Monday, August 6, 2012

DEVOTION: (from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

"Leave Behind The Past" August 6, 2012 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel." Mark 1:14-15 Rodney Dwayne Valentine had paid his debt to society. Valentine had entered the Rockingham County, North Carolina, jail on May 22nd. He served his sentence without incident or difficulty. That's why it was no surprise to Valentine when the sheriff's office told him he was free, and it was time for him to return to society. When the officers refused to chauffeur him to the place he wanted to go, Valentine refused to leave the jail, and he kept on refusing. Indeed, he stayed in that jail so long the police eventually re-arrested him, charged him with second-degree trespassing, and threw him into the hoosegow. When I first read that bit of news, I thought, what a unique story! Then, after a while, I realized Valentine's story is anything but unique. Indeed, his story is the story of millions of people. Let me explain: if you read through Scripture, you will find certain themes are repeated again and again. One of those themes is God's calling sinners to repentance. In the Gospels we have the Baptizer speaking to people out in the wilderness. His message was one of repentance. When John was taken out of commission, Jesus took up the summons and asked His disciples to do the same. Mark sums it all up in a few short words. Jesus said, "... the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel." Since those days the faithful church has continued to proclaim the same message: be turned from the sinner you were and be remade into a forgiven soul, who is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. It is God's truth we are glad to share. Jesus has paid our debt -- not to society -- but to the Lord. Now all who with a repentant heart acknowledge the Christ as their Savior are forgiven and given eternal life. Like Rodney Dwayne Valentine, we are free. Sadly, too many people don't want to leave their sins behind. Too many people want to stay just where they are: doomed and damned because of the sins to which they still cling. It is a terrible and preventable tragedy. This is why today we pray for those souls who -- without a repentant faith -- will find themselves thrown into eternal prison. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are many souls who refuse to be changed. If possible, use us and the Savior's story of salvation to reach them. By Your power, turn their hearts and change their lives, so they, like us, may be forgiven and free. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen

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LAST WEEK'S QUIZ:   What happened to the temple as a result of Jeremiah's preaching?  It was restored
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TODAY'S QUIZ: How long was the captivity of the israelites by the Babylonians?
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CATECHISM:
Question: What do the Scriptures teach about Christ's conception?
Answer: They teach that Christ, the Son of God, received a true human body and soul in the Virgin Mary through the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, not through a human father.
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CALENDAR: 
Mon- nothing scheduled
Tues- Election day; Quilters 9-2; no Bible study; Dance camp 6-7pm
Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Golf 7am; worship 5pm; Southern Heritage Gospel Music Concert 7pm
Sun- worship 9; Sunday school and Bible class 10:15; worship 11am (Avenue of the Saints is here at 11am service)
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NEWS:
GOLF OUTING THIS SATURDAY
Registration begins at 7am. 
Shotgun start at 8am. 
Lunch (burgers and brats) and awards at 1pm. 
4 person scramble.
$50 per person includes: golf with cart, drink tickets, lunch, attendance gifts, a chance to win a prize
$10 if you just want to do lunch.
 
All proceeds go to LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL.
 
Call Alan Hofeldt at 456-3070 or email him at alanhofeldt@yahoo.com to sign up.
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SOUTHERN GOSPEL CONCERT by SOUTHERN HERITAGE THIS SATURDAY at 7pm
Jonathan Edwards, Deanna Edwards, and Rose Gilley make up Southern Heritage.  It is good old fashioned southern gospel music!  Make plans to attend right now!  Go to http://southernheritagegospel.com/ to check them out and to get a sampling of their music.  I am hoping for a big crowd.  The concert is free, but a free will offering will be taken to help this group continue to spread the Gospel wherever they go. 
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FIVE 14 REVOLUTION at 7pm at the Chesterfield Amphitheater
MRS. WINN HAS ROOM FOR TWO MORE IN HER CAR!  Call her asap to tell her you want to go with her.  314-479-5543
This is a free contemporary Christian rock concert at the Chesterfield Amphitheater especially for young people.  Acts like Taylor Perry, Mynista, and Of Time and Tide will be performing.  Check it out at www.facebook.com/five14.
 
