Daily Email: Tuesday, October 27, 2015

DEVOTION: Revelation 7:9-17

⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" ¹⁴ I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ "Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

 

 

Being before the throne of God and serving him day and night in his temple doesn't sound like the ultimate in a fantasy life now does it?  I already work day and night, you say.  I work at my job and then I work to take care of my family.  I don't want to be a servant for eternity.  Yet, what is bliss but to be in God's presence and serving him day and night in his perfect presence in his perfect temple?  What is better than being sheltered by his presence?  What is better than never being hungry, thirsty, too hot, and sad every again?

 

This is perfect service.  This is doing God's will the way it should be done.  This is what Jesus meant when he said, "Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

As Christians, loved by God and forgiven by Him, we try to serve God day and night.  We long to be able to do so.  But, as Paul says, "The good I want to do I don't do, but the evil I don't want to do I keep on doing.  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

 

So we long for the day when these too slow, crooked, overweight, too skinny, hurting, tempted, and torn bodies are turned to dust and a new, perfect in every way, body comes forth and arises daily.  Until then we rejoice in the fullness of his forgiveness and peace for us.  We take His Word and His Sacraments into us to tide us over until that day.  And we live our lives in His grace so that we aren't tossed to and fro by every wave of doubt.  We stand firm in Jesus our Savior. 

 

Let us pray: Lord, as I wait for you to come, fill me with your Spirit so that I may not despair but find perfect peace.  Amen.

 

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CALENDAR:

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15 (We will begin our look at "Christianity: the First Three Centuries")

Wed- 8th graders go to LHS for talk on sexual purity leave church at 5:30 and return at 9

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45 (Pastor in KC for Lead a Child Banquet)

Fri-  Chili cook off and Supper- 5-6pm; Pastor in KC for Lead a Child board of directors meeting; Chili judging is at 5pm; Trunk or Treat 6-8pm

Sat-  Worship 5; REFORMATION DAY (actual)
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45 ALL SAINTS DAY
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- John Pezold ; 11- Jacob Winn
Ushers- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Brett and Amanda Nordwald
Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier 8:30- Amber Vossen 11- Gus Klaustermeier
Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot
Organist-  Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. Pam Bueltmann, 8:30- George Pezold, 11- ?????
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NEWS!!!!  PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

 

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BAKE SALE, VENDOR FAIR, AND LUNCH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 9am-2pm!!

 

Come on down to church and get a bunch off your Christmas shopping done and enjoy some lunch, a piece of pie, and some good fellowship at the same time!! 

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A NEW SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY CALLED "MARRIAGE AND FAMILY:  THE LUTHERAN DIFFERENCE"! 

Do you want to have a clearer definition of marriage according to God's Word?

 

Do you want to be able to explain your views on marriage and family when you get into discussions about it and when you want to teach your kids?

 

Do you want to strengthen your own marriage and family?

 

THEN COME TO BIBLE STUDY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:45!!!!!!!

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QUILT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!  

The drawing was not held at the carnival to give people more time to purchase more tickets.  You may purchase tickets from any quilter or from the church office throughout the week.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.  

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LADIES AID IS SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR $5 a BOX!!  

Once they're gone, that's it.  There won't be another order when they run out!  Get them today!  They're in the basement and you can give money to whoever is in the office. 

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PLEASE ORDER SCRIP !!!!! 

A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!! 

 

The order forms are on the table in the narthex!  Just about every store that you can think of is on the list!  Use the cards just like you would use a debit/credit card and help St. John's make  A LOT of money!

Place your order, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box. 

  
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES!! !

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

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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!
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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. 
 
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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For DIANNE HANCE who moved to Kenrick rehab at Mercy Hospital in Creve Couer.

 

For MARIANNE LINKE who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery and had a setback on Friday but is doing better now. She's doing very well!

 

For CAL TAMELER as he continues to heal after a cornea transplant.

 

For DON PANHORST who is undergoing his second round of chemo treatments today.   

 

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in the Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

 

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.