Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour MinistriesBy Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). 
"A Sacred Trust"April 3, 2014
(Jesus said) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. ...." Matthew 28:19-20aOn the James Farley Post Office Building in New York City there is a familiar inscription. It reads: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Although this past winter has shown there are some exceptions to that lofty goal, most of the time the vast majority of mail folks are incredibly faithful in their deliveries.
But, like I say, there are exceptions. One of those exceptions is Patrick Paskett who delivered the mail in Massapequa and Seaford.
Sadly, the swift completion of his appointed rounds was not stayed by the weather. No, in Paskett's case, the mail failed because of a bit of laziness. On March 6th of this year Paskett was seen throwing a stack of letters into a local garbage can. When the police talked to him, he said he had dumped mail about 15 times since this past December.
Some of that mail has been recovered and delivered.
When that story was told to some friends, most of them were aghast. I tried to play the devil's advocate by saying, "Most of the mail he chucked was probably junk."
They said, "But suppose there was something the people really needed."
I said, "He did them a favor because a goodly percentage of that mail would have been bills."
They replied, "If they don't pay their bills, it's going to hurt their credit or worse."
I tried one last time by adding, "In those thousands of pieces of mail that were tossed there was probably, at most, a handful of letters containing very good or very bad news."
Those who were listening shouted back, "Good or bad, these folks would have wanted to see what was written."
One of my friends observed, "Doesn't he know the delivery of the mail is almost a sacred trust."
With that statement, my friend was speaking a great truth. It is a truth that applies to all mail carriers and to Christians. You see, Jesus, in a final act of pre-Ascension teaching, told His disciples they were to go, teach and baptize sinners into the Christian faith. Although Jesus was speaking to His closest disciples, He was also speaking to us.
It was as if He were saying, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night shall stay My couriers from going and making disciples of all nations, where they will baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
But Jesus would also add, "And don't let hunger, cold, heat, flood or persecution stop you from the swift completion of these appointed rounds." To their credit the disciples listened to what Jesus said, and the apostles managed to cover a good share of the known world before they died.
We should do the same. After all, we have a message which isn't junk mail, and it isn't a bill. In the story of the Christ we have a message of Good News of great joy, which is for all people.
It is a message which needs
to be delivered.
As my friend said, "It is a sacred trust."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let nothing stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. Let us deliver the message of salvation, which comes through Christ. This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of
The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: How long did Saul reign in Israel? 42 years ________________________________________________________________________TODAY'S QUIZ: What was the name of David's oldest brother?______________________________________________________________________CALENDAR:Sat- Bible Class on The Story Chapter 12 at 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible Class 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- 8:30-- Ian Brunson 11-- Grace Hargrove
Altar guild- Set up- Linda Callies; Clean up- Terry McKenzie
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- ??; 8:30- Christine Winn; 11am- Sam Johnson
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow??
8:30 Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don TurnureProjectors- 11am Devin Miller
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NEWS: A LETTER FROM OUR DCE INTERN KELSEY OVERBECK My name is Kelsey Overbeck and I will be your DCE intern this year from
Concordia University Nebraska. I am from a little town called Pocahontas, Missouri
which is in the southeast part of the state with a population of 114 people. I live on a 70
acre farm where we raise angus cattle, a few chickens, a brittany spaniel named
Brownie, and a boston terrier named Cooper. My parents are Pat and Doug Overbeck;
my dad is a line technician for Proctor & Gamble and my mom is disabled with Multiple
Sclerosis, I also have a 16 year old sister named Lindsey who is a sophomore at
Saxony Lutheran High School.
I attended grade school at St. Paul Lutheran School and then I attended high
school at Saxony Lutheran High School. I am from St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Jackson, Missouri. I have been involved in my church praise band for 8 years playing
acoustic guitar and bass guitar. I was a member of the Missouri District LYF Team
during high school where I helped plan and lead retreats in the state of Missouri and I
continued to help with the Jr. High retreats in the fall and spring while in college. I love
being at retreats and serving on missions trips. I have been to New Orleans six different
times helping with hurricane Katrina relief, I have helped with the Joplin tornado relief
two different times, and I have worked with UKANDU missions in inner city Chicago
teaching VBS to kids living in poverty.
While at Concordia University Nebraska I majored in psychology with a youth
emphasis. I fulfilled my practicum experience at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln,
Nebraska alongside DCE Rod Lane. At school I was involved in two different praise
bands each year and was able to travel to different churches throughout the state of
Nebraska on Sunday mornings; I have also had the opportunity to play at the NYG in
San Antonio, Texas and at the LEA Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Also while at
Concordia I was the Bulldog mascot for a year.
My passion is working with youth and helping them on their faith walk with Christ.
I strive to be a positive role model to them as well. One of my biggest strengths that I
bring into youth ministry is a listening ear because a lot of times they just want someone
to be there to listen and talk to. I am very excited to be a part of your church during my
internship experience! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me at St. John’s
Lutheran Church!
In Him, For Him,
Kelsey Overbeck
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ST JOHN'S IS EMERGENCY SHELTER TONIGHTIf you or anyone you know needs shelter from the storm this evening, St. John's will be available and open as the storms pass through if need be.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________CHAPTER 11 "FROM SHEPHERD TO KING" IS THE TEXT AND READING FOR THIS WEEKEND!!Please read it and be ready to study on Saturday, at 4pm or Sunday at 9:45!!
______________________________________________________________________________________________NEXT WEDNESDAY'S MENU AND WORSHIP TEXT: MENU: Fried Chicken, potatoes, corn, rolls, dessert WORSHIP TEXT: Psalm 130 "With You There is Forgiveness"
___________________________________________________________________________________________ OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR EVERYONE BEGINS APRIL 1!!!
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.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________VENDOR FAIR AND TAILGATE SALE AND LADIES AID LUNCHEON AND BAKE SALE IS COMING SOON!! SATURDAY, MAY 3, 7am-2pm Reserve an inside vendor table for $20 or a tailgate space for $10 by filling out a registration form in the church office. Inside tables will not be reserved until forms are filled out and paid for. First come first served!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR OFFERING DEDUCTED AUTOMATICALLY FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT???
The church council is researching an automatic electronic funds transfer option for members who wish to have their regular offerings deducted directly from their bank account. We would like to get a "feel" of whether or not enough members would be interested and willing to participate in this option. Please contact the church office or Alan Hofeldt directly if you think you would be a candidate for this service.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________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.
___________________________________________________________________________________________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.
___________________________________________________________________________________________PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)For ELIZABETH DAVIS as she will be confirmed this Saturday night.
For JUDE AND ELLA SPEAKMAN who will be baptized at our 11am service this Sunday.
For KELSEY OVERBECK as she finishes up her schooling at Concordia, Seward and moves to Warrenton to become our DCE intern.
For OUR SAFETY TONIGHT as severe storms are likely.
For OUR CONGREGATION as we continue to grow very rapidly and as we love our community with the love of Christ.
For MARY STEMLER, a soon to be member of St. John's who is hospitalized with congestive heart failure.
For SCOTT CLARK who has an infection in his finger that has gone all the way to the bone after a severe cut from a saw
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THOSE WITH CANCER, especially RICK SPINIOLAS, and the many others among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
