St. John's Group Email Monday, Dec 19, 2011

DEVOTION: 

"A Wrong Christmas Spirit" December 19, 2011 While He (Jesus) was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Luke 22:47-48 Insult to injury. That expression accurately describes the events which took place this year at Southington, Connecticut. It appears that Ruth Wagner went to a Christmas craft fair, so she could celebrate the season. Sadly, she was not planning to pay for any of the items she liked. Wagner gave herself, as they used to say, a "five-fingered discount." That is, she started to steal things. That's the insult to the Savior and to the sellers at the craft fair. When a vendor saw and confronted Wagner about her stealing, she made a bee-line for the exit. The vendor yelled out, "Someone stop that woman!" and one quick-thinking lady blocked Wagner's path. Now this is where the injury part of the story comes in. Not wishing to be captured red-handed, Wagner grabbed a seashell Christmas ornament and stabbed the lady in the arm. The injured lady was taken to the hospital, and Wagner was eventually taken to the police station. There she was charged with: first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, sixth-degree larceny and a second-degree breach of the peace. Wagner's bail was set at $100,000. Insult to injury. When I read Wagner's story, I immediately thought of Judas, who also was guilty of adding insult to injury. It was an injurious thing for the renegade disciple to betray Jesus. After all, he had been directly under the Savior's influence for three years. But to betray his Redeemer with a kiss ... that was an insult to which even the long-suffering Savior reacted. Insult to injury. Yes, when I read Wagner's story, I thought of Judas, and then I thought of myself. I cannot begin to calculate how many times I have sinned and to that first transgression added another sin, and another, and another -- in an attempt to justify myself. Quite likely you've done the same. If so, we need a Savior -- a Savior who has shown He can love us past our insults and in spite of the injuries we do. In a second, Jesus would have forgiven Judas ... and Ruth ... and Ken ... and you. To make forgiveness a reality is why God's Son was born; it is why He lived, suffered, died and rose. And it is why we prepare for His birthday remembrance with a repentant heart. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, forgive my insults and injuries. Grant me the Holy Spirit, so I might be changed and become the proper witness You deserve. This I ask in Your Name. Amen.

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TODAY'S QUIZ:        Who was Tychicus?  (I'll leave it up one more day.)

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CATECHISM: 

6th commandment: You shall not commit adultery

Question: What does God require especially of married persons?

Answer: 

God requires married peope to love, honor, and respect each other.  The wife is the husband's God-given helper, and the husband is the wife's God-given head. 

 

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CHURCH CALENDAR

Mon- Little Lambs to Whispering Pines 10:30; no confirmation till Jan. 9

Tues- Quilters 9am; Bible study 11:30????

Wed- bells 6:30; chir 7:30

Thurs- nothing scheduled

Fri- nothng scheduled

Sat-  Christmas Eve worship 7pm and 11pm

Sun- Christmas Day worship 9am

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NEWS: 

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Saturday- 7 and 11pm

Sunday- 9am

 

Hope to see ALL of you there on both days!

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WORKERS NEEDED IN JOPLIN

Immanuel Lutheran Church in in Joplin is taking workers to help with construction.  
 
YOU CAN GO ON YOUR OWN IF YOU WANT or,  I'd love to take a group for a couple days in January and/or February to work on some houses.   
 
Trent Davis, Immanuel's director of disaster response sent the following: 
 
 "The Lord has blessed us with the ability to get five decent sized projects under roof before the weather has gotten too ugly here, however we have only a few teams committed from Dec-Feb. We need additional teams.
 
All help will be greatly appreciated. Types of skills we are looking for include: electricians, plumbers, HVAC, drywall, painters and interior trim.
Not everyone on a team needs to be skilled but we need enough skilled folks to give direction to the willing. Thanks and Blessings!"
 
 
Contact information for Trent is:
Director of Disaster Response Trent Davis
Immanuel Lutheran Church – LCMS; 2616 Connecticut Ave; Joplin, MO 64804;
417.624.0333 | fax: 417.624.2774;
 
 
If anyone wants to go with me for a few days let me know asap and I will set it up.  I'm pretty sure that all we'd really have to pay for is food. 
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YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION

***SAVE THE DATE***  The date of the Youth Group Steak Dinner and Auction has been set for Saturday, February 11, 2012.   Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.  Please join us for a night of fun and fundraising.  We will be having the old favorites:  silent auction  and 50/50 drawing as well as the new favorites: live auction, dessert dash, wine raffle, and the WILD HEARTS JACKPOT DRAWING where there is a chance to win $500.00.

 

Tickets for the WILD HEARTS $500 DRAWING are on sale now.  Please ask a youth group member to get  yours.  The tickets are 1 for $10 but for an additional $10 you can get 10 more tickets and have 11 chances at winning! 

 

The youth will begin selling dinner/auction tickets at the beginning of January in the narthex after services. Tickets are $15 per person.  Bid only tickets are $5.00.   You may also contact Marilyn to reserve tickets.

In order to guarantee that you get to sit with a special group of family or friends, you may want to consider purchasing a table of 8 for $120.

 

BUY A POINSETTIA FOR THE ALTAR FOR CHRISTMAS IN MEMORY OF OR IN HONOR OF SOMEONE!!

Please sign the sheet in the narthex by Wednesday, Deember 14.  They are $12.50 each. 

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A MOMENT OF GRACE FLORIST IS DONATING 10% oF EACH ST. JOHN'S MEMBER'S SALE BACK TO THE CHURCH

Each time you purchase flowers and other gifts from A MOMENT OF GRACE and tell them you are a member at St. John's, the church receives a tithe from them.   A Moment of Grace is located at 511 N Hwy 47 and the phone number is 456-9334.

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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)

For DAVE KOHRS who will be having surgery Tuesday to remove a tumor from his abdomen.

 

For KEN SUTOR, Lisa Rausch's dad, who is was brought home and is on hospice care, but is in good spirits.

 

For EMMA, seven year old granddaughter of Terry and Lynn Russell, and great granddaughter of Elaine Schauer who is recovering from surgery. 

  

For BONNIE FRENZIA who is doing much better at home.  

 

For RICH (son of Burket Fickle - she works for Dr. Brady DDS here in Warrenton).  He has been, and is, very sick and keeps running high fevers and they don't seem to find out what is causing his illness.

 

For KEN WAGNER who is home and is doing well, although he still has a LONG way to go.

  

For JANICE MCKENZIE who will has a huge ulcer and is getting treatment for it.

 

For ED KOHRS who is at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield

  

For Robyn McNew's cousin MARY KUTRIP who is dealing with terminal cancer and has quit doing treatments for it. 

 

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.   

       

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