St. John's Lutheran ChurchWarrenton, MO

Choir is at 6pm this Wednesday

Due to the building meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, choir practice has been moved to 6pm so that choir members can attend.

Thanks!

Pastor

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Daily Email: Monday, November 9, 2015

DEVOTION: Psalm 16 (ESV)

A Miktam of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
²I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."

³As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

⁴The sorrows of those who run after^[another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

⁵The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
⁶The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole beingrejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
 
This is a Psalm of rejoicing in God's gifts.  How often do we do that?  How often do wee rejoice in God's gifts to us?  Too many times it takes us experiencing great disappointment or even shame for us to truly appreciate God's provisions of forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Too often we take for granted that God is with us and protecting and caring for us wherever we go.  
 
We are like children who only miss us when they look back and realize we aren't there.  then they freak out and start bawling until they find us again.  So we usually go along with our lives and just do what we want without looking back, and it isn't until something goes wrong and we look back and God is out of our view because something, usually our sin, is blocking our view of him.  Then we freak out, worry, and go into despair until that thing that is blocking our view is removed.  
 
What we should do to keep from freaking out and to keep from letting our sin and the world around us get the best of us is continually read these Psalms, all of them, to remind us how, throughout the centuries and for all eternity, God will be with us.  He will not abandon our soul to Sheol or let us see corruption.
 
When we remain in Him and remain in His Word, that peace that passes all understanding will keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!  
 
Recently a long time pastor friend of mine, Pastor Hoehner from Chapel of the Cross in St. Peters, has challenged all of his brothers to start spending at least 90 minutes in Bible reading each day.  I'm going to take him up on that challenge and I urge you to do the same.  Maybe not 90 minutes for you, but a good half hour would surely do you some good.  It is, after all, what God calls us to do over and over again in His Word.  
 
I'm reminded of the kids song that goes "Neglect your Bible forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink , shrink."  And "Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow."
 
Do you want to shrink or grow today?    Let God's Word and His grace wash over you!
 
Prayer:  Lord help us to be in Your Word as much as we are able today so that we can have that peace that passes all understanding.  Amen.

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CALENDAR:

Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15; Family Night 6:15-7:30

Tues- Quilting 9-2; "Christianity: The First Three Centuries" 11:30-12:15; Trustees 7pm

Wed- Choir ????; Building Expansion Meeting 7pm

Sat- Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, Luncheon 9am-2pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jack Bunge ; 11- Jacob Cluver
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean up- Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Marv and Molly Hendershot; 11- Charlie and Lynn Figura
Lay readers- Sat- Judy Koprowski 8:30- Tim Linke 11- Jacob Winn
Sat. Pianist- Kathy Barrow
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. ?????, 8:30-?????? , 11- Zack Hoelscher
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NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

BUILDING MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 at 7PM!!!

Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to attend to get your ideas and comments out there so we can get this thing done!

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VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, NOV. 15 at 9:45!!!

Items on agenda so far:

1. Budget

2. Elections of officers and board members

3. Vote on Christmas Eve services and times

Each congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) is asked for nominations for Synod Vice Presidents and for Mission board members both ordained pastors and lay people.   While it is not a requirement of us, it is good for us to participate as much as we are able since we are a part of the Synod and we have a say in what goes on among us.

Below are a list of available positions:
1st Vice President
Central Region Vice President
Central Region Board for National Missions (Lay person)
Central Region Board for National Missions (ordained)
Central Region Board for International Missions (Lay person)
Central region Board for International Missions (ordained)

Note: "Central region" basically refers to the Midwest. There will be one vice president and one board for each region of the USA.

If you know of anyone who would be interested or capable of filling any of these positions please let me know, and at our congregational voters meeting on the 15th we will nominate him or her.

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CONFIRMATION KIDS ARE SELLING TJ's PIZZA AND OTHER GOODIES FOR THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO CAMP WINDERMERE FOR THE JR. HI. RETREAT !

Reply to this email or text me at 636-359-1061 to place your order. Make checks out to St. John's.

Here's the menu:

PIZZAS:

3-pack of personal pizzas $18.50 (Deluxe $20),

12 " St. Louis Style -

$8.50--Triple cheese, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni

$9- Italian Sausage and Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Bacon, Pepperoni and Bacon,

$10- Lotsa meat (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, bacon, Beef); All Bacon; Deluxe (Ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, peppers); Supreme- (beef, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, onions)

GOURMET PIZZAS $10 each

Breakfast Pizza (Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese

BBQ Chicken-

Nacho- beef, onion, olives, peppers, chips

Garlic Chicken

Alfredo chicken (White sauce, broccoli, mushrooms)

Buffalo chicken

White sausage (Italian sausage and white sauce)

Veggie

Breakfast pizza with thick crust

12" TJ's Thick Crust (Mozzarella cheese)

$9- Triple cheese, Pepperoni

$11 Deluxe, Lotsa meat

Coffee $10 for a 12 oz. bag

Regular grind, decaf grind, whole bean

Frozen Desserts

Dutch Apple pie $10

Original gooey butter cake 12.50

French Cream Cheesecake $16.50

Caramel Braided Bread $11

Strawberry Cream Cheese braided bread $11

Cookie Dough $10

Chocolate Chunk

Double chocolate

Sugar

Oatmeal cranberry

White chocolate macadamia $12

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I NEED PROJECTIONISTS FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND 8:30 SUNDAY AGAIN!! Who is gonna do it?

