St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012 (revised)

DEVOTION: The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:12-13

Police said Jennifer Brown stole some things from a Holiday Inn in Big Beaver, Pennsylvania.
They said she pilfered some sheets, an alarm clock, a coffee pot, a basket and a hair-dryer. Grand total for the theft was somewhere around $206.

"Not me," said Brown. "It was my evil twin sister who did the stealing.

While police were investigating the evil twin sister, they received a phone call from Brown. She said they could call off the investigation because her evil twin had returned all the things she had taken.

Sure enough. The things were back, exactly as Brown had said they would be.

So, case closed? Nope. In their investigation -- an investigation which had them talking to Brown's family -- they found Jennifer has no twin sister, evil or otherwise. The twin sister was just an invention to whom Jennifer could pass the buck and place the blame -- just like Adam and Eve up above.

Now we may not be as direct in our blame-passing as were Adam and Eve, and we may not be as creative as was Jennifer Brown, but that doesn't change anything. Sinful humanity, of which we are a part, loves to place the blame for all that is evil on someone else. We've found it's comfortable and convenient to blame a spouse, a sibling, a boss, a circumstance or situation.

We like the idea of making ourselves look good, while we make someone else look bad.

Of course, that doesn't fly with the Lord. In Eden's garden the Lord showed He held every soul accountable for his own misdeeds. In prison parlance we had "done the crime," so we had to "do the time." Unfortunately, the time we had to do was forever and the place we had to do it was hell.

This is why you and I ought to be eternally grateful for the Savior who had done no crime still took our evil misdeeds and carried them to the cross. There, having completed a life led without any sin of His own, the Christ died carrying our sins. In short, He died so we might live. He rose from the dead to assure us we need not die.

Jesus is God's Good News, which needs to be shared with everyone, with the exception, of course, of evil, non-existent twin sisters.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we humans have always enjoyed passing the responsibility for our sins on to others. How thankful we should be to have a Savior who took our sins and disposed of them. May we be as ready to praise Him as we are to blame others. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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Last Thursday's Quiz: What chapter/s of Lamentation is an acrostic poem (A poem which has each verse beginning with the successive letters of the hebrew alphabet)?
Chapters 1-4
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Tuesday's Quiz: Who were the three guys who were thrown in the fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up?
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CATECHISM:
Question: What is Christ's exaltation?
Answer: Christ's exaltation is that as man He now fully and always uses His divine powers.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Strategic Planning Committee meeting 6:30
Wed- Pastor on KFUO.org and AM 850 at 11am
Thurs- 8th-12th graders and their parents meet about the National Youth Gathering 6pm
Fri- Jonesburg Nursing Home worship 10:30
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; CHURCH PICNIC AT STARKS Noon
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NEWS:
SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY THIS SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 9:45!!
It's time to get back into Sunday school!!! If you have been neglecting it throughout the summer, now's your chance to get back into it! We will be celebrating with a balloon launch, some fun song and dance, and learning all about Jesus and what He has done for us. Sunday school goes from 9:45-10:45 and late worship begins at 11am! Classes are available for 3-14 year olds!!
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PARENTING COURSE "From Me to We" STARTS THIS SUNDAY at 9:45!!
Hey parents, please come to this course! You will enjoy it immensely! You can drop your kids off for Sunday school and then head right up to class! It is a video based class with time for discussion and encouragement. Come and check it out. All parents are invited!!
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CHURCH PICNIC THIS SUNDAY BEGINNING AT NOON!
Come out and enjoy a lot of good food, fun, an fellowship! Games, a zipline over the pond, lots of wonderful outdoors, and so much more!

Directions: From downtown Warrenton (Main Street) Go west Main St. to Hwy U, Turn left on Hwy U and go 2.2 miles. Turn left on Firetower Rd. Go 1.3 miles and turn Right on Sky Dr. There will be a big painted leaf on the corner, the sign says Maple Leaf Farm. Watch for balloons on the corner of Fire Tower and Sky Dr. Bring your own chairs and either a vegetable, salad, or dessert to share.

