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 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 2, 2020

 

Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; 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, August 2, 2020    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 9) (C)     Sunday, August 9    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 10) (C)

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR    August 3     Commemoration of Joanna, Mary, and          Salome--Myrrhbearers

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Kitty Bierstedt

Elder for August: Boyd Shipler

 

Welcome New Members Alfred and Peggy Schadendorf who have transferred their membership from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Mesquite, NV.  Alfred and Peggy  have been worshipping with us for a while now but be sure to take some time and welcome them to St. John’s.

 

Portals of Prayer Booklets for July-September are in a basket in the back of the church instead of each mailbox.  Feel free to pick one up or deliver one to a friend!

 

Holy Communion available - If you are not comfortable coming to the Sunday service but would still like to receive Holy Communion, you are welcome to participate in a Divine Service in the sanctuary at St. John’s during the week by appointment.  Bread and wine will be laid out before your arrival and Pastor can maintain plenty of distance during the service.  If you are not able to come to the sanctuary, we can arrange a safe way for you to receive the Lord’s Supper at home.  Feel free to call Pastor Cowell on his cell phone at 319-464-5548 to set up a time to meet.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - St. John’s is now live-streaming our Sunday Divine Service on our YouTube channel: “St. John’s Burt.” These services will be archived for you to view on YouTube later as well. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

Building Healthy Families: For possibly the first time in history, on every hour of any given day we hear bad news and we know we can do nothing about most of it. It’s overwhelming. As a result, a lot more people are experiencing anxiety. This week, would you give someone the gift of your time? Visit someone who is lonely or afraid. Listen to their concerns. Share encouraging words and remind them (and yourself) that God is still on His throne. “Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.”  Revelation 1:17 (Also, consider taking a “news” vacation for a few days by turning off the TV – try it, you’ll feel better!)  Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 13)

Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-5 

Isaiah prophecies of the day in which the Lord will provide for us the priceless food of His eternal covenant with us.  

 

Epistle: Romans 9:1-13

We are made children of God not by human ancestry, but by faith in the promises of God.

 

Gospel: Matthew 14:1-21

Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. 

 

LCMS MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Our Daily Bread from God

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer we pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.”  However, language scholars are not certain of the precise meaning of the Greek word which has been commonly translated as daily.  The word itself is extremely rare, almost always referring to this petition of the Lord’s Prayer.  Possible meanings of the word are the bread of tomorrow, the super-abounding bread, the supernatural bread, or the necessary bread.  We should also consider the context of this word in the Lord’s Prayer, taking note that all seven petitions set our eyes toward eternal life.  This is all to say that when Jesus instructs us to pray “give us this day our daily/future/super-abounding/supernatural/ necessary bread,” our desire should not stop for the bread on our kitchen table, but should include also the bread of the Table of our Lord which satisfies for all eternity.   

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Formula of Concord, Epitome, Article III: Righteousness before God, paragraphs 4-7

We believe, teach, and confess what our righteousness before God is this: God forgives our sins out of pure grace, without any work, merit, or worthiness of ours. He presents and credits to us the righteousness of Christ's obedience [Ro. 5:17-19]. Because of this righteousness, we are received into grace by God and regarded as righteous.

We believe that faith alone is the means through which we lay hold of Christ. So in Christ we lay hold of that righteousness that benefits us before God for whose sake this faith is credited to us for righteousness (Ro. 4:5).

We believe, teach, and confess that this faith is not a bare knowledge of Christ's history, but it is God's gift [Ep. 2:8]. By this gift we come to the right knowledge of Christ as our Redeemer in the Word of the Gospel. And we trust in Him that for the sake of His obedience alone we have-by grace-the forgiveness of sins and are regarded as holy and righteous before God the Father and are eternally saved.

We believe and teach, that according to the usage of Holy Scripture the word justify means, in this article, "to absolve, that is, to declare free from sins." Proverbs 17:15 says, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord." Also Romans 8:33 says, "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."

 

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 EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 26, 2020

 

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love, that, receiving what You have promised, we may love what You have commanded; 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, July 26    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 8) (C)     Sunday, August 2    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 9) (C)

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR    July 28     Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach,         Kantor     July 29     Commemoration of Mary, Martha, and          Lazarus of Bethany     July 30     Commemoration of Robert Barnes,        Confessor and Martyr     July 31     Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:        Marcia Hanna   Elder for July:  Jeff Schutjer

 

A Special Thank You to Pastor Mark Lund of Trinity for leading our service this morning

 

Pastor on Vacation - Pastor Cowell will be out of town on vacation from July 23-August 1.  If you are in need of immediate pastoral care, please call Trinity, Algona’s pastoral care line at 515-361-1269 and Pastor Schlund or Pastor Lund will be able to assist you. 

 

Portals of Prayer Booklets for July-September are in a basket in the back of the church instead of each mailbox.  Feel free to pick one up or deliver one to a friend!

