DEVOTION: Psalm 80:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
Restore Us, O God
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.
80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!
3 Restore us,[a] O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Some people are really into restoring things. There's whole TV shows on HGTV on renovating and restoring old houses. Companies are built upon restoring old furniture. It seems as though many things that were once thrown away or discarded as trash are now being renewed and restored. I've always been interested in restoring things. The only trouble is that I don't have the tools or the knowledge to do so on my own. I love watching all of these restoration shows, but I often find myself feeling jealous because I don't have the time, talent, knowledge or tools to do it. A member of our congregation, Brett Nordwald, is making a living out of restoring old tractors and farm equipment. He's been doing it since he was a kid. He has the knowledge, skill, and especially all of the right tools to get the job done.
As I get older, I often think that I'd like a restoration. I'd like some new parts, a couple new knees, the wrinkles buffed out and all the extra pounds off would be just what I need. At the same time, if you buff out all of the scratches and dents on an old tractor, you still have the problem of old insides. The engine restoration is just as important, if not more, than the rest of it. You can look pretty on the outside and still be dead on the inside.
Some might say that we are a body and we have a soul. I think it is the other way around. We are a soul and we have a body. By the power of the Holy Spirit our souls are being renewed day by day. While our bodies get more and more rust, dings, dents, and scratches on them, who we are is as fresh and as new as they day we were born anew in baptism. We are free from all the sin and guilt that so easily drags us down. Scriptures clearly tell us that "If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have been restored by Jesus' blood and righteousness!! We are made new!
Rejoice in your restoration! Rejoice that God's face shines upon you and that you gleam like a shiny new car in his eyes! He delights in you! You are his child! Rejoice!
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for restoring me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me today! Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Mon- confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Ladies Aid cleaning of the sanctuary 9:30; Oak Pointe Worship 10:30, Stephen Ministry 6; Choir 7
Thurs- Confirmation make up 6; Karate 6:15
Sat- Worship- 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Adult Bible class and Sunday school 9:45; Decorating church for Christmas noon
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RSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jared Cluver; 11- Cameron Faerber
Ushers- Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elder- Sat- Roy Bohning; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- ???
Lay Reader- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Jennifer Figura; 11- Loren Howard
Pianist Sat- Barb Dreyer; Sun 11- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionist- Sat- Toni Mauch; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Savannah Masters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
Who was Stephen? Stephen was the chief of the first seven deacons and first Christian martyr. A Greek convert of great faith and eloquence. Arrested and tried before the Sanhedrin, but stoned to death by an angry mob, before he had time to finish his defense. Thanks Don!
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Barnabas?
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NEWS:
LADIES CLEANING THE SANCTUARY THIS WEDNESDAY AT 9:30!!
Come and join the ladies as they get the sanctuary ready for this Advent and Christmas Season!
CHRISTMAS DECORATING AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY!!! Be there at noon to help! I will get pizza for everyone who shows up!
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SCRIP ORDERS ARE DUE NEXT MONDAY, DECEMBER 4!
Get all those Christmas gifts cards bought and help out your church at the same time!! Get order forms on the counter in the narthex, or from the church office!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRESENTATION WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 at 6:30!!
If you would like your children to be in the program, they need to be at Sunday school!
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SIGN UP SHEET TO BUY A POINSETTIA FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY IS ON THE COUNTER IN THE NARTHEX! COST IS $13.50
It is a wonderful way to honor the memory of someone or just someone you love!
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LITTLE LAMBS IS SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!
If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool. Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know. They'll hook you up right quick!
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OUR FIRST ADVENT DINNER WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 5:30!
All in elder groups 1-3 are responsible for bringing either a side dish or salad and a dessert! Fried chicken will be the main course for all three meals! Worship will begin at 6:30! We'll hear different voices proclaim the coming of Jesus! Zechariah (The Benedictus), Gabriel (the announcement to Mary), and Mary (the Magnificat) will proclaim the birth long foretold!
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LADIES AID CHRISTMAS PARTY WILL BE AT DENNY'S ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT NOON!
Please sign up on the sign up sheet on the counter in the narthex or call Terry to rsvp!
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VOTER'S MEETING RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY
- The voters nominated President Lee Hagan for district president and VP Ron Rall for another term.
- The voters voted to keep the same mission project, Rev.. Micah and Dorothy Glenn in North County, for 2018.
- Larry Schulze, Jim McRae, and Teresa Brockfeld all volunteered to be on the board of trustees! Thank you to these three volunteers!
- We are still in need of two board members for the board of education, and four members for the board of elders.
- The voters approved the budget for 2018. Thanks to Alan Hofeldt for putting it together.
- Since we continuously have trouble filling our boards and committees and since things could be done a whole lot better and more efficiently with a different structure, the voters approved the appointing of a task force to study changes to our governance structure so that we can tap into all the unused potential, so that people who want to do good in the congregation don't have to commit to boards and committees for 9 years, and so that the work of the church can be disbursed among those who actually want to do it! PRAISE THE LORD!!
- The voters approved changing the overflow accordion door to a permanent wall with doors and windows in it to convert the overflow to a cry room.
- The voter's also approved a budget of $450,000 for our building project so that we can move forward with hiring an architect.
As you can see, a lot is getting done in and around St. John's. It may be slow going at times, but God is definitely moving! I'm excited to see what God has in store for 2018!! It's gonna be a great year watching A LOT of people come to Christ and become members of St. John's! If you'd like to volunteer for our task force to look into structure changes, please reply to this email. Please look for lots of wonderful stuff to be happening in the near future, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for St. John's that we can grow in making disciples in, out and together!!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne."
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACKS AND PACKETS OF OATMEAL.
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PRAYERS:
For our CHURCH, as we begin to make some big changes to both our governance structure and our building, and as we move forward to make disciples of all nations.
For JIM HUSTER, who is hospitalized with internal bleeding in his leg.
For JENNIFER RAHN, who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery at home.
For LINDA CALLIES, who is recovering from infection at home.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER, BUCK HAMPTON, DENISE HOOKER (betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
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