Please call the church office, 456-2888, if you haven't signed up yet, to let us know how many are coming and what kind of food you are going to bring!
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NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING FOR ALL 8th-12th GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS THIS THURSDAY at 6pm!!!
It is imperative that you be there for this meeting. We have a lot of stuff to discuss, forms to fill out, and things to decide.
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PASTOR ON THE "ASK THE PASTOR" PROGRAM ON KFUO TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, AT 11AM!
Go to kfuo.org and click on the "listen live" button. Or if you can get AM 850 on your radio, you can listen that way too at 11am. If you aren't able to listen at that time, you can download it as a podcast.
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MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP SEPTEMBER 28-30!!!! REGISTER TODAY!
The 10th annual T-3 (trap, tackle, and tees) retreat is coming up September 28-30!! The cost is $45 for lodging and meals. (You can get a hotel room or bring your own camper or tent if you wish to have your own lodging.) $35 for our 2 person scramble golf tourney. There is also a fishing tournament, skeet shooting, a guided tour of Mark Twain Lake and forest, hiking, biking, and much, much more. All that plus some of the best food you can eat and the best Bible studies and worship times you can have at a camp! It is a time that you will never forget! I will give the first one besides me to sign up my special (pastor) room that I get every year.

I (pastor) am going! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Let me know if you want to go.
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS LCMS Global Missions
Go to LCMS.org to learn more about what our Synod is doing in the way of spreading the Gospel globally!!

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PRAYERS:

For DENISE SCHELSSELMAN AND HER FAMILY as they mourn the loss of her grandma, who passed from death to life this past Sunday morning.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she continues to suffer with pain and shortness of breath because of cancer.

For LIL WINTER'S SON RAYMOND, who is recovering well after gastric bypass surgery.

For PEGGY KOHRING who has stage 2 breast cancer & its in her Lymph Nodes. She is Diabetic. They will give her 4 wks of Chemo and then decide which type surgery to do. She is Lil Winter's granddaughter's mother in law.

For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with severe cancer complications.

For BRENDA ROLOFF, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

Obituary of Dorothy M. Schlesselman

For those who may be interested, below is the obituary for Denise Schlesselman's grandma. Have a blest day!

http://www.campbell-lewis.com/sitemaker/sites/campbe0/obit.cgi?page=profile&section=info&user_id=700963

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012

PRAYERS:

For DENISE SCHELSSELMAN AND HER FAMILY as they mourn the loss of her grandma, who passed from death to life this past Sunday morning.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she continues to suffer with pain and shortness of breath because of cancer.

For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with severe cancer complications.

For BRENDA ROLOFF, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

prayer request for Denise Schlesselman

Please pray for Denise and her family as her grandma died this morning after a brief, unnidentified illness. God's blessings to her and to all of you!

Blood Drive @ Warrenton Wesleyan Church

If you missed the one we had at St. John's, here's anothe rchance to help someone that is free to you. All it takes is a little of your time and a little of your blood!

Hello all,
Warrenton Wesleyan Church and American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on Wednesday September 05, 2012.
Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today!
Drive Details:
Sponsor:                              Warrenton Wesleyan Church
Site:                                     Warrenton Wesleyan Church
Drive Date:                           9/5/2012
Drive Time:                           03:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Co-ordinator Name:               Carrie Stonebarger
Co-ordinator Phone Number: 6364564567
Click here to make an appointment
Blood supplies are dangerously low. Please give if you can. Sign-up Sunday or call the church office if you aren't able to set up your appointment online. Thanks!!!!!
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!
American Red Cross Blood Services - 2025 E St. NW, Washington, DC, 20006
Click here to unsubscribe from further mailings from American Red Cross Blood Services.

----- End forwarded message -----

Pray for Peggy Kohring and Raymond Slayden

Please pray for Peggy Kohring who has stage 2 breast cancer & its in her Lymph Nodes. She is Diabetic. They will give her 4 wks of Chemo then

decide which type surgery to do. She is Lil Winter's granddaughter's mother in law.

Lil's son Raymond is doing well after his Bypass surgery. Keep him in your prayers for his recovery.

Thank you!

Dave Winter

prayer request

I just realized that I never put up a request for prayers for my sister, Mary, who lives in KC. She was in a car accident on Tuesday. She was rear ended badly. Her car was totalled. She is recovering from some bruises and whiplash. Please pray for her. Thank you!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

DEVOTION:
Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. Psalms 130:1-4

Our catechisms list many of the blessed Lord's attributes. Unfortunately, one of the qualities we Christians often forget is the Lord's sense of humor. As proof of the fact the Lord likes to smile, I offer the story of Sal Bentivegna.