 

Holy Communion available - If you are not comfortable coming to the Sunday service but would still like to receive Holy Communion, you are welcome to participate in a Divine Service in the sanctuary at St. John’s during the week by appointment.  Bread and wine will be laid out before your arrival and Pastor can maintain plenty of distance during the service.  If you are not able to come to the sanctuary, we can arrange a safe way for you to receive the Lord’s Supper at home.  Feel free to call Pastor Cowell on his cell phone at 319-464-5548 to set up a time to meet.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - St. John’s is now live-streaming our Sunday Divine Service on our YouTube channel: “St. John’s Burt.” These services will be archived for you to view on YouTube later as well. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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.  

 

Area take-home VBS will be ready soon! - For those who have signed up for a VBS packet, you can pick them up in the back of church.  This joint VBS (Immanuel Lotts Creek, St John’s Fenton, St Luke’s Fairville, St Paul’s Whittemore & St John’s Burt) is funded by Immanuel’s Endowment Fund and a number of other generous donations.  Thank you so much for making this happen!! Pray that the message of God’s Word that is shared in these packets will reach the hearts of the youngsters who receive these VBS lessons!  The theme of the VBS is 2020 Vision – Hebrews 12:2 - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NIV). - Denise Chrischilles 515-344-2973.

 

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

Building Healthy Families: How many hours per day do you spend on social media? How many watching TV? Playing golf? Shopping? Working without end? Although these activities in themselves are not bad, hobbies, habits and jobs can take a great amount of time, replacing other important things if we let them. As Psalms 90:12 instructs, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” May we wisely live out our days on earth, spending time with our Creator and those He has created to share life with us. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 12)

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 7:6-9 

God saved His people from Egypt not because they were great, but because God is great.

 

Epistle: Romans 8:28-39

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

 

Gospel: Matthew 13:44-58

Jesus tells the parables of the treasure in the field, the pearl of great price, and the net.

 

LCMS MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE

‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.’  - John 16:33

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Crucifix

Christians love the image of the cross.  The cross is for us a sign of victory over sin, death, and the devil.  Christians also love the image of the crucifix: Jesus hanging on the cross.  When we see a crucifix we see Jesus who, like the man in the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, in His joy sold all that He had on the cross to redeem us for His Father’s Kingdom. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI: God's Eternal Election, paragraphs 46-49

God ordained in His eternal purpose what cannot fail or be overthrown. He placed salvation for safekeeping in the almighty hand of our Savior, Jesus Christ, from which no one can snatch us (John 10:28). Therefore, Paul asks in Romans, because we "are called according to His purpose" (8:28), who "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord"? (8:39). 

Furthermore, this doctrine provides glorious consolation under the cross and amid temptations. In other words, God in His counsel, before the time of the world, determined and decreed that He would assist us in all distresses. He determined to grant patience, give consolation, nourish and encourage hope, and produce an outcome for us that would contribute to our salvation. Also, Paul teaches this in a very consoling way. He explains that God in His purpose has ordained before the time of the world by what crosses and sufferings He would conform every one of His elect to the image of His Son. His cross shall and must work together for good for everyone, because they are called according to God's purpose. Therefore, Paul has concluded that it is certain and beyond doubt that neither "tribulation, or distress," neither "death nor life," or other such things "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (See Romans 8:28,29,35,38,39)

 

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 SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 19, 2020

 

O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter; 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, July 19    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 7) (C)    10:00 a.m.    Quarterly Voter’s Meeting   Sunday, July 26    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 8) (C)

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   July 20     Commemoration of Elijah     July 21     Commemoration of Ezekiel     July 22     Feast of St. Mary Magdalene      July 25     Feast of St. James the Elder, Apostle

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna  

Elder for July:  Jeff Schutjer

 

Quarterly Voter’s Meeting will be held immediately following the service today.

 

Pastor on Vacation - Pastor Cowell will be out of town on vacation from July 23-August 1.  If you are in need of immediate pastoral care, please call Trinity, Algona’s pastoral care line at 515-361-1269 and Pastor Schlund or Pastor Lund will be able to assist you. 

 

Portals of Prayer Booklets for July-September are in a basket in the back of the church instead of each mailbox.  Feel free to pick one up or deliver one to a friend!

 

Holy Communion available - If you are not comfortable coming to the Sunday service but would still like to receive Holy Communion, you are welcome to participate in a Divine Service in the sanctuary at St. John’s during the week by appointment.  Bread and wine will be laid out before your arrival and Pastor can maintain plenty of distance during the service.  If you are not able to come to the sanctuary, we can arrange a safe way for you to receive the Lord’s Supper at home.  Feel free to call Pastor Cowell on his cell phone at 319-464-5548 to set up a time to meet.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - St. John’s is now live-streaming our Sunday Divine Service on our YouTube channel: “St. John’s Burt.” These services will be archived for you to view on YouTube later as well. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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.  

 

Area take-home VBS will be ready soon! - VBS packet “hand out” day is coming up!  For those who have signed up for a packet, they will be available at St. John’s next Sunday after the service.  This joint VBS (Immanuel Lotts Creek, St John’s Fenton, St Luke’s Fairville, St Paul’s Whittemore & St John’s Burt) is funded by Immanuel’s Endowment Fund and a number of other generous donations.  Thank you so much for making this happen!! Pray that the message of God’s Word that is shared in these packets will reach the hearts of the youngsters who receive these VBS lessons!  The theme of the VBS is 2020 Vision – Hebrews 12:2 - fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NIV). - Denise Chrischilles 515-344-2973.

