I thank God for so many of you who over the years have done and said things to help me in my ministry and just in my life as a pastor, father, and fellow Christian. I look with great fondness on many of you, my great friends, for how you have treated me over these last 11 years. I am truly grateful for all of the wonderful people here at St. John's in Warrenton. You know who you are.
When I think of you, I pray for you just like Paul prayed for Onesiphorus here in this passage today. Onesiphorus cared very deeply for Paul. Maybe it was because Paul was the first one to share the Gospel with him. Maybe because Paul was just a good friend to him before. Maybe it was just because Onesiphorus was a good Christian man who took the Lord's teachings to heart and did what the Lord God called him to do.
I want to be like Onesiphorus. I want people to think well of me like Paul thought of him. I want to be the one who cares for people when no one else wants to. Don't you?
This is the way we should be teaching our kids. We should teach them to be like Onesiphorus not just with our words but with our actions. We should show our children, and all of our fellow Christians for that matter, how to be a Christian in this dark and sinful world, so that the light of Christ will shine in that darkness so that more and more will hear of and believe in the love of Christ.
Prayer: Lord God, teach me to be like Onesiphorus so that others may be refreshed and strengthened by You through me. Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Titus? He was a friend of Paul who accompanied him on at least one of his mission trips. He started the Christian church on the island of Crete.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Why did Alexander the metalworker oppose Paul?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Why must we firmly hold to this teaching of justification by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith?
Answer: We must firmly hold to this teaching because
a. it is the most important doctrine of the Christian religion;
b. it distinguishes the Christian religion from false religions, which teach a salvation by works.
c. it gives enduring comfort to the penitent sinner;
d. it gives glory to God for His grace and mercy in Christ.
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CALENDAR
Wed- Supper 5:30; worship 6:30; choir practice 7:15
Thurs- Giving Tree Gift Recipients come to get their gifts in afternoon
Fri- Giving Tree gift recipients come to get their gifts in the morning.
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; AVENUE OF THE SAINTS (Christmas Special) 11am
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NEWS
AVENUE OF THE SAINTS WILL BE HERE THIS SUNDAY AT 11AM!!!
Come, hear and sing some great Christmas music with Bill Rowe and Corey Tobias!!
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PLENTY OF WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS!!!!
Wed, Dec. 19, at 6:30pm- Come and hear Alaina Heitgerd and Gus Klaustermeier play Christmas music on piano with Barb Dreyer, hear the choir sing two wonderful Christmas songs, and find out all about the New Heaven and New Earth!!
Sat, Dec. 22 at 5pm- Come and hear all about the magnification of the Lord through Mary and through us and sing some wonderful Christmas songs!!
Sun, Dec. 23 at 8:30 or 11am- Come and hear all about the magnification of the Lord through Mary and through us and sing some wonderful Christmas songs!!
Mon, Dec. 24 at 7pm- Celebrate the Nativity with many carols, hear the choir, and find out what it means that God so loved the WORLD that He sent His only Son at Christmas.
Tues, Dec 25, at 9am- Sing MORE Christmas songs and find out what the WORD, that John speaks of is all about.
There is no excuse for not being in worship at least once (if not three different times) within the next seven days! Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn King!!
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ADVENT DINNER AND WORSHIP TOMORROW, DECEMBER 19
SUPPER 5:30
WORSHIP at 6:30!!!
If your elder is Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, or Steve Robine please bring two of the following: vegetable, salad, or dessert. Don't forget that worship is at 6:30, a half hour earlier this year!!!
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CHOIR PRACTICE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:15. EVERYONE IS STILL WELCOME TO JOIN US!! We need sopranos!!
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CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE
Christmas is only a month and a half away. Time to get those Christmas cards! Where can you get good Christian ones? how about downstairs at church? They are in the display case! Stop by and pick some up! You can pay Marilyn in the office.
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HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts. If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online.
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PRAYERS:
For the community of Newtown, Connecticut that the good news of Christ's salvation might have free course during this most difficult time and that all will find comfort in the salvation won for all mankind in Christ Jesus.
For the family and friends of CLAIRE BLASE, as they mourn her loss.
For BETH RITTER, daughter of Dave and Carol Kohrs, who is in ICU with many complications from an unknown illness.
For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.
For SANDRA PERRICONE'S SISTER, KAREN, as she continues to deal with her heart issues.
For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength very slowly as she is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.
For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .
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