Please help!

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LADIES AID IS SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR $5 a BOX!!

Once they're gone, that's it. There won't be another order when they run out! Get them today! They're in the basement and you can give money to whoever is in the office.

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PLEASE ORDER SCRIP !!!!!

A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!!

The order forms are on the table in the narthex! Just about every store that you can think of is on the list! Use the cards just like you would use a debit/credit card and help St. John's make A LOT of money!

Place your order, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box.

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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR NOVEMBER is INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACK AND OATMEAL PACKETS!!!

Many children in our community are very poor. They are able to get some of their meals at school during the week, but often go hungry on weekends. Operation backpack is a way that our community has decided to help these kids.

Every month throughout the school year, each church participating will take one food item and collect just that food item. At the end of the month the food will be delivered to school. The school officials along with volunteers will distribute the food to kids backpacks to take home.

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UNMARKED BLUE ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE GOING TO THE BUILDING EXPANSION PROGRAM
If you'd like it to go to the DCE fund you need to mark it for that! Please make sure you mark the ENVELOPE clearly for the DCE PROGRAM!
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DO YOU HAVE A KROGER CARD? ENROLL IT IN THE COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM!!!
Register it online www.krogercommunityrewards.com and have it swiped each time you shop to earn money for Little Lambs.

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GENERAL PRAYERS:

For DIANNE HANCE who is dealing with two different infections and kidney failure.

For KARSON OWENBY, great grandson of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with an unknown illness that had him hospitalized for a couple days. He is doing better slowly.

For CAL TAMELER as he continues to heal after a cornea transplant.

For DON PANHORST who is undergoing his second round of chemo treatments today.

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in the Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are BOTH on hospice care.

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with the after effects of a severe stroke almost two years ago.

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Fwd: The Lutheran Hour: November 8, 2015 "Do You Know THIS Jesus?"

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4 Active™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Lutheran Hour Ministries <lh_min@lhm.org>
Date: 11/07/2015 9:16 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: Jeremy Klaustermeier <revklaus@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Lutheran Hour: November 8, 2015 "Do You Know THIS Jesus?"

Sermon Text for November 8, 2015

"Do You Know THIS Jesus?" #83-10

Presented on The Lutheran Hour on November 8, 2015
By Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker
(Why Does the World Have to End?)
Copyright 2015 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Hebrews 9:24-28

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that face the judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah! Amen.

On April 20, 2010, offshore oil drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon, caught fire and exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven oil workers lost their lives. As the rig sank to the bottom of the ocean five thousand feet below, the challenge of containing the worst oil spill in U.S. history began.

Thad Allen, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard at the time, was used to challenges but this was even worse. Allen handled a large portion of the response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but this posed a different obstacle. He said, "Throughout the entire response, there was no way for humans to access the event. We had to manage things basically as you would for an event in outer space. I said it many times and it's still true: this was much closer to Apollo 13 than Hurricane Katrina."

The oil gushed for eighty-five days. Solution after solution failed. Finally, after two months of struggles, a 75-ton containment cap was placed over the ruptured pipe. But, would it hold? An all-star group of experts was tasked with figuring that out. Dr. Paul Hsieh, a hydro-geologist with the United States Geological Survey, had to analyze the data to determine if Thad Allen's 75-ton containment cap would do the job. He was given twenty-four hours to determine if the cap should remain in place or if the risk of an underground blowout leak was too great. With no modeling software available and no time to delay, the scientist stayed up all night creating and solving equations. The next morning, he recommended that the cap should stay in place. His action led to the permanent closure of the well and earned him the Federal Employee of the Year medal in 2011.

Sometimes people with the right training, the necessary qualifications, and the essential credentials are needed to do the job. The writer of the book of Hebrews in the Bible referenced that kind of expert to address the issue of our rescue from a broken and lost life due to our sinfulness, a condition that would pollute our lives and plunge us into darkness forever. The expert was Jesus. Hear these words from Hebrews, chapter nine: "For Christ has entered, not into the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own... But... he has appeared, (this Jesus) once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself"(Hebrews 9:24-26).

The writer is referring to the ancient sacrificial system given by God to the people of Israel. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God and chose to be His rival by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, their opposition to the holy and all-powerful God would have resulted in their immediate deaths if God didn't step in. So, instead of their deaths, God set up a system of sacrifices that would pay the price for their sin. The blood of livestock was shed as an ongoing act of repentance and as a merciful lifeline for human beings in relationship with a holy God.

