Daily Email: Thursday, April 13, 2017

DEVOTION:  Note: Sometimes it's just good to read the Passion account.  This is one of those days.  Peace be with you all!  See you tonight, tomorrow night and Sunday morning!!

 

Lord God bless us with peace and a solid faith in your goodness as we meditate and reflect on Your Passion for us these next two days, and as we await the resurrection of all flesh.    Amen.

 

John 18-19  English Standard Version (ESV)

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" ⁵ They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he."^[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶ When Jesus^[b] said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."⁸ Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant^[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews^[d] arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." ¹⁸ Now the servants^[e] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said." ²² When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" ²³ Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" ²⁴ Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters.^[f] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" ³⁰ They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you." ³¹ Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." ³² This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

³³ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" ³⁴ Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" ³⁵ Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" ³⁶ Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." ³⁸ Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ⁴⁰ They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.^[g]

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. ² And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³ They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" ⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." ⁷ The Jews^[h] answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" ¹¹ Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." ¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic^[i] Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.^[j] He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" ¹⁵ They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." ¹⁶ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, ¹⁷ and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" ²² Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.^[k]But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,²⁴ so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

"They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots."

So the soldiers did these things, ²⁵ but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."

Jesus Is Buried

³⁸ After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus^[l]by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds^[m] in weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

 

 

 

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CALENDAR:

Thurs- Maundy Thursday Worship 6:30

Fri- Good Friday Worship 6:30

Sat- Men's breakfast and Easter breakfast set up 8am; NO WORSHIP

Sun- Worship 6:30; Easter Breakfast 7:45; Egg Hunt 9; Worship 10

______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- Thurs- Addie Hoelscher; Fri- Loren Howard; 6:30- Gus Klaustermeier 10- Savannah Masters???

 

Ushers- Thurs- Scott Heitgerd,, Jim Huster, Bob Linke, Tom Linke; Fri- Larry Schulze, Gary Schulze, Gary Scott, Dave Winter;  6:30- Allan Dreyer, Lew Feldkamp, Kent Jacobsmeyer, Paul Klover; 10- Brent Davis, Ben Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, George Hoelscher

 

Altar- Thurs- Set Up- Terry McKenzie, Clean Up-Lois Boeger; Fri- Set Up Terry McKenzie; Sun- Set Up- Ruth Walters, Clean Up- Terry McKenzie

 

Elders- Thurs- Dave Winter, 6:30- Roy Bohning, 10- Al Benton
 
Greeters-  6:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 10-  Tom and Pam Linke

Lay Readers- 6:30- Allan Dreyer; 10- Derek Ebert

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: 6:30- Terry McKenzie; 10- Dawn Sherman
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ 

Who was Michal?  Michal was King Saul's daughter and also became the wife of David, although she later was known for her detesting of how David acted after a battle victory. 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: How many of the Gospel accounts have the account of the resurrection of Jesus?

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NEWS!!!!

STARTING SALARY FOR OUR CHURCH SECRETARY WILL BE $25,000 PLUS DISABILITY, RETIREMENT, AND HEALTH INSURANCE!

A review of job performance and budget will be done in October of this year and a raise may be given at that time.  Get those resumes in!!

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JOB OPENING FOR OUR CHURCH SECRETARY

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  Down 9 pounds since April 3.

 

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 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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MEN'S BREAKFAST IS SATURDAY, APRIL 15!!

Come and join us for breakfast and devotions, and then stay to help set up for Easter breakfast!!

 

We'll have biscuits and gravy, sausage, and egg bake!!

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EASTER LILIES

As we do every year, we place lilies on and around the altar for Easter.  You can donate one in memory or in honor of someone.  Price is $14.50 each!  You can take it home after the 10am service on Easter Day.  If you pay for it with a check that you put in the offering plate, please mark it "Easter Lilly" in the memo line.  Let's fill up the chancel with lilies this year!!!

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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 St. John's as we begin the search for a secretary to replace Marilyn.

 

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.