DEVOTION:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons. ... Romans 8:14-15a
Patrick is a pit bull, a breed of dog many people try to avoid.
Apparently, Patrick's owner should be included in that group. I say that because the individual, who will remain nameless in this devotion, tied Patrick to a railing in her Nevada apartment building. Then she went to visit some friends.
For a week she visited her friends.
While she visited, Patrick waited. Patrick waited for his owner's return. He waited to be fed. He waited to be given some water. Eventually a mailman found Patrick at the bottom of a trash chute. By then Patrick was curled up into a ball, unable to stand.
Patrick was rushed to a veterinary clinic.
The vets examined the dog and experience told them Patrick was a goner -- a dog without hope. They agreed that Patrick would die as he had lived: unwanted and alone.
That's what logic said should have happened.
What did happen was quite different. The doctors felt sorry for Patrick. They gave him therapy, a special diet and some transfusions. And Patrick responded. He put on weight. Before long a grateful Patrick started following his benefactors all around the clinic. Indeed, appreciation became a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week kind of job for the rescued pooch.
And at this point I probably don't need to say Patrick's story ought to be our story.
Because of sin and Satan we were chained up -- doomed and destined to die eternally.
Logically there was no other choice. After all, Scripture says the soul that sins will die. But God's Word also tells us, in spite of this logic, a gracious God sent His only Son into this world to rescue us. By living the perfect life that was beyond us, by dying the death we deserved, Jesus took our place and carried our sins.
Because of what Jesus has done for us all who have been given faith in Him will not perish but are given everlasting life.
This ought to take us to one other similarity between Patrick and us; like the rescued, no-longer-unwanted dog, grateful Christians ought to live their lives in thanksgiving to our Divine Rescuer and Redeemer.
THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, please accept the praises of those whom You have rescued. Because of Your grace, Jesus was made both our Substitute and Savior. May I be filled with a sense of gratitude for His sacrifice? This I pray in His Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Hushai? For what instrument was Psalm 5 written? the flute
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Psalm 31 written for?
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CATECHISM:
Question: How are we to examine ourselves?
Answer: We are to examine ourselves to see whether
a. we are sorry for our sins,
b. we believe in our Savior Jesus Christ and in His words in the Sacrament;
c. we plan, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change our sinful lives.
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BIRTHDAYS:
Mon- Anna Sutherland
Tues- Nicholas Schulze
Wed- John Howard
Thurs- Dulci Rahn, Abby Vossen
Sat- Lydia Miller
Sun- Christina Benke, Molly Hendershot, Jacob Winn
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Tues- Charles and Marlys Mertens
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; bells 6:30; choir 7:30
Thurs- Maundy tursday worship 7pm
Fri- Good Friday worship 7pm
Sat- set up for Easter breakfast 8am; NO WORSHIP
Sun- Easter sunrise worship 6:30am; Easter breakfast 7:45; Easter egg hunt 9am; worship 10:30am
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WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector- Thurs McKenzie; Fri McKenzie; Sun 6:30 Mauch; 10:30 McKenzie
Elder- Thurs- Linke, Sun 6:30 Talbert; 10:30 Tinnin
Ushers- Thurs- Boeger, Schulze, Sherman, Nolte; Fri- Hance Dieckmann, Weigle, Stark; Sun- 6:30- Dieckmann, Luebke, Callies, Sweet; 10:30- Heitgerd, Linke, Walters, Linke
Acolyte- Thurs Emma Tinnin, Fri- Sutherland; Sun- 6:30- Ivy Tinnin, 10:30- Vossen
Lay reader- 6:30 Dreyer; 10:30- Vossen
Greeters- 6:30- Sherman 10:30- Schaumberg
Altar- Thurs Setup- McKenzie; Clean Up Turnure; Friday Set up McKenzie; Sunday set up Callies/Vohsen cleanup- Frick
Organist- Thurs- Hilgendorf; Fri- Dieckmann Sun- Hilgendorf
Tellers- Team #4
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PROJECTOR SCHEDULE
Thanks to Terry McKenzie there are only a few dates left! Notice that most of them are Saturday evening!! July 3 is the only Sunday that we need someone. Sign up and get me off your back and out of your email inbox!
