Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"A Little Knowledge"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer
March 4, 2015
"... When the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from" (John 7:27b). John 7:25-32.
Some of the Jerusalem folks think Jesus is paranoid. Others won't even consider whether He might be the promised Messiah. Why? Because He is from Nazareth, and no one is supposed to know where the Messiah comes from. The funny thing is this: they don't know. Jesus only grew up in Nazareth; He was born in Bethlehem. But Jesus is the eternal Son of God who came down from heaven and was born in Bethlehem to save us. Using their little knowledge, they are content to write Jesus off and live in the darkness of their thinking.
Being content with a little knowledge is dangerous. Consider those who are content to know Jesus was born at Christmas and died on a cross, but that's all they care to know. They don't know that He lived and died to save them from God's wrath and rose again to give them eternal life.
We live in a time where people believe-and try hard to persuade us to believe-that reality is what we think it is. And what may be true for you isn't necessarily true for me. Once I am satisfied with my sense of reality I don't have to dig any deeper.
Being content with a little knowledge is not just a dangerous thing-it's deadly! Each of us is a sinner who needs God's salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the only Savior, the only way we can escape God's eternal wrath and live forever in heaven. This Lent God calls us to keep digging deeper and see the whole story of Jesus' suffering and death for our salvation.
THE PRAYER: Lord, forgive my being content with a shallow knowledge of My Savior. Open my mind to want to learn more. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Sacraments
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual needs
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: If a man suspected his wife of committing adultery, what were they to do so that the truth would be found out (I'll leave this up one more day since no one answered it yesterday.) (Here's the answer) Numbers 5:11-31
11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "Speak to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and breaks faith with him, 13 if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act, 14 and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, 15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah[a] of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
16 "And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the Lord. 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord and unbind the hair of the woman's head and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. 19 Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, 'If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse. 20 But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you, 21 then' (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman) 'the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the Lord makes your thigh fall away and your body swell. 22 May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman shall say, 'Amen, Amen.'
23 "Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. 24 And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain. 25 And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand and shall wave the grain offering before the Lord and bring it to the altar. 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has broken faith with her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people. 28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.
29 "This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity."
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What kind of fish was considered "clean in the Old Testament?
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Alzheimers Support group 1pm; Karate 5:30; Praise Band practice 6-8pm
Sat- Worship 5pm; Turn clocks forward one hour
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Choir rehearsal 9:45; Worship 11; Elders meeting noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Wed- Gus Klaustermeier 8:30- Devin Miller, 11- George Pezold
Ushers- Wed- George Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelsccher, Brent Davis; Sun-Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Wed candles-- Terry McKenzie, Sun Set up- Lucille Luebke, Clean Up- Joanne Hachtel
Communion Assistants- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Pam Linke 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Lay readers- Sat- Jim Rahn 8:30- Christy Winn; 11- Steve Robine
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; Sun 8:30- Perricones 11- Jacob Cluver
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
MIDWEEK LENTEN SUPPER AND WORSHIP TONIGHT, SUPPER 5:30; WORSHIP 6:30!!
Menu: Fried chicken, stuffing, green beans, apple sauce, desserts galore!
Worship Theme: You're Peculiar
Invite your friends and neighbors!! Enjoy some good food, great fellowship, and God's Word all in the span of two hours!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET NEEDS TO GET FILLED UP!!!
Here's what we have so far:
Mar 8- Perricones
Mar 15- Fosters
Mar 22- Luebkes
Mar 29-????
Apr 5- EASTER BREAKFAST
Apr 12-???
Apr 19- ???
Apr. 26- ???
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"A Little Knowledge"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer
March 4, 2015
"... When the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from" (John 7:27b). John 7:25-32.Some of the Jerusalem folks think Jesus is paranoid. Others won't even consider whether He might be the promised Messiah. Why? Because He is from Nazareth, and no one is supposed to know where the Messiah comes from. The funny thing is this: they don't know. Jesus only grew up in Nazareth; He was born in Bethlehem. But Jesus is the eternal Son of God who came down from heaven and was born in Bethlehem to save us. Using their little knowledge, they are content to write Jesus off and live in the darkness of their thinking.
Being content with a little knowledge is dangerous. Consider those who are content to know Jesus was born at Christmas and died on a cross, but that's all they care to know. They don't know that He lived and died to save them from God's wrath and rose again to give them eternal life.
We live in a time where people believe-and try hard to persuade us to believe-that reality is what we think it is. And what may be true for you isn't necessarily true for me. Once I am satisfied with my sense of reality I don't have to dig any deeper.
Being content with a little knowledge is not just a dangerous thing-it's deadly! Each of us is a sinner who needs God's salvation through Jesus Christ. He is the only Savior, the only way we can escape God's eternal wrath and live forever in heaven. This Lent God calls us to keep digging deeper and see the whole story of Jesus' suffering and death for our salvation.
