Daily Email: Monday, December 18, 2017

DEVOTION:  2 Samuel 7:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord's Covenant with David

7 Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, ² the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." ³ And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you."

⁴ But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ⁵ "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? ⁶ I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. ⁷ In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges^[a] of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' ⁸ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince^[b] over my people Israel. ⁹ And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰ And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹ from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[a] Your throne shall be established forever.'"

 

Sometimes we have in mid to do great things for God.  We'll grow a church.  We'll build a new addition.  We'll go and be missionaries.  I'll do this for the Lord.  I'll do that for the Lord.  Why is this wrong thinking?  It seems legitimate.  It seems to go with what God would want us to do.  So why does King David seem to get scolded by God when he decides to build a house for the Lord?  Easy…  because it was his idea and not God's. 

            God never commanded David, or anyone else for that matter, to build him a house.  He was just fine moving around in a tent.  In fact, he preferred it.  When a house of God is built, it has to be built by God and according to God's command.  If it is just someone's idea, it may look successful on the outside, but God will not approve.  It has to be for God's purposes and according to God's standard. 

            The same is true for anything we set our minds to do.  If you read through almost every part of the Old Testament you will see that when people moved without the authority or direction of God, they always failed.  IF they set out on a journey, they would get lost.  If they went into battle they would be defeated badly.  Even when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking it, it did not go well with him. He wasn't allowed to enter the Promised Land. 

            Any work, any life, any position, anything you do will not be satisfying or successful in God's eyes if he is not in it.  It may look successful to humans, but it will always make a person feel empty and unsatisfied.  A person who sets his mind on making as much money as he can will never have enough.  A person who makes it to the top without God's approval will find only emptiness there.  A person who only goes into relationships for selfish reason will never find fulfillment or true love in those relationships.  I could go on and on. 

            It is best, as children of God, to simply say what James says, "If it is God's will we will do this or that and go here or there."  "If it is God's will."  Those are the best words we can say as we begin each and every day.  May whatever you do, whether in word or deed, be God's will today.

 

Prayer: Lord God, make me surrender to you and do your will today.  Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Mon- Little Lambs Christmas party 10; Confirmation canceled

Tues- Quilting 9-2; Little Lambs Christmas party 10

Wed- Supper 5:30; Sunday school Christmas program 6:30; Choir 7:15

Thurs- Karate Christmas party

Sat- No worship

Sun- Christmas Eve morning worship 10am; Candlelight worship 7pm

Mon- Christmas Day worship 10am

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WORSHIP WORKERS: 

Acolyte- Wed- Luke Rausch;

            Christmas Eve morning 10am- Gus Klaustermeier

            7pm- Nick Schulze

            Christmas Day 10- Abby Vossen

 

Ushers- Wed- Brent Davis, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Holescher

           Sun 10am- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Kevin Luebke, Don Nolte

            Sun 7pm- Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder

            Mon 10am- Rich Boeger, Don Hancce, Don Tate, Doug Walters

 

Altar-

            Wed candles- Don Hance;

            Sun 10am- Set up Lucille Luebke;

            Mon- Clean up Sandy Robine

 

Elder-

            Sun 10am- Jason Cluver;

            7pm- Al Benton

            Mon 10am- Don Turnure
 
NO Greeters this weekend

No Lay Readers this weekend

 

Organist Wed and Sun- Pat Golden; Mon- Molly Hendershot

Projectionist- Sun 10- McKenzie; 7pm ????

 

 

Sun, December 31 (New Years Eve Morning)

Acolyte- Jared Cluver

Organist- Barb Dreyer

Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure

Altar Set up- Terry McKenzie

Altar Clean Up- John and Anna Hoenig

Communion Assistant- Rich Talbert

Greeters- Doug and Ruth Walters

Projectionist- McKenzie

Lay Reader- Yoder

 

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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:   When did Paul write the letter to the Colossians?  While he was in prison in Rome, about 60A.D.  (Thanks Don!)

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  Who was Titus and where did he live?

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NEWS:

OUR NEXT ADVENT DINNER IS WEDNESDAY AT 5:30!  EVERYONE IS INVITED!!!  INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!!

All in elder groups 7 and 8 are responsible for bringing either a side dish, salad or dessert!  Fried chicken will be the main course! 

 

At 6:30 we will have our Sunday school Christmas program!  There'll be lots of good hymns to sing! 

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THERE WILL BE TWO CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICES THIS YEAR AT 10am and 7pm, AND ONE CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE AT 10am! 

