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 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 2, 2021

 

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; 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, May 2, 2021   8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class    9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     Tuesday, May 4, 2021 10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer     Wednesday, May 5, 2021    6:00 p.m.    Christian Catechesis     Sunday, May 9, 2021   8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class    9:00 a.m.     Divine Service

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   May 2, 2021     Commemoration of Athanasius of Alexandria     May 4, 2021     Commemoration of Friedrich Wyneken,          Pastor and Missionary     May 5, 2021     Commemoration of Frederick the Wise     May 7, 2021     Commemoration of C.F.W. Walther

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:   Kitty Bierstedt

Elder for May:  Tony Hatten

Acolytes:  Caelum Blocker

                  Zack Steven

 

Thank You to Taylor Parsons and Kenna Hatten for singing during our opening hymn today!

 

Skills and Interests Form - Each member (and non-member spouse) has received a Skills and Interests form in your church box.  As we slowly begin to get into the full swing of mission, mercy, and social activities at St. John’s in a more “normal” way, we would like to know what skills you have for serving your church and what interests you might have in growing in faith and fellowship with your fellow members.  This will help us better connect each of our members with opportunities to serve and grow in the best way for you and your life situation.   

 

Pastoral Care On Demand - Pastor Cowell would love to serve you Communion at church or at home, pray, read Scripture, offer Christian counsel, and/or just visit any time that works for you!  Call or text him any time at 319-464-5548. 

 

Stained Glass Window Project - We’ve met our financial goal for our new windows and are on track to possibly have them installed soon! There’s more information on the windows on the back table. Thanks for your generous contributions to this project.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - The easiest way to access our service livestreams and recordings is to click on the links posted on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org. 

 

Cards to the Lund Babies - If you’d like to send a card to Pastor Mark and Hope Lund in celebration of the birth and continued good health of their twins, Henry and Dorothy, their home address is: 605 N Church St., Algona, Iowa 50511.

 

St. John’s VBS is scheduled for June 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.  You can read more about this year’s VBS in your Parish Messenger.  There are also VBS fliers on the back table.  Feel free to take one for your own information or to hang up at an area business. 

May/June Parish Messenger is in your bulletin boxes this morning.

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity, Algona Schedule - Trinity, Algona continues to stream their worship services and other videos online. You can access these resources at trinityalgona.org/corona or the Trinity YouTube and Facebook pages either live or any time after as a recording.

 

Partnership Highway Clean-up - St. John’s and Trinity will be cleaning our partnership Adopt-a-Highway ditch on Saturday, May 15th, at 10:00 a.m.  If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please sign the sheet on the back table and we will get you more information. 

 

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji has been set for Saturday, June 19. The project and description sheet must be in by May 21.  If you would like to donate a quilt for the auction you may pick up an information sheet in the church office.

·         Be a Volunteer Counselor! We are seeking high school youth and college-aged young adults to serve as counselors during Cub Weeks, Junior High Week, and Youth Wee. Apply at campokoboji.org

·         Omelet Brunches are back at Camp Okoboji! Join us the first Sunday every month for some good food and company.

·         Sunday Worship Services at camp are held every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor  day at 9:45 a.m.

 

Building Healthy Families: According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 46% of people who own smartphones say “they couldn’t live without it”. Could you live without your phone? How about for one week? How about for one day? How would it change your daily routine? Would you accomplish more in a day? Would you feel more stressed or more relaxed? “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Easter 5)

Old Testament: Acts 8:26-40

Philip teaches and baptizes an Ethiopian eunuch. 

 

Epistle: 1 John 4:1-21

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God and loves one another is from God. 

 

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus says: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” 

 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“No fruit of virtue will spring up anew in those of us who have fallen away from intimate union with Christ. To those, however, who are joined to the one who is able to strengthen them and who nourishes them in righteousness, the capacity to bear fruit will readily be added by the provision and grace of the Spirit, which is like a life-producing water.” - Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, 10.2, quoted from ACCS: John 11-21, p. 165. 

 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Paschal Candle

The Paschal Candle is the large, decorated candle in the sanctuary.  The Paschal Candle is lit on Easter Sunday and remains lit until the Ascension of our Lord forty days later.  This light represents the bodily presence of Christ in the midst of His disciples during the forty days after His resurrection.  The only other times the Paschal Candle is lit is on Pentecost Day, and at baptisms and funerals as a special reminder that Christ is bodily present among those being baptized into His name and those who die in the faith and now rest with Him. 

 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V: Love and Fulfilling the Law, para. 250-253

In all passages in which works are praised in the Scriptures, it is necessary to understand not only outward works, but also the faith of the heart. Scripture does not speak of hypocrisy, but of the righteousness of the heart with its fruit. Furthermore, whenever the Law and works are mentioned, we must know that Christ cannot be excluded as Mediator. He Himself says, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). All passages about works can be judged according to this rule. When eternal life is granted to works, it is granted to those who have been justified. Only justified people, who are led by the Spirit of Christ, can do good works. Without faith and Christ as Mediator, good works do not please, according to Hebrews 11:6: "Without faith it is impossible to please [God]." When Paul says, "He will render to each one according to his works," not only the outward work ought to be understood, but all righteousness or unrighteousness. So, "Glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good," namely, to the righteous. "You gave Me food" (Matthew 25:35) is cited as the fruit and witness of the righteousness of the heart and of faith and, therefore, eternal life is given to righteousness. In this way Scripture, at the same time with the fruit, embraces the righteousness of the heart. Scripture often names the fruit, so that the inexperienced understand better. 