These sacrifices were made by a priest in the tabernacle or temple. The people gathered together once a year for what today is known as "the Day of Atonement" or "Yom Kippur." But this gracious gift of God pointed to something even more permanent, more sure, and that's where the Expert comes in. Jesus didn't sacrifice the borrowed blood of a goat or bull. He sacrificed His own blood when He was nailed to the cross, carrying our sins upon Himself. He made the ultimate payment to God the Father--an eternal payment--as He suffered our punishment for sin--as He bore the eternal consequences of rebelling against God. He came in your place and mine. The expert fulfilled the yearly sacrifices with a permanent, once for all, repayment of the debt.

But you might be saying, "How could one act in history do that?" Well, friend, it's not just the act, it is the One Who did all things well for you that makes all this possible.

You see, Jesus wasn't just a good Man or a wise Teacher. He was so much more. He didn't simply express quotable statements for Facebook or Pinterest to bless your day for the moment. His word gives people life for eternity. Why, because Jesus is the true Son of God. He is holy and sinless.

And, because He loves you and treasures your life, because He wants you to experience the complete fulfillment and purpose of eternal life with Him, He came to die for you. That's why He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior, your Lord and mine.

He is the only One Who could comprehend the full weight of your plight in this world. He is the only One Who could enter heaven itself to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Only Jesus had the credentials to save you and me from our lostness. And He did it. The expert Savior did it.

So, my question for anyone listening; do you know this Jesus? Let me say it again. Do you know this Jesus? Does the real Jesus of the Bible really stand out to you?

Sometimes Jesus gets lost in a crowd of very kind and capable people who are lauded and recognized by the world. Mother Theresa, Mahatma Ghandi, and other self-sacrificial, justice-seeking, and philanthropic individuals are usually mentioned in the same company of Jesus of Nazareth. People may comment: "These are good people. In fact, these are exceptional people. They served people who were outcasts; they stood for what was right; they displayed wisdom and self-control; and they lift up the human spirit to this day."

That's true. There is a select group of people that exceeds human aspirations and outpaces normal human accomplishments. These people make a difference in this world. They inspire us, teach us, and lead us to do better in life. But if you think that Jesus is just One of those very good and capable people, part of the inspirational subset of human beings who show us a better way to treat others and a higher quality of life, you really haven't captured who Jesus is.

Defining Jesus as a really good Person, a very wise Teacher is like saying Dr. Paul Hsieh was truly great at balancing his checkbook. Yes, but there's so much more!

Do you know this Jesus? After observing Jesus' last hours of life, the Roman centurion at the foot of the cross, exclaimed, "Truly this One was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54). The soldier saw something he had never seen before.

So did the disciples after they were caught in a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. As the waves threatened to sink their small boat, they woke Jesus as He slept on a cushion in the back of the boat. Thinking they were about to die, they cried out for help. Jesus stood up, rebuked the wind and waves, and everything became miraculously calm. The disciples were in awe and wonder as they said, "What sort of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him" (Matthew 8:27).

Jesus was no ordinary Human Being. Yes, He was completely human, but also fully God! He cast out demons and they fled in His presence. He healed the sick with a word or a touch. He fed crowds of people with just a picnic basket full of bread and fish. He raised the dead. He forgave sins. He died and rose again.

Do you know this Jesus? He is much more than a good Man and an able Teacher. Jesus is the Solution to all problems; the Savior for all sin; the true God who is with you always; Wisdom from on high; Righteousness for the world; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Lamb who sits on the throne; the Prince of Peace; the Wonderful Counselor; the One who hears your prayers; the Good Shepherd who restores your soul; and the Son of God who opens your way to eternal life. Do you know this Jesus? He is the expert Savior you need and even today in this moment of your life.

These days do-it-yourself projects are the big craze. If you ever watch HGTV, and I watch it a lot, you know that there are a lot of people hooked on do-it-yourself ventures. Just stop by your local do-it-yourself home store, pick up a few items, and you'll be ready to go, right?

But if you've ever tackled a do-it-yourself project, you know what can happen. Even the experts on TV encounter unexpected obstacles. Bad wiring is uncovered. Termite damage surprises everyone. Plumbing is faulty, foundations show cracks. The cost of the project and the time it takes can skyrocket. Sometimes you have to call in professional help. The truth is that our competence only goes so far. You and I do indeed have limits.

That's also true with the rigors you face each day. It's true when it comes to life. Do-it-yourself doesn't work very well there with depression, or grief, or terrible pain, or heartbreak. Do-it-yourself doesn't work at all when God expects you and me to be holy and walk in His ways perfectly. That's why you and I need the expert Savior, Jesus. Remember what the writer to the Hebrews said: Jesus "has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Jesus didn't ask you to do it yourself. Instead, God's Word tells us: "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

That was a job only He could do. That's a dirty job that He did for you. Let me just try to give you a glimpse of that. Have you ever heard of the television show Dirty Jobs? The premise of the show is that some people do the toughest of the toughest work for us, the dirtiest and the grimiest tasks that we take for granted. Whether it is cleaning portable bathrooms or digging in coal mines, many people in the world do things we can't do so we can be blessed in ways we couldn't make happen in our lives.