 

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

 

Building Healthy Families - There’s nothing in life quite as wonderful—and challenging—as marriage. It is the union of two very different people who have come to believe that their lives would be incomplete without the other. As the years go by, challenges arise—even in the best of marriages. Remember that healthy marriages don’t just happen; they are the result of constant attention and effort. It’s easy for marriages to lose their way, and often difficult to get them back on track. If your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, reach out to LFS. Our counselors have resources and tools to help. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

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 SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 12, 2020

 

Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; 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, July12    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 6) (C)    10:00 a.m.    Quarterly Council Meeting   Sunday, July 19    9:00 a.m.    Divine Service (Pentecost 7) (C)  10:00 a.m.    Quarterly Voter’s Meeting

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  July 16     Commemoration of Ruth

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna 

Elder for July:  Jeff Schutjer

 

Quarterly Council Meeting will be held today following the service in the church basement. This will be a short meeting just to catch up on business of the church. Our quarterly Voter’s Meeting will be held next Sunday following the service.

 

Portals of Prayer Booklets for July-September are in a basket in the back of the church instead of each mailbox.  Feel free to pick one up or deliver one to a friend!

 

Holy Communion available - If you are not comfortable coming to the Sunday service but would still like to receive Holy Communion, you are welcome to participate in a Divine Service in the sanctuary at St. John’s during the week by appointment.  Bread and wine will be laid out before your arrival and Pastor can maintain plenty of distance during the service.  If you are not able to come to the sanctuary, we can arrange a safe way for you to receive the Lord’s Supper at home.  Feel free to call Pastor Cowell on his cell phone at 319-464-5548 to set up a time to meet.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - Beginning this week, St. John’s will be live-streaming our Sunday Divine Service on our YouTube channel: “St. John’s Burt.” These services will be archived for you to view on YouTube later as well. 

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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.  

 

VBS Trinity - VBS is going Virtual this Year!  Don’t worry, it will still be awesome! using a combination of live and pre-recorded videos, a packet of lessons and crafts and your own imagination, we’ll help you have VBS at home. “Rainforest Explorer” is the time and packet pickup will be Sunday, July 19. VBS will be July 19, 22, 26, 29. Registration has passed, but there are still a few openings-contact the church office (295-3518) or email at office@trinityalgona.org if interested.

 

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

 

Building Healthy Families - We all know someone who has been so hopeless that they chose suicide to end the pain. Not always, but often there are signs of worsening depression before an attempted suicide. Few things are more agonizing than to realize, too late, that you saw the signs but did nothing about them. When we see a change in ourselves, or those with whom we come into contact, it is time to act. We’re all in this together. So, if you see something, make sure you say something. Lutheran Family Service’ Christian counselors are available to help those suffering from emotional pain and can meet by telehealth over smartphone or computer. If you or someone you know needs help, call us at 515-251-4900. 

Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 10)

Old Testament: Isaiah 55:10-13 

The Word of God shall not return to Him empty, but it shall accomplish His good purpose.

 

Epistle: Romans 8:12-17

St. Paul continues to exhort us to not live by the sinful flesh, but to live by the Spirit received in our Baptism into Christ.

 

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

Jesus teaches us about the different responses of the hearers of His Word by way of the Parable of the Sower, the Seed, and the soils. 

 

LCMS MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:3-4

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Catechesis

The term catechism comes from the Greek word katecho, which literally means to “sound back and forth.” (The word echo also comes from this Greek word.)  Thus the “catechetical” method of teaching is rooted in classical Greek and Roman educational methods and was used throughout the Middle Ages down to Luther’s time: The teacher asks a question; the student responds with a fixed and set answer, and so it goes, echoing back and forth.  Repetition and recitation of the material is used to instill in the student the words, phrases, and concepts being taught.  An explanation is also added, according to the student’s level of understanding.  In this way, the Christian Church taught, or catechized, the faith.  The students learning the faith are known as catechumens, and they receive careful and thorough catechesis (instruction) in the Christian faith. - Concordia, The Lutheran Confessions: A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord (2006), p. 309. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI: Election, paragraphs 71, 73-74

According to Christ's teaching [all people] should abstain from their sins, repent, believe His promise, and entirely trust in Him. Since we cannot do this by ourselves, by our own powers, the Holy Spirit desires to work these things-repentance and faith-in us through the Word and Sacraments. [...]

The Holy Spirit dwells in the elect, who have become believers, as in His temple [1 Corinthians 6:19]. He is not idle in them, but moves God's children to obey God's commands. Therefore, believers, too, should not be idle, much less resist the work of God's Spirit. They should practice all Christian virtues, in all godliness, modesty, temperance, patience, and brotherly love; and they should give all diligence to make their calling and election sure [2 Peter 1:10]. They should do this so that the more they find the Spirit's power and strength within them, they may doubt their election less. For the Spirit bears witness to the elect that they are God's children (Romans 8:16).