Daily Email: Thursday, February 16, 2017

DEVOTION:  Matthew 5:38-48  English Standard Version (ESV)

Retaliation

³⁸ "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,^[a] let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers,^[b] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Love your enemies and pray for them?  Turn the other cheek?  Give him your cloak as well?  Go the extra mile?  Give, give, give. 

Doesn't it sound like Jesus is asking us to get walked on, stepped on, used, and abused?  It does to me.  But here's the deal, everything we do in faith is to point to the way that the Lord Jesus loves us and gave himself up for us. 

We are the person who was an enemy of God and Jesus made us His children.  Every time we sin against someone else, whether it be in retaliation or even unknown to us, we sin against Almighty God.  We are the beggar.  We are the one who "forces" God to go with us. We are the ones who slap Jesus in the face. 

So the next time you think it's ok to retaliate, remember that it should then be ok for the Lord God to retaliate against you and give you what you deserve.  Instead of that, why don't you just live by this rule…. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Then remember what Christ has done for you!  He's done it all!

Prayer: Lord, when I think of my enemies, help me to remember that I was once your enemy, but you gave me yourself and made me your child.  Amen.

 

 

 

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CALENDAR

Thurs- Newsletter deadline; Lutheranism 101 6:30pm

Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7

Sat-  Men's breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Voters meeting 9:45

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Gus Klaustermeier 11- Lydia Miller

Ushers-  Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp,  Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover

Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean up- Sandy Robine

Elders-  Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Al Benton; 11- Steve Robine
 
Greeters-  8:30- Jim and Vickie McRae; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot

Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Erv Yoder??? (Erv is out of town.  Anyone want to take this for him?); 11- Steve Robine

Piano-  Molly Hendershot

Organist- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists: Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30- Schaumberg; 11-   Lydia Miller
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:

What was the penalty for the ten spies and the whole company of Israel because they didn't listen to Caleb and Joshua about going in to conquer the promised land?

 

All those listed on the census 21 years old and older who grumbled against the Lord would die in the wilderness and not see the promised land except Joshua and Caleb.

 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Where was Beth Peor, and what is there today?

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NEWS!!!! 

MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!!

All men of every age are invited!

Menu: French toast bake, eggs, bacon, sausage

 

As baseball season is about to start, we are going to get into a short series called "Homerun King". 

 

Bring your friends, neighbors, brothers, and sons.  Let me know if you are coming so I make enough food!

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HERE ARE THE SERMONS FROM THIS PAST SUNDAY AND FROM SUNDAY, FEB. 5.  PLESE SHARE WITH THOSE WHO WEREN'T THERE SO THEY CAN HEAR THE LAW and the GOSPEL!!

 

https://youtu.be/3pv_YTA7KIs

 

https://youtu.be/r4EXUCFcoxM

 

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WE STILL NEED TO GET BACK A FEW OF THOSE BABY BOTTLES! 

Please bring them back asap so we can get the money in and so I can get the bottles back to their rightful owners. 

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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. 

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!!

OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 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 the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF DIANNE OLEGSON (formerly Lehman), a former member of St. John's, who passed away suddenly at the age of 42 this past Tuesday.

 

For ROSE DEPEW, mother of Randy Sweet, who had a severe seizure three weeks ago.  She has been diagnosed To0dd's Paralysis, a temporary paralysis that mimics a stroke.  She is now able to walk, eat, and speak.  She is going back to Oak Pointe on Saturday.

 

For PETE FRENZIA who is recovering from back surgery at a nursing home in Columbia.

 

For CAROL BRAZEE who is recovering from a lung infection at home

 

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

 

For BARB PERRICONE who is home on hospice care.

 

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