DEVOTION: Ephesians 1:15-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[a] toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Paul just can't stop talking about Jesus. Notice what he starts off with in this passage. He spends the first three verses talking about the person or people to whom he is writing and the wonderful faith they have, but then he transitions to all about Jesus and the next twelve verses are all about him.
He doesn't expand on what the people are all about. He only expands on what Jesus is all about.
I could write devotions and articles and whole books about all the wonderful people that are part of the St. John's family. There are A LOT of fantastic people who make up St. John's! You all do many wonderful things. You work hard! You take care of your families. You show your love for the Lord in many and various ways. I am proud of you all, and so is Jesus!
Yet, my lauding and magnifying you is not going to help you one bit. What's going to help you is JESUS! He alone can give you faith! He alone can work a good work in you! He alone can change your heart and mind and bring you to repentance when you falter and fail. And He alone can bring you to heaven to be with Him forever!
So yes, I am proud of the many gracious and fantastic members off St. John's, but I am much more proud and will continue to magnify and praise the Lord Jesus above all things, because He alone is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for creating, giving faith to, and sustaining the members of St. John's! I thank you for making them who you have called them to be. Most of all I thank you for giving them Jesus and raising them to eternal life with you by grace through faith. Amen. _______________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Wed- Oak Pointe Worship 10am; Youth Night 6:30-7:30
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30
Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am
______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Cierra Figura; 11- Addie Hoelscher
Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Lois Boeger
Elders- Sat- Jason Cluver; 8:30- Al Benton????, 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski; 8:30- Jennifer Figura; 11- Stephanie Owenby
Sat Pianist- Molly Hendershot
Projectionists: Sat- Fischer, 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Sherman
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Find a verse in Proverbs that talks about too much wealth being a bad thing.
(I'll leave this up again today.)
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NEWS!!!!
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP FOR 12-18 YEAR OLDS IS EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING THE SUMMER FROM 6:30-7:30!!
Come for the Bible Study…. Stay for the fun!
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PARADE FLOAT MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 6 AT 7PM!!
Would you like to participate in building a float to represent St. John's in our Fair Parade? Come to this meeting to give your ideas. We'd like to do something to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!
Student must be 3 for younger class or 4 for older class by August 1.
$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.
Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours.
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
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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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PRAYERS:
For MARIANNE LINKE, who is recovering from heart catheterization and repair.
For SUE RUHL, as she remains hospitalized with a broken hip.
For Dawn Frye's dad, WALTER BRADLEY, who has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing intense radiation therapy.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH, as she has been moved to Breeze Park for more extensive and round the clock care.
For PAT MANNESS as she will be undergoing extensive surgery and rehab on her hand next Friday, May 26.
For a FRIEND OF AL AND KAREN BENTON who is dealing with brain cancer.
For CAROL BRAZEE recovering from sinus surgery at home.
For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.
For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it. She had it for several years while in high school. (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)
For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is off the treatments for a month and then he will have tests to see
how the cancer is doing. He is still using the feeding tube.