St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013

DEVOTION: Matthew 8:18-22¹⁸When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
²⁰Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
²¹Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
²²But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Is following Jesus easy? Yes and no. It is easy because it only depends on the Holy Spirit leading us. It is hard because the world is constantly trying to pull us away from the Holy Spirit with temptations and enticements like money, things, physical comforts, and temporary fixes. We end up with the hardship that sin and Satan brings. All the time Jesus is saying, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest for your soul. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

All it takes is surrendering our lives to Him. Unfortunately, too many of us don't want to do this. We don't listen to God, and instead listen to man, which always causes us problems. We think we can manipulate, change and even ignore God's Word for man's Word knowing all the time that this only brings trouble.

All it takes is turning back to him, but we are often too proud and too self centered to want to humble ourselves and do what jesus wants us to do, confess, repent, and turn to Him.

And so we pray: Lord God, turn me from sin to You, that I may live in peace and do Your will with my life, so that You may be honored, praised, and enjoyed. Amen.

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What does the parable of the yeast mean in Matthew 13:33? The church can grow exponentially if we just let it. All we have to do is mix in the kingdom of God (Jesus).

Here is the answer from Dianne, also a good one.
Parable of Yeast is similar to the Mustard Seed, both are growing but the difference is how much. In the parable of the
Mustard Seed, Jesus says it (the Kingdom of Heaven) will grow to a large size.

Parable of the Yeast is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven too. The yeast is the Kingdom of Heaven and the
dough is the world. The yeast will slowly grow into something much larger like the Kingdom of Heaven. We should
be like the yeast in the dough and help the Kingdom of Heaven permeate throughout the world.

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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Where was the man from who was demon possessed and lived among the tombs, and who no one was strong enough to subdue.

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CALENDAR

Wed- Choir 7pm (Note: You know they are serious choir members when they are practicing during the World Series. I love our choir.)

Thurs- Trunk or Treat begins with supper at 5:30-7pm: Trunk or Treat goes till 8pm out on the parking lot

Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am

Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; SERVICE DAY begins with potluck at noon!!

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TRUNK OR TREAT THIS THURSDAY 5:30-8pm AT CHURCH

Items that Agape is in need of…

Food Pantry:

Spaghetti noodles (or any pasta)

Sauces

Peanut Butter

Cereals

Toilet Paper

Bar Soaps

Canned Soups

Meats

Winter items:

Coats

Hats

Gloves

Socks

Blankets

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BELL RINGING AT WALMART!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY AND SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED!!

Also, St. John's is signed up to ring the bells at the north door (food side) for Agape (Salvation Army) on Saturday, December 14 from 8am-8pm.

Here is the schedule. I am breaking it up into one hour time slots. If you would like to do more than one hour please feel free to sign up for two or three.

It is always fun to do it as a family! Or if a bunch of kids want to get together and do it, that is fun too. Bring your songbooks and sing Christmas carols, do dramatic readings of something, whatever you want to do. SIGN UP TODAY!!!

Thanks!

8am-

9am-

10am-

11am-

12noon-

1pm-

2pm-

3pm-

4pm-

5pm-

6pm-

7pm-

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Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013

DEVOTION:
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
³¹He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³²Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."
³³He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough."
³⁴Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."^[b]

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

³⁶Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
³⁷He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, ³⁹and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
⁴⁰"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴²They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

⁴⁴"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
⁴⁵"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The Parable of the Net

⁴⁷"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁵¹"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.
"Yes," they replied.
⁵²He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
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Jesus often had to speak in parables. He spoke them for many reasons, one was that Jesus used every day things to explain the kingdom of heaven to us and to give to us supernatural heavenly things.

We are, by nature earthly creatures who don't really comprehend or even fathom heavenly things. So our Lord uses the things we understand like yeast, fishing nets, treasures and pearls to help us to understand the real and unfathomable things of God.

Jesus was telling them in verse 52 that those who have heard the Gospel and become disciples have both the goodness of the Law and the grace of the Gospel. He was telling them that they have the God's will and God's grace when we don't do His will. Both the Law and the Gospel are good. They both do good things for us. The old treasure is the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, the old covenant. The new treasure is the Gospel, the salvation of God, Jesus Himself.

As Paul says, "we agree that the Law is good." I am so glad for the law, not only because it shows me how sinful I am, but also because it shows me God's will and what He wants me to do out of love for Him.

Let us pray: Lord God, help me to love Your Law and Your Gospel. They are both Your will. And even though I am unable to keep the Law perfectly, help me to appreciate it and follow it to honor and praise you and to love others as You have loved me. Amen.

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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What does the parable of the yeast mean in Matthew 13:33?

