DEVOTION: When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Exodus 20:18-20
Usually when I see a storm on T.V. it has less of an effect than when I am in the middle of it. Don't you agree?
I remember going down to Mississippi right after hurricane Katrina in 2005. I saw a lot of pictures of the devastation and a lot of news reports, but it didn't compare at all to seeing it in person. I am sure the pictures we have seen of hurricane Sandy do not compare to the actual devastation. God's power is so much bigger in person than it is on video or in print.
Moses had been up Mount Sinai several times to talk to god and get instructions from him. Every time he went up the Israelites could see the lightning and hear the thunder. When Moses came down the mountain his face would shine with the brilliance of God. God actually physically and literally rubbed off on him to the point that the Israelites begged Moses to cover his face and in this passage they begged him to not ask God to speak with them, because it would just be too much. His power was completely inspiring and terrifying all at the same time.
And so it is with us. We love the Lord. We are safe in the Lord's arms. He will never leave us or forsake us. At the same time, because of our sinfulness, and because we are not perfect, we cannot stand in the presence of God. in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "Woe to me, I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and I have seen the Lord God, Almighty.
Luckily, the Lord touched Isaiah's lips and cleansed them. He didn't strike Isaiah down. He didn't annihilate him. He pardoned him. He saved him from certain destruction.
He does the same for us. He pardons us even though we don't deserve it. He gives us His grace. We do not need to fear. He is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
Prayer: Lord God, even though you could squash us with your little finger, even though you could send us to eternal torment as our sins deserve, you don't. Instead you give us more grace. THANK YOU! Amen.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What was the third plague that God sent on the land of Egypt? gnats Exodus 8:16-19
________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What is the third commandment?
__________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: To whom should we pray?
Answer: We should pray to the true God only, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not to idols, saints, or anything God has created.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Mon- confirmation 5-6:15;
Tues- Quilters 9am-2pm; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- LIFE SUNDAY; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS STARTED A NEW EXCITING AND FUN CURRICULUM CALLED "CROSS EXPLORATIONS".
If your kids have been neglecting Sunday school for a while consider coming back as it has changed quite a bit!! It is in more of a VBS format with science experiments, hands on activities and lots of fun!!! This coming week they are going to be learning about blubber gloves!! There are also several servant events being planned for the near future! The kids who are there are seriously missing their friends!!! We'll see you Sunday!
_______________________________________
A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS IS STARTING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45!!!
A video based Bible study by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, will begin this coming Sunday. It begins with a study on the "Relevance of Genesis". Each study is about a half hour of video followed by a half hour of discussion. If you have been neglecting Bible study for a while, because of the subject matter, or for whatever reason, please consider coming back and joining us! You won't be disappointed!
__________________________________________
BABY BOTTLES FOR ADOPTION
Did you know that it can often take $20,000 or more to adopt a child. That makes it very hard for most people.
Yet you can help those who are trying to adopt! Baby bottle banks were handed out yesterday to do just that. For the next two weeks we will be filling up those bottles with all the change we can find and even putting in paper money too. On February 10 we will collect all of those bottles at church and then forward the money to our Lutherans for Life Chapter so the money can be used to help those wishing to adopt children.
If you would like a bottle but didn't get one yesterday, you can stop by church any day this week between 8 and 4:30. If you don't have time this week, you can still collect the money and get a bottle to put it in this coming weekend!
A big thanks to Denise Schlesselmann for volunteering collect these monies and take it all to LFL in St. Charles!
______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS 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!
____________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
__________________________________________________________________
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 JEANETTE KOEHLER who at The CEDARS nursing home in Chesterfield.
For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering from pneumonia in the hospital.
For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers, who is fighting pneumonia but not responding to medications.
For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.
For JEFF WINN AND AMBER VOSSEN as they mourn the loss of their grandpa.
For DENNIS PERREY AND HSI FAMILY at the loss of his mother.
For JASON FIGURA that God would keep him safe as he has to work on the east coast and be away from his family.
For RUTH WALTERS BROTHER, as he is undergoing tests for heart problems.
For JENNIFER, a friend of CHRISTINE WINN, who lost her brother last week.
For THANKSGIVING for the blessing of a grandson to the ROBINES last week.
For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy.
For NORMAN AND MARIAN TEMME, brother and sister in law of Harold Temme and Lois Frick, as Norman is dealing with dementia and Marian is nearing the end of her life on hospice care.
For MARCUS HENDERSHOT, son of Marvin and Molly, as he goes through interviews to get a job closer to his family.