The two Christmas Eve services will be slightly different from each other, so if you'd like to attend them both, you're more than welcome to do so.  You can never get enough Jesus at Christmas.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you!

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NEW YEARS CELEBRATION ON NEW YEAR'S EVE MORNING!!

We will have one service on New Year's Eve with a potluck afterward!  Our main dish will be sloppy joes and we'll have chips there as well.  Please bring a side dish or dessert to share!  Bring all your leftover cookies!!  There will be a sign up sheet to let us know you're coming on the counter in the narthex, but even if you don't rsvp, please come!!  We'll have plenty of food! 

 

We're going to plan our personal "goals" for 2018!!

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THERE WILL BE NO SUNDAY SCHOOL OR ADULT BIBLE CLASS ON EITHER CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING OR NEW YEAR'S EVE MORNING!!

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LITTLE LAMBS IS SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!

If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool.  Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know.  They'll hook you up right quick!

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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "Rejoice always!  Pray without ceasing!  Give thanks in all circumstances!  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  

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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 NOVEMBER IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACKS AND PACKETS OF OATMEAL.

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PRAYERS: 

For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who fell on Friday and sprained his ankle and broke a bone in his leg.

 

For LEO BADER as he will be having hip replacement surgery this week.

 

For PEGGY TALBERT who is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.

 

For TONI MAUCH who is recovering from hip replacement surgery at home

 

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 JENNIFER RAHN, who is recovering from heart valve replacement surgery and is dealing with rheumatoid arthritis problems.  

 

For GEORGE HOELSCHER, BUCK HAMPTON, DENISE HOOKER (betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer. 

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer request for Paul Toedebusch

Please pray for Paul Toedebusch as he fell yesterday and severely sprained his ankle and broke a bone in his leg. He is at home.

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Sunday school Christmas program practice reminder

All of our Sunday school kids who will be in the Christmas program need to be at church from 9am-Noon tomorrow (Saturday) for practice.  Our program is Wednesday at 6:30pm!!

 

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FW: The Voice of Missouri E-Newsletter

 

 