Depending on what news source you read, Bentivegna is either an atheist or an agnostic. Either way, he thought religion was a joke and his very-Catholic mother had been misled. To prove there was no Lord watching over her, Bentivegna would often get sarcastic. He was being sarcastic when he told his mother she ought to pray "to her God" and ask for cash to remove her money problem.

Mom declined to pray for such mercenary matters.

Her prayers were reserved for important things like asking the Lord to provide a miracle for her boy -- a miracle that might resurrect his faith. In reply to her son's challenge, mom said he was more than welcome to go to the Lord on her behalf. He took up the challenge and mockingly asked God to help his mother win the lottery.

Now, although these Daily Devotions do not endorse or support the playing of the lottery, we have to be amused by the fact that, the next day, Mrs. Gloria Bentivegna won the New York Lottery Sweet Million game.

Every year for the next 20 years, Bentivegna's mom is going to receive $50,000.

Sal Bentivegna's "prayer" had been answered. But how about his mother's request for her boy to be given a life-changing, soul-shaking experience? Bentivegna himself can answer that question. He said, "I sat back and thought about it and realized the odds against this are astronomical. I can't shrug off that Jesus had a hand in it. No pun intended, it was a Godsend."

So, where does this devotion go from here?

Simple, it goes this way -- experience has taught me two things: First, many Christians are in the same situation as Mrs. Bentivegna. Like her they are praying for a loved one's relationship with the Lord. Like her they are asking the Lord to use an event that would bring a wandering soul back to his Lord.

This takes me to the second thing experience has taught: life will produce those moments when the Holy Spirit will bring a soul closer to the Lord, or the devil will drag that individual further away.

At those moments when an unbeliever ought to be conscious of his limitations and his need for the Lord's assistance, close, caring Christians can be used by the Lord to accomplish His purposes.

This is why we pray for those who have wandered and those who care about them.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I ask that You will be with and use Your people to reach out to lost loved ones. Give them the words and wisdom to say the right thing to those who have wandered. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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Wednesday's Quiz: Who was Nebuzaradan? Jeremiah 39:9   He was commander of the Imperial Guard.
Good job Dianne and Bob!
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THURSDAY'S QUIZ: What chapter of Lamentation is an acrostic poem (A poem which has each verse beginning with the successive letters of the hebrew alphabet)?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Has Christ redeemed only you?
Answer: No, Christ has redeemed me and all people (universal atonement).
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CALENDAR:
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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NEWS:
MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP SEPTEMBER 28-30!!!!
The 10th annual T-3 (trap, tackle, and tees) retreat is coming up September 28-30!! The cost is $45 for lodging and meals. (You can get a hotel room or bring your own camper or tent if you wish to have your own lodging.) $35 for our 2 person scramble golf tourney. There is also a fishing tournament, skeet shooting, a guided tour of Mark Twain Lake and forest, hiking, biking, and much, much more. All that plus some of the best food you can eat and the best Bible studies and worship times you can have at a camp! It is a time that you will never forget! I will give the first one besides me to sign up my special (pastor) room that I get every year.

I (pastor) am going! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Let me know if you want to go.
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HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!

Right now I have two possible helpers if schedules can be worked out. I could use at least one or two more! Let me know if you are interested!!

As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone. CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.) What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

What a great opportunity to support a mission right here! If you don't want to do the golf outing, but you still want to help Little Lambs just put a check in the offering plate that is specifically designated to Little Lambs. They start school on August 16.

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PRAYERS:

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she gets to go home today!!!

For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with sever cancer complications.

For BRENDA ROLOFF, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she had her last radiation treatment yesterday.

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as the spinal tap the doctors did revealed an unidentified virus.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

update on Dolores Deblaze

(From her daughter)

Hi, Everyone -

Tuesday was a fairly good day for mom. She had her 4th radiation treatment and ate fairly good. Hip, hip, hooray!! I almost called the police, fearing she was kidnapped by her radiation driver (smile). As it turns out, they grabbed a bite to eat after the treatment.