> >April 21 (Maundy Thursday)- Mckenzie
> >April 22- (Good Friday)- Mckenzie
> >
> >April 24 (Easter)- 6am Mauch 10:30am- Mckenzie
> >
> >April 30- Mckenzie
> >May 1- Figura
> >
> >May 7-
> >May 8- Denise Schlesselmann
> >
> >May 14-
> >May 15-Woolf
> >
> >May 21-
> >May 22- Mckenzie
> >
> >May 28- Figura
> >May 29- Schlesselmann
> >
> >June 4- Mckenzie
> >June 5- Panhorst
> >
> >June 11-
> >June 12- Mckenzie
> >
> >June 18-
> >June 19-Woolf
> >
> >June 25-
> >June 26- Panhorst
> >
> >July 2- Mckenzie
> >July 3-
> >
> >July 9-
> >July 10- Figura
> >
> >July 16-
> >July 17-Woolf
> >
> >July 23-
> >July 24- Panhorst
> >
> >July 30-
> >July 31- Mckenzie
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NEWS:
HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
Maundy Thursday- 7pm
Good Friday- 7pm
Resurrection Sunday- worship 6:30am; breakfast 7:45; Easter egg hunt 9am; worship 10:30am
Come and join us as we celebrate the passion of the Christ and His resurrection as well because He has made it ours! Note that we do not have a benediction ast the end of Maundy Thursday or Good Friday because it is considered all one worship with time in between.
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CARE PROCESS TO START WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 6:30pm with a congregation meeting.
The leaders of our church and many others would appreciate as many people being there as possible.
Let me know if you need someone to watch your kids so you can be there.
Even if you have no conflicts within the church, it would be good for you to be there to lend your encouragement and support to those who need it and to show your concern for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Besides, you may have use for some of the things you learn in other parts of your life.
I really want you all to make every effort to be there. I will find a babysitter for you if you need one.
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YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Here are the rest of the practices for the jr. and sr. high youth choir. We will sing on May 8th - Mother's Day.
Sat. April 30 @ 9:00 a.m.
Sun. May 1 @ 6:00 p.m.
Sat. May 7 @ ? time to be determined
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NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE "A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD" WILL TAKE PLACE AT ST. JOHN'S on MAY 5!!!It begins with a wonderful DELUXE continental breakfast at 6:30am.
The Prayer service begins at 7am. It will take about 30-45 minutes.
Bring your whole family before school and work! What a great way to start your day!
(Many items are still needed for the breakfast. Refer to your CHURCH Ministry email to find out what is needed or call Sandy Robine to find out at 456-4061.)
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YOUTH GROUP TO CLEAN UP HIGHWAY 47 on MAY 1 DURING AND AFTER SUNDAY SCHOOL TIME.
We are planning for all Youth to do Hwy 47 clean-up on Sunday, May 1 (weather permitting). We will meet in the Youth room after the service to have a devotion and then head out. Afterwards we will go to Binkley park and have a picnic lunch.
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OUR MISSION FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ARE THE RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN JAPAN with LCMS World Relief
The folks in Japan have been dealing with the effects of a very severe earthquake that caused a lot of destruction. We truly need to continue to help them in any way we can. Go to LCMS.org/help to see how you can help.
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.)
For ALAN HOFELDT'S MOTHER who is recovering from digestion problems and is unable to eat.
For ROBYN MCNEW'S BROTHER, KEN MEYER, who suffered a severe heart attack and is unresponsive after surgery.
For GERTIE BESSERT, sister of Gene Hilgendorf, who is nearing the end of ehr life after a long, hard battle against cancer.
For NAOMI JOHNSON'S COUSIN, REBECCA TEDFORD, who is doing much better after a severe heart attack at age 39.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who is awaiting the results of a biopsy surgery he had on Friday.
For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH who is having serious problems and pain due to reumatoid arthritis.
For PAT MANNESS, former member of St. John's who is going to have to have hip replacement and is in very poor health in many different ways.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is still having problems with her eye and with headaches. THe cause has yet to be identified.
For OUR CHURCH as we begin to deal with our many conflicts and how to best resolve them and reconcile with one another.
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And when He (Jesus) drew near and saw the city, He wept over it. Luke 19:41