News & Notes
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​​Friendly Rider:
Anyone desiring to use Friendly Rider on Sunday morning to attend worship services, just call and tell them your destination. There will be no charge to you.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Financial Secretary:
We are still looking for someone to fill one of the Financial Secretary positions. This is not a huge time commitment. See Carol S. or Pastor for details.
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Audio Tech:
(This is a fancy name for the person who runs the Power Point on Sunday morning.) We are in DESPERATE NEED of people to help in this area if we're going to be able to continue to have Divine Service on screens. See Josh S. or Pastor for more details.
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Stitch & Chatter Quilters
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The Stitch & Chatter quilters have quilts for sale. These quilts are located in the fellowship hall and are tagged with prices and the approximate sizes. Checks can be made out to Stitch & Chatter and left in the church office or mailed to the church.
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Most of the quilts made by Stitch & Chatter are donated to missions, the Empty Stocking Fund, fire victims, and members who might be in need of them.
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Lutheran Island Camp Registration
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Our congregation pays the registration fee for any youth from St. John who wishes to attend Lutheran Island Camp.
For a positive change in your life, plan to attend
Lutheran Island Camp this summer!
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Our LWML Wadena Zone Fall Rally planning meeting will be held on Friday, August 15, at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mill, MN. Watch for further information regarding the fall rally.
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​​​​Our next meeting will be Monday, August 18, at 1:00 p.m.
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The annual Fall Festival will be coming in October--either the first or second weekend. Remember to share your talents with craft items, baked or canned goods, or garden produce. More information will be available soon.
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Board of Elders:
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As I write this, we're preparing to head south to New Orleans for the LCMS Youth Gathering. It's a moment many of us have been waiting fore, and it's crazy to think that we're leaving already. Lots of praying, planning, and fundraising have led to this moment, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it happen. It will be an experience that will "stick with us for a lifetime," according to ,many who have attend youth gatherings in the past.
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The theme for this year is "Endure." What a powerful and encouraging word! Life definitely has a way of throwing a lot of things at us along the way--some good, some not so good. But, it's important that we stay the course and remember the path that Jesus endured for us. What a gift He has given us! In good times and bad, He is there for us and with us every step of the way.
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Second Timothy says "If we endure, we will also reign with Him." In James 1:2-4, we read "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
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I'm really looking forward to experiencing my first Youth Gathering alongside our youth and seeing how the Lord works in us to grow and mature our faith. I strongly encourage continued support for our youth and this wonderful adventure. Many thanks again for the opportunity to be surrounded by a cloud of witnesses!
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Blessings,
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​​​​​​​​Dana U.
On behalf of the Board of Elders
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Follow-up: The 13 youth and four chaperones who attended the LCMS National Youth Gathering in New Orleans had a wonderful experience as they participated in Bible studies, servant events, and worship with nearly 20,000 young people and chaperones of like-minded faith!
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Board of Evangelism:
There are several instances during the ministry of Jesus that he charged his disciples to tell no one about what they had seen or heard. For example, Jesus asked his disciples in Mark 8: 27-30 how people identified him as well as how the disciples identified him, Peter replied (v. 29) "You are the Christ." Jesus told them to tell no one about Him. Jesus also told Peter, James, and John to tell no one what they had witnessed when he healed a twelve-year-old girl (Mark 5:41-43) or the spectacular scene on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:3-9). The time was not right for "telling" until Jesus' ministry was complete and He had risen from the dead.
Because we live in the post-resurrection era, the time IS right for telling. Jesus' last command to his disciples before He ascended into heaven was "Go tell." We read in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
With His help, let us winsomely and boldly share with others the gospel of Christ. Our neighbors, as well as all people across the world, need to hear the good news more than ever before!
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Greeting Card Ministry
Be sure and check out the new selection of various Greeting Cards available for sale in the library. Napkins are available as well.
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