Fwd: The Lutheran Hour: February 1, 2015

-------- Original message --------

From: Lutheran Hour Ministries

Date:01/31/2015 9:15 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: The Lutheran Hour: February 1, 2015

Sermon Text for February 1, 2015  "Boring? Not Likely!" #82-22 Presented on The Lutheran Hour on February 1, 2015 By Rev. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour (Praying for and Against Your Enemies) Copyright 2015 Lutheran Hour Ministries     Text: Mark 1:21-28 Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Those familiar words, so easy on our ears, have changed the world, and by God's grace and the Holy Spirit's power, have redirected the eternity for all who believe on the Savior. Today we give thanks to the Lord for His Son, our Savior of power and peace. Lord, grant this complete Savior to us all. Amen.  As a writer, I have always admired the editors of Reader's Digest. I have always been impressed by the way they can take a giant book composed of a gazillion pages, single spaced, in real small print, and boil it down to a usable, carryable, readable size. The amazing thing is they manage to do this and still keep the personality of the characters, the style of the author, and the major plot lines recognizable and intact. Over the years I have encountered more than one person who, looking at the Bible, has wanted those Reader's Digest editors to reduce the plethora of pages, along with God's plan of salvation, into something they could easily and readily grasp.  If you have ever been one of those folks who wanted the condensed version of the salvation story, I have good news for you. You don't have to twist the arms of the Reader's Digest editors. The job of compressing the Bible has already been done and it has been accomplished by no less an individual than the Apostle Paul. It's true. In the first letter that he wrote to the Church at Corinth, in the 15th chapter (vs 3b-4a), he says, "in accordance with the Scriptures, Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day."  There you have it. Those words are, as the Apostle says elsewhere, of the first importance. If you hear nothing else about Jesus; if you know nothing else about the Savior, believe this: according to 1500 years of written prophecies, that is the promises of God which described and identified His Son, our Savior, Jesus was born into this world. He lived His life for us; He carried our sins for us; and He died for us. Then, and this is also according to prophecy, on the third day Jesus did something only our heaven-sent Substitute and Savior could do: He rose from the dead and He showed to all the world that His Sacrifice had been accepted. From that moment on, all who believe on the Christ as their Savior and Lord are forgiven of their sins, freed from Satan's power, and are promised an everlasting place in heaven.  Years before, at Jesus' birth, the angels had said they had good news of great joy for all people. At the open tomb of the Savior, for the first time, the world began to understand just how good that news was. Indeed, our being moved from damnation to salvation is such good news that, later on in that same chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul seems almost giddy when he tells us that because of Jesus' work, "...Death is swallowed up in victory....The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We have the victory because Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. Those words are the doctrine upon which all of Christianity and our salvation stands or falls, flies or fails, lives or dies. "And the third day He rose again." Some people might say, and some have, that those words are a lie. They might maintain those words are a made-up myth or they are a figment of the disciple's over-active, grief-motivated imagination. But if anyone says those words, or the Savior they describe, are boring, then his opinion, and his thinking, are plain and simply wrong.  If that sounds judgmental, well, it is. My friends, read through the Gospels and take a look at Jesus' enemies. Listen carefully to the things they said about the Redeemer. Let me tell you what you will find. If you zero in on the people who hated our Lord; who persecuted and crucified Him; you will quickly see they never, that's never, accused Him of being boring. They said He was a Liar, a Samaritan, a Charlatan, and Devil-possessed; they branded Him as a Party-goer, an Associate-of-known-sinners, a Blasphemer, and an Insurrectionist. This they said and believed about Him; but they never, ever thought of Jesus as being boring. On the contrary, they maintained He was too extreme to be safe, far too dangerous to let live. So that this 'dangerous' Jesus might be permanently put out of the way, He was raced through trials which were illegal, illicit, and immoral; He was condemned to death by a reluctant judge who only produced an acceptable guilty verdict after he had been blackmailed. After that Jesus was hung up to die; crucified on a rough Roman cross. All this Jesus endured because He didn't fit the religious leaders' expectations of what the Messiah would be; because He had swept away all the false, fake, and foolish additions they had made to God's plan of salvation; because He was fulfilling the Father's plan which called for Him to die so that all who believe on Him as Savior might live.  It has taken 21 centuries and generations of people who selectively read the Gospels to transform the committed Christ, the sacrificing Savior into Someone else, Someone different, Someone far less than God's Son who is shown to us in Scripture. The great tragedy of our age is that we have taken the Savior and wrapped Him in a cloak of dullness. We have declawed the Lion of Judah, pulled His teeth, and made Him into a household pet who considers Himself blessed to receive any scrap which might fall from our tables.  Charles Wesley wrote a wonderful children's hymn which says, "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild." Have no doubt, our Savior most certainly had and could show those attributes. Indeed, He did show them when He gently picked up and blessed the little children who were brought to Him; when He lovingly healed those sick which were carried and hobbled their way to Him; when He mildly spoke reassuring, restoring words of comfort and forgiveness to conscience-condemned sinners.  But never forget that this gentle Jesus who was meek and mild, could tell a ship-sinking storm to "Shut up!" He could take those who had deformed God's will and word and put them in their place. Gentle Jesus, meek and mild? Tell that to the Pharisees whom He called whitewashed graves which look good on the outside but are filled with dead men's bones on the inside. Gentle Jesus meek and mild? In the Garden of Gethsemane the Christ took your sin upon Himself. Imagine the weight of that guilt; the burden of every one of your sins was laid on Him. To that was added the heaviness of my sin, and your neighbor's sin; and the sins of the billions who are living in the world today, the billions who have lived before us, and all the souls that will be born before Jesus comes again. With all those sins, He rose up and willingly allowed Himself to be taken to the cross.  