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 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

June 14, 2020 

 

Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation; 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, June 14    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 2) (C)                 Sunday, June 21    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 3) (C)

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR    June 14     Commemoration of Elisha

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:        Marcia Hanna      Elder for June:  Jerry Koestler

 

Get Well Cards - Joel Smith is continuing his recovery at home now in Swea City.  He loves hearing from everyone so feel free to send a card and let him know he is in your prayers. Joel’s address is 305 1st St. PO Box 86, Swea City, Iowa 50590 

 

Masks - Adult masks and children masks are on the table in the back of the church.  If you need an extra mask to keep in your car when you travel to various places or go into stores or doctor offices, please feel free to take one.  

 

New Weekly Announcements Email - St. John’s has started emailing our weekly announcements through Flocknote.  If you would like to receive these weekly announcements in a computer or smartphone-friendly format, contact the church office and we can add you to the list.  You can also contact the church office to update any of your Flocknote preferences. 

 

Pastoral care available - As you decide for yourself when you feel safe returning to the regular Sunday morning service, know that Pastor Cowell continues to be available for pastoral care.  He is happy to hear your confession and absolve your sins or to give you Holy Communion individually at any time.  If you are not comfortable visiting or being visited, he is happy to talk with you on the phone.  His cell phone is 319-464-5548.  

 

St. John’s Kids - St. John’s Kids is a collection of short videos on the liturgy, Small Catechism, and other topics of the Christian faith.  These videos can benefit “kids” of all ages! View them by clicking on the “St. John’s Kids YouTube Channel” icon on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org.  

 

Pastor’s Corner - There is a new tab at stjohnsburt.org called the “Pastor’s Corner.”  Here you’ll find a collection of resources we’ve been using to learn at St. John’s during the past three years.  Check back often as new content is added to this page each week.  If you have any recommendations for content for either the Youtube channel or Pastor’s Corner, feel free to let Pastor Cowell know! 

 

Offerings and alms during our time away – We thank God for blessing us with the tools and resources to continue the distribution of His grace at St. John’s, and we thank God for blessing us with faithful Christians to fund our ministry and operational expenses.  Keep up the good work! Also note that if you or your family has encountered any financial hardship during this time, don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Cowell to see if our congregation can help in any way. 

St. John’s Vacation Bible School - This year St. John’s is hosting a "family VBS."  This means that we are encouraging all our members and friends of all ages to join the kids as we learn what it means to be a Christian family as well as a Christian church family.  The VBS will be on four Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:30, with supper being at 5:30.  Our big uncertainty right now is when we will be able to have our first VBS Wednesday!  We will let you know as soon as we have the dates set.  If you would like to volunteer at the VBS in any capacity, please let Pastor or a member of the Board of Education know and we’ll find you a spot to serve.

St. John’s T-Shirts! - St. John’s decided to take advantage of a great deal on bulk-order T-shirts from Threads in Algona.  Below is a design.  They are dark blue and are available in all standard sizes (and fit according to standard sizes).  Call or text Hannah Cowell at 712-294-4962 by Monday, June 15th to order.  All sizes are $6.  You can pay Hannah either when you order or when you receive the shirt near the end of June.                                                                                       

              

SYNOD, DISTRICT, & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity, Algona Schedule - As Trinity, Algona opens their worship in their church building today, note that they will continue their livestreamed service and other online resources in the coming months. You can find all these resources from Trinity at: trinityalgona.org/corona.  

 

Camp Okoboji has cancelled summer programs, but is still renting out the Family Ministry Cabins. See campokoboji.org for more information. 

 

Did You Know? The Greek equivalent to the Hebrew for “comfort” is “paraclete.” A literal meaning is someone called alongside to speak for you, defend you, help you. Not surprising then that Scripture gives the name “paraclete,” Comforter, to the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent Him to walk beside us and help us. LFS uses 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 as our theme verse. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  Our mission statement flows from this. “We walk with people who are experiencing hard times and are there for them just as God has been there for us.” Reach out to us any time. We’re here to help! 

Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 6)

Old Testament: Exodus 19:2-8

God promises Israel in the wilderness that if they continue to trust and follow Him, they will be God’s treasured and holy nation.

 

Epistle: Romans 5:6-15

God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

 

Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:15 

Jesus sends His apostles out as His representatives to the people of Israel, and gives them specific instructions for their journey. 

 

 

LCMS MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Calling a Pastor

Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession says: “Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call.” It is easy to see the “rightly ordered” call of the Twelve Apostles in our Gospel lesson today (Matthew 10) because that call comes from the mouth of Jesus Himself!  Today in the Church we define a man as receiving a rightly ordered call into the ministry of Christ’s Word and Sacrament when he has been adequately trained and examined, which usually happens at an LCMS seminary, and then is called by a congregation and ordained into the office of the Holy Ministry with the approval and witness of fellow ministers. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, The Creed: Article III, paragraphs 34, 51-53

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. [...]

This is the meaning and substance: I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ. This group is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with many different gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms. I am also a part and member of this same group, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses. I am brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Spirit through having heard and continuing to hear God's Word, which is the beginning of entering it. In the past, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of the devil, knowing nothing about God and about Christ. So, until the Last Day, the Holy Spirit abides with the holy congregation or Christendom. Through this congregation He brings us to Christ and He teaches us the Word. By the Word He works and promotes sanctification, causing this congregation daily to grow and to become strong in the faith and its fruit, which He produces.