11 years ago
Daily Email: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
DEVOTION: 2 Peter 3:8-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
I've often referred to this passage when I get a little perturbed at Jesus for not coming back yet. I want him to come back soon and now, but I also realize that God is not bound by time or space, and that my time is but a moment in God's eyes. Who am I to presume upon God that he should do what I think and ask? He'll come when we're ready and when he wants.
The other thing is that he is waiting for the total number of people wo will come to repentance and believe to do it. As far as I can tell, there are still A LOT of people who need to come to repentance. Millions and Billions of people living on the earth right now need to come to repentance and believe! Jesus isn't coming back until that happens.
Is it clear enough for you yet? Do you want Jesus to come back? Then do what he has called you to do! Go and make disciples! Invite people to worship. Tonight is the perfect night for that! Invite them to supper at 5:30 and worship at 6:30! GO to your neighbors and ask them if they go to church. If they don't, invite them to yours! Go to those who have sinned against you and offer them your forgiveness! Go to those against whom you have sinned and ask for forgiveness! Repent and live in repentance! "Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace!
Prayer: Lord, help me to be another John the Baptist here in my own little world today and call people to repentance and faith in you and your love. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Ladies Aid Christmas party at Denny's noon; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group; Confirmation make up 6; No karate
Fri- Sunday school Christmas program practice 5:30-8
Sat- Basement reserved 4-8pm; Worship- 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Adult Bible class and Sunday school 9:45; Stephen Ministry 9:45; Choir practice 9:45; Elders noon; Little Lambs Christmas program 1 and 3
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Wed- Cierra Figura; 8:30- Addie Hoelscher; 11- Loren Howard
Ushers- Wed- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure; Sun- Bob Linke, Tom Linke, ????, ????
Altar- Wed candles- Don Hance; Sun, Set up- Jodi Baldwin Clean Up- McKenzie
Elder- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot
Lay Reader- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Karen Benton
Pianist Sat- Kathy Barrow
Organist- Ned Quest
Projectionist- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Dulci Rahn
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Titus?
A distinguished Grecian who became a Christian convert and a companion of Paul in his trials and on his missionary tours. The book of Titus in the New Testament was a letter written to Titus by Paul to instrruct him in his ministerial duties in Crete. (Thanks Don!)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Philemon?
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NEWS:
OUR FIRST ADVENT DINNER IS TONIGHT AT 5:30! EVERYONE IS INVITED!!!
All in elder groups 1-3 are responsible for bringing either a side dish or salad and a dessert! Fried chicken will be the main course for all three meals! Worship will begin at 6:30! We'll hear different voices proclaim the coming of Jesus! Zechariah (The Benedictus), Gabriel (the announcement to Mary), and Mary (the Magnificat) will proclaim the birth long foretold!
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LADIES AID CHRISTMAS PARTY AT NOON TODAY AT DENNY'S!!!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE IS FRIDAY NIGHT 5:30-8PM!!!:
The other one is the following Saturday, Dec. 16, 9-Noon
All parents and kids should plan on being there for these practices! VERY IMPORTANT STUFF!
THE PROGRAM WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 at 6:30 during our regular midweek Advent service!!
If you would like your children to be in the program, they need to be at Sunday school!
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SIGN UP SHEET TO BUY A POINSETTIA FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY IS ON THE COUNTER IN THE NARTHEX! COST IS $13.50
It is a wonderful way to honor the memory of someone or just someone you love!
NEW YEARS CELEBRATION ON NEW YEAR'S EVE MORNING!!
We will have one service on New Year's Eve with a potluck afterward! Our main dish will be sloppy joes and we'll have chips there as well. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share! Bring all your leftover cookies!! There will be a sign up sheet to let us know you're coming on the counter in the narthex, but even if you don't rsvp, please come!! We'll have plenty of food!
We're going to plan our personal "goals" for 2018!!
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LITTLE LAMBS IS SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!
If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool. Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know. They'll hook you up right quick!
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VOTER'S MEETING RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY
- The voters nominated President Lee Hagan for district president and VP Ron Rall for another term.
- The voters voted to keep the same mission project, Rev.. Micah and Dorothy Glenn in North County, for 2018.
- Larry Schulze, Jim McRae, and Teresa Brockfeld all volunteered to be on the board of trustees! Thank you to these three volunteers!
- We are still in need of two board members for the board of education, and four members for the board of elders.
- The voters approved the budget for 2018. Thanks to Alan Hofeldt for putting it together.
- Since we continuously have trouble filling our boards and committees and since things could be done a whole lot better and more efficiently with a different structure, the voters approved the appointing of a task force to study changes to our governance structure so that we can tap into all the unused potential, so that people who want to do good in the congregation don't have to commit to boards and committees for 9 years, and so that the work of the church can be disbursed among those who actually want to do it! PRAISE THE LORD!!
- The voters approved changing the overflow accordion door to a permanent wall with doors and windows in it to convert the overflow to a cry room.
- The voter's also approved a budget of $450,000 for our building project so that we can move forward with hiring an architect.
As you can see, a lot is getting done in and around St. John's. It may be slow going at times, but God is definitely moving! I'm excited to see what God has in store for 2018!! It's gonna be a great year watching A LOT of people come to Christ and become members of St. John's! If you'd like to volunteer for our task force to look into structure changes, please reply to this email. Please look for lots of wonderful stuff to be happening in the near future, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for St. John's that we can grow in making disciples in, out and together!!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACKS AND PACKETS OF OATMEAL.
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PRAYERS:
For PEGGY TALBERT who is having knee replacement surgery today.
For TONI MAUCH who is having hip surgery next Wednesday, Dec. 13.
For RON HEITGERD, son of Donna Heitgerd, who is hospitalized after a fall, but is also dealing with many other health issues.
THANKSGIVING for the birth of a grandson to the Burmeisters. He was born three weeks early so is spending a few days in the NICU, but is doing well.
For our CHURCH, as we begin to make some big changes to both our governance structure and our building, and as we move forward to make disciples of all nations.
For JENNIFER RAHN, who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery at home.
For LINDA CALLIES, who is recovering from infection at home.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER, BUCK HAMPTON, DENISE HOOKER (betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
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