Last night was a rough and we didn't get as much sleep as we would've liked; sure wish we could've slept in more (yawn!), but the cat was crying and the phone kept ringing. Mom seemed much more tired today and I've noticed it's a little harder for her to catch her breath at times.

Today, mom completed her 5th and final radiation treatment at Siteman for now. I'm so proud of her and she's been a real trooper. She's met some really great people along the way (ie. Dot -- a staff member who was kind and brought her ice chips this afternoon). We had a good dinner, and I treasure every minute with Mombo.

That's all for today. Let's be thankful for all our blessings and pray for mom's courage, comfort, and peace—thank you!

XO,

Dawn

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

DEVOTION:
Psalm 6:1-2 "O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord-- how long? Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love."

Have you ever felt like you were just in a funk. There was really no way to explain it. Everything seemed to be going ok. Everyone in your family was safe.  Things were going well with your job. Your kids were doing well in school. Everything seemed just fine, yet you just didn't feel right. Something was out of whack and you just couldn't put your finger on it.

Satan works at your weakest times. He also works to lessen your joy and to make you feel that something is wrong even when nothing is. Sometimes he does it by reminding you of a past sin. Sometimes he does it by bringing people or situations into your life that aren't good for you. Sometimes he just clutters your mind with all sorts of insecurities and self doubt. Sometimes it is just that you are being selfish and covetous, that no matter how good you have it, you wish it was better. You just aren't satisfied.

We all have these times. Then the Lord shakes us out of it either through a loved one who gives us a reality check, through a message from God's Word, or through changes in your circumstances either for better or for worse. It is at these times that we need to pray to God a prayer such as th eone that David prays here in Psalm 6. David went through many tough times and many times that, though everything seemed fine on the outside, on the inside he was being tormented. He was king and yet he coveted a woman that wasn't his own. He was a great king and yet his sons tried to overthrow him. He was one of King Saul's favorite people, yet Saul became jealous and tried to kill him several times.

Sometimes all it takes is simply snapping out of it. So today I urge you to snap out of it! You live in the wealthiest nation in the world. You have food, shelter, clothing, family, friends, and so much more. Most of all YOU HAVE JESUS!!!! Even in your tough circumstances you have no reason to complain! Knock it off and praise Jesus! Instead of singing "Woe is me" sing "Alleluia! Praise the Lord!" Askt he Lord to deliver your life and to save you from yourself for the sake of His steadfast love!

Prayer: Lord God, help me to snap out of this funk I am in and get to work for your kingdom, praising and thanking you for all your goodness along the way! Amen.

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Tuesday's QUIZ: Who was Gedaliah? II Kings 25:22   Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in
Judah. Gedaliah was eventually assassinated by Ishmael Son on Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood.
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Wednesday's Quiz: Who was Nebuzaradan?
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CATECHISM:
Question: How does this work of redemption benefit you?
Answer: Christ was my substitute. He took my place under God's judgment against sin. By paying the penalty of my guilt, Christ atoned, or made satisfaction, for my sins (vicarious atonement).
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Youth Group meets at 6pm in youth room, pizza and soda provided; BE THERE!
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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NEWS:
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS COME TO CHURCH TONIGHT AT 6PM!!!
We are going to clean out the youth room, reorganize it, play some video games and maybe some air hockey or foosball, get a little basketball going outside, eat some pizza, and do a little Bible study!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING SO I KNOW HOW MUCH PIZZA TO GET!!!
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HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!

Right now I have two possible helpers if schedules can be worked out. I could use at least one or two more! Let me know if you are interested!!

As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone. CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.) What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
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SAVE THE DATE: Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat
Immanuel Lutheran St. Charles invites you and your spouse along with other married couples throughout the Missouri District to the Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat on Oct. 12-13, 2012. It is an updated regional adaptation of the former LCMS MO. District "Strands" weekend. It is designed for Christian Couples to get away from daily distractions, spend quality time together, rekindle romance, and celebrate our partnerships (with your Spouse, with Christ and with the other Christian Couples attending). The event will start with a "Meet and Greet" and build up to an "Old Fashioned Church Hall Wedding Reception"(Remember your special day?). Check out more details on Immanuel's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/d2tc3u8.
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Projectors NEEDED for this weekend!!!
I still need people to sign up for the projector. Here are the openings for the next few weeks:
Sept 2- 8:30- PANHORSTS                   11am-

Sept 9- 11am-

Sept 16- 11am-

Sept 23- 8:30-

Sept 30- 8:30-                    11am-

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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

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PRAYERS:

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she gets to go home today!!!

