Devotion and News: Tuesday, February 3, 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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SERMON FROM 2/1/15.  Share it with someone you think may need to hear it!
http://youtu.be/h1hoZaQuQkk
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DEVOTION: Leviticus 8:14-17English Standard Version (ESV)
14 Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 And he[a] killed it, and Moses took the blood, and with his finger put it on the horns of the altar around it and purified the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it to make atonement for it. 16 And he took all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses burned them on the altar. 17 But the bull and its skin and its flesh and its dung he burned up with fire outside the camp, as the Lord commanded Moses.
 
As you read this it may seem like just another one of those boring Leviticus readings about laws and directions and all of that stuff, but there is a lot more to it.    In this passage we see that blood must be shed and "poured out" for sins. Sin can never go without being atoned (paid) for.  So this was a sin offering for the sins off the priests.  Notice that the body of the bull was to be taken outside the temple and burned up, but all of the blood was used as the atonement.  Remind you of anyone?
 
Jesus' blood was shed, poured out for us!  it was shed to make atonement (payment) for our sins.  After his blood was shed and he died, his body was taken off the cross and buried outside the city in a new tomb in which no one had every been laid.  Yet, unlike that blood of bulls and lambs, which were imperfect and would not last, His blood was perfect, the perfect atonement, the perfect sin offering for us and for all mankind.  And unlike those thousands of bulls and lambs that were burned up.  He rose from the dead.  He came out of the grave!  He's alive!
 
Today remember the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made for you!  Remember his blood poured out for you.  Remember his ultimate love for you!
 
Let us pray:  Lord Jesus, thank you for pouring out your blood for me so that I can live forever with you.  Amen.


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YESTERDAY"S QUIZ: 
  What is an ephod?  An ephod is a sleeveless vestment worn by the high priest. Sometimes the word refers to an otherwise
unidentified object of worship.   Detailed description is in Exodus 28 beginning in verse 6.  Very beautiful, being
made with gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn finely twisted linen, the work of a skilled craftsman.
Two onyx stones engraved with sons of Israel in the order of birth, 6 on each as a gem cutter engraves a seal.
 Mount the stones in gold filigree settings and fasten on to the shoulder pieces of the ephod.  Aaron is to bear
names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord.  Make gold filigree settings and two braided chains of
pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.  Thanks Dianne!
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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What kind of bull did it need to be in order to be considered worthy of sacrifice?
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CALENDAR:  
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers support group 1pm; karate 5:30-7:30; Praise Band practice 6-8
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Hailey Blechle, 11- Ian Brunson
Ushers- Figura family
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Steve McDowell
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp 11- Steve and Katie McDowell
Lay readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer  8:30- Amber Vossen; 11- Steve McDowell
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
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NEWS:   
VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO BE LUTHERANS FOR LIFE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ST. JOHN'S
Lutheran for Life is an organization that supports and defends life at ALL STAQES from the moment of conception to the last breath.  Every life matters.  There is a chapter of LFL in St Charles County of which we re a part.  They are in need of someone to be the contact person and liaison from our congregation.  Denise Schlesselmann was, but since she is in the Czech Republic she is unable to right now.
 
All it requires is an email address and a phone number at which you can receive information and then relay that information to our congregation. 
 
They  are hosting a breakfast for all of our board members and church contacts on February 21st at Caleco's Bar and Grill in St. Peters. They will be saying thank you as well as sharing many exciting things that we have in the works for this year.
 
One thing that they are talking about right now is that they have money available for those who are thinking about or are in the process of adoption.  It is a great organization with A LOT to offer! 
 
Please let me know if you are interested and I can give you more info. 
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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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ONE MORE FOOD, FAITH, AND FAMILY NIGHT NEXT MONDAY AT 6PM!!
Italian night next Monday!  Bring your favorite Italian dish to share.   We'd love to see you!!  It's a fun time!  Please join us!
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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. 
  
CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE TODAY TO GET YOUR TICKETS IF YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED THEM YET!

 It is always a BLAST!!!   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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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. 
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
 
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
 
 
 



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