Thursday, May 31, 2018

Announcements

June 3, 2018

 

Adult Bible Class – June 10, 2018 - Topic:  Parables of Jesus

 

A Retirement Coffee will be held for Donna Haase following today’s service.  Be sure to come and help us thank Donna for her many years of service as Preschool Assistant!!  Preschool Bd. and Staff

 

Wednesday Summer Divine Service: Starting Wednesday June 6th at 6:30 p.m. we will be offering a midweek Divine Service for those not able to make it on Sunday.  You are welcome to come to both services.

 

Member Spotlights - We are looking to resurrect the old Life Committee that previously existed at St. John's.  As a start we are seeking 2 or 3 people who are willing to conduct interviews with some of our members of the more "experienced" age group (the new politically correct way of saying "seniors").  In these interviews you'll visit with members about their childhood, family, occupation, memories of the church, favorite Scripture verses and hymns, and so forth.  We'll then type up some of this information for a "member spotlight" and publish it in the Parish Messenger.  If you are interested in doing these interviews please talk with Pastor. 

 

Vacation Bible School at St. John’s will be held August 5-8th.  Those dates are Sunday through Wednesday from 6-8:00 p.m. Mark this on your calendars and invite all children 3 years- 6th grade to attend. 

 

Installation Service – St. Luke’s Lutheran, Fairville and Immanuel Lutheran, Lotts Creek, would like to invite you to share in our joy at the Installation of our new pastor, Pastor Duane Miesner. The Service of Installation will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel. A brief reception and lunch will follow the service.

 

Adult Bible Class will continue thru the summer months at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Come join us!

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   Rubrics

Rubric is Latin for “red”.  These are the liturgical instructions in our hymnal that are written in red.  Rubrics often give us direction on how to move during the service. These rubrics are useful because they allow the liturgy to flow like a beautiful and well-rehearsed symphony rather than having the pastor frequently pause the liturgy to direct traffic. – The content of this lesson comes from Scot Kinnaman, Worshiping with Angels and Archangels: An Introduction to the Divine Service, 7.

 

Did You Know: The ministry of Lutheran Family Service with infants, children, teens, adults, couples, and families in Iowa will not work without your partnership. Your love and compassion for those in Iowa who are struggling enables LFS to be there with help and hope at the point of their greatest need. No government dollars are used, so as not to limit our Christian witness and fidelity to the Scriptures. We need your support. Has God blessed you with enough resources to share? If so, please do. Don’t think your gift won’t make a difference – it will! God uses each gift, no matter how small or large, to combine with others to make the whole ministry possible each year. There’s still time for you to make a gift before our fiscal year closes on June 30. Send a gift by mail to LFS, 409 Kenyon Road, Suite C, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or make a gift online through the secure portal at LFSiowa.org/donations/. On behalf of those you will help through your gift, thank you and God bless you! Lutheran Family Service

Quilt Auction – Note that the Camp Okoboji Quilt Auction will be held this year on July 7th.  A catalog of Quilts will be posted on-line between now and the Auction. 

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (June 3, 2018- June 10, 2018)

Today            8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service   (Holy Communion)

                    10:00     am       Retirement Coffee for Donna Haase, Preschool Assistant  (Church Basement)

                      2:30     pm       Installation Service for Pastor Miesner at Immanuel, Lotts Creek

Wednesday  6:30     pm       Divine Midweek Service

Thursday       1:30     pm       LWML Ladies Aid

Sunday         8:00     am       Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service

                                   

Greeters Next Week:        Clark and Allison Christensen

Acolytes:                           Ushers

Ushers for June:              *Steve Madsen and Derek Schutjer

Elder for June:                  Boyd Shipler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) – Tuesday Evenings Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at parsonage. We will be studying The Book of Amos

 

 

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Announcements

May 27, 2018

 

Adult Bible Class – June 3, 2018 - Topic:  Parables of Jesus

 

It is with Joy and Thankfulness that we wish Rev. Henry Friedrich a very happy 90th birthday and also celebrate with him on 65 years in the ministry.  We also wish to remember Henry and Evelyn as they will be celebrating 65 years of marriage all at the same time.

