DEVOTION: For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
This past Christmas season was an unusual one for the Salvation Army and its Red Kettle Campaign.
Yes, they had a few of their kettles stolen, but they also received some incredibly generous gifts. Did I hear you asking, "What kind of gifts?" Well, there was
* an anonymous giver in Bloomington, Illinois, who continued a 20-year tradition of giving a gold coin;
* the owner of a local coin exchange in Frederick, Maryland, who gave five, gold South African Krugerrands and then bought them back for $9,000;
* an anonymous donor in Spokane, Washington, who threw in a dollar bill -- a dollar bill wrapped around a $5,000 diamond ring.
They also received a $30 silver coin, which came wrapped inside a note. The note read, "I've saved this ounce of silver for twenty years, I'm unemployed for 13 months, my house is in foreclosure, I'm filing for bankruptcy, and at 61 my retirement is shot, but I still know there are families in worse shape."
Steve Schroeder, development director for The Salvation Army said, "It's a true Christmas spirit when you get the coins just because somebody cares enough to really make a sacrifice to donate."
As much as I'd like to agree with Schroeder, I think he's wrong, and Isaiah was right.
The true Christmas spirit is found in a Bethlehem manger. There we see a wonderfully unique Child, a Child who is both the Son of God and of humankind. By God's will, command and promise, Jesus was born to seek and save the lost, to redeem those under the Law, to lay down His life as a ransom for us all.
Jesus was born to change the world, our lives, our eternal destinies. He lived, died and rose to accomplish that purpose.
True, the centuries have seen many wondrous Christmas gifts given: the jeweled eggs of Faberge and the presents contained in the Neiman-Marcus catalog are all reflections of the Christmas spirit of giving. But none can compare with the fact that unto us a Child was born, unto us God's Son was given.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in my lifetime I may receive many great and thoughtful gifts. May each of them keep me mindful of Your Gift, the Gift of Your Son, who saves me. This I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When God looked down at man and saw his wickedness he said "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be ______ years." Please fill in the blank with the right number of years God gave man to live on the earth. 120 (Thanks to Dianne Hance for the quick answer.)
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This past Christmas season was an unusual one for the Salvation Army and its Red Kettle Campaign.
Yes, they had a few of their kettles stolen, but they also received some incredibly generous gifts. Did I hear you asking, "What kind of gifts?" Well, there was
* an anonymous giver in Bloomington, Illinois, who continued a 20-year tradition of giving a gold coin;
* the owner of a local coin exchange in Frederick, Maryland, who gave five, gold South African Krugerrands and then bought them back for $9,000;
* an anonymous donor in Spokane, Washington, who threw in a dollar bill -- a dollar bill wrapped around a $5,000 diamond ring.
They also received a $30 silver coin, which came wrapped inside a note. The note read, "I've saved this ounce of silver for twenty years, I'm unemployed for 13 months, my house is in foreclosure, I'm filing for bankruptcy, and at 61 my retirement is shot, but I still know there are families in worse shape."
Steve Schroeder, development director for The Salvation Army said, "It's a true Christmas spirit when you get the coins just because somebody cares enough to really make a sacrifice to donate."
As much as I'd like to agree with Schroeder, I think he's wrong, and Isaiah was right.
The true Christmas spirit is found in a Bethlehem manger. There we see a wonderfully unique Child, a Child who is both the Son of God and of humankind. By God's will, command and promise, Jesus was born to seek and save the lost, to redeem those under the Law, to lay down His life as a ransom for us all.
Jesus was born to change the world, our lives, our eternal destinies. He lived, died and rose to accomplish that purpose.
True, the centuries have seen many wondrous Christmas gifts given: the jeweled eggs of Faberge and the presents contained in the Neiman-Marcus catalog are all reflections of the Christmas spirit of giving. But none can compare with the fact that unto us a Child was born, unto us God's Son was given.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, in my lifetime I may receive many great and thoughtful gifts. May each of them keep me mindful of Your Gift, the Gift of Your Son, who saves me. This I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: When God looked down at man and saw his wickedness he said "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be ______ years." Please fill in the blank with the right number of years God gave man to live on the earth. 120 (Thanks to Dianne Hance for the quick answer.)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What are the names of Noah's three sons?
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CATECHISM:
8th commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Question: What does this mean?
