Tuesday, August 21, 2012

DEVOTION: 
At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.  So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord."
Ezekiel 24:27
 
Are you a sign to them?  Do they know that He is the Lord? 
 
The other day, I was watching a father with his son and I was amazed at the love that the father had for his child.  He hugged him.  He watched over him.  He spoke to him.  He told him that he loved him.  I was in awe that God's love could show itself in such an obvious way. 
 
People who deny the love of God have no explanation of the love that a parent has for a child or the love a husband has for his wife.  Oh, they might have some sort of selfish or physical and scientific explanation for it, but these explanations always fall short. 
 
As Christians we are signs to others that there is a God who loves us and cares for us, and that He is the Lord.  We are examples of Christ's love to everyone around us.  Our basic reason for existence is to show the love of Christ in everything we say and do. 
 
Are you a sign to them?  Do they know that he is the Lord through you?  If not it is time to turn from your shortcoming and failures, ask the Lord for forgiveness and think about how you can be a better example of Christ's love!  Do it today!
 
Prayer:  Lord God, give me the strength, courage, and willfulness to be an example of your love in all of my relationships starting with those closest to me.  Amen.

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  How was Ezekiel supposed to act when his wife died? 
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CATECHISM:
Question: From what has Christ redeemed you?
Answer: He has redeemed me "from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil."
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CALENDAR: 
Tues- Little Lambs 3 year olds start; Quilters 9am-2pm
Fri- newsletter assembly 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am 
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NEWS:
PRAYER MEETING STARTING NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 at 6:30pm!!!
It will be a very simple time to lift each other up, and to lift up our church in prayer.  We will be gin with a devotion, have discussion about the situations and people that need our prayer, pray for them and go home refreshed and knowing that our Lord God is with us and caring for our needs. 
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HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!
As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone.  CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.)  What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity. 
 
Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
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SAVE THE DATE:   Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat

Immanuel Lutheran St. Charles invites you and your spouse along with other married couples throughout the Missouri District to the Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat on  Oct. 12-13, 2012.  It is an updated regional adaptation of the former LCMS MO. District "Strands" weekend. It is designed for Christian Couples to get away from daily distractions, spend quality time together, rekindle romance, and celebrate our partnerships (with your Spouse, with Christ and with the other Christian Couples attending). The event will start with a "Meet and Greet" and build up to an "Old Fashioned Church Hall Wedding Reception"(Remember your special day?). Check out more details on Immanuel's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/d2tc3u8.

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Projectors NEEDED for this weekend!!!
I still need people to sign up for the projector.  Here are the openings for the next few weeks:
Aug 26 8:30-                    11am-
 
Sept 2- 8:30-                    11am-
 
Sept 9- 11am-
 
Sept 16-  11am-
 
Sept 23- 8:30-     
 
Sept 30- 8:30-                    11am-
 
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LUAU COMING UP THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 beginning at 5:30pm
Get a babysitter and bring your wife or husband on a date!!  Come to the Schirr's house and enjoy some good food, some drinks, some good company, and relax.  $12 per person.    Payment should be made to Betty Schirr.  21 years old and older invited.
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JUNIOR HIGH KIDS GOING ROLLER SKATING THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 from 2-5pm!!!

Call Donna Sherman at 456-4224 to let her know you are planning on coming and if you can drive.  Bring $5 for skates and any extra money you want to bring for snacks.  The group will leave together from church at 1:15.  BRING FRIENDS!!!! 

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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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PRAYERS:

 

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she continues to deal with her cancer.  She is in quite a bit of pain.

 

For MARY OFSTHUN, former member of St. John's, as she mourns the loss of her daughter. 

 

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as she is dealing with an unidentified illness.

 

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery.

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke.   

 

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke.  She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

 

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

 

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she reocvers from vascular surgery to relieve pain and help with circulation in her foot and as she works hard to get back home.

 

For GENE SIEBOLD as he awaits the results of his cancer treatments as they are completed. 

 

For ALL OF OUR FARMERS AND ALL WHO DEPEND ON THE LAND AND ON RAIN, that God would provide for their needs even during this drought.