 

A Retirement Coffee will be held for Donna Haase on Sunday, June 3, 2018 following the 9:00 a.m. service.  Be sure to come and help us thank Donna for her many years of service as Preschool Assistant!!  Preschool Bd.

 

Wednesday Summer Divine Service: Starting Wednesday June 6th at 6:30 p.m. we will be offering a midweek Divine Service for those not able to make it on Sunday.  You are welcome to come to both services.

 

Vacation Bible School at St. John’s will be held August 5-8th.  That is Sunday through Wednesday from 6-8:00 p.m. Mark this on your calendars and invite all children 3 years- 6th grade to attend. 

 

Installation Service – St. Luke’s Lutheran, Fairville and Immanuel Lutheran, Lotts Creek, would like to invite you to share in our joy at the Installation of our new pastor, Pastor Duane Miesner. The Service of Installation will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel. A brief reception and lunch will follow the service.

 

Adult Bible Class will continue thru the summer months at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Sunday School’s  last session for summer break will be next Sunday, May 27th.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   The Divine Service

We call our worship a Divine Service because the best part of our worship isn’t what we do but what God does.  In this Divine Service God serves us His absolution, His Word and preaching, and His Holy Supper. Our natural response to receiving these great gifts of God in His Divine Service is to praise His name with psalms and hymns and to joyfully confess back to him in prayers and Creeds what He has done for us.  You can read more about this term “Divine Service” on page viii of Lutheran Service Book. – The content of this lesson comes from Scot Kinnaman, Worshiping with Angels and Archangels: An Introduction to the Divine Service, 4-5.

 

Quilt Auction – Note that the Camp Okoboji Quilt Auction will be held this year on July 7th.  Unless a special arrangement has been made, quilts should be received at the Camp Office by Monday, May 28th in order to be photographed, processed, and posted in the on-line Quilt Catalog. 

 

Building Healthy FamiliesPssttt…have you ever noticed that it is hard to ignore the whispered conversations of others nearby? Parents, take advantage of this reality by talking about the important things you want your kids to know…and do it just barely within their hearing distance. When they overhear you sharing words of love for your spouse, the more secure they will feel in your family. The more positive comments they overhear you making about their teacher, the more cooperative they will be with her at school. The more they hear you talking about how much you appreciate your pastor, the more they will respect him. Lutheran Family Service

 

Memorial Service

·         The Burt VFW Memorial Day Service will be held on Monday, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. in the Burt Activity Complex followed by a retreat to the Burt Township Cemetery for the traditional laying of the flags for the veterans. Following those services, the City of Burt will be hosting a luncheon back at the Activity Complex from 11:00 -12:30 p.m.

·         The Lone Rock Kerr-Hammerstrom Legion Post #557 will be holding a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Legion Hall in Lone Rock. Coffee and rolls at 8:00 a.m. Service begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Legion Hall. We will then proceed to the Fenton Township and Lotts Creek Cemeteries for a short program.

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (May 27, 2018-June 3, 2018)

Today            8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Holy Trinity Divine Service   (Holy Communion) – Rev. Tom Schlund

Monday      10:00     am       Memorial Service at Burt Complex and Cemetery

Sunday         8:00     am       Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service (Holy Communion) 

                    10:00     am       Retirement Coffee for Donna Haase, Preschool Assistant

                      2:30     pm       Installation Service for Pastor Miesner at Immanuel, Lotts Creek

                                

Greeters Next Week:        Jerry and Betty Koestler

Acolytes:                           Ushers

Ushers for May:               *Jeff Madsen & Joel Smith

Elder for May:                   Jerry Koestler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) – Tuesday Evenings Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at parsonage. We will be studying The Book of Amos

 

 

 

 

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Announcements

May 20, 2018

 

Adult Bible Class – May 27, 2018 - Topic:  The Holy Trinity    (Pastor Tom Schlund)

 

Preschool Registration - Kids of the Kingdom Preschool is now accepting registration for the 2018-2019 school year for 3 and 4 year olds.  Please contact the church office at 924-3344 or Jessie Parsons at 320-0501.