But make no mistake, neither His accusers, nor his judge, nor the mob robbed Him of His life. Looking at the grim picture of His upcoming death, Jesus said, "I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 1No one takes (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I received from my Father" (John 10:17-18). Jesus' words of prophecy were fulfilled and shared by the Apostle Paul when He wrote, "in accordance with the Scriptures, Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day." In His resurrection Christ shows a power which no great leader, no mighty army has ever been able to muster. God's Son, our Savior defeated death.  How is it then that so many churches seem to have all the joy of a funeral parlor and so many Christians have all the happiness of a bride who has been left standing alone at the altar? How is it that Jesus, His pastors, His people have become boring? Not so long ago, in the midst of a rather long-winded sermon, a small child, using a whisper which could be heard through half the congregation, asked his mother, "Mommy, are you sure this is the only way we can get into heaven?" For many, Christ, Christianity, and worship have become a boring cross they must carry to get into heaven.  How boring are we talking about? Well, there was a pastor, years ago, who bought a tape recorder so he might listen to his sermons and improve his delivery. The first Sunday he owned the machine he recorded the entire service. Later, after lunch, he rewound the cassette, sat on the sofa and listened to the tape. The opening prayer, readings, and hymns came through beautifully. Then came his sermon. When he awoke some time later, the congregation was singing the closing hymn. For many, Christ, Christianity, and worship have become that boring.  How boring? Well, here's a story which is made up, but not entirely too far-fetched. It begins with a pastor who rushed to his church building after he had been told that it had caught fire. Surprised to see the huge crowd which had gathered to watch his church go up in flames, he couldn't resist a bit of black humor. He went up to a person whose home was directly across the street from the church. He said, "Well, neighbor, I don't ever remember seeing you at our church before." The neighbor replied: "Well, Pastor, that's because this is the first time I, or anyone else, has ever seen this church on fire." The neighbor may be right. That's because, many people, many churches have allowed Jesus to become boring. How wrong they are. No matter what else is said, the truth is that being brought to Jesus Christ is an earth-shaking, conscience-cleansing, life-changing, eternity-transforming, soul-renovating experience.  If it's not that for you, it may be because you have followed others in trying to force Jesus into some ill-conceived mold. If that's the case, you should know, "Jesus isn't going to fit." Jesus says, trying to make me fit your preconceptions is like sewing a new, unwashed, unshrunk patch onto an old pair of blue jeans. It won't look right....more importantly, when the garment is washed, that new cloth is going to shrink, it will pull away from the material and you will have a mess.  Jesus says, "I'm not going to fit." He says, "nobody puts new wine into old wineskins." Think about that for a moment. Leather, no matter how well it has been cared for, will, over the years, grow brittle. Fermenting wine, on the other hand, is a pretty powerful concoction. Years ago, at Milwaukee, one of my friends tried to make hard cider. He added the yeast and the sugar. Then, so as not to be discovered in his illegal activity, he sealed the jar, and put it on a closet shelf to ferment. The wine fermented in that glass jar. It fermented real good. When the bottle finally let loose, it blew open the door of the closet and embedded pieces of glass in the cinder block wall. That's what Jesus was trying to say. Fill your old wine skin with new wine, and that skin will gurgle, and sputter, and flex, and it will eventually let go. The moral: a smart person doesn't put new wine in an old wine skin and nobody should try to put Jesus into a boring mold. He simply won't fit.  Try to make Him into a prophet, a teacher, a charlatan, He won't stay. Try to minimize Him, ignore Him, forget Him, He won't stay. Try Him, crucify Him, bury Him, He won't stay. He is the exciting, powerful, Savior of the world. He is the One whose blood has washed away our sins. He is the One whose presence comforts us in our losses, whose power strengthens the weak; whose grace reaches out to those who have no hope. Any description of Jesus which is less than that is wrong. Jesus is not boring... indeed, He ought to be the most interesting Individual you have ever met.  Of course, you might not feel that way. Perhaps, for you, maybe even some of you believers in this Lutheran Hour audience of the air, Jesus IS boring. Perhaps your entire relationship with Him is boring. Perhaps your relationship with the Lord can be summed up as getting up at the same time on a Sunday and going to the same boring church service. At that boring service you hear the same boring organ music and sing the same boring hymns. You listen to the same boring sermon and work your way through the same boring liturgy. You stand and sit at the same boring times. You hear the same boring prayers about the same boring people, and you leave with boredom in your heart. Little wonder you put the Savior on a boring shelf and forget about Him until you have to take Him down the following boring Sunday. Little wonder some of our children have found better things to do than to go to church.  Well, I used to feel that way myself....and I understand. But, I can tell you a secret, the problem was not that Jesus was boring, I was. I didn't expect anything from Him, I liked Him boring. That way I was in control of my life. It was like I was on a tandem bike. I was in front, Jesus was behind. All I wanted from Him was a little power as I went where I wanted, when I wanted. When the pedaling got difficult, when I had a problem, a need, a difficulty, I called upon Him for help. But I wanted Him in the back, me in the front, being directed by my wisdom, my goals, my direction, it is little wonder Jesus seemed boring. But that was my choice, it certainly was not His. I can tell you this, if you put Jesus in the front seat of your life; if you let Him set the direction and speed, most definitely you are going to see some interesting, inspiring changes. This past week I met Steven and his father. Steven is a young boy monitoring classes at a Lutheran parochial school. Jesus is not boring to Steven. In the Sudan, from which Steven has just arrived, his family was under persecution. They had a choice...stay and deny Jesus, stay and be killed, or run for freedom. They ran. Actually, they walked. Letting Jesus lead, they walked100 miles to a boat, which took them to a plane, which took them to another boat, to another plane, to the United States. I doubt if Jesus will ever be boring to Steven. Not so long ago I spoke to some east-European leaders of the Lutheran Hour. They had personally seen the Savior kick down the Iron Curtain and topple an atheistic government. These men and women, who had been letting Jesus steer, know that Jesus is hardly boring. You will find the same... if you let God's Son steer.  