Daily Email: Thursday, June 15, 2017

DEVOTION:  Matthew 9:35-10:8  New International Version (NIV)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

 

Did you catch that last sentence?  That's the key right there.  "Freely you have received; freely give"!  You did nothing to earn any of the blessings with which God has blessed you.  You have done nothing to earn his forgiveness.  You've done nothing extraordinary to earn his love.  Nothing you have done in your life is worthy of the blessings you have received.  They're all a gift!  Your job, your house, your health, your food, your clothing, everything is a gift.  

So why do we treat it as if we did earn it?  And why do people think that if they act a certain way, or say a certain thing, or pray a certain way; that somehow they are going to receive more or different blessings?  Everything you have is because of God's grace.  

So what are you to do with everything God has given you, including your abilities, your time, your money, and your forgiveness?  I repeat, "Freely you have received; freely give!"  Let that be your motto.  Someone needs a coat?  Freely give.  Someone needs money?  Freely give. Someone needs a church home?  Freely give!  Someone needs to hear "I forgive you" from you?  Freely give!  

 

Lord, remind me that everything I have received was only because of your mercy and generosity.  Help me to give freely and fully without expecting anything in return.  Amen. _______________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Grief Support 7pm

Fri- No Bible study at Hendershots

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

Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am

______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Savannah Masters; 11- Dulci Rahn

 

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

 

Altar- Set up- Jodi Baldwin; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie

 

Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Al Benton 11- Jason Cluver
 
Greeters-  8:30- Bob and Marianne Linke; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch

Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Dawn Sherman

 

Organist- Rachel Fisher

 

Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Projectionists: Sat- Fischer, 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Sarah Cluver
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :  During what time period did Joel write his prophecy?

(Since no one answered this yesterday, I'll leave it up one more day.)

 

From Don Nolte:  He is the second of the minor prophets probably of Judah and contemporary with Uzziah about 810-758 B. C.

 

From Pat King:  This is a trick question. Scholars aren't really sure and have assigned a bunch of different dates. I looked this up on a bunch of different sites and the only thing everyone agreed on, was that they didn't really know. So, he wrote it when God deemed the time was right.

And that's a fact.

 

You may ask, "which one is right"?  The answer:  Both.  We don't know for sure, Some have sais, and rightly so, that since he mentions the valley of King Jehoshaphat in 3:2, it would have to be during or after his reign. 873B.C. or later.  Others have said that it mentions a great plague of locusts, which happened during Joash's reign, it is said that Joel wrote his prophecy during or after his reign.  The key is that we don't really know. 

 

 

 

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TODAY'S QUIZ: Was Amaziah king over Israel or Judah?

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NEWS!!!!

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP TONIGHT (THURSDAY) 7PM!!

We will have a MONTHLY grief support group starting this Thursday at 7pm!  If you or someone you know is experiencing grief and would like help and support, please come to this meeting!

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MEN'S BREAKFAST SATURDAY AT 8AM!!

French toast bake, scrambled eggs, cheesy potato casserole, and bacon!!

We will continue our video Bible study on "The Case for Christ"

Please RSVP especially if you haven't been there in a while or never been.  We'd love to have all y'all!

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STEPHEN MINISTRY: Throughout the month of June we will be highlighting our Stephen Ministry program. 

 

Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry that is carried out by lay people.  It has been a part of St. John's in various forms and levels since 2003.  Many people have gone through the training and cared for others with their training.  These people are called "care givers".  Many more have benefitted from the help these people have provided.  These people are called "care receivers".  This is a tremendously beneficial ministry to both care giver and care receivers as both grow in faith and as many of them become friends if they weren't already. 

 

It is also a great benefit to our congregation for many different reasons!  Care givers learn how to be better Christian moms, dads, husbands, wives, friends, and church members.  The congregation grows as our community finds out how caring and loving we are as a congregation through this ministry.  It is a wonderful thing!

 

We are in need of some new Stephen ministers.  It is a commitment, but the commitment is definitely worth it!  You will be blessed beyond measure if you go through the training and become a Stephen Minister.  PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NEED MEN TO BE STEPEHEN MINISTERS JUST AS MUCH AS WOMEN!!

 

Last Sunday at our 8:30 worship, Chrissy Groeber and Marcia Sevier were installed as our new Stephen Leaders!!  They will be starting a new Stephen Ministry training as soon as everyone who is interested signs up and a start date and time can be established. 

 

Please prayerfully consider this and then come to church this coming weekend and sign up or reply to this email and I will sign you up! 

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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 JUNE IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!

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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 CAL TAMELER, as he is dealing with severe pain in his legs due to poor circulation and blockage.

 

For MARIANNE LINKE, as she continues to recover from heart surgery.

 

For SUE RUHL, as she continues to recover from a broken hip at Parklane rehab in Wentzville.

 

For PAT MANNESS as she is recovering from hand and wrist surgery at home.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH,  as she is nearing the end of her life on the earth and awaiting eagerly her eternal life with Jesus!