Daily Email: Monday, April 17, 2017

DEVOTION:  Psalm 148  English Standard Version (ESV)

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
² Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his hosts!

³ Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord!
    For he commanded and they were created.
⁶ And he established them forever and ever;
    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.^[a]

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

⁹ Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹² Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

 

When the sun rises in the morning, we aren't fascinated that it came up again.  We aren't worried that it will all of a sudden quit shining or go away.  We don't take each breath worried that it will be our last, or that we won't be able to breathe the next one.  We don't have a second thought about the birds we hear outside on a Spring morning.

 

Everything around us is springing to new life.  It seems like the trees just grew leaves overnight.  These things, all of them, unbeknownst to us, are praising God by their very existence, by their life.  They aren't doing anything special.  They're just living.

 

A lot of us think that we have to do something special or be something special to honor or please God, that God has some special huge plan for us to fulfill.  In all reality, all god wants us to do is to live our lives in His grace and enjoy them to the fullest.  He is proud of us when we succeed, but He also still loves us and is proud of His creating us when we fail.  He rejoices when something good happens to us, but he also uses the bad things that happen to us to build us up in him. 

 

Rejoice today that God created you!  Rejoice that he made you special and unique, as his own creation to love you and to cherish you.  Try not to mess it up, but when you do run back to his loving arms and receive his forgiveness and grace 

 

Live freely and peacefully in the resurrection!!

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating me.  Thank you for taking joy in my very breath.  Thank you for loving me enough to send your son to die for me and for raising him from the dead so that I can live forever with you. Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Mon- Last confirmation class of the year 5:15-6:30

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Council 7

Wed- Choir 7

Thurs- Newsletter deadline, Pregnancy Options Center Banquet 7pm

Fri- Confirmation Questioning and reception 7pm

Sat- LWML ZONE RALLY 9am; Worship 5pm

Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Special Confirmation worship 11 w/ Holy Communion

______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Nova Luebke; 11- Dulci Rahn

 

Ushers- 8:30- Dave Callies, Marv. Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte

11- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder

 

Altar- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean Up- Cheryl Bettlach

 

Elders- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Randy Sweet, 10- Charlie Figura
 
Greeters-  8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Al and Karen Benton

Lay Readers- Sat- Jim Rahn; 6:30- Jacob Nagel ; 11- Lisa Lacy

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher

 

Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Projectionists: 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- ?????? ( The confirmation kids are usually the ones scheduled for this service, so I NEED A VOLUNTEER!)
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ 

How many of the Gospel accounts have the account of the resurrection of Jesus?  All of them

(They don't tell us how Jesus rose.  They just tell us what happened immediately before and after it happened.)

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What was the special duty of the Levites and the reason they weren't given their own parcel of land?

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NEWS!!!!

LILLIES STILL UPSTAIRS

If you donated a lily to our Easter worship, and didn't take it home yesterday, you can still come and get it anytime this week.  Please do so.  We'll keep them till the end of the week and then they'll go in the trash.

CONFIRMATION ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK!!

Friday- Questioning and Reception 7pm

Sunday- Reading of essays and Rite of Confirmation 11am

 

Please come to join us in celebrating the faith of these youth!

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JOB OPENING FOR OUR CHURCH SECRETARY.  RESUME DEADLINE IS SUNDAY, APRIL 30!!!

Starting salary $25,000 plus benefits including health insurance. 

 

Resumes are now being accepted.  You can email them to pastor or bring them in to pastor at his office.  Interviews will take place once all resumes are received.  The name of the person that the interview committee chooses will be brought to the voter's assembly for approval on Sunday, May 21. 

 

Please email resumes to me or bring them in to my office. 

 

Below is the Job Description

 

Please note that a lot of the work requires proficiency in several different computer programs.  Programs such as Excel, Word, Powerpoint, and several financial record keeping programs are used on a regular basis.

 

FULL TIME Church Office Administrator/Secretary Job Description

Purpose:  To serve the church by providing administrative and secretarial services to the Pastor and various committees and board.

1. Receive and screen incoming calls, taking clear messages and returning calls, if asked, of the Pastor. Many times it just requires a "compassionate listener" for members calling that just want to talk.  Many use the church office as a place to get information on other members who are ill or moved or for telephone numbers.
2. Maintain an accurate and up to date calendar of church activities and meetings.

a.      Co-ordinate all activities between church basement rentals (collecting fees with Trustee guidelines) meetings, activities, keep cleaning service informed if cleaning time interferes.

b.      Co-ordinate between Pre-school activities and church activities

3. Prepare weekly bulletins, monthly newsletters, various agendas for church council, elders, voters meetings etc, and make necessary copies.
4. Maintain communication with shut-in members. Mail weekly bulletins, "HomeTouch" devotion and activity sheets weekly. Mail monthly newsletters.
5. Pick up, sort and open mail, direct to appropriate persons in congregation, draft responses as required. Insure outgoing mail is mailed daily.

a.      Newsletters and other bulk mail is taken to post office and packaged according to postal regulations.

b.      Make sure money is kept on deposit at the post office to cover mailings and returned mail.