For MARY AUBUCHON who is back at home and recovering well after a biopsy on a blood vessel near her left eye.

For DONNA HEITGERD as she recovers from cataract surgery that she had yesterday.

For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For RAYMOND, son of Lillian Winter, who is having surgery this week.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with sever cancer complications.

For SIERRA JAEGER, as she recovers from pneumonia.

For BRENDA ROLOFF, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she has her last radiation treatment today.

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as the spinal tap the doctors did revealed an unidentified virus.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

For ALL OF OUR FARMERS AND ALL WHO DEPEND ON THE LAND AND ON RAIN, that God would provide for their needs even during this drought.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

DEVOTION: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you! 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Who's coming to prayer night tonight at church? (if you are coming, let me know by replying "me" to this email!

Truth is we need to pray! Truth is we don't pray as much as we should. Truth is that your church, your fellowship, your family in Christ, urgently needs your prayers!

There are people going through tough times. There are people gong through dire circumstances. Your loved ones and your brothers and sisters in Christ are facing the prospect that death is near. Church families are in crisis. Kids and grandkids are going astray, others are lost. They NEED your prayers and you NEED to pray for them! You need to pray for yourself that the Lord will keep you strong and increase your faith and so much more!

Your church is growing! Did you know that? Lots of wonderful things are happening among your brothers and sisters in Christ. We will have at least 18 kids in confirmation class this year, with a possibility of 19 or 20. Our preschool is busting at the seams so much that if they get a couple more kids they will have to have to add another part time person for the four year old class. Our worship attendance is going up for the first time in a long time.

Have you thanked God for your church? Have you thanked God for the blessings of Word and Sacrament that you are privileged to receive at worship every weekend? Have you prayed that your church continues to grow and that God uses you to make it happen? Have you prayed for your church to reach it's potential to reach the lost with Christ?

Tonight at 6:30 you will have the opportunity to do just this and more.

Prayer: Lord God, move us to pray at all time and in all circumstances. Holy Spirit, help us to pray when we don't know how to pray or what to pray for. We know that you intercede for us with groanings that words can't express. Do it Lord God. Amen!
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Monday's QUIZ: Who was Irijah son of Shelemiah and what did he do to Jeremiah?
Jeremiah 37:13 Irijah was the captain of the guard. He arrested Jeremiah for trying to desert to the Babylonians. Turned him in to the officials who had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison. Thanks to Dianne Hance for being the only one to answer this question
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Gedaliah?
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CATECHISM:
Question: With what has Christ redeemed you?
Answer: Christ has redeemed me, "not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- quilting 9am-2pm; Bible study 11:30-12:15; PRAYER NIGHT 6:30pm
Wed- Youth Group meets at 6pm in youth room, pizza and soda provided; BE THERE!
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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NEWS:
PRAYER NIGHT STARTS TONIGHT at 6:30pm!!!
It will be a very simple time to lift each other up, and to lift up our church in prayer. We will be gin with a devotion, have discussion about the situations and people that need our prayer, pray for them and go home refreshed and knowing that our Lord God is with us and caring for our needs.
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HIGH SCHOOL KIDS COME TO CHURCH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 6PM!!!
We are going to clean out the youth room, reorganize it, play some video games and maybe some air hockey or foosball, get a little basketball going outside, eat some pizza, and do a little Bible study!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING SO I KNOW HOW MUCH PIZZA TO GET!!!
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HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!

Right now I have two possible helpers if schedules can be worked out. I could use at least one or two more! Let me know if you are interested!!

