DEVOTION: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For "God[a] has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
What a glorious and peace giving thought this is from the Apostle Paul this morning! It is peace giving for us. Those who are in the dark…. not so much. But that's the thing, they're in the dark so they don't see it coming. They are just going about living their lives in the dark, aimlessly wandering around looking for food, drink, and whatever else their bodies and minds desire to give them a little fleeting comfort. It is a sad way to live if you ask me.
I'd rather be in the light. I'm looking forward to the end. As much as I try to cling to this life and try to keep myself and others alive, I am looking forward to the day when it will all come to an end and the Lord Jesus will usher in the prefect life 'that he died for! I'm looking forward to the end of these aches and pains, these sorrows and heartaches, this death filled life. I'm so looking forward to Jesus coming back that I can hardly stand it sometimes.
Yet, he is patient with me, with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to a knowledge of the truth. If you are wondering why Jesus hasn't returned yet, all you need to do is look around you at all the people who have yet to come to faith. Look at all the people who need to hear the Gospel; the love, forgiveness, grace, and peace for Jesus! Then, if you want Jesus to return, get back to the business of sharing the good news of the love of Christ! Get back to being the Christian God wants you to be. Repent! Turn from your sins! Turn from your inactivity. Turn from all the things that are entangling you and causing you grief, turn to Christ and let the love of Christ flow over you!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being patient with us. Help us to be bold in our proclamation of the Gospel and help us to get to work in the business of making disciples. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; LL sharing meal 11-12
Wed- Assemble newsletter 9am; (Oak Pointe Worship moved to Nov. 29), Thanksgiving Worship 7pm
Thurs- Thanksgiving Day- Church office closed
Fri- Church office closed
Sat- Worship- 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Adult Bible class and Sunday school 9:45
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RSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Nick Schulze; 11- Abby Vossen
Ushers- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean Up- Cheryl Bettlach
Elder- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- ???
Greeters- 8:30- Don and Donna Sherman; 11- Al and Karen Benton
Lay Reader- Sat- Don Nolte; 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Ben Hoelscher
Pianist Sat- Molly Hendershot; Sun 11- Doug Walters
Organist- Ned Quest
Projectionist- Sat- Kathy Fischer; 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Dulci Rahn
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
Besides instituting the Lord's Supper in the Upper room on Maundy Thursday, what else did Jesus do for his disciples that night? Washed their feet
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TODAY'S QUZ: What happened to Ananias and Sapphira when they tried to lie to the Lord.
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NEWS:
VOTER'S MEETING RESULTS FROM SUNDAY
- The voters nominated President Lee Hagan for district president and VP Ron Rall for another term.
- The voters voted to keep the same mission project, Rev.. Micah and Dorothy Glenn in North County, for 2018.
- Larry Schulze, Jim McRae, and Teresa Brockfeld all volunteered to be on the board of trustees! Thank you to these three volunteers!
- We are still in need of two board members for the board of education, and four members for the board of elders.
- The voters approved the budget for 2018. Thanks to Alan Hofeldt for putting it together.
- Since we continuously have trouble filling our boards and committees and since things could be done a whole lot better and more efficiently with a different structure, the voters approved the appointing of a task force to study changes to our governance structure so that we can tap into all the unused potential, so that people who want to do good in the congregation don't have to commit to boards and committees for 9 years, and so that the work of the church can be disbursed among those who actually want to do it! PRAISE THE LORD!!
- The voters approved changing the overflow accordion door to a permanent wall with doors and windows in it to convert the overflow to a cry room.
- The voter's also approved a budget of $450,000 for our building project so that we can move forward with hiring an architect.
As you can see, a lot is getting done in and around St. John's. It may be slow going at times, but God is definitely moving! I'm excited to see what God has in store for 2018!! It's gonna be a great year watching A LOT of people come to Christ and become members of St. John's! If you'd like to volunteer for our task force to look into structure changes, please reply to this email. Please look for lots of wonderful stuff to be happening in the near future, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for St. John's that we can grow in making disciples in, out and together!!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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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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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 our CHURCH, as we begin to make some big changes to both our governance structure and our building, and as we move forward to make disciples of all nations.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER and BUCK HAMPTON as they both continue to deal with cancer.
For JENNIFER RAHN as she recovers from valve replacement surgery at Missouri Baptist.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait 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, 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.
