Daily Devotion: Thursday Dec. 4, 2014

ST. JOHN'S MISSION STATEMENT
As the body of Christ, we strive to make disciples of all, focusing on the next generation, through growing...

UP in God's Word and Sacrament
OUT into the community by caring for physical and spiritual need
TOGETHER in fellowship to build lasting relationships in Christ
 
Memorize it!  Get used to it!  Live it!  It is YOUR mission statement as a member of St. John's Lutheran Church!!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
DEVOTION:  2 Corinthians 1:3-7
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.^{[a] 6} If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
 
I opened my daily Bible this morning after hearing some waking up to Karin having a migraine, then waking up again too late, then hearing bad news on the radio, then looking outside and seeing a rainy day, and then I thought about all of the things I had to do today, and then I thought about all of my mess ups and mistakes yesterday, and the list could go on and on.
 
I have to laugh when someone is asked if they have any regrets in life and that person says "Nope, I have no regrets.  If I had to do it all over again, I do it all the same."   This kind of a person just doesn't understand sin and the consequences of it.  A person who doesn't realize his mistakes and sins is one that I truly worry about for his salvation.
 
Maybe it's just me, but when I look back on my life I see a whole lot more things that I regret and am ashamed of than I see success and achievement.  Maybe it's just my Lutheran upbringing.  Maybe it's that I've focused on the law too much in my life. Maybe it is just me.
 
At the same time I know from where my comfort comes.  My comfort comes from the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction.  I know that, in the end, despite all my sins, I have a Christ who loves me and will keep me with Him forever.  I have a God who will never leave me or forsake me.  It is in that, not myself or my own holiness, that I find comfort. 
 
I have so much comfort and confidence in this that it overflows to others.  It is just a peace that I have, and that all who believe in Jesus should have in their hearts, on their faces, and in their lives so much that others see it and want it.  They see what it means to be loved by Jesus and they desire that love too.  Hallelujah!
 
My prayer for you is that in as much as you share in my sufferings over your sin, you will also share I my comfort in the forgiveness of sins. 
 
Let us pray:  God of all comfort, thank you for continually comforting me with the knowledge of salvation and the abundant life which you give to me in Jesus.  Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  What kind of bodies will we have after the judgment day?  1 Corinthians 15:42-43  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;  it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

_________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ:  How many epistles did Paul write?

_____________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Thurs- Alzheimer's support group 1pm; Karate 5pm; Praise Band 6pm
Sat- TFG leaves at noon; Worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; Choir rehearsal 9:45; worship 11
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes-    8:30- Patrick Schaumerg  11- Dawn Sherman
Altar guild- Set up- Terry McKenzie Clean up- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- ??????
Communion Assistants- Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- John Hachtel  11- Rich Boeger
Lay Readers- Sat- Steve Robine, 8:30- John Hachtel, 11- Sandy Robine
Ushers- Sun- Scott Heitgerd, Alex Heitgerd, Tom Linke, Bob Linke
Projectors- Sat-- Pam; Sun 8:30- Sophie Tinnin  11-- ???????????
Pianists/organists: Sat- Barb Dreyer; Sun- Melissa Pedersen  11am- none
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS:

REBECCA BOONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TRADING POST NEEDS YOUR HELP!

As many of you know, but many don't, Rebecca Boone Elementary has a Trading Post.  At this Trading Post kids are able to redeem Boone Bucks that they earn through good attendance, good grades, and good behavior. 
 
Many of the kids and their families at RBE live at or below the poverty level and are in great need.  Below is a list of items that are needed to "trade" for in the month of December.  Please consider buying some of these items and bringing them to RBE between 8am-3pm, or if you'd rather, bring them up to church and I will get them there.  Just leave them in my office.  

RBE Trading Post Wish List for December:

Boys deodorant

Chapstick

Lotion (travel size)

Blankets (lap, throws)

Gloves

Mittens

Snow boots (all sizes)

Pencil sharpeners (small individual, for desk or backpack)

Individual snacks

Holiday wrapping paper

Scotch tape

______________________________________________________________________________

ADVENT DINNER AND WORSHIP CONTINUES NEXT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10!!

Supper at 5:30

Your elder will be calling you to direct you as to when to bring food!  Please come to all of the dinners though!  Yu can't beat fried chicken and tons of great sides every Wednesday night!  A small free will donation is appreciated to offset the cost of the chicken.  Please also make sure you bring your dishes home after supper!  And please be aware that they will not be washed.

 

Worship at 6:30

Our worship theme is COME, LORD JESUS! Focusing on the Lord's Prayer and the Common table prayer, we will talk about what it means that we want Jesus to come into the world, into our hearts, and into eternity!!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP LEAVES AT NOON ON SATURDAY FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE PRACTICING FOR THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM DURING SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME!

If you want your child to be part of the program they need to be in Sunday school!  The program will be at the 11am service on December 21. 

__________________________________________________________________________________

OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE READY TO BE PICKED UP IN THE NARTHEX!!
Please go by your name, not your old envelope number.  All numbers have changed.  Make sure you get yours next time you are at church!!!

____________________________________________________________________________

POINSETTIAS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY!!

The sign up sheet is on the counter in the narthex or you can call Marilyn to order yours.  You can take yours home with you after Christmas Day!!  Please sign up by December 14.  Cost is $13.50 each. Many purchase them in honor or in memory of a loved one.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

LADIES AID INVITES ALL LADIES TO JOIN THEM FOR A CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT NOON AT DENNY'S.  This is in place of the regular ladies aid meeting.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

 

A VOLUNTEER IS NEEDED TO BE A DELEGATE TO THE MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION IN SPRINGFIELD, MO JUNE 14-16

All voting members (men or women) are eligible.  In order for our congregation to have a complete voice we need to have complete representation!  Please call me or reply to this email if you would like to serve your church in this way!!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

WE STILL NEED ONE MORE ELDER!!!

 

Elder duties- 

1. Assist the pastor in the spiritual matters of the congregation.

2. Consider complaints and grievances according to Matthew 18:15-18

3. Make every effort to get inactive members back to worship and supporting the church as they have pledged to God to do.

4.  See to it that all worship is held in an orderly and joyful manner.

5. Prepare a list of candidates during a vacancy.

6. Consider salary and benefits for all staff and make recommendations.

7. Consider those who are eligible for membership.

8. Be a good Christian example with regular worship and Bible study attendance and in their Christian conduct and conversation.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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

For the Catron family, Brenda Catron passed suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday 11/30/14.  She was the lead custodian at Rebecca Boone Elementary, and had been employed by the school district for the last 13 years.

 

For TODD PONDER, former band teacher/director and friend to many at St. John's, who suffered a massive stroke and can't do anything but move his eyes.  He is unable to breathe on his own. 

 

For the DREYER FAMILY at the death of Allan's mom.  Her visitation and funeral will be Saturday at Pitman funeral home:  Visitation is from 9-11, Funeral is at 11, and luncheon will follow at St. John's immediately following the funeral.

 

For ROSETTA JONES who fell and broke her wrist and is recovering from surgery on it at Delmar Gardens.

 

For BEVERLY WAALEN who has been placed on hospice care and is nearing the end of her earthly life.

 

For OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH in the United States, that we would continue to be able to freely speak the truth even in the face of opposition.

 

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

 

For MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith. 

 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to stjohnswarrenton+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.