St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Daily Email: Thursday, November 5, 2015

DEVOTION: Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)

³⁸And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

⁴¹And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.^[a] ⁴³And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

As Jesus often teaches, so he continues to teach that there is no difference between rich and poor in the kingdom of God. That's a whole lot different than how we view it in the world, isn't it? We have lists upon lists of people who are the richest in the world and in the United States. This is no good. When we do this we are exalting those who have a lot of money as being the smartest and most able to lead. Just look at those who are able to run for president. Money is the number one reason that people have to get out of the race.

Do we have a list of who gave the most percentage of their income to charity or to the church? Do we honor those who give hours upon hours of their time to worthy causes? Do we honor the poor widow who gives everything she has to her church or to her Ladies Aid organization? If any human beings should be honored it should be these.

Yet, most of the time they don't want honor. They want the honor, glory, and praise to go to God, or at the very least, to the organization that does God's work. This indeed is good!

The same is true of most popular TV preachers and evangelists. Most of them are just out to get your money. They'll tell you what your itching ears want to hear. Some are good, but most are scammers. They are exactly the ones that Jesus speaks about when he says, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers." Stay away from these people.

In fact, stay away from anyone who makes a big deal about the money they have or expects extra honor because of the money they have. Their god is their money, and God is not honored.

The widow got it! She trusted in the Lord to care for her. She knew that her happiness, her peace, her security, and her satisfaction came from the Lord and so everything she had belonged to him and she was ok with giving it all to him, because she knew she would be cared for.

My prayer for you is that you get it too. That you realize that real security and satisfaction come from God alone. Trust in Him! Give all that you have to Him so that He can use it and you to do His work!

Let us pray: Lord, help me to be like the widow and give it all up to you, Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Karate 6:15-7:45

Fri- Set up for Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, and Luncheon

Sat- Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, Luncheon 9am-2pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold ; 11- Hailey Blechle
Ushers- George, Gary, and Ben Hoelscher; Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Talbert; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Randy Sweet
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Randy Sweet
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. ?????, 8:30-?????? , 11- Alaina Heitgerd
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

BUILDING MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 at 7PM!!!

Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to attend to get your ideas and comments out there so we can get this thing done!

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VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, NOV. 15 at 9:45!!!

Items on agenda so far:

1. Budget

2. Elections of officers and board members

3. Vote on Christmas Eve services and times

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CONFIRMATION KIDS ARE SELLING TJ's PIZZA AND OTHER GOODIES FOR THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO CAMP WINDERMERE FOR THE JR. HI. RETREAT !

Reply to this email or text me at 636-359-1061 to place your order. Make checks out to St. John's.

Here's the menu:

PIZZAS:

3-pack of personal pizzas $18.50 (Deluxe $20),

12 " St. Louis Style -

$8.50--Triple cheese, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni

$9- Italian Sausage and Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Bacon, Pepperoni and Bacon,

$10- Lotsa meat (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, bacon, Beef); All Bacon; Deluxe (Ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, peppers); Supreme- (beef, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, onions)

GOURMET PIZZAS $10 each

Breakfast Pizza (Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese

BBQ Chicken-

Nacho- beef, onion, olives, peppers, chips

Garlic Chicken

Alfredo chicken (White sauce, broccoli, mushrooms)

Buffalo chicken

White sausage (Italian sausage and white sauce)

Veggie

Breakfast pizza with thick crust

12" TJ's Thick Crust (Mozzarella cheese)

$9- Triple cheese, Pepperoni

$11 Deluxe, Lotsa meat

Coffee $10 for a 12 oz. bag

Regular grind, decaf grind, whole bean

Frozen Desserts

Dutch Apple pie $10

Original gooey butter cake 12.50

French Cream Cheesecake $16.50

Caramel Braided Bread $11

Strawberry Cream Cheese braided bread $11

Cookie Dough $10

Chocolate Chunk

Double chocolate

Sugar

Oatmeal cranberry

White chocolate macadamia $12

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I NEED PROJECTIONISTS FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND 8:30 SUNDAY!! Who is gonna do it?

Please help!

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VENDOR FAIR, BAKE SALE, AND LUNCHEON THIS SATURDAY 9am-2pm!!

Come on down to church and get a bunch off your Christmas shopping done and enjoy some lunch, a piece of pie, and some good fellowship at the same time!!

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TUESDAY LUNCH TIME BIBLE STUDY IS LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES OF OUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH!

This is the time right after Jesus died till the time that Constantine made Christianity legal.

We are gong to learn A LOT and learn about why our church is the way it is at the same time.

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WE HAVE TWO FAMILIES SIGNED UP TO GO TO THIS ON MY BIRTHDAY!! WHO ELSE?