I really need some adults to chaperone any kids who want to go!  Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are willing!!!
 
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BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS THIS WEEKEND
Hey all you kids, please bring your backpacks with you to church this Sunday.  We are going to bless them and you as you are about to begin school.  You will get a neat little hook on thing for your backpack too.  We want to get the whole front of church full of back packs to bless so that we can in turn bless the schools that they are3 going into. 
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The band, AVENUE OF THE SAINTS, is GOING TO BE HERE ON SUNDAY AT our 11am service!!

Come and check them out to see what good contemporary Christian music sounds like!!

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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

What a great opportunity to support a mission right here!  If you don't want to do the golf outing, but you still want to help Little Lambs just put a check in the offering plate that is specifically designated to Little Lambs.  They start school on August 16.  

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PROJECTOR SCHEDULE:  PLEASE SIGN UP!!!

Aug 11-  Mckenzie
Aug 12- 8:30- Don and Ann Panhorst                      11-
 
Aug 18- Perricone
Aug 19- 8:30-  Julie Schaumberg                     11-
 
Aug 25- Pam
Aug 26- 8:30-                       11- Mckenzie
 
Sept 1- Perricone
Sept 2- 8:30-                        11-
 
Sept 8- Mckenzie
Sept 9- 8:30-  Denise                      11-
 
Sept 15- Pam
Sept 16- 8:30- Julie S                       11-
 
Sept 22- Pam
Sept 23- 8:30-                       11- Perricone
 
Sept 29- Mckenzie
Sept 30- 8:30-                       11-
 
Oct 6- Perricone
Oct 7- 8:30- Denise                          11-
 
Oct 13- Pam
Oct 14- 8:30-                         11-
 
Oct 20- Perricone
Oct 21- 8:30-  Julie S.                        11- Mckenzie
 
Oct 27- Mckenzie
Oct 28- 8:30-                          11-
 
Nov. 3- Pam
Nov. 4-  8:30- Denise                          11- Perricone
 
Nov. 10- Perricone
Nov. 11- 8:30-                         11-
 
Nov. 17- Mckenzie
Nov. 18- 8:30-  Julie S.                       11-
 
Nov. 24- Mckenzie 
Nov. 25- 8:30-                         11- Perricone
 
Dec. 1- Perricone
Dec. 2- 8:30- Denise                          11-
 
Dec. 5- (Midweek Advent 1) Mckenzie
 
Dec. 8- Pam
Dec. 9- 8:30-                            11-
 
Dec. 12- (Midweek Advent 2) Mckenzie
 
Dec. 15- Perricone
Dec. 16- 8:30- Julie S.                          11-
 
Dec. 19- (Midweek Advent 3)  mckenzie
 
Dec. 22- Pam
Dec. 23- 8:30-  Mckenzie                        11-
 
Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)  7pm    Mckenzie                        11pm- Perricone
Dec. 25 (Christmas day) 9am

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PRAYERS:   

For thanksgiving for PAUL TOEDEBUSCH as his checkup showed no cancer yesterday.

 

For thanksgiving for MY MOM, as she went home from the hospital on Sat afternoon.

 

For JIM RAHN as he recovers from surgery.

 

For FARMERS AND MANY OTHERS WHO DEPEND ON WATER FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD, as they all deal with this severe drought.

 

FOR KEN WAGNER as he is recovering well at Delmar Gardens from a broken hip.

 

For DOLORES DEBLAZE who continues to deal with treatments for cancer.

 

For GENE SIEBOLD as he recovers from all of his cancer treatments as they are done, and as he awaits the results of those treatments to see if they did the trick.
 

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he is struggling with his chemotherapy.

 

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is continuing her therapy at Troy Nursing Home.