Tuesday, January 15, 2012

DEVOTION:  (Another  good one from Lutheran Hour Ministries.)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

You know the poem about Santa: "He's making a list, and checking it twice; gonna find out, who's naughty and nice."

Now I can't verify the reality of Santa's list, but I do know the American Family Association has such a list, and they check it pretty regularly around Christmas time.

Their list is primarily concerned with companies that depend heavily on revenues brought in during the days when the Christian world celebrates the Savior's birth. The list has two categories: the "naughty" and the "nice."

The naughty companies are those who have "seasonal" and "holiday" specials, but who work very hard not to mention "Christ" or "Christmas." Often time these naughty companies forbid their staff from mentioning or wishing their patrons a "Merry Christmas!"

In short, the naughty companies are those that have taken Christ out of Christmas.

The American Family Association maintains this list because they believe Christians will want to support those companies that haven't taken a politically correct stand against the Savior. Apparently, they believe correctly.

This past year both Sam's Club® and L.L.Bean® were moved from the nice list to the naughty list. Both companies, it seems, had decided to avoid using the word "Christmas" in their ads. It didn't take too long before people started calling in and letting the companies know they were going to be doing their Christmas shopping elsewhere.

It also didn't take too long before the companies had a change of heart and returned to mentioning Christmas in their publications.

So why am I sharing this information a few weeks after the holiday, excuse me, after Christmas has come and gone?

I just wanted you to know that the voice and the pocketbooks of Christians can be powerful tools to accomplish positive things. All too often we have a tendency to act as if we were helpless and at the mercy of all the non-Christian events transpiring around us. We don't like things ungodly; we complain about them, but we don't do anything.

The truth is if Christians stay away from a certain type of movie that movie will lose money and Hollywood will not be so inclined to make such fair. If we don't buy violent games for our children, the gaming companies will come up with something we will purchase.

This all means our witness and our pocketbooks can make a stand. As St. Paul said -- whatever we do we can do to bring glory to the Savior whose life was given so we might have life eternal.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, Your entire life was lived as a gift for us. Now may the things we do show our gratitude for Your sacrifice. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.

___________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who wrestled with God?  Jacob did.  (Two in a row for Dianne!)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ:  What was the name of the daughter of Jacob who was raped by Shechem?  (A very interesting story by the way.  Check it out in Genesis 34.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Why do you close the thirds article with the words "This is most certainly true."?
Answer: Because all that I confess in this article is plainly taught in the Bible and therefore I firmly believe it.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; Newsletter deadline
Thurs- Pastor at pastor's meeting all day
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- THRIVENT SUNDAY; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
7-12 grade youth and parents meeting tonight!  6:30pm
________________________________________________
CREATION BREAKFAST TOMORROW, Tuesday, at 9:30am.
Come hear Werner Gerstmann speak on creation. Mr Gerstmann was born and lived in East Berlin and has an interesting take on creation .  He will speak at First State Community Bank (across from McDOnald's and next to China Buffet.
________________________________________________
LADIES AID MEETING WEDNESDAY AT 1PM.
All ladies, regardless of age, are welcome to attend!!
____________________________________________________________________________________
STILL NEED ONE MORE USHER!!!!
Call Bob Linke or Walt Schirr to let them know you're willing to serve!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THRIVENT DAY ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 20!!
Jason Schoppenhorst, the Thrivent rep for this area will be here on Sunday, January 20 to talk about Thrivent after church at both services and to give a presentation of Thrivent Choice (a way to make your investment and insurance dollars work for the church) and other programs that Thrivent provides during Bible class time.
___________________________________________________________
LIFE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 27!!!
Delores Desemone, president of the Lutheran for Life Chapter of St. Charles County Area, will be here to make a presentation about Lutherans for Life and how we as individuals and as a congregation can be involved in honoring the sanctity of human life at all ages and stages.  She will be providing us with baby bottle banks, that we can fill with money to support LIFE in our own community and throughout the world.

______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
 
The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!
____________________________________________________
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 
For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.


For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

Monday, January 14, 2012

DEVOTION:  (A good one from Lutheran Hour Ministries.)
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105

During the years when I had the opportunity of confirming the young people of my congregations, I worked hard at finding a Bible verse that would be a suitable motto for life for each of my students.

Most pastors do the same.

