DAILY DEVOTION AND CHURCH NEWS: Monday, Jan. 21, 2018

DEVOTION: Nehemiah 8:1-12 English Standard Version (ESV)

Ezra Reads the Law

8 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. ² So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴ And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. ⁵ And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. ⁶ And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,^[a] helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. ⁸ They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly,^[b] and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

This Day Is Holy

⁹ And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

 

https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.klaustermeier/videos/10156039244738803/

 

 

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CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK:

Mon- worship 6:30

Tues- Quilting 9-2

Wed- Oak Point Worship 10am; Choir 7pm

Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45

Sat- Men's breakfast 8am (rescheduled from this past Saturday)

Sun- Adult Bible Class 8am; Traditional Worship 9; Fellowship, Sunday school and adult Bible class 10:15; Chapel 10:45;    

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WORSHIP WORKERS: 

 

Monday, 6:30-

Acolyte- Cierra Figura

Worship assistant- Steve Mauch

Projectionist- Cara Klaustermeier

Altar clean up- Terry McKenzie

 

Sunday, 9am—

Acolyte- Dulci Rahn

Ushers- Rich Talbert, Tom Linke, Don Hance, Kent Jacobsmeyer

Communion assistant- Rich Talbert

Lay reader- Don Nolte

Projectionist- Tammy Miller

Altar- Cheri Hofeldt

Tellers- Team #4

 

Sunday 10:45

Acolyte-  Jared Cluver

Worship assistant- Jason Cluver

Projectionist- Sarah Cluver

 

 

 

 

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  What were Joseph's two dreams about?

1.  Joseph told his brothers that they were in the field binding sheaves when his sheaf rose up and stood upright and his brothers sheaves bowed down to his sheaf.
2 The sun, moon and 11 stars bowed down to him.  Genesis 37:5-10

Thanks Don Nolte!

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  When Jacob (Israel" pronounced his "blessings" upon is sons, what did he say about each of them?

 

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NEWS:

 

WORSHIP TONIGHT AT 6:30!!  IF YOU MISSED YESTERDAY YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET GOD'S WORD IN YA!

We'll be reviewing the accounts of John the Baptist, Jesus' baptism and Jesus' temptation!!

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MEN'S BREAKFAST THIS SATURDAY AT 8AM!

Biscuits and gravy

sausage

scrambled eggs

Bible study!

 

We need more guys to come!  Get there!  (Let me know if you're coming!)

ANOTHER GOOD IDEA ABOUT SUNDAY SCHEDULE!!!!

10:45 and MONDAY WORSHIP IS LIKE BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP ALL ROLLED INTO ONE!!

Even if you went to the 9am service, you won't be disappointed if you stay for the 10:45 service.  You can stay for the first part which includes a few songs, confession and absolution, and Bible readings/study; and then leave after the study/sermon time is done because you've already had communion. 

Just a thought, especially if you aren't currently attending the Bible study on angels.

NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON JANUARY 27, AT NOON!!

We want to welcome all of the new members we received in 2018, and help them to feel at home at St. John's.  Please plan on attending the new member luncheon to do so, along with the new members, The RSVP sheet is on the counter in the narthex or you can call the church office to let us know you're coming.

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SUMMARY OF LAST WEDNESDAY'S STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING

1. We talked about our Mission Statement and made a few minor adjustments to it.  It is a work in progress. 
2. We talked about our strengths and weakness.  Our main strength is that we are founded and centered on God's Word and Sacraments.  That's what sets us apart and makes us different than most other churches.
3. Then we made some goals.  These are SMART goals meaning they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. 
1. A 5% increase in Bible study attendance by the end of the year.
2. Add two more adult Bible studies on Sunday morning or during the week by the end of the year.
3. 10% increase in worship attendance from 2018 to 2019.
4. Two additional community outreach events. 

These are some great goals to shoot for!  The only way these things are going to happen and be done well is if the members of St. John's family get excited about their church family, get out and participate in them and do them. 

All that being said, here are some steps to take to fulfill these goals as set forth: 

1. If anyone is willing to be a host, facilitator, or leader for a Bible study please contact me and we can talk about it.  I will give you all the tools and support you need!
2. Get to worship and invite people to come with you.  It's as simple as that. 
3. If there is something you'd like to do in the community; whether it be outreach, evangelism, or fellowship please contact me to talk about it and, once again, I will give you all the tools, resources, and support you need. 

We do, indeed, have a wonderful church family!  I am so proud of my family!  We do a lot of things in the community, at our jobs, and throughout the world.  We do have our faults, everyone does, but we can certainly tell that God is present in, with, and among us!  Go out and brag on your church family and get to work accomplishing these goals! 

PRAYERS:

For the TRINITY FIRST LUTHERAN SCHOOL FAMILY IN MINNEAPOLIS, where my sister Mary teaches, as they mourn the loss of their campus pastor, Pastor Maki. 

 

For those dealing with cancer and treatments JOHN MORRIS, father in law of Elise Morris; GEORGE HOELSCHER, PASTOR RON LEHENBAUER, MARY BREUER, MARI GILB, TONI MAUCH'S BROTHER RAY, and hundreds off others who are dealing with this dreaded disease. .

 

For BETTY SUTOR who is in the nursing home but is dealing with severe weakness.

 

For FAITH, a baby of one of Karin's bus driving friends who has kidney failure.

 

For DIANNE FELDKAMP'S SISTER, DONNA MAYES, who has been diagnosed with ALS, and her other sister, DEBBIE BURGER, who has been diagnosed with Grave's disease. 

   

 

 

PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:

For COLTON FIGURA AND DANNY DREYER who are both home but remain on active duty in the military.

 

For CONNER FIGURA going through tech training for the Air Force. .

 

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