DEVOTION: Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)
38 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
As Jesus often teaches, so he continues to teach that there is no difference between rich and poor in the kingdom of God. That's a whole lot different than how we view it in the world, isn't it? We have lists upon lists of people who are the richest in the world and in the United States. This is no good. When we do this we are exalting those who have a lot of money as being the smartest and most able to lead. Just look at those who are able to run for president. Money is the number one reason that people have to get out of the race.
Do we have a list of who gave the most percentage of their income to charity or to the church? Do we honor those who give hours upon hours of their time to worthy causes? Do we honor the poor widow who gives everything she has to her church or to her Ladies Aid organization? If any human beings should be honored it should be these.
Yet, most of the time they don't want honor. They want the honor, glory, and praise to go to God, or at the very least, to the organization that does God's work. This indeed is good!
The same is true of most popular TV preachers and evangelists. Most of them are just out to get your money. They'll tell you what your itching ears want to hear. Some are good, but most are scammers. They are exactly the ones that Jesus speaks about when he says, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers." Stay away from these people.
In fact, stay away from anyone who makes a big deal about the money they have or expects extra honor because of the money they have. Their god is their money, and God is not honored.
The widow got it! She trusted in the Lord to care for her. She knew that her happiness, her peace, her security, and her satisfaction came from the Lord and so everything she had belonged to him and she was ok with giving it all to him, because she knew she would be cared for.
My prayer for you is that you get it too. That you realize that real security and satisfaction come from God alone. Trust in Him! Give all that you have to Him so that He can use it and you to do His work!
Let us pray: Lord, help me to be like the widow and give it all up to you, Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Karate 6:15-7:45
Fri- Set up for Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, and Luncheon
Sat- Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, Luncheon 9am-2pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold ; 11- Hailey Blechle
Ushers- George, Gary, and Ben Hoelscher; Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Talbert; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Randy Sweet
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Randy Sweet
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. ?????, 8:30-?????? , 11- Alaina Heitgerd
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!
BUILDING MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 at 7PM!!!
Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to attend to get your ideas and comments out there so we can get this thing done!
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VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, NOV. 15 at 9:45!!!
Items on agenda so far:
1. Budget
2. Elections of officers and board members
3. Vote on Christmas Eve services and times
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CONFIRMATION KIDS ARE SELLING TJ's PIZZA AND OTHER GOODIES FOR THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO CAMP WINDERMERE FOR THE JR. HI. RETREAT !
Reply to this email or text me at 636-359-1061 to place your order. Make checks out to St. John's.
Here's the menu:
PIZZAS:
3-pack of personal pizzas $18.50 (Deluxe $20),
12 " St. Louis Style -
$8.50--Triple cheese, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni
$9- Italian Sausage and Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Bacon, Pepperoni and Bacon,
$10- Lotsa meat (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, bacon, Beef); All Bacon; Deluxe (Ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, peppers); Supreme- (beef, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, onions)
GOURMET PIZZAS $10 each
Breakfast Pizza (Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese
BBQ Chicken-
Nacho- beef, onion, olives, peppers, chips
Garlic Chicken
Alfredo chicken (White sauce, broccoli, mushrooms)
Buffalo chicken
White sausage (Italian sausage and white sauce)
Veggie
Breakfast pizza with thick crust
12" TJ's Thick Crust (Mozzarella cheese)
$9- Triple cheese, Pepperoni
$11 Deluxe, Lotsa meat
Coffee $10 for a 12 oz. bag
Regular grind, decaf grind, whole bean
Frozen Desserts
Dutch Apple pie $10
Original gooey butter cake 12.50
French Cream Cheesecake $16.50
Caramel Braided Bread $11
Strawberry Cream Cheese braided bread $11
Cookie Dough $10
Chocolate Chunk
Double chocolate
Sugar
Oatmeal cranberry
White chocolate macadamia $12
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I NEED PROJECTIONISTS FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND 8:30 SUNDAY!! Who is gonna do it?
Please help!
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VENDOR FAIR, BAKE SALE, AND LUNCHEON THIS SATURDAY 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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TUESDAY LUNCH TIME BIBLE STUDY IS LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES OF OUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH!
This is the time right after Jesus died till the time that Constantine made Christianity legal.
We are gong to learn A LOT and learn about why our church is the way it is at the same time.
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WE HAVE TWO FAMILIES SIGNED UP TO GO TO THIS ON MY BIRTHDAY!! WHO ELSE?
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