The Rabe Newsletter for October 2015...preparing for service in Ethiopia.

Somebody is all smiles about the October Rabe Newsletter! As we prepare for service in Ethiopia we continue to visit with congregations in Oregon, Florida and Georgia. We hope you will take a few minutes to see where God has carried us this last month. Thank God for your prayers and support. Your partners in the Gospel, Mark, Stefanie, Noah, Gabriella, Julianna and Matthias Rabe   Click for The Rabe October Newsletter Copyright © 2015, The Rabes, All rights reserved. Rabes in Ethiopia Newsletter Our mailing address is: 164 McDonald Ct. Leesburg, GA 31763 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

This email was sent to revklaus@hotmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Missionary to Ethiopia Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod · 164 McDonald Ct · Leesburg, GA 31763 · USA

Daily Email: Wednesday, September 30, 2015

DEVOTION: Hebrews 2 

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Jesus Made Fully Human

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

"What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
8     and put everything under their feet."

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

"I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises."

13 And again,

"I will put my trust in him."

And again he says,

"Here am I, and the children God has given me."

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

If there is one scourge on the church and on Christianity in America these days, it is indifference or apathy.  A lot of Christians just don't care.  They don't care if they show up to church for worship once a week or once a year.  They don't care if the church's ministries flourish or not.  They don't care if there are 10 people in worship or 200.  Some don't even care if the church is there or not.  It is a nice thing to have around, but it isn't necessary.  

I read somewhere recently that one of the biggest issues for pastors is whether they are relevant at all and most wonder whether they are making any difference or not.  I must confess that I often wonder that myself.  This is also one of the biggest reasons thousands of pastors leave the ministry every year and thousands of others suffer burnout.  It is quite disheartening for many pastors to work to preach, teach, and administer the sacraments and to see the church in decline as it is.  We try as hard as we can to make it relevant and to use new and exciting ways to present God's Word to people, but it often seems to fall on deaf ears and blind eyes. 

This is not the case in places like Africa and China.  There the church is flourishing and growing at record rates.  Why?  Because they know what it is to live without the church due to the oppression and tyranny of godless governments.  They know what it means to have to hide their faith and their churches for fear of punishment.  They know what it means to not have churches to go to for a very long time. And it's not good.  

They don't take their faith for granted.  They love the church.  They rejoice that they have a place to worship and a large group of people to worship with.  it is a great blessing to them to be able to worship freely and fully

 

I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here.  You aren't one of those apathetic Christians, are you?  It matters to you, doesn't it? If you are, being faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit,  WONDERFUL!  Keep it up!  Keep living in God's grace!  Keep growing in the faith!  I'm proud of you!  

Maybe you are an apathetic Christian.  Maybe you are completely disinterested in what goes on at St. John's.  If you are, then I pray that this passage from Hebrews and this devotion has convicted you of your apathy and disinterest.  I hope that it has caused you to rethink your faith life so that you don't stray too far away from Christ that you get lost and can't find your way back.  

If you are a lukewarm, apathetic, and indifferent Christian REPENT! Jesus wants a better relationship with you than just a casual thought now and then.  He wants you to have a full and satisfying relationship with him, one that is firing on all cylinders, one that is full of joy, one that is proclaiming his love to the lost, one that is free of guilt and shame!  Turn from your "sometime" Christianity, or your "when I have time" Christianity, and make it your life!  

It is very interesting in this passage that the writer of Hebrews doesn't dwell on the trouble already happening way back then, but instead speaks about the Gospel!  He preaches Christ and Him crucified.  And so, whether the tide is in or out, whether church is full or almost empty, whether people are on fire or barely smoldering, we keep preaching Christ!  We keep proclaiming his grace!  We keep Jesus as our way, truth, and life!

Prayer:  Lord, help me to treat my faith as my whole life and not just a part of it.  Amen. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   What is a maskil?  A literary or musical device meant to teach a lesson

________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ:  How many Psalms are there?

________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Wed- Choir 7pm

Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Karate 5-7:45

Sat-  Worship 5
Sun- SCRIP ORDERS DUE; Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Jacob Cluver; 11- Alaina Heitgerd
Ushers-  Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Tate, Doug Walters
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Terry McKenzie
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Doug and Ruth Walters; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Betty Schirr 11- Kailyn Blechle
Sat. Pianist- Tim Sherman
Organist-  Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. Pam Bueltmann, 8:30- Dawn Sherman, 11- Hannah Johnson
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!!  PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

Help needed includes the following:

caregiver relief

companionship

writing letters

reading to patients

clerical/office work

assisting with errands and/or meal preparation

Mercy Hospice at 636-239-8862 or stephaniemarquart@mercy.net

SSM Health at Home at 573-582-8850  or chris_cobb@ssmhc.com

Training is available with Mercy the first four Thursdays in October.  

______________________________________________________________________________________

LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES PRAYER BREAKFAST OCTOBER 14 AT ORLANDO EVENTS AND CONFERENCE CENTER IN MARYLAND HEIGHTS.  

Rev. Greg Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker, will speak on prayer.  Everyone attending will receive a free signed copy of "The Lord's Prayer a book by Seltz.  Go to lutheranprayerbreakfast.eventbrite.com for tickets and info. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

QUILT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!  

The drawing was not held at eh 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.  

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

SCRIP ORDERS DUE THIS SUNDAY!!!!! 

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. 

  
 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 DON PANHORST who found out that he has cancer last week and is starting chemo this (MONDAY) morning. 

 

For JAMIE, a FRIEND OF CHRISTY WINN, whose daughter, KAYLA, died suddenly last night.

 

For BROOKS EBERT, infant son of Derek and Andrea, who finally, after a month, was able to eat his first bottle on his own on Thursday.   He may get to go home soon.

 

For PHYLLIS HOELSCHER who is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is back 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.