DEVOTION: Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you. Acts 13:39-40
What do you want people to know about you? Do you want them to know what you like and don't like? Do you want them to know that you are a nice person and that you care about them? Do you want them to know who your family is? Do you care if people know anything about you at all? What about Jesus? Do you want them to know about Jesus in you? Do you care if people know whether or not you are a Christian?
Do you want them to know Jesus for themselves? Do you care? Sometimes we get too inwardly focused. We want what we want and we want it now. We are no different than a two year old throwing a tantrum. We want people to know all about us without telling them one thing about Jesus in us. Does that do any good? Will that matter in the life to come?
This Thanksgiving week God wants you to think about doing things and saying things for your friends and family that will make a difference in their eternal life, because you want them to know that "through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you."
Let us pray: Lord God, help me not to be shallow and self centered in my thinking, acting and speaking. Help me instead to think of the salvation and eternal life of others since I am already saved. Amen.
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: What did Peter say to the beggar when the beggar asked him for money at the temple gate called Beautiful? Silver and gold I don't have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
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MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who went with Paul on his first missionary journey?
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CALENDAR
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- QUilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Thanksgiving Eve worship 7pm
Thurs- Thanksgiving
Fri- GIVING FRIDAY (Instead of amassing more junk for yourself think about giving some of it away.)
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- ADVENT BEGINS with worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45
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GIVING TREE IS UP!!
There are 18 families who need help this Christmas. 57 kids need gifts! Come to church this Wednesday or this weekend and take an ornament or two!
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THE STORY: AN EXCITING NEW EXPERIENCE FOR OUR WHOLE CONGREGATION!!
What is it? THE STORY is a book compiled and written by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee, which takes sections of the Bible and divides it up into 31 chapters and adds commentary and study notes to it. The best way to describe it is to call it a Reader's Digest condensed version of the Bible. It is not split up into chapters and verses but reads more like a novel, and it doesn't include every bit of the Bible, but most of the main sections and stories.
How will it work? As a family and as individual members of the congregation you will each get a copy of the book. There are different versions for adults, teens, older elementary age and younger children. You will get these and read chapter 1 before January 5. Each week we will go through a chapter of the book in every part of the church's life: in Worship, Bible Studies, Confirmation and in the Home for personal devotions.
Why are we doing this? This is a great opportunity for all of us to read through the Bible TOGETHER in 31 weeks and for us to all literally be on the same page. The materials are excellent. It is a fantastic way for us to grow together as a church and or us to reach out to the community with the Gospel!
What about special weeks like Holy Week and Easter? We will take several weeks off throughout these eight months, one for Life Sunday in January, one for Easter and another two or three when I am going to be gone for Spring Break and other vacations. A specific schedule will be coming out in the next week or so.
How do we get the books? Each adult will be asked to buy a book for $6. A table will be set up in the narthex to buy them before and after services for the next several weeks or you can call Marilyn in the office at 456-2888 to purchase your during the week.
What about the kids? All children will receive a copy that is age appropriate courtesy of the Janet Wagner fund. There will be a table set up for the next several weeks for adults to buy books. Kids will get theirs in Sunday school .
What kind of help is needed to make this a success? We have several volunteers already to sell books, but could use a few more to sell before and after services until everyone who wants a copy of the book has one. I would also like someone, a man or a woman, who would be willing to lead a study of it during the week.
Can I order books for family members who are not members? There will also be an order form for those of you who want to buy books for your children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES WILL FLUCTUATE ON FUTURE ORDERS DUE TO PRICE CHANGES WITH BOOK DISTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHING HOUSES.
Where can I go to get more info? Please go to www.thestory.com for more info.
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THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP AT 7PM WEDNESDAY
There will be no Thanksgiving Day worship.
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ST. JOHN'S WILL HELP OPERATION BACKPACK WITH PEANUT BUTTER
You may have read in the Warrenton Record that Operation Backpack is in desperate need of food items.
Operation Backpack is a program that provides food for needy children on weekends. Most of these kids are able to get reduced or free breakfast and lunch at school daily, but since there is no school on weekends they often don't have enough food to make it through the weekend. The food gets brought to a central location and then disbursed to the most needy of children in our area schools. It is done discreetly without any other kids knowing about it.
A few Warrenton area churches have teamed up to provide the food. Each church is taking a different food item (kind of like we used to do for the Ditty bags for soldiers).
St. John's is in charge of peanut butter.
Please bring jars of peanut butter to church within the next two weeks so we can get them to the kids who need them asap. Any jars of peanut butter will do as long as they can comfortably fit in a backpack
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