"Bits from Bob" for February 9, 2021 - St. John United Church of ...

“Bits from Bob” for February 9, 2021
St. John United Church of Christ
301 S. Market Street, New Athens, IL 62264
(618) 475-2947, stjohnucc@att.net
Bob Koch, Pastor and Bit Scribe

This Day in History
1775 British Parliament declares Massachusetts colony in rebellion
1825 House of Representatives elects John Quincy Adams 6th US president
1870 US Army founds National Weather Service
1889 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
      formed as Cabinet-level agency.
1900 Dwight Davis establishes a new tennis trophy, the Davis Cup
1909 First federal legislation prohibiting narcotics (opium)
1926 Teaching theory of evolution forbidden in Atlanta, Georgia schools
1940 Joe Louis beats Arturo Godoy for heavyweight boxing title
1942 Daylight saving time instituted
1943 Japanese troops evacuate Guadalcanal
1950 Senator Joseph McCarthy charges State Department infested with 205 communists
1951 St. Louis Browns sign pitcher Satchel Paige, 45
1955 US federations of trade unions merge into AFL/CIO
1961 The Beatles first gig at Liverpool's Cavern Club
1964 First appearance of the Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show"
1964 GI Joe character created
1971 Satchel Paige nominated to Baseball Hall of Fame
1995 Irish music and dance show "Riverdance" first opens in Dublin
1997 "Simpsons" airs 167th episode, becomes longest-running series in cartoon history
2018   XXIII Olympic Winter Games open in PyeongChang, South Korea
2020 Deaths from COVID-19 virus overtake those of SARS (2003)

We’ll walk through 2021 with devotions written by Joshua Dubois. Dubois writes a regular column for The Daily Beast and teaches at
New York University. He also founded Values Partnerships, which advises leaders in government, business, and the nonprofit sector
on faith-based partnerships and religion in the public sphere.

“Holding Our Peace”

But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
(2 Kings 18:36)

There's an old gospel song with a rising refrain: “If I hold my peace, and let the Lord fight my battles . . .
victory shall be mine!”

King Hezekiah knew this to be true. In the face of accusations from Assyria's king, Hezekiah's command to the
people of Israel was to be quiet. Do not respond. God will reveal his power in due time.

In the same manner, let's be careful not to answer every challenge. We could easily go from one retort to the
next, but often our silence speaks louder than our response. God will enter that silence and show himself
strong.

Dear God, give me judiciousness in response today. Help me discern when to speak and when to hold my peace. In the
end, I know that the victory will be yours, and mine. Amen.

Bad Dad Jokes

 I recently bought 51% of a vampire hunting company. I'm the main stake
  holder.

 My wife asked me to put ketchup on the shopping list. Now I can't read
  anything.

 What gender pronouns does a chocolate bar use? Her/she.

 I had to fire the guy I hired to mow my lawn. He just didn't cut it.

   My boss told me to have a good day—so I went home.

    Today’s Links

 Is your dog really smart? Science says it depends on her/his memory.

 This woman used Gorilla Glue instead of hair spray. It didn’t end well.

 So….an amateur metal detector enthusiast passes the time with his favorite hobby and finds the missing centerpiece of
  Henry VIII’s crown—a rare piece of history estimated to be worth $2.7 million.

 Nature magazine chose these photos as the best in science for the month.

 As long as we’re at it, these are the 2021 winners in the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest.

 Here’s “You'll Never Walk Alone” performed by the BYU Men's Chorus Virtual Alumni Choir.

 The Council and I would like to explore ways to reach members not receiving electronic news and updates.
  If you would be willing to call a handful of members on a weekly basis and share the news and notes in “Bits,”
  please call the church office, text me at 6184028013, email me at stjohnucc@att.net, or reply to the “help
  wanted” ad I placed on the church’s Facebook page.

 Zoom worship is at 9:15 AM each Sunday. Log in using this link and meeting ID 815 064 120. You can also dial
  in at (312) 626 6799 and log in with the meeting ID.

 The next Bible study session will be this Wednesday, February 10, at 7 PM and cover Acts 18-19. At that time,
  we’ll also come up with a Lenten schedule. Follow this link and log in with meeting ID 846 9061 3289.

 The Church Council will host a drive through only version of our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper February 16.
  Serving will run from 5 to 6:30 PM. Please call the church office at 475-2947 by February 12 to place an order.
  Preorders are suggested, but not required. Everything served on a first come, first served basis. Adult plates
  are $8, and children’s plates $4.

 Lent begins with Ash Wednesday worship at 7 PM February 17. Attendance at Wednesday night services will
  be capped at 50, at least initially. There will be no soup and sandwich suppers again this year. To log in via
  Zoom, follow this link and use meeting ID 817 6838 2706. Looking ahead, Easter is April 4. Plans at this point are
  to have our 6:30 AM outdoor sunrise service at the old village cemetery, followed by an outdoor Easter
  celebration on the south parking lot.

Today’s Prayer Concerns

 Please pray for all battling COVID and for the healthcare
  professionals fighting the virus on the frontlines. Please also hold in
  prayer all mourning the deaths of loved ones, especially the family of
  Lela Torrens, for whom a funeral service was held today.

 Please pray for Harvey Van Buren, who is battling bone cancer.

 Please also pray for Sherry Fluck, hospitalized in St. Louis recovering
  from a severe stroke. She recently was taken off the ventilator and is
  breathing on her own.

 Dorothy Hentzel is in rehab and battling pneumonia.

 Roy Steinwagner fell in the parking lot on his way to church yesterday. He had no serious injuries (other than a
  slight case of possible frostbite on his fingers), but could use prayers for healing and recovery of strength.

 Please pray for Mary Shoup’s brother-in-law, Dave Gaab, recently diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer.

 Please pray for Evonne Albert’s mother, Louise Bluff, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

 Gene Whaley asks our prayers for his brother, who is battling COVID. On a brighter note, Gene’s 85-year-old
  uncle’s cancer is now in remission, and he’s back at his full time job (!).

 Please pray for Don Milligan, husband of New Beginnings’ director and St. John member Melinda Milligan. Don
  faces several surgeries over the coming weeks, including an operation on his brain.

 Sue Kosarek is home, but needs prayers for recovery and strength.

 Kim Hughes asks our prayers for her niece Sabrina, facing surgery for degenerative back disease.

 Please hold my cousin David Mehrtens in prayer as his battle with cancer continues.

 Please continue to pray for Tom Kohnen and Sandy Cummins, both on transplant waiting lists, as well as for Kim
  Juenger, who is still contending with a number of health issues.

 Donna Reuss asks our prayers for her cousin, Angie Van Buren, who is still hospitalized.

 Please pray for the residents, staff, and administrators at all nursing homes, especially those at the New Athens
  Home for the Aged, as well as at the Freeburg Care Center and Cedar Trails.

 Pray for the safety of the teachers, administrators, and students at area schools, as well as at our own
  New Beginnings Daycare.

 Here are the folks on this week’s congregational prayer calendar: Jeff and Kathy Mueller, Lucas Mueller, Elizabeth
  Mueller, Robert Mueller, Delores Mueller, Don Mueller, Dawn Murphy, Lana Nagel, Raymond Nagel, Jr., Brian Napier,
  Jeanette and Eugene Napier, Judy and Jim Newman, Kendra and Jamie Newman, Kamden and Kennedy.