DEVOTION: Ezekiel 34:11-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
"The Lord God Will Seek Them Out"
11 "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.[a] I will feed them in justice.
17 "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 "Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue[b] my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
This reading is very clear about who does the shepherding, feeds, makes the sheep lie down, seeks the lost, brings back the strayed, and binds up the wounded. It's God! It's the heavenly Father. It's the Son. It's the Holy Spirit. It's not us. All we can do is get in the way.
And we most certainly do get in the way. We get in the way of the Holy Spirit when we judge (and by judge I mean make ourselves out to be better than them) those who have strayed. Ezekiel says it this way, "Is it not enough for you to feed on good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?" ". "You push with side and shoulder, and thrust at the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad."
When we put restrictions and force the law on people, that we ourselves can't keep, we become hypocrites and self righteous and cloud people's vision of a loving and forgiving God. When we look down our noses at people just because they sin differently than we do we get in God's way. When we, as a church, separate ourselves from the world, and refuse to acknowledge our own sin, people will not want to be a part of us.
We need to realize that the Lord is the one who seeks and saves the lost. He searches us out. He claims us as His own. He forgives us and gives us new life. He loves us to the end no matter how sinful we may become.
Do you want people to come back to church? Then simply love them! Love them till your patience wears out and then love them some more! Love them with Christ's love, not your own! Forgive them! Be reconciled with them!
Prayer: Lord, get me out of your way and find those who are lost. Bring them back to church and fill up our sanctuary. Help us to love
the lost and to rejoice when you find them! Amen.
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CALENDAR
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"The Lord God Will Seek Them Out"
11 "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.[a] I will feed them in justice.
17 "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 "Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue[b] my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
This reading is very clear about who does the shepherding, feeds, makes the sheep lie down, seeks the lost, brings back the strayed, and binds up the wounded. It's God! It's the heavenly Father. It's the Son. It's the Holy Spirit. It's not us. All we can do is get in the way.
And we most certainly do get in the way. We get in the way of the Holy Spirit when we judge (and by judge I mean make ourselves out to be better than them) those who have strayed. Ezekiel says it this way, "Is it not enough for you to feed on good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?" ". "You push with side and shoulder, and thrust at the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad."
When we put restrictions and force the law on people, that we ourselves can't keep, we become hypocrites and self righteous and cloud people's vision of a loving and forgiving God. When we look down our noses at people just because they sin differently than we do we get in God's way. When we, as a church, separate ourselves from the world, and refuse to acknowledge our own sin, people will not want to be a part of us.
We need to realize that the Lord is the one who seeks and saves the lost. He searches us out. He claims us as His own. He forgives us and gives us new life. He loves us to the end no matter how sinful we may become.
Do you want people to come back to church? Then simply love them! Love them till your patience wears out and then love them some more! Love them with Christ's love, not your own! Forgive them! Be reconciled with them!
Prayer: Lord, get me out of your way and find those who are lost. Bring them back to church and fill up our sanctuary. Help us to love
the lost and to rejoice when you find them! Amen.
_________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Karate 6; Lutheranism 101
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; NYG Celebration Day and RALLY DAY!!; Elders Meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Zack Hoelscher 11- Hannah Johnson
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Doug Walters, Don Tate
Altar- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Elders- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Roy Bohning; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay Readers- Sat- Jim Rahn 8:30- YOUTH; 11- YOUTH
Piano- Sat- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Mauch; 8:30- McKenzie
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LAST WEEK'S QUIZ: Who wrote the book of Lamentations? Jeremiah
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Zadok and why are his descendants so important?
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SERMONS FROM 8/28 and 9/4 WATCH AND SHARE!! GET THE GOOD NEWS OUT!!
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NEWS!!!!
RALLY DAY AND NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING CELEBRATION IS THIS SUNDAY!!!!
All youth 3-18 years old should be at church!!
It is a new start to the Sunday school year! All kids who come to Sunday school will receive a new book, meet their Sunday school teachers. and play some games!!
The youth and parents who went to the National Youth Gathering will share their experiences at the sermon time, read the readings and be the ushers.
MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE THERE!!
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SCRIP ORDERS DUE THIS MORNING (Tuesday)!!! Call the church office by 9am to get your orders in!
Here's how it works:
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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OKTOBERFEST IS OCTOBER 1!! Where? St. John's
What? a genuine Oktoberfest with real German food, bier, polka, games, bounce houses, and lots of fun!!
When? 4-10pm on October 1
What is needed? There are a lot of supplies and volunteers that are needed to make this happen! Call or text Kelsey @ 573-803-7826 to volunteer or to find out what is still needed.
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REGISTRATION FOR THE MEN'S RETREAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!!! DEADLINE IS NEXT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16!!
Go to www.t3mensretreat.org for details or give me a call at 636-359-1061.
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MEIDCARE FOR CAREGIVERS SEMINAR IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AT 6:30PM!
Are you taking care of a loved one? Is it in your future? This workshop will help you prepare , from what to gather, how to store information, and how to avoid burning out. Drinks and sandwiches to follow. Call 456-2888 to make a reservation.
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PREGNANCY CENTER PLANNING MEETING TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF OPENING A PRO-LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER IN WARRENTON WILL BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AT 7PM AT FIRST STATE COMMUNITY BANK 1022 N. Hwy 47 in Warrenton! Everyone is invited to attend.
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ANNUAL VENDOR FAIR IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 9am-2pm!
Vendors should reserve their table through the church office 456-2888. Tables rent for $25 and checks should be madde payable to St. John's Ladies Aid.
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DO YOU SHOP AT KROGER? IF YOU DO YOU CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS!!!
Little Lambs receives a percentage of your purchases when you register your Kroger Plus Card number at www.kroger.com/communityawards. Register today!
LITTLE LAMBS ALSO WANTS TO THANK ALL WHO DONATED TO HELP THEM GET THEIR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT!!
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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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GENERAL PRAYER
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF TYLER ROMAKER, as he is laid to rest today, he is not a member, but his family and he are good friends of a lot of folks at St. John's.
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE BEAIRD FAMILY, as they were in a terrible car accident on Monday, two kids ages 13 and 7 were killed and both parents are in serious condition. They are not members, but are good friends of many in the congregation. Gus was friends with Gavin, the boy who died.
For PAM BUELTMANN who fell and broke her hip on Saturday and is recovering at the hospital.
For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she is recovering from pneumonia and intestinal issues. She Is now in Parklane Rehab in Wentzville.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is recovering from a severe kidney infection at home.
For KATHY FISCHER who is recovering from heart surgery at home.
For THE THOUSANDS IN LOUISIANA DEALING WITH FLOODING AND THE THOUSANDS IN CALIFORNIA DEALING WITH FIRES.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been placed on hospice care due to cancer. She is at home.
For DENNIS PERREY, who is recovering at home from a very serious tractor and brush hog accident. He has 6 broken ribs, both lungs were punctured and, 2 vertebrae were cracked.
For BOB RUHL, who is recovering from heart surgery and infections at New Florence Care Center for the next month.
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.
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