DEVOTION: Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
I was talking to my mom the other day, and she was telling me about how her church's worship attendance has taken a dramatic downturn in the last three years. They were meeting together to try and figure out what to do about it. I was talking with my fellow pastors in the St. Charles area a few weeks ago and we were talking about the same thing. Yesterday,after we saw how few people were in church yesterday, we began to talk about it again with the people who met for Bible class.
Worship attendance and the neglecting of meeting together is not a new problem. It was already an issue back at the time of Paul, just thirty years or so after Jesus died, rose and ascended. When Paul said, "not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some..." he was lamenting the fact that some have already quit coming to church. (They wouldn't have called it "church" yet, but you get the idea.)
But does Paul turn it all into a negative thing and a judgmental thing? NO! He urges the hearers and readers of his letter to encourage one another and consider how to stir one another up to love and good works.
Truth is, no one wants to be around a bunch of negative people. No one wants to go to a place where there is going to be a bunch of folks who are angry with each other and are grumbling at the world around them. You know, people who never smile.
People want to go to a positive place where forgiveness abounds, where people are spurred on to love and good works, where we are constantly encourgaing one another, and where we treat each other as equals under the cross! They want to go to a place where there is peace and hope, a place where they teach about the LOVE of Christ and His FORGIVENESS and where people live it out in their lives and attitudes.
Unfortunately many of our Christian churches throughout the world have become such places. THIS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE.
I urge you to forgive whatever grievances you have with one another "and all the more as you see the DAY approaching". Time is short! Jesus is coming soon!
Let us do as Paul says! Encourage one another! Stir one another up! Give each other love instead of criticism. Listen instead of talk. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Love one another so that the body of Christ may be built up!
Prayer: Lord God, help me to be positive in al things. Help me to share your love always. And if I have been neglecting the meeting of the saints in worship and fellowship, help me to get back to where I should be! Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What is the last book of the Old Testament? Malachi
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I was talking to my mom the other day, and she was telling me about how her church's worship attendance has taken a dramatic downturn in the last three years. They were meeting together to try and figure out what to do about it. I was talking with my fellow pastors in the St. Charles area a few weeks ago and we were talking about the same thing. Yesterday,after we saw how few people were in church yesterday, we began to talk about it again with the people who met for Bible class.
Worship attendance and the neglecting of meeting together is not a new problem. It was already an issue back at the time of Paul, just thirty years or so after Jesus died, rose and ascended. When Paul said, "not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some..." he was lamenting the fact that some have already quit coming to church. (They wouldn't have called it "church" yet, but you get the idea.)
But does Paul turn it all into a negative thing and a judgmental thing? NO! He urges the hearers and readers of his letter to encourage one another and consider how to stir one another up to love and good works.
Truth is, no one wants to be around a bunch of negative people. No one wants to go to a place where there is going to be a bunch of folks who are angry with each other and are grumbling at the world around them. You know, people who never smile.
People want to go to a positive place where forgiveness abounds, where people are spurred on to love and good works, where we are constantly encourgaing one another, and where we treat each other as equals under the cross! They want to go to a place where there is peace and hope, a place where they teach about the LOVE of Christ and His FORGIVENESS and where people live it out in their lives and attitudes.
Unfortunately many of our Christian churches throughout the world have become such places. THIS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE.
I urge you to forgive whatever grievances you have with one another "and all the more as you see the DAY approaching". Time is short! Jesus is coming soon!
Let us do as Paul says! Encourage one another! Stir one another up! Give each other love instead of criticism. Listen instead of talk. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Love one another so that the body of Christ may be built up!
Prayer: Lord God, help me to be positive in al things. Help me to share your love always. And if I have been neglecting the meeting of the saints in worship and fellowship, help me to get back to where I should be! Amen.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What is the last book of the Old Testament? Malachi
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Hanani?
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CATECHISM QUIZ:
Question: What does God require of us in the Third Commandment?
Answer:
a. We should hold preaching and the Word of God sacred.
b. We should gladly hear it, learn it, and meditate on it.
c. We should honor and support the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Mon afternoon-Thurs afternoon- Pastor gone at church worker's conference
Mon- Whispering Pines worship 10am
Tues- quilters 9-2 no Bible study; trustees meeting 7pm
Wed- bell choir 6:30; choir 7:30
Thurs-
Fri- Bible study @ Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30
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NEWS:
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30
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NEWS:
CHILDREN'S CHIMES/BELLS (5th-8th graders) PLEASE CALL MRS. SIEBOLD AT 636-745-8107
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FAMILY HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE @ the STARK'S on FRIDAY, OCT. 28 beginning at 5pm!!!
All church members and GUESTS are invited!
There will be hotdogs, chili, s'mores, water and soda provided!
Pumpkin face painting for children.
Bring your own flashlights, lawnchairs and sticks for roasting marshmallows!
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CIRCUIT REFORMATION SERVICE SUNDAY OCTOBER 30, 2pm, at TRINITY, TROY!!!
Those who grew up in the Lutheran CHurch may remember a day when the area Reformation service was a very popular thing that everyone went to! it was a special time of gathering together as Lutherans to celebrate what we all have in common, the grace, mercy, and peace of Christ!
Let's make it like that again! Mark you calendars and come to this special service!!
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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET:
There is no one signed up to brong donuts for this coming Sunday. Call Marilyn to let her know you are willing to bring some donuts or something else that would be good for our fellowship time after church! 456-2888
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GOODIES FOR U is OUR MISSION FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
Thrivent is helping with packing care package3s in Novmeber to be sent to our troops If you care to contribute financially to G4U, make your check payable to St Johns. use an envelope clearly marked with G4U.
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CPH IS HAVING it's FALL BIBLE SALE
The Lutheran Study Bible, THE CHILDREN'S SOTRY BIBLE, and many other popular Bibles are on sale. Call Marilyn if you want to order. You can also go to CPH.org to check them out.
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BRANSON BUS TRIP
If you signed up for the trip your full payment is due this week! Also, make sure Marilyn has an emergency contact number for you. It is required by American Coaches.
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FLU AND OTHER VACCINES WILL BE OFFERED AT AT JOHN'S ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 from 8:30-10:30!!
Sign up on the counter in the narthex!!
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I NEED SOMEONE FOR THIS COMING SATURDAY (AGAIN) TO DO THE PROJECTOR!!!
October
15-
30-
19-
24- (Thanksgiving Day)
27-
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For ROGER BOEGER who is dealing with some troubles with internal bleeding.
For MARIANNE LINKE who is recovering slowly in the hospital.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is dealing with advanced cancer and intense chemotherapy.
For LIL WINTER, who is dealing with continued trouble with her heart and atrial fibrulation, and is awaiting a surgery to hopefully correct it.
For PATTY SWEET'S BROTHER who is starting a grueling regimen of chemo and radiation to fight his cancer.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who has begun chemotherapy treatments.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.
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