I think you see where I'm going with this. Jesus did the dirtiest job of all. The Apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Jesus and His people, later became a believer in Christ and said this of Jesus, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).

Do you know this Jesus?

For your bouts of depression and loneliness, He stands beneath you to carry your burden, to walk with you in darkness, and to shoulder your pain. You're not alone. "Come to me," Jesus says, "all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

For your temper that flares out of control and hurts you and everyone around you, Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27). God draws close to you and calms you: "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent" (Psalms 4:3-4 NIV).

In your grief and pain, Jesus calls out to you, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (John 14:1). "I am the resurrection and life." He says, "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26).

For the addictions that grip you, the lust that leads you to unfaithfulness, and the unforgiveness that hardens you against others, Jesus says, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). "If the Son sets you free," He says, "you will be free indeed" (John 8:36-37).

For the injustices in your life and in the world, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6).

And for your hopes and dreams, in the midst of blessing in your life, Jesus says, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).

Jesus does what none of us can do. He became flesh for us. He walked through the rigors of life in our stead, never failing, never faltering. He bled and died on the cross to carry our sin and brokenness. He walked through the dark shadow of death for you and me so that we can receive a new and eternal life.

Do you know this Jesus? That's the main question of the Bible because not only did He come for you; He's coming back again too and soon.

He is the Expert we should all long for. He is the Expert to be longed for. He's at work in your life through the Word of God and through the blessings of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. And soon He will reappear as Hebrews 9 tells us: "As it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes the judgment, so too Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:27-28).

I hope that today, dear listener; you can eagerly wait for Jesus in faith and joy. Yes, eagerly. Jesus tells us that when the darkness grows deeper, when the struggles become stronger, when uncertainty upsets us and worries weaken us, we do not have to hang our heads or give up hope. No, when you are shaken to the core and the world is shaken with you, Jesus spoke a word of hope to you even then. The expert Savior said, "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28).
You can eagerly, hopefully, joyfully wait for Him starting today!

To make all things new again, we not only need Christ's expert work, we need the assurance that what is true now by faith will indeed be true to our eyes forever. You know, in life, it's amazing when a rescuer who looks defeated, or a soldier fighting for liberation looks beaten, or when a good leader looks overwhelmed, then they return and they finish the job, and they see to it that all is well. We have movies that inspire us to that end. Well this isn't a movie and Christ is so much more than even our real life heroes.

Trust Him with your life today, my friend. You may think that God is absent from your life. Maybe you've never known His presence with you at all. Perhaps you feel trapped in a dead-end of hopelessness or a detour of brokenness. Take heart! Take heart right now. The living Savior Jesus is coming to you right now, opening your way of new life with Him; a life with certainty and eternal hope.

Do you know this Jesus? He knows you. He knows me. He is the Expert we need. Put your faith in Him, today, always; and in Him be blessed!
Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for November 8, 2015
Topic: Why Does the World Have to End?

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Gregory Seltz responds to questions from listeners. I'm Mark Eischer. A listener talks about the beauty, the majesty, the blessing of the earth. But the Bible says the world will come to an end. She wants to know why does the world have to end.

SELTZ: Mark, I can almost hear the sadness in our listener's voice. And, the question is appropriate too, Mark, because this is the time of year in many churches when the readings speak about the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world. In fact, 2 Peter, if I recall, says "The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a roar, the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10 ESV).

ANNOUNCER: That sounds like a fearsome and destructive day. Many artists have depicted Christ's second coming as a terrifying and chaotic time. Is it something we should dread?

SELTZ: At the outset of the answer to that question, the Bible does make something very clear. Everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are saved from sin and death, and the end of the world will not be a frightening and dreadful experience. In fact, the Bible says it will be a welcome day, a day of rejoicing and restoration. I love what 1 Thessalonians says..."The Lord himself (on that day) will descend from heaven with a cry of command, the voice of the angel, with the sound of the trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then all who are alive and left, will be caught up together with Him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ESV). So what Paul is saying is encourage one another with this Word.

ANNOUNCER: So, it's not a day of dread but a day of joy and it's meant to encourage us.

SELTZ: I'd say so and His coming will mean sin, death, pain, sickness, that's all over too.

ANNOUNCER: In that sense the end of the world will bring blessing and healing to believers; but what about those who reject Christ's salvation, His forgiveness, for them it won't be such a welcome thing.

SELTZ: It won't, Mark. It will be a dreadful day of permanent separation from God. But let's not blame God. People who don't believe in Him, wanted to live life apart from Him, and they will get their wish. Jesus described that existence as a fiery furnace where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50). And yes, it will be terrifying.

