DEVOTION: "But how can a mortal be righteous before God? Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand." Job 9:1-2
Even one sin separates us from God. And even if we never "committed" a sin we still would be sinful because we are conceived and born sinful. That is what Job is getting at here. At the beginning of the book of Job it says that Job was a "blameless and upright", yet, he was a mortal, he was human and so he wasn't "righteous".
Certainly there are people in this world who are "better" than others. They are "better" in the worlds eyes because they don't do as much wrong, or they are nicer people, or they go to church, or whatever. But "better" is NOT good enough to get to God. "Better" is not going to get you anywhere with the Almighty. Perfect is the only thing that is going to turn the Lord's favor from destruction to salvation. And Jesus was that perfect one. He was the perfect sacrifice. He was the perfect person who did ALL the right things on earth, lived a sinless life, and died a sinless death.
Job knew that, he was humble, and he relied on God's mercy and grace. He questioned God. He didn't like all the pain and suffering he was going through. Yet, when it was all said and done, all he could do was rely on God's love, mercy, and grace.
The same is true with you. You can rail against God. You can try to reason with him. You can dispute with him. You can even disagree with him. By the way, just because you disagree with him doesn't mean that you're right. In the end, all you can do, thanks be to God, is rely on Him!
Rely on Him today! Rely on him for your peace. Rely on Him for mercy and grace. Rely on Him for strength to make it through the tough day you're about to have. Rely on him to give you guidance on how to raise your children, deal with your strained relationships, deal with your finances, live your life. Take a lesson from Job. Don't curse God. Don't reject him. Just surrender to him, and in the end he will lift you up forever!
Let us pray: Lord, when I'm trying too hard, when I'm too proud, or when I'm relying to much on myself, help me to rely on you instead. Amen.
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LAST TIME'S QUIZ: Who was Eliphaz the Temanite? He is one of Job's three friends who tried to console Job. The three friends sat on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights without saying a word because they could see how great his sorrow was
Even one sin separates us from God. And even if we never "committed" a sin we still would be sinful because we are conceived and born sinful. That is what Job is getting at here. At the beginning of the book of Job it says that Job was a "blameless and upright", yet, he was a mortal, he was human and so he wasn't "righteous".
Certainly there are people in this world who are "better" than others. They are "better" in the worlds eyes because they don't do as much wrong, or they are nicer people, or they go to church, or whatever. But "better" is NOT good enough to get to God. "Better" is not going to get you anywhere with the Almighty. Perfect is the only thing that is going to turn the Lord's favor from destruction to salvation. And Jesus was that perfect one. He was the perfect sacrifice. He was the perfect person who did ALL the right things on earth, lived a sinless life, and died a sinless death.
Job knew that, he was humble, and he relied on God's mercy and grace. He questioned God. He didn't like all the pain and suffering he was going through. Yet, when it was all said and done, all he could do was rely on God's love, mercy, and grace.
The same is true with you. You can rail against God. You can try to reason with him. You can dispute with him. You can even disagree with him. By the way, just because you disagree with him doesn't mean that you're right. In the end, all you can do, thanks be to God, is rely on Him!
Rely on Him today! Rely on him for your peace. Rely on Him for mercy and grace. Rely on Him for strength to make it through the tough day you're about to have. Rely on him to give you guidance on how to raise your children, deal with your strained relationships, deal with your finances, live your life. Take a lesson from Job. Don't curse God. Don't reject him. Just surrender to him, and in the end he will lift you up forever!
Let us pray: Lord, when I'm trying too hard, when I'm too proud, or when I'm relying to much on myself, help me to rely on you instead. Amen.
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LAST TIME'S QUIZ: Who was Eliphaz the Temanite? He is one of Job's three friends who tried to console Job. The three friends sat on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights without saying a word because they could see how great his sorrow was
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What are the names of Job's other two friends?
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Karate 5-7:45
Fri- Set up for carnival
Sat- Carnival 11am-7pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school RALLY DAY!! 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold; 11- Lydia Miller
Ushers- George, Gary and Ben Holescher and Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Don and Ann Panhorst
Communion Assistants- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Steve McDowell
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay readers- Sat- Jim Rahn 8:30- Tim Linke 11- Steve McDowell
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; Sun- 8:30- Panhorst
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school RALLY DAY!! 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold; 11- Lydia Miller
Ushers- George, Gary and Ben Holescher and Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Don and Ann Panhorst
Communion Assistants- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Steve McDowell
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay readers- Sat- Jim Rahn 8:30- Tim Linke 11- Steve McDowell
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; Sun- 8:30- Panhorst
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
CARNIVAL IS THIS SATURDAY!!!! Come and enjoy it from 11am-7pm!!!!!!!
EVEN IF YOU AREN'T WORKING WE STILL NEED YOU TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE!!! BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND JUST ENJOY THE DAY!!!
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR SEPTEMBER IS CANNED FRUIT!!
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.
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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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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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.
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GENERAL PRAYERS:
For HILDE HEICHELBECH who is hospitalized with several illnesses including a bladder infection and congestive heart failure.
For THE SYRIAN REFUGEES and those that are caring for them that they would find shelter and that those receiving refugees would be favorable and God pleasing toward them.
For SANDY ROBINE as she continues to recover from her knee replacement.
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is back int he 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.
