Daily Email: Monday, January 4, 2016

DEVOTION:  Psalm 29
O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord, over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless his people with peace!

 
What is this voice of the Lord?  Does he actually speak words or is it more like a heavenly voice that our mere mortal nature can't even comprehend?  Whatever it is, whether it is true audible words or something much greater and more majestic, it is truly the most powerful thing in all the universe, this "voice of the Lord." 
 
It creates and destroys at will.  It speaks both life and death.  It gives and it takes away.  When God speaks there is no power that can stand against it.  Sure, people can disagree with God.  They may even not like what God says.  It doesn't make them right.  It doesn't make them equal with God.  It only makes them foolish and obstinate, like a toddler who throws a tantrum to get his own. way. 
 
There are a lot of people like this today.  I deal with them on a daily basis.  In fact, I am one of them.  That is the very nature of sin.  It is rebellion against the voice of God.  It is thinking, doing or saying things your way instead of God's way. 
 
It makes me both laugh and cry at the same time to think that there are so many times during the day that I go my own way instead of just taking a moment to think about what God's will is.  It makes me laugh at my own foolishness, and cry at the opportunities I've missed and the messes I've caused.
 
This is why David says at the end, "May the Lord bless His people with peace!"  In the middle of all the turmoil that we humans cause, we need peace, and the voice of the Lord is what gives that too.  He speaks peace to his people, His children.  He spoke, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  He spoke "It is finished"  He spoke "Lo, I am with you always."  to the disciples.  And He speaks peace to you as He tells you that your sins are forgiven!
 
Let us pray: Lord, there is nothing more powerful than your voice.  Speak destruction to those things that need to be destroyed in my life and speak peace to me to know that my sins are forgiven.  Amen.


 
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CALENDAR:

Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15; (Family night will resume on Monday, January 11 at 6:15)
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Visitation for Carol Kohrs 9:30-11, Funeral 11am all at Pitman Funeral Home in Wentzville
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Group 1pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's Meeting Noon; High School Youth Bible Study and Pizza @ Church 5pm

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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Dawn Sherman; 11- John Pezold


Ushers-  Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klovver

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Wanda Turnure

Elders- Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11-Dave Winter

Greeters- 8:30- Tom and Pam Linke; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters

Lay readers- Zach Hoelscher; Hannah Johnson

Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  ???????
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:      Did Mary and Joseph stay in a stable, a cave, or in the basement (first floor) of a house where animals were often kept?  (Kind of a trick question....  No one really knows.  All it says is that they laid Jesus in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn (which could have meant guest room or lower floor room.  We just assume it was a stable or cave since there was a manger present.

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Why does the Bible say that God chose Noah to build the ark?
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NEWS!!!! 
OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
You can also do individual cans and packs of fruit.   
 
(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)
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HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH BIBLE STUDY MEETING AND PIZZA SUNDAY @ 5PM!!
Pastor K. wants to get back in touch with the high school kids after Christmas break, and start to prepare them for the youth gathering coming up this Summer!  Please plan on being there!!!
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GAME AND SOUP NIGHT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 6-9pm!!!
Bring your favorite card games, board games, or even dominoes!  Soup, chili, coffee and tea will be provided!!  All attending should bring a snack or dessert to share.  You may also bring drinks of your own choice!  Please sign the sheet in the narthex if you plan on coming. 
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HOPE FULL LIVING DEVOTIONS FOR SENIORS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FROM CHURCH FOR $8 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR!!
"Hope Full Living" is a daily devotional booklet just for seniors that Pastor contributes to.  He usually has one or two of his own devotions in it.  If we get 10 or more people to order it and each person gives $8 we can order them in bulk and have them mailed to church.  Order yours today by calling the church office!
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WARREN COUNTY COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER IS BEGINNING NEW CLASS SESSIONS TODAY, JANUARY 4!!
They also have the gym open Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 8am-noon.
 
It's in the old NIKE store in the mall. 
 
There are discounts for Senior and Kids.  Stop by to sign up today!
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE TABLE IN THE NARTHEX!!!
If you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have offering envelopes!  Take them home!  Put money in them!  And Bring them back as your offering to the Lord!
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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 the FAMILY OF CAROL KOHRS, as she passed away on New Year's night.  Visitation 9:30-11, Funeral at 11 Tuesday at Pitman Funeral Home.
 
For JOANNE HACHTEL, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery.
 
For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, from Trinity in Troy, who is on a two month leave to heal from cancer treatments.
 
For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.
 
For THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING PROBLEMS in the days and weeks ahead, that the Lord would provide for their needs, and use us, if need be, to help. 
 
For MARIANNE LINKE, who has been moved to Warrenton Manor and is receiving treatment and antibiotics for a very stubborn infection.
 
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.
 
For DONNNA LINDSEY'S DAD, as he has been moved to Lincoln County Nursing and rehab to recover from kidney troubles. 
 



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