ANNOUNCER: And God doesn't want that for people.

SELTZ: Right; and every listener right now has a chance to trust in Christ as their Savior, put their faith in the God who loves them and gave His Son as a sacrifice for their sins. Believing in Him, each and every listener can receive His blood-bought gift of eternal life. Today is that day!

ANNOUNCER: Getting back to our listener's specific question though, why does the world have to end?

SELTZ: The world as we know it needs to come to an end, Mark. I think many of our listeners would even agree if they're being honest with themselves. Even though we do experience many of God's blessings in this world, and even though God's creation is beautiful, our world and our lives are seriously broken.

ANNOUNCER: Here you're referring to the problem of sin.

SELTZ: Yes, sin is our problem. Sin is more than just slipping up and doing some things wrong. It's a condition that throws our lives and our world into chaos. So, when human beings pushed God away and tried to make a go of life on their own, just as we do every day, by the way, chaos and brokenness was the result.

ANNOUNCER: And because of that fall into sin, the world itself is groaning with decay just as we are.

SELTZ: You're quoting Romans, chapter 8, and you're exactly correct. In addition to our groaning, we face an obstacle we'd never be able to overcome: death. So God is patiently waiting, enduring what He hates too. He hates sin and death because He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth and the rescue and redemption from Jesus. But the day will come when Christ returns suddenly and again things all return to the way God intended them to be forever. Again, think of it this way, at that time God will destroy the pain, the tears, the chaos of sin and make His creation new again!

ANNOUNCER: And that day will be more than we can possibly imagine.

SELTZ: I think you're right, and Paul does give us a glimpse of that. He said, "What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. What is sown in dishonor; is raised in glory. What is sown in weakness; will be raised in power" (1 Corinthians 15:42-43).

ANNOUNCER: So, for believers in Jesus, the end of the world will not be a loss.

SELTZ: It will be a gain, a glorious and wonderful blessing, in every way. In fact, a new heaven and a new earth are on the way.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Seltz. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Action in Ministry for November 8, 2015
Guest:
Rev. Steven Hokana

ANNOUNCER: You're listening to The Lutheran Hour and this is Action in Ministry. Pastor Seltz, today you talked about how we often rely on the experts to handle the dirty jobs for us. Well, I can't help but think of those who serve our country in the military.

SELTZ: Wow, Mark, how true. They do work that has to be done, but few really want the responsibility or the risk. And for that reason, one among many, we honor them; and this week in particular we honor them on Veteran's Day.

ANNOUNCER: And while there is great pride for those who serve in the military that also involves great risk and sacrifice. Joining us now is Chaplain Steven Hokana who has written a resource for us called Warriors of Faith. It helps those real-life warriors who share so many different experiences both on and off the battlefield.

SELTZ: Chaplain Hokana, first of all thanks for being here and thank you for your service.

HOKANA: Thank you for having me on. It's an honor to be here.

SELTZ: Well, listen. You're an ordained minister but you also have been active duty Army for 28 years. We honor you and all those who've served past and present. Because you've been there you know what the road entails. What kind of stains and scars can military work leave behind in our people?

HOKANA: Well, aside from feeling deeply honored to serve our great nation, serving with my fellow warriors through all branches of service, it is true. Frequently when you come back from deployment, there are issues that you have to confront and deal with and so I've written a resource that covers some major categories. The first one is anger. The second is guilt and forgiveness. The third category is grief, and the final one is love. You see, these are the things that veterans talk to me about as a pastor in the military for all the years I've been in. They want to know how they can reconcile this with their families so they can go ahead and reacquaint themselves and get on with life in the United States.

ANNOUNCER: And so often we see these images of mothers and fathers returning home from deployment surprising their children at school or maybe their spouses at work; it's a joyous homecoming, isn't it?

SELTZ: Right, but they've still got some heavy issues to work through as we are hearing today. How important, Chaplain Hokana, is it for these men and women and families to have a resource like this to help them?

HOKANA: It's absolutely of the highest priority. We call that reintegration and one of the things after the parties are over, after the cake is put away, comes the hard work and sometimes there's a realization that families have grown apart, that there are some unresolved anger issues, or that that soldier deployed may be harboring some pain and anger from the deployment. They can be physically wounded; they may carry some emotional scars as well.

ANNOUNCER: Now for those of us who have not put on the uniform or taken that oath to defend the country, how could this resource also help us better serve those who did?

HOKANA: I think number one it helps people understand that we are a culture; that we are a culture that has a hierarchy, that we have a chain of command. It helps us to understand some of the language that we speak and come to a common understanding that we are people that are designed and destined to serve. Even though we might come from a different culture, we are still citizens of the United States. We are the sons and daughters of America. Absolutely.

