Wednesday, October 31, 2012

DEVOTION:  (from Lutheran Hour Ministries)
God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:8-9

South Dakota's 50-year-old Eric Robert was not a nice man.

Robert was in prison for kidnapping. After serving five years of an 80-year sentence, he and another inmate came up with a plan to escape. It was not a nice plan. Robert caught unsuspecting guard Ron Johnson, beat him with a pipe, fractured his skull, then covered his face in a plastic bag to stop him from breathing or calling out. Robert hid the body, put on the guard's uniform, and tried to walk out of the prison, with his partner hidden on a cart.

Robert was caught, tried and sentenced to be executed. By the time you read this, that sentence has been carried out. The South Dakota Supreme Court approved the sentence, and Governor Dennis Daugaard declined to intervene. His was a decision I can understand.

Oh, there is something else Governor Daugaard didn't do. He didn't suggest one of his three children, or his grandchild, should be executed in place of Eric Robert. No rational man would sacrifice the life of his child to save that of a kidnapper, a murderer like Eric Robert.

Still, God's invincible love and His incredible grace had Jesus become one of us. This Jesus accomplished when He, according to prophecy, was born of a virgin in Bethlehem.

The rest of the Savior's life was spent fulfilling God's laws and resisting Satan's temptations. Then, having done all which had been asked of Him, Jesus took up our sins and died the death which we had deserved.

The Innocent died for the guilty.

Now, all who are called by the Holy Spirit to faith in the Savior are freely forgiven and are released from the condemnation of eternal death.

Almost 500 years ago this was the wonderful Scriptural truth that was rediscovered by the Reformer Martin Luther. His bold proclamation based on Scripture alone changed the world, even as it changed the faith and eternal residence of millions.

But Luther is gone. In his place is us. Now it is our time to tell this dark, dying world that Jesus alone is the only Way that leads to heaven. Jesus alone is the only Truth, which can be trusted. Jesus alone is the Savior, who gives eternal life to those who believe.

By God's grace may we tell the story clearly and tell it well, for the eternal future of the hearers is dependent upon their having faith in the grace of God, which offers a love we cannot understand, a grace beyond what we would extend to anyone else.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may the reformation of humankind's hearts continue on. May we all see, appreciate and believe that we are saved by grace alone, by faith alone, as shown through Scripture alone. In Jesus' Name, I ask it. Amen. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ:  What did Jesus say to Jairus's daughter?  talithah koumi   "Little girl, I say to you, get up"  Thank you Doug and Dianne
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WEDNESAY'S QUIZ:  Who was the king when Jesus was crucified?
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CATECHISM:
Question:  Whom else does the Holy Spirit regenerate and renew?
Answer:  He "calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith."
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CALENDAR: 
Wed- All Hallows Eve Chili and hot dog supper 5pm; Trunk or Treat 6-8
Thurs- Visitation for Charlie Smith at Martin funeral home 4-8pm
Fri- funeral at 11am (burial immediately to follow)

Sat- Ladies Aid luncheon, craft, and bake sale 9am-1pm; worship 5pm

Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am

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NEWS:

"All Hallows Eve Chili & Hot Dog Supper" AND "Trunk or Treat"  TONIGHT!!

 

Supper at 5pm   Trunk or Treating 6-8pm

 

1.  WE NEED TRUNKS!!!  We need people to sign up to take up a parking spot for our TRUNK or TREAT!!  Call the office to reserve your spot!!!  456-2888 

 

2.  WE NEED PUMPKINS!!!  There is a pumpkin carving/decorating contest that night.  3 prize ribbons will be awarded for carved pumpkins that are brought to church ON Wed. Oct. 31 by 4 PM.  The will be for:  1.  The funniest    2.  The scariest    3.  The best

 

They will be used for centerpieces on the dinner tables!!  You may take your pumpkins home with you after the event ends at 8 PM.

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SPECIAL CHOIR FORMING FOR THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS

Molly Hendershot has graciously volunteered to lead/direct a choir to sing on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas.  Practice will start this coming Wednesday at 6:30pm.  Please call her to let her know you will be joining this special choir.  636-488-5751

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LADIES AID LUNCHEON, CRAFT, AND BAKE SALE THIS SATURDAY 9am-1pm

We will have a variety of baked goods and a variety of crafts, as well as greeting cards and kitchen cutlery for sale.  We will serve soup, chili, hot dogs, chicken salad sandwiches and home made pie from 9am - 1 pm.

