Monday, April 20, 2015

DEVOTION:  How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?.....  But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."  Psalm 13:1-5
 
As you read the above passage today, it seems like David is having a manic episode.  He goes from despair to rejoicing in an instant. 
 
Yet, as you think of your own life, you may notice that you often do the same thing.  You go from being totally depressed, to completely ecstatic, back to completely ruined all in one day. It all depends on your circumstances. 
 
It shouldn't though.  Your life, your mood, your day really only depends on one thing, the love of Jesus Christ your Savior.  David knew that and so he was able to snap out of his funk.  He went from wondering if God was ever going to relent and relieve his suffering.  He was suffering the consequences of his sin.  God had told him that the sword would never depart from his house, because he had used to sword against Uriah to take Uriah's wife Bathsheba for himself.  At the same time, he knew that God had spared him the eternal death he really deserved.  So, in the midst of an intense battle with members of his own family he is able to praise God for his goodness to him.
 
As we learned yesterday, we need to look at our conflicts as opportunities to honor God.  Think of the conflicts going on in your life today.  How can you honor God in and through those conflicts?  How can you thank and praise God even in the midst of that conflict?  How can you share the love of Christ? 
 
If you are in the midst of a funk because of your conflict, SNAP OUT OF IT!!  Christ is STILL risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!
 
Prayer:  Lord, snap me out of my bad mood, and my pity party!  Give me courage to face my conflicts with the grace you have given me and the forgiveness won by your Son Jesus on the cross.  Amen.
 

 
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:    Who was Hushai?  Hushai was a friend of King David and a spy who was placed in the house of Absalom.  He was to mess with the advice given by Ahithophel.  2 Samuel 15:34  (Good job Dianne!)

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TODAY'S QUIZ: In our Gospel reading for yesterday what did Jesus do to show the people he was with that he was truly alive and not a ghost?

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CALENDAR: 

Mon- Last confirmation class 5-6:15; Family Night 6-7  LET'S PLAY THE FEUD!

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

Wed- Choir practice 7pm
Thurs- 8th grade questioning and reception 7pm

Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; 8thh grade confirmation service
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- George Pezold; 11- Lydia Miller
Ushers-  8:30- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure---  11- Marv Hendershot, Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Charlie Figura
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Cheryl Bettlach and Betty Schirr
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Randy Sweet
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Randy and Patty Sweet
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier 8:30- Tim Linke  11- Randy Sweet
Organist: Melissa Pedersen

Pianist- Tim Sherman
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- ????; 11- ????
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NEWS: 

WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOMEONE TO BE PROJECTIONIST AT BOTH OF OUR SUNDAY SERVICES THIS COMING WEEKEND, BUT ESPECIALLY THE LATE ONE!!!  Please help!!

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FAITH, FOOD, AND FAMILY NIGHT TONIGHT AND EVERY MONDAY NIGHT at 6PM!! 

Round TWO of FAMILY FEUD ST. JOHN'S EDITION TONIGHT!!

 What a wonderful way to grow with your church family!  Just bring a dish full of your favorite food to share!

 BRING YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TOO!

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From your Outreach & Evangelism Board!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS & WATCH FOR UPDATES

IN PASTOR'S DAILY EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND WEEKLY BULLETINS!!!!

National Day of Prayer Breakfast

St. John's Lutheran Church

Thursday - May 7, 2015,

Breakfast 6:30 AM (sanctuary overflow)

Prayer Service at 7:00 AM

Everyone Welcome!

 

 

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MORE ALTAR GUILD MEMBERS AND LAY READERS NEEDED!!!

There is a need for some more ALTAR GUILD members especially cleaning up after the late service on communion Sundays

 

There is also a need for some more LAY READERS for all of our services but especially the Saturday service and  11am service on Sunday.

 

If you feel as though you could help your congregation in either of these ways, please reply to this email and we'll give you any training you need and put you on the schedule! 

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PASTOR IS BIKING ACROSS MISSOURI JUNE 21-26!

As much as I need to get in shape, this is more to raise money for www.leadachild.org.   If you'd like to donate to this most worthy cause, go to the website, click on the donate button, find the space that says "Lead a Child Bible club, enter your amount and enter my name.  Then you can pay by check, e-check, or credit/debit card.

