Thursday, May 28, 2015

DEVOTION:  What does a man get for all his toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?  All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest.  This too is meaningless.  A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  Ecclesiastes 2:24
 
The other day I was thinking how nice it would be to have a new car, then I remembered that I also like that I don't have any car payments anymore and I don't like it when I do.  I also thought that it would be nice to have a bigger back yard with maybe some woods behind it so that I can go for a hike or just enjoy it more, and then I thought about how much work it would be to take care of all that.  When I get hungry I think about the big meal I want to have, and after I have that meal I still find myself unsatisfied.  As the old saying goes, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." 
 
Solomon knew this better than anyone.  He says, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for my labor.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." 
 
I have seen a lot of people over the years striving after the almighty dollar and always coming up short.  These people are never satisfied.  They never have enough, and so they never have enough to give.  Maybe you are one of them. 
 
Stop striving after meaninglessness.  Stop coveting what you don't have at the expense of what you do have.  Stop living life for the next thing or the next achievement, or the next whatever.  Instead REST in God's grace.  Eat and drink and find satisfaction in your work.  If there is not satisfaction in your work, maybe you need to find something else to do.  Maybe you can find satisfaction in working for the Lord. 
 
Don't take my word for it.  Take Solomon's word.  He had everything imaginable.  If he wanted it he got it.  The trouble was that he kept on wanting and was never satisfied with what he had although he had everything.  Do you get my point here? 
 
There is a peace that passes all understanding.  it doesn't come from things.  It comes from a relationship with Almighty God.  It comes from and through and with Jesus.  Strive for Jesus, or better yet, let Jesus strive for you!  Rest in Jesus!  Find hope, comfort, satisfaction, joy, peace, love, and everything else under the sun in Jesus! 
 
Let us pray:  Lord stop my striving for meaningless things.  Help me to rest in you.  Amen.
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TODAY'S QUIZ:
What other book besides the actual book of Jeremiah, did Jeremiah write?
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CALENDAR:

Fri- Assemble newsletter
Sat- Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Ian Brunson; 11- Jack Bunge
Ushers-  Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Lois Boeger
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Randy and Patty Sweet; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Lay readers- Sat- Kathy Fischer 8:30- ????  11- Sandy Robine
Organist: Melissa Pedersen
Pianist- Tim Sherman
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Terry McKenzie; 11am- ????

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NEWS:

PASTOR IS STILL IN NEED OF MORE SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE-A-THON ACROSS MISSOUR!!

My goal is to raise $1,500 for Lead a Child!  One of, if not the, best mission organization within the Synod.  We provide funds for kids in Third World countries to go to Christian schools. 

 

Please go to leadachild.org, click on the "donate" button and follow the instructions.  Or you can just give me a check and I will send it on to them. 

 

A special thank you to those who have already donated!  Right now I am at $650!  Almost half way there!

 

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NEXT PLANNING MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY,  JUNE 28 at NOON!  IT WILL BE A POTLUCK LUNCH!!!  EVERYONE IS INVITED!

 

WE WILL ANSWER TWO QUESTONS AT THIS MEETING:

1. What do we do well?

2. What do we need to improve our ministry?

 

The answers to these two questions will help us to focus our efforts and put together a master plan so that we can focus on building to fit our ministry needs and goals.

 

WE NEED INPUT FROM EVERYONE!!  THIS IS YOUR TIME!  BRING YOUR ANSWERS (along with a dish to share)!

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TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP'S NEXT ADVENTURE IS TO ROCHEPORT AND ARROW ROCK, MO.

They will have dinner and the J. Huston Tavern in Arrow Rock and then enjoy a live play "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Lyceum Theater.  Cost will be determined by number of people going, but should run between $60 and $70 per person.  SIGN UP SOON!  A $25 deposit is due by this Sunday!! Please give your deposit to Marilyn or put it in her mailbox or on her desk.  Don't put it in the offering plate.

 

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KITCHEN TOWELS AND DISH CLOTHS ARE MISSING!!

Check your drawers and laundry piles and bring them back!   

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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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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 CARA KLAUSTERMEIER who is recovering well at home.

 

For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are now BOTH on hospice care.

 

 For BONNIE FRENZIA, who is undergoing radiation treatments at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

 

For OUR DCE INTERN, KELSEY OVERBECK, that the Lord's will is done concerning her call to a church to be a full time DCE.

 

For LIL WINTER recovering at home.

 

For MOLLY HENDERSHOT recovering at home.

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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. .