Monday, May 14, 2012

DEVOTION:

Then he said to his servants, "The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find." And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. Matthew 22:8-10 Lena Elk, the environment minister of Sweden, is a pretty important person, as is Margareta Winberg, the country's former minister of agriculture. Everyone agreed, it would be quite a newsworthy event, an incredible photo-op if the two bigwigs sat down to dinner and talked about matters sundry. Knowing that was the case, Elk extended an invitation to Margareta Winberg. Naturally, nobody was surprised when Winberg accepted. Everybody was surprised when Margareta Winberg showed up. That's because the Margareta Winberg who showed up was not the Margareta Winberg. The Margareta Winberg who showed up was an ordinary, 67-year-old, environmentally ignorant individual who had jumped at the opportunity of mingling with the rich, the famous, and the influential. I can see why Winberg went. It's not very often that uninfluential folks like us get an invitation from somebody who is an important mover and shaker. Wait! I guess that's not entirely true, is it? No matter how low, how common, how poor, how lonely we are, each of us has received an invitation from our heavenly King. That invitation which has been sent out to all says we are cordially invited to a celebration which is going to last forever. Banished from the proceedings will be sorrow, sadness, sickness, and pain, tears, troubles, trials and death. These unwelcomed guests will be replaced by a chorus who will sing unending songs of thanksgiving and praise. No, it's not often we get such an invitation. Indeed, we would not have received this one if it hadn't been for the intercession and sacrifice of the King's Son. Because Jesus has cleaned us up and washed us of our sins, we have now been made acceptable to the Host. All of this means when they check the invitation list, that is "The Book of Life," and they find your name there, it won't be a case of mistaken identity. Because of Jesus, heaven is opened and you are welcome. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord and Savior, for all You have done, for giving Yourself so I might have heaven as my eternal home, my deepest thanks. Now, I pray that others may also see what You have done, and open their invitation with gladness. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   How many Psalms are there?  150 (Good job Dianne and Doug!  Can anyone beat them?  I don't think so!)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who had it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord, but the Lord would not allow it?
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CATECHISM
Question: What does God do to take care of me?
Answer:
a. He gives me food and clothing, home and family, work and play, and all that I need from day to day.
b. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. 
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CHURCH CALENDAR:
Mon- whispering Pines 10am; strategic planning meeting  6:30
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Alpha 6:30
Wed- Bells 6:30; Little Lambs end of the year program 7pm
Thurs- Pastors Circuit meeting at Immanuel Wentzville
Fri- nothing
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun-  early Bible study 8am; worship 9am; VOTER'S MEETING!!! 10:15; worship 11am
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NEWS: 

VOTER'S MEETING ON SUNDAY, MAY 20, at 10:15!!

Two important items are on the agenda.

1. The building committee will present their newest ideas and findings, and the plan for the future.

 

2. First we will vote whether or not to keep the 11am service (In January it was only decided that it would be temporary until this May meeting whenw e would decide whether or not to make it permanent.)  Then, if and when we decide to keep the 11am service, we will decide how to best change the service times so that we have enough time for fellowship and Sunday school between services.

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ALPHA CLASS CONTINUES THIS WEEK AND EVERY TUESDAY at  6:30pm!!! 

Everyone is always welcome even if you haven't been to a class yet!  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HELP TO FEED HUNGRY KIDS IN WARREN COUNTY WITH OPERATION BACKPACK
In the preschool room there is a box that you can put food in to feed extremely low income children in Warren County.  Many of these kids get fed every day at school for breakfast and lunch, but what about the weekend?  What the food listed below does for many of these children is gets them through the weekend when food is especially scarce. 
 
If you want more information about this program or you want to donate money to this causeyou can call Erin Waters at 359-9219 or email her at erinwaters@centurytel.net.
 
Here is the list of food you can bring
cereal (single serve sizes)
oatmeal (instant packets)
hot chocolate mix
juice boxes
peanut butter
jelly (squeezable bottles)
soup
spaghettios or beefaroni
mac and cheese
corn
green beans
granola bars
fruit snacks
pudding cup
raisin boxes
applesauce cups
fruit cups
cereal bards
pretzels
individually wrapped crackers or cookies
bread
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF AND HUMAN CARE

Lutheran World Relief is often the first to arrive when disaster strikes in this country and around the world.  If you care to donate to this cause make your checks payable to St John's and clearly makr the designated envelope for Lutheran World Relief.  As always these donations should be over and above your normal tithes and offerings. 

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

For the FAMILY OF ROGER BOEGER who passed from death to eternal life Sat evening.

 

For  BRANDON BUESCHDECKER, a friend of Ben HGoelscher, who is having major heart surgery on Friday. 

 

For ALL OF THOSE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD.  That they would go in the direction God wants them to go and continue to lead them in the right way!

 

For DANNY DREYER as he becomes a commissoned officer in the months ahead. 

 

For PAM BROWN who fractured her back on Saturday, she is recovering at Progress West and should be able to go home this week.

 

For JOHN COULBORN, former member of St. John', who is doing much better and has gone back to work.  

 

For KARIN KLAUSTERMEIER'S DAD, BOB LAMPEN, who will be going through radiation and chemotherapy treatments for several different cancers throughout his body.

 

For CAROLINE BUELTMANN who is recovering at her daughter's home from some heart troubles and is doing much better.

 

For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is undergoing more treatments for cancer.

  

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she deals with chemo treatments for stage four lung cancer.   

  

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is recovering well at the Cedars.

     

For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is improving well and is gaining strength as he deals with his cancer.