Knowing that, when an aged member of my congregation passed away, I was not surprised when the family requested I use his confirmation text as the basis for his funeral message. No, they didn't know what the verse was, since his certificate was written in German. Even so, they thought the verse, given so many years before, would be appropriate. Without checking the verse, I agreed.

Only when I got back to my study and took the certificate out of its yellowed envelope did I find the verse my 93-year-old member had been given by his pastor was the opening words from 2 Timothy 2:22. "Fliehe die Lüste der Jugend" or "Flee youthful lusts."

It was an interesting message.

Almost all of us have verses from Scripture that are special to us. Last year the folks running the online King James Bible kept track of the verses, which had been most viewed.

Would you like to make a guess which one topped the list?

If you said Psalm 23:4, you would be correct. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." The second most-consulted verse was Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Interesting, the most consulted passages were ones which speak of the sinner's need for the Lord's help at the time of death and through the difficulties of day-to-day living.

Christians are blessed because they know the Lord will be with them. His love covers and reaches into every aspect of our lives. That truth is shown in the verse which was third on the list of most-consulted passages: John 3:16, the Gospel in a nutshell, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, because He carried our sins and died the death our transgressions had earned, believers know they are not alone. They hold fast to the truth, which tells us nothing -- nothing in all creation -- can ever separate us from the love of God, which is ours through Christ Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for Your holy Word which assures me that Your grace has reached out and saved me. Now may I live my life in thanksgiving and praise for the selfless sacrifice of Your Son. It is in His Name that I pray. Amen.


___________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  What was Isaac's wife's name?  Rebekkah
(Way to go Dianne!)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who wrestled with God?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Are you sure that you have eternal life?
Answer: Even as I now believe in Christ my Savior, I also know that I have been chosen to eternal life out of pure grace in Christ without any merit of my own and that no one can pluck me out of His hand (eternal election of grace or predestination).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Mon- Whispering Pines worship 10am; confirmation 5;6:15; 7-12 grade Youth meeting 6:30
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; Newsletter deadline
Thurs- Pastor at pastor's meeting all day
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- THRIVENT SUNDAY; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
7-12 grade youth and parents meeting tonight!  6:30pm
________________________________________________
CREATION BREAKFAST TOMORROW, Tuesday, at 9:30am.
Cme hear Werner Gerstmann speak on creation. Mr Gerstmann was born and lived in East Berlin and has an interesting take on creation .  He will speak at First State Community Bank (across from McDOnald's and next to China Buffet.
________________________________________________
LADIES AID MEETING WEDNESDAY AT 1PM.
All ladies, regardless of age, are welcome to attend!!
____________________________________________________________________________________
STILL NEED ONE MORE USHER!!!!
Call Bob Linke or Walt Schirr to let them know you're willing to serve!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THRIVENT DAY ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 20!!
Jason Schoppenhorst, the Thrivent rep for this area will be here on Sunday, January 20 to talk about Thrivent after church at both services and to give a presentation of Thrivent Choice (a way to make your investment and insurance dollars work for the church) and other programs that Thrivent provides during Bible class time.
___________________________________________________________
LIFE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 27!!!
Delores Desemone, president of the Lutheran for Life Chapter of St. Charles County Area, will be here to make a presentation about Lutherans for Life and how we as individuals and as a congregation can be involved in honoring the sanctity of human life at all ages and stages.  She will be providing us with baby bottle banks, that we can fill with money to support LIFE in our own community and throughout the world.

______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
 
The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!
____________________________________________________
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 
For the MARSCHEL FAMILY, especially Alouise, as they mourn the loss of her brother Melvin.  Melvin often attended worship at St. John's.
 
For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

THANKSGIVING For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength and will finally be able to go back home this week. 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

FW: Revised: (with additional news) Wednesday, January 9, 2012

DEVOTION:  (A good one from Lutheran Hour Ministries.)
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105

During the years when I had the opportunity of confirming the young people of my congregations, I worked hard at finding a Bible verse that would be a suitable motto for life for each of my students.

Most pastors do the same.

Knowing that, when an aged member of my congregation passed away, I was not surprised when the family requested I use his confirmation text as the basis for his funeral message. No, they didn't know what the verse was, since his certificate was written in German. Even so, they thought the verse, given so many years before, would be appropriate. Without checking the verse, I agreed.

Only when I got back to my study and took the certificate out of its yellowed envelope did I find the verse my 93-year-old member had been given by his pastor was the opening words from 2 Timothy 2:22. "Fliehe die Lüste der Jugend" or "Flee youthful lusts."

