Pastor's Note: This devotion talks about a state lottery. The reference to the practice should not in any way be construed as an endorsement or approval. The truth is the story was simply too good not to use.
$319 million is a lot of money. Even when you divide the $319 million into seven piles, those piles are still pretty big.
$319 million is the amount of cash being split between a group of seven folks who work at the Albany Department of Housing and Community Renewal. Each of them is picking up around $19 million.
But there's another group of people who work at that same location -- five folks who normally chip in on the ticket for the Mega Millions pool, but for some reason, didn't. I don't know the reason they didn't hand over the necessary $2, but at least one of them said he didn't "feel lucky that day."
Those five are splitting, well, they're splitting nothing. They're left on the outside looking in -- just like the women in Jesus' parable about the wedding feast. Because those ladies let a chance for admission slip by, they also found themselves on the outside looking in.
Now if you're left out of things in a story, that's not too big a deal. And if you don't win the lottery, you can be comforted because there are a few million people who played that same lottery and they ended up with nothing ... just like you.
But what can be said when someone misses his chance to get into heaven? What comfort can be given to the individual who had the opportunity to believe, had the opportunity to acknowledge the Savior?
What comfort could be given to those who rejected the Savior who died on the cross and rose so they might live? Truly, it would be hell, just as it would be heaven, for all who were brought to faith in the Savior's blood.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel and that He has encouraged and kept me in the faith. Now I pray for those who don't know or refuse to acknowledge You. Now, before it is too late, may they see the wonders and blessedness of Your sacrifice which saves. In Your Name I ask it Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What son of David was killed after his hair got caught in a tree as he was fleeing David's men? Absalom
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TODAY's QUIZ: Who was Ittai the Gittite?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Is it necessary to fast before receiving the Sacrament?
Answer: Fasting can be good training for the will, but God does not command particular times, places, and forms for this.
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BIRTHDAYS:
Mon- Christine Okeefe, Carol Ann Toedebusch
Thurs- Meghan Rowe
Fri- Tina Ruth
Sun- Mabel Smith
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Sun, April 10- Tony and Becky Jones
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CALENDAR:
Wed- supper (taco night) 5:30; bells 6; worship 6; choir 7:30 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Thurs- 8th Grade Confirmation Questioning and Reception 7pm
Fri-
Sat- Bus trip leaves for Charleston 7am SHARP; worship 5
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; CONFIRMATION DAY FOR 8th GRADERS; Sunday school and Bible study 10:30
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WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector- Wed- Schlesselmann; Sat- Conner Figura; NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR SUNDAY YET
Elder- Sat- Hachtel; Sun- Tinnin
Ushers- Wed- Dieckmann, Luebke, Callies, Sweet; Sun- Winter, Scott, Walters, Woolf
Acolyte- Wed- Schaumberg; Sun- Sherman
Lay reader- Sat- Mauch; Sun- Wagner
Greeters- Linke
Altar- Setup- Tameler cleanup- Robine
Organist- Hilgendorf
Pianist- ?
Tellers- Team #3
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There is still no one signed up for this Sunday!! And there are still A LOT of dates open!
PROJECTOR SCHEDULE
April 13- Denise Schlesselmann
April 16- Conner Figura
April 17-
April 21 (Maundy Thursday)- Mckenzie
April 22- (Good Friday)- Mckenzie
April 24 (Easter)- 6am- Mauch 10:30am-
April 30- Mckenzie
May 1- Figura
May 7-
May 8-
May 14-
May 15-Woolf
May 21-
May 22- Mckenzie
May 28- Figura
May 29- Schlesselmann
June 4- Mckenzie
June 5- Panhorst
June 11-
June 12- Mckenzie
June 18-
June 19-Woolf
June 25-
June 26- Panhorst
July 2- Mckenzie
July 3-
July 9-
July 10- Figura
July 16-
July 17-Woolf
July 23-
July 24- Panhorst
July 30-
July 31- Mckenzie
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NEWS:
CARE PROCESS TO START WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 6:30pm with a congregation meeting.
The leaders of our church and many others would appreciate as many people being there as possible.
Let me know if you need someone to watch your kids so you can be there.
Even if you have no conflicts within the church, it would be good for you to be there to lend your encouragement and support to those who need it and to show your concern for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Besides, you may have use for some of the things you learn in other parts of your life.
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NEW SHORT TERM JR HI and HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR IS STARTING UP
Practices will be at 4pm on Sundays. Call Mrs. Dreyer at 456-8278 to let her know you want to be a part of it!
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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP LEAVES AT 7AM SHARP on SATURDAY.
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OUR MISSION FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ARE THE RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN JAPAN with LCMS World Relief
The folks in Japan have been dealing with the effects of a very severe earthquake that caused a lot of destruction. We truly need to continue to help them in any way we can. Go to LCMS.org/help to see how you can help.
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LAST WEDNESDAY SUPPER IS TONIGHT!!!
Thrivent will match all of the money we raise from our Lenten Dinners! Please support your youth group throughout the Lenten Season!
April 13- taco bar, chips and salsa, fruit salad, dessert
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.)
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who will need to have another surgery this Friday at University Hospital in Columbia.
For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH who is having serious problems and pain due to reumatoid arthritis.
For MARV HENDERSHOT who is recovering very well after having astent put in hisheart last week
For my mom, DEBBY KLAUSTERMEIER, as she begins to deal with "pre" stages of diabetes.
For ELAINE SCHAUER who is recovering well from her knee surgery
For PAT MANNESS, former member of St. John's who is going to have to have hip replacement and is in very poor health in many different ways.
For LIL WINTER who is still dealing with problems in her foot and with her stomach.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is still having problems with her eye and with headaches. THe cause has yet to be identified.
For ED KOHRS who is @ Delmar Gardens recovering from hip replacement and will probably get to go home in a week or two.
For OUR CHURCH as we begin to deal with our many conflicts and how to best resolve them and reconcile with one another.
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