Read the Scriptures. See the Savior of power and peace; the Christ of joy and gentleness. See Jesus, who, according to Scripture, died, was buried, and rose again. See the wonderful changes He has already brought in your life and be glad. Yes, be glad that the Christ has conquered and, with faith in your heart, you will, too.  One last story. The young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring, old-fashioned, with tiresome tunes and words that meant little to his generation. His father challenged him: "If you can write better hymns, why don't you?" The boy did. He went to his room and wrote his first hymn. The year was 1690, and the young man was Isaac Watts, the father of English hymnody. Inspired by a non-boring Savior, he wrote, "Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing." But the man was not yet done. Knowing the joy of Jesus' leading, he penned: "Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home." Now I can't promise believing in Jesus, who was gentle enough to be loved by little children and powerful enough to conquer death, will make you a great hymn-writer. On the other hand, I can promise you that when your life is being directed by the risen Redeemer, it will never, ever again be boring. If this is the life of faith you are looking for; if this is the Savior that you need, we are ready to help. Please, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.  LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) forFEBRUARY 1, 2015 Topic: Praying for and Against Your Enemies ANNOUNCER: Should we pray for our enemies-or against them? That'll be our topic for today's Q&A with our Speaker Emeritus, Pastor Ken Klaus. I'm Mark Eischer.  KLAUS: And hello to you, my friend. So what is on the table before us today? ANNOUNCER: In Matthew, chapter 5, Jesus said we were to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. It's one thing to talk about that in the abstract, but let's put that into our current context. We've all seen and heard about these Middle East terrorists who are cutting peoples' heads off.  KLAUS: They've also desecrated and destroyed Christian churches, uprooted entire communities, and even murdered children in front of their parents.  ANNOUNCER: How then is it possible to love those enemies? I'm more inclined to echo the words of Psalm 139, where it says, "Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God...do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?"  KLAUS: Interesting question. I'm pretty sure you're not alone in feeling that way. I've met an awful lot of Christians who feel that ISIS should be wiped off the face of the earth.  ANNOUNCER: Would such a prayer be appropriate? KLAUS: It's a fair question that may be more difficult to answer than you might think. When it comes to loving our enemies, the first thing we need to remember is that is exactly what Jesus did through His earthly ministry. In our sinful condition, we are all enemies of God. Yet, He loved us and gave His life to save us. Instead of praying for our enemies' destruction, we pray that God would keep us steadfast in His Word and in the faith to which He has called us.  ANNOUNCER: I suppose that would be a more positive sort of prayer.  KLAUS: Then, I think we have to get inventive. ANNOUNCER: Inventive? How so? KLAUS: Actually, it might be better for me to first give an example. Mark, years ago the Bible scholar, Matthew Henry, got mugged. The thief took his wallet. Now, Henry knew that, as a Christian, it was his job to give thanks in all situations; but how to give thanks for a robbery? That was a problem.  He thought about it and then, in his diary, he wrote this:  (Lord), let me be thankful, first, because the thief never robbed me before now; second, because although he took my wallet, he did not take my life; third, because although he took all I possessed, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed. That's a good example of what I mean when I speak about "inventive" prayer. It approaches things from a different perspective.  ANNOUNCER: Yeah, that is a different way of seeing things. So, how would an "inventive pray-er" tackle a terrible situation like what we see now happening in Iraq and Syria?  KLAUS: I can think of a number of possibilities. First, we might pray that the people of Islam really take a good look at the Quran.  ANNOUNCER: What would that do? KLAUS: Well, we are told by many who report the news that Islam is a religion of peace and these terrorists represent just a few radical, nut cases. If that's true, the people of Islam should rise up and point out where ISIS is getting it wrong.  ANNOUNCER: And if Islam is NOT a religion of peace? KLAUS: Then may the Lord open their eyes to see that any religion which has to use terror and murder to spread its message is a very weak and pitiful thing.  ANNOUNCER: Anything else we could pray for? KLAUS: Absolutely. We might pray for the conversion of those who are persecuting and also pray for the courage of those who are now suffering for Jesus' sake. Centuries ago, the church father, Tertullian, said 'the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.' We can pray that the blood of these suffering brothers and sisters may touch the hearts of the persecutors and turn them in repentance to Christ.  ANNOUNCER: We might also consider what Martin Luther said when he was explaining the Lord's Prayer when it says, "Thy will be done..."  KLAUS: The Reformer wrote: "God's will is done when he breaks and defeats every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh, which try to prevent us from keeping God's name holy and letting His kingdom come." OR we could pray that this army which wages war on social workers might be blinded as was Saul on the road to Damascus. In his blindness the Lord enabled Saul to see Jesus as his Savior. There's more we could say, but I think we've made the case. Rather than hating, we can pray for those who are now enemies of the cross. ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries. Music Selections for this program: "A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission. "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" arr. Henry Gerike. Used by permission. "Away from Us! The Demon Cried" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) "Son of God, Eternal Savior" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House) Print this sermon Sign up for LHM news Daily Devotions Visit lutheranhour.org Change my email Contact Us subscribe / unsubscribe / visit our website 660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880

