DEVOTION: "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14
A lot of times we like to dwell on the past. This is not a good thing. Don't get me wrong, it is good to learn from our mistakes and it is also good to keep the things that were good in the past. Yet, if we live in and past and continually dwell on it, we too often miss out on what is going on right now and we forget about the hope of the future.
Paul could have lived in the past. What an awful past he had. He was actually responsible for the death of many Christians and the arrest and persecution of others. I am sure, even many years after his conversion, there were those who still didn't trust him and didn't like him very much. There is evidence to this fact in his meetings with the Apostles in Jerusalem. If anyone deserved to be ridiculed and ostracized for who he had been it would have been Paul.
Still, he didn't let that ruin his present and future. He didn't let his past mistakes and failures ruin his present and future as a child and servant of Christ. Instead he pressed on toward the goal of heaven with Christ!
We should all take a view of such things. Certainly we should learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others. We shouldn't just ignore those things as if they didn't happen. Yet, when those things are past and there is nothing we can do to take them back or change them, we should be as we are, FORGIVEN. If someone has hurt or offended us by their mistakes we should be willing to forgive and forget. Our Lord, the Holy Spirit has given us the power to do that very thing and He will bless us when we do it.
I urge you that, once you have dealt with the past and done the best you can to forgive and be forgiven, press on toward the goal for which Christ has called you heavenward and have joy in your hearts knowing that your sins are forgiven!
We have a great opportunity to do just that in the coming weeks and months ahead. We will be embarking on a new capital campaign for ministry expansion. We have a great nucleus of young people in our church who are very active in many ways. Not only do we want to keep them active but we want to also increase the number of kids and young adults members and encourage even more to continue to be active in our church and community!
In the near future we will be asking some of you to be a part of our capital campaign committee. If you are interested in being a part of this committee to work to make ministry happen in this place and to work to make disciples of all nations please reply to this email, or call/text me at 359-1061.
I am excited about the future of St. John's and all of the new disciples the Lord will make in and through this place and these people called St. John's Lutheran Church!
Let us pray: Lord God, help us to press on toward the goal for which Christ has called us heavenward! Holy Spirit, fill us with joy and peace as we go out into the world and make disciples of all nations starting with our own families and communities. Amen.
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FRIDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Michal? daughter of Saul and first wife of David. (Good job Bob, Pam, Dianne, and Pat)______________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ: How did Absalom die?
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6; 7-12 grade bowling at Brunswick Lanes leave at 6pm
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; Council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm
Fri- 20-30 somethings bbq 6pm
Sat- worship 5pm; TRVIA NIGHT doors open at 6pm and game starts at 6:30pm
Sun- worship 8:30am and 11am; Sunday school 9:45
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SPECIAL VOTER'S MEETING RESULTS
Result of the vote was 41-15 to move forward with the funding proposal provided by the DCE funding committee. The next step is to get a Capital Campaign Committee together to get going on plans for a Capital Campaign to begin in the near future.
If you are interested in being a part of this committee please reply to this email or call/text me at 636-359-1061.
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7th-12 GRADERS GOING BOWLING TONIGHT!
To celebrate the end of confirmation class and all that we have gone through and learned together this year we will be going bowling at Brunswick Lanes in St. Peter's. We will leave church at 6pm. Please bring $10 for shoes and bowling.
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20/30 SOMETHINGS SPRING PICNIC FRIDAY, APRIL 19 at 6pm
Even though it is only 30 degrees. Winter is over and Spring has sprung! Time to gear up for some activities and fellowship. I would like to kick it off on Friday night, April 19 at 6pm with a picnic under the pavilion. I will make the brats and burgers. You bring your favorite beverage and a side dish to share. PLEASE Let me know if you can come! _______________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN
I have been compiling a list of servicemen who are members of St John's so that we can pray for them. Below is a list of them and where they are currently stationed. Please note that their stationing changes quickly, so this may not even be up to date, but it is the last known whereabouts that I have of these guys.
Danny Dreyer- Army- 2nd Lieutenant- Ranger school, In a swamp in Florida near Elgin Air Force Base, Pensacola, FL
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Kirtland AF Base, Arizona
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list.
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!
Pray for these guys. Some of these guys are in harm's way right now, others are training to put themselves in harm's way. All of them have volunteered to serve and protect their country (which is you).
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NEW MEN'S GROUP CALLED "MEN'S NETWORK" TO BEGIN WITH A MEN'S BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27 at 8am!!!
It has been on my mind and heart to begin a men's ministry at St. John's. I would like us to begin with a men's breakfast on Sat, April 27 at 8am. I will do the cooking, but I would like a guy or two to help me out. We will eat breakfast and have a half hour devotion, followed by the planning of future gatherings and events. Please make plans to attend TODAY. Wives please encourage your husbands to go!!!
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW TO SELL YOUR OWN WARES AT ST JOHN'S ON SATURDAY, MAY 4
The ladies aid is expanding their bake and craft sale to include those who would like to sell their own products whether they be homemade crafts or sell from home products like uppercase living, scentsy, Tupperware, etc. Tables are available for $20 a table.
Along with that there will again be parking lot spaces available for our 5th annual Flea market. parking spaces are $10 a space. More info below:
WHERE??
Basement and Little Lambs Classrooms: The Ladies Aid is adding INSIDE spaces for vendors, crafters, and bakers to their Spring Craft and Bake Sale. You can reserve your own spot to sell your own wares for $20 per table. These spots are open to St. John's members first before being open to the public. If you are interested, call Coleen Bottorff 456-5482 or the church office 456-2888 within the next two weeks.
Parking Lot: The Annual Flea Market will continue as it has the past four years. Parking spaces will remain $10 per space. Proceeds from the outdoor parking space rentals and Little Lambs sale under the pavilion will benefit the preschool. They are raising funds for their new Summer Camp Programs and to enhance preschool. Please call the Little Lambs teachers or the church office to rent a parking space 456-2888
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For DAVE KOHRS who is back at home and doing well recovering from surgery.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH, who will be having surgery soon to remove his bladder due to cancer.
For RICK SPINIOLAS who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will be beginning chemotherapy on Monday.
For NANCY SPINIOLAS, his wife, who is dealing with severe back pain due to many years of using an artificial leg.
For RALPH SPOEDE who is dealing with cancer in both his kidney and in his brain.
For DOMINIC GENTILE, a friend to many at church and in the community, who is suffering with brain cancer and is recovering from surgery.
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