It was an interesting message.

Almost all of us have verses from Scripture that are special to us. Last year the folks running the online King James Bible kept track of the verses, which had been most viewed.

Would you like to make a guess which one topped the list?

If you said Psalm 23:4, you would be correct. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." The second most-consulted verse was Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Interesting, the most consulted passages were ones which speak of the sinner's need for the Lord's help at the time of death and through the difficulties of day-to-day living.

Christians are blessed because they know the Lord will be with them. His love covers and reaches into every aspect of our lives. That truth is shown in the verse which was third on the list of most-consulted passages: John 3:16, the Gospel in a nutshell, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, because He carried our sins and died the death our transgressions had earned, believers know they are not alone. They hold fast to the truth, which tells us nothing -- nothing in all creation -- can ever separate us from the love of God, which is ours through Christ Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for Your holy Word which assures me that Your grace has reached out and saved me. Now may I live my life in thanksgiving and praise for the selfless sacrifice of Your Son. It is in His Name that I pray. Amen.


___________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  What was Isaac's wife's name?  Rebekkah
(Way to go Dianne!)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: Who wrestled with God?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Are you sure that you have eternal life?
Answer: Even as I now believe in Christ my Savior, I also know that I have been chosen to eternal life out of pure grace in Christ without any merit of my own and that no one can pluck me out of His hand (eternal election of grace or predestination).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Mon- Whispering Pines worship 10am; confirmation 5;6:15; 7-12 grade Youth meeting 6:30
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; Newsletter deadline
Thurs- Pastor at pastor's meeting all day
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- THRIVENT SUNDAY; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
7-12 grade youth and parents meeting tonight!  6:30pm
________________________________________________
CREATION BREAKFAST TOMORROW, Tuesday, at 9:30am.
Cme hear Werner Gerstmann speak on creation. Mr Gerstmann was born and lived in East Berlin and has an interesting take on creation .  He will speak at First State Community Bank (across from McDOnald's and next to China Buffet.
________________________________________________
LADIES AID MEETING WEDNESDAY AT 1PM.
All ladies, regardless of age, are welcome to attend!!
____________________________________________________________________________________
STILL NEED ONE MORE USHER!!!!
Call Bob Linke or Walt Schirr to let them know you're willing to serve!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THRIVENT DAY ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 20!!
Jason Schoppenhorst, the Thrivent rep for this area will be here on Sunday, January 20 to talk about Thrivent after church at both services and to give a presentation of Thrivent Choice (a way to make your investment and insurance dollars work for the church) and other programs that Thrivent provides during Bible class time.
___________________________________________________________
LIFE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 27!!!
Delores Desemone, president of the Lutheran for Life Chapter of St. Charles County Area, will be here to make a presentation about Lutherans for Life and how we as individuals and as a congregation can be involved in honoring the sanctity of human life at all ages and stages.  She will be providing us with baby bottle banks, that we can fill with money to support LIFE in our own community and throughout the world.

______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
 
The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!
____________________________________________________
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 
For the MARSCHEL FAMILY, especially Alouise, as they mourn the loss of her brother Melvin.  Melvin often attended worship at St. John's.
 
For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

THANKSGIVING For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength and will finally be able to go back home this week. 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

Get out and worship!!

The roads are fine!  Not a bit of ice on them,  It is going to be a wonderful day!  Get out of bed and worship the King on this day that He has made!  Let us all rejoice and be glad in it!!

From Pastor: I need your help to make bail and support MDA!

		Yep, I’m a Jailbird. And I’m pretty proud of it. I’m taking part in the Troy, MO 2013 Lock Up benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. As a Jailbird, I’m working to raise my bail via donations from my friends and family, all of which go to help MDA. MDA is dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. At the same time, the Association provides health care and support services for people living with these diseases — right here in our community. Please consider supporting my fundraising efforts with a tax-deductible donation. It’s easy — just click on the secure link below. Thanks in advance for joining the fight against muscle disease. Remember, every breakout means more breakthroughs for MDA. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Sincerely, Jeremy Klaustermeier P.S.: Please help spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and colleagues. Click here to visit my personal page. If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address: http://www2.mda.org/site/TR?px=1597656&pg=personal&fr_id=4599&et=agYAqX2seHTnIWZVwtrVeA&s_tafId=27717 If you no longer wish to receive email messages sent from your friends on behalf of this organization, please click here or paste this URL into your browser: http://www2.mda.org/site/TellFriendOpt?action=optout&toe=b3090eda45e5a1656b9604aeb1de56fb88815da96cc33b812b3db739ed59107852869c15ef04f318
	For more info on MDA, visit us at mda.org. Click here to learn more about MDA Lock-Up This email was sent to revklaus@hotmail.com   |  Unsubscribe Muscular Dystrophy Association - USA National Headquarters 3300 E. Sunrise Drive  |  Tucson, AZ 85718 1-800-572-1717  |  mda@mdausa.org All of contents © 2012 MDA. All rights reserved. About MDA  |  Privacy Policy  |  User Agreement