Usually when I see a storm on T.V. it has less of an effect than when I am in the middle of it. Don't you agree?
I remember going down to Mississippi right after hurricane Katrina in 2005. I saw a lot of pictures of the devastation and a lot of news reports, but it didn't compare at all to seeing it in person. I am sure the pictures we have seen of hurricane Sandy do not compare to the actual devastation. God's power is so much bigger in person than it is on video or in print.
Moses had been up Mount Sinai several times to talk to god and get instructions from him. Every time he went up the Israelites could see the lightning and hear the thunder. When Moses came down the mountain his face would shine with the brilliance of God. God actually physically and literally rubbed off on him to the point that the Israelites begged Moses to cover his face and in this passage they begged him to not ask God to speak with them, because it would just be too much. His power was completely inspiring and terrifying all at the same time.
And so it is with us. We love the Lord. We are safe in the Lord's arms. He will never leave us or forsake us. At the same time, because of our sinfulness, and because we are not perfect, we cannot stand in the presence of God. in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "Woe to me, I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and I have seen the Lord God, Almighty.
Luckily, the Lord touched Isaiah's lips and cleansed them. He didn't strike Isaiah down. He didn't annihilate him. He pardoned him. He saved him from certain destruction.
He does the same for us. He pardons us even though we don't deserve it. He gives us His grace. We do not need to fear. He is with us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
Prayer: Lord God, even though you could squash us with your little finger, even though you could send us to eternal torment as our sins deserve, you don't. Instead you give us more grace. THANK YOU! Amen.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What was the third plague that God sent on the land of Egypt? gnats Exodus 8:16-19
________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: What is the third commandment?
__________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: To whom should we pray?
Answer: We should pray to the true God only, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not to idols, saints, or anything God has created.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Mon- confirmation 5-6:15;
Tues- Quilters 9am-2pm; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- LIFE SUNDAY; worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS STARTED A NEW EXCITING AND FUN CURRICULUM CALLED "CROSS EXPLORATIONS".
If your kids have been neglecting Sunday school for a while consider coming back as it has changed quite a bit!! It is in more of a VBS format with science experiments, hands on activities and lots of fun!!! This coming week they are going to be learning about blubber gloves!! There are also several servant events being planned for the near future! The kids who are there are seriously missing their friends!!! We'll see you Sunday!
_______________________________________
A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS IS STARTING THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45!!!
A video based Bible study by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, will begin this coming Sunday. It begins with a study on the "Relevance of Genesis". Each study is about a half hour of video followed by a half hour of discussion. If you have been neglecting Bible study for a while, because of the subject matter, or for whatever reason, please consider coming back and joining us! You won't be disappointed!
__________________________________________
BABY BOTTLES FOR ADOPTION
Did you know that it can often take $20,000 or more to adopt a child. That makes it very hard for most people.
Yet you can help those who are trying to adopt! Baby bottle banks were handed out yesterday to do just that. For the next two weeks we will be filling up those bottles with all the change we can find and even putting in paper money too. On February 10 we will collect all of those bottles at church and then forward the money to our Lutherans for Life Chapter so the money can be used to help those wishing to adopt children.
If you would like a bottle but didn't get one yesterday, you can stop by church any day this week between 8 and 4:30. If you don't have time this week, you can still collect the money and get a bottle to put it in this coming weekend!
A big thanks to Denise Schlesselmann for volunteering collect these monies and take it all to LFL in St. Charles!
______________________________________________________________
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS 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!
____________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
__________________________________________________________________
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 JEANETTE KOEHLER who at The CEDARS nursing home in Chesterfield.
For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering from pneumonia in the hospital.
For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers, who is fighting pneumonia but not responding to medications.
For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.
For JEFF WINN AND AMBER VOSSEN as they mourn the loss of their grandpa.
For DENNIS PERREY AND HSI FAMILY at the loss of his mother.
For JASON FIGURA that God would keep him safe as he has to work on the east coast and be away from his family.
For RUTH WALTERS BROTHER, as he is undergoing tests for heart problems.
For JENNIFER, a friend of CHRISTINE WINN, who lost her brother last week.
For THANKSGIVING for the blessing of a grandson to the ROBINES last week.
For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy.
For NORMAN AND MARIAN TEMME, brother and sister in law of Harold Temme and Lois Frick, as Norman is dealing with dementia and Marian is nearing the end of her life on hospice care.
For MARCUS HENDERSHOT, son of Marvin and Molly, as he goes through interviews to get a job closer to his family.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31