Wine donations for Steak Dinner and Auction

We are in need of donations of bottles of wine for the wine raffle we do at the Steak Dinner and Auction.    If you have a favorite kind of wine, please consider donating a bottle.  Contact Hope Tinnin at 636-359-7255 to let her know you're donating and then bring it by church any time before Saturday, Feb. 7. 

Update on prayer request from Fahrnis

-------- Original message --------

From: Mary Jo

Date:01/29/2015 10:51 AM (GMT-06:00)

To: revklaus@hotmail.com

Subject: Re: prayer request & Praise God!

1/29/15

More good news!  No ovarian cancer.  Surgery 2/9/15 9am.  Continue to sing God`s praise!

Jo & John

jeremy klaustermeier <revklaus@hotmail.com> wrote:

Woohoo!  What a relief!  Of course we need to remain "cautiously optimistic".  Peace be with you!
 

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From: j0fah72@hotmail.com
To: revklaus@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: prayer request & Praise God!
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2015 08:07:43 -0600

1/29/15

Pastor,

Jennifer received the excellent news is there was no indication of cancer on the endometrial biopsy.  Her doctor is still waiting for the results of the CA125 blood test for ovarian cancer. He is cautiously optimistic that there is no Ovarian cancer.

The Tamoxifen has acted in reverse.  The Doctor's theory is that it caused her ovaries to produce as though she was taking fertility drugs.

The Hysterectomy and removal of ovaries is being scheduled, because of the continued risk of Cancer returning.

Thanks you and everyone for your prayers in her behest.  Please continue to pray that the surgery  and her recovery goes well.  

Sincerely,

Jo & John Fahrni

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Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:07:06 -0600
Subject: prayer request from John and Jo Fahrni
From: revklaus@hotmail.com
To: stjohnswarrenton@googlegroups.com

Please pray that Cancer has not developed again in our daughter Jennifer , She learned yesterday that she must now have a hysterectomy and Overies removed, she does not yet know if it is Cancer. The Doctor thinks the prescribed Tamoxifen caused this.

The surgery will not take place until test results are available. She finished Chemo & radiation for breast cancer May, 2014

Jo & John Fahrni 

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Bible Study @ Hendershots Feb. 20

 The Bible study and fellowship for February has changed from the 13th to the 20th.  Please mark your calendars. 

Devotion and News: Thursday, January 29, 2015

 

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
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Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By 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). 

