DEVOTION: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
If I read the above passage rightly, the eviler the day, the wiser we should walk.
And if that is the case, I have some concerns about a practice recently introduced at a number of congregations this year, including one in Cincinnati: Mount Healthy United Methodist Church.
Now I understand Pastor Patricia Anderson Cook was confident she was doing the right thing. Her confidence was based on the fact she had prayed and deliberated about it. She told the news: "I thought about what Jesus would do, and I'm pretty sure He wouldn't require a mass or a worship service. I'm pretty sure He was out there healing people and touching them with His fingers, even healing someone with spit and dirt, and healing their eyes."
Now while Pastor Cook didn't try to imitate the Savior by healing people, she did follow her Lord by not having an Ash Wednesday worship service, either. Instead of asking people to go into church, this past Ash Wednesday Pastor Cook decided to apply ashes to people by allowing them to drive up in their cars.
Yup, you heard that rightly.
On Ash Wednesday, from 5 to 6 p.m., a person could drive up to Mount Healthy United Methodist Church, and the pastor would apply ashes while he or she remained sitting in their car.
It was Pastor Cook's hope this would reach people who might have personal issues, mobility issues or just feel more comfortable worshipping in their cars and trucks. As she said, (my) "Jesus was an outdoors kind of guy. He came to where they (the people) were, and I want to come where people are comfortable."
It occurs to me that Pastor Cook, like so many others, has focused her attention on only one part of the Savior. It is true that Jesus came to people where they were. He worked with them at weddings and at wells, while they sat in a tree in Jericho or when He hung from a tree in Jerusalem. Sadly, too many people forget that when Jesus worked with these people, He didn't leave them as they were; He changed them.
Lent, including Ash Wednesday, is all about change. Lent is one of the times in the church calendar when Christians reflect on their sins and pray they might be given a repentant heart and a changed life. Most of all, Lent is a time to thank the Lord that Jesus left heaven and came to earth, so He might be the God-given sacrifice that would pay for our redemption.
And I'm not sure you can do that by driving up to a church and stopping for a few seconds.
Let me put it this way: if my son gave his life for you, I'd be pretty disappointed if all you did to show your appreciation would be to drive past the funeral home and wave. It would show me that my son's death just wasn't all that important to you. And, that, dear brothers and sisters ought not to be so.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You became one of us. This You did so we, and our eternal destiny, might be changed. Let us show our appreciation for Your sacrifice. In Your Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Did women ever get an allotment of the land of Israel? Yes--- Read Joshua 17:3-6
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Name one of the many cities of the tribe of Bejamin.
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CATECHISM:
Question: Why do we say "I believe" and not "We believe"?
Answer: Everyone must believe for himself or herself, no one can be saved by another's faith.
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Wed- Supper 5:30; bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30
Thurs- circuit meeting 9am
Fri- nothing
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9; special voters meeting 10:15am; worship 11am
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NEWS:
TONIGHT: SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP 7pm
Supper- 5:30--- Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert
Worship- 7pm- Listen in on the disciples and Jesus as they go to the garden of Gethsemane to pray and sleep
SPECIAL VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, MARCH 18 AT 10:15 to discuss the building of a new entry way to our narthex and sanctuary.
Watch your home mailbox for details!!!
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LITTLE LAMBS REGISTRATION IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED FAMILIES AND CHURCH MEMBERS!!
A nonrefundable enrollment fee of $30 is required. Open enrollment for the whole community opens April 1.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP GOING TO THE AMISH COMMUNITY OF ARTHUR, IL ON APRIL 21. Cost is $65 per person.
Sign up sheet in on the counter in the narthex or you can call Marilyn in the office to sign up. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SPOTS AVAILABLE!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THIS MONTH IS LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
LHM is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches, missions, and ministry worldwide. The daily devotion above comes from LHM almost every day. If you wish to donate ot it please make a check out to LHM and put it in a specially designated envelope.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER MONEY MANAGEMENT HELP FOR SENIOR
If you are a senior age 60 (or age 50 with a disability) and find that paying bills each month can be confusing and frustrating, the Volunteer Money Management Program (VMMP) is available to help. Provided by Lutheran Senior Services and Jewish Family and Children Service, VMMP links volunteers with older or disabled adults who need assistance with maintaining finances. These volunteers can help with sorting, organizing, recording and paying monthly bills, all under your supervision in the comfort of your own home. They can even help with balancing checkbooks. Costs are offered on a sliding scale, and fees can be fully waived if needed. For more info, call 314-446-2523.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIBLE 101: A NEW ONLINE "INTRODUCTORY" BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S!!!
If I read the above passage rightly, the eviler the day, the wiser we should walk.
And if that is the case, I have some concerns about a practice recently introduced at a number of congregations this year, including one in Cincinnati: Mount Healthy United Methodist Church.
