DAILY DEVOTION AND CHURCH NEWS: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019

DEVOTION: John 5 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[a]called Bethesda,[b] which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.[c] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[d] said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." 11 But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'" 12 They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."

Jesus Is Equal with God

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

The Authority of the Son

19 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[e] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Witnesses to Jesus

30 "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

 

https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.klaustermeier/videos/10156103795788803/

 

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CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK:

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45

Sun- Adult Bible Class 8am; Traditional Worship 9; Fellowship, Sunday school and adult Bible class 10:15; Chapel 10:45

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WORSHIP WORKERS: 

Sunday, 9am—

Acolyte- Nova Luebke

Ushers- Rich Talbert, Tom Linke, Don Hance, Kent Jacobsmeyer

Communion assistant- Rich Talbert

Lay reader- Kathy Fischer

Projectionist- Erv Yoder

Altar Set Up- Marilyn Foster

Tellers- Team #4

 

Sunday 10:45

Acolyte-  Cameron Faerber

Worship assistant- Jason Cluver

Projectionist- Terry McKenzie

 

Monday, 6:30-

Acolyte- Cierra Figura

Worship assistant- Sam Johnson

Projectionist- Toni Mauch

Altar clean up- Terry McKenzie

 

 

 

 

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What are the three feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate every year? 

  1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread
  2. The Feast of Harvest (Feast of Weeks)
  3. The Feast of Ingathering (Feast of Tabernacles)

 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: What were they to bring before the Lord at the feasts?

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NEWS:

SPECIAL ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE AT 11AM on MARCH 6!!!

I know that for many reasons, people cannot make it to the evening worship service, and so I'd like to make another worship service available. 

 

I need your help though.  There are many in our church family who don't drive, and I would like to have three or four volunteers to go out and pick them up to bring them to church and back home again.  If I get enough interest, I may even try to have a lunch meal for everyone who is there. 

 

We will still have our regular Lenten supper at 5:30, hosted by our youth group and parents, and worship at 6:30 as well. 

 

Please let me know if you would be willing to help pick people up and take them home again, or if you'd like to help with a noon meal.  Let's make this a good event, and if it works out we might do it monthly. 

 

Thank you so much for your willingness to serve! 

 

 

SPECIAL VOTER'S MEETING ON SUNDAY, MARCH 3 TO CHOOSE AN ARCHITECT

Our building committee has been at work interviewing architects and is ready to put forth their recommendations to the voter's assembly for approval.  A voting member is any confirmed member of St. John's 18 years old or older.  Please mark your calendars and join us for this special meeting.  It will begin immediately following our 9am service and will not last more than a half hour. 

 

TELL THE NEXT GENERATION FAMILY MINISTRY CONFERENCE IS SATURDAY, MARCH 9, FROM 9-3 AT ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH in HARVESTER!!

Ministry to, among, and with families with young children is crucial to a vibrant and growing church.  At the same time it is getting harder and harder to do such ministry for so many different reasons.  This conference will give us an opportunity to get some new ideas, learn from those who have been and are successful in this type of ministry and grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ.  I would like people to attend with me!  If you can go, even if it is just for a few hours, please let me know!  Let's make Family Ministry great again!!

 

YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION NEEDS

  1. People to buy tickets for the dinner!  If you like steak and you want to help out your youth, please consider coming!

 

  1. People to buy $500 Pot O Gold raffle tickets.  They are being sold after each worship service and can also be purchased from pastor at any time. 

 

  1. Donations for the auction!!  Please consider donating a gift basket, gently used or new items that you own, season tickets to something, anything that will sell well and will help our youth reach their goal to get to the National Youth Gathering. 

 

PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER NEEDS

  1. Underwriters for our fundraiser banquet coming up Thursday, March 21. This is so we can allow people to attend without having to have people purchase tickets.

 

  1. Banquet attendees.  It begins at 6:30 on March 21 at Holy Rosary, and will go to approximately 8:30

 

  1. Nurses with ultrasound certification or those willing to take the training to be certified.  We are very close to getting our ultrasound, and we just need people who are able to do it!

 

  1. MONEY!!!!  We are running on empty as far as funds are concerned!  If you'd care to donate please go to http://www.pocofwarrencounty.org/ and you will find tons of options to help out this most worthy cause.

 

OPERATION BACK FOOD FOR FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGGIES

Individual cups are preferred, but any canned vegetables are appreciated.  Please bring them up to church and put them in the "Backpack Blessings" receptacle in the narthex.

 

CHECK YOUR MAILBOXES AND THE SHELVES BELOW THEM FOR YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPES!!!
Some of you haven't emptied your church mailboxes in a while.  Others of you might not even know that you have a mailbox.  If you are an adult member of St. John's you have a church mailbox!  Your copy of the new constitution is in your mailbox and your 2019 offering envelopes are on the shelves underneath the mailboxes.   Get your stuff!!! 

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ST JOHN'S GOALS FOR 2019!!!
A 10% increase in worship attendance.

A 5% increase in Bible study attendance

Add two new Bible study opportunities during the week

Add two new outreach events to reach out to the community. 

 

If you are a member of St. John's and you think these goals are good ones, then I encourage you to do your part to make them a reality!! 

PRAYERS:

 

For SANDRA PERRICONE'S FRIEND Renee Reising and her family.  Two of her brothers have died unexpectedly over the last 4 months.

For SANDRA PERRICONE, as she recovers from surgery she had Tuesday.

For those dealing with cancer and treatments HAROLD ANDERSON, JOHN MORRIS, father in law of Elise Morris; GEORGE HOELSCHER, MARILYN FOSTER, PASTOR RON LEHENBAUER, MARY BREUER, MARI GILB, both friends of Sandy Robine, Toni Mauch's brother RAY KOLN, and hundreds of others who are dealing with this dreaded disease.  That God would provide healing and relief, but that God would also work through the pain and suffering to bring faith and in crease faith in those who need it.   .

 

For DIANNE FELDKAMP'S SISTER, DONNA MAYES, who has been diagnosed with ALS, and her other sister, DEBBIE BURGER, who has been diagnosed with Grave's disease. 

   

 

 

PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:

For COLTON FIGURA AND DANNY DREYER who are both home but remain on active duty in the military.

 

For CONNER FIGURA going through tech training for the Air Force. .

 

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