St. John's Group Email Thursday, Dec 15, 2011

DEVOTION:  ... The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7b-9


A good conscience, a healthy conscience is a wonderful thing.

The truth of that sentence was recently shown when an elderly man stopped by a Sears store in downtown Seattle. Asking to see the manager, the older gent presented the shopkeeper with an envelope. Inside was a note and a $100 bill.

The note explained that the man had stolen $20 to $30 from a cash register a number of decades ago. According to the manager, Gary Lorentson, the man's conscience has been bothering him for the last 60 years.

Yes, a healthy conscience is a good thing.

And, in case you're wondering, my experience has taught me there are two kinds of unhealthy consciences.

The first sick conscience is one that fails to accuse an individual of guilt. That kind of malady is most often found in unbelievers and occurs when an individual has ignored that internal voice so long and so often it can no longer can be heard.

But there is another malady of the conscience that is confined to Christians. This kind of illness continues to accuse and nag even though a particular sin has been recognized, confessed and absolved. This hyperactive conscience is being used to convince a person he is guilty, even when the blood of Jesus Christ has washed him and made him clean.

Not surprisingly the same cure -- the cross of Christ -- is effective for both maladies.

Standing before the cross, the silent conscience must once again be awakened to proclaim that God's Son is suffering and dying for the sin of humankind, of which his owner is a part. Standing before the cross, the overactive conscience must acknowledge Jesus has done all that is necessary for every sin, that is every sin to be washed away.

To save us from our sin: that is why Jesus was born, and it is why this month we celebrate the great, saving grace of God.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may those who feel they have no sin be awakened to the violations they have committed -- that endanger their souls. Similarly, may those who have seen the crucified and risen Savior rejoice in the forgiveness He has won. This I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen.


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TODAY'S QUIZ:        Who was Tychicus?
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CATECHISM: 
6th commandment: You shall not commit adultery
Question: What does God require in the Sixth Commandment?
Answer: 
a. God requires us to avoid all temptations to sexual sin.
b. God requires us to be clean in what we think and say.
c. God requires us to use our sexuality in ways pleasing to Him.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Thurs- nothing scheduled
Fri- nothng scheduled
Sat- 9:30-11 Children's program practiceworship 5pm
Sun- Bible study 8; worship 9; Sunday school and Bible study 10:15
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NEWS: 
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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SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM PRACTICE AGAIN THIS COMING SATURDAY 9:30-11am!! 
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For DAVE KOHRS who will be having surgery next 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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