DEVOTION: Genesis 1:1-2:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Creation of the World
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse[a] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 And God made[b] the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.[c] And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth,[d] and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants[e] yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,[f] and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds[g] fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let us make man[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
The Seventh Day, God Rests
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
The Creation of Man and Woman
4 These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
Sometimes it is just goo to be reminded of who is really the one in control. It may not look like it on the surface. Things seem a little crazy out there, but the truth is that since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden it has been crazy. It's been crazy because we have all been tainted with sin. Our bodies, including our minds, are anything but perfect and so we have this problem of messing things up all the time.
At the same time, if we take a step back and read the Scriptures, especially things like the creation account, we see that there is a much bigger picture to all of it. We see that God is directing everything to an end that will be beyond our imagination. Mankind is indeed destroying itself, and there's no way it can save itself or save the world it is on. The only one who can save it is the one who created it and remains perfect, namely our creator God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So the next time you think that your life is spinning out of control, or that things are going crazy, remember that the God who loves you is working it all out for your good so he can restore all things, including you, to Himself. Have peace in that today!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me that you are the one who created the heavens and the earth so I can put my trust in you and rest today, so that I can have joy. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Float Meeting 7pm
Wed- Youth Night Bible Study 6:30-7:30
Thurs- Choir 7pm; Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30-7:30
Fri- 7-12 grade lock in 8pm-8am
Sat- Lock in ends 8am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am; Elders meeting noon
______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Nova Luebke; 11- Kalene Masters
Ushers- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Dave and Linda Callies; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- ??? 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay Readers- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Christy Winn; 11- Steve Robine
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone, 8:30- Yoder; 11- Sarah Cluver
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TODAY'S QUIZ : Who was Jezebel?
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NEWS!!!!
PARADE FLOAT MEETING TOMORROW (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 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
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7-12 GRADE YOUTH FRIDAY 8PM- SATURDAY 8AM!!
Please rsvp to let me know if you are coming and if you are bringing friends! Bring $5 for pizza!
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GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP BEGINNING THURSDAY, JUNE 15 AT 7PM!!
If you are mourning the loss of a loved one, whether the loss is new or not, you need support and people with whom you can share your sorrow and joy. Please join us that evening to be a part of it.
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NO BIBLE STUDY AT HENDERSHOT'S IN JUNE! They will be on vacation. It will resume in July.
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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 CORA CLUVER as she continues to recover from complications after a colonoscopy.
For MARIANNE LINKE, as she continues to recover from heart surgery.
A prayer of thanksgiving for DANIELLE KRAMER, friend of many in the congregation, as she received a successful bone marrow transplant!
For FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF KEVIN BUXTON, a friend of many in the congregation, who is being laid to rest today. He was only 33 years old.
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 has been moved to Breeze Park for more extensive and round the clock care.
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