Wednesday, May 7, 2014

DEVOTION: He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  "I have had enough, Lord," he said.  "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.  The Story, p. 207
 
Sometimes life gets the best of us, and all we want to do is lie down and die.  When you lose a loved one, when you ruin a relationship, when you find out you have a terrible illness, when you lose your job, and in so many other instances, life just doesn't seem worth living anymore.  You just want to quit fighting and leave it all behind. 
 
Imagine Elijah.  He was sent by God to proclaim judgment upon King Ahab.  He did what he was supposed to do and Ahab rejected him.  Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal in a standoff and instead of surrendering to the will of the Lord, Ahab and Jezebel doubled down and vowed to hunt down and kill Elijah.  Elijah couldn't win.  He ran away, went a day's journey into the wilderness, and sat down under a tree exhausted and done.  He was simply ready to die. 
 
That's when the Lord stepped in.  He sent an angel to wake Elijah up and feed him with both physical and spiritual food.  He wouldn't let him quit, but instead gave him everything he needed to make it the rest of the way.  The Holy Spirit literally became Elijah's strength and power. 
 
Maybe you are at that point yourself.  Maybe you have been beaten down by the world and even by your own sin and failures.  Maybe you just want to lay down and die.  It is at these times that the saying is true, "When we are weak then He is strong."  When we are broken and just plain done then the Lord God has free course to take over and make His power known.  Then He can really get to work in your life and do some amazing things. 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, break us so that you can do Your will in and through us.  Amen.

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ  What did Elijah do (or have done) to the prophets of Baal?  He had them seized and killed.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Ahab's wife name and where did she come from?
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Jonesburg NH worship 10:30; Choir 7
Sat- Basement reserved 10-3; Bible study 4; worship 5
Sun- Mother's Day; worship 8:30; Sunday school and Bible class 9:45; worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch  11- John Pezold
Altar guild- Set up- Linda Callies; Clean Up- John and Joanne Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- Coleen Bottorff 11- Joan Sexton
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Talbert; 8:30- Rich Boeger; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Tim Linke;  11am- Ian Brunson
8:30 Ushers- Scott Heitgerd, Tom Linke, Alex Heitgerd, Bob Linke
Projectors- Sat- Pam Bueltmann, 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Emily Brunson
Sat pianist- Kathy Barrow
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NEWS:
MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8am!!
Come for the great food:  biscuits, sausage gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit!!
 
Stay for the Bible study and fellowship!!
 
Please let me know if you are coming!!
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FALL MEN'S RETREAT IS SET
WHEN:  Friday- Sunday SEPT. 26-28
WHERE: Mark Twain Lake at Si Colburn Group Camp
WHAT: The theme is "Amazing Grace"
HOW MUCH: $45 for registration, housing, food, and attendance prizes; $30 for golf, $15 if you want to stay up there Thursday night; everything else on your own
Accommodations:  Group cabins, (if you are a light sleeper you may want ear plugs or you may want to bring your camper/tent), You can also rent a room at the hotel in town about 5 miles away.
Please let me know of your desire to attend. 
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TRUSTEES HAVE SCHEDULED A WORK DAY FOR SATURDAY, MAY 17!!!
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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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 15 "God's Messengers" IS THIS WEEK!!!

It is the stories of Elijah and Elisha and how they were given the task of proclaiming God's judgment upon the Kings of Israel. 

 

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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 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.