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Prayers for the Marschel family

Please pray for Alouise Marschel as she is mourning the loss of her brother Melvin.  Melvin would often worship with us at St. John's on Sunday mornings! 
 
Arangements for Melvin are - Visitation Sunday, January 13, at Martin Funeral Home in Marthasville from 4-8 and Services Monday, January 14, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington at 11am, lunch to follow, and graveside service at Holstein at 2pm

Revised: (with additional news) Wednesday, January 9, 2012

DEVOTION:  And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
 
How specific are you with your prayers?  Do you tell God exactly what you want or are you more general about things? 
 
Would you say something like "Lord God give me a good day."  Or would you say something more like "Lord God, please make my breakfast taste very good.  Help me to get up and get dressed.  When I brush my teeth, make them extra clean.  Give me a good hair day...... etc."?
 
Our Lord Jesus promises that whatever we ask for, in His name, that he will give it to us.  But does that mean that everything we want we get?  Sometimes but not always.
 
In the passage above Abraham's servant was looking for a wife for his son Isaac.  (That's just how they did it back in those days.)  The servant didn't want to mess up and disappoint his boss so he asked God for specific things as a sign to him that he was picking the right one.  God saw that it was a good request and gave him exactly what he asked for. 
 
If you really want to do God's will and your eyes, ears, and heart are open to doing God's will in a specific situation you can do just like the servant did, and if God thinks it is a good idea, He will do it for you. 

That's what it means to "ask in my name".  When you ask in Jesus name you are attaching His authority and His will to whatever you want.  So if His name is on it, He is going to make sure it is good!  he is going to make sure it is worthy of His name. 
 
I want to ask you a big favor today.  I want you to ask God for His will to be done in our church.  We are getting closer to making a decision about calling a DCE for our congregation.  This person would be in charge of ministry to children and youth as well as be in charge of music ministry.  Pray that He will provide the funds necessary to be able to pay the salary for this person.  Pray that the congregation will see the benefit of such a person and support it with their prayers, time, talents, and treasures.  Pray that we will find the right person to fit our needs.  Most importantly pray that His will be done. 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, we want what you want in our lives, in our church, and in our world.  Help us to use the gifts you have given us to do Your will.  In our church especially at this time help us to do your will as it concerns a DCE so that your kingdom may grow and our own church may flourish in its proclamation of the Gospel.  Amen.
 



____________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Why did God send the flood?  God spared Noah as his family tree was Godly. He prevented the plague from continuing through human procreation by eliminating all those who either carried it or had the potential to do so, by means of the Flood. And by doing so continued the line God intended to use in bringing His Son into the world to be our Savior.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  What was Isaac's wife's name?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: To whom does God give eternal life?
Answer: God gives eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
a. Eternal life is a present possession.
b. At the time of death, the soul of a believer is immediately with Christ in heaven.
c. A the last day, the believers, in both and soul, will begin the full enjoyment of being with Christ forever.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; Elders meeting noon
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
AVENUE OF THE SAINTS IS HERE THIS SUNDAY AT 11am!!!
If you haven't been here for worship when they are here, you are truly missing out! Come and hear them sing and sing along in praise!!
______________________________________________
FOUR POINSETTIAS LEFT
If you want one, you need to come to church TODAY!!! They are up in the sacristy begging to be taken home. They will go in the trash after this weekend!!
___________________________________________________________________________________
THRIVENT DAY ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 20!!
Jason Schoppenhorst, the Thrivent rep for this area will be here on Sunday, January 20 to talk about Thrivent after church at both services and to give a presentation of Thrivent Choice (a way to make your investment and insurance dollars work for the church) and other programs that Thrivent provides during Bible class time.
___________________________________________________________
LIFE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 27!!!
Delores Desemone, president of the Lutheran for Life Chapter of St. Charles County Area, will be here to make a presentation about Lutherans for Life and how we as individuals and as a congregation can be involved in honoring the sanctity of human life at all ages and stages.  She will be providing us with baby bottle banks, that we can fill with money to support LIFE in our own community and throughout the world.
_____________________________________________________________
 WIDOW'S GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
at Evelyn Sherman's house for lunch at 12:30 and an afternoon of games.
All widows are welcome to attend!!
______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
 
