Daily Email: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (Ash Wednesday)

James 1:12-18 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

 

A lot of times when we are under trials or we are going incredibly difficult times, we ask the question, "Why is God doing this to me?"  We think that somehow or in some way God is punishing us for something we did, that he did or is doing whatever bad thing maybe happening.  This cannot be.  God doesn't make the bad things happen.  The bad things that happen to us, including death itself, are a result of our sin. 

            What happens is we get tempted and those temptations creep into our mind and heart.  Then, after they get to our heart, we do, think, or say that bad thing, the bad thing leads to more bad things and eventually we suffer the consequences of those bad things, and, after all is said and done, we die.  This is all our fault.  We made it happen.  We do the crime.  We ought to do the time.

            If anything, God is merciful.  Think of all the times you sinned just yesterday.  Think of all the bad thoughts you had/  What if everyone around you knew those bad thoughts? The truth is that you should die for every little sin you commit. 

            But God is merciful.  He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, but he gives us more grace.  He lets us live here on this earth, and then, because of His great love, he brings us to eternal life.  In that time and space there will be no more temptation to sin and there will be no more sin.  No more sin equals no more bad things.  No more sin equals no more death. 

            Today is Ash Wednesday, it is the day we remember that we are nothing but dirt and to that dirt we will return.  In essence we are meditating and dwelling on our own mortality.  Thankfully, God gets the last word, and his last word is forgiveness!  If you believe in Christ, the Lord has the last word over your life!  His last words to you today are "I love you and I forgive you!  Go about your day in peace, and then come to supper at 5:30 and worship at 6:30!  See you then!

 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for having the last word over my life.  Even though I deserve death you have given me the crown of life!  Thank you!  Amen.

 

 

 

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CALENDAR:

Wed- ASH WEDNESDAY supper 5:30; worship 6:30; Choir 7:30

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:30

Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm

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

Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; VOTER'S MEETING AT 9:45

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WORSHIP WORKERS: 

Acolyte- Wed- Jared Cluver 8:30- Jared Cluver; 11- Loren Howard

 

Ushers- Wed- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher Sat- Charlie Figura; Sun-  Lew Feldkamp, Rich boeger, Brett Nordwald, Scott Schulze; 11- Erv Yoder

 

Altar- Wednesday  is already set up/ Clean up Joanne Hachtel Sun- set up- Jodi Baldwin ; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie

 

Communion assistant- Wed- Randy Fischer; Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- John Hachtel, 11- Dave Winter

Greeters- 8:30- Don Nolte????; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters

 

Projectionists- Sat- Gus Klaustermeier; 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Luebke

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Jacob Nagel 11- Karen Benton

 

8:30 Organist- Barb Dreyer

 

Pianists- Sat- Kathy Barrow; 11am- Molly Hendershot

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  What happened to Israel when the Israelite men indulged in sexual immorality with the Moabite women and sacrificed to their gods?

 

From Pat King- Well, short answer is found in Numbers – God had them killed. The longer answer is here:

Numbers 25:1-9 NET

1 When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel. 4 The Lord said to Moses, "Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the Lord in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor." 6 Just then one of the Israelites came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the plain view of Moses and of the whole community of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand, 8 and went after the Israelite man into the tent and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman's abdomen. So the plague was stopped from the Israelites. 9 Those that died in the plague were 24,000.

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  When the Israelites went in to conquer the Promised Land, what were they to do with the current inhabitants and their possessions?  What did they do instead?  What happened just as the Lord said it would?

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NEWS:

LENTEN MIDWEEK SUPPER AND WORSHIP BEGINS TONIGHT!!

This year during our Lenten worship we're going to do something different.  We will be doing an interactive message time in which we will all formulate our own versions of the "Gospel in seven words". 

 

Is someone were to come to you and ask you to tell them what you believe in seven words or less, what would you say?  In this fast paced, information age, you may not have much more than that to get the Gospel out to someone.  How would you respond to that request? 

 

I am very excited to see how we come up with our conclusions and what our extremely concise profession and confessions of faith will look like!  You'll have to join us on Wednesday to find out what it's all about!

 

Supper is at 5:30  (Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad, dessert)

Worship is at 6:30 (Imposition of ashes, Lord's Supper)

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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY MORNING AT 8AM!!

Invite someone!  Bring a son or grandson!  RSVP to let me know you're coming!!

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VOTER'S MEETING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45

Agenda—  Along with our usual reports there are a few things n Old Business and New Business

Old Business

1. Report from restructuring task force
2. Report from security team
3. Discussion on consolidating three services into one

 

New Business- Report on possible new children's and youth program from faith Inkubators

 

Please come and join us and give your opinions and ideas. 

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BRING YOUR BABY BOTTLES IN THIS WEEK!!!

