DEVOTION: Matthew 20:1-16English Standard Version (ESV)
Laborers in the Vineyard
20 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius[a] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went.Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'[b] 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."
A lot of people have a hard time with the concepts of mercy and grace. It isn't fair, and that's the point. If any of us got what we deserved every one of us would be in hell.
I've seen it in the church too. Those who have been members longer or who volunteer more, or who are more involved in the church seem to have an attitude like those who worked all day in the parable. Who wouldn't? I would, and I do. We measure our worth by what we do. The harder we work and the more we produce the more we are worth. And with the world that's the way it should be.
Thank God that it's not that way with him though. Our worth is not dependent on how much we do or how many souls we produce. It is worth much more than that. Our worth is everything to him. He loved us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to die for us. Our heavenly Father doesn't look at our earthly worth, he looks at our heavenly worth. When he measures our worth he measures it by Jesus!
I want to take a moment to wish Karin a happy birthday! As a teenager and as a young man I always had my visions and my ideas of what kind of wife I would have and what it would be like to be married. Thank God he didn't go with what I wanted and especially what I deserved. He gave me so much more! I would have never asked for what God gave me. He blessed me more than I could have ever thought or imagined. I love you Karin!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for not giving me what I really deserve but instead showering me with all of your mercy and grace. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Thurs-Karate 6:15-7:45; Confirmation make up 6-7
Fri- Newsletter assembly 9am; Karin's bday party 6pm
Sat- St. John's Booth at downtown festival 11:30-9:30; Worship 5pm
Sun Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
Sat-
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Cierra Figura; 11- Addie Hoelscher
Ushers- Brent Davis, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher, ???????
Altar- Set up- Lucille Luebke; Clean Up- John and Anna Hoenig
Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; Sun- 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- ????????
Lay Reader- Sat- Judy Koprowski; 8:30- Tim Linke, 11- ????
Organist- Ned Quest
Sat Pianist- Molly Hendershot
Projectionist: Sat- Mauch; Sun, 8:30- McKenzie; 11- ?????
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Which Psalm is a "Prayer of an afflicted man, When he is faint and pours out his lament before the Lord."
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NEWS:
THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO KARIN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY TOMORROW, DON'T FORGET TO GET HER GOOD WITH A JOKE OR A PRANK! AND DON'T FORGET THAT IT STARTS AT 6pm AT CHURCH!
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WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR TWO HOUR SHIFTS DURING THE DOWNTOWN FALL FESTIVAL
PLEASE!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!!! SIGN UP!
We will be selling homemade potato chips (Gary Hoelscher's special recipe) and funnel cake by Brent Davis, and handing out Gospel literature on Saturday, September 23 from 11:30-9:30. We need people to help set up in the morning (8-10), to man the booth (11:30-9:30), to help make the potato chips and funnel cakes, and to take down at night (9:30-11:30 or so). We are just asking for two hour shifts throughout the day. Please help the cause and come and enjoy the day!
Please sign up either by replying to this email or by signing the sign up sheet on the counter in the narthex at church.
Set Up- 8-10 (meet at church to load stuff up and bring downtown)—
11:30-1:30- (man booth and make chips and funnel cakes)
1:30-3:30-
3:30-5:30-
5:30-7:30-
7:30-9:30-
9:30-11:30—(take down and bring stuff back up to church)
Note: We may end earlier depending on business and traffic at our booth, but we can't get our trucks in to load stuff up until after the Little River Band concert is over.
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WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEO FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND!!
Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/WCAiRWSIMUo
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DOOR OFFERING ONE MORE WEEKEND TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HARVEY!
Lutheran Trust of St. Louis will match all offerings 100% up to $10,000 per congregation and $1,000,000 total through September 24.
If you bring a check, make it out to St. John's and in the mem write "Hurricane Relief". All offerings will go to LCMS Disaster Relief. This is the best way to help!
If, for some reason, you can't make it to church or would like to donate directly, go to www.lcms.org/harvey to donate and let us know that you did.
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NEW OUTREACH BOOKLET DISPLAY AT CHURCH
Our board of outreach and evangelism purchased a set of outreach booklets on all different topics of interest. They are for you to use for yourself, but also to take to friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors who may be dealing with the things covered in these booklets or may just have questions regarding to the faith. Please check it out and as it says, TAKE ONE…. OR TWO OR THREE!
LAY READERS STILL NEEDED ESPECIALLY FOR 11AM SERVICE!!!
If you are willing to be an integral part of worship and serve in this way, please reply to this email or call church at 456-2888! We need you!
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OUR NEXT FIFTH SUNDAY CELEBRATION WILL BE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29… REFORMATION SUNDAY!! TO CELEBRATE THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION AND THE POSTING OF THE 95 THESES BY MARTIN LUTHER ON THE CASTLE CHURCH DOOR IN WITTENBERG, GERMANY!!
It is going to be a blowout celebration! Mark your calendars today to make sure you are there to enjoy the celebration!
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS CANNED FRUIT. Please bring items up to church and put them in the tub marked "Backpack Blessings".
PRAYERS:
For IVY TINNIN who had a seizure early this past Sunday morning and is gong to see a neurologist tomorrow.
For PAUL AND AMANDA PROUHET who are expecting another child, their third.
For the INFANT GRANDSON OF DANE AND JODI BALDWIN who was born twelve weeks premature. Right now he is getting some help with breathing, but all vitals and everything are good. He was born at 2 and a half pounds.
For THOSE IN THE CARIBBEAN, FLORIDA, AND THE EAST COAST who are dealing with hurricane Irma.
For THOSE IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA who are dealing with historic flooding and damage from hurricane Harvey.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER as he continues to fight cancer and goes through cancer treatments.
For CAL TAMELER who is HOME and is recovering from surgeries and a heart attack.
For LIL WINTER who is home, but is still awaiting test results and doctor's orders to get several procedures done.
For ANGIE BRUNSON, who is at home, but is still dealing with blood clots and an infection after a trouble from a hysterectomy.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For SAM HARGROVE deployed in Amman, Jordan and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, COLTON FIGURA stationed in California, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
