Daily Email: Tuesday, January 26, 2016

DEVOTION: Jeremiah 1:4-19 (ESV)
⁴ Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

⁶ Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." ⁷ But the Lord said to me,

"Do not say, 'I am only a youth';
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
⁸ Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord."

⁹ Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
¹⁰ See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant."

 ¹⁷ But you, dress yourself for work;^[c] arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. ¹⁸ And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you."

 
What goes above and beyond our comprehension in this passage is what the Lord says at the beginning, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you."   It is not just Jeremiah that God knows that way.  It is you too.  You were and are known by God.  You aren't just known in the sense that he knows who you are, but that he knows you better than you know yourself.  He knows your past, present, and future.  He knows whether you will stick with him or not.  He knows how long you're going to live.  He knows the minute you will take your last breath. 
 
He also knows your deepest darkest secrets.  He knows that you are a complete and total mess, even though you seem all together on the outside.  He knows the evil thoughts you think.  He hears the evil things  you say before you say them.  (Can you imagine how many times a day he must cringe?)
 
Yet, even being omniscient as he is and knowing all your faults even better than you do, he still loves you!  HE STILL LOVES YOU!
 
He loves you because you are his child!  He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, from heaven to earth, to live a perfect life, suffer, die, and rise again all for you!! 
 
So next time you think no one is watching and you think you are getting away with something or are doing a good job of keeping it hidden, remember that the Lord knew you before you were even formed in your mother's womb.  But also know that he still loves you in spite of it all. 
 
Prayer: Remind me every day of how much you know me and still love me.  Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Tues- Quilters 9-2; "Christianity: The First Three Centuries" 11:30-12:15;

Wed- Choir 7pm

Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat-  worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; High School youth Bible Study 5pm; New member luncheon noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Jacob Cluver; 11- Alaina Heitgerd

Ushers-  Figura family

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster, and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Betty Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach

Elders- Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Dave Winter

Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Dave and Lil Winter

Lay readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11 - Kailyn Blechle

Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  Sat- Perricone 8:30-  Julie Schaumberg; 11- Gus Klaustermeier
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:    What was Jacob's name changed to?  (Hint: It is the name of a country that is still around today.)

ISRAEL

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TODAY'S QUIZ: What was the last plague against Egypt before the exodus?

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NEWS!!!! 

 

DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THIS DAILY EMAIL?

If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving ,y daily emails but would like to, please reply to this email with their email address and I will add them to the list.  THANK YOU!

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NEW MEMBER DINNER IS SUNDAY AT NOON!!

If you have become a new member of St. John's since 2012 you are invited.  Your invitation was put in your church mailbox!!

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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!

Tickets are $25 a piece.  All proceeds go to help our youth afford their trip down to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering as well as do many other service projects and youth events.

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SPRINGTIME IN BRANSON

Sign the sheet in the narthex if you are interested in a two day trip to Branson on April 16 and 17.  Cost will be around #300 per person.  The itinerary for Saturday upon arrival in Branson is to head to the College of the Ozarks (a.k.a. Hard Work U) for a tour led by a college student.  . From there we will go to do a self guided tour of the Keeter Museum.  Saturday evening we will go to the Sight and Sound Theater for "Moses".  This is the first year for "Moses" in Branson.  Watch the February newsletter for more details.  There will be a surprise for Sunday.  We are running out of time, so please, if you know your friends want to go, sign up quickly as deposits need to be made and tickets purchased.  Remember, the more people we get to go the cheaper it is for all.

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2016 ALTAR FLOWER CHART IS STILL PRETTY EMPTY!!

It is hanging on the bulletin board in the narthex.  Sign up if you wish to place flowers on the altar!  If it is for a special occasion (in memory of loved one, birthday, anniversary, etc.) please indicate that as well.  Cost is $25 payable to St. John's. 

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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR MAILBOXES!!! 

Are you getting ready to do your taxes?  Don't forget about your offering statements in your church mailboxes!  You could even give the money you get back from this itemization to church! 

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!

You can also do individual size cups.

 

(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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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For RUTH WALTERS as she undergoes knee replacement surgery today.

 

For MARILYN FOSTER as she has cataract surgery today.

 

THANKSGIVING For BABY BLAKE, who gets to go home just a week after a kidney transplant. 

 

For MARIANNE LINKE, as she remains in Warrenton Manor due to trouble with congestive heart troubles and pneumonia.

 

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 DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.