DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13
(ESV) And I will show you a still more excellent way.13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. The most excellent way is the way of love. What does REAL LOVE look like? In short, It looks like Jesus. Jesus forgave his enemies, in fact, he forgave everyone, unconditionally, out of LOVE! He called people out when they were sinning. He didn't let them ruin their lives with their sin. he brought them to their knees in repentance so that they would get out of their sins and be saved. He suffered all things, including hell itself, so that we wouldn't have to suffer it for all eternity, all out of LOVE!! He is the epitome of patience, kindness, humility, and submission. HE IS LOVE! So next time you want to know what true love is, look to Jesus and know that you have all the love you'll ever need. Then go out and love everyone around you with that love! Jesus has given you the power to love others as he has loved you! Be humble! Be a servant! Look to the interests and needs of others before your own. Bear with those who are weaker in faith. Bear the burdens of others as if they were your own. Care for others as if their life depended on it. FORGIVE ALWAYS!!! Just love people! Prayer: Lord, help us to get off our high horses and love the way you want us to love. Amen. __________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:Wed- Choir 7pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; High School youth Bible Study 5pm; New member luncheon noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jacob Cluver; 11- Alaina Heitgerd
Ushers- Figura family
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster, and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Betty Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach
Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11 - Kailyn Blechle
Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone 8:30- Julie Schaumberg; 11- Gus Klaustermeier
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: What was the last plague against Egypt before the exodus?
Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the hand mill, even all the firstborn of the cattle. Thanks DON NOLTE!!
_____________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: How did Moses (God through Moses) make the bitter water sweet?
______________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!!
DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THIS DAILY EMAIL?
If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving ,y 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!
_____________________________________________________________________________
NEW MEMBER DINNER IS SUNDAY AT NOON!!
If you have become a new member of St. John's since 2012 you are invited. Your invitation was put in your church mailbox!!
______________________________________________________________________________________________
YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!
Tickets are $25 a piece. All proceeds go to help our youth afford their trip down to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering as well as do many other service projects and youth events.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SPRINGTIME IN BRANSON
Sign the sheet in the narthex if you are interested in a two day trip to Branson on April 16 and 17. Cost will be around #300 per person. The itinerary for Saturday upon arrival in Branson is to head to the College of the Ozarks (a.k.a. Hard Work U) for a tour led by a college student. . From there we will go to do a self guided tour of the Keeter Museum. Saturday evening we will go to the Sight and Sound Theater for "Moses". This is the first year for "Moses" in Branson. Watch the February newsletter for more details. There will be a surprise for Sunday. We are running out of time, so please, if you know your friends want to go, sign up quickly as deposits need to be made and tickets purchased. Remember, the more people we get to go the cheaper it is for all.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR MAILBOXES!!!
Are you getting ready to do your taxes? Don't forget about your offering statements in your church mailboxes! You could even give the money you get back from this itemization to church!
_________________________________________________________________________
OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
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.)
___________________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL PRAYERS:
A prayer of thanksgiving FOR MARIANNE LINKE who finally got to go home from the nursing home yesterday!!!
For RUTH WALTERS as she recovers from knee replacement surgery.
For MARILYN FOSTER as she recovers from cataract surgery.
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.
