Daily Email: Tuesday, May 23, 2017

DEVOTION:  Acts 1:1-11  English Standard Version (ESV)

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴ And while staying^[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

The Ascension

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

 

Sometimes, as Christians, we get too focused on when Jesus will come back, and we fail to realize and live in the fact that we have the Lord with us and in us right now.  We are already living in grace!

The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit came upon them.  They weren't told to wait until he came back.  In last week's Gospel reading we heard the same promise of the Holy Spirit from Jesus. 

The power and peace of the Holy Spirit is nothing to sneeze at.  It is, as it were, a little bit of heave on earth.  When we know by faith that we are saved from our sin and that our creator holds nothing against us because of his Son, we have that peace that goes above and beyond all understanding.  When the Holy Spirit lives in us he gives us faith and guides us in the faith.  He works through His means of grace to bring about faith and continually increase and sustain that faith!

What a blessing it is to know that we are already in the grace of God.  What a joy it is to know the heavenly Father loves us so.  What a peace it gives all of us to know that he is with us and in us every step of the way!

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank and praise you for sending your Holy Spirit into us so that we need not fear, but can rejoice in the love and forgiveness you give us.  Keep us in the faith and increase our faith daily.  Amen.

 

 

 

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CALENDAR:

Tues- Quilting 9-2

Wed- Oak Pointe Worship 10am; Youth Night 6:30-7:30

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30

Fri- Bible Study at Hendershot's house 7pm

Sat- Men's Breakfast 8am; Worship 5pm

Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; VOTER'S MEETING 9:45;  Worship 11am; Marilyn's retirement Luncheon NOON

______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Cierra Figura; 11- Addie Hoelscher

 

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

 

Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Lois Boeger

 

Elders- Sat- Jason Cluver; 8:30- Al Benton????, 11- Steve Robine
 
Greeters-  8:30- Lew and Dianne Feldkamp; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine

Lay Readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski; 8:30- Jennifer Figura; 11- Stephanie Owenby

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher 

 

Sat Pianist- Molly Hendershot

Projectionists: Sat- Fischer, 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Sherman
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :

Find a verse in Proverbs that is a father speaking to his son.

 

Chapters 2-7 are all about a father talking to his son  (Thanks Don)

 

(Actually, the whole book of Proverbs was written in such a way as a father talking to his son.)

 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Find a  verse in Proverbs that talks about too much wealth being a bad thing.

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NEWS!!!!

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP FOR 12-18 YEAR OLDS IS EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING THE SUMMER FROM 6:30-7:30!!

Come for the Bible Study….  Stay for the fun!

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PARADE FLOAT MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 6 AT 7PM!!

Would you like to participate in building a float to represent St. John's in our Fair Parade?  Come to this meeting to give your ideas.  We'd like to do something to commemorate the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. 

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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 MAY IS CANNED FRUIT!!

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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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PRAYERS: 

For MARIANNE LINKE, who is hospitalized because of heart attack symptoms. She is having a heart catheterization today.

 

For SUE RUHL, as she remains hospitalized with a broken hip

 

For Dawn Frye's dad, WALTER BRADLEY, who has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing intense radiation therapy.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH,  as she has been moved to Breeze Park for more extensive and round the clock care.

 

For PAT MANNESS as she will be undergoing extensive surgery and rehab on her hand next Friday, May 26.

 

For a FRIEND OF AL AND KAREN BENTON who is dealing with brain cancer.

 

For CAROL BRAZEE recovering from sinus surgery at home.

 

For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.

 

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 off the treatments for a month and then he will have tests to see
how the cancer is doing.   He is still using the feeding tube.