6. Maintain up to date and organized files and records as required.

a.      Such as membership information – mail personal letters to new members

b.      Mail letters to Memorial donors

c.       General bookkeeping for the congregation ie: co-ordinate with Financial Secretary each week to insure funds placed in proper accounts, make sure all bills are accurate and paid promptly, payroll for employees (church staff, Little Lambs) pay federal & state taxes & file tax forms, keep up to date with Concordia Plan Services on changes. File the employees Concordia Plan Retirement Fund.

d.      Financial reports for congregation

e.      Maintain records of Little Lambs expenses, paid by congregation, for monthly bill

f.        Make out W-2 & 1099 forms and file by January 31.

7. Keep in touch with the Trustees regarding items needing immediate attention.
8. Keep Pastor informed of members with health issues so that contact can be made.
9. Maintain current birthday and anniversary list for the Elders. Advise elders of new members, attendance issues, and other things necessary regarding the members in each Elder's group.
10. Co-ordinate and order Altar flowers, making sure flowers are paid from the members.
11. Enter attendance records weekly.
12. Secure volunteer help when needed, bulletins, newsletters & other projects. Keep list of those that want to volunteer.
13. Prepare monthly schedules for Greeters, Lay Readers, Acolytes, and yearly usher schedule.
14. Weekly Power Point for church news before service begins.
15. Work with Pastor and other church committees and boards as necessary in developing new ideas or special projects and in carrying out the ministry of the church.
16. Keep informed on openings in Preschool to inform parents that call wanting information on Little Lambs – take enrollment forms and fees, especially during summer months.
17. Keep office equipment in working order – order all office supplies – Altar Guild supplies – order items for boards Sunday School & Little Lambs when needed.
18. Attend Council and Voters meetings.
19. ShopwScrip ordering
20. Maintain confidentiality of all formal and informal communications you may read, have or may overhear unless specifically permitted to share with others.
21. Manage and update church website and all social media on a weekly basis
22. Prepare Powerpoint for worship when volunteer is unavailable. 
23. Church membership is not required, but if he or she is a member, he or she must be faithful in worship attendance and in stewardship of time, talents, and treasures.
24. He or she should attend Stephen Ministry training as soon as it is offered. 
25. Cooperate with pastor and others to do other nonspecific duties as needed
26. Have the same attitude as Christ- that is-take on the form of a servant in the performance of your duties at St. John's.

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LOSING TO GAIN UPDATE  I am at a stabilization point and am holding at 9lbs lost.  I am going to ramp it up a bit this week.

 

Between Monday, April 3 and Friday, September 1,  I plan on losing as much weight as possible and as is healthy for me to lose.  My goal, the Lord willing, is 100lbs. which averages out to about 2/3 of a pound a day.   

 

I would like all of you to consider sponsoring me with a pledge of money per pound.  It can be $100, $10, $1, .50, or whatever  per pound.  The amount is up to you.

 

You will also have your choice of three different causes to donate to. 

 

Lead a Child--  An organization that raises money for Lutheran churches and schools in third world countries so that kids can go to school, get a quality education, and learn about Jesus.  (Go to www.leadachild.org to learn more)

 

Warren County Literacy Inc.---  Helping children achieve and grow in literacy in Warren County.  Our main emphasis is the bookcase project in which bookcases and books are donated to between 60-80 children from the Youth In Need and Headstart programs in Warren County.  We also have several "Little Free Libraries"  around the county.    (Check it out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Warren-County-Literacy-Inc-1763714847229903/?ref=bookmarks or http://www.warrencountybookcaseproject.org/

 

Warren County Pregnancy Option Center---  This will be a place where expectant mothers and fathers can go and get counseling, coaching and referrals to medical services they need so that they can keep their child or give it up for adoption.   Our first annual banquet is Thursday, April 20 at 7pm at Holy Rosary, and I still need two people to fill the table.  More info will be coming soon about a Facebook page and websites. 

 

 

Please reply to this email if you'd like to pledge, and I will record it for you! 

 

I started out at 336lbs on Monday, and I am down to 332 as of yesterday afternoon.  Please pray for me and for this endeavor!  Keep me accountable! 

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BIBLE STUDY AT HENDERSHOTS CANCELED FOR THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Due to confirmation questioning being the same evening and the LWML Zone Rally the next day, the Hendershots are going to cancel their monthly Bible study and fellowship.  It will resume on Friday, May 19!

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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!

 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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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL IS

Soup and Ramen Noodles.  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 PAT MANNESS who is recovering from a fall on Friday.  She is in the hospital but should be gong home today.

 

For HOLLY FAERBER, who was hospitalized this past weekend with an undiagnosed pain in her abdomen.  She is having an MRI done today. 

 

For PAT KING, as she is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.

 

For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.

 

For both RANDY AND PATTY SWEET'S MOTHERS,  Virginia, Patty's mom, has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.  Rose, Randy's mom, had a bad seizure two months ago, and although she is walking and talking fine, the seizure caused some dementia. 

 

For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it.  She had it for several years while in high school.  (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)

 

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.