DEVOTION: 2 Corinthians 2:5-10 "Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not just to me, but in some measure-- not to put it too severely-- to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedeient in everything. Anyone who you forgive, I also forgive, Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs."
Our Lord God, has given us very clear direction on how to deal with conflict and with a sinner who has hurt others but who has also repented of his sin. In our passage above the Lord directs the Corinthians, through Paul. as to how they are to minister to a Christian who has sinned greatly and hurt the whole congregation in Corinth and even Paul. It looks as though Paul was definitely hurt by what the person did, but he also explains how the whole congregation was hurt. In this passage also we see, how Paul's mind and his direction is forgiveness not just so that the person might be kept from excessive sorrow over the terrible things he had done, but so that the whole congregation might not be outwitted by Satan. Our congregation, as well as many congregations in our LCMS are very similar in many ways as far as conflict is concerned: Below is a letter from Doug Walters, our congregational president, detailing a new program called the CARE process that will be implemented in the coming weeks and months ahead to help us deal with the troubles that have arisen within our own congregation: (Note: This is the same as the insert that was in the bulletin this past weekend.) (Also note that this isn't just about recent events but about the congregation and the conflicts within the congregation as a whole._
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Over the years many conflicts have arisen within many of our Christian churches throughout the world. St. John's is no different. The conflicts at St. John's are between many members including pastor (At times pastor has even been the start or the continuation of a conflict) and throughout many groups within our church. In order for us to be healthy Christians and a healthy congregation as a whole we need to reconcile with one another and resolve the many conflicts we have with each other. We cannot be good witnesses to the world if we aren't good witnesses to each other.
In order to do this, our Missouri District office has prepared and offered to us the CARE process. Two facilitators, Rev. Gene Wyssmann and Ken Wesemann will lead us through the process of reconciliation and renewal. Below are the steps in this process:
1. Authorization has already been given by the board of elders and the church council to proceed with this process and to bring it to fruition in our congregation.
2. Rev. Dr. Ken Wesemann and Gene Wyssmann have already been assigned by District President Mirly to be facilitators.
3. A congregational meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, April 27 from 6:30-9:30pm to explain the CARE Process to us and to discuss some of the healthy/unhealthy issues that are found in congregations. The facilitators will seek input from the group in a very brief form. This will allow us to start getting input. This meeting typically lasts 3 hours.
4. A questionnaire will be sent to all communicant members of the congregation and those that have left the congregation in the last 6 months, asking for their input. This is a two page form. The letters are sent with a postage paid return envelope that will be sent by the participants to one of the facilitators. This will insure confidentiality. We ask the congregation to provide the cost for this mailing.
5. Not sooner than two weeks after the deadline for receiving the questionnaires, the facilitators will be on site to conduct interviews. The interviews last 20 minutes and follow the outline of the questionnaire. There will be a total of 25 interviews conducted of participants randomly selected. Ten will be randomly selected from the leaders of the congregation (officers, LWML chair, youth chair, etc.) Fifteen of the interviews will be randomly selected names from among the remaining members of the congregation. In addition, interviews will be conducted for each congregation staff member (pastor, choir director, preschool director, etc.). These interviews will not be given more weight in facilitator deliberations, but rather will provide the story and context of the issues in the congregation. Primary information will be gathered from the questionaires.
6. Following the collation of all the information, the facilitators will develop a presentation of findings and recommendations in collaboration with President Mirly. The facilitators will return to a congregational meeting type setting and share those findings and recommendations. The facilitators will work with the congregation to establish an intentional plan to utilize the plans that the congregation has made for reconciliation.
7. The facilitators will make at least one return visit to the congregation to see how things are progressing. The District will continue to support the congregation in the process as needed.
I implore you, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to take this seriously and participate fully. I believe that it will be a most tremendous opportunity for us to learn to better love one another, forgive one another, and move forward as a congregation in the mission of the church to make disciples of all nations. Peace be with you all!
Your servant in Christ,
Doug Walters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was the name of the Phillistine that David killed with a sling and a stone? Goliath
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TODAY'S QUiZ: What son of David was killed after his hair got caught in a tree as he was fleeing David's men?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Why is it important to receive the Sacrament worthily?