THE PRAYER: Lord, forgive my being content with a shallow knowledge of My Savior. Open my mind to want to learn more. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Sacraments
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual needs
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: If a man suspected his wife of committing adultery, what were they to do so that the truth would be found out (I'll leave this up one more day since no one answered it yesterday.) (Here's the answer) Numbers 5:11-31
11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 "Speak to the people of Israel, If any man's wife goes astray and breaks faith with him, 13 if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act, 14 and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself, 15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah[a] of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
16 "And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the Lord. 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord and unbind the hair of the woman's head and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. 19 Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, 'If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse. 20 But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you, 21 then' (let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse, and say to the woman) 'the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the Lord makes your thigh fall away and your body swell. 22 May this water that brings the curse pass into your bowels and make your womb swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman shall say, 'Amen, Amen.'
23 "Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. 24 And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain. 25 And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand and shall wave the grain offering before the Lord and bring it to the altar. 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has broken faith with her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people. 28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.
29 "This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What kind of fish was considered "clean in the Old Testament?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Alzheimers Support group 1pm; Karate 5:30; Praise Band practice 6-8pm
Sat- Worship 5pm; Turn clocks forward one hour
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Choir rehearsal 9:45; Worship 11; Elders meeting noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Wed- Gus Klaustermeier 8:30- Devin Miller, 11- George Pezold
Ushers- Wed- George Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelsccher, Brent Davis; Sun-Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Wed candles-- Terry McKenzie, Sun Set up- Lucille Luebke, Clean Up- Joanne Hachtel
Communion Assistants- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Pam Linke 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Lay readers- Sat- Jim Rahn 8:30- Christy Winn; 11- Steve Robine
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; Sun 8:30- Perricones 11- Jacob Cluver
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
MIDWEEK LENTEN SUPPER AND WORSHIP TONIGHT, SUPPER 5:30; WORSHIP 6:30!!
Menu: Fried chicken, stuffing, green beans, apple sauce, desserts galore!
Worship Theme: You're Peculiar
Invite your friends and neighbors!! Enjoy some good food, great fellowship, and God's Word all in the span of two hours!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET NEEDS TO GET FILLED UP!!!
Here's what we have so far:
Mar 8- Perricones
Mar 15- Fosters
Mar 22- Luebkes
Mar 29-????
Apr 5- EASTER BREAKFAST
Apr 12-???
Apr 19- ???
Apr. 26- ???
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ST. JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES
If you didn't get your business card in this month's newsletter get them in to the office for the April newsletter!! This advertising is free to members. Many times members call and ask if there are members who are in a certain business or profession. People would always rather do business with fellow church members when they can!
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Special Voters Meeting Concerning our Building Project, Sunday March 15th, 12:30pm
(Immediately following the late service.) Let your voices be heard!!! We will begin with a potluck meal. Please bring a dish or two to share!
We will be discussing the following:
1. Where we have been.
2. Where we want to go.
3. The roadblocks we have encountered, and ways to deal with these roadblocks.
4. Forming a planning committee to move forward
5. Forming a finance committee to provide checks and balances as we move forward
Join us to share your own positive ideas concerning our future building project and the direction it is heading. ALL members are encouraged to attend and participate!!!
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SEMINARY JOBS AVAILABLE!!
There are both full and part time jobs open at Concordia Seminary in Clayton. (My school). Please submit your resume in confidence to humanresources@csl.edu,
or fax it to 314-505-7339
or submit it via US mail to Concordia Seminary Human Resources 801 Seminary Place, St Louis, MO 63105
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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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NOTES FROM THE TRUSTEES
1. If you see (or hear) a property item that needs fixing, tell one of your trustees or let Marilyn know in the office. We have plenty of guys who have the ability to do the work necessary!
2. A WORK DAY IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 28!! 8am-noon!! Mark your calendars and gather your tools!!
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WE NEED READERS FOR HOLY WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOTH FOR NARRATION AND FOR DRAMATIC PARTS OF VOICES OF PEOPLE FROM THE SCRIPTURES ARE NEEDED FOR HOLY WEEK!!
Here are the parts:
Narrator
Luke
John
Pontius Pilate
Jesus
Our choir is doing a Cantata (a compilation of songs and readings) beginning with Palm Sunday and going through to Easter. They need some readers to be a part of this!! If you'd be willing to help in this way please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________THE CHOIR NEEDS YOU FOR LENT AND ESPECIALLY HOLY WEEK!!!The choir is preparing a cantata for Holy Week and Easter. Parts of it will be presented at 3 different services (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday). It would be wonderful to have some additional voices. If you enjoy singing, please consider joining the choir from now until Easter. You will be blessed by it! Rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 in the balcony._________________________________________________________________________________________________________TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP TRIP TO THE CLYDESDALE FARM AND THE JEFFERSON CITY STATE PENITENTIARY ON SATURDAY APRIL 11!!
We will visit the Warm Springs Ranch, World headquarters of the Budweiser Clydesdale OPERATION. After the tour of the ranch and some refreshments compliments of Budweiser, we will enjoy lunch at Settler's Inn. After that we are on to Jeff City for a tour of the historic Missouri State Penitentiary. An ICE CREAM BREAK us scheduled at Central dairy to round out the day. Reservations and tickets have to be purchased so it is NECESSARY that you SIGN UP NOW!!! Complete cost will be determined by number of people going.
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For DAVE KOHRS who will begin chemo treatment as his cancer from a few years ago has returned.
For DAVE TINNIN'S MOM, JANE, who remains in the ICU to control her seizures and to give her the rest she needs. She has been unresponsive for a week.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 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
