Daily Email: Thursday, January 19, 2017

DEVOTION: Matthew 4:12-25

Jesus Begins His Ministry

¹² Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

¹⁵ "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned."

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."^[a]

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

¹⁸ While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."^[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.²² Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds

²³ And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ²⁴ So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. ²⁵ And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

 

 

 

You would think that after almost 46 years of reading passages like this and seeing the awesome power of God at work in my life and the lives of others, I wouldn't be amazed or taken back anymore, but I still am. 

 

If I were walking down the street and I said to someone, "come follow me".  I'd have people look at me funny, laugh, and then call 911.  If I would stand on the street corner and simply say "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." People would laugh at me and walk away.  If people would start coming to me to be healed in the way they came to Jesus, they'd be very disappointed. 

 

I'm not Jesus.  I'm just a man.  In yesterday's reading Paul, the writer of 13 Epistles in the Bible, healer of many, and proclaimer of the Gospel to all the nations of the world in his day, said the same thing.  He wasn't anything special.  Yet, God working through him produced faith and eternal life in billions of people through his words and actions. 

 

Don't ever begin to depend on yourself.  If you do you will be disappointed.  Instead trust in the Lord and put your full dependence in Him and He will do great things through you and in spite of you. 

 

Whether you fully comprehend it or understand it or not, Jesus truly does live in you.  That's right, the same Jesus who called the disciples, preached the good news so that people believed, healed thousands, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, lives in you!  He can do so much more in you and through you than you could ever ask for or imagine.  Rest in Him and then sit back and watch what he can do through your love, forgiveness, and peace!

 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for being the power in my life.  Help me to rely on your power and not my own more and more that I may truly rest in you.  Amen.

 

 

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CALENDAR

Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm; February Newsletter deadline

Fri- Bible Study and Hendershot's 7pm

Sat-  Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45; Youth snow tubing leave at 2pm

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Sarah Cluver 11- Cameron Faerber

Ushers-  Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean up- John and Anna Hoenig

Elders-  Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Jim Rahn
 
Greeters-  8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson

Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Tim Linke; 11- Jim Rahn

Piano-  Barb Dreyer

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Lydia Miller
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  

Who was Potiphar?  (No answers for this one yesterday so I'll leave it up for one more day.)

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NEWS!!!! 

MEN'S BREAKFAST SATURDAY AT 8AM!!

Menu: Biscuits and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad. 

 

Come and join us for some fellowship and a video study called "Regrets, Reality, Restoration"

 

Let me know if you're going to be there, especially if you haven't been there for a while, but ev3en if you don't or can't let me know still COME AND ENJOY!  There's always enough!

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LUTHERANISM 101 RESUMES TONIGHT AT 6:30pm!!!

Everyone is invited to participate even if you haven't been with us from the beginning!  We'd love to have you.  Just let me know that you'll be there so I know how many we'll have!

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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS

If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!

 

The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church.  If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself.  It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.

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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP IS GOING TO FULTON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8!

The group will be boarding a charter bus at 7:45am that day, first heading to the Auto World Museum, secondly to The Copper Mine Restaurant for lunch, and finally to the Churchill Museum before heading home.  They will arrive home around 5:30 that evening.  The cost will be around $65 including lunch, but the more people that go, the cheaper it will be!  Call Marilyn at 456-2888 to sign up!

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR NEW PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!!

Come to church and pick up a baby bottle.  Fill it up with money (coins, cash, and checks are all accepted), and return it to church in two weeks by Feb. 4 or 5.  All money raised will go to getting our Pro Life Center going! 

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6-12 GRADE YOUTH SNOW TUBING AT HIDDEN VALLEY THIS SUNDAY!

We'll leave from church at 2pm, arrive at Hidden Valley at 3pm, tube for three hours, stop somewhere for supper, and arrive home around 8pm.  Cost is $20.  Come and join us!

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WORK DAY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 28!!

The trustees are inviting everyone who wants to, to come to a WORK DAY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 8am-Noon.  The main emphasis will be replacing light fixtures, but there will be other projects to do as well.

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NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 AT NOON!

The board of outreach is inviting all new members to a NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON on Sunday, January 28 at noon!  ALL NEW MEMBERS SINCE LAST YEAR'S NEW MEMBERS DINNER ARE INVITED along with ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS!!!  Please plan to attend!

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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION WILL BE MARCH 25!!

OUR YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION HAS BEEN MOVED BACK A MONTH AND IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 25!  Also, THANK YOU LETTERS to those church members who donated last year are in your church mailboxes!!

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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!!

Maybe you didn't know that you had them, but if you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have your own church mailbox and your own offering envelopes!  Check your mailbox today!!

BLUE ENVELOPES IN YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPE BOXES ARE FOR THE BUILDING FUND!!!

Please note that your blue envelopes are for our BUILDING FUND.  Please use them appropriately!  Let's get this building built!!

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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY ARE CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES!

Any size can, and any kind of fruit or vegetable is appreciated.    Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.

 

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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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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS

Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________GENERAL PRAYER

For MARIANNE LINKE, who is dealing with severe back pain and issues with her medication.

 

For PASTOR MICHAEL PIPER, (pastor at St. Paul's, New Melle) who had a severe stroke on Monday.  He is still in critical condition and is very unstable. 

 

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.

 

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she recovers from a broken hip at Grandview Healthcare Center in Washington.

 

For DON NOLTE as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery to his shoulder.

 

For MIKE PUCKETT who is at home with his mom and recovering well from lung surgery.

 

For BARB PERRICONE who is back home on hospice care.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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