 

"No Age of Consent"  
January 29, 2015

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Proverbs 1:10
Forty-six-year-old Philip Harper showed up at his local pub wearing a SWAT cap and showing off his new bulletproof vest.

With obvious pride and considerable confidence in his vest Mr. Harper asked if there was anyone who might be willing to help him test it out. Nobody took him up on the offer. Not so the next day. The next day was when one of Harper's friends, a British truck driver named Ian Catley, said he would be glad to be of assistance.

The two men put about 20 feet between them. Catley aimed his shotgun and fired. He hit his friend's bulletproof vest dead center. In rapid succession the following happened:

1. The men found out the bulletproof vest wasn't.

2. They realized the plastic-lined vest had served as a funnel, concentrating the shotgun's blast. Immediately, Catley rushed his pal to the hospital where Harper was pronounced dead.

Mr. Catley went on trial for the murder of his buddy. In his ruling, among other things, the judge acknowledged Catley's "remorse is complete and genuine" and "the effects of killing your good friend will last with you for the rest of your life." Then the judge chided: the risk of death or serious injury should have been "absolutely obvious."

Now I might not mention the story at all if, last year, there hadn't been a situation in South Carolina, and another in Maryland, where people died after their friends missed their bulletproof vests and killed them. They also had flirted with "absolutely obvious" danger, and they had lost.

No doubt you are saying, "That's unbelievable! Nobody would do anything that crazy!"

Well, my friends, people do flirt with dangerous temptations, and they do it regularly. Adam and Eve brought sin into this world when they disregarded their Creator and followed the suggestions of a talking snake. Time and again we humans have looked at a temptation and thought, "Hey, I can handle that dangerous situation."

We think it, but we can't.

And we don't.

This is why the loving Lord has given us a very simple bit of advice: He has told us not to go along with someone who is inviting us to sin. It's so obvious a bit of wisdom it shouldn't even need to be said.

We should know not to flirt with danger ... but we don't, which is why we should listen.

We should listen to the Lord who loves us and has given His Son to save us from our sin and rescue us after we've gotten too close to temptation.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us from being over-confident. Let us realize that we are not as smart as we think, as strong as we believe, or as upstanding as we had hoped. We are sinners in need of a Savior -- sinners who need help and assistance to get through the day. May I give thanks that in the Holy Spirit and my Savior, that assistance is there. 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:  What was the sin that Moses committed that kept him from entering the Promised Land?
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the curtain for the entrance to the tent of meeting made out of?

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CALENDAR:  

Thurs- Praise Band practice 6pm; Carnival Committee meeting 6pm; FCA Worship service at HS 7pm

Sat- worship 5pm

Sun- worship 8, Sunday school 9:45; worship 11

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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch, 11- Jacob Winn
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni  11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone  8:30- Steve Mc Dowell; 11- Jennifer Figura
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Sunday pianist 8:30- Barb Dreyer; 11am- Doug Walters
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NEWS:   

FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT THE NEXT TWO MONDAYS!!!!  (We will take a break from it during Lent to make way for our midweek Lenten suppers and worship.)

 

THIS COMING MONDAY'S FOOD THEME IS MEXICAN!  Bring a Mexican dish, salad or dessert to share!

 

Did you miss it?  Make plans to come next Monday!  It's only an hour and super is included!! 

 

Come and enjoy a lot of good home cooking, and a half hour of Bible study and devotion!

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STEAK DINNER/AUCTION TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets are $25 a piece!!  Raffle Tickets for the $500 drawing are also available.  1 ticket for $10 or 11 tickets for $20. 
 
It is always a BLAST!!!  Get your tickets this weekend before or after one of our worship services or contact your favorite youth to buy them from one of them.  For years this event has become known as a great place to get good deals on things and help out our youth program at the same time!! 

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THANKS TO RUTH AND DOUG WALTERS FOR BRINGING THE DONUTS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY!!
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WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF A DELEGATE TO OUR MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION ON JUNE 14-18 IN SPRINGFIELD, MO!!

You will represent your congregation ass we elect a new district president and other officers of the district and set direction for the next three years.  It is an honor and it is interesting to do!

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NEW ELDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED

The person assigned to be your elder may have changed!!  New lists will be posted asap.  If you need to know who your elder is before they are posted, call the church office. 

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BLUE ENVELOPES

When using the blue offering envelopes for either the Building fund or the DCE fund, please mark them accordingly.  There have been some mix ups recently.

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A NEW ST JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES TO BE PUT TOGETHER

We are attempting to collect your business cards and print them in the monthly newsletter as advertising.  It will be free to member businesses.  Many times members call and ask if there are members in the congregation that are in a certain business or profession.  People would rather do business with a church family member if possible.  Bring your cards to the church office asap as we will start this with the March newsletter. 