As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone. CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.) What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
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SAVE THE DATE: Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat
Immanuel Lutheran St. Charles invites you and your spouse along with other married couples throughout the Missouri District to the Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat on Oct. 12-13, 2012. It is an updated regional adaptation of the former LCMS MO. District "Strands" weekend. It is designed for Christian Couples to get away from daily distractions, spend quality time together, rekindle romance, and celebrate our partnerships (with your Spouse, with Christ and with the other Christian Couples attending). The event will start with a "Meet and Greet" and build up to an "Old Fashioned Church Hall Wedding Reception"(Remember your special day?). Check out more details on Immanuel's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/d2tc3u8.
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Projectors NEEDED for this weekend!!!
I still need people to sign up for the projector. Here are the openings for the next few weeks:
Sept 2- 8:30- PANHORSTS                   11am-

Sept 9- 11am-

Sept 16- 11am-

Sept 23- 8:30-

Sept 30- 8:30-                    11am-

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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

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PRAYERS:

For MARY AUBUCHON who is hospitalized with severe eye pain.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For RAYMOND, son of Lillian Winter, who is having surgery this week.

For DONNA HEITGERD who is having surgery this week.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with sever cancer complications.

For SIERRA JAEGER, as she recovers from pneumonia.

For BRENDA, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she has two more days of radiation left.

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as the spinal tap the doctors did revealed an unidentified virus.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she reocvers from vascular surgery to relieve pain and help with circulation in her foot and as she works hard to get back home.

For ALL OF OUR FARMERS AND ALL WHO DEPEND ON THE LAND AND ON RAIN, that God would provide for their needs even during this drought.

Monday, August 27, 2012

DEVOTION: (Jesus said) "Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." Luke 10:36-37

A week or so ago, two stories came out of Texas. They are as different as different can be.

The first has to do with Staff Sergeant Chad Staples. Staples, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, had taken a bullet to protect a wounded comrade. That bullet left Staples paralyzed at the waist.

Recently, Staples was left stranded on the third floor of a Best Western Hotel. A power outage had put the elevator out of commission, so Staples called the front desk and asked for help in getting his bags and wheelchair down the stairs.

Rather than assisting, the clerk laughed. Sad story.

The second story is that of Xander Veno. Recently, four-year-old Veno saw a little girl struggling at the deep end of a swimming pool. He swam to her and held her head up, so she wouldn't drown. Exhausted by his efforts, Veno dropped to the bottom of the pool and was soon comatose.

The girl is in reasonable condition; but Xander Veno died at the hospital.

As I said, those two stories are as dissimilar as night and day. As far as I can tell, they have only one thing in common.

Each tells of how a person reacted when they were put into an unexpected situation. As you have seen, one person did well, and the other did not.

The same conclusion can be drawn in Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan. When confronted with an opportunity to serve, the Samaritan passed with flying colors, while the religious leaders crashed and burned.

This leads me to ask, how will you do when the Lord drops an unexpected opportunity in your lap? What is the cost you are willing to pay? How much inconvenience will you endure?

I know how far Chad Staples was willing to go. He sacrificed his legs and was willing to offer his life for a comrade. I know how far Xander Veno was willing to go.

Most importantly, I know how far the Savior went. Jesus gave His life for all of humanity. It's true; Jesus came into this world to offer up His life as the ransom that had to be paid if sinners were to be saved. He gave His all for those who didn't want, appreciate or applaud Him.

So the question remains: as someone who has been blessed by Jesus' sacrifice, how far would you go to show your appreciation and help someone else?

It's something worth thinking about, before the unexpected arrives.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, there are some who are heroes and some who are not, some who do what is right and others who prefer not to be disturbed in their wrongdoing. As Your saved children, allow us to show our thankful hearts by doing what is right. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
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Thursday's QUIZ: Who is the Righteous Branch that Jeremiah is speaking of in Jeremiah 23:5? Jesus

Dianne Hance and Bob Nitzschke got it right.
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TODAy'S QUIZ: (2 part question)
Who was Irijah son of Shelemiah and what did he do to Jeremiah?
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CATECHISM:
Question: How has Christ rescued you from the power of the devil?
Answer:
Christ has completely conquered the devil. Therefore the devil can no longer accuse me of my sins, and I can resist temptations.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- quilting 9am-2pm; Bible study 11:30-12:15; PRAYER GROUP MEETS 6:30pm
Wed- Youth Group meets at 6pm in youth room, pizza and soda provided; BE THERE!
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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NEWS:
PRAYER MEETING STARTING TOMORROW NIGHT at 6:30pm!!!
It will be a very simple time to lift each other up, and to lift up our church in prayer. We will be gin with a devotion, have discussion about the situations and people that need our prayer, pray for them and go home refreshed and knowing that our Lord God is with us and caring for our needs.
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HIGH SCHOOL KIDS COME TO CHURCH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 6PM!!!
We are going to clean out the youth room, reorganize it, play some video games and maybe some air hockey or foosball, get a little basketball going outside, eat some pizza, and do a little Bible study!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING SO I KNOW HOW MUCH PIZZA TO GET!!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!

