DEVOTION:
Ezekiel 37:1-14 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Valley of Dry Bones
37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley;[a] it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, you know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath[b] to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord."
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling,[c] and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord."
We don't talk about it much, nor do we even really think about it, but the Day of the Lord is imminent. It is coming. It may come today. It may come 100 years from now. One thing we do know is that it is coming. What is this Day of the Lord? It is the day of judgment. It is the day that is prophesied at the end of this passage of Ezekiel.
On that day the Lord will raise His people from the dead. Those who have died in faith, believed in Him as their Lord and Savior, and trusted in His Words will rise BODILY from the dead, and those who are left on the earth will meet them and the Lord in the air. Then He will restore the creation to what it was before sin entered it.
Don't believe me? Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 some time. I love using those verses at funerals. It reminds us that although we die, yet shall we live!
You, if you love and believe in Christ, you are the people of Israel that Ezekiel prophesies today. You are His people, and He will bring you into the Promised Land of heaven! Praise the Lord!
Let us pray: Lord, give me peace as I deal with the day to day stuff in this world, knowing that one day you will take it all and raise it up, including my very body, to eternal perfect life. Give me peace Lord Jesus. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30-7:30
Fri- 7-8 graders and pastor leave for Youth gathering 3:30pm
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; 7-8 graders return 2pm
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Wed- Luke Rausch 8:30- ??? 11- Abby Vossen
Ushers- Wed- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte; Sunday- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer, 8:30- Jason Cluver, 11- Charlie Figura
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Steve MccDowell; 11- Stephanie Owenby
Piano- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Wed and Sun- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: No projection this weekend
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ
Who was the high priest when Samuel came to live at the temple? Eli
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Did God want Israel to have a king?
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NEWS!!!!
OUR CHURCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR/SECRETARY, MARILYN FOSTER, IS RETIRING!!
After working faithfully for St. John's for the last 14 years, Marilyn Foster, has announced that she will be retiring on May 31. We are planning a retirement celebration for her on Sunday, May 21 after church. More information will be coming about this soon.
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SUPPER AT 5:30 ON WEDNESDAY!! WORSHIP AT 6:30!!
Menu: Pasta, Salad, garlic bread, dessert
Worship: Come and learn the "The Art of Spiritual Inhaling and Exhaling"
Come and join us!
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THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS DESIGNATION DEADLINE IS THIS FRIDAY!!
If you have an eligible Thrivent account, that accumulates Thrivent Choice dollars, you have until Friday to designate those dollars for this year!
You can designate anyone to receive them! (St. John's, Little Lambs, Good Shepherd, St. John's Youth)
Please follow the directions below! Get it done!
Call 800-847-4836 and when prompted, say "Thrivent Choice".
Press 1 to direct Choice Dollars or
Press 2 to hear Thrivent Choice program Terms and Conditions. (If prompted, say or enter your phone number and date of birth )
.
A representative will work with you to direct Choice dollars.
Do call them before March 31!
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TWO MORE PEOPLE NEEDED TO FILL THE ST.JOHN'S TABLE AT THE PREGNANCY OPTIONS CENTER BANQUET
The banquet itself is free, thanks to underwriters, but we need folks who are willing to make a donation to this very worthy cause. Please contact me 636-359-1061 if you are interested!!
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VENDORS NEEDED FOR OUR MAY 6 VENDOR FAIR AND FLEA MARKET!!
Inside vendors are $25 a table/space. Outside parking spots are $10 a piece. Donations for the youth's pavilion sale can be left in the shed or in pastor's office.
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!
Student must be 3 for younger class or 4 for older class by August 1.
$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.
Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours.
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TURNING POINT IS HOSTING A FASHION SHOW FUNDRAISER ON THURSDAY, MARCH 30 at the QUAIL RIDGE LODGE IN WENZTVILLE!! DOORS OPEN AT 5:30!
Enjoy stylish fashions for all women, great vendors, raffles, delicious hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails. Tickets are $35 each! Go to www.turningpointdvs.com or call 636-456-1186 to get tickets.
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VENDOR FAIR/FLEA MARKET WILL BE SATURDAY, MAY 6!!
Inside vendor areas are rented for $25 per space
Outside vendors are $10 per parking spot.
Donations for the youth groups sale under the pavilion can be left under the pavilion or in the shed.
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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS
If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!
The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church. If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself. It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH IS
Individually wrapped snack and packets of oatmeal. Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.
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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!
Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!
Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton. Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.
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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS
Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!
GENERAL PRAYER
For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.
For PASTOR, that he can get rid of these after effects of Influenza A and B.
For both RANDY AND PATTY SWEET'S MOTHERS, Virginia, Patty's mom, has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Rose, Randy's mom, had a bad seizure two months ago, and although she is walking and talking fine, the seizure caused some dementia.
For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it. She had it for several years while in high school. (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)
For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.