SELTZ: Yeah, there is so much sacrifice involved for all those who serve in all the branches of military. They are experts, Mark, and we do rely heavily on them to fulfill their duties much like we rely on Christ as our ultimate Expert. Chaplain Hokana, Steve, how does this hope in Christ help our servicemen and women as they return from duty?

HOKANA: I deeply appreciate your sermon. I found it quite meaningful. When you talk about Christ, to trust in Jesus as an Expert, many of our veterans when they come home, they may feel that they are lost in the depths of a dark ocean or wandering a desert in desperate need of an expert to help them out. What I found most telling of your sermon is that you resource the centurion as recorded in the book of Matthew. It is that centurion that stood at the foot of the cross, a representative of the power of Rome, a representative of Caesar; and looks up and says, "This Man is the Son of God." It is that Man, that Son of God that helps our veterans to reacquaint, readjust back home again.

SELTZ: Wow, Steve, we certainly appreciate your time and effort put in to this study. We know it's going to be a valuable resource for many. Chaplain Hokana, thanks for joining us and thanks again for your service.

HOKANA: Thank you, Greg, and it's an honor to serve. It's an honor to be with your people today. I appreciate it.

SELTZ: The pleasure is ours.

ANNOUNCER: Again, the name of the resource is ,a href="http://www.lhm.org/booklets/internetorder.asp?promo=PTLH&prod=69E15"target="_blank">Warriors of Faith. To view or download this material for free, go to lutheranhour.org and look for the tab that says Action in Ministry. Our email address is: info@lhm.org.

Music Selections for this program:

"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.

"Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

"From God Can Nothing Move Me" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)

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Two prayer requests

1. Pray for Dianne Hance as her kidneys are failing and as her body seems to be shutting down. The doctors are still trying to do all they can do.

2. Pray for Karin as she recovers from a very severe migraine and an emergency room visit last night.

Thanks,

Pastor

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4 Active™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

Nominations for Synod Vice Presidents and Mission Board Members

Each congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) is asked for nominations for Synod Vice Presidents and for Mission board members both ordained pastors and lay people.

While it is not a requirement of us, it is good for us to participate as much as we are able since we are a part of the Synod and we have a say in what goes on among us.

Below are a list of available positions:

1st Vice President

Central Region Vice President

Central Region Board for National Missions (Lay person)

Central Region Board for National Missions (ordained)

Central Region Board for International Missions (Lay person)

Central region Board for International Missions (ordained)

Note: "Central region" basically refers to the Midwest. There will be one vice president and one board for each region of the USA.

If you know of anyone who would be interested or capable of filling any of these positions please let me know, and at our congregational voters meeting on the 15th we will nominate him or her.

Daily Email: Thursday, November 5, 2015

DEVOTION: Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)

³⁸And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

⁴¹And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴²And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.^[a] ⁴³And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

As Jesus often teaches, so he continues to teach that there is no difference between rich and poor in the kingdom of God. That's a whole lot different than how we view it in the world, isn't it? We have lists upon lists of people who are the richest in the world and in the United States. This is no good. When we do this we are exalting those who have a lot of money as being the smartest and most able to lead. Just look at those who are able to run for president. Money is the number one reason that people have to get out of the race.

Do we have a list of who gave the most percentage of their income to charity or to the church? Do we honor those who give hours upon hours of their time to worthy causes? Do we honor the poor widow who gives everything she has to her church or to her Ladies Aid organization? If any human beings should be honored it should be these.

Yet, most of the time they don't want honor. They want the honor, glory, and praise to go to God, or at the very least, to the organization that does God's work. This indeed is good!

The same is true of most popular TV preachers and evangelists. Most of them are just out to get your money. They'll tell you what your itching ears want to hear. Some are good, but most are scammers. They are exactly the ones that Jesus speaks about when he says, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ³⁹and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers." Stay away from these people.

In fact, stay away from anyone who makes a big deal about the money they have or expects extra honor because of the money they have. Their god is their money, and God is not honored.

The widow got it! She trusted in the Lord to care for her. She knew that her happiness, her peace, her security, and her satisfaction came from the Lord and so everything she had belonged to him and she was ok with giving it all to him, because she knew she would be cared for.

My prayer for you is that you get it too. That you realize that real security and satisfaction come from God alone. Trust in Him! Give all that you have to Him so that He can use it and you to do His work!

Let us pray: Lord, help me to be like the widow and give it all up to you, Amen.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Karate 6:15-7:45

Fri- Set up for Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, and Luncheon

Sat- Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, Luncheon 9am-2pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold ; 11- Hailey Blechle
Ushers- George, Gary, and Ben Hoelscher; Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Talbert; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Randy Sweet
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Randy Sweet
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. ?????, 8:30-?????? , 11- Alaina Heitgerd
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

BUILDING MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 at 7PM!!!

Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to attend to get your ideas and comments out there so we can get this thing done!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, NOV. 15 at 9:45!!!

