoln County Nursing and rehab to recover from kidney troubles.