 

Retirement Coffee will be held for Donna Haase  on Sunday, June 3, 2018 following the 9:00 a.m. service.  Be sure to come and help us thank Donna for her many years of service as Preschool Assistant!!  Preschool Bd.

 

A Simple Explanation of the Church Service: Have you ever had questions about the Divine Service?  Have you ever wondered what certain words in our service mean or from where in Scripture parts of the service originate?  If so, feel free to pick up a copy of A Simple Explanation of the Church Service on the back table.  This little book is just what its title describes: a brief explanation of each part of our Divine Service in simple language that is easy to understand.  This book is especially useful because it spells out specific Scriptural references associated with each part of the service, showing us that our worship is not our own invention but a gift of God from His Word. 

 

Wednesday Summer Divine Service: Summer is a fun and busy season, and it's also a season in which we're often away from home and away from St. John's.  From visiting relatives to camping, we often find ourselves too far from any LCMS church on a Sunday morning to receive God's Word and Sacrament.  Rather than scold you for missing church on Sunday (which is a reasonable option!), the elders and I have decided to make it easier for you to receive God's gifts on a regular basis.  Therefore, starting Wednesday June 6th at 6:30 p.m. we will start a trial run of offering a midweek Divine Service for those not able to make it on Sunday.  Please keep in mind that this service is intended for those who can't make it on Sunday, NOT for those who want to sleep in on Sunday!  The fellowship and encouragement that we receive as the one body of Christ all together on Sunday morning is a special gift that we don't want to sacrifice to catch a couple extra winks in the morning.  However, if you wish to receive God's gifts on Wednesday AND Sunday you are more than welcome to do so!  The readings, sermon, and prayers will all be different in each service so you would not be hearing the same thing twice.  

 

Vacation Bible School at St. John’s will be held August 5-8th.  That is Sunday through Wednesday from 6-8:00 p.m. Mark this on your calendars and invite all children 3 years- 6th grade to attend. 

 

Installation Service – St. Luke’s Lutheran, Fairville and Immanuel Lutheran, Lotts Creek, would like to invite you to share in our joy at the Installation of our new pastor, Pastor Duane Miesner. The Service of Installation will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel. A brief reception and lunch will follow the service.

 

Lost and Found – The church has accumulated several serving bowls and pans. We have set them out on the counter in the church basement.  Please, check to see if any of them belong to you!  Special thanks to Linda and Dave Kerkove for cleaning the kitchen.

 

Adult Bible Class will continue thru the summer months at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.  Sunday School’s  last session for summer break will be next Sunday, May 27th.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy:   The Circuit Winkel

The LCMS has a long tradition of calling the periodic gathering of all the pastors in a circuit a “winkel”.  Winkel is a German word that means “corner.” So, picture around ten pastors gathered in a corner of the church discussing theology and current news and issues concerning their circuit and the synod as a whole.  The Algona Circuit of Iowa District West consists of 14 area churches. The 11 pastors of these 14 churches gather monthly for our circuit winkel.

 

Quilt Auction – Note that the Camp Okoboji Quilt Auction will be held this year on July 7th.  Unless a special arrangement has been made, quilts should be received at the Camp Office by May 28th in order to be photographed, processed, and posted in the on-line Quilt Catalog. 

 

Memorial Service

·         The Burt VFW Memorial Day Service will be held on Monday, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. in the Burt Activity Complex followed by a retreat to the Burt Township Cemetery for the traditional laying of the flags for the veterans. Following those services, the City of Burt will be hosting a luncheon back at the Activity Complex from 11:00 -12:30 p.m.

·         The Lone Rock Kerr-Hammerstrom Legion Post #557 will be holding a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the Legion Hall in Lone Rock. Coffee and rolls at 8:00 a.m. Service begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Legion Hall. We will then proceed to the Fenton Township and Lotts Creek Cemeteries for a short program.