View this email in your browser You are receiving this email because of your relationship with Missouri District LCMS. Please reconfirm your interest in receiving emails from us. If you do not wish to receive any more emails, you can unsubscribe here. PUBLISHED BY THE MISSOURI DISTRICT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD December 15, 2017   St. Paul's Lutheran hosts LERT Chainsaw Training Class On November 17 and 18, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia, Mo. sponsored a LERT Chainsaw Training class.Twenty-eight people attended with several traveling from seven hours away! Special thanks to Pastor Ed Brashier with Shepherd's Heart Ministry who came all the way from Alabama to lead the class.   Bethlehem Lutheran, St. Louis presents "The Gift" The Bethlehem family is looking forward to the coming of Christ. This year, as in past years, their Christmas celebration focuses on a large scale Christmas play. "The Gift," is this year's play, written and including original music composed by the Bethlehem family. This production has brought together over 40 members for rehearsal as actors, dancers, singers and production staff. The presentation will be grand, but even better is all of the small group ministry of God's people to each other, taking place right now, in preparation meetings and rehearsals. While rehearsals are going on, life doesn't stop with its sicknesses, deaths, celebrations and frustrations. The Holy Spirit has God's people caring for one another during this prep time. It's special! If you'd like to come and see the presentation, it will occur three times at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2153 Salisbury St., St. Louis, MO 63107: Wed., Dec. 20 at 6:15 pm and Sun., Dec. 24 at 9:50 am and 6 pm. "The Gift" is presented in the Bethlehem sanctuary.   Announcements/Other News   Important Message from President Hagan Regarding the 2018 District Convention (Click below to view the message)   Plus One Participation Forms Many congregations are turning their attention to our community outreach effort, the Plus One Initiative. Congregations are encouraged to complete a Plus One participation form and either mail it to the district office or email it to plusone@mo.lcms.org. If you want additional information about Plus One or a copy of the Plus One participation form, go to http://mo.lcms.org/plus-one/.   The first E2 Conference of 2018 will be held on Jan. 27 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Arnold, MO. The purpose of the E2 Conference is to Encourage, Equip and connect volunteers in our congregations through practical presentations, partnerships and networking. Four additional dates & locations across the district! A wide variety of breakout sessions! Attend discussions of interesting topics to assist your congregation and its leaders. All conferences are Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. There is NO COST to attend, but please register online at http://mo.lcms.org/e2-conferences-are-returning-this-fall/ as space is limited.   Missouri District Spring Junior High Retreat Psalm 103:12 NIV …as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. The Missouri District Lutheran Jr High Retreat is returning this spring on April 6-8, 2018 at Camp Windermere, located nine miles west of Camdenton, Missouri. The theme will be "Forgiven", with a focus on Confession, and the Office of the Keys. Our presenter & worship leader is Rev. Ken Chitwood, assistant pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida. The cost is $120 and registration will open online in January. Early registration is encouraged. Need more information? Call the Missouri District office at 314-590-6217 or email Sue Thompson at Sue.Thompson@mo.lcms.org.     (Photo: LESA's new student-designed Christmas Card collection includes "Joy to the World", which was created by Taryn, a fifth grader at St. Paul Lutheran School in DesPeres. Other designs are Joy to the World in Blue, The Best Gift Ever, O Come Let Us Adore Him and Christmas.) LESA Unveils New Christmas Card Designs to Support Lutheran Education The St. Louis-based Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) has unveiled five brand new student-created designs for its annual Christmas card fundraiser. The new series features unique, full-color images created by children attending Lutheran schools in the St. Louis area and southern Illinois. The cards are Joy to the World, Joy to the World in Blue, The Best Gift Ever, O Come Let Us Adore Him and Christmas. Each card includes a different seasonal message and Bible verse. The cards were designed by students at Salem Lutheran in Florissant, St. Paul's in Des Peres, Good Shepherd in Collinsville, IL, and two designs from Trinity Lutheran in St. Charles. The cards are $10 for a pack of 10 cards and envelopes. To see the designs and place an order, visit www.LESAstl.org, or call LESA at 314-200-0797. Cards can be shipped or picked up from the LESA office. Proceeds will help fund the numerous programs and services LESA provides to 30 elementary schools, including need-based tuition assistance, curriculum support and professional development. More than 9,000 students attend LESA-member schools in the St. Louis Metro Area, making Lutheran schools the second-largest private school system in the bi-state region. A Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LESA represents 35 elementary and high schools, including four National Blue Ribbon schools and a National Lutheran Exemplary School. For more information about LESA, its schools and its mission, call (314) 200-0797, or visit www.LESAstl.org.   Follow the Star to Ascension Lutheran Church's Live Nativity As you make your list and check it twice for ways you'll get into the Christmas spirit, don't forget about Ascension's annual live nativity scene on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5 - 9 p.m. Ascension Lutheran Church located at 5347 Donovan, St. Louis, Mo 63109 will have the true meaning of Christmas on display with a live nativity featuring live cattle, sheep, a camel, as well as shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph, and Jesus. The evening will include an angel choir, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate and the Christmas message being broadcast over the radio. Read more . . .   The members of Peace Lutheran Church, 737 Barracksview Road, Lemay, invites you to a "Christmas at Peace" 7:30 pm Friday, December 23; 7:00 pm. The concert is an excellent way to experience the true meaning of Christmas through beautiful music! The concert will feature the Peace Chancel Choir, Orchestra of Peace and Bells of Peace. All ensembles are under the direction of Peace's Director of Music Ministry, Burnell L. Hackman. Peace's Senior Pastor Rev. Dennis Kastens will deliver a short message during the concerts. The concerts are free (a free-will offering will be received) and tickets are not needed. Peace is located east near the intersection of I-255 and Telegraph Road in South St. Louis County. For more information, please visit Peace's Music Ministry website at www.peacestlmusic.org or by calling the church office at 314.892.5610   Get $20,000 to become a church worker in the LCMS! Is God calling you into church work in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod? Are you concerned about how you are going to pay for the hight cost of college? At Concordia University Irvine we value the formation of future leaders for our church. Therefore we are pleased to announce that, starting with the 2018-2019 school year, we are offering qualified church work students a guaranteed total of $20,000 in institutional aid per year, plus a housing grant. Ready to begin? To start the application process, go to www.cui.edu/app. To learn more about the church vocations scholarship, who is qualified, and additional application requirements for church work programs, go to www.cui.edu/churchworkscholarship.   District and Church Events ( E2 Conferences ) Installations and Ordinations Personnel Changes and Calling Congregations LCMS Missouri District News Obituaries   This message was sent to revklaus@hotmail.com by movoice@mo.lcms.org 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive #300, St. Louis, MO, 63141 Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Forward Email | Report Abuse

 

Men's breakfast reminder

Just a reminder that there is men's breakfast tomorrow at 8am.  Biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit!

 

Well continue our study "The Great Deceiver".

 

All men of every age are invited!  Bring a friend! 

 

Let me know if you're coming or not!

 

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