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Our Senior Pastor welcomes you to our weekly Friday
Blessings update for October 30, 2009!
In This
Issue
Festival of All
Saints
Pledge Weekend - November 7/8
Congregational Meeting -
November 15 (11:30 AM)
Grand-reopening of Newly
Remodeled Areas - November 15 (9-10 AM and immediately following
Congregational Meeting)
Preaching
Pastor Dave Bruner is preaching
at worship services this
weekend.
Traditional Services are held in the
Sanctuary. All other services are in the Parish Life
Center.
Join us for worship at St.
John's!
For More Information
St. John's Website
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WORSHIP THIS
WEEKEND
This weekend we celebrate the Festival of
All Saints, a time to remember and to recognize the witness of those
saints who have gone before us and are now a part of the church
triumphant. As we light a candle for those members of our
congregation who have passed on to life eternal, we remember them in
the true spirit of who is a saint . . . "simul justus et peccator" (at the same
time justified and sinner), to coin a
Lutheran slogan that has  identified each
one of us, in the presence of God. Saints are not those who are
on some higher moral or spiritual level than others, as some
traditions might suggest. Saints are baptized children of God,
who are sinners always, but who are also forgiven and made right
with God through the work of Jesus. To be reminded of this important
reality, in a tangible way is absolutely critical for us every
single week, because we often forget about it! To be reminded of
this truth is one of the important reasons why we
need to gather for worship together every week. This does
not mean every other week . . . not once a month . . . not just at
Christmas and Easter . . . but weekly!
After a speech one day, Zig
Ziglar, noted motivational speaker, was approached by someone
in the audience who said: "Zig,
it was a great speech, but motivation doesn't last." Zig
said, "Bathing doesn't either.
That's why I recommend it daily!" There is
a connection here in terms of the discipline of regular
worship. To gather as a community of faith on a weekly basis is key
to our motivation as well as our sense of community. We come
together to praise a God who loves us always, but also to be
reminded of the power of community that gathers in the name of
Jesus. David Bruner is preaching at worship services this
weekend.
- NEXT WEEKEND . .
. REMEMBER to bring your pledge card for COMMITMENT
WEEKEND - November 7/8, 2009. Your financial support is
absolutely critical to our ministry in 2010. PRAY
AND PLEDGE this year! Don't
neglect to give your support to your church and its
ministries for the coming year.
- ANNOUNCEMENT . .
. A SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING has been called by the
Congregation Council for November 15,
2009 -
11:30 AM in our
Parish Life Center. The purpose is to vote on the
recommendation to issue a call to David Bruner to serve as
Associate Pastor for Family Ministries and Adult Discipleship. All
voting members of the congregation are urged to attend. In
addition a special celebration for the Grand Reopening of our
newly remodeled Fellowship Hall and Preschool rooms (Noah's
Ark) will take place between
8:00 - 9:00
AM
and immediately after the Congregational Meeting. Join us and tour
our newly remodeled areas!
PRAYER OF THE DAY FOR
ALL SAINTS: Almighty God, you have knit your
people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints
in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys
you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Alive in
Christ,
The Reverend
Knight Wells
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