The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!!
___________________________________________________________
COMPUTERS AVAILABLE
The trustees will be removing old computers from the old computer room soon.  If you want one, come to church and get it!
____________________________________________________
TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 at 9:30am. This is the first meeting to decide what trips to take in 2013!  Everyone is invited!
_____________________________________________________
TWO USHERS ARE NEEDED!!!
We need two ushers to complete our teams of four.  If you can help with this, please call Bob Linke 456-2332 or Walt Schirr 456-1526
____________________________________________________
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 

 

For the SCHIEN FAMILY, as both Ken and Joyce have moved to Jonesburg nursing home, Jennfier Berryman has moved ot Elsberry, and Joy and Brian will soon move to Pendleton.

For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

THANKSGIVING For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength and will finally be able to go back home this week. 

 
For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

Wednesday, January 9, 2012

DEVOTION:  And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."
 
How specific are you with your prayers?  Do you tell God exactly what you want or are you more general about things? 
 
Would you say something like "Lord God give me a good day."  Or would you say something more like "Lord God, please make my breakfast taste very good.  Help me to get up and get dressed.  When I brush my teeth, make them extra clean.  Give me a good hair day...... etc."?
 
Our Lord Jesus promises that whatever we ask for, in His name, that he will give it to us.  But does that mean that everything we want we get?  Sometimes but not always.
 
In the passage above Abraham's servant was looking for a wife for his son Isaac.  (That's just how they did it back in those days.)  The servant didn't want to mess up and disappoint his boss so he asked God for specific things as a sign to him that he was picking the right one.  God saw that it was a good request and gave him exactly what he asked for. 
 
If you really want to do God's will and your eyes, ears, and heart are open to doing God's will in a specific situation you can do just like the servant did, and if God thinks it is a good idea, He will do it for you. 

That's what it means to "ask in my name".  When you ask in Jesus name you are attaching His authority and His will to whatever you want.  So if His name is on it, He is going to make sure it is good!  he is going to make sure it is worthy of His name. 
 
I want to ask you a big favor today.  I want you to ask God for His will to be done in our church.  We are getting closer to making a decision about calling a DCE for our congregation.  This person would be in charge of ministry to children and youth as well as be in charge of music ministry.  Pray that He will provide the funds necessary to be able to pay the salary for this person.  Pray that the congregation will see the benefit of such a person and support it with their prayers, time, talents, and treasures.  Pray that we will find the right person to fit our needs.  Most importantly pray that His will be done. 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, we want what you want in our lives, in our church, and in our world.  Help us to use the gifts you have given us to do Your will.  In our church especially at this time help us to do your will as it concerns a DCE so that your kingdom may grow and our own church may flourish in its proclamation of the Gospel.  Amen.
 



____________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Why did God send the flood?  God spared Noah as his family tree was Godly. He prevented the plague from continuing through human procreation by eliminating all those who either carried it or had the potential to do so, by means of the Flood. And by doing so continued the line God intended to use in bringing His Son into the world to be our Savior.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  What was Isaac's wife's name?
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CATECHISM:
Question: To whom does God give eternal life?
Answer: God gives eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
a. Eternal life is a present possession.
b. At the time of death, the soul of a believer is immediately with Christ in heaven.
c. A the last day, the believers, in both and soul, will begin the full enjoyment of being with Christ forever.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; Elders meeting noon
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS
THRIVENT DAY ON SUNDAY,JANUARY 20!!
Jason Schoppenhorst, the Thrivent rep for this area will be here on Sunday, January 20 to talk about Thrivent after church at both services and to give a presentation of Thrivent Choice (a way to make your investment and insurance dollars work for the church) and other programs that Thrivent provides during Bible class time.
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LIFE SUNDAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 27!!!
Delores Desemone, president of the Lutheran for Life Chapter of St. Charles County Area, will be here to make a presentation about Lutherans for Life and how we as individuals and as a congregation can be involved in honoring the sanctity of human life at all ages and stages.  She will be providing us with baby bottle banks, that we can fill with money to support LIFE in our own community and throughout the world.
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WIDOW'S GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
at Evelyn Sherman's house for lunch at 12:30 and an afternoon of games.
All widows are welcome to attend!!
______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
 
