Daily Email: Wednesday, February 17, 2016

DEVOTION: Philippians 3:17-4:1  English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[a] whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

 
I never had a brother, only sisters.  I love my sisters dearly, but it would have been nice if my mom and dad would have been a little more thoughtful for me and given me a little brother.  Then I would have had someone with whom I could wrestle, play wiffle ball and shoot black birds with bb guns. 
 
Actually, now that I think about it, all of you fellow Christian men are my brothers by another mother.  I can lean on you.  I can depend on you.  I can rely on you to carry the Gospel with you.  I can rely on you to encourage me when I need it.  And I can have fun and laugh and work with you!  Best of all, I can worship with you, knowing that I will worship with you for all eternity!
 
Paul is really quite sad as he writes this letter to the Philippians, because there are many with whom he tried to share the Gospel to no avail.  He describes them as those who "walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.  These could've also been people who were once believers but later rejected Christ. 
 
Our goal as a church and as brothers, as Christians, is to make more brothers and less enemies of the cross.  We do this by standing firm in the Lord and by realizing that our citizenship is in heaven.  We do it with our actions, as we care for, love, and forgive everyone around us.  We do it by living in the cross of Christ!
 
My prayer for you, my brothers, is that you never lose sight of the cross of Christ, but that you see it more clearly day by day, that you grow in it, and that you live by it so that we may continue to be brothers in Christ all the way to eternal life!  Don't quit on Jesus!
 
Prayer: Lord, help us to walk as brothers and sisters in Christ and to live like it so that more might become our brothers and sisters.  Amen.

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CALENDAR:
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15

Fri- Newsletter deadline; Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm

Sat-  Men's breakfast 8am; worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Voter's meeting 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- Wed-  George Pezold  8:30- John Pezold; 11- Jacob Winn

Ushers-  Wed- Dave Winter, Gary Scott, Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze; Sun- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover

Altar- Wed-Terry McKenzie; Set up-  Linda Callies; Clean up- Sandy Robine

Elders-  Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Roy Bohning; 11- Steve Robine

Greeters- 8:30- Don and Wanda Turnure; 11- Joan Sexton

Lay readers- Sat Roy Bohning; 8:30-  Lois Boeger; 11 -  Steve Robine

Pianist- Sat- Tim Sherman

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  Sat- ????  8:30-  Terry McKenzie; 11- Hannah Johnson
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:   Jesus quoted the Old Testament in this past Sunday's Gospel reading when he said, "It is written, 'You shall  not put the Lord your God to the test.'"   Where is that found in the Old Testament?

 

(No one answered yesterday, so I will keep it up again today.)

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NEWS!!!! 

LENTEN DINNER TONIGHT AT 5:30!!

Here's the menu:

Chili
baked potato bar
hotdogs
desserts

 

PLEASE COME OUT TO SUPPORT YOUR YOUTH!!  They are the future of your church, and they need all the help they can get.

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MEN'S BREAKFAST AT 8AM THIS SATURDAY!!

 We will continue our video study of "Christianity and the Competition" with part two of our study on Islam. 
 
Menu:
Sausage
biscuits and gravy
scrambled eggs
fruit
 
 
Please RSVP by Thursday night so I have a decent idea of how much food to buy.  

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VOTERS MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45am!!

All those who are chairpersons of your boards or committees should be present to report.  If you're not able to be there to report, please provide a written report for your board or committee!!

 

Our main order of business will be to nominate and elect a man who is willing to be president and a man who is willing to be vice president for this year.

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TRIP TO BRANSON WILL BE CANCELED AFTER THIS COMING SUNDAY IF 20 MORE PEOPLE DON'T SIGN UP AND GET THEIR MONEY IN!!  Call Marilyn TODAY if you plan on going!  456-2888

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED THINGS, BOUGHT THINGS, OR ATTENDED THE STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION!! 

There are just too many people to thank them all individually!!

 

THERE ARE STILL SEVERAL ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT $10 EACH!  CONTACT PASTOR IF INTERESTED. 

 

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BUILDING EXPANSION MEETING COMING UP TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, @ 6:30pm!!

Our next, very important building meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 23 @ 6:30pm!  

We'll be looking at different rough drawings of economical ways that we can accomplish what we want to do to accommodate our growing congregation and support the future of our church!  EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS MEETING!!

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LENT DINNERS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING LENT AT 5:30!!

Over the last many, many years your Jr. and Sr. high youth and their parents (mostly their parents) have been serving dinner on Wednesday nights during Lent.  While this is a good way for the youth and their parents to serve and give back to the congregation, it is also supposed to be a way for them to raise money for their service projects and trips. 
 
Unfortunately over the past several years, they have barely broken even on these dinners.  The parents usually donate the desserts and even much of the other food out of their own pockets.  Without that the youth would probably lose money. 
 
It is especially important that they make money this year, as they will need all they can get to make their goal for the National Youth Gathering in new Orleans.
 
I want to encourage you all to attend these dinners, and, while there is no set price per person for these dinners, a generous free will offering is strongly encouraged!! 
 
Below is the Menu for each week:

Feb. 17-
baked potato bar
hotdogs

chili

all the fixins
desserts
 
Feb 24-
Fried Chicken
Stuffing
green beans
apple sauce
desserts
 
March 2-
taco bar w/all the fixings
desserts
 
March 9-
pasta
salad
rolls
desserts
 
March 16-
Fried Chicken
potatoes
corn
rolls
desserts
 
 
As always, thank you for your continued support of the future of Christianity!!!

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

If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving my 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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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!  ANY SIZE CANS ARE APPRECIATED!

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 BETTY SCHIRR as she recovers a little bit each day.  She is still intubated, but is not nearly as heavily sedated.  She is beginning to respond. 

 

For DON BRAZEE who is dealing with severe weakness and painful swelling in his joints off which the cause has yet to be identified.

 

For RUTH WALTERS as she recovers from knee replacement surgery. 

 

For MARIAH, a granddaughter of Pat Jaeger's best friend, who has been diagnosed with childhood leukemia.

 

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.