So far we've raised $1062.36 through our baby bottle campaign with quite a few bottles still out there. If you took a bottle home with you, make sure you bring it back this week or weekend full of cash, coins, or checks!! Let's support keeping babies alive in Warren County!!

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CHILI COOK-OFF AND BOARD GAMES ON SATURDAY, FEB. 24 @ 6PM!! 

Do you think you have THE BEST chili recipe known to man?  Do you like to compete?  Then sign up for our chili cook-off and come and join us for a fun evening with your friends at St. John's!!  Invite your friends!  We'll start right after our Saturday worship!!

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ALL PARENTS NEED TO RSVP TO ME SO THAT I KNOW YOU GO THE LETTER I SENT LAST WEEK AND SO I KNOW YOU'RE COMING TO OUR MEETING ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 @ NOON!!

If you have any kids between the ages of 0-18 who are members of St. John's, I want you at a luncheon and meeting on Sunday, Feb 25 at noon to discuss the future of your kid's faith life and your involvement in it.  The meeting will not take more than an hour, but will hopefully make a lasting impact on how you see your role in your child's faith life, what you can do to help it, and how the church and pastor can help you help your child.  Let's grow our youth into the great Christian adults god intended them to be!

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YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS SATURDAY, MARCH 10!!

Tickets will go on sale at church this weekend after services.

 

AUCTION ITEMS ARE NEEEDED!!

If you have any good items that they youth could use  for the auction, please bring them by church any time we're open!  If you leave something when pastor isn't here, please put a note on it to tell us that it is from you.

MONTHLY PAPER NEWSLETTERS WILL NO LONGER BE MAILED!!!

This past week was the last week you'll receive your newsletter in the mail unless you are shut-in, in the military or live far away from home for some reason.  You'll have to come to church to get it!

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RETIREMENT SEMINARS AVAILABLE.  WHO IS INTERESTED?

Denny Hagan from eldercare associates would like to know how many people would be interested in attending one or more of the following seminars if he were to come out to St. John's to do them.

 

 

1. Identity theft. With tax season coming, this is a serious concern to not only seniors, but to everybody that has a Social Security Number. As a matter of fact, the most profitable Information on the net, is for children. It takes much longer to catch the issue, due to lack of use of the children's numbers.

 

2. Changes in how Medicare Part B, is billed to Seniors, It is more important than ever that one takes the time to plan their retirement. Medicare part B is billed based on one's income, and to make it even more confusing, it is based on your income of 2 years ago.  Now, before we start scaring anybody, If they are already receiving benefits, this new rule, will not apply. All of these rules, are changes in Social Security. 

 

3. Understanding Social Security: how to get all that is coming to you and making the most of it. 

 

 

If anyone is interested in any of these, please let me know, and if we get enough people interested, we will get Denny to come out and do a presentation. 

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A NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR SOLDIERS HAS FORMED CALLED "WARRIORS' JOURNEY HOME" 

It is a nonsectarian, nonpolitical group that will be meeting the second Sunday of the month at 2pm at Bridgeway Behavioral Health 1206 E. Veteran's memorial Parkway in Warrenton.  Rev. Dr. Gary Ellul (retired from the Army, a licensed counselor, and pastor at St. Paul's In Jonesburg) will be leading the group.  You can call his office if you are interested or know someone who is.  Phone number is 636-224-1411.  Pamphlets are on the counter in the narthex if you would like more information.

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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE SHELVES UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH MAILBOXES IN THE NARTHEX IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET! 

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OUR LAST DIRECTORY (Last updated in August of 2016) has a lot of outdated phone numbers.  If your number has changed, please call the office 456-2888 and let Terry know!

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DUE TO SOME TROUBLES WITH OUR CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE

Our new email address is sjwarrlutheran@gmail.com.  Please change it in your address books!!

 

Pastor's email, revklaus@hotmail.com will remain the same.

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LITTLE LAMBS IS STILL 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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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 FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES.

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PRAYERS: 

For DON NOLTE who will be having carpel tunnel surgery on Thursday.

 

For JOANNA HOELSCHER who is recovering from surgery at home.

 

For PAT JAEGER as she recovers from carpel tunnel surgery at home.

 

For HAROLD TEMME as he is hospitalized recovering from a broken nose and as concussion after a bad fall.

 

For RAYMOND SLAYDEN, son of Lil Winter, as he is having the same trouble as she is with a-fib and congestive heart troubles

 

For LIL WINTER as she deals with heart troubles.

 

For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH as he continues to recover from a broken leg and severely sprained ankle.  He has to wear a boot for 4 more weeks, but can walk on it and use a cane to get around. 

 

For GEORGE HOESCHER, GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), BUCK HAMPTON, and DENISE HOOKER (Betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer. 

 

 

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.