The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!!
___________________________________________________________
COMPUTERS AVAILABLE
The trustees will be removing old computers from the old computer room soon.  If you want one, come to church and get it!
____________________________________________________
TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 at 9:30am. This is the first meeting to decide what trips to take in 2013!  Everyone is invited!
_____________________________________________________
TWO USHERS ARE NEEDED!!!
We need two ushers to complete our teams of four.  If you can help with this, please call Bob Linke 456-2332 or Walt Schirr 456-1526
____________________________________________________
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF
The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 

 

For the SCHIEN FAMILY, as both Ken and Joyce have moved to Jonesburg nursing home, Jennfier Berryman has moved ot Elsberry, and Joy and Brian will soon move to Pendleton.

For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

THANKSGIVING For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength and will finally be able to go back home this week. 

 
For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

Avenue of the Saints here this Sunday at 11am

If you haven't heard Corey Tobias and Bill Rowe lead us in worship yet, you are missing out!  Come and hear them and sing along with some great modern worship music at our 11am service!!!

Monday, January 7, 2012

DEVOTION: Genesis 18:9-13
"Where is your wife Sarah?" They asked him. 
"There in the tent," he said.
Then the Lord said, " I will surely return to you about tis time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."
Now Sarah was listening a the entrance too the tent, which was behind him.  Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years., and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.  So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master's old, will I now have this pleasure?"
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have child, now that I am old?'  Is anything too hard for the Lord?  I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
 
      Is anything too hard for God?  That is a question we all need to ask, especially when we are facing difficult or impossible situations.  When we think, "I can never be forgiven of such a thing."  or "I don't think I can ever forgive him for what he did to me."  You first need to realize that by your own power you cannot forgive anyone.  It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit breathed into you that you are able to forgive, and so you are able to forgive everyone as the Lord God has forgiven you!
       Both Abraham and Sarah were too old to have kids, but God told them they would have a Son.  They did.  How many times has God told you to that His will would be done in your life and you just laughed?  How many times has the impossible happened to you?  How often has God done great things for you and to you?
      The Lord God can work anything and everything out for you!  He is GOD after all.  He can especially save you from your sins if he wants to, just let Him do it!
      Take time today to notice the power of God around you, in His creation, in the loving relationships with which he blesses you, in the wonderful church you have, and especially in His Son who saves you! 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, thank you for doing  a miracle in me, for bringing me from death to life, for giving me a family to love, for giving me a place to live, a computer to read this devotion, and so much more!  I love you God!  Amen.

 


____________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ:  Why did God send the flood?  (no one answered so I am leaving it up.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: What difference will there be between believers and unbelievers in the resurrection?

Answer:

A. The believers will rise with glorified bodies and enter everlasting life in heaven with God.

B. The unbelievers will rise to eternal death, that is, to shame and torment in hell forever.

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CALENDAR

Mon- 7 and 8th grade confirmation 5-6:5

Tues- Quilters 9am; Bible study 11:30; DCE funding meeting 6:30; trustees 7pm

Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm

Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; Elders meeting noon

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS

WIDOW'S GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 at Evelyn Sherman's house for lunch at 12:30 and an afternoon of games.

All widows are welcome to attend!!

______________________________________________________________

YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY!!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 9 at 6:30 pm, with doors opening at 6pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend!

 

The youth will be selling tickets after church after church the rest of this month so get yours as soon as you can.  Every year is more exciting than the last, so don't miss out on a good time while helping the youth in their ministry!!  If you have any questions about ticket, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543!!

___________________________________________________________

COMPUTERS AVAILABLE

The trustees will be removing old computers from the old computer room soon.  If you want one, come to church and get it!

____________________________________________________

TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 at 9:30am. This is the first meeting to decide what trips to take in 2013!  Everyone is invited!

_____________________________________________________

TWO USHERS ARE NEEDED!!!

We need two ushers to complete our teams of four.  If you can help with this, please call Bob Linke 456-2332 or Walt Schirr 456-1526

____________________________________________________

HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 

THANKSGIVING FOR LAURA ADAM'S DAD who is cancer free after his surgery in December.

 

For the KOPROWSKI FAMILY at the death of Ned's mother.