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A NEW SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY CALLED "MARRIAGE AND FAMILY: THE LUTHERAN DIFFERENCE"!

Do you want to have a clearer definition of marriage according to God's Word?

Do you want to be able to explain your views on marriage and family when you get into discussions about it and when you want to teach your kids?

Do you want to strengthen your own marriage and family?

THEN COME TO BIBLE STUDY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:45!!!!!!!

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QUILT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!

The drawing was not held at the carnival to give people more time to purchase more tickets. You may purchase tickets from any quilter or from the church office throughout the week. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.

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LADIES AID IS SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR $5 a BOX!!

Once they're gone, that's it. There won't be another order when they run out! Get them today! They're in the basement and you can give money to whoever is in the office.

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PLEASE ORDER SCRIP !!!!!

A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!!

The order forms are on the table in the narthex! Just about every store that you can think of is on the list! Use the cards just like you would use a debit/credit card and help St. John's make A LOT of money!

Place your order, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box.

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES!! !

Many children in our community are very poor. They are able to get some of their meals at school during the week, but often go hungry on weekends. Operation backpack is a way that our community has decided to help these kids.

Every month throughout the school year, each church participating will take one food item and collect just that food item. At the end of the month the food will be delivered to school. The school officials along with volunteers will distribute the food to kids backpacks to take home.

Throughout the month of October we will be collecting canned veggies. All size cans and even individual portions will be accepted. The fruit will be delivered to the schools November 1. We will have a box in the narthex for deposits.

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UNMARKED BLUE ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING EXPANSION PROGRAM
If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that! Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!
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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD? ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs.

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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For the family of David Wettstaed, Joanne Hachtel's brother, who passed away Sunday. He was given 6 months to live, but
God took him early, which was best for him, as he was in a lot of pain, but hard for the family to lose him so soon. He was 74.

For KARSON OWENBY, great grandson of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with an unknown illness that had him hospitalized for a couple days. He is doing better slowly.

For DIANNE HANCE who moved to Kindred Rehab at Mercy Hospital in Creve Couer.

For CAL TAMELER as he continues to heal after a cornea transplant.

For DON PANHORST who is undergoing his second round of chemo treatments today.

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in the Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are BOTH on hospice care.

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with the after effects of a severe stroke almost two years ago.

Vic Cooper visitation and funeral

Many of you, who have been around St. John's for a long time, remember Vic Cooper. He was a member here for quite some time.

He passed from death to eternal life on All Saints Day (Sunday).

Below is his visitation and funeral info.

Visitation: Baue: Cave Springs
- Wednesday November 4, 2015 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Visitation: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church
- Thursday November 5, 2015 10:00am to 11:00am
Funeral Service: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church
- Thursday November 5, 2015 11:00am

Daily Email: Wednesday, November 4, 2015

DEVOTION: Hebrews 9:24-28 (ESV)

²⁴For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. ²⁵Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

CHRIST IS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST! HE IS THE ONE WHO SACRIFICED HIMSELF ONCE FOR ALL SIN SO THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING BUT TRUST IN HIM AND BELIEVE IN HIS SUFFERING, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION FOR US!

There are many who would say that you "have to" confess your sins in order for Jesus to forgive you. Confession, although a very good thing to do, is not a prerequisite of forgiveness. If that were so, then our salvation would depend on our good work of confession. Our salvation does not depend on us at all! Our salvation depends on Christ alone!

Just as Christ doesn't die for us over and over again, nor is it necessary for him to die over and over again every time we sin, so neither is it necessary for us to confess every sin over and over again. Luther tried that and it caused him noting but depression and exhaustion, because he was never at confession enough.

Instead we only need to trust in Jesus who "appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

As I get older and as I spend day after day as a pastor, I realize more and more how much God is in control of my ministry and how little I am in control. HE IS THE HIGH PRIEST!!! I realize more and more how I need to go with the flow, not force things, not invent new programs, but simply let God provide the ministry opportunities that arise with each day and let God do His will in me.

That is why St. John's Lutheran Church is growing like it is. It is growing because the Holy Spirit is doing his work more and more freely in me, in us. That's why we have had six baptisms in six weeks, and more making appointments and plans to do so. That is why I have three different adult instructions going on with couples right now. That is why you are being prompted and urged by the Holy Spirit to invite your friends and family to church! That is why you feel more and more compelled to be in worship on a regular basis!

Be proud of your church, not because your pastor is cool, or because there is so much fun stuff going on, but because we preach, teach, and believe in the truth that Jesus Christ died once for all sins! Your salvation is true and real and it all depends on Christ! Christ is risen! he is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Prayer: Lord, help us to continually let go of control as you take over more and more. Amen.