 

Thank you for your support!

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QUILT RAFFLE

The quilt is hanging in the church basement and will be awarded to some lucky person at 1pm on Saturday, May 2!!  You may purchase tickets from a quilter or from the church office.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5!! 

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CALLING ALL BAKERS!!!
If you have never been involved in one of our church activities (and even if you have), here is a new challenge for you!!  There will be a cake/dessert booth at the carnival on September 12!  The carnival will be open from 11am until dusk!  Donations of baked good and workers to man the booth will be needed!!  Desserts needing refrigeration cannot be accepted.  Work shifts will be for two hours beginning at 10am and will go till closing time.  To eliminate many, many phone calls, a sign up sheet has been placed on the narthex where you can volunteer!! 

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LITTLE LAMBS IS ENROLLING NOW FOR THE 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR!!

Only a few spaces left!  Get those registrations in today!!  Get your registration forms from the preschool or from the church office.

 

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DID YOU HAVE FUN WITH THE TRAVELING FELLOWWSHIP GROUP AT THEIR LAST EVENT? 

Well the next trip is already in the works!  They will be taking a trip to Rocheport and Arrow Rock, MO on August 22!!  They will have dinner at the J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock and then enjoy the play "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Lyceum Theater.  Cost will be determined by number of people going.  It should run between $60 and $70 per person.  Sign up soon as there seems to be a lot of interest. 

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NINTH ANNUAL TAILGATE SALE AND VENDOR FAIR WILL BE ON SATURDAY, MAY 2!! 

Tailgate sale starts at 7am and inside vendors will open at 8am and continue till 3pm.  The Ladies Aid will hold their luncheon and bake sale from 8am-3pm as well.  We are looking for vendors for indoor booths at $25 a stall and tailgaters to rent spaces outside at $10 a double parking space. There will also be PREMIUM rental space under the pavilion.  Rent the entire pavilion for $75 or we will divide into four spaces for $20 each. 

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STEPHEN MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!!

Stephen Ministry Leadership Training will be held April 12-18, 2015 in St. Louis at a hotel near the airport.  If anyone is interested in being part of this ministry, and wants more details, call Joanne Hachtel, 636-745-8711.

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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET NEEDS TO GET FILLED UP!!!  We have no one signed up till May 16!!  Please sign up!
Apr. 26- Gary and Joanna Hoelscher

May 3-

May 10- Ava Campbell w/ help from Gary and Teresa Scott

May 17-

May 24-

May 31-

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ST. JOHN'S YELLOW PAGES
If you didn't get your business card in this month's newsletter get them in to the office for the April newsletter!! This advertising is free to members.  Many times members call and ask if there are members who are in a certain business or profession.  People would always rather do business with fellow church members when they can.
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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD?  ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register online and have it swiped each time you shop. 
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SAVE THE DATE!!!!  OUR FIRST ANNUAL FALL CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 12, 2015!!!
We are looking for ideas for carnival games and also donations of carnival game prizes for the vent.  Please donate prizes into the cardboard box in the narthex.  Also, if any one has an idea for a carnival game, or a game itself they would like to donate please contact Joanna Hoelscher at 636-485-0635 or Karla Christophene at 314-397-1375.

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PRAYER REQUESTS:

For CAROL KOHRS who is recovering at home from an infection.

 

For DANIELLE MEINE who is home from the hospital recovering from chemo treatment.  

 

For DAVE KOHRS who has stopped receiving chemo treatments and has placed himself on hospice care.

 

For BONNIE FRENZIA who is spending some time in Delmar Gardens for rehab.

For OUR CONGREGATION AS WE SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BUILDING PROGRAM!!

 

For OUR DCE INTERN, KELSEY OVERBECK, that the Lord moves a congregation in need of her abilities to call her into full time DCE ministry.

 

For DAVE TINNIN'S MOM, JANE, as she continues to recover from several strokes and seizures.
 
For WILMA WEIGLE as she is having a lot of difficulty with congestion and possible pneumonia. .

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she continues to work hard to bring the people of the Czech Republic to Christ. .