Now I understand Pastor Patricia Anderson Cook was confident she was doing the right thing. Her confidence was based on the fact she had prayed and deliberated about it. She told the news: "I thought about what Jesus would do, and I'm pretty sure He wouldn't require a mass or a worship service. I'm pretty sure He was out there healing people and touching them with His fingers, even healing someone with spit and dirt, and healing their eyes."
Now while Pastor Cook didn't try to imitate the Savior by healing people, she did follow her Lord by not having an Ash Wednesday worship service, either. Instead of asking people to go into church, this past Ash Wednesday Pastor Cook decided to apply ashes to people by allowing them to drive up in their cars.
Yup, you heard that rightly.
On Ash Wednesday, from 5 to 6 p.m., a person could drive up to Mount Healthy United Methodist Church, and the pastor would apply ashes while he or she remained sitting in their car.
It was Pastor Cook's hope this would reach people who might have personal issues, mobility issues or just feel more comfortable worshipping in their cars and trucks. As she said, (my) "Jesus was an outdoors kind of guy. He came to where they (the people) were, and I want to come where people are comfortable."
It occurs to me that Pastor Cook, like so many others, has focused her attention on only one part of the Savior. It is true that Jesus came to people where they were. He worked with them at weddings and at wells, while they sat in a tree in Jericho or when He hung from a tree in Jerusalem. Sadly, too many people forget that when Jesus worked with these people, He didn't leave them as they were; He changed them.
Lent, including Ash Wednesday, is all about change. Lent is one of the times in the church calendar when Christians reflect on their sins and pray they might be given a repentant heart and a changed life. Most of all, Lent is a time to thank the Lord that Jesus left heaven and came to earth, so He might be the God-given sacrifice that would pay for our redemption.
And I'm not sure you can do that by driving up to a church and stopping for a few seconds.
Let me put it this way: if my son gave his life for you, I'd be pretty disappointed if all you did to show your appreciation would be to drive past the funeral home and wave. It would show me that my son's death just wasn't all that important to you. And, that, dear brothers and sisters ought not to be so.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You became one of us. This You did so we, and our eternal destiny, might be changed. Let us show our appreciation for Your sacrifice. In Your Name. Amen.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Did women ever get an allotment of the land of Israel? Yes--- Read Joshua 17:3-6
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: Name one of the many cities of the tribe of Bejamin.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Why do we say "I believe" and not "We believe"?
Answer: Everyone must believe for himself or herself, no one can be saved by another's faith.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH CALENDAR
Wed- Supper 5:30; bells 6; worship 7; choir 7:30
Thurs- circuit meeting 9am
Fri- nothing
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- Bible Study 8; worship 9; special voters meeting 10:15am; worship 11am
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
TONIGHT: SUPPER AT 5:30 AND WORSHIP 7pm
Supper- 5:30--- Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert
Worship- 7pm- Listen in on the disciples and Jesus as they go to the garden of Gethsemane to pray and sleep
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Watch your home mailbox for details!!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS REGISTRATION IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED FAMILIES AND CHURCH MEMBERS!!
A nonrefundable enrollment fee of $30 is required. Open enrollment for the whole community opens April 1.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP GOING TO THE AMISH COMMUNITY OF ARTHUR, IL ON APRIL 21. Cost is $65 per person.
Sign up sheet in on the counter in the narthex or you can call Marilyn in the office to sign up. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SPOTS AVAILABLE!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THIS MONTH IS LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
LHM is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches, missions, and ministry worldwide. The daily devotion above comes from LHM almost every day. If you wish to donate ot it please make a check out to LHM and put it in a specially designated envelope.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER MONEY MANAGEMENT HELP FOR SENIOR
If you are a senior age 60 (or age 50 with a disability) and find that paying bills each month can be confusing and frustrating, the Volunteer Money Management Program (VMMP) is available to help. Provided by Lutheran Senior Services and Jewish Family and Children Service, VMMP links volunteers with older or disabled adults who need assistance with maintaining finances. These volunteers can help with sorting, organizing, recording and paying monthly bills, all under your supervision in the comfort of your own home. They can even help with balancing checkbooks. Costs are offered on a sliding scale, and fees can be fully waived if needed. For more info, call 314-446-2523.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIBLE 101: A NEW ONLINE "INTRODUCTORY" BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S!!!
Please call or reply to this email to let me know that you want to sign up for this wonderful opportunity. I will sign you up! The congregation has already paid the annual fee so IT IS FREE for you!!!
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For LEONARD WAALEN who is on hospice care at Progress West and for his family as they deal with this tough situation.
For LIBBY PAILER as she is hospitalized at St. John's Mercy in Creve Couer awaiting surgery TOMORROW.
For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she is awaiting cancer surgery and treatments.
For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is now at The Cedars in Creve Couer
For HANK SCHMIDT who is at Surrey Place in Creve Couer recovering from and going through cancer treatments.
For MISSIONARIES AND PASTORS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD who are dealing with severe opposition, imprisonment and even the threat of death because of the faith.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:9-11