Announcements
St. John’s Lutheran Church
109 Maple St. Burt, Iowa|Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Pastor: Rev. Thomas Cowell Secretary: Rosann Shipler
Pastor’s Cell: 319-464-5548 Church Office: 515-924-3344 stjohnsburt.org
Pastor’s Email: pastor@stjohnsburt.org Church Email: churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org
THE PURIFICATION OF MARY AND PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD
February 2, 2020
Almighty and ever-living God, as Your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, grant that we may be presented to You with pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S Today, February 2 8:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service (Epiphany 4) (C) Monday, February 3 7 & 9:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Study - Trinity Wednesday, February 5 6:00 p.m. Religion School Saturday, February 8 4:00 p.m. Installation Service Pastor Lund Sunday, February 9 8:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service | THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR February 2 Feast of The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of our Lord February 5 Commemoration of Jacob (Israel), Patriarch |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna Ushers for February: Lucas Parsons & Terry Briggs
Acolyte: Kenna Hatten & Taylor Parsons Elder for February Jerry Koestler
Greeters: Vern and Joan Koestler Greeters Next Week: Terry & Vicki Briggs
Adult Bible Study - Our Sunday morning adult Bible study class is studying the Biblical roots of the liturgy of the Divine Service, with special focus on the unique features of our Lutheran liturgy.
Ash Wednesday Service with Communion will be February 26th at 6:00 p.m.
Lenten Services - All our evening services for Lent will be held at 6:00 p.m. Note the new time!
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions are due by March 2. The cost of a subscription will be $22.70 for the year. If you are receiving a Lutheran Witness now just pay by putting that in a separate marked envelope in the offering plate. Make checks out to the church and those subscriptions will continue. If you wish to cancel or begin getting the Witness, please be sure to let the church office know.
Shrove Tuesday Partnership Event - Our St. John's/Trinity partnership is hosting a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper again this year on Tuesday, February 25th at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity. The event will begin in the sanctuary at 6:00 with a time of prayer and confession and absolution, and continue with a pancake supper in the Life Center at 6:15. During the supper we will also have fliers available with suggestions for how you might pray, fast, and show mercy during the upcoming season of Lent. This event is free and the community is welcome to attend.
SYNOD, DISTRICT, & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Welcome New Associate Pastor! - Pastor Mark Lund has accepted the call to become Trinity’s new Associate Pastor. Pastor Lund is joining us with his wife Hope and daughter Eleanor. Pastor Lund’s installation is Saturday, February 8 at 4:00 pm at Trinity. A meal will follow. Please let Rosann or Pastor Cowell know if you’re planning to attend so we can get a count for the meal.
Strengthening Marriage Workshop - The Iowa District West Education and Family Life Committee is hosting a marriage strengthening workshop for all married couples on Saturday, February 8th from 9:00-2:00 at Trinity, Algona. This workshop will benefit both those who are recently married to those who have been married for many years. Toni Larson, Licensed Counselor from Lutheran Family Service will lead us through a time to grow in communication skills, understand how God has uniquely designed man and woman, and lead you in focusing on your relationship. Morning refreshments and lunch are provided, as well as childcare if needed. The cost is $40 per couple (paid the morning of the workshop). Register by Feb. 3rd at:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/Strengthening_Marriages_Workshop.
Camp Okoboji News
· Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2020 at 11 a.m. Each Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in Iowa District West has the privilege of sending one delegate to the Annual Meeting of Camp. Consider being a delegate from St. John’s.
· Annual Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji will be May 23, 2020. Please note the earlier date this year! This is the main fundraiser for the Auxiliary and the camp. Mark your calendars.
· Cub/Jr High/ Youth Week at Camp has Scholarships available. The Auxiliary awards 6 scholarships. Children can apply by picking up a form in the church office. Due: April 15.
Building Healthy Families: “She may not have my eyes, she may not have my smile, but she has all my heart.”—New Adoptive Parent LFS is here to help join infants to their forever families through adoption. Parents who would adopt, implant and deliver babies that now exist as frozen embryos are encouraged to prayerfully consider the needs of one of these children known and loved by God, yet unborn. If you know of anyone interested in embryo adoption, invite them to visit the LFS website to learn more. www.LutheranFamilyService.org
COMMUNITY NEWS
Burt Summer Celebration Silent Auction and Luncheon will be held February 23 at the Burt Complex from 10:30 to 1:00 p.m. They are asking for any donations for the Silent Auction. All proceeds go to keeping Burt Summer Celebration a free event. If you wish to donate something, please contact Burt City Hall.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY
1 Samuel 1:21–28; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40
God Gives the Gift of a Child to Destroy Death
The Lord opened the barren womb of Hannah and gave her the gift of the son for whom she prayed, and in grateful response she presented and gave the child, Samuel, to the Lord’s service. “As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:28). So, too, did Mary and Joseph present the Child promised from the fall, born of a virgin’s womb. The true offering wasn’t the turtledoves or young pigeons. It was the Child they carried. This Child has come to “destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14b–15). Set free by His advent in our flesh and the promise of what He would do “in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17b), Simeon and Anna rejoiced, and we with them, for we know that we, too, can face death unafraid and “depart in peace” (Luke 2:29) when our time comes.
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VII: The Holy Supper, paragraphs 34-39
From Dr. Luther as the leading teacher of the Augsburg Confession, any intelligent person can see the proper meaning of the Augsburg Confession on this article.
In addition to Christ's and St. Paul's expressions (the bread in the Supper is the body of Christ or the communion of the body of Christ), the following forms are also used: under the bread, with the bread, in the bread. With these words the papistic transubstantiation may be rejected and the sacramental union of the bread's unchanged essence and Christ's body may be shown. In the same way, the "the Word became flesh" show that the divine essence is not changed into the human nature. But the two natures, unchanged, are united. So in the Holy Supper the two substances, the bread and Christ's body, are present together in the Sacrament. This union is a sacramental union. The words of Christ's ("This is My body") are not a figurative, allegorical expression, but a unique expression. Justin says:
This we receive not as common bread and common drink. We receive them as Jesus Christ, our Savior, who through the Word of God became flesh. For the sake of our salvation He also had flesh and blood. So we believe that the food blessed by Him through the Word and prayer is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
<< Home