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (May 20, 2018-May 27, 2018)

Today            8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service   (Holy Communion)

                      1:30     pm       Graduation at North Union High School

                      2:30     pm       Service at Accura Healthcare in Bancroft

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Holy Trinity Divine Service (Holy Communion)  - Pastor Tom Schlund                   

                            

Greeters Next Week:        Lynn and Kitty Bierstedt

Acolytes:                           Jordan and Caelum Blocker

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for May:               *Jeff Madsen & Joel Smith

Elder for May:                   Jerry Koestler

 

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Announcements

May 13, 2018

 

Adult Bible Class – May 20, 2018 - Topic:  1 John 5

 

Preschool Registration - Kids of the Kingdom Preschool is now accepting registration for the 2018-2019 school year for 3 and 4 year olds.  Please contact the church office at 924-3344 or Jessie Parsons at 320-0501.

 

Thank You!  Kids of the Kingdom would like to give a BIG thank you to the members of St. John’s for your continued generosity and support that was shown throughout the 2017-2018 preschool year!   

God’s Blessings – Kids of the Kingdom Staff and Board

A Simple Explanation of the Church Service: Have you ever had questions about the Divine Service?  Have you ever wondered what certain words in our service mean or from where in Scripture parts of the service originate?  If so, feel free to pick up a copy of A Simple Explanation of the Church Service on the back table.  This little book is just what its title describes: a brief explanation of each part of our Divine Service in simple language that is easy to understand.  This book is especially useful because it spells out specific Scriptural references associated with each part of the service, showing us that our worship is not our own invention but a gift of God from His Word. 

 

Wednesday Summer Divine Service: Summer is a fun and busy season, and it's also a season in which we're often away from home and away from St. John's.  From visiting relatives to camping, we often find ourselves too far from any LCMS church on a Sunday morning to receive God's Word and Sacrament.  Rather than scold you for missing church on Sunday (which is a reasonable option!), the elders and I have decided to make it easier for you to receive God's gifts on a regular basis.  Therefore, starting Wednesday June 6th at 6:30 p.m. we will start a trial run of offering a midweek Divine Service for those not able to make it on Sunday.  Please keep in mind that this service is intended for those who can't make it on Sunday, NOT for those who want to sleep in on Sunday!  The fellowship and encouragement that we receive as the one body of Christ all together on Sunday morning is a special gift that we don't want to sacrifice to catch a couple extra winks in the morning.  However, if you wish to receive God's gifts on Wednesday AND Sunday you are more than welcome to do so!  The readings, sermon, and prayers will all be different in each service so you would not be hearing the same thing twice.  

 

Vacation Bible School at St. John’s will be held August 5-8th.  That is Sunday through Wednesday from 6-8:00 p.m. Mark this on your calendars and invite all children 3 years- 6th grade to attend. 

 

Installation Service – St. Luke’s Lutheran, Fairville and Immanuel Lutheran, Lotts Creek, would like to invite you to share in our joy at the Installation of our new pastor, Pastor Duane Miesner. The Service of Installation will be held on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at Immanuel. A brief reception and lunch will follow the service.

Lessons on the Liturgy:   A Brief History of Infrequent Communion

There are two reasons why Lutheran churches have not celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day.  The first reason was that back in the days of the American frontier not every church had a pastor, and so they had to wait until a pastor was in town to celebrate the Sacrament.  The second reason, which pertains to present-day Lutheranism, is the wide acceptance of rationalism and other philosophies born out of the Enlightenment which encourage a faith that relies on the rational thoughts of the mind and not in the unexplainable mystery of the Sacrament, which in turn produces a suspicion for receiving the Sacrament too frequently.  On the contrary, the Church unanimously celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and feast day for the first 1,500 years of Christianity, as did Luther and the first few generations of Lutherans. Only later in the history of Lutheranism did Lutherans succumb to the worldviews of secular society and other Protestant denominations who coincidentally had never confessed the bodily presence of Jesus in the Sacrament to begin with.  If you have any additional questions about the history and practice of the Lord’s Supper in the Church feel free to speak with Pastor Cowell.

