Daily Email: Monday, February 22, 2016

DEVOTION:  Psalm 85   English Standard Version (ESV)

85 Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.

 
After we have hurt someone and been found guilty of it, and after we ourselves feel the guilt and shame of what we have done, confessed it, and turned from it, all we really want to hear is the words "I forgive you."  We don't want to hear more condemnation.  We don't want everyone to pile on with their words of correction or advice.  We don't want to fight about it anymore.  We have already said and expressed with actions that we are contrite and truly sorry for our sin.  All we want to hear and experience is words of forgiveness and healing. 
 
Our world is full of people who have been beaten down by their failures and mistakes. You may be one of them.  If a person already knows their guilt and has repented of it, there is no need to keep beating them down.  The only reason we would do it is for our own satisfaction, as if we are the ones who are dolling out the punishment upon the person.  We want the person to hurt and so we think that we are the ones who are allowed and even have the responsibility to make them hurt.
 
Our Lord tells us in several different places throughout Scripture that He alone is the one to take vengeance and that he will repay according to our deeds.  Everywhere in Scripture, but especially throughout the New Testament, we are called to forgive and reconcile!  No where in Scripture are we called to hold a grudge, to make the other person hurt like we do, or to heap sin upon sin and guilt upon guilt.  If anything, there is swift, certain, and complete punishment and when the punishment and restitution is over the sin is forgotten. 
 
So it is with us!  Jesus has paid the price!  He has reconciled us to God.  He has taken the guilt upon Himself.  Let's live like it!  Let forgiveness and reconciliation reign fully and completely!!!
 
Prayer: Lord, when I sin help me to freely confess it, turn from it, and live in your grace mercy and peace.  When someone sins against me, help me to deal with it according to your will with mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace and reconciliation.  Amen.


___________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:

Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Visitation for Betty Schirr 2-5; Funeral 5; Building Planning Meeting 6:30

Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30

Fri- Assemble Newslettter 9am; (30 Hour Famine postponed)

Sat-  worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Voter's meeting 9:45

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- Wed- Dawn Sherman 8:30- Hailey Blechle; 11- Jack Bunge


Ushers-   Wed-George, Gary, and Ben  Hoelscher and Brent Davis; Sun- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte

Altar-  Wed (Fill Candles) Terry McKenzie Sun Set up-  Don Hance; Clean up- Elaine Schauer and Lynn Russell

Elders-  Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Charlie Figura

Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30-  Randy Sweet; 11 -  Sandy Robine

Pianist- Sat- Molly Hendershot

 

Sun Pianist- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists:  Sat- Perricone  8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Klaustermeier
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ   What was to happen to anyone who sacrificed to anyone other than the one true God?  He or she was to be DESTROYED  (Thanks for answering Pat and Don!!)

________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ:  If someone doesn't speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, what is he to do to make up for it according to the book of Leviticus?
____________________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!! 
 
BETTY SCHIRR VISITATION AND FUNERAL INFORMATION
Visitation- 2-5pm
Funeral- 5pm
All at St. John's!
____________________________________________________________________________
BUILDING EXPANSION MEETING COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT!!
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!!
_________________________________________________________________________________
RESULTS OF VOTERS MEETING YESTERDAY!!
Steve McDowell volunteered to be the president for 2016 and was elected by acclamation.
Tom Linke volunteered to be Vice President for 2016 and was elected by acclamation.
Don Turnure volunteered to take Steve McDowell's place on the board of elders and was appointed for 2016 by Steve McDowell.
 
Thanks guys for volunteering to serve in such an important way!!  The Lord will bless your service!!! 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
TWO WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND THE YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY!!
1. Warren County Literacy Inc. is going to be giving away 70 bookcases stocked with books in April to children who are in the head Start Program in Warren County.  This is the fifth year for this wonderful event.  What we need is people to sponsor a bookcase for $50.  If you are able and willing, please reply to this email or call/text at 636-359-1961.  Make checks payable to Warren County Literacy Inc.   The ceremony at which the kids get their bookcases is on Sunday, April 10 at 2pm at Wright City Middle School.
 
 
2. Warrenton High School Band is having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and concert on Sat, Feb. 27 at 6pm.  It will be a casual dinner with music while you dine!  Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids in advance.  $10/$5 at the door.  Let me know by next Tuesday if you want to go.  It's perfect for Saturday night after church!!!   There are five St. John's High school kids in band this year.  Make checks payable to WHS Band Boosters.
__________________________________________________________________________________
LENT DINNERS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING LENT AT 5:30!!
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 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!!!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 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!
_____________________________________________________________________________
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.)
___________________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL PRAYERS:
For FAMILY AND FRIENDS of BETTY SCHIRR, as we celebrate the eternal life she now lives with Jesus at her visitation and funeral tomorrow.
 
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 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.