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CALENDAR

Tues- Quiltes 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Choir 7pm

Thurs- Trunk or Treat begins with supper at 5:30-7pm: Trunk or Treat goes till 8pm out on the parking lot

Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am

Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; SERVICE DAY begins with potluck at noon!!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TRUNK OR TREAT THIS THURSDAY 5:30-8pm AT CHURCH

Items that Agape is in need of…

Food Pantry:

Spaghetti noodles (or any pasta)

Sauces

Peanut Butter

Cereals

Toilet Paper

Bar Soaps

Canned Soups

Meats

Winter items:

Coats

Hats

Gloves

Socks

Blankets

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BELL RINGING AT WALMART!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY AND SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED!!

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Monday, Oct. 28, 2013

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

"I'm Afraid"

October 28, 2013
He (God) has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6
Most of us are afraid of something.

While I won't guess what scares you, I do know what frightens Rogelio Andaverde, a resident of Hidalgo County, Texas. I know because Mr. Andaverde's fears made the news a few weeks ago.

On a Tuesday, some masked men entered Andaverde's house with drawn guns. Without saying why they had come, they took him and left his wife wondering what terrible things might happen to her husband. Quickly, she called the police who arrived and began a search.

The investigation was fruitless.

Amazingly, two days after he had been taken, Andaverde was back home. He told his wife that, for some unknown reason, his kidnappers had released him. The reunion between the two was a happy one. Indeed, their joy was only marred when the police showed up at their door and accused Mr. Andaverde of having faked his own kidnapping.

"Why would anybody do such a thing?" you ask.

Well, Mr. Andaverde was afraid.

He wanted to party with his friends, and he was afraid of his wife. For that reason he enlisted some of his pals to enter his house with masks, guns and a demand that he go with them. Mr. Andaverde was arrested and charged with having filed a false report. His bond was set at $5,000.

Looking back at the jail time, the fine, the embarrassment, and his now-really-upset wife, Mr. Andaverde might rightly conclude he had been afraid of the wrong thing.

Mr. Andaverde is hardly alone.

Over the years I have seen families who were afraid people might think poorly of them if they prayed in a restaurant. I have talked to kids in college who were afraid of receiving a bad grade if they confessed their faith. I have seen many of us afraid of taking a stand for the Savior because we wished to escape the criticism and condemnation of others.

In these instances, and many others like them, we have been afraid of the wrong thing.

Rather than being afraid of the opinions and judgments of others, we ought to be concerned about compromising our faith in the Savior to win the approval of people. Knowing that, the Psalmist said, "The fear (or respect) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (see Psalm 111:10). In Proverbs we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Proverbs 9:10).

The words of those Old Testament writers were supported by the Savior who told us, "So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).

Loving, honoring and respecting God: that's what we need to do as we obey God rather than men.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us love You with our whole heart and mind. In this way we respect You and give a right witness to our Savior who died so we might live. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour^®
Lutheran Hour Ministries

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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Who were the first two disciples? Andrew and Peter

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CALENDAR

Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15

Tues- Quiltes 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15

Wed- Choir 7pm

Thurs- Trunk or Treat begins with supper at 5:30-7pm: Trunk or Treat goes till 8pm out on the parking lot

Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am

Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; SERVICE DAY begins with potluck at noon!!

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SERVICE DAY AT ST. JOHN'S WAS WONDERFUL YESTERDAY!!!!

A huge thank you to Mike Donsky, who donated the meat trays and pies from O Charley's yesterday.

Also, thank you to all who worked so hard yesterday to accomplish a bunch of tasks. The bushes got trimmed and sculpted, the electric sockets got changed to safe GFI sockets. The pews and altar rail got cleaned and polished. Many letters got written o our troops and our shut-ins. Good Shepherd got painted. Warrenton Manor Nursing Home got visited, wallpaper got peeled off, and a bunch of other things got done!!

I love my church! It is amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together for the glory of God!!

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Items that Agape is in need of…

Food Pantry:

Spaghetti noodles (or any pasta)

Sauces

Peanut Butter

Cereals

Toilet Paper

Bar Soaps

Canned Soups

Meats

Winter items:

Coats

Hats

Gloves

Socks

Blankets

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BELL RINGING AT WALMART!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY AND SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED!!

GOOD NEWS CLUB AT REBECCA BOONE NEEDS ANOTHER HELPER!!

They meet every Wednesday from 3-4:15!! If you can help even just once a month please call Mary Aubuchon at 314-581-5824. It is a very rewarding thing to do!!

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St. John's Lutheran Church
Warrenton, MO

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

The Parable of the Net

Monday, Oct. 28, 2013

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