DEVOTION: The Lord said, "I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting." Numbers 18:21
The last few weeks I have had several conversations with people who wonder about what it means to be a pastor. A youth didn't realize that being a pastor was something that I did every day. She thought I had another job. Another asked about how long it took me to go to school to become a pastor. Sometimes little kids think I live here at church (and sometimes I think I do too. haha)
Let me first give you a background as to where the idea of pastor (or priest) came from and then try to answer a few of the questions y'all might have.
First of all, the idea of pastor (or in the case of the Old Testament a priest) was started right here in the passage above. There Was grumbling and questioning among the people as to who should be the priests, what they should do, and how they should make their living. After a failed rebellion by Korah and his followers and a plague that killed 14,700 people in one day because of that grumbling and fighting against God's chosen man, Moses, God set forth the rules for the rest of the days of Israel. He said that the men of the tribe of Levi would be set apart as priests. They would have no land or inheritance of their own, but would make their living from the tithes (10% of each family's income) that the rest of the people were to give faithfully.
That is how it was throughout the rest of the Old Testament. In the New Testament Jesus chose 12 men (to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel to be his leaders (They were first called disciples and then later Apostles). Those twelve leaders went out and appointed (ordained) leaders from there in Jerusalem to all parts of the world. This continues today in ordinations of pastors all around the world.
Now to answer some of the questions people might have:
1. What do you do all week? Do you have another job? My calling as pastor is an all week, every week, calling. It is hard to call it a job or even a career, because I don't think of it as such. It is more of a way of life than it is a job or even a career. Wherever I go I am a pastor. There are times where I am more focused on work like putting together sermons, Bible studies, confirmation classes, worship services, and many other things to preach, teach, and administer the sacraments. I also spend a lot of time visiting people in the hospitals and in their homes when they are sick or in need of spiritual care. I also try to lead the congregation in the way they should go according to the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations in many meetings of groups and individuals. Then there is much counseling for people with all sorts of needs.
When I am not doing those things I am praying. I pray for each of you individually (which I don't do nearly enough and am making an effort to do more). I am praying that God uses me, in all my sinfulness and humanity, to do His thing, as I realize that apart from Him I can do nothing. It is all the Holy Spirit's work. I am also praying for the church in general that God would send us out into the midst of the world so that we can bring the lost into the midst of the fellowship of believers.
In a nutshell that is what I do every day.
2. What did you have to do to become a pastor? My schooling went something like this: I went to undergraduate college at Concordia in Mequon, WI from 1989-1993. Then after that I had some very important "schooling" and formation as I was a high school teacher for three years 1994-1996. Then. after those three years, I went to the seminary. 1996-2001 I spent two years taking classes, then went on vicarage (internship) for a year in Hannibal, MO, and then finished up with one more year of classes. I continue to learn daily from the Lord as He guides me through His Word and as he puts wise and discerning people in my path to help me to learn more about him.
3. Do I like being a pastor? NO! I LOVE IT! Even in those times when things weren't going so well (and there have been many of them that were mostly my fault) I thanked the Lord for allowing me to have this life. There is no more satisfying feeling for me than to preach His good news of salvation, teach His Word, and administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper. There is no more satisfaction in life for me than bringing the Gospel to those in desperate need of it. It is a most gratifying and satisfying life! To God be the glory!
4. If you have ever thought about becoming a pastor or other church worker, please come and talk to me. Id' love to hear about what your thoughts are and help to guide you in the way you should go.
Let us pray: Lord, you know our hearts better than we know them ourselves. Guide us in the way we should go so that you may be honored and praised and you will be done. Thank you for making me pastor off this place and for working even through my failures to do Your will. Amen.
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The last few weeks I have had several conversations with people who wonder about what it means to be a pastor. A youth didn't realize that being a pastor was something that I did every day. She thought I had another job. Another asked about how long it took me to go to school to become a pastor. Sometimes little kids think I live here at church (and sometimes I think I do too. haha)
Let me first give you a background as to where the idea of pastor (or priest) came from and then try to answer a few of the questions y'all might have.
First of all, the idea of pastor (or in the case of the Old Testament a priest) was started right here in the passage above. There Was grumbling and questioning among the people as to who should be the priests, what they should do, and how they should make their living. After a failed rebellion by Korah and his followers and a plague that killed 14,700 people in one day because of that grumbling and fighting against God's chosen man, Moses, God set forth the rules for the rest of the days of Israel. He said that the men of the tribe of Levi would be set apart as priests. They would have no land or inheritance of their own, but would make their living from the tithes (10% of each family's income) that the rest of the people were to give faithfully.
That is how it was throughout the rest of the Old Testament. In the New Testament Jesus chose 12 men (to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel to be his leaders (They were first called disciples and then later Apostles). Those twelve leaders went out and appointed (ordained) leaders from there in Jerusalem to all parts of the world. This continues today in ordinations of pastors all around the world.
