Daily Devotion: Tuesday, September 16, 2014

DEVOTION:  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  Hebrews 10:24-25
 
Did you know that this weekend has been deemed by some to be National Back to Church weekend? 
 
You may say, I don't need to get "back to church".  I'm in church every weekend. 
 
I always have to remind myself that when I write this daily email devotion I am usually preaching to the choir.  By that I mean that most if not all of you who read this are quite faithful in your worship and in your service to God.  You are the ones who are tithing.  You are the ones who are in worship every weekend.  You are the ones who are on the boards and committees.  You are the ones who are doing things without even being asked like putting the numbers up on the hymn boards ever week, filling the creamers containers for the coffee,  recording the worship service, setting up communion, and I could go on and on. 
 
You don't do this because you are better than anyone else.  You don't do it to get recognition or to be noticed (although rest assured I notice you and God notices you).  You do it because you love your Jesus and you love His church.  You do it because you have been blessed by God with His gifts of mercy and grace in your life and you just have been moved to serve others.  You find joy in your service, not because what you do is something great or no one else would ever think of doing it, but because the Holy Spirit has filled you with his joy and peace.  He has filled you to overflowing so that His love moves on to the rest of the congregation and even out into the community.  In other words, to put it very simply, YOU GET IT!
 
The trick now is to get that love, that mercy and grace, that peace that passes all understanding to those who don't get it.  We need to "stir up one another to love and good works"  We need to be "encouraging one another!"
 
Is there someone you are missing from the fellowship of the church and from his worship?  Maybe they've been gone for a few weeks or maybe quite a few years.  Maybe they had a bad experience with the church or were even offended by someone.  Maybe it was even the pastor.  Maybe now is the time to have that tough conversation that God has been stirring up in you.  Maybe they just need a little nudge.  Maybe they have been thinking about returning to the fellowship of the church for some time but just haven't gotten up the courage or they simply don't have someone to sit with them. 
 
Whatever the case, you are the ones that the writer of Hebrews is speaking to today when he says, these words.  Or maybe you need the words of Jesus instead....  Here they are "From those to whom much is given MUCH IS EXPECTED"! 
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:    What was special about Job's daughters at the end of his life?  They were more beautiful than any other women in the whole world.
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  When do most scholars think that the book of Job was written?
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; Choir 7pm; Newsletter deadline
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Bible Study 4; Worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Gus Klaustermeier  11- Devin Miller
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up-- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni; 11- Hendershots
Communion Assistants- Sat-  Rich Boeger; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Charlie Figura
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcai Sevier; 8:30- Jacob Nagel;  11am- Lynn Figura
8:30 Ushers- George Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, Ben HOelscher, Brent Davis
Projectors- Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Panhorst; 11- Zack Hoelscher
Pianists/organists Sat- Tim Sherman;  Sun- Melissa Pedersen  11am- Doug Walters
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NEWS:
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT!!
If you are on the church council you better be there!!!
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LADIES AID MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT NOON!
All women of the congregation are always welcome to attend even if just to check it out!
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GROUP BUS TRIP FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 TO TOUR THE CATHOLIC RECTORY IN HERMANN AND GO TO OSAGE BEACH FOR DINNER AND A CHRISTMAS SHOW AT MAIN STREET MUSIC HALL!!
They are in need of more people to sign up!!  If they don't get enough people the trip will have to be canceled!!  Anyone can go!
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CHURCH POTLUCK AND WORK DAY COMING UP SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 BEGINNING AT NOON!
 
Meat and cheese trays, bread, and drinks will be provided!!  Please sign up to come on the sign up sheet on the table int he narthex, and bring a dish to share!
 
Please be a part of this fun time of fellowship and work! 
 
Below are the projects that we will be working on at church
1. Dirt work in the swaile between the Linke's property and the parking lot
2. Work on the lights at the north end of the building
3. Trim bushes around church building
4. clean out storage areas by pavilion
5. narthex flooring (pull up carpet, fix subfloor, and put down new flooring)
6. cleaning projects all around church (pews, shelves, closets, etc.)
7. Write "Thinking of You" and other encouragements to soldiers, college students, and shut ins.
 
There are also some projects that we will be working on at Good Shepherd in Wright City
1. parking stops need to be lined up and pinned down to keep them from moving
2. landscaping in front of building
3. Removing weeds from playground
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A NEW YEAR OF SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS BEGUN!!
Kids ages 3-18 will be going through a new, exciting, and fun curriculum based on stories from the Scriptures!!  PLEASE GET YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TO SUNDAY SCHOOL!!!
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COME AND CHECK OUT ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!
This weekend we are taking a look at Matthew, who he has and who God made him to be. 

 

Next weekend (Sept. 28) Pastor Grund will be leading Bible study on a topic of his choice. 

 

THe week after (Oct. 4 and 5)that we will be starting a new study titled  "What is heaven like?"  This study will be based on the Scriptures first and foremost and we will talk about the glory we will experience and the face to face contact we will have with Jesus. 

 

Get out of the dark and into the light when it comes to your knowledge about paradise!  Come and get all your questions answered! 

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PRAISE BAND COULD STILL USE MORE MUSICIANS AND SINGERS!!

If you play keyboard, guitar, or drums or you like to sing those contemporary worship songs.  PLEASE COME TO PRAISE BAND PRACTICE ON TUESDAY NIGHTS AT 6PM!!!  They want you there!!

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Kelsey updates our website weekly!  Check it out!!  www.stjohnwarrenton.org

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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 Mary Aubuchon's sister, MARCILLE FORD, who is gravely ill and may be nearing the end of her life.

 

For KADELYN HUSTER recovering well from surgery.

 

For NORMAN TEMME, brother of Harold Temme and Lois Frick who was put on hospice last week and is nearing the end of his days.

 

For LIL WINTER as she is recovering from pneumonia.

 

For MARY STEMLER as she fell and suffered several cracked ribs.

 

For thanksgiving for successful surgery for LESLIE HOFFMAN who is recovering well from double knee replacement surgery.

 

For thanksgiving for PETE FRENZIA who is recovering well at home from knee replacement surgery.

 

For thanksgiving for MARILYN FOSTER'S SISTER, MARCIE,  who is recovering from surgery. They removed the mass and she is recovering well and walking without pain.  

 

For thanksgiving for MIM DUNN, as she is beginning to walk again with assistance.

 

For BILL WOOLF as he recovers from a broken ankle.  He is working with it. 

 

For ED KOHRS as he will have surgery to repair his eye soon.

For FRANCES LAMKIN, Sandra Perricone's aunt, who is dealing with many health issues.

 

For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.

 

For HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith. 

 

For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she recovers from a car accident and a fall, and now also surgery to remove some skin cancer from near her eye.