 

For the SCHIEN FAMILY, as both Ken and Joyce have moved to Jonesburg nursing home, Jennfier Berryman has moved ot Elsberry, and Joy and Brian will soon move to Pendleton.

 

For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

 

For SANDRA PERRICONE'S SISTER, KAREN,  as she continues to deal with her heart issues.

  

For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength very slowly as she is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.

 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .

  

 

Thursday, January 3, 2012

DEVOTION:  Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." Genesis 6:1-2
 
Maybe you've noticed it lately.  The days seem to pass by quicker and quicker.  Each year seems to go by in the blink of an eye.  The older you get.... well.... the older you get. 
 
When Adam and Eve sinned it set off a chain reaction that would continue to the end of time.  It resulted in death, not eternal death, mind you, but physical, earthly death.  Mankind became mortal.  None of us from that time forth will live forever on this corrupt, sinful earth. 
 
We try to hide it.  We try to shield our eyes and our hearts from it.  But there is no colder, harder fact than death.  And the quicker we face that fact, the better off we will be. 
 
Now, here's the good news about all of that.  That death doesn't last.  It too goes by in the blink of an eye.  One moment you are here on this earth breathing through lungs and the next moment you are in peaceful, eternal rest with Jesus.  One moment you are in this sinful mortal body the next moment you are free of it. 
 
God had, had enough of man living the 900+ years and continuing in his corruption.  He didn't want that anymore.  So part of his judgment would be that human beings wouldn't live any longer than 120 years. 
 
And believe me, most 100+ year olds that I have known, would rather be done with this earth and be in heaven.  They've lived enough life.  So at the same time it is both a blessing and a curse. 
 
It is a curse that we have to go through this most awful of curses called death with all of its pain, suffering, and loss, but it is also a blessing in that we get to throw off these sinful restrictive bodies and put on Christ forever. 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, help me to face my death with both disdain and peace at the same time.  Help me to know more surely every day that when I die, however it may happen, I will be with you forever.  Amen.
 

____________________________________________________________________
THURSDAY'S QUIZ:  Why did God send the flood?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Are people reborn in bodies or forms?

Answer: Reincarnation, the belief that when people die they are reborn in other bodies or in a series of other bodies, is contrary to Scripture.   

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR

Thurs- Jonesburg nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers support group 1pm

Sat- worship 5pm; Installation of board members and officers in all three services this weekend
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; TAKE DOWN DECORATIONS noon

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS

 

INSTALLATION OF BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS THIS WEEKEND!!!

If you are a board member or officer for 2013 please make sure you are at worship this weekend to be installed.  Thank you for your willingness to serve the Lord in this way!!! 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HELP NEEDED TO TAKE DOWN DECORATIONS AT NOON SUNDAY!!

If you have an extra hour, please help us get everything taken down and put away!  Thanks for your help!

_____________________________________________________

COMPUTERS AVAILABLE

The trustees will be removing old computers from the old computer room soon.  If you want one, come to church and get it!

_________________________________________________________________________________

COME GET YOUR POINSETTIAS

If you ordered a poinsettia and would like to have it at home, make sure you take it home with you this weekend!!  They will be in the sacristy (the room right next to the altar area).

____________________________________________________

TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP GROUP MEETING JANUARY 13 at 9:30am. This is the first meeting to decide what trips to take in 2013!  Everyone is invited!

_____________________________________________________

TWO USHERS ARE NEEDED!!!

We need two ushers to complete our teams of four.  If you can help with this, please call Bob Linke 456-2332 or Walt Schirr 456-1526

____________________________________________________

HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

The LCMS is asking for donations to help with relief efforts.  If you care to give, you may use a designated envelope, or you can go to LCMS.org and donate directly online. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 

For the SCHIEN FAMILY, as both Ken and Joyce have moved to Jonesburg nursing home, Jennfier Berryman has moved ot Elsberry, and Joy and Brian will soon move to Pendleton.

 

For TINA RUTH'S SISTER, who is dealing with cancer.

 

For SANDRA PERRICONE'S SISTER, KAREN,  as she continues to deal with her heart issues.

  

For MARILYN FOSTER'S NIECE, HEATHER. who is regaining her strength very slowly as she is recovering from an undiagnosed illness.

 

For CHRISTIAN WENZEL, art teacher at Blackhawk Middle School, who continues to recover from a fall from his deer stand that left him paralyzed from the waist down. .