Daily Email: Tuesday, February 9, 2016

DEVOTION: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

Offerings of Firstfruits and Tithes

26 "When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, ² you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. ³ And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, 'I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.' ⁴ Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.

⁵ "And you shall make response before the Lord your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. ⁶ And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. ⁷ Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. ⁸ And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror,^[a] with signs and wonders. ⁹ And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰ And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. ¹¹ And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.
 
 
Why do we give an offering?  Some would say it's to support the work of the church, and they'd be right.  Some would say that God requires it, and they'd be wrong.  Others would say that it's to pay the pastor to do his job.  That's a bit right and wrong at the same time. 
 
As I read the passage above, my first question is what did they do with it?  It says that the people brought their firstfruits and gave them to the priests, and the priests set the baskets down before the altar of the Lord. And then? 
 
Scripture doesn't say, but we can know this.....  if it was presented before the Lord, and the Lord is good, then whatever done with them was good. 
 
At the same time, the Israelites didn't really need to know what happened with the offering after they gave it.  Even if it just sat there and rotted away it was still a good offering.  It is good, because the blessing is in the giving.  The blessing is in the remembering and knowing that all good things come from the Lord.  That, above all else is why you give your offering.  You give it to remember and to know that ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM GOD!!!
 
When you are withholding your offering or when you are giving it grudgingly, you are forfeiting the very reason you give your offering in the first place.  That is why in 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
 
So yes, your offering goes to the work of the Lord, some goes to people in need, some goes to insurance matters, some goes to Marilyn's, Kelsey's, and my salary, some goes to mission work within our district and synod.   It goes to the work of the Lord.  But don't give it for that reason! 
 
GIVE YOUR OFFERING TO REMEMBER THAT ALL GOOD THINGS, EVEN YOUR VERY BREATH, COMES FROM THE LORD!!!
 
Lord, help me, by my tithes and offerings, to remember that everything I have, even my very life, comes from you.  Amen.
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CALENDAR:

Tues- Quilters 9-2; "Christianity the First Three Centuries" 11:30-12:15; Trustees Meeting 7pm

Wed- Supper 5:30; Ash Wednesday worship 6:30; Choir practice 7:30

Thurs- Board of O and E meeting 5pm????

Fri- Set up for Steak Dinner and Auction

Sat-  worship 5pm; STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION DOORS OPEN AT 5PM; SUPPER STARTS AT 6PM
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon; Youth Bible Study at 5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  Wed- Gus Klaustermeier 8:30- Kalene Masters; 11- Lydia Miller

Ushers-  Wed- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun- Scott and Alex Heitgerd, Bob and Tom Linke

Altar- Wed Set up and Clean up is Terry McKenzie; Sun Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean up- Joanne Hachtel

Elders-  Wed- ????? Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Dave Winter; 11- Jim Rahn

Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot

Lay readers- Sat- ??????; 8:30-  Dawn Sherman; 11 -  Jim Rahn

Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  Sat- ?????  8:30-  Schaumberg; 11- Gus Klaustermeier
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:   Who was Hobab?

 

(A funny answer and the real answer from Pat King)

 

I know this!!!! I do!

Okay, deep breath..... Are you ready?

 

A "Hobab" is one of the new Barbie dolls. Specifically, the one who plies her trade on big city street corners.

 

Not happy with that answer? Of course you aren't. Guessing you want the O.T. one. Oh well.

So it could be one of 2 people:

1) Moses' brother-in-law (Numbers 10:29)

2) Moses' father-in-law, Jethro (Judges 4:11)

 

The name means 'beloved.' Most think it refers to his father-in-law. Either way, he was a Kenite. (Barbie's main squeeze!)

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Miriam?

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NEWS!!!! 

ASH WEDNESDAY IS TOMORROW!!!!

Supper- 5:30 (Fried Chicken, cheesy church potatoes, rolls, green beans, a variety of desserts)

Worship- 6:30 (Imposition of ashes and The Lord's Supper, Messages during Lent will be on the story of Job.)

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STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION COMING UP THIS SATURDAY!!

Get your tickets for the dinner!  $25 each

Raffle tickets are also available to win a $500 prizes. 

Call Kelsey at 573-803-7826 for either of these or to donate items to the auction or to just give a cash donation.

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BUILDING EXPANSION MEETING COMING UP TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, @ 6:30pm!!

Our next, very important building meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23 @ 6:30pm!  

We'll be looking at different rough drawings of economical ways that we can accomplish what we want to do to accommodate our growing congregation and support the future of our church!  EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS MEETING!!

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 LENT DINNERS START AT 5:30 THIS WEDNESDAY!!

Over the last many, many years your Jr. and Sr. high youth and their parents (mostly their parents) have been serving dinner on Wednesday nights during Lent.  While this is a good way for the youth and their parents to serve and give back to the congregation, it is also supposed to be a way for them to raise money for their service projects and trips. 
 
Unfortunately over the past several years, they have barely broken even on these dinners.  The parents usually donate the desserts and even much of the other food out of their own pockets.  Without that the youth would probably lose money. 
 
It is especially important that they make money this year, as they will need all they can get to make their goal for the National Youth Gathering in new Orleans.
 
I want to encourage you all to attend these dinners, and, while there is no set price per person for these dinners, a generous free will offering is strongly encouraged!! 
 
Below is the Menu for each week:
 
Feb. 10-- Ash Wednesday
Fried chicken
potatoes
fruit
rolls
assorted desserts
 
Feb 17-
Chili
baked potato bar
hotdogs
desserts
 
Feb 24-
Turkey
Stuffing
green beans
apple sauce
desserts
 
March 2-
taco bar w/all the fixings
desserts
 
March 9-
pasta
salad
rolls
desserts
 
March 16-
Fried Chicken
potatoes
corn
rolls
desserts
 
 
As always, thank you for your continued support of the future of Christianity!!!

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SPRINGTIME IN BRANSON

IF we don't get 30 DEFINITE sign ups VERY SOON the trip will be canceled!  Deposits are due!!

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2016 ALTAR FLOWER CHART IS STILL PRETTY EMPTY!!

It is hanging on the bulletin board in the narthex.  Sign up if you wish to place flowers on the altar!  If it is for a special occasion (in memory of loved one, birthday, anniversary, etc.) please indicate that as well.  Cost is $25 payable to St. John's. 

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 DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THIS DAILY EMAIL?

If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving my daily emails but would like to, please reply to this email with their email address and I will add them to the list.  THANK YOU!

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!  ANY SIZE CANS ARE APPRECIATED!

You can also do individual size cups.

 

(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)

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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For BETTY SCHIRR as she has been moved to ICU and is dealing with a very serious virus and lung trouble. 

 

For DON BRAZEE who is dealing with severe weakness and painful swelling in his joints off which the cause has yet to be identified.

 

For RUTH WALTERS as she recovers from knee replacement surgery. 

 

For CAROL, a friend of the RUSSELLS, who is dealing with some very serious cancer and suffering the effects of the chemotherapy.

 

For MARIAH, a granddaughter of Pat Jaeger's best friend, who has been diagnosed with childhood leukemia.

 

For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, from Trinity in Troy, who is on a two month leave to heal from cancer treatments.

 

For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.

 

For THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING PROBLEMS in the days and weeks ahead, that the Lord would provide for their needs, and use us, if need be, to help. 

 

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

 

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