Music and the Church

 If you ever wanted to know my position on music in the church, this is the perfect article to articulate that.  Just click on the link!
 
Have a great day!
Pastor
 
 
http://billbrimer.virb.com/theology/14112858

 
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Devotion and News: Tuesday, January 27, 2015

ST. JOHN'S MISSION STATEMENT
As the body of Christ, we strive to make disciples of all, focusing on the next generation, through growing...
UP in God's Word and Sacrament
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual need
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
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DEVOTION:
22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, "This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.'" 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none."
27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.  Exodus 16:22-30
 
How often do you listen to the Lord?  All the time?  Once a week?  When you really need to?  Or only when something bad happens? 
 
The Lord very clearly told the people that they were to gather enough food for two days on Friday so that they wouldn't have to gather any on Saturday, the Sabbath.  They didn't listen.  They went out to gather it anyway.  They didn't find any just as the Lord had said.  He also told them in a different part of this same section of Scripture that they were only to gather enough manna for that day and not any more.  They didn't listen.  Instead when they woke up on the second day they found the manna had spoiled and was full of maggots. 
 
Some days I wonder how hard it has to be for God to keep from just annihilating us all from the earth.  Our simple, stupid, finite, sinful minds and hearts seem so far from actually trusting God as we should.  We are no different than the Israelites during Moses' day. 
 
God tells us to give as we have decided in our hearts to give.  So we decide to give very little because we might need it for ourselves down the road.  God tells us that if we just worship Him and come to Him for rest He will give us what we need, he will fill us with His Spirit, and He will grow us in our faith.   So what do we do?  We stay home from worship, we try to take care of ourselves without every entreating God for help, and we live lives full of anxiety and worry about stupid earthly things. 
 
Here's what I suggest you do today!  I'm gonna do it too as soon as I get done writing this.  Go to a quiet place.  Get down on your knees!  AND PRAY!  Pray for forgiveness for your lack of trust.  Pray for help for the problems you have.  Pray for those you love who are in need.  And pray a prayer of thanksgiving that He hasn't given you as you deserve but continues to give you more grace!  Then get up off your knees and go to work with peace and joy knowing that God will do what He has promised!

Prayer:  Lord God, I am so sorry for not trusting you as I should.  Help my faith be more than just an outward thing.  Take care of my problems for me and if it is your will for me to struggle for a while grow me in my faith through the struggle.  Bless my loved ones with what they need to make it through this day.  Thank you for giving me all that I need and for having mercy on me when I clearly don't deserve it.  Thank you for loving me more than anyone ever will.  Amen.
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YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: 
Why did Moses take the bones of Joseph with him when they left Egypt?  Exodus 13:19  "Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath.  He had said, 'God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this
place. '  The bones were eventually buried in Shechem  THANKS DIANNE!!
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the sin that Moses committed that kept him from entering the Promised Land?
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CALENDAR:  
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Pastor at funeral in Hannibal; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Praise Band practice 6pm; Carnival Committee meeting 6pm; FCA Worship service at HS 7pm
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch, 11- Jacob Winn
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni  11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay readers- Sat- ????  8:30- Steve Mc Dowell; 11- Jennifer Figura
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist: ????
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NEWS:   
FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT WAS GREAT LAST NIGHT!!!   Every Monday 6-7pm!!
Did you miss it?  Make plans to come next Monday!  It's only an hour and super is included!! 
 
Come and enjoy a lot of good home cooking, and a half hour of Bible study and devotion!
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STEAK DINNER/AUCTION TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets are $25 a piece!!  Raffle Tickets for the $500 drawing are also available.  1 ticket for $10 or 11 tickets for $20. 
 
It is always a BLAST!!!  Get your tickets this weekend before or after one of our worship services or contact your favorite youth to buy them from one of them.  For years this event has become known as a great place to get good deals on things and help out our youth program at the same time!! 

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WE NEED DONUTS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY!!
No one is signed up to bring donuts (or whatever kind of treat you wanna bring).  Please volunteer!!  Maybe it could be someone new instead of someone who has brought them before!!
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WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF A DELEGATE TO OUR MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION ON JUNE 14-18 IN SPRINGFIELD, MO!!
You will represent your congregation ass we elect a new district president and other officers of the district and set direction for the next three years.  It is an honor and it is interesting to do!
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NEW ELDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED
The person assigned to be your elder may have changed!!  New lists will be posted asap.  If you need to know who your elder is before they are posted, call the church office. 
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BLUE ENVELOPES
When using the blue offering envelopes for either the Building fund or the DCE fund, please mark them accordingly.  There have been some mix ups recently.
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A NEW ST JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES TO BE PUT TOGETHER
We are attempting to collect your business cards and print them in the monthly newsletter as advertising.  It will be free to member businesses.  Many times members call and ask if there are members in the congregation that are in a certain business or profession.  People would rather do business with a church family member if possible.  Bring your cards to the church office asap as we will start this with the March newsletter. 
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SPECIAL CONCERT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 @ 6PM!!
The Garms family, a southern gospel music group from Minnesota (I know the two don't go together, but you gotta hear them!!),  will be at St. John's on Thursday evening February 19th at 6pm!   It is a family of eight with wonderful voices and a tremendous desire to share the love of the Lord in music!  Mark your calendars right now to come on out for a night of music!!
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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES!!
Make sure you get them and use them for tax purposes, but also to take stock in how much you gave versus how much you had decided in your heart to give last year!
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YOU CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!
Altar flowers are a wonderful way to share joy at a birthday or anniversary or to honor someone's memory!  Altar flowers are $25.  Call Marilyn if you'd like to brighten up the church and honor someone you love at the same time!  456-2888!!  Or you can sign up on the flower chart in the narthex located on the bulletin board. 
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For JOHN AND JO FAHRNI'S DAUGHTER JENNIFER, who will be having a hysterectomy due to possible cancer.  She just finished cancer treatments last May and the cancer was supposed to have been in remission, and now it may be back.
 
For the CHRISTOPHENE FAMILY as they were received into membership bby affirmation of faith yesterday.  They have already become an integral part of our church family!
 
For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a fall and a broken collar bone.
 
For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with many health problems relating from a stroke.
 
For DANIELLE MEINE, a senior at WHS, a friend to many kids at St. john's, and a rider on Karin's bus since kindergarten, who has a very serious form of cancer.
 
For ELTON TEMME, Harold Temme and Lois Frick's brother, who has had many seizures and is dealing with many other health problems.
 
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
 
For TODD PONDER, former band teacher/director and friend to many at St. John's, who suffered a massive stroke and can't do anything but move his eyes.  He is unable to breathe on his own. Here is a link to a fund that was started to help the family as they will have astronomical hospital and rehab bills for a long time to come.   At the bottom of the page it also has updates as to his progress.  http://www.gofundme.com/hp1ed8?pc=mb_em
 
 

 
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