DAILY DEVOTION AND CHURCH NEWS: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2018

DEVOTION:  John 1:35-3:21 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹ He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.^[a] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus^[b] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter^[c]).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." ⁵¹ And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,^[d] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

The Wedding at Cana

2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." ⁴ And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." ⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.^[e] 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.⁸ And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." ¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers^[f] and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹³ The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

¹⁸ So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ²⁰ The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,^[g] and will you raise it up in three days?" ²¹ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. ²² When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people²⁵ and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

You Must Be Born Again

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus^[h] by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." ³ Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again^[i] he cannot see the kingdom of God." ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"⁵ Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.^[j] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You^[k] must be born again.' ⁸ The wind^[l]blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

⁹ Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" ¹⁰ Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you^[m] do not receive our testimony.¹² If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.^[n] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.^[o]

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world,^[p] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

 

https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.klaustermeier/videos/10156044946913803/

 

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CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK:

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; NEW MEMBER LUNCH NOON; Leave for snow tubing 2:30    

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WORSHIP WORKERS: 

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

 

Monday, 6:30-

Acolyte- Loren Howard

Worship assistant- ????

Projectionist- Terry McKenzie

Altar clean up- Steve and Sandy Robine

 

 

 

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  List the plagues of Egypt in order.  1, Water turned to blood.  2, Frogs  3,  Gnats  4. Flies  5. Egyptian livestock die  6.Boils  7.Hail  8. Locusts  9. Darkness  10. Death of the firstborn.

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  What did the Egyptians give the Israelites as they left?

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NEWS:

 

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!)

NEW MEMBER LUNCH THIS SUNDAY AT NOON!!

If you became a member in 2018, we would like to honor you and get to know you a bit better, and would like to give you the opportunity to get to know other members and each other as well! 

All members are welcome to join us for lunch and fellowship!  It'll be a great time!  Just call the church office to let us know you'll be there. 456-2888

YOUTH AND FAMILY SNOW TUBING SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT HIDDEN VALLEY!!

If you like to go own hills fast and enjoy fun, please join us!  It is $20 a person and it is a ton of fun!

 

We'll leave from church at about 2:30!!!  I may need a driver or two!  Let me know if you can drive! 

TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR YOUR COMMUNITY!!!

1. The Pregnancy Options Center is in need of Table Hosts for their Annual Banquet on Thursday, March 21.  Below are the duties:

1. Come to a prayer meeting with dessert on Tuesday, February 5 at St. John's, at 6:30pm to understand more about what a table host does.
2. Get seven people who are in support of our Pregnancy Option Center to come to the banquet, and sit at your table.  They will be asked to pledge to donate to this very worthy cause.
3. Be the host of your table that evening.  Make sure everyone has everything they need, feels welcome and takes care of things that evening. 

 

If you are willing to be a table host, or have questions about it, please reply to this email.

 

 

2. Warren County Literacy Inc has begun its bookcase campaign for 2019.  We are in need of bookcase sponsors.  It is $50 to sponsor a bookcase for one child.  If you'd like to be a sponsor, simply write a check out to Warren County Literacy Inc., or you can give cash, and bring it to me at church.  Don't put it in the offering plate.  Give it directly to me.  The awards ceremony where the kids receive their bookcases is in April, and if you are a donor you will be invited to attend. 

 

 

Thank you!

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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.

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 MOLLY HENDERSHOT as she is still dealing with shortness off breath and weakness.  She will be going for more tests next week.

 

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

 

 

 

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