Answer: It is very important because Paul clearly teaches: "WHoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks odf the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29
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BIRTHDAYS:
Mon- Christine Okeefe, Carol Ann Toedebusch
Thurs- Meghan Rowe
Fri- Tina Ruth
Sun- Mabel Smith
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ANNIVERSARIES:
Sun, April 10- Tony and Becky Jones
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilter 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Trustees 7
Wed- supper (taco night) 5:30; bells 6; worship 6; choir 7:30 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Thurs- 8th Grade Confirmation Questioning and Reception 7pm
Fri-
Sat- Bus trip leaves for Charleston 7am SHARP; worship 5
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; CONFIRMATION DAY FOR 8th GRADERS; Sunday school and Bible study 10:30
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WORSHIP WORKERS
Projector- Wed- Schlesselmann; Sat- Conner Figura; NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR SUNDAY YET
Elder- Sat- Hachtel; Sun- Tinnin
Ushers- Wed- Dieckmann, Luebke, Callies, Sweet; Sun- Winter, Scott, Walters, Woolf
Acolyte- Wed- Schaumberg; Sun- Sherman
Lay reader- Sat- Mauch; Sun- Wagner
Greeters- Linke
Altar- Setup- Tameler cleanup- Robine
Organist- Hilgendorf
Pianist- ?
Tellers- Team #3
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There is still no one signed up for this Sunday!! And there are still A LOT of dates open!
PROJECTOR SCHEDULE
April 13- Denise Schlesselmann
April 16- Conner Figura
April 17-
April 21 (Maundy Thursday)- Mckenzie
April 22- (Good Friday)- Mckenzie
April 24 (Easter)- 6am- Mauch 10:30am-
April 30- Mckenzie
May 1- Figura
May 7-
May 8-
May 14-
May 15-Woolf
May 21-
May 22- Mckenzie
May 28- Figura
May 29- Schlesselmann
June 4- Mckenzie
June 5- Panhorst
June 11-
June 12- Mckenzie
June 18-
June 19-Woolf
June 25-
June 26- Panhorst
July 2- Mckenzie
July 3-
July 9-
July 10- Figura
July 16-
July 17-Woolf
July 23-
July 24- Panhorst
July 30-
July 31- Mckenzie
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NEWS:
CARE PROCESS TO START WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 6:30pm with a congregation meeting.
Please refer to the devotion at the top for details regarding this.
The leaders of our church and many others would appreciate as many people being there as possible.
Let me know if you need someone to watch your kids so you can be there.
Even if you have no conflicts within the church, it would be good for you to be there to lend your encouragement and support to those who need it and to show your concern for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Besides, you may have use for some of the things you learn in other parts of your life.
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NEW SHORT TERM JR HI and HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR IS STARTING UP
Practices will be at 4pm on Sundays. Call Mrs. Dreyer at 456-8278 to let her know you want to be a part of it!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP LEAVES AT 7AM SHARP on SATURDAY.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________OUR MISSION FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ARE THE RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN JAPAN with LCMS World ReliefThe folks in Japan have been dealing with the effects of a very severe earthquake that caused a lot of destruction. We truly need to continue to help them in any way we can. Go to LCMS.org/help to see how you can help. _________________________________________________________________________________________________LAST WEDNESDAY SUPPER IS TOMORROW NIGHT!!! Thrivent will match all of the money we raise from our Lenten Dinners! Please support your youth group throughout the Lenten Season! April 13- taco bar, chips and salsa, fruit salad, dessert
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________PRAYER REQUESTS: (Please reply to this email to have prayer requests posted.) For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who will need to have another surgery this Friday at University Hospital in Columbia.
For MARY SUE TOEDEBUSCH who is having serious problems and pain due to reumatoid arthritis.
For MARV HENDERSHOT who is recovering very well after having astent put in hisheart last week
For my mom, DEBBY KLAUSTERMEIER, as she begins to deal with "pre" stages of diabetes.
For ELAINE SCHAUER who is recovering well from her knee surgery
For PAT MANNESS, former member of St. John's who is going to have to have hip replacement and is in very poor health in many different ways.
For LIL WINTER who is still dealing with problems in her foot and with her stomach.
For RUTH CANTRELL who is still having problems with her eye and with headaches. THe cause has yet to be identified.
For ED KOHRS who is @ Delmar Gardens recovering from hip replacement and will probably get to go home in a week or two.
For OUR CHURCH as we begin to deal with our many conflicts and how to best resolve them and reconcile with one another.
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