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SPECIAL CONCERT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 @ 6PM!!

The Garms family, a southern gospel music group from Minnesota (I know the two don't go together, but you gotta hear them!!),  will be at St. John's on Thursday evening February 19th at 6pm!   It is a family of eight with wonderful voices and a tremendous desire to share the love of the Lord in music!  Mark your calendars right now to come on out for a night of music!!

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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES!!

Make sure you get them and use them for tax purposes, but also to take stock in how much you gave versus how much you had decided in your heart to give last year!

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YOU CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to share joy at a birthday or anniversary or to honor someone's memory!  Altar flowers are $25.  Call Marilyn if you'd like to brighten up the church and honor someone you love at the same time!  456-2888!!  Or you can sign up on the flower chart in the narthex located on the bulletin board. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYER REQUESTS:

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING For JOHN AND JO FAHRNI'S DAUGHTER JENNIFER, whose endometrial biopsy showed no signs of cancer.  They are cautiously optimistic that there will be no cancer found after her hysterectomy and removal of ovaries.. 

 

For CLAIRE JOHNSON who is nearing the end of her life due to a mass on her lung. 

 

For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a fall and a broken collar bone.

 

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with many health problems relating from a stroke.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE, a senior at WHS, a friend to many kids at St. john's, and a rider on Karin's bus since kindergarten, who has a very serious form of cancer.

 

For ELTON TEMME, Harold Temme and Lois Frick's brother, who has had many seizures and is dealing with many other health problems.  He is back int the nursing home.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
 
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. Here is a link to a fund that was started to help the family as they will have astronomical hospital and rehab bills for a long time to come.   At the bottom of the page it also has updates as to his progress.  http://www.gofundme.com/hp1ed8?pc=mb_em

 

 

 

Music and the Church

 If you ever wanted to know my position on music in the church, this is the perfect article to articulate that.  Just click on the link!
 
Have a great day!
Pastor
 
 
http://billbrimer.virb.com/theology/14112858

 

Devotion and News: Tuesday, January 27, 2015

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
____________________________________________________________________________________________
DEVOTION:
²² On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, ²³ he said to them, "This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.'" ²⁴ So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. ²⁵ Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. ²⁶ Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none."
²⁷ On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. ²⁸ And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? ²⁹ See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day." ³⁰ So the people rested on the seventh day.  Exodus 16:22-30
 
How often do you listen to the Lord?  All the time?  Once a week?  When you really need to?  Or only when something bad happens? 
 
The Lord very clearly told the people that they were to gather enough food for two days on Friday so that they wouldn't have to gather any on Saturday, the Sabbath.  They didn't listen.  They went out to gather it anyway.  They didn't find any just as the Lord had said.  He also told them in a different part of this same section of Scripture that they were only to gather enough manna for that day and not any more.  They didn't listen.  Instead when they woke up on the second day they found the manna had spoiled and was full of maggots. 
 
Some days I wonder how hard it has to be for God to keep from just annihilating us all from the earth.  Our simple, stupid, finite, sinful minds and hearts seem so far from actually trusting God as we should.  We are no different than the Israelites during Moses' day. 
 
God tells us to give as we have decided in our hearts to give.  So we decide to give very little because we might need it for ourselves down the road.  God tells us that if we just worship Him and come to Him for rest He will give us what we need, he will fill us with His Spirit, and He will grow us in our faith.   So what do we do?  We stay home from worship, we try to take care of ourselves without every entreating God for help, and we live lives full of anxiety and worry about stupid earthly things. 
 
Here's what I suggest you do today!  I'm gonna do it too as soon as I get done writing this.  Go to a quiet place.  Get down on your knees!  AND PRAY!  Pray for forgiveness for your lack of trust.  Pray for help for the problems you have.  Pray for those you love who are in need.  And pray a prayer of thanksgiving that He hasn't given you as you deserve but continues to give you more grace!  Then get up off your knees and go to work with peace and joy knowing that God will do what He has promised!

Prayer:  Lord God, I am so sorry for not trusting you as I should.  Help my faith be more than just an outward thing.  Take care of my problems for me and if it is your will for me to struggle for a while grow me in my faith through the struggle.  Bless my loved ones with what they need to make it through this day.  Thank you for giving me all that I need and for having mercy on me when I clearly don't deserve it.  Thank you for loving me more than anyone ever will.  Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: 
Why did Moses take the bones of Joseph with him when they left Egypt?  Exodus 13:19  "Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath.  He had said, 'God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this
place. '  The bones were eventually buried in Shechem  THANKS DIANNE!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the sin that Moses committed that kept him from entering the Promised Land?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:  

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Pastor at funeral in Hannibal; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Praise Band practice 6pm; Carnival Committee meeting 6pm; FCA Worship service at HS 7pm

Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch, 11- Jacob Winn
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni  11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay readers- Sat- ????  8:30- Steve Mc Dowell; 11- Jennifer Figura
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist: ????
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:   

FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT WAS GREAT LAST NIGHT!!!   Every Monday 6-7pm!!