Right now I have two possible helpers if schedules can be worked out. I could use at least one or two more! Let me know if you are interested!!

As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone. CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.) What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE: Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat
Immanuel Lutheran St. Charles invites you and your spouse along with other married couples throughout the Missouri District to the Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat on Oct. 12-13, 2012. It is an updated regional adaptation of the former LCMS MO. District "Strands" weekend. It is designed for Christian Couples to get away from daily distractions, spend quality time together, rekindle romance, and celebrate our partnerships (with your Spouse, with Christ and with the other Christian Couples attending). The event will start with a "Meet and Greet" and build up to an "Old Fashioned Church Hall Wedding Reception"(Remember your special day?). Check out more details on Immanuel's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/d2tc3u8.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Projectors NEEDED for this weekend!!!
I still need people to sign up for the projector. Here are the openings for the next few weeks:
Sept 2- 8:30-                    11am-

Sept 9- 11am-

Sept 16- 11am-

Sept 23- 8:30-

Sept 30- 8:30-                    11am-

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYERS:

For MARY AUBUCHON who is hospitalized with severe eye pain.

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

For RAYMOND, son of Lillian Winter, who is having surgery this week.

For DONNA HEITGERD who is having surgery this week.

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with sever cancer complications.

For SIERRA JAEGER, as she recovers from pneumonia.

For BRENDA, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she has two more days of radiation left.

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as the spinal tap the doctors did revealed an unidentified virus.

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke. She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she reocvers from vascular surgery to relieve pain and help with circulation in her foot and as she works hard to get back home.

For ALL OF OUR FARMERS AND ALL WHO DEPEND ON THE LAND AND ON RAIN, that God would provide for their needs even during this drought.

Letter from Mike and Ann Wade

Good Morning Folks,

As many of you know , for many years we have supported a missionary couple, Mike and and Ann Wade. Below is a letter from them detailing what has been going on in their lives. Enjoy!

The Wade Report

from Mike and Ann Wade

Working among the Dungan

people of Kyrgyzstan

via the TSMS and the LCMS

August, 2012

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When Mike and I were farming, we enjoyed having lunch together and timing it so we could catch Paul Harvey's radio program, The Rest of the Story. There was always a break between the beginning and end of the story. We told you in a newsletter in May about Hussein, one of our soybean farmers, and his daughter Fatima. She had gotten married our first weekend back here in the early spring. Things seemed fine at first but with time, she stopped eating, talking and seemed to be at times nearly paralyzed , she was so immobile. Eventually the groom and his family brought her back to her father's house and left her. Everyone had concluded she was demon possessed. Since Hussein is one of our soybean farmers and a friend, he told Kip about her, and Kip offered for us to come pray for her.

Hussein said he wanted to first continue a treatment he had already begun of taking her for daily prayers at a mosque. The attending imam ( the Muslim equivalent of a pastor) was thought to be able to cast out evil spirits. After weeks of this at several mosques and different imams with no results, Hussein called Kip. On the fourth day of our praying for her, she fell asleep while we were praying. Hussein came into the room and read the Bible, which was laying on a chair open to the gospel of John. We left not knowing if we were doing any good but believing we were doing what God wanted us to do. Up to this point she had made improvements every day but was still far from normal.

