Daily Email: Thursday, October 20, 2016

DEVOTION:  Luke 18:9-17  English Standard Version (ESV)
 
"The Pharisee and the Tax Collector"
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
 
"Let the Children Come to Me"
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
 
 
What kind of a faith do you have?  Is it one that, even just a little bit, trusts in yourself?  If it is, then you have the wrong kind of faith.  Faith in self is misplaced faith.  Faith in the Lord; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a real and solid faith. 
 
You fail every day.  The Lord doesn't fail every day.  You disappoint every day, because you could always do better, you could always be better at something, you could always serve God more, you could always do more.  You will never do enough. 
 
That's why we REST in Jesus.  We don't work for Jesus.  We don't work for our own salvation.  We trust in Jesus for our salvation, and because we have that rest, we are free to serve God by the power of the Holy Spirit!
 
One of my most favorite things, and something that I miss a lot, about when my kids were little is when they would fall asleep on my lap or in my arms.  They felt safe and secure with me.  They knew they could trust me to take care of them.  They had faith that I was going to bring them to bed and keep them safe through the night. 
 
We can rest in the lap and arms of Jesus in the very same way.  He will keep us safe from Satan.  He will bring us to eternal life with Him.  Though this world, and Satan destroy our body, our souls are safe in the arms of Jesus. 
 
That's what Jesus means when he says "....receive the kingdom of God like a little child." 
 
Prayer: Lord, help me to receive your kingdom like a little child and to rest in your arms forever.  Amen.

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CALENDAR
Thurs- Karate 5:30-7:30; LUTHERANISM 101 IS CANCELED FOR TONIGHT; Nov/Dec Newsletter items due
Fri- Basement reserved 5-10pm; Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Fischer/Sellman Wedding 2pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Bible Study with Pastor 6-7:30 
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dawn Sherman  11- Luke Rausch

Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte

Altar-  Set up- Ruth Walters ; Clean Up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer

Elders-  Sat- Dave Winter;  8:30- Don Turnure;  11- Jim Rahn
 
Greeters-  8:30- Bob and Marianne Linke;  11- Joan Sexton

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Lois Boeger; 11- Jim Rahn

Piano- Sat- Molly Hendershot

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: No projection this week
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YESTERDAY'S  QUIZ:    What is the diaspora?  (Thanks Pat)
Okay, if you insist. Fist of all, 'diaspora' is NOT some kind of mushroom spore. I know this for a fact, because my crazy brother tried growing them for a while.
Anyway it has to do with a group of people being dispersed from one area (their native homeland) to another. Usually, it refers to people who are forced into exile – like the Jews into Babylon.
 
  • Deuteronomy 28:25, in the phrase ἔσῃ ἐν διασπορᾷ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς, esē en diaspora en pasais tais basileiais tēs gēs, translated to mean "thou shalt be a dispersion in all kingdoms of the earth" and secondly in
  • Psalms 146(147).2, in the phrase οἰκοδομῶν Ἰερουσαλὴμ ὁ Kύριος καὶ τὰς διασπορὰς τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἐπισυνάξει, oikodomōn Ierousalēm ho Kyrios kai tas diasporas tou Israēl episynaxē, translated to mean "The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel".
So after the Bible's translation into Greek, the word Diaspora would then have been used to refer to the Northern Kingdom exiled between 740-722 BC from Israel by the Assyrians, as well as Jews, Benjaminites, and Levites exiled from the Southern Kingdom in 587 BCE by the Babylonians, and from Roman Judea in 70 CE by the Roman Empire. It subsequently came to be used to refer to the historical movements of the dispersed ethnic population of Israel, to the cultural development of that population or to that population itself. In English when capitalized and without modifiers (that is simply, the Diaspora), the term refers specifically to the Jewish diaspora; when uncapitalized the word diaspora may be used to refer to refugee or immigrant populations of other origins or ethnicities living "away from an established or ancestral homeland". The wider application of diaspora evolved from the Assyrian two-way mass deportation policy of conquered populations to deny future territorial claims on their part.
 
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TODAY'S QUIZ: How are John the Baptist and Jesus related to each other? 
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NEWS!!!! 
NO LUTHERANISM 101 TONIGHT!!
 
Canceled due to busy schedules. 
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SERMON FROM THIS PAST SUNDAY!  WATCH AND SHARE!!
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HIGH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY WILL MEET AT CHURCH AT 6pm THIS SUNDAY!!
 
Pastor will grill some hamburgers and hotdogs.  Bring some chips or something to have with it.
 
Come and have fun as you learn what it means to live "in Christ". 
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TRUNK OR TREAT ON HALLOWEEN, 6-8pm!!
Come and enjoy some fellowship and fun and all the little kids dressed up in their costumes!  The back half of the parking lot will be roped off at 6pm so be in your parking spot by then for the safety of the kids!
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WORK DAY COMING UP OCTOBER 30, NOON-5PM!!
There will be a Work Day for everyone to help fix up and spruce up things around church on Sunday,  Oct 30, from noon-5pm.  
 
There will be plenty to do on that day for everyone. 
 
If anyone would like to help, but is not available on Oct 30, the following items could be done prior to that date:

 

1. Remove wooden enclosure that houses aluminum recycling

 

2. Trim bushes around church building

 

3. Cut down tree in the playground area

 

4. Replace bulb and/or ballast in light by back door into preschool area

 

5. Clean the slop sink

 

6. Repair and/or replace exhaust fans in preschool bathrooms – one hums, one does nothing

 

 

If you have questions on any of these items, please contact any of the trustees.

Brett Nordwald

Teresa Scott

Dave Callies

Tony Perricone

Brent Davis

Scott Heitgerd

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ANNUAL VENDOR FAIR, BAKE SALE, AND LUNCHEON 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 made payable to St. John's Ladies Aid.
 
Vendors already signed up are:
Pampered Chef
Avon
Scentsy
Thirty One
Primitive Crafts
Finger Puppets and Animal nets
Jewelry
American Girl Doll Clothes
 
Luncheon will be hot dogs, chili, and pie
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER ARE CANNED VEGETABLES
Any size can, and any kind of vegetable is appreciated.    Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.
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SCRIP ORDERS ARE ALWAYS PLACED ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH!!
You can place your orders anytime before that!  Order forms are on the counter in the narthex or you can get them in Marilyn's office.  If you want another retailer on the list let Marilyn know!
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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!
Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!
 
Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton.  Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.
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QUILT RAFFLE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $1 EACH OR 6 for $5!!
Call the church office to reserve them or come by and purchase them!  The quilt will be awarded on November 5 at 2pm at the Ladies Aid Vendor Fair and Luncheon!!
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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS
Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!
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GENERAL PRAYER
For WHITEY MARSHALL, as he recovers from back surgery.
 
For BOB RUHL as he is home on hospice care.
 
For PAT GERDING, Vickie McRae's brother in law, who was in a terrible car accident and is on life support with brain damage.
 
For NORM BELINSKY, a friend of Jim and Vickie McRae, who is dealing with cancer treatments.
 
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.