Daily Email: Thursday, September 3, 2015

DEVOTION:  ¹² "And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness^[a] when he sins. ¹³ Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. ¹⁴ Again, though I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, ¹⁵ if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he shall surely live.   Ezekiel 33:12-16
 
If you've ever heard me or another pastor talk about repentance and wondered what in the world he is talking about, this verse from Ezekiel is a very good explanation of it.
 
The real question, and one whose answer will help the definition is, what does repentance look like?   
 
ANSWER:
Repentance looks like forgiveness where once there was bitterness, resentment and a grudge. 
 
Repentance looks like selflessness where once there was selfishness and greed. 
 
Repentance looks like humility where there was once pride and arrogance. 
 
Repentance looks like love where there once was hate. 
 
Repentance looks like a continual struggle against sin that continues to creep up on you and get you when you're weak. Think about those who have to deal with addiction.
 
Repentance looks like hate for sin of any kind.  Even when it is unpopular.  Hate the sin.  Love the sinner.
 
Repentance looks like a surrender to God's will even when everything in your body and mind would rather do the opposite. 
 
Repentance looks like turning away from sin and turning to God. 
 
Repentance is realizing that you are a sinner and you are ALWAYS in need of a Savior.  You will never be without sin on this side of heaven.  The good that you want to do, you don't do, but the evil you don't want to do you keep on doing.   Romans 7:17-25
 
My brothers and sisters, I beg you to realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  Turn from your sins and turn to God so that he can work in you! 
 
Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Amen.
 

____________________________________________________________________________________________
LAST TIME'S QUIZ:
What happened to the dry bones in the middle of the valley in Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones? 

 

Here is an extended answer from Dianne Hance:

Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones came to him after God had told him to prophesy the rebirth of Israel.

God transported Ezekiel via vision to a valley of bones and told him to speak to the bones.  He was told to tell the

bones that God would make breath enter the bones and they would live.  Ezekiel did as he was told and he heard

the bones moving.  They all came together to form complete bodies & breath entered their bodies.  This reviving

of the dried bones signified God's plan for Israel's future.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ: Who are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Thurs- Alzheimer's support group

Sat-  Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Devin Miller; 11- George Pezold
Ushers-  Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Sweet; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Don and Donna Sherman; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Steve Robine
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist-  Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Pam Bueltmann; Sun- 8:30- Terry McKenzie
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!!  PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

 

FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET--

No one is signed up to bring donuts this coming weekend. 

 

Who'd like to do it?  Please reply to this message.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

CARNIVAL NEEDS

The carnival committee is in need of the following items to make our first annual carnival the best it can be. 

Pop up canopies for stations

Coolers for ice and drinks

Your email address--  Send it to me and I will pass it on to Marcia Sevier.  She will send you an invitation to the carnival that you can in turn send to as many people as you want to invite.  You will also receive a coupon that you can share with friends as well.  Your email will not be used for any other purpose. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

OPERATION BACKPACK TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AT ST. JOHN'S!!

Many children in our community are very poor.  They are able to get some of their meals at school during the week, but often go hungry on weekends.  Operation backpack is a way that our community has decided to help these kids. 
 
Every month throughout the school year, each church participating will take one food item and collect just that food item.  At the end of the month the food will be delivered to school.  The school officials along with volunteers will distribute the food to kids backpacks to take home.   

Throughout the month of September we will be collecting canned fruit . All size cans and even individual portions will be accepted.  The fruit will be delivered to the schools October 1.   We will have a box in the narthex for deposits.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

SHOP WITH SCRIP!!  A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!!

A new fundraiser was unveiled at our last voter's meeting!!  You may purchase gift cards from church to be used as you would any other gift card.  The only difference is that you purchase it from church and St. John's gets a percentage of the sale.  Order forms are on the counter in the narthex.  The first order will be place next Sunday, August 30.  Place your order for, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box.  For additional information or to get your questions answered, call the church office.  456-2888.

 

____________________________________________________________________________

FLOAT TRIP!  FLOAT TRIP!!  FLOAT TRIP!!! FLOAT TRIP!!!!
Do you enjoy the outdoors?  Do you like to float down lazy rivers with friends?  Do you enjoy rafts and coolers filled with all sorts of beverages and snacks?  Then sign up and join us for the fourth annual Labor Day float trip! 
 
DETAILS:
1. We will once again go through Ozark Outdoors. 
A. Canoe rental is $20 per person.  A child can ride for free as the THIRD person in the canoe. 
B. Single person kayaks are available at $28 per person. 
C. Rafts are available at $29 per person.  Children 7-12 yrs old can ride for $15 and children under 7 are free if raft minimums are met. 
D. Tubes are $25 per person
E. Rides on the bus are $30 a person if you have your own equipment. 
 
2. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IS IT IS A FLOAT AND NOT A RACE!  Float a little, stop, have a snakcc and a drink, wait for the rest of the group and then move on. 
 
3. What will you need?  Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, cooler, drinks, lunch, and a positive attitude. 
 
4. Contact Teresa Scott to sign up tscott@usmo.com , 359-5041, or Schraer Heating and Cooling at 456-5041.  When signing up please provide your email address and BEST contact number.
 
5. If you choose to spend the weekend down there, please make camping, hotel, or cabin arrangements through Ozark Outdoors, www.ozarkoutdoors.net or with Onondaga State Park.  Currently there are reservable basic sites available for the weekend at Onandaga. 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
UNMARKED BLUE ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING EXPANSION PROGRAM
If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that!  Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!
________________________________________________________________________________________
DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD?  ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs. 
 
__________________________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL PRAYERS:

For SANDY ROBINE as she continues to recover from her knee replacement.

 

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering well from illness and has moved to Whispering Pines.

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is back int he Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

 

For CORA CLUVER'S DAD, who may get to go home soon after spending a couple months in the hospital and rehab after a severe motorcycle accident and becoming  paralyzed from the waist down.

 

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

 

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with the after effects of a severe stroke almost two years ago.  

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to stjohnswarrenton+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.