Daily Email: Tuesday, May 3, 2016

DEVOTION:  Acts 1:1-11  English Standard Version (ESV) 
"The Promise of the Holy Spirit"

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

 
⁴ And while staying^[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
 
"The Ascension"
⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
 
It is always interesting to me how dependent we are on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The disciples would have had no power to do anything if Jesus wouldn't have sent His Holy Spirit ten days from the time of this reading.  They would have still been gazing up into heaven if Jesus had not sent His angels to instruct them on where to go and what to do next.  They would have never been his witnesses even in Jerusalem, much less Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth if the Holy Spirit had not entered them.
 
The same is true for you as a Christian.  You don't do anything in faith apart from the Holy Spirit moving you to do it.  In fact, your old sinful nature is what often keeps you from doing what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you.  This is why, when you try to do something without the guidance of God and only with your own human will, you will be frustrated and fail.  Once you give that part over to the Holy Spirit and pray for Him to move you to do the right thing, you will experience the freedom that you truly have in Christ, the freedom to do what is right and rest in His grace. 
 
As you read through the book of Acts you will see that it is only and always by the Lord's bidding, calling, prodding, and converting that things happen.  All we are called to do is go where he calls us to go, live in His love, and open our mouths to speak His praise. 
 
Prayer:  O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise.  Move my feet and I will go where you send me.  Lift my hands to do Your work,  and at the end of the day close my eyes in Your peace and rest.  Amen.
 
 

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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Choir practice 7
Thurs- NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST 7am; WORSHIP 7:30am; Alzheimers Support group 1pm; Lutheranism 101 7pm
Fri- Set up for Vendor fair, bake sale, and flea market. 
Sat-  Bake Sale, Vendor Fair, Flea Market 7am-1pm;  Worship 5pm
Sun- MOTHER'S DAY;  worship 8:30; Bible Study 9:45; Worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- George Pezold    11- Dawn Sherman

Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte

Altar-  Set up- Linda Callies; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure

Elders-  Sat- Jason Cluver;  8:30- Roy Bohning;  11- Steve Robine
 
Greeters-  8:30- Erv Yoder;  11- Joan Sexton

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone  8:30- Christy Winn; 11- Dawn Sherman

Organist- Rachel Fisher 
 
Piano- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists:  Sat- Perricone; 8:30- John Pezold   11- Jacob Cluver
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  What is a coney?  (And no it's not a style of hotdog.)

 

A mountain goat type animal that can climb mountains and hang on to cliffs. 

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  How is Psalm 119 divided and ordered?

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NEWS!!!! 

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST AND SERVICE IS THURSDAY, MAY 5 AT 7AM!!

 

The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 5.  We will have our annual breakfast beginning at 7am. 
 
This year's menu is a little different.  We are going to have biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and fruit. 
 
Prayer and worship will begin at 7:30 and will be done close to 8am. 
 
Please RSVP to this message if you plan to come so I know approximately how much food to buy and make.  
 
Go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org  to learn more about it.   

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 Outside spaces are available for $10 for a double parking spot.

 

There will be a sale under the pavilion if you would like to donate items. The youth will be raising money for their National Youth Gathering trip under the pavilion and at the concession stand.

 

St. John's Lutheran Church, 950 S Hwy 47 in Warrenton. Please call the church office for more info. 636-456-2888.

 

THE QUILTERS WILL ALSO BE RAFFLING OFF THE QUILT THAT IS HANGING DOWNSTAIRS!!   

 

LADIES AID AND PALS MEMBERS PLEASE MAKE BAKED GOOD FOR THE BAKE SALE ON MAY 7!!

Please remember that we have a bake sale table at the vendor fair and flea market on May 7.  Please bring them the day before or the morning of the bake sale.   We need LOTS of baked goods to sell!!  Thanks in advance for participating!!!

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OUR NEXT GUN GLUB MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, MAY 17 at 7pm!!.  IT WILL BE A "GET ACQUAINTED WITH ALL SORTS AND TYPES OF GUNS" EVENING. 

Paul Brockfeld and Jason Cluver will bring a wide variety of guns (shotguns, rifles, and handguns) for us to look at and learn how to operate.  We will all get to handle the guns.  No shooting. 

 

This will be a great opportunity check out all sorts of guns so you can be more confident and sure of your ability and knowledge, and even learn which one would best fit you!

 

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 PASTOR KLAUSTERMEIER IS BIKING 1,000 MILES THIS SUMMER FOR LEADACHILD!!!

We have been blessed beyond measure in the United States haven't we?  I want you to join me in making a global difference by releasing children from poverty through Christian education.

 

Instead of taking a week off and joining my fellow Lead a Child bikers who are riding the Fault Line across four states this year,  I have decided to go solo and bike 1,000 miles locally and while on vacation by August 1 to raise funds for LeadaChild. Would you sponsor me so that I can raise funds to support this most worthy organization?  In my opinion, there is no more worthy organization to support than LeadaChild!

 

LeadaChild  provides educational assistance to over 26,000 children and shares the love of Jesus Christ with the students and their families! LeadaChild supports the poorest of the poor children through Christian education in the following countries:

Guatemala                    Chad                       Honduras               Palestine               Haiti             Uganda

Gambia                          Ivory Coast            El Salvador            Nigeria                   Panama       Nicaragua

Burma                            Ghana                     Chile                       Venezuela             Bolivia         Mexico

Liberia                            Uruguay                Sri Lanka                India                       Guinea        Sierra Leone   

Bangladesh                   Cambodia              South Africa         Togo                       Thailand

 These students need your help to find a way out of poverty through Christian education and learn of the hope of Christ our Savior.

 

Please fill out your information below and send it with your check or donate online through the LeadaChild website: http://www.leadachild.org/bike

 

Every dollar makes a difference. Please give generously.  Please remember all of the riders in your prayers!  Thank you much for your support!

 

Biking For Kids Together,

Pastor Jeremy Klaustermeier

 

LeadaChild  is a 501 C-3 non-profit organization and is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

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HELP LITTLE LAMBS GET SOME NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT!!!

Order some Avon "Skin So Soft"  from Little Lambs to help them raise money for new playground equipment!  Call Karin at 314-691-7283 to place your order!

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR MAY IS CANNED 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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GENERAL PRAYERS

For DALE AND KAREN SCHUETTE AND FAMILY, former members of St. John's, who lost their grandson, Grady, yesterday.

 

For GISELA DORN who is at home but still dealing with dizziness and nausea and is unable to do much of anything.

 

For WILMA JUNKER, a former member of St. John's, who had hip surgery and now has pneumonia. 

 

For BETH a daughter of a friend of the Fosters, who was in a very severe bicycle accident  and has broken ribs, and punctured lung and a broken shoulder.

 

For DON BRAZEE who is at home and receiving in home care  (They are calling it hospice care although he is in relatively good health, and is not in imminent danger of dying any time soon.  They just have no cure for the problems he is having.)

 

For CAROL BRAZEE who is struggling with severe bronchitis and is seeing a pulmonologist today.

 

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