Daily Email: Wednesday, October 3, 2017

DEVOTION Philippians 3:4-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,^[a] blameless. ⁷But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Yes, being a Christian means losing. It means losing your whole self worth and finding worth in Christ. It means no longer boasting in who you are but boasting in who Christ is. It might mean losing a job. It might mean losing friends. It might mean losing your life.

Consider the Apostle Paul. He was the man. He had everything going for him. He was highly respected in his Jewish community. He was rich. He was powerful. He was everything he wanted to be. Then Jesus came. Jesus blinded him, sent him to Damascus where he would be baptized by Ananias, and turned his whole life upside down. He couldn't go back to his friends. They wouldn't just think he was weird for becoming one of those Christians. They would want to kill him. Literally.

He gave up his home, his family, his property, his power. He lost everything for the sake of Christ.

Now, I am not saying that you'll have to give up everything for Jesus, but there might be some things that are really getting in the way of your relationship with him. Maybe it's a job that requires you to miss worship too much. Maybe it's an overabundance of money that is causing you to trust in it more than Jesus. Maybe it's a friend who is bringing you down and away from Jesus. Maybe you are messing with some stuff, drugs, alcohol, the occult, sex, etc. and it is tearing you away from Jesus.

Whatever the case, know that when you lose those things to turn in repentance and faith to Christ, you gain so much more! You gain Christ! You gain salvation! You gain that peace that passes all understanding. You gain eternal life with Jesus and the whole community of saints! You gain everything!

So lose what you need to lose so you may gain a better relationship with Christ!

Prayer: Help me to lose everything that's getting in the way of my relationship with you so that I may know that peace that passes all understanding more and more. Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Wed- Stephen Ministry 6; Choir 7

Thurs-Alzheimers Support Group 1; Karate 6:15-7:45

Sat- HOLY YOGA 10-11; Worship 5pm

Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elders noon

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WORSHIP WORKERS:

Acolyte- 8:30- Savannah Masters; 11- Dulci Rahn

Ushers- Jason Figura, Charlie Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder

Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure

Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; Sun- 8:30- Don Turnure; 11-

Greeters- 8:30- Ken and Marilyn Foster; 11- Al and Karen Benton

Lay Reader- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Steve McDowell, 11- Ben Hoelscher

Sat Pianist- Kathy Barrow

Organist- Barb Dreyer

Projectionist: Sat- Fischer; Sun, 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Rausch

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:

What is the Feast of Purim? The Jewish festival commemorative of the preservation of the Jews in Persia. Celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the month of Adar from the Jewish calendar. IT was a time of giving gifts to one another and gifts to the poor.Esther 9: 20-22. (Thanks Don!)

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TODAY'S QUIZ: What does the name "Malachi" mean?

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NEWS:

Worship from yesterday, 10/1/17. Enjoy and share!
https://youtu.be/aTbi82DcwKc

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A NOTE FROM THE LITTLE LAMBS TEACHERS ABOUT THE PRESCHOOL ROOM

If you use the preschool area, make sure you put everything back just like you found it. If you have little kids down there, take note of where everything is and make sure it gets put back. It was not left the way it should be, and the teachers were not happy.

They are happy to let you use it, as long as you respect it and put things back where they go.

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LADIES AID VENDOR FAIR AND BAKE SALE COMING UP SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

If you would like to be a vendor or know someone who would, the cost is $20 per spot. They also need baked goods. Call 456-2888 to reserve your spot or to let them know you'll donate some baked goods.

Invite your friends and family and come on down to enjoy it!

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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS "Let each of you look not only to his own interest but also to the interests of others." PHILIPPIANS 2:4

Whoever comes to Sunday school and tells me this verse will get a prize!

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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, PLEASE TAKE ONE!

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 500^TH 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 DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES. PLEASE BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE TUB MARKED "BACKPACK BLESSINGS"!

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PRAYERS:

For the HUNDREDS IN LAS VEGAS who are dealing with the tragic shooting.

For LORI FELDKAMP AND KEVIN PEDERSON as they are getting married next Saturday, Oct. 7.

For LIL WINTER who is at home recovering from surgery.

For DAVID GRAYSON, BUCK HAMPTON, AND GEORGE HOELSCHER all dealing with cancer and chemo treatments.

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 CAL TAMELER who is HOME and is recovering from surgeries and a heart attack.

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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.

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Daily Email: Tuesday, October 3, 2017

DEVOTION: Isaiah 5:1-7English Standard Version (ESV)

The Vineyard of the Lord Destroyed

5 Let me sing for my beloved
    my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
    on a very fertile hill.
²He dug it and cleared it of stones,
    and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
    and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
    but it yielded wild grapes.

³And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
    and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
⁴What more was there to do for my vineyard,
    that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
    why did it yield wild grapes?

⁵And now I will tell you
    what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
    and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
    and it shall be trampled down.
⁶I will make it a waste;
    it shall not be pruned or hoed,
    and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
    that they rain no rain upon it.

  7 For the vineyard of the Lord of   hosts
      is the house of Israel,
  and the men of Judah
      are his pleasant planting;
  and he looked for justice,
      but behold, bloodshed;
  for righteousness,
      but behold, an outcry!
   
  You understand what God is saying here, don't you?  We are the vines and the earth is the ground of the vineyard.  God has planted us, watered and fertilized us in   His Word and Sacraments, and yet many of his vines have rejected him.  
       This is how it was in the time of Isaiah as well.  Most of Israel (the vines) rejected the Lord. They grew only "wild grapes".  God had done everything for his   vines and his vineyard.  There was nothing more he could do and so he let the vine go and grow wild.   
       Sometimes a person can have everything he needs to be saved and to believe and still reject the Lord.  The Israelites had it all.  They were God's chosen people.   They had his Word.  They had Moses, Elijah, David, and the list goes on and on of stories and people through whom God had shown his power.  They had every opportunity to believe and produce the fruits of faith.  But they didn't, and so God eventually had no   choice but to let the vineyard go to weeds.  They weren't going to produce fruit no matter how much they were cared for.  They rejected God.  
       Yet, he didn't forget his vines or his vineyard.  He was still keeping track of it from afar.  The vine was not willing to produce good grapes, but God still   loved it. 
       In the New Testament he saved his vineyard.  He bought it back and he took all of the weeds, briers, and thorns out of it.  He did this all through his Son Jesus.    It is a wonderful thing that he has taken care of (his vines).  And because the Son grew up in the vineyard and produced fruit, and because the Son now lives in his vines, they will produce fruit!  Thank God for living in His vines and in His vineyard and   for producing fruit in us! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for pruning, weeding, and feeding your vineyard with yourself, and for producing fruit in me, your vine, your child. Amen.