Wed. Mar. 5 , 2014

 
DEVOTION: Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, "We are witnesses.  May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel.  May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.  Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."
 
This is quite a blessing.  I don't think we do that enough anymore.  We don't bless people.  Oh, we say things like, "I will pray for you". or "God bless you.", but we don't bless people.  Instead, too often, we curse.  We criticize.  We bring others down in order that we might, in some way, lift ourselves up. 
 
I like that this blessing was part of a witness.  The elders witnessed Boaz doing something very good, very special, something that was directly from the hand of God.  Boaz was doing the right thing.  He was taking care of Ruth and her whole family.  he was doing the upstanding gentlemanly thing.  That deserves a blessing!
 
So often we talk about the way the world is going as though we weren't part of it.  We talk about it as though we had no part in it.  We need to have a bigger part, and that includes living like Ruth and Boaz, doing the right thing!  We also need to honor and lift up those who are doing the right thing, especially our young people.  If we want to turn this nation and our own community around we need to be good examples and honor others that are good examples. 
 
Let's be about blessing people today, especially on this Ash Wednesday.  Let's turn from our sins and turn to God so that He can lift us up!
 
Prayer:  Lord God, forgive our sins, give us peace, and help us to bless others who are doing Your will and living in Your grace.  Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who were the two sons of Naomi? Mahlon and Kilion

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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What is a kinsman (guardian) redeemer?

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CALENDAR:

Wed- ASH WEDNESDAY!!  Jonesburg Nursing Home worship 10:30; Warrenton manor worship 1pm; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15pm

Thurs- Alzheimer's Support Group 1pm
Sat- Bible class 4pm; worship 5pm; Set clocks ahead 1 hr for daylight savings time
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible Class (The Story Chapter 9); Elder's meeting noon; Widow's Group at Whispering Pines noon; H.S. Bible Study 5pm at China House Buffet
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30- George Pezold; 11- Jacob Nagel
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean up- Joanne Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- Tim and Kathleen Sherman; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- Lois Boeger;  11am- Jacob Nagel
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
8:30 Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure

Projectors- Sat- Perricones; Sun- McKenzie, 11- Sam Johnson
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NEWS:

ASH WEDNESDAY IS TONIGHT!!!!   Make plans to attend SUPPER at 5:30 and Worship at 6:30!!!
 
Our theme is "Forgiveness and Peace in the Psalms"
 
Come for supper!  Our jr and sr hi youth are hosting the dinners!!  All proceeds go to help the youth help others and be witnesses to the world! 
 
Menu:  Fried chicken and all the fixin's on Ash Wednesday!

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CHILDREN'S EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The Children’s Education Initiative is seeking to place an amendment on the November ballot that would allow people to receive a Missouri state tax credit for donations made to nonprofit corporations that provide funds to improve programs in public school districts, provide scholarships for students to attend parochial K-12 schools, or support special education services for children.

Our first task is to gain sufficient signatures to place the amendment on the ballot for voters to decide.  More information and particulars about the amendment are available at www.ceimissouri.org or www.mo.lcms.org.   This is a great way to provide tax credits to individuals and companies while enhancing the K-12 education of children in Missouri.  Our Lutheran schools would use the foundation monies to provide financial assistance to families, thereby making our Lutheran schools accessible for more children.

     More information will be shared on March 9th.  If you are a registered voter, please stop by the table in the Welcome Center in the following weeks to sign the petition.  You are not voting for the amendment but simply placing it on the ballot so that you and other voters can decide in November.   

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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT IS OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES!!!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee.  Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.  Enrollment for the community will begin April 1.  For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
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CHRISTIAN FAMILY SKATE DAY AT SKATE QUEST IN MONTGOMERY CITY ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6!!
I would like to gather as many FAMILIES together to go roller skating on Sunday, April 6.  If we get 20 people or more we can get a group rate of just $5 per skater. 
 
We would all meet there around 1pm and skate as long as we want! 
 
Let me know if you want to participate!!!
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PASTOR NEEDS SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE ACROSS KANSAS!!
I will be biking across part of Kansas, about 250 miles in all, on June 7-9 to raise money for Leadachild.org.  Lead a Child is a LCMS recognized service organization that provides funding for kids to attend schools, many of them Christian schools, in third world countries.  It has provided A LOT for ministries and missions to help kids who would otherwise have NO EDUCATION in places like Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico, and many other places.  Please consider supporting me so that we can continue to support children throughout the world!  As of January 1, I am also on the board of directors for this organization.
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THIS WEEK:  THE STORY: CHAPTER 9  "The Faith of a Foreign Woman"
Come to Bible Study on Saturday night at 4pm or Sunday morning at 9:45 to get all your questions answered and to learn more about Ruth and why she is so important to us today.
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 10 ST. JOHN'S KIDS AND 5 OF THEIR FRIENDS PARTICIPATED IN THE 30 HOUR FAMINE IS THIS WEEKEND!!!
 
If you see the following kids around town or at church tell them you want to donate to the 30 Hour Famine Fundraiser:  Or you can call pastor at 636-359-1061 or stop by church to donate.   ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO FEED STARVING CHILDREN AND HELP PEOPLE SUSTAIN THEIR OWN WAY OF LIVING THROUGH FARMING, EARNING A LIVING, OR FINDING CLEAN WATER SOURCES!!
Cara Klaustermeier
Isabella Linstruth
Ian Brunson
Emily Brunson
Shawn Jaeger
Siera Jaeger
Sam Johnson
Austin Heitgerd
Kailyn Blechle
Conner Figura
 
Make checks payable to "World Vision"

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HELP FOR PARENTS TO GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE STORY
A big part of The Story experience is that the whole family grows together in it as each person in the family reads it, you will all literally be on the same page.  yet, it may be hard to get discussion going or to help you get started together.   Are you looking for a way to connect with your kids as they and you read The Story together?  There's help!
 
If you click the link below you will find parent pages for all age groups that you can use to connect with your kids at least once a week.  Whenever your "together" time is, make it productive.  It is a .pdf file of parent pages that goes from lesson one all the way through 31.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  I think they are excellent!! 
https://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501196/the_story_parentpages_weeks1_31.pdf?r=1438

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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)

 

For PAUL a friend of Dianne Hance, who had a stroke and underwent serious surgery yesterday.

WENDELL AND MARY ANN ROEHRS who lost their home in a fire this past Friday night.
 
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

JAYME VESSEL, an "almost" member of St. John's who is due to have a baby girl on the 17th, but it may come sooner due to frequent contractions.

COUGAR CLIFFORD, 15 year old who had an accident playing in the snow on Jan 7 and broke his neck.  He has undergone extensive surgery and is recovering but is still unable to move his legs.  
 
JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, as he continues to deal with cancer in his lungs.
 
DONNA HEITGERD recovering at Scott and Lani Heitgerd's from a broken hip.