Daily Email: Wednesday, January 25, 2017

DEVOTION:  1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV)

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach^[a]to save those who believe. ²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being^[c] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

 

I have said it before, and I'll say it again.  God uses the least, he smallest, and the weakest to do His will.  Consider Moses, a fugitive, a murderer, and open who by his own admission, was unable to speak well. I could go through the whole list.  Both Joseph and David were the youngest, and therefore according to tradition, the least in their family.  Israel itself was the smallest of nations, but God made it into the greatest. 

He can use a shy, yet handsome (hehe), farm boy from Minnesota to bring His Gospel.  If he can use me, he can most surely use you!  God chooses what is weak to bring the law and gospel to the strong.  He chooses what is foolish to bring His Word to those who think they are wise by the world's standards.  He chooses you to bring His Gospel to your friends, family, and even your enemies. 

Praise the Lord for His real wisdom, His real strength, His real good news!

Prayer: Lord, use me; as weak, foolish, and insignificant as I am, to bring Your good news to the world.  Amen. 

 

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CALENDAR

Wed-Worship at Oak Pointe 10am; Choir 7

Thurs- Board of Stewardship meeting 6pm; Lutheranism 101 6:30pm

Fri- Assemble Newsletter

Sat-  Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Cierra Figura 11- Adddie Hoelscher

Ushers-  Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean up- Lois Boeger

Elders-  Sat- Charlie Figura; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Dave Winter
 
Greeters-  8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Jennifer Figura; 11- Karen Benton

Piano-  Molly Hendershot

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Fischer; 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Kalene Masters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   Name the ten plagues of Egypt.

1.  The Nile river was changed to blood  2.  frogs  3.  lice  4.  flies  5.  death of livestock  6.  boils  7.  hail  8.  locusts  9.darkness  10.  death of firstborn  

 

Thanks Don!

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TODAY'S QUIZ: How was the Passover lamb supposed to be cooked?

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NEWS!!!! 

WORK DAY THIS SATURDAY 8am-Noon!!

Come and help change out light fixtures in the Sunday school wing and do some other projects like, clean up, fixing, and maybe even painting.  

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NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON AT NOON ON SUNDAY!!
All new members since last year's luncheon are invited!

It would be great to see as many officers and board members there as possible too!

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FILL UP THOSE BABY BOTTLES!!

You have two weeks to get them full of checks, cash, and spare change!  Return them to church February 4 or 5!

 

If you weren't in church this weekend and would like a baby bottle, come by and pick one up this week, or pick one up this weekend when you come to worship!

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LUTHERANISM 101 CONTINUES EVERY THURSDAY AT 6:30pm!!!

It's painless and it's a good time of fellowship!

 

If I can get just five people to show up, I will bring dessert!  (That would be two more than we had last week.)

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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS

If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!

 

The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church.  If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself.  It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.

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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP IS GOING TO FULTON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8!

The group will be boarding a charter bus at 7:45am that day, first heading to the Auto World Museum, secondly to The Copper Mine Restaurant for lunch, and finally to the Churchill Museum before heading home.  They will arrive home around 5:30 that evening.  The cost will be around $65 including lunch, but the more people that go, the cheaper it will be!  Call Marilyn at 456-2888 to sign up!

BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN FOR OUR NEW PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER BEGINS THIS WEEKEND!!

Come to church and pick up a baby bottle.  Fill it up with money (coins, cash, and checks are all accepted), and return it to church in two weeks by Feb. 4 or 5.  All money raised will go to getting our Pro Life Center going! 

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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION WILL BE MARCH 25!!

OUR YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION HAS BEEN MOVED BACK A MONTH AND IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 25!  Also, THANK YOU LETTERS to those church members who donated last year are in your church mailboxes!!

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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE IN YOUR CHURCH MAILBOXES IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!!

Maybe you didn't know that you had them, but if you are a confirmed member of St. John's you have your own church mailbox and your own offering envelopes!  Check your mailbox today!!

BLUE ENVELOPES IN YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPE BOXES ARE FOR THE BUILDING FUND!!!

Please note that your blue envelopes are for our BUILDING FUND.  Please use them appropriately!  Let's get this building built!!

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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY ARE CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES!

Any size can, and any kind of fruit or vegetable is appreciated.    Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.

 

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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!

Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!

 

Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton.  Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.

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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS

Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________GENERAL PRAYER

For MARIANNE LINKE, who is dealing with severe back pain and issues with her medication.  She is at Warrenton Manor.

 

For PASTOR MICHAEL PIPER, (pastor at St. Paul's, New Melle) who is recovering from a severe stroke.

 

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.

 

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE as she recovers from a broken hip at Grandview Healthcare Center in Washington.

 

For DON NOLTE as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery to his shoulder.

 

For MIKE PUCKETT who is at home with his mom and recovering well from lung surgery.

 

For BARB PERRICONE who is back home on hospice care.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.