 

Back by popular demand! The University of Iowa Pan American Steel Band will perform at the Burt Activity Complex this evening with a Dinner served from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. with the Performance at 7:00 p.m.   Program and Baked Potato dinner open to everyone at no charge. Donation  accepted for the dinner but not expected.  The Pan American Steel Band features fun, fabulous music from the Caribbean performed on steel pans from Trinidad and Tobago.  Sponsored by Burt Public Library

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (May 13, 2018-May 20, 2018)

Today             8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service  

Wednesday    6:00     pm       Religion School  - (Pizza Party)  Last Session

Sunday           8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service (Holy Communion)

                      1:30     pm       Graduation at North Union High School                                     

                      2:30     pm       Service at Accura Healthcare in Bancroft

 

Greeters Next Week:          Wendell Sr. and Esther Christensen

Head Usher:                       Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for May:                *Jeff Madsen & Joel Smith

Elder for May:                     Jerry Koestler

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) – Tuesday Evenings Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at parsonage. We will be studying The Book of Amos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, May 03, 2018

Announcements

May 6, 2018

 

Ascension Service - St. John's is invited to attend the Divine Service of the Ascension of Our Lord on Thursday, May 10th, 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mallard (311 N Hwy 4).

 

Adult Bible Class – May 13, 2018 - Topic:  1 John 4

 

Preschool Registration - Kids of the Kingdom Preschool is now accepting registration for the 2018-2019 school year for 3 and 4 year olds.  Please contact the church office at 924-3344 or Jessie Parsons at 320-0501.

 

Benefit for Baby Charlie Murphy the 2 month old son of Jared & Alyssa (Wood) Murphy is being held today at the Burt Activity Complex.  Charlie has Type II Biliary Atresia, serious liver condition that requires on-going medical care and a possible liver transplant.   The meal will begin at 11 a.m. , Silent Auction from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Live Auction at 1 p.m.  For more information contact Kelly Fitzgerald at 515-320-5762 or check out the poster on the ramp bulletin board.

 

Alzheimer’s Association and Related Support Group will be held on May 10th at 3 p.m. at Van Buren Terrace.  The meeting will be held in the VBT Activity Room.

 

Lessons on the Liturgy The Age Requirement of the Lord’s Supper

Contrary to popular belief, there is technically no age requirement for the Lord’s Supper.  The only requirement is that a Christian ought be capable of acknowledging who they are (a sinner), who Jesus is (by way of the catechism), and what they are eating at the Holy Supper (Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins).  In fact Luther encourages parents to bring their children who are capable of discerning these things to the Supper. Johannes Bugenhagen, Luther’s pastor, says: “After this confession is made, also the little children of about eight years or less should be admitted to the table of Him who says: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.”  If you feel your child is capable of discerning the criteria above, regardless of age, feel free to speak with Pastor Cowell about enrolling in a brief period of instruction on the Sacrament and having them admitted to the Table of our Lord.

 

Building Healthy Families: Since President Kennedy first declared it so in 1953, May has been recognized as Older Americans’ Month. Older Iowans provide strong and valuable leadership in our church, community, and family life with their wealth of knowledge, life experience, work ethic, faith, and generosity. Others who are not able to be so active still provide priceless hours of prayer and lots of love. Join with Lutheran Family Service today to celebrate and thank God for the older members in our congregational family! Lutheran Family Service

 

This Week at St. John’s  – (May 6, 2018-May 13, 2018)

Today            8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service   (Holy Communion)  

Tuesday        9:00     am       Preschool

                      6:00     pm       Preschool Board Meeting                                                        

Wednesday  9:00     am       Preschool                                                                                  

                      6:00     pm       Religion School

                      6:30     pm       Board of Education Meeting

Thursday       9:00     am       Preschool  (Last Session)

                      7:00     pm       Ascension Service at Trinity, Mallard                                      

Sunday         8:00     am       Sunday School/Adult Class

                      9:00     am       Divine Service

                            

Greeters Next Week:        Rolland and Joan Peymann

Acolyte:                             Cameron Haase

Head Usher:                      Roger Lavrenz 

Ushers for May:               *Jeff Madsen & Joel Smith

Elder for May:                   Jerry Koestler

 

 

Trinity Bible Studies – St. John’s members are welcome to attend any of the following Bible Studies at Trinity:

·         Wednesday AM Adult Bible Class – Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

·         Women’s Bible Studies during the school year on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

·         BYOB (Bring Your Own Bible) – Tuesday Evenings Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at parsonage. We will be studying The Book of Amos