Items on agenda so far:

1. Budget

2. Elections of officers and board members

3. Vote on Christmas Eve services and times

_____________________________________________________________________________

CONFIRMATION KIDS ARE SELLING TJ's PIZZA AND OTHER GOODIES FOR THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO CAMP WINDERMERE FOR THE JR. HI. RETREAT !

Reply to this email or text me at 636-359-1061 to place your order. Make checks out to St. John's.

Here's the menu:

PIZZAS:

3-pack of personal pizzas $18.50 (Deluxe $20),

12 " St. Louis Style -

$8.50--Triple cheese, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni

$9- Italian Sausage and Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Bacon, Pepperoni and Bacon,

$10- Lotsa meat (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, bacon, Beef); All Bacon; Deluxe (Ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, peppers); Supreme- (beef, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, onions)

GOURMET PIZZAS $10 each

Breakfast Pizza (Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese

BBQ Chicken-

Nacho- beef, onion, olives, peppers, chips

Garlic Chicken

Alfredo chicken (White sauce, broccoli, mushrooms)

Buffalo chicken

White sausage (Italian sausage and white sauce)

Veggie

Breakfast pizza with thick crust

12" TJ's Thick Crust (Mozzarella cheese)

$9- Triple cheese, Pepperoni

$11 Deluxe, Lotsa meat

Coffee $10 for a 12 oz. bag

Regular grind, decaf grind, whole bean

Frozen Desserts

Dutch Apple pie $10

Original gooey butter cake 12.50

French Cream Cheesecake $16.50

Caramel Braided Bread $11

Strawberry Cream Cheese braided bread $11

Cookie Dough $10

Chocolate Chunk

Double chocolate

Sugar

Oatmeal cranberry

White chocolate macadamia $12

______________________________________________________________________________________________

I NEED PROJECTIONISTS FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND 8:30 SUNDAY!! Who is gonna do it?

Please help!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

VENDOR FAIR, BAKE SALE, AND LUNCHEON THIS SATURDAY 9am-2pm!!

Come on down to church and get a bunch off your Christmas shopping done and enjoy some lunch, a piece of pie, and some good fellowship at the same time!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

TUESDAY LUNCH TIME BIBLE STUDY IS LEARNING ALL ABOUT THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES OF OUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH!

This is the time right after Jesus died till the time that Constantine made Christianity legal.

We are gong to learn A LOT and learn about why our church is the way it is at the same time.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

WE HAVE TWO FAMILIES SIGNED UP TO GO TO THIS ON MY BIRTHDAY!! WHO ELSE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

A NEW SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY CALLED "MARRIAGE AND FAMILY: THE LUTHERAN DIFFERENCE"!

Do you want to have a clearer definition of marriage according to God's Word?

Do you want to be able to explain your views on marriage and family when you get into discussions about it and when you want to teach your kids?

Do you want to strengthen your own marriage and family?

THEN COME TO BIBLE STUDY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:45!!!!!!!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

QUILT TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!

The drawing was not held at the carnival to give people more time to purchase more tickets. You may purchase tickets from any quilter or from the church office throughout the week. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

LADIES AID IS SELLING CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR $5 a BOX!!

Once they're gone, that's it. There won't be another order when they run out! Get them today! They're in the basement and you can give money to whoever is in the office.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE ORDER SCRIP !!!!!

A NEW AND EASY FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!!!

Place your order, along with your check, made payable to St. Johns, in the "Bob the Builder" box.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OPERATION BACKPACK FOR OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES!! !

Throughout the month of October we will be collecting canned veggies. All size cans and even individual portions will be accepted. The fruit will be delivered to the schools November 1. We will have a box in the narthex for deposits.

GENERAL PRAYERS:

For the family of David Wettstaed, Joanne Hachtel's brother, who passed away Sunday. He was given 6 months to live, but
God took him early, which was best for him, as he was in a lot of pain, but hard for the family to lose him so soon. He was 74.

For KARSON OWENBY, great grandson of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with an unknown illness that had him hospitalized for a couple days. He is doing better slowly.

For DIANNE HANCE who moved to Kindred Rehab at Mercy Hospital in Creve Couer.

For CAL TAMELER as he continues to heal after a cornea transplant.

For DON PANHORST who is undergoing his second round of chemo treatments today.

For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in the Czech Republic to continue her mission work.

For DAVE AND CAROL KOHRS, who are BOTH on hospice care.

For WILMA WEIGLE as she continues to deal with the after effects of a severe stroke almost two years ago.

Vic Cooper visitation and funeral

Many of you, who have been around St. John's for a long time, remember Vic Cooper. He was a member here for quite some time.

He passed from death to eternal life on All Saints Day (Sunday).

Below is his visitation and funeral info.