Now to answer some of the questions people might have:
1. What do you do all week? Do you have another job? My calling as pastor is an all week, every week, calling. It is hard to call it a job or even a career, because I don't think of it as such. It is more of a way of life than it is a job or even a career. Wherever I go I am a pastor. There are times where I am more focused on work like putting together sermons, Bible studies, confirmation classes, worship services, and many other things to preach, teach, and administer the sacraments. I also spend a lot of time visiting people in the hospitals and in their homes when they are sick or in need of spiritual care. I also try to lead the congregation in the way they should go according to the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations in many meetings of groups and individuals. Then there is much counseling for people with all sorts of needs.
When I am not doing those things I am praying. I pray for each of you individually (which I don't do nearly enough and am making an effort to do more). I am praying that God uses me, in all my sinfulness and humanity, to do His thing, as I realize that apart from Him I can do nothing. It is all the Holy Spirit's work. I am also praying for the church in general that God would send us out into the midst of the world so that we can bring the lost into the midst of the fellowship of believers.
In a nutshell that is what I do every day.
2. What did you have to do to become a pastor? My schooling went something like this: I went to undergraduate college at Concordia in Mequon, WI from 1989-1993. Then after that I had some very important "schooling" and formation as I was a high school teacher for three years 1994-1996. Then. after those three years, I went to the seminary. 1996-2001 I spent two years taking classes, then went on vicarage (internship) for a year in Hannibal, MO, and then finished up with one more year of classes. I continue to learn daily from the Lord as He guides me through His Word and as he puts wise and discerning people in my path to help me to learn more about him.
3. Do I like being a pastor? NO! I LOVE IT! Even in those times when things weren't going so well (and there have been many of them that were mostly my fault) I thanked the Lord for allowing me to have this life. There is no more satisfying feeling for me than to preach His good news of salvation, teach His Word, and administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper. There is no more satisfaction in life for me than bringing the Gospel to those in desperate need of it. It is a most gratifying and satisfying life! To God be the glory!
4. If you have ever thought about becoming a pastor or other church worker, please come and talk to me. Id' love to hear about what your thoughts are and help to guide you in the way you should go.
Let us pray: Lord, you know our hearts better than we know them ourselves. Guide us in the way we should go so that you may be honored and praised and you will be done. Thank you for making me pastor off this place and for working even through my failures to do Your will. Amen.
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YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: What was the total number of all the men 20 years old and older who were able to serve in the army during the time of the first census? 603,550
YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: What was the total number of all the men 20 years old and older who were able to serve in the army during the time of the first census? 603,550
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What "portion" of the offerings and sacrifices were the priests according to the Lord's command in Numbers 18?
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6; Family Night 6-7
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Trustees 7
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- karate 5:30-7:30; Praise Band practice 6-8
Sat- Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Voter's meeting 9:45; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jack Bunge, 11- Jacob Cluver
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- ????? 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Sun- Worship 8:30; Voter's meeting 9:45; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jack Bunge, 11- Jacob Cluver
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- ????? 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier 8:30- Steve Robine; 11- Jim Rahn
Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Projectionists: NO PROJECTION THIS WEEKEND
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NEWS: (LOTS OF NEW NEWS TODAY!! PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THING!!!)
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NEWS: (LOTS OF NEW NEWS TODAY!! PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THING!!!)
FAMILY, FAITH, AND FOOD TONIGHT AT 6PM
It is Italian night! Bring your favorite Italian dish to share!
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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!!
MENU-- Ham and Sausage Egg bakes/casseroles, biscuits and gravy
Our study will focus on what the Bible says about the separation of church and state.
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A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION SATURDAY NIGHT.
We raised near $10,500 for our servant events, special youth events, and especially for the National Youth Gathering coming up in 2016.
A special thank you to the following:
Christy Winn for being the leader and director of this event
Joanna Hoelscher for heading up the kitchen crew
Donna Sherman for heading up the Auction crew
All the parents who put in countless hours to make this a success
S and S Carpet Cleaning (Steve and Sandy Robine) for donating most of the steaks
Jonesburg State Bank for a generous monetary donation
Specialty Auto Body (The Werges family) for a generous monetary donation
The dozens of businesses who donated goods, services, and certificates for the auction
It is a lot of work, but it is well worth it!
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
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LENT BEGINS WITH ASH WEDNESDAY NEXT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18!!
Supper starts at 5:30
Worship starts at 6:30
Mark your calendars
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THE CHOIR NEEDS YOU FOR LENT AND ESPECIALLY HOLY WEEK!!!
The choir is preparing a cantata for Holy Week and Easter. Parts of it will be presented at 3 different services (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday). It would be wonderful to have some additional voices. If you enjoy singing, please consider joining the choir from now until Easter. You will be blessed by it! Rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 in the balcony.
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BIBLE STUDY DATE AT HENDERSHOTS CHANGED
Bible study at the Hendershots house will be on February 20 and not the 13th as it says on the calendar.
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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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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For CHERI HOFELDT'S MOTHER who is dealing with severe back pain.
For CLAIRE JOHNSON who is dealing with a large mass on her lung and is having great difficulty breathing.
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
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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