Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENTS and NOTICES
November 3, 2019
All Saints Day
Collect of the Day – Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Adult Bible Study - Our Sunday morning adult Bible study class is discussing the benefit of meditating on the six chief parts of the Catechism through Scripture and prayer. We’ll be using the book The Lord Will Answer: A Daily Prayer Catechism. A copy of the book will be provided for everyone to use.
Advent-Christmas Invites - We are going to try to make everyone feel welcomed and loved at St. John's again this year with our Advent-Christmas invites! Consider personally delivering a card to a neighbor, friend, or family member on the table in back of church. Let them know that you would love to worship with them this Advent and Christmas season, and that you are happy to be their brother or sister in Christ. Also, tell us on the sign-up sheet in back who you delivered cards to so that we can get a better sense of who is well connected with some of our less active members. There are also a few blank cards that you can deliver to non-members. Any remaining cards will be mailed on November 25th.
The Giving Pew - The TLC Quilters have set up the "giving pew" at St. John's! The pew near the east doors will be stocked with a quilt and other items made by the quilters for the purpose of our members taking them in a time of need or delivering them to someone they know who is in need of warmth, comfort, support, or love. There is no need to tell anyone who the quilt is going to, the quilters are just happy to know someone is getting the care they need. A favorite practice of the quilters is when a quilt is finished to pray that whoever ends up with their quilt would know the love of God in Christ Jesus who motivates their many works of mercy.
Funeral Planning Workshop – Our partnership funeral planning workshop will be Saturday, Nov. 16th at the Trinity Life Center with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pastors Cowell and Schlund will lead us in examining our Christian understanding of life, death, and resurrection and offer advice on Scripture and hymn choices for the funeral service. Jayme Lentz will also be there to provide some practical advice on pre-planning funeral details with a funeral home. All ages are encouraged to attend.
Ladies Aid will meet Thursday, November 7th at 1:30 p.m. Linda Kerkove is the hostess, Mary Lou Marlow has devotions and Pastor will present the Bible Study for the afternoon.
Thanksgiving Service at St. John’s is Wednesday, November 27th at 6:30 p.m. with Holy Communion. Trinity, Algona’s Thanksgiving service is Thursday, November 28th at 9:00 a.m.
Donate Your Old Bibles - Do you have old Bibles at home that you no longer read (hopefully because you have newer Bibles that you do read!)? We are collecting old Bibles at St. John's to share with people who have no Bible of their own. The Bibles will go to IOWAY of Iowa District West who will transport them to the Takin' it to the Streets charity in Omaha. This organizations provides food, clothes, skills, and Christ's love to those who need it in the Omaha area. You can drop your Bibles off at the gray box in the back of church.
LLL/LHM Fall Breakfast – Lutheran Laymen League and Lutheran Hour Ministries is hosting a breakfast and Bible study on Saturday, November 9th with registration at 8 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran in Mallard. Dr. James Lamb will begin his presentation at 8:45 a.m. The cost is $15.
Bus Trip to the Holiday Grande at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Celebrate the holiday season in your special reserved seats at the all-new Christmas show of “Jim McDonough’s Holiday Grande” on Saturday, December 7th. Reservations for this trip need to be in by November 7th and the cost is $119 per person. Contact: Bev Householder 515-925-3598. (See the flyer posted on the ramp bulletin board for more information)
Burt Lions Omelet Breakfast along with a Bake Sale is today from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Burt Activity Complex. Proceeds from the Bake Sale will go to the Burt Pool Fund.
Lakota Annual Soup Dinner will be held today (November 3rd) from 10 -1 p.m. at the Lakota Eagle Center. Menu: Chili and Chicken Noodle Soup, Grilled Cheese or Egg Salad Sandwiches, Bars, Drink. Free Will Offering.
Soup Fundraiser for the Sentral Area Ambulance/Fenton EMS will be held on Sunday, November 10th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Serving: Chili & chicken Noodle, Cinnamon Rolls & drink.
Burt Veterans Day Breakfast will be held on Sunday, November 10th from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Burt Community Center. Menu: Pancakes, eggs and sausage & drink.
Lectionary Summary: All Saints Day – Revelation 7: (2–8) 9–17; 1 John 3:1–3; Matthew 5:1–12
Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ
“A great multitude … from all tribes and peoples and languages” cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne” (Rev. 7:9–10). Faith-filled saints from every place and time with unified voices eternally magnify the Lamb of God. As His beloved children, we, too, “shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Joined with the throng of angels and countless saints, we shall “serve him day and night in his temple” (Rev. 7:15). In our earthly tension vacillating between saint and sinner, faith and doubt, sacred and profane, we earnestly seek Jesus to calm our fears, comfort our spirits and forgive our sins. The Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ, propels us forward, fortifying us in Word and Sacrament, to our eternal home. In the midst of our constant struggle as believers, we need to be blessed. And so we are. The poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the merciful, the pure and the persecuted are all blessed, and we will most certainly inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:1–12).
This Week in the Church Year
Feast Days: None
Commemorations: 11/8: Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor; 11/9: Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor
This Week at St. John’s – (November 3, 2019- November 10, 2019)
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