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 FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
March 1, 2020
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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, March 1 8:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service (Lent 1) (C) Tuesday, March 3 9:00 a.m. Morning Lenten Prayer Service Wednesday, March 4 6:00 p.m. Lenten Service 6:30 p.m. Religion School Thursday, March 5 1:30 p.m. Ladies Aid Meeting Sunday, March 8 8:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Class 9:00 a.m. Divine Service (Lent 2) (C) | THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR Saturday, March 7 Commemoration of Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna Ushers for March: Clark Christensen,
Roger Evans & Jerry Koestler
Acolyte: none assigned Elder for March: Jeff Schutjer
Greeters: Gene and Marcia Hanna Greeters Next Week: Cheryl Batt & Barb Harms
Adult Bible Study - Our Sunday Morning Bible study is spending several weeks exploring the concept of evangelism in the Bible, as well as discussing practical strategies for sharing the Gospel in our own context. We’ll be using a book titled: Be at Leisure: A Lutheran Approach to Outreach by Pastor Andrew Richard of St. Silas Lutheran Church in North Liberty, IA.
Lenten Services will be held Wednesdays March 4,11,18, April 1, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday Morning Lenten Prayer - In addition to our Wednesday evening Lenten services, you will also have the opportunity to pray and hear Scripture on several Tuesday mornings at 9:00 during Lent. This will be a spoken Matins service and will be a time for you to bring prayer requests for us to pray together. Check the schedule in your box for the dates of these services.
Lenten Resources Available - On the back table are several resources to help you grow in your Christian faith this Lenten season. Feel free to take and share as many as you’d like.
Ladies Aid will meet on Thursday, March 5 at 1:30 p.m. Pastor will give the Bible Study, Barb Harms the Devotions and Caradene Parsons is the hostess for the meeting.
Holy Week Choir - We are assembling a choir to sing on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. We will practice after church on March 22 and April 5 and before service on Holy Thursday. You can sign up on the back table.
Easter Breakfast Volunteer Sign-Up - There is a sign-up sheet on the back table for those interested in helping serve the Easter breakfast after church on Easter Sunday.
The Giving Pew - This is a reminder that the season of Lent would be a great time to take a quilt or stuffed bear from the TLC Quilter’s giving pew by the east doors at St. John’s and deliver them to a friend in need of comfort or support.
Weekly Divine Service - Beginning this Lent we will begin offering the Lord’s Supper every Sunday at St. John’s. If you are interested in continuing to explore the blessings of weekly Communion you can attend our Lenten midweek services where we will be meditating on the good of Jesus’ body and blood for our lives. You can also read this month’s Parish Messenger in your box or pick up documents from last year’s study on the blessings of weekly Communion at the side table in back of church. As always, if you are not yet comfortable receiving the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, know that you are free in Christ to remain in the pew during distribution. Feel free to talk to Pastor Cowell if you’d like any more resources on this topic or have any questions regarding this practice.
SYNOD, DISTRICT, & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
The TLC Quilters will again have a silent auction during Lent to benefit Camp Okoboji. The quilts will be displayed in the office lobby at Trinity. You may stop by to view and bid on them anytime during the day.
Lutheran Family Service Marriage Resources - Unfortunately the LFS marriage strengthening workshop that was scheduled last week at Trinity was cancelled due to low registration numbers. However, LFS publishes a variety of marriage strengthening resources on their website at lutheranfamilyservice.org/marriage-counseling. Also, on the table in back of church are several handouts from LFS with tips on communication, problem solving, and showing appreciation within a marriage. As always information on marriage advice or counseling from a trained, Christian counselor is available on the LFS website. Remember that every marriage, no matter how seemingly successful or unsuccessful, can benefit from the Scripture-informed insight and strategies that Lutheran Family Service has to offer.
Prayer Rally For Life - Join fellow Iowans, legislators, clergy, Lutheran Family Service and other Iowa Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders in being a Voice for Life at the Iowa Prayer Rally for Life on Monday, March 2 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Iowa State Capitol. There is more information on the ramp bulletin board or on the handout in back. Let Pastor Cowell know if you are interested in carpooling down to Des Moines.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Churches of Burt Volunteer Facebook Group - The Churches of Burt organization has created a Facebook group with the purpose of connecting people who need help with people who are willing to help. It is our hope that this group will facilitate Christian mercy in our community. You can search “Churches of Burt Volunteers/Help Wanted” to join the group. Or, if you would like to offer a volunteer service or are in need of help but don’t have a Facebook account, contact Pastor Cowell and he will post your request for you.
Annual Men’s Soup Supper at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Titonka is Monday, March 2nd, 2020 from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Menu: Chili and Oyster Stew with Pie. Free will donation.
Morningside Choir will be performing at the First Lutheran Church in Algona on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. No charge for admission but a Free Will offering will be accepted.
Thrivent Choice Dollars for 2019 will be expiring on March 31! If you are a Thrivent member, you may be eligible to direct Thrivent Choice Dollars to St. John’s. Go to www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800-847-4836 before March 31 and say “Thrivent Choice.” Reminder: $250 Community Impact Gift Cards are also available (2 per member per year).
The Good Samaritan Home Chili Luncheon scheduled for March 15 has been cancelled.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (First Sunday in Lent)
Genesis 3:1–21; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11
The Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Champion against Satan
Following His Baptism, Jesus is “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). As He takes upon Himself the curse of our sin and sets Himself against our enemy, He trusts His Father’s voice and waits upon His Father’s hand for all things. The devil questions His sonship, but the beloved and well-pleasing Son remains faithful and lives “by every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Jesus patiently suffers hunger in His mortal flesh and returns to the dust whence man was taken, and by His pain He brings forth food for all the children of men (Gen. 3:18–19). By the sweat of His brow we eat the fruit of His Cross, even as our nakedness is covered by His righteousness. Although all people live in bondage to death through the trespass of the first man, Adam, all the more “have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (Rom. 5:15). His righteous obedience “leads to justification and life for all men” (Rom. 5:18).
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VI: The Third Use of God’s Law, para. 20-21
This doctrine of the Law is needed by believers in order that they may not make up a holiness and devotion of their own. Using God's Spirit as an excuse, they must not set up a self-chosen worship, without God's Word and command. For it is written:
"You shall not do according to … whatever is right in [your] own eyes," but "be careful to obey all these words that I command you," "you shall not add to it or take from it." (Deuteronomy 12:8, 28, 32)
The doctrine of the Law is also necessary in and with believers' good works. Otherwise, a person can easily imagine that his work and life are entirely pure and perfect. But God's Law prescribes good works to believers in this way: it shows and indicates at the same time, as in a mirror, that in this life works are still imperfect and impure in us. So we must say with Paul, "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted" [1 Cor. 4:4]. So Paul, when encouraging the regenerate to do good works, clearly presents to them the Ten Commandments (Rom. 13:9). He recognizes from the Law that his good works are imperfect and impure (Romans 7:7-13). And David declares:
I will run in the way of Your commandments. (Ps.119:32) Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You. (Ps.143:2)