When she woke from her nap after we left, her parents found she was her old self. She got up and ate and drank and talked and even laughed. Kip explained to Hussein that he and Fatima and their household needed to give Jesus the glory as God's Son for this miracle. He read him the passage in Matt. 12: 43-45 about how if a house is swept clean but left empty, a demon will return and bring more with them. Even though Hussein and his wife were thrilled at the healing of their daughter, they wanted to give Jesus the credit as the great prophet talked about in the Koran, not as the Son of God. Hussein could not imagine leaving Islam. He agreed to read the gospel of John but told Kip he could not talk any longer right then because he had a group of men and his imam coming for a special meal and reading of the Koran at his house in preparation for the fasting month. When Kip came back the next day, Hussein told him that during the special event at his house the night before, his daughter returned to the state she had been in before we had started praying for her. He asked Kip if we would come pray for her again. Kip said he wanted our team to pray about that and give him an answer in a few days. After several days of prayer, we all felt that there was no point in praying for her if they were unable to accept Christ as the divine Healer and Son of God. In the mean time, Hussein read the gospel of John but said that to him it just seemed like a biography. He still felt that Jesus was a great prophet as described in the Koran but not God's Son.

Weeks passed and his daughters' condition seemed to worsen. Her husband and his family came and got her and took her to a different imam who was suppose to be able to cast out demons. Again their efforts failed and they brought her back to her parents. Finally Hussein took her to a Russian woman known to use spells to undo any evil spell cast on her by someone else. These practitioners do not pray or use the name of Jesus or Satan either, though we have to think this is certainly a work that involves the aid of the devil since God is not called upon. Fatima began to improve and after a number of expensive treatments, she was back to able to function normally again.

What do we make of all this? Really, it seems like that would have been the worst thing that could have happened. Instead of God being given the glory, what we would call a witch doctor at worst or a charlatan at best was given the glory. We had all prayed for Hussein not to call Kip if it was not God's desire for us to be involved. On the day she was healed, her parents were immediately talking about other cases they knew of that needed help. We had often wondered if it would not take miracles for the Dungan to be open to Christ. For a few hours it seemed that God was going to use this as our means of reaching the Dungan and God being able to demonstrate the power of prayer in the name of Jesus. We thought we were seeing a miracle that came straight out of the New Testament. Did Satan win because Hussein rejected Jesus as the Son of God? Perhaps. Was there something going on different from what we could see or comprehend? Maybe. We just don't know. What we do know is how difficult it is for a devout Muslim to see Jesus as the Son of God, no matter how clearly the power of His name is demonstrated. Even though this all looks bad at the moment, we still realize God has the power to write a different "rest of the story". We ask for your prayers for Hussein and his family to all come to faith. We know God can take the words of the gospel that he read and bring him to faith.

This experience has convicted us anew of the urgency for prayer. We do not know when or how God will bring the Dungan to faith. We know that He called us here and that He is ever faithful. We really appreciated a visit last week from our area team leader, missionary Jon Muhly. God has blessed Jon with that characteristic precious gift in a pastor to be able to encourage His followers. Kip and Ivy have been encouraged by a book on prayer by a man who was a missionary in India. They have passed it on to us and we are also encouraged by his words and stories about how God moves through prayer.

We are convinced that it is only with lots of prayer that the hearts of the Dungan will become open to the truth of Jesus as the Son of God who can offer them salvation. Could you, your family, your Bible class, your church, commit to daily prayer for the Dungan? Pray that God will enable us to have the words He wants us to speak about Him and that He will create opportunities for us to respond to questions people ask us about our faith in a way that makes their hearts burn. Pray too for our witness, that we will all live lives that reflect the love of Christ in all we say and do.

Mike has our computer programed so that when he calls up the weather report here, it shows the weather in the midwest at home as well. So we have followed how you have suffered a terrible summer of drought and heat. We know for some of you, this means no crop or a poor crop. Even as we ask you to pray for us, we want you to know that we pray for you too. Our most frequent prayer is for God to bless you. Sometimes, His blessings we have learned from personal experience, do not come in the form we had expected. And sometimes they do not seem like blessings at all at the time. But over the years, He has given us so much evidence of His goodness and love, of His faithfulness and His personal interest in us that it has become easier to trust that He is blessing you just as He is blessing us. May we all be able to count our blessings every day.

mikeann@tsms

22 Ovcharova Street, Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

Due to the sensitive nature of our work, please ask our permission before sharing this with others. Thank you!

St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012 (revised)

Obituary of Dorothy M. Schlesselman

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012

prayer request for Denise Schlesselman

Blood Drive @ Warrenton Wesleyan Church

Pray for Peggy Kohring and Raymond Slayden

prayer request

Thursday, August 30, 2012

update on Dolores Deblaze

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Letter from Mike and Ann Wade

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