DEVOTION: Psalm 22:23-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted[a] shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him;
it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.
Just when you think you've had enough, the Lord God reminds you that the best is yet to come. It is so easy to get worn down, disappointed, disillusioned, and distraught by all the things going on in this world, not to mention one's own sins, shortcomings, and failures. It is so easy to get caught up in the negativity and anger that keeps going around. I know I have been caught up in it from time to time. Then, you are reminded who is in control and that he will work everything out for our good and his glory.
It is very simply put here in this Psalm. 26 The afflicted[a] shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!? Are you fed up with the rat race of life and just need some real rest? Are you dealing with problem after problem of which there seems to be no real answer? If so, have you sought answers in him yet? Have you looked to him for hope and peace? Instead of searching everywhere else, instead of looking to the created things for your hope, why not turn to the creator? Put your trust, hope, and joy in him today.
I have to admit, I've been pretty down lately, especially with the shooting down in Parkland, FL. It is good to know that I can still put my hope in the Lord and know that I will not be disappointed. It is a wonderful thing to know that when everything else and everyone else fails me, or when I fail everyone, God will never fail. He has already wont he war! Satan may not know it yet, because he is still trying to get people to his side, but the strife is over and the battle is done. Don't give up! Don't give in! You will receive a crown that will never spoil or fade away. You will eat and forever be satisfied. You will drink and never be thirsty. Live in that peace today and always.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for picking up my spirits today. Help me to know that I am with you every step of the way. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Dress Sewing 9-Noon; Ladies Aid noon
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- Wed- Cameron Faerber 8:30- Addie Hoelscher; 11- Savannah Masters
Ushers- Wed-Don Turnure, Don Nolte, Brent Davis, Larry Schulze; Sat- Don Tate; Sun- Rich Talbert, Tom Linke, Don Hance, Kent Jacobsmeyer; 11- Jason Figura
Altar- Wednesday candles- Don Hance; Sun- set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Paul and Teresa Brockfeld
Communion assistant- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Rich Talbert, 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- Don and Donna Sherman; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Projectionists- Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30- McKenzie 11- Cameron Faerber
Lay Readers- Sat- Don Nolte; 8:30- Steve McDowell 11- Loren Howard
Organist- Wed- Pat Golden; Sun- Ned Quest
Pianists- Sat- Molly Hendershot
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When the Israelites went in to conquer the Promised Land, what were they to do with the current inhabitants and their possessions? What did they do instead? What happened just as the Lord said it would?
Don Nolte- They were to destroy all the inhabitants and their property. They left the people live and made them their servants. They began to worship their idols and were finally overtaken by their enemies and held in captivity until they returned to the true God.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What were the Israelites supposed to do to sorcerers, spiritists, mediums, and fortune tellers that were found to be in their midst?
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NEWS:
ALL PARENTS NEED TO RSVP TO ME SO I KNOW YOU'RE COMING TO OUR MEETING ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 @ NOON!!
If you have any kids between the ages of 0-18 who are members of St. John's, I want you at a luncheon and meeting on Sunday, Feb 25 at noon to discuss the future of your kid's faith life and your involvement in it. The meeting will not take more than an hour, but will hopefully make a lasting impact on how you see your role in your child's faith life, what you can do to help it, and how the church and pastor can help you help your child. Let's grow our youth into the great Christian adults god intended them to be!
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CHILI COOK-OFF AND BOARD GAMES ON SATURDAY, FEB. 24 @ 6PM!!
Do you think you have THE BEST chili recipe known to man? Do you like to compete? Then sign up for our chili cook-off and come and join us for a fun evening with your friends at St. John's!! Invite your friends! We'll start right after our Saturday worship!!
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LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPER at 5:30 AND WORSHIP AT 6:30
This year during our Lenten worship we're going to do something different. We will be doing an interactive message time in which we will all formulate our own versions of the "Gospel in seven words".
If someone were to come to you and ask you to tell them what you believe in seven words or less, what would you say? In this fast paced, information age, you may not have much more than that to get the Gospel out to someone. How would you respond to that request?
I am very excited to see how we come up with our conclusions and what our extremely concise profession and confessions of faith will look like! You'll have to join us on Wednesday to find out what it's all about!!
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YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS SATURDAY, MARCH 10!!
Tickets will go on sale at church this weekend after services.
AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEEDED!!
If you have any good items that they youth could use for the auction, please bring them by church any time we're open! If you leave something when pastor isn't here, please put a note on it to tell us that it is from you.
MONTHLY PAPER NEWSLETTERS WILL NO LONGER BE MAILED!!!
This past week was the last week you'll receive your newsletter in the mail unless you are shut-in, in the military or live far away from home for some reason. You'll have to come to church to get it!
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RETIREMENT SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 3 AND TUESDAY APRIL 24 AT 6PM!!
Denny Hagan from Eldercare Associates will be here on April 3 to talk about Identity protection and Asset preservation. And then again on April 24 to talk about Social Security. ICE CREAM WILL BE SERVED!!
Please sign up on the counter in the narthex or call the church office to let us know you will be there.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE SHELVES UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH MAILBOXES IN THE NARTHEX IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!
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OUR LAST DIRECTORY (Last updated in August of 2016) has a lot of outdated phone numbers. If your number has changed, please call the office 456-2888 and let Terry know!
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DUE TO SOME TROUBLES WITH OUR CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE
Our new email address is sjwarrlutheran@gmail.com. Please change it in your address books!!
Pastor's email, revklaus@hotmail.com will remain the same.
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LITTLE LAMBS IS STILL 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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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 FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES.
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PRAYERS:
For DON NOLTE and PAT JAEGER both recovering from carpel tunnel surgery.
For JOANNA HOELSCHER who is recovering from surgery at home.
For LIL WINTER as she deals with heart troubles.
For DENISE HOOKER who has been placed on hospice care.
For GEORGE HOESCHER, GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), and BUCK HAMPTON, as they continue to deal with cancer.
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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