45 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
2 "I will go before you
and level the exalted places,[a]
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the Lord, who does all these things.
Did you know that God can use unbelievers, evil people, and even Satan himself to fulfill his purpose? That's what he did with Cyrus. Cyrus was king of Persia and wasn't a good man, yet God made him favorable to the Jews which made them able to go back to the promised land from which they were exiled 70 years earlier.
God can use all manner of evil things that happen to you to bring about his will and his good. He can use the sudden death of a loved one to make you look forward to the resurrection and rely on him more. He can use an injury or illness to humble you and make you realize how much he is in control and you are not. He can use a major catastrophe like a hurricane or a fire to help to understand that your worth and your life is not made up in the abundance of your things but in the abundance of God's mercy and grace.
We certainly don't pray or wish for these things to happen. God doesn't want them to happen to us. He hates Satan and all of his demons. He will send them to hell forever on that last day. Until then, he will use even the most unfortunate circumstances to bring his good and grace to bear on the lives of his people.
Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all the Lord is near and he has saved you! Rejoice even when even befalls you so that God may raise you up!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for using even the worst of my troubles bring about a stronger faith in me and to show me your mercy and grace. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Council 7
Wed- Sewing Dresses 9:30-Noon; Ladies Aid- Noon; YOUTH NIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE REFORMATION 5-7pm; Stephen Ministry 6; Choir 7
Thurs-Newsletter deadline; Confirmation make up 5pm; Karate 6:15-7:45
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7
Sat- (No men's breakfast as pastor is at LERT training; it will be next Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8am); HOLY YOGA 10-11; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Abby Vossen; 11- Jared Cluver
Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure
Altar- Set up- Dave and Linda Callies; Clean Up- Lois Boeger
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; Sun- 8:30- John Hachtel; 11-
Greeters- 8:30- Bob and Marianne Linke; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot
Lay Reader- Sat- Don Nolte; 8:30- Erv Yoder, 11- Luke Rausch
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionist: Sat- Perricone; Sun, 8:30- Yoder; 11- Masters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
What are the books that many Catholics include in their Bibles between the Old and New testaments called? Aprocrypha (Thanks Don!)
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NEWS:
WORSHIP FROM THIS PAST SUNDAY!! (VIDEO) ENJOY AND SHARE!
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YOUTH NIGHT (THINK MINI VBS) THIS WEDNESDAY!!!
Pizza Supper 5-5:30
Program Opening 5:30-5:45
Rotation between crafts, games, snack, and lesson 5:45- 6:45
Closing 6:45-7
Come and join us for some fun and bring some friends kids!!
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SPECIAL KIDS AND YOUTH REFORMATION SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WEDNESDAY NIGHTS COMING UP!
Starting Sunday, October 15 and ending on Sunday October 29 during Sunday school hour beginning at 9:45 and Wednesdays at 5pm, our Sunday school and youth will be doing a special Reformation VBS style Sunday school and Wednesday night youth night for all kids ages 3-18!!! On Sundays we will have special crafts and games along with the lesson. On Wednesday nights we will start with pizza at 5 and then have our program! Tell your kids, grandkids, neighbor's kids, and everyone else you know about it!!
Sunday school schedule for October 15 and 22
Opening- 9:45
Games crafts, snack, lesson rotation 9:55-10:55
Wednesday Schedule for October 18 and 25-
Pizza Supper- 5pm
Opening Worship- 5:30
Games, crafts, snack, and lesson rotation 5:45-7:00
Sunday school schedule for October 29
Opening- 9
Games crafts, snack, lesson rotation 9:10-9:55
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS!! Please call church to volunteer!!!
Kitchen helpers –2 or 3—
Rotation Guides (people to bring groups from one station to another)- 3 or 4—
Other- (all around help)—2-3
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500th ANNIVERSARY REFORMATION BLOW OUT CELEBRATION COMING UP SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29!!!
Sunday school- 9am
Worship- 10am
Potluck Picnic with Fried Chicken- 11:30 (Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share!)
Pitch the Keys Singing- Noon
Bounce House, Live Polka Music , Games, Fellowship, Fun--- Noon- 3pm
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! We want this to be a community event to show everyone that Lutherans are great people who have the truth of the Gospel and the peace of knowing we are saved by grace through faith on account of Christ!!!
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LADIES AID VENDOR FAIR AND BAKE SALE COMING UP SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4
If you would like to be a vendor or know someone who would, the cost is $20 per spot. They also need baked goods. Call 456-2888 to reserve your spot or to let them know you'll donate some baked goods.
Invite your friends and family and come on down to enjoy it!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 2:8
Whoever comes to Sunday school and tells me this verse will get a prize!
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NEW OUTREACH BOOKLET DISPLAY AT CHURCH
Our board of outreach and evangelism purchased a set of outreach booklets on all different topics of interest. They are for you to use for yourself, but also to take to friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors who may be dealing with the things covered in these booklets or may just have questions regarding to the faith. Please check it out and as it says, PLEASE TAKE ONE!
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 OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES. PLEASE BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE TUB MARKED "BACKPACK BLESSINGS"!
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PRAYERS:
For AMBER VOSSEN as she recovers from knee replacement surgery.
For DAVID GRAYSON as he has decided to go on hospice care because of cancer.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER as he recovers from chemo treatments and awaits an important doctor's visit next Thursday.
For the MANY IN CALIFORNIA dealing with wildfires.
For IVY TINNIN, who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and will have to take a semester off of school because of it.
For THOSE IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI who are dealing with hurricane Nate.
For the HUNDREDS IN LAS VEGAS who are dealing with the tragic shooting.
For BUCK HAMPTON dealing with cancer and chemo treatments.
For the INFANT GRANDSON OF DANE AND JODI BALDWIN who was born twelve weeks premature. Right now he is getting some help with breathing, but all vitals and everything are good. He was born at 2 and a half pounds.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For 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, COLTON FIGURA stationed in California, 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.