Did you miss it?  Make plans to come next Monday!  It's only an hour and super is included!! 

 

Come and enjoy a lot of good home cooking, and a half hour of Bible study and devotion!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEAK DINNER/AUCTION TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets are $25 a piece!!  Raffle Tickets for the $500 drawing are also available.  1 ticket for $10 or 11 tickets for $20. 
 
It is always a BLAST!!!  Get your tickets this weekend before or after one of our worship services or contact your favorite youth to buy them from one of them.  For years this event has become known as a great place to get good deals on things and help out our youth program at the same time!! 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

WE NEED DONUTS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY!!

No one is signed up to bring donuts (or whatever kind of treat you wanna bring).  Please volunteer!!  Maybe it could be someone new instead of someone who has brought them before!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF A DELEGATE TO OUR MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION ON JUNE 14-18 IN SPRINGFIELD, MO!!

You will represent your congregation ass we elect a new district president and other officers of the district and set direction for the next three years.  It is an honor and it is interesting to do!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW ELDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED

The person assigned to be your elder may have changed!!  New lists will be posted asap.  If you need to know who your elder is before they are posted, call the church office. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

BLUE ENVELOPES

When using the blue offering envelopes for either the Building fund or the DCE fund, please mark them accordingly.  There have been some mix ups recently.

________________________________________________________________________

A NEW ST JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES TO BE PUT TOGETHER

We are attempting to collect your business cards and print them in the monthly newsletter as advertising.  It will be free to member businesses.  Many times members call and ask if there are members in the congregation that are in a certain business or profession.  People would rather do business with a church family member if possible.  Bring your cards to the church office asap as we will start this with the March newsletter. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL CONCERT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 @ 6PM!!

The Garms family, a southern gospel music group from Minnesota (I know the two don't go together, but you gotta hear them!!),  will be at St. John's on Thursday evening February 19th at 6pm!   It is a family of eight with wonderful voices and a tremendous desire to share the love of the Lord in music!  Mark your calendars right now to come on out for a night of music!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES!!

Make sure you get them and use them for tax purposes, but also to take stock in how much you gave versus how much you had decided in your heart to give last year!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

YOU CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to share joy at a birthday or anniversary or to honor someone's memory!  Altar flowers are $25.  Call Marilyn if you'd like to brighten up the church and honor someone you love at the same time!  456-2888!!  Or you can sign up on the flower chart in the narthex located on the bulletin board. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For JOHN AND JO FAHRNI'S DAUGHTER JENNIFER, who will be having a hysterectomy due to possible cancer.  She just finished cancer treatments last May and the cancer was supposed to have been in remission, and now it may be back.

 

For the CHRISTOPHENE FAMILY as they were received into membership bby affirmation of faith yesterday.  They have already become an integral part of our church family!

 

For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a fall and a broken collar bone.

 

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with many health problems relating from a stroke.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE, a senior at WHS, a friend to many kids at St. john's, and a rider on Karin's bus since kindergarten, who has a very serious form of cancer.

 

For ELTON TEMME, Harold Temme and Lois Frick's brother, who has had many seizures and is dealing with many other health problems.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
 
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. Here is a link to a fund that was started to help the family as they will have astronomical hospital and rehab bills for a long time to come.   At the bottom of the page it also has updates as to his progress.  http://www.gofundme.com/hp1ed8?pc=mb_em

 

 

 

Pastor's sermon from Sunday, January 25, 2015

Watch it!  Share it!  Enjoy it!  Especially if you weren't in worship yesterday! 
 
http://youtu.be/xeVw1pmYohM

Prayer Request

Please pray for the family of Jerry Dyer who passed away this week-end after battling cancer.  Many in our church and community know Jerry and his wife, Cheryl.  

Revised with one more prayer request: Devotion and News: Monday, January 26, 2015

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
____________________________________________________________________________________________
DEVOTION:
 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though it was shorter.  For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.  So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.    Exodus 13:17-18
 
Often people will ask why?  A simple question, yet profound.  Why is God making me go through this?  Why do I have to deal with this now?  Why am I suffering as I am?  Why didn't I just do it God's way in the first place?  We can go on and on with the why questions. 
 
The answer is simple.  God is having you go through something so that you can be better off on the other side of it.  He is bringing you through the fire so you can be purified and refined.  He is bringing you around the long way so you don't change your mind and turn back when things get too hard too soon.  He is growing you according to His perfect and pure plan. 
 