Answer:
We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Wed- Bell choir 6:30; Choir 7:30
Thurs- Jonesburg Nursing Home worship 10:30; Alzheimer's Support group 1-2pm
Fri- (On your January calendars it is says the youth are going to the Rock, but that has been rescheduled for February.)
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9; Bible Study and Sunday school 10:15
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NEWS:
NEWS:
New worship service starting on Sunday, January 29 at 11am.
It will be modeled after the hundreds of chapel services I, and many of you, attended and led as students and teachers in Lutheran schools and churches across America.
It will be geared toward young people, young families, and the young at heart.
Below are some details of the service:
1. We will have more interaction with the congregation during our songs and during the message. (Think doing motions and other fun things during the songs and question/answer time during the sermon.) There will be more teaching and more explanation of things.
2. We will incorporate more multimedia (video and audio).
3. The service will be a bit shorter to accomodate younger families. We should be done by noon every Sunday, even on communion Sundays. ( Consider it "Wiggle" friendly.)
4. Music will be a variety of more "modern" songs and songs from "All God's People Sing" on piano. We will also do many of the old favorites. (We don't have a praise team right now, but I am still hopeful that some folks will volunteer to help us out with guitars and things.)
5. Communion will be on 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.
6. Most importantly, as with all of our worship services, it will be done in the name of our Trinue God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What we ask of you from now until January 29 is that you support this endeavor, that you invite people who would, for whatever reason, like to attend this type of worship, and that you pray for this endeavor and for our church in general that it owuld be blessed beyond measure in 2012.
If you have any skills or talents that you feel would benefit this service please contact me at 359-1061.
Then on January 29, COME to the service and participate.
The vision is that this will be a great blessing to our church and that it will fit the needs of young families, kids, teenagers, and the young at heart so that we can bring more people into the body of Christ this year than ever before.
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PASTOR NOW HAS TEXTING ON HIS PHONE
It will be geared toward young people, young families, and the young at heart.
Below are some details of the service:
1. We will have more interaction with the congregation during our songs and during the message. (Think doing motions and other fun things during the songs and question/answer time during the sermon.) There will be more teaching and more explanation of things.
2. We will incorporate more multimedia (video and audio).
3. The service will be a bit shorter to accomodate younger families. We should be done by noon every Sunday, even on communion Sundays. ( Consider it "Wiggle" friendly.)
4. Music will be a variety of more "modern" songs and songs from "All God's People Sing" on piano. We will also do many of the old favorites. (We don't have a praise team right now, but I am still hopeful that some folks will volunteer to help us out with guitars and things.)
5. Communion will be on 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.
6. Most importantly, as with all of our worship services, it will be done in the name of our Trinue God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What we ask of you from now until January 29 is that you support this endeavor, that you invite people who would, for whatever reason, like to attend this type of worship, and that you pray for this endeavor and for our church in general that it owuld be blessed beyond measure in 2012.
If you have any skills or talents that you feel would benefit this service please contact me at 359-1061.
Then on January 29, COME to the service and participate.
The vision is that this will be a great blessing to our church and that it will fit the needs of young families, kids, teenagers, and the young at heart so that we can bring more people into the body of Christ this year than ever before.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PASTOR NOW HAS TEXTING ON HIS PHONE
I know it is about five years too late, but I have finally joined the 21st century's most used form of communication. If texting is the best way to communicate with you, I urge you to give me your cell phone number so I can communicate better with you in 2012. I am even thinking of sending out a "Bible Verse Text of the Day" to all who would want it.
I especially want to urge our young people to send me their cell numbers so I can better communicate with them.
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OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE INSTALLED THIS WEEKEND AT OUR WORSHIP SERVICE
Whether you are newly elected or are continuing to serve your term, please be there to be installed for 2012. It is important that the congregation see who their leaders are so that they can pray for and support them.
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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 ANNA HOELSCHER who is recovering at Jonesburg Nursing Home after falling and breaking her hip.
For DAVE KOHRS who is recovering well after surgery to remove a tumor from his abdomen.
For PATRICK BIONDO, a son of a friend of Toni Mauch. Patrick was in a serious car accident on Saturday evening and will be undergoing several surgeries to try to repair a large portion of his scalp and a broken hand.
For Mrs. Sisson (first grade teacher at Daniel Boone) and her newborn baby girl who was born very early and weighs in at a little over a pound and a half. Her name is Chloe Michelle.
For KEN SUTOR, Lisa Rausch's dad, who is was brought home and is on hospice care, but is in good spirits.
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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