Daily Email: Wednesday, June 15, 2016

 DEVOTION: Galatians 3:23-4:7        English Standard Version (ESV)
²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

                    4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[b] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles^[c] of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

 

I, along with my sisters, am an heir to my mom and dad's estate, which includes the family farm.  It was homesteaded by my great, great, great grandfather. it is a wonderful peace of property and one that I spent many hours on as a child.  At the same time, at this point in my life, I have no use for it.  I like to go and visit my family there.  I enjoy the woods and the old buildings, reminiscing of days gone by, but it is far away from Warrenton, my mom and dad still live there at least half the year, and one of my second cousins is using the buildings for steers.  So that inheritance, although it is mine, is far from my mind most of the time.

 

Unfortunately, that's the way a lot of people, maybe even you, think about your eternal life in Christ.  You think of it as a far away, far off, and much later thing than it actually is.  You think of it as an inheritance you will receive when you die, and so until then you have too many other things to think about.  The trouble with that way of thinking is twofold.

 

1. You never know when that last minute, hour, or day off your life is going to be.  I'm sure the family of the two year old boy who was taken by an alligator at Disneyworld weren't thinking about such things as they enjoyed their time there.  I'm sure the families of the 49 people killed in Orlando weren't concerned about their son's or daughter's lives simply going to a nightclub. 

 

I'm sure you are planning out your day as if you're going to make it through till the end.  Maybe you will.... Maybe you won't.  That's why we always pray "Thy will be done." 

 

2. You ALREADY HAVE THE INHERITANCE!  You are already saved.  You already have eternal life, RIGHT NOW!  Even though your body dies, you, the you that really makes you who you are right now,  will live forever.  It's not just guaranteed to be yours, it IS yours. 

 

This means that you no longer have to enslave yourself to the sin of this world.  You don't have to continue in bitterness and resentment.  You no longer have to be a slave to drugs or alcohol.  You don't have to keep living your past sins over and over again.  You don't have to live in fear of the eternal judge, because He has already declared you not guilty on account of Christ.  You can be sorrowful that sin and death continue to consume people here on earth, but you can be free from letting that sorrow consume you.

 

Oh what a joy it is to know our heavenly Father loves us so much that He has given us this inheritance!  Praise the Lord and enjoy life today! 

 

Prayer: Lord, help me to enjoy my inheritance right now by living my life in joy, and especially by being in Your house in worship and among your people in fellowship and service.  Amen.

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CALENDAR

Wed- Ladies Aid meeting 10am
Thurs- L 101 @ 7

Fri- NO Bible study at Hendershots
Sat-  Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm; 18-35 year old BBQ 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11; Father's Day
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Lydia Miller   11- George Pezold

Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover

Altar-  Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean Up- Pam Linke

Elders-  Sat- Randy Fischer;  8:30- Jason Cluver;  11- Charlie Figura
 
Greeters-  8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover;  11- Doug and Ruth Walters

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone  8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Kailyn Blechle

Organist- Rachel Fisher
 
Piano- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists:  Sat- ?????  (I need someone as Pam has requested to be taken off the scchedule) 8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Masters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: How long did Jehoahaz reign as king?

 

17 years, or as Pat King says.... until he croaked. 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: What happened to a dead man who was thrown into Elisha's tomb?

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NEWS!!!! 

UPDATE ON 1,000 MILES OF BIKING FOR LEADACHILD!!

I'm at my halfway point for the Summer.  I am officially at 510 miles.  Only  490 to go!  Please visit www.leadachild.org to see why I'm riding and to donate to the cause!

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LADIES AID MEETING AT 10AM TODAY TO START MAKING PILLOWCASE DRESSES!!!  Bring your pillowcases, and any sewing supplies you have! 

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STEPHEN MINISTRY NEEDS MORE STEPHEN MINISTERS!!

Stephen ministry is a one on one caring ministry in which a person goes through 50 hours off training to be a better listener and care giver.  Even if you don't become an active Stephen Minister, this training is beneficial just for your daily life! 

 

Please consider going through the training!  It is very beneficial. 

 

And please consider becoming a Stephen Minister.  It has been a huge help and benefit to our congregation for the last 13 years, and I would love to see it grow! 

 

Call me at 636-359-1061 to let me know you're interested.  Or go to www.stephenministry.org to learn more about it.

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SERMON FROM SUNDAY:  Watch, listen, share!  The Gospel needs to get out there! 
 
 https://youtu.be/5GdFb96nHi8

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VBS, "CHRISTMAS IN JULY", will be held Monday, July 25-Thursday, July 28!!!  WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!!

We need adults or at least high school kids to lead groups of kids from activity to activity.  Depending on the numbers, you would be in charge of anywhere between 5 and 15 kids.  You should plan on being there from 5-8 every evening.

 

We also need kitchen workers to make, serve, and clean up meals.  You should plan on being there from 4:30-6:30 every evening.

 

Please volunteer!  We need you!

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SCRIP PROGRAM CONTINUES!!
Here's how it works:

1. Pick up an order form from the counter in the narthex or from Marilyn in the office.

2. Mark how many cards you would like to order from each retailer you use, and fill in the totals.  (If you need help, stop by the office or talk to Marilyn or ask me after worship.)

3. Attach a check to your order form made out to St.John's.

4. Marilyn will place the order on a certain date each month.

5. Pick up your cards from your church mailbox.

6. Use your cards just like money at the various stores.

 

Please use this program!  It is an easy way for you to help YOUR church raise money for its ministries!

 

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JUNE IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!!

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 PRAYER 

For MOLLY HENDERSHOT, who is recovering from a  broken shoulder at home.

 

For MARIANNE LINKE who is back home but is still extremely weak.

 

For PAT JAEGER, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery at Delmar Gardens.

 

For LIL WINTER who is recovering from a fall at Delmar Gardens in Ofallon.

 

For BARB PERRICONE who is back home and continue to recover from pneumonia.

 

For BRIAN TAMPOW, a friend of Steve and Toni Mauch, who has an inoperable tumor near his carotid artery and will need to go through extensive chemo and radiation treatment.

 

For CHERYL, a cousin of Tony and Sandra Perricone, who is going through breast cancer treatment right now. 

  

 For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she finishes up her current mission work in the Czech Republic and makes her decisions for her future.