Monday, May 8, 2014

DEVOTION:  In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria.  He settled then in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.  The Story, 219
 
In one moment, in on verse the whole history of the Israelites changed.  They went from being a sovereign nation to being captives in Assyria.  It went that fast, a traitor, an invasion, and a kill and capture.  What I often think about is the kids in that situation.  What was life like for them?  It is hard to even think about.  They went from playing in their backyard to becoming slaves in a distant land due to circumstances and trouble that they had nothing to do with. 
 
Sometimes our lives are like that.  Everything is going just fine, we are living our lives and enjoying what God has given us. All of a sudden something, beyond our control and due to nothing directly of our fault, our lives are turned upside down.  It can be devastating and life ending when these things take place. 
 
It is at these times in our life, when we can't rely on our circumstances or ourselves, that we can and should and must rely on God and His Word to us.  His promises are eternal and everlasting.  When everything else in the world changes, His Word does not change.  When everything else is going wrong, God's Word is right!  When there is trouble all around, God's Word provides the safety security and peace you need. 
 
How does God's Word do such a thing?  It does it because it is the truth.  It is living and active!  It doesn't return to Him void.  It will perform what God sent it out to do!
 
Prayer: Lord God, bless us as we go through the challenges and troubles of this life with the certainty and power of Your Word and life.  Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: How did Elijah eat in the wilderness when he ran away from Ahab?  The first time he was fed by God as He sent ravens to him with bread and meat.  The second time he sent an angel who had some sort of "angel food cake".  (It's a joke)

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was the king of Assyria during the siege and capture of Samaria?

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CALENDAR:

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; 7-12 grade youth leave at 6pm for bowling and lazer tag.

Wed- Choir 7; JUNE NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- WORK DAY AT CHURCH 8-noon; Bible study 4; worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school and VOTER'S MEETING 9:45; worship 11; Fellowship gathering at Schirrs 7pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Zoe Pezold  11- Jacob WInn
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean Up-- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp 11- Josh and Angie Scott
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30- Steve McDowell;  11am- Jacob Nagel
8:30 Ushers- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze
Projectors- Sat- Pam Bueltmann, 8:30- Julie Schaumberg, 11- Sam Johnson
Sat pianist- Barb Dreyer
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NEWS:

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL COMMONS AT 7PM ON THURSDAY.

All graduating seniors and their families are encouraged to attend.  Everyone is invited. 

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TRUSTEES HAVE SCHEDULED A WORK DAY FOR THIS SATURDAY, MAY 17 BEGINNING AT 8am!!!
List of projects:
1. finishing trim on front door
2. Fixing partition between overflow and sanctuary
3. Addressing drainage issues
4. Painting
5. Other
They have also established a volunteer list.  Id you wish to tackle a project at another time, see the list posted on the bulletin board across from church office.
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VOTER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45!!!

Come and hear about the many things we are working on and the progress and growth the church is experiencing!

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T-SHIRTS FOR SALE!!!

Wonderful blaze orange t-shirts are for sale for $10 a piece to help support our board of outreach and evangelism's efforts and to raise money to provide for those in need.  Pick up your size today and put your $10 in the box provided!!!  They are located in the narthex (entry way) of church upstairs.

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THE STORY: CHAPTER 16 "The Beginning of the End of the Kingdom of Israel" IS THIS WEEK!!!

Read all about the downfall of Israel which is the direct result of their sins of idolatry. 

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JUST A FEW SPACES LEFT IN THE THREE YEAR OLD LITTLE LAMBS CLASS FOR NEXT YEAR!!

The four year old class is full and there is a waiting list that people can get on if they wish. 

 

The three year old class still has several spaces available.  If you know of someone or you would like to get your own child in to this class please call the church office asap!!! 

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TWO GROUP TRAVEL EVENTS COMING UP THIS YEAR!!
October 4--A DAY IN ST. LOUIS--  We will tour places that are hidden gems in St. Louis
 
December 6-- CATHOLIC RECTORY IN HERMANN AND POSSIBLY A CHRISTMAS SHOW IN OSAGE BEACH
 
Let Marilyn know if you are interested in either of these trip so she can make definite plans.
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PASTOR NEEDS SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE ACROSS KANSAS!!
I will be biking across part of Kansas, about 220 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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PRAYER REQUESTS:  (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)

For my mom, DEBBY KLAUSTERMEIER, as she has surgery to remove an abscess near her abdomen today.

 

A prayer of thanksgiving, as God continues to add to St. John's family.  He added STEVE AND EMILY SPEAKMAN AND ELISE MORRIS to our church yesterday! The Speakman kids were baptized in April and the Morris girls will be baptized in June.

 

For the FAMILY OF ANN NEWELL. Ann is the mother of Donna Lindsey's sister-in-law, Amy Verseman. Ann passed away on Thursday, May 8. 

 

For ED KOHRS, who is recovering from cancer surgery on his face and mouth.

 

For LIBBY PAILER, who has been dealing with bronchitis and pneumonia for several weeks now.

 

For BEN FRICK, who has also been dealing with pneumonia and weakness for the last two weeks at least.

 

For EMOGENE FRYANT, friend of Marv and Molly Hendershot, who has been place on hospice care.

 

For CHERI VERME, daughter of Lil WInter, who is suffering from severe osteoporosis and has a cracked pelvis (all the way across her pelvis) because of it.

 

For FRAN WAGNER, a good friend of Sandy Robine, who has been placed on hospice care.

 

For TRICIA MEYER, who is dealing with ovarian cancer.  She is a friend of many in our congregation.

 

For KELSEY OVERBECK as she finishes up her schooling at Concordia, Seward and moves to Warrenton to become our DCE intern. 

THOSE WITH CANCER, especially RICK SPINIOLAS, and the many others among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.