Wednesday, August 22, 2012

DEVOTION: Jeremiah 32:16-25
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.  You show love to thousands but bring punishment for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children after them.  O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.  You eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.  You perofrmed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained renown that is still yours.  You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm with great terror.  You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.  they came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do.  So you brought all this disaster upon them.  "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city.  Because of the sword, famine, and plague the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it.  What you said has happened, as you now see.  And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, you, O sovereign Lord, say to me, ' Buy the field with silver an dhave the transaction witnessed.'"
 
This is a long part of Scripture, but it shows very clearly how in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, that the city of jerusalem and nation of Israel was going to be ransacked and taken captive by Babylon, God still promised that Jeremiah would have the land after that time.  He was even supposed ot put the papers in a clay jar so that they would be around when they got back after their captivity. 
 
God promised that they would return and they did.  God promised that he would send His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and then rise from the dead.  Guess what, He did.  Every promise that God has made He has kept!  Why would we expect any different from Him when he says that He is coming again to restore all things to Himself, to make all thing snew, and to forever destroy the power of sin, death, the devil, and hell. 
 
Trust in His promises today because they are as sure as they were back in Jeremiah's day!  He always keep His promises!
 
Prayer:  Lord God, help me to trust in your promises despite my weakness and doubt.  Help me to know that you are with me always and that you will never leave me or forsake me.  Amen.

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  How was Ezekiel supposed to act when his wife died? 
Ezekiel 24:15-17  "The word of the Lord came to me:  Son of man, with one blow Iam about to take awa from you the delight of your eyes.  Yet do not lament or weep or shed
any tears.  Groan quiely; do not mourn for the dead.  Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the
customary food of mourners.

Thanks Dianne
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Where was Jeremiah imprisoned?
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CATECHISM:
Question: How has Christ redeemed you from all sin?
Answer:
a. He took my guilt and punishment upon Himself.
b. He freed me from the slavery of sin.
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CALENDAR: 
Fri- newsletter assembly 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am 
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NEWS:
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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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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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 KEN FOSTER, as Marilyn took him to the hospital this morning with severe symptoms of dizzyness and lightheadedness.

 

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 the spinal tap the ddoctors did revealed an unidentified virus.  

 

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.