Visitation: Baue: Cave Springs
- Wednesday November 4, 2015 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Visitation: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church
- Thursday November 5, 2015 10:00am to 11:00am
Funeral Service: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church
- Thursday November 5, 2015 11:00am

Daily Email: Wednesday, November 4, 2015

DEVOTION: Hebrews 9:24-28 (ESV)

²⁴For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. ²⁵Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

CHRIST IS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST! HE IS THE ONE WHO SACRIFICED HIMSELF ONCE FOR ALL SIN SO THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING BUT TRUST IN HIM AND BELIEVE IN HIS SUFFERING, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION FOR US!

There are many who would say that you "have to" confess your sins in order for Jesus to forgive you. Confession, although a very good thing to do, is not a prerequisite of forgiveness. If that were so, then our salvation would depend on our good work of confession. Our salvation does not depend on us at all! Our salvation depends on Christ alone!

Just as Christ doesn't die for us over and over again, nor is it necessary for him to die over and over again every time we sin, so neither is it necessary for us to confess every sin over and over again. Luther tried that and it caused him noting but depression and exhaustion, because he was never at confession enough.

Instead we only need to trust in Jesus who "appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

As I get older and as I spend day after day as a pastor, I realize more and more how much God is in control of my ministry and how little I am in control. HE IS THE HIGH PRIEST!!! I realize more and more how I need to go with the flow, not force things, not invent new programs, but simply let God provide the ministry opportunities that arise with each day and let God do His will in me.

That is why St. John's Lutheran Church is growing like it is. It is growing because the Holy Spirit is doing his work more and more freely in me, in us. That's why we have had six baptisms in six weeks, and more making appointments and plans to do so. That is why I have three different adult instructions going on with couples right now. That is why you are being prompted and urged by the Holy Spirit to invite your friends and family to church! That is why you feel more and more compelled to be in worship on a regular basis!

Be proud of your church, not because your pastor is cool, or because there is so much fun stuff going on, but because we preach, teach, and believe in the truth that Jesus Christ died once for all sins! Your salvation is true and real and it all depends on Christ! Christ is risen! he is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Prayer: Lord, help us to continually let go of control as you take over more and more. Amen.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR:

Wed- Choir 7pm

Thurs- Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Karate 6:15-7:45

Fri- Set up for Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, and Luncheon

Sat- Vendor Fair, Bake Sale, Luncheon 9am-2pm; Worship 5
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- John Pezold ; 11- Hailey Blechle
Ushers- George, Gary, and Ben Hoelscher; Brent Davis
Altar- Set up- Ruth Walters; Clean up- Wanda Turnure
Communion Assistants- Sat- Rich Talbert; 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Randy Sweet
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Lois Boeger 11- Randy Sweet
Sat. Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat. ?????, 8:30-?????? , 11- Alaina Heitgerd
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS!!!! PLEASE READ IT ALL!!!!

BUILDING MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 at 7PM!!!

Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to attend to get your ideas and comments out there so we can get this thing done!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

VOTER'S MEETING SUNDAY, NOV. 15 at 9:45!!!

Items on agenda so far:

1. Budget

2. Elections of officers and board members

3. Vote on Christmas Eve services and times

_____________________________________________________________________________

CONFIRMATION KIDS ARE SELLING TJ's PIZZA AND OTHER GOODIES FOR THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO CAMP WINDERMERE FOR THE JR. HI. RETREAT !

Reply to this email or text me at 636-359-1061 to place your order. Make checks out to St. John's.

Here's the menu:

PIZZAS:

3-pack of personal pizzas $18.50 (Deluxe $20),

12 " St. Louis Style -

$8.50--Triple cheese, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni

$9- Italian Sausage and Pepperoni, Italian Sausage and Bacon, Pepperoni and Bacon,

$10- Lotsa meat (Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, bacon, Beef); All Bacon; Deluxe (Ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, peppers); Supreme- (beef, bacon, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, onions)

GOURMET PIZZAS $10 each

Breakfast Pizza (Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese

BBQ Chicken-

Nacho- beef, onion, olives, peppers, chips

Garlic Chicken

Alfredo chicken (White sauce, broccoli, mushrooms)

Buffalo chicken

White sausage (Italian sausage and white sauce)

Veggie

Breakfast pizza with thick crust

12" TJ's Thick Crust (Mozzarella cheese)

$9- Triple cheese, Pepperoni

$11 Deluxe, Lotsa meat

Coffee $10 for a 12 oz. bag

Regular grind, decaf grind, whole bean

Frozen Desserts

Dutch Apple pie $10

Original gooey butter cake 12.50

French Cream Cheesecake $16.50

Caramel Braided Bread $11

Strawberry Cream Cheese braided bread $11

Cookie Dough $10

Chocolate Chunk

Double chocolate

Sugar

Oatmeal cranberry

White chocolate macadamia $12

______________________________________________________________________________________________

I NEED PROJECTIONISTS FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND 8:30 SUNDAY!! Who is gonna do it?

Please help!

____________________________________________________________________________________________

HOME BUSINESS AND VENDOR FAIR, BAKE SALE, AND LUNCHEON THIS SATURDAY 9am-2pm!!