It is often hardest to trust God through the tough times, but that is when we must trust Him most to do His will and bring you through it.  We want to trust Him, but in our weak and sinful state the devil is right there causing us to question and doubt.  Then, just when we are ready to give up, God gives us more grace.  He fills our cup of righteousness.  He lifts us up, dusts us off and puts us back in the game.  He prepares us for every battle, and even better, fights the fight for us when we are too weak to fight it on our own. 
 
The next time you are going through something tough, look for God's action in it?  Ask God what He is doing.  See God's hand working in ways that you would have never worked on your own.  And as you see Him working in and through you rejoice that he cares about you so much that he is doing it!
 
Prayer:  Lord God, when I am down, discouraged, disillusioned, and just plain at a loss show me Your way, lead me in Your paths, fill my cup with Your righteousness, lift me up, dust me off, and show me the wonderful things you are doing in me and through me.  Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: 

Who was Moses' brother that became his spokesman?  Aaron

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ:  Why did Moses take the bones of Joseph with him when they left Egypt?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:  

Mon- Confirmation 5-6; Family Night 6-7

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Pastor at funeral in Hannibal; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Praise Band practice 6pm; Carnival Committee meeting 6pm; FCA Worship service at HS 7pm

Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch, 11- Jacob Winn
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- John Fahrni  11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay readers- Sat- ????  8:30- Steve Mc Dowell; 11- Jennifer Figura
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist: ????
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:  Lots of new news.  Make sure you read to the end!

 

FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT TONIGHT AND EVERY MONDAY NIGHT!!
Come and join us every Monday at 6pm for a great time of food, fellowship and God's Word!!  Come learn what it means to be part of a church family!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEAK DINNER/AUCTION TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets are $25 a piece!!  Raffle Tickets for the $500 drawing are also available.  1 ticket for $10 or 11 tickets for $20. 
 
It is always a BLAST!!!  Get your tickets this weekend before or after one of our worship services or contact your favorite youth to buy them from one of them.  For years this event has become known as a great place to get good deals on things and help out our youth program at the same time!! 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

WE NEED DONUTS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY!!

No one is signed up to bring donuts (or whatever kind of treat you wanna bring).  Please volunteer!!  Maybe it could be someone new instead of someone who has brought them before!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________

WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF A DELEGATE TO OUR MISSOURI DISTRICT CONVENTION ON JUNE 14-18 IN SPRINGFIELD, MO!!

You will represent your congregation ass we elect a new district president and other officers of the district and set direction for the next three years.  It is an honor and it is interesting to do!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW ELDER GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED

The person assigned to be your elder may have changed!!  New lists will be posted asap.  If you need to know who your elder is before they are posted, call the church office. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

BLUE ENVELOPES

When using the blue offering envelopes for either the Building fund or the DCE fund, please mark them accordingly.  There have been some mix ups recently.

________________________________________________________________________

A NEW ST JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES TO BE PUT TOGETHER

We are attempting to collect your business cards and print them in the monthly newsletter as advertising.  It will be free to member businesses.  Many times members call and ask if there are members in the congregation that are in a certain business or profession.  People would rather do business with a church family member if possible.  Bring your cards to the church office asap as we will start this with the March newsletter. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL CONCERT ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 @ 6PM!!

The Garms family, a southern gospel music group from Minnesota (I know the two don't go together, but you gotta hear them!!),  will be at St. John's on Thursday evening February 19th at 6pm!   It is a family of eight with wonderful voices and a tremendous desire to share the love of the Lord in music!  Mark your calendars right now to come on out for a night of music!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES!!

Make sure you get them and use them for tax purposes, but also to take stock in how much you gave versus how much you had decided in your heart to give last year!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

YOU CAN BRIGHTEN UP THE SANCTUARY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to share joy at a birthday or anniversary or to honor someone's memory!  Altar flowers are $25.  Call Marilyn if you'd like to brighten up the church and honor someone you love at the same time!  456-2888!!  Or you can sign up on the flower chart in the narthex located on the bulletin board. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For JOHN AND JO FAHRNI'S DAUGHTER JENNIFER, who will be having a hysterectomy due to possible cancer.  She just finished cancer treatments last May and the cancer was supposed to have been in remission, and now it may be back.

 

For the CHRISTOPHENE FAMILY as they were received into membership bby affirmation of faith yesterday.  They have already become an integral part of our church family!

 

For ROSETTA JONES who is recovering from a fall and a broken collar bone.

 

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with many health problems relating from a stroke.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE, a senior at WHS, a friend to many kids at St. john's, and a rider on Karin's bus since kindergarten, who has a very serious form of cancer.

 

For ELTON TEMME, Harold Temme and Lois Frick's brother, who has had many seizures and is dealing with many other health problems.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .
 
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. Here is a link to a fund that was started to help the family as they will have astronomical hospital and rehab bills for a long time to come.   At the bottom of the page it also has updates as to his progress.  http://www.gofundme.com/hp1ed8?pc=mb_em

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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