Daily Email: Thursday, February 23, 2017

Matthew 17:1-9  English Standard Version (ESV)

The Transfiguration

17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son,^[a] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

 

Wow!  What a made up story, right?  WRONG!  This really happened.  Jesus showed them his glory so that, after he rose from the dead they would be able to say they were eyewitnesses to it.  It really happened just like Peter said it happened in yesterday's reading. 

Too often we, even as Christians, treat the Bible and stories in the Bible as if they were made up.  I imagine that most of it has to do with the fact that it happened 2,000 years ago or more.  It may also be because we didn't personally experience it like they did. 

The trouble with that is that we do experience God's glory every day, we just don't realize it. It may not be in the same way that Peter, James, and John experienced it, but we do.  We experience it every time we look back on the bad times and see how God worked it all out for our good.  We see God's glory every time we are able to forgive others by God's grace and able to be forgiven by others against whom we have sinned. We see it in every baby born and every time we have a funeral for a Christian and we can proclaim that Christ is risen!

The truth is that not everything in life is going to be a mountaintop experience, but everything good that we do experience is from god and God dwells with us and in us.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the little ways you show me your presence.  Help me to appreciate it for what it is.  Amen.

 

 

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CALENDAR

Thurs- Building committee meeting 6:30pm; NO Lutheranism 101

Fri- Assemble Newsletters 9am; Begin 30 Hour Famine is postponed

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

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Dulci Rahn; Wed- Luke Rausch

Ushers-  Brent Davis, Ben Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, George Hoelscher; Wednesday- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte

Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean up- Cheryl Bettlach; Wednesday Set up- Ruth Walters Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer

Elders-  Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Charlie Figura; Wednesday????
 
Greeters-  8:30- Jim and Vickie McRae; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot

Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Christy Winn

Piano-  Molly Hendershot

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Toni Mauch; 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Dawn Sherman???
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What is a "peace" offering or "fellowship" offering?

Peace offerings acknowledged God's grace toward the people.  Through this offering on high holy days and special occasions, God provides meat for the sacrificial banquet, which a family could share with invited guests. Leviticus 3.

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TODAY'S QUIZ:   What is a sin of omission?

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NEWS!!!! 

6-12 GRADE YOUTH ARE GOING TO LITTLE BIT OF HAVEN SATURDAY!!

We will leave at 7:30am and return around 3:30pm!  All 6-12 grade youth and their parents are welcome to come!  Please rsvp asap!!

30 HOUR FAMINE IS POSTPONED 

Due to way too many other activities to overcome, our  famine is postponed till further notice.  Watch for details in the next few days as to a rescheduled date!

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PAT HERATH, SISTER IN LAW OF PATTY HERATH, AND DIRECTOR OF WELLS FOR WELLNESS, WILL BE HERE THIS WEEKEND TO TALK ABOUT HER MISSION TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER TO THE PEOPLE OF NIGER, AFRICA!

Wells for Wellness is an organization that goes to places in Niger, Africa where there is no drinkable water and drills wells so that there is. 

 

There will be a door offering for her organization this weekend.  Please give as you are able!

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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR

March 1 for current students and St. John's members!

April 3 open to all!

 

Student must be 3 for younger class  or 4 for older class by August 1.

$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.

Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours. 

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VENDOR FAIR/FLEA MARKET WILL BE SATURDAY, MAY 6!!

Inside vendor areas are rented for $25 per space

Outside vendors are $10 per parking spot.

Donations for the youth groups sale under the pavilion can be left under the pavilion or in the shed. 

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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 BARB PERRICONE, as she went to her heavenly rest Tuesday morning.

 

For FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE LINSTRUTHS at the loss of Dawn's mother Tuesday morning.

 

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

 

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.