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20-30 YEAR OLD POTLUCK THIS SATURDAY AT 6pm

All those who have graduated from high school all the way through their early 30s are invited to join us for an evening of fellowship and food after church Saturday night!!!  Just bring a dish to share.  We will have fried chicken as the main course!  Please RSVP asap so I know how much chicken to order!!! 

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CHRISTMAS PROGRAM IS BEING PRACTICED EVERY WEEK AT SUNDAY SCHOOL FROM NOW UNTIL THE PROGRAM

Hey kids and families!!!  If you want to participate in the Christmas program then you need to be at Sunday school.  The program was introduced this past Sunday, and will be practiced every Sunday during Sunday school opening from now until the day of the program. 

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OPERATION BACKPACK NEEDS MORE FOOD

This food gets put in children's backpacks on Friday afternoon before they go home for the weekend.  Kids are able to get breakfast and lunch every day of the week, but often have to go without food on weekends.  Please provide for our kids.  There is a coolection box in the preschool room.

single serve sizes of cereal

oatmeal (instant packets)

hot chocolate mix

juice box

peanut butter

jelly (squeezable bottle)

soup

spaghettios or beefaroni

mac and cheese

corn

green beans

granola bars

fruit snacks

pudding cups

raisin boxes

applesauce cups

fruit cups

cereal bars

pretzels

individually wrapped crackers and cookies

bread  

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VENDOR FAIR--- CHRISTMAS MARKET

 

Little Lambs is hosting a Vendor Fair on Saturday, December 1 from 8am-2pm.
 
This is for all of those folks who have home based (part time businesses) like Avon, Scentsy, tupperware etc. 
 
First come, first reserve-- no duplicate vendors please.
 
$20 per booth/table  (tables provided)
 
All proceeds go to building fund. 
 
Please contact Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier at 456-2888 ext. 4  or email at lrausch@centurytel.net or karin.klaustermeier@hotmail.com
 
 
This is a great opportunity to get gifts for Christmas or to make a little extra cash to buy those gifts

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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS PATRIOT PACKAGES
As we all know, our military forces are still spread throughout the world.  Many of our loved ones are deployed and arond the world and on bases throughout our own country.  Ptriot Packages, formerly known as G4U "Goodies for You" is a small yet effective way that we can care for all those men and women in a very real and practical way.  A group of people get together once a month to fill care packages to send out.  These packages have very specific items that these soldiers request, that are scarce or nonexistent where they are. 

 

What they need from us is money so that they can buy the specific items they need.  As always, make checks payable to St. John's and in the memo line write "patriot Packages".  Also, as always, this should be above and beyond your regular offerings.

 

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PRAYERS: 

For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CHARLIE SMITH as he passed away Sunday evening.

 

For BARB DREYER'S DAD as he is dealing with many physical illnesses and weaknesses and her mother as she cares for him.

 

For ALLAN DREYER'S AUNT LORENA.  She is back at Whispering Pines and recovering well.

  

For LIL WINTER as she is doing rehabilitation as Delmar Gardens in OFallon. .

 

For DON TURNURE who is recovering well from hip replacement surgery.

 

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she is recovering well from pneumonia at Delmar Gardens in OFallon.

 

For PEGGY TALBERT as she recovers from severe esophagus issues and is still not feeling well.  (A hiatal hernia and esophagitis) 

 

For WALT SCHIRR, as recovers from surgery to take care of his vertigo and balance problems.

  

For GENE SIEBOLD who is recovering from pneumonia at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield.

 

For JEANETTE KOEHLER, who is recovering at Troy Nursing Home from an amputaed toe.

 

 For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER.  She has a very rare spine condition, which has resulted in a spinal fluid leak. They are trying for the 2nd time to do a "blood patch" to stop the leak. Yesterdays try was unsuccessful and they are going to try again today. The only specialist in the US that treats these conditions is out of town until next week, the doctor that is caring for her has only done 1 of these before.

 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who fell out of his tree stand while deer hunting on Saturday and broke his sternum and many ribs.  He has many things wrong with him and is in critical condition in the hospital.

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For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH as she recovers from a very bad infection and as she continues to deal with very bad rheumatoid arthritis and other health troubles. 

 

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he has begun a new chemotherapy treatment.

  
For ED, neighbor to the Fosters, who found out he has cancer. 
 

For STEVE, a friend of Tony and Sandra Perricone, who is a husband, and a father of 2 and is undergoing tests for fluid on the brain.

 

For JOSIAH TULEY, great nephew of DIANNE HANCE'S friend Cindy Schwada.  Josiah is recovering well (the tumor was benign) and he may be getting to go home from the hospital soon.  He had a stroke because of the tumor and is still working on regaining control of some of his movements.