DEVOTION: Amos 6:1-7 (NIV)
"Woe to the Complacent"
6 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!
2 Go to Kalneh and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,
and then go down to Gath in Philistia.
Are they better off than your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
3 You put off the day of disaster
and bring near a reign of terror.
4 You lie on beds adorned with ivory
and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves.
5 You strum away on your harps like David
and improvise on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;
your feasting and lounging will end.
Whoa, wait a minute. I thought God wants us to be comfortable. I thought God wants us to be at ease. Didn't Jesus say, "Come to me..... and I will give you rest"?
Here's the deal folks. If we look for peace, comfort and rest in anything but Christ, we will never get it. Oh, we might be physically comfortable for a while. We may have our nice houses, with our beautifully manicured lawns and landscaping on the outside, and easy chairs and beautiful cabinets and countertops on the inside. The trouble is that it is like putting lipstick on a pig if there is no peace or security in Christ.
The Israelites had this problem of complacency. They had it good. The Lord had delivered them from all their enemies and they were living high on the hog in the promised land. They had prosperity. They had physical safety. They seemingly had it all going on. On the inside though they were wrecked. They had no regard for God or the blessings he had given them or the mercy and grace he ad for them. They disregarded God and so they had lost their real security.
We could say that this is what is happening in our own nation, but instead off pointing to the people outside of us, we first need to look inward. On what are you basing your "security"? Is it on your finances? Is it on your health? Is it on how the people around you see you? Or is it on Christ alone?
Have you become complacent when it comes to Christ? Have you neglected and disregarded your praise and honor of him in search of something more comfortable, or shiny, or exciting, or entertaining?
I strongly encourage you to seek the Lord, to get to worship, to repent of your complacency and renew your zeal for the Lord that you would not lose sight of Him all together.
Let us pray: Lord, keep me from becoming complacent as the Israelites did, and when I do, shake me out of it, so that I don't lose sight of you. Amen.
CALENDAR
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid Noon; Choir 7
Thurs- Karate 6-7:30; Lutheranism 101 6:30pm
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am; Men leave for men's retreat
Sat- St John's booth at the Fall Festival downtown Noon-9pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Basement reserved all afternoon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Addie Hoelscher 11- Savannah Masters
Ushers- Scott and Alex Heitgerd, Bob and Tom Linke
Altar- Set up- Jodi Baldwin; Clean Up- Lois Boeger
Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Dave and Lil Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jacob Nagel; 11- Jim Rahn
Piano- Sat- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30- Schaumbergs
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What does the word "Hallelujah" mean? Praise the Lord! It is actually three Hebrew words together. "Hallel" = praise "u" = the, and "jah" = Lord as in "Yah" weh.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What were the four beasts that Daniel saw in his vision?
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NEWS!!!!
LITTLE LAMBS IS HAVING AN "USBOURNE BOOK FAIR" TODAY AND TOMORROW 12-3:30pm.
It is open to the public!!
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HELP IS STILL NEEDED FOR ST. JOHN'S CONCESSION BOOTH AT THE FALL FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!!
1. We will be serving beer at the Fall Festival on Main Street that will be taking place September 24th from 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. We need volunteers to set up at around 9:30 and folks to serve from noon-9pm (If you can only do an hour or two that'd be great too.)
2. The Oktoberfest committee is still looking for some help on October 1st from 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. We need people to help with food, games, set up, and tear down.
If you can help with either of these call Kelsey at 573-803-7826 or reply to this email, and I will forward the info to her.
2. The Oktoberfest committee is still looking for some help on October 1st from 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. We need people to help with food, games, set up, and tear down.
If you can help with either of these call Kelsey at 573-803-7826 or reply to this email, and I will forward the info to her.
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MEN'S RETREAT IS THIS WEEKEND!
You can still go if you want to. Cost is $55! Call or text me at 636-359-1061 or reply to this email.
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OKTOBERFEST IS OCTOBER 1!!
Where? St. John's
What? a genuine Oktoberfest with real German food, bier, polka, games, bounce houses, and lots of fun!!
When? 4-10pm on October 1
What is needed? There are a lot of supplies and volunteers that are needed to make this happen! Call or text Kelsey @ 573-803-7826 to volunteer or to find out what is still needed.
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ANNUAL VENDOR FAIR IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 9am-2pm!
Vendors should reserve their table through the church office 456-2888. Tables rent for $25 and checks should be madde payable to St. John's Ladies Aid.
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DO YOU SHOP AT KROGER? IF YOU DO YOU CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS!!!
Little Lambs receives a percentage of your purchases when you register your Kroger Plus Card number at www.kroger.com/communityawards. Register today!
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STEPHEN MINISTRY NEEDS MORE STEPHEN MINISTERS!!
Stephen ministry is a one on one caring ministry in which a person goes through 50 hours off training to be a better listener and care giver. Even if you don't become an active Stephen Minister, this training is beneficial just for your daily life!
Please consider going through the training! It is very beneficial.
And please consider becoming a Stephen Minister. It has been a huge help and benefit to our congregation for the last 13 years, and I would love to see it grow!
Call me at 636-359-1061 to let me know you're interested. Or go to www.stephenministry.org to learn more about it.
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GENERAL PRAYER
For BOB RUHL as he continues to struggle greatly to get better. He is still in New Florence Care Center.
For PAM BUELTMANN as she recovers from a broken hip at Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehab in Washington.
For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she is recovering from pneumonia and intestinal issues. She Is now in Parklane Rehab in Wentzville.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is recovering from a severe kidney infection at home.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been placed on hospice care due to cancer. She is at home.
For DENNIS PERREY, who is recovering at home from a very serious tractor and brush hog accident. He has 6 broken ribs, both lungs were punctured and, 2 vertebrae were cracked.
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