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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 25, 2021

Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same 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, April 25, 2021   8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class    9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     Tuesday, April 27, 2021 10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer    6:00 p.m.     Evening Prayer    Wednesday, April 28, 2021    6:00 p.m.    Christian Catechesis

Sunday, May 2, 2021       8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class        9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   April 25, 2021     Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist      May 1, 2021     Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna

Elder for April:   Boyd Shipler

 

Parish Messenger Articles for the May/June edition are due to Linda Kerkove today.

 

Skills and Interests Form - Each member (and non-member spouse) has received a Skills and Interests form in your church box.  As we slowly begin to get into the full swing of mission, mercy, and social activities at St. John’s in a more “normal” way, we would like to know what skills you have for serving your church and what interests you might have in growing in faith and fellowship with your fellow members.  This will help us better connect each of our members with opportunities to serve and grow in the best way for you and your life situation.   

 

Pastoral Care On Demand - Pastor Cowell would love to serve you Communion at church or at home, pray, read Scripture, offer Christian counsel, and/or just visit any time that works for you!  Call or text him any time at 319-464-5548. 

 

Stained Glass Window Project - We’ve met our financial goal for our new windows and are on track to possibly have them installed soon! There’s more information on the windows on the back table. Thanks for your generous contributions to this project.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - The easiest way to access our service livestreams and recordings is to click on the links posted on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org. 

Cards can be sent to Mark and Hope Lund on the birth of their twins, Henry and Dorothy to 605 N Church St., Algona, Iowa 50511

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity, Algona Schedule - Trinity, Algona continues to stream their worship services and other videos online. You can access these resources at trinityalgona.org/corona or the Trinity YouTube and Facebook pages either live or any time after as a recording.

 

Partnership Highway Clean-up - St. John’s and Trinity will be cleaning our partnership Adopt-a-Highway ditch on Saturday, May 15th, at 10:00 a.m.  If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please sign the sheet on the back table and we will get you more information. 

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji has been set for Saturday, June 19. The project and description sheet must be in by May 21.  If you would like to donate a quilt for the auction you may pick up an information sheet in the church office.

·         Volunteer Weekend is a great time to enjoy Camp Okoboji and share your time and talents. Come and help prepare Camp Okoboji for the upcoming summer season the weekend of April 30-May 2. Room and board will be provided for volunteers.  Our first omelet brunch of 2021 will be Sunday morning, May 2.  For more information, please call the office  at 712-337-3325.

 

Seminary Call Day - We will be praying for the vicars and pastoral candidates from our seminaries as they are placed and called this month.  Call day at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne is April 27th at 7:00 p.m. Call day at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is April 28th at 7:00 p.m.  You can find more information about vicarage placements and pastoral calls at ctsfw.edu and csl.edu.

 

Did You Know? The truth hurts, or so they say, but lies hurt so much worse. Whether you are a teenager relating to your parent or a husband or wife relating to your spouse, pledge to always be truthful, even (and maybe most especially) when it would be easier not to. Don’t try to cover things up. It will later cause the relationship to suffer from a lack of trust. “We trap ourselves by telling lies, but we stay out of trouble by living right.” (Proverbs 12:13). Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

COMMUNITY NEWS

City of Burt Clean-up Day - Burt’s free trash pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st from 8:00-11:30 a.m.  This year the city is requesting residents to drop their items at the Community Center rather than placing them on the curb.  The city has asked the Churches of Burt volunteer group to help deliver items to the Community Center for residents who are not physically able to deliver themselves.  Volunteers will meet at the Community Center at 8:00 (or whenever you can), receive addresses for a pick-up, and drop off the items back at the Community Center.  Please sign the sheet in the back of church if you are able to help with this project so we can give the city an idea of how many volunteers we have lined up. 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Easter 4)

Old Testament: Acts 4:1-12

The disciples are arrested by the leaders of the temple and Peter boldly confesses the resurrection of Jesus on their behalf. 

 

Epistle: 1 John 3:16-24

This is God’s commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

 

Gospel: John 10:11-18

Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Speaking through Ezekiel to the Jewish Elders, [Jesus] gives them a salutary example of tru care. ‘I will bind up the injured and will heal the sick; I will bring back the strays and pasture them on my holy mountain.’ These are the promises of the Good Shepherd.  Pasture us children like sheep, O Lord.  Fill us with your own food, the food of righteousness.  As our instructor, feed us on your holy mountain, the church above the clouds that touches the heavens.” - Clement of Alexandria, Christ the Educator, 1.9, qtd. in ACCS: John 1-10, p. 349

 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The “I AM” Statements of Jesus

There are seven revelations of the identity of Jesus in the Gospel of John known as the “I AM” statements.  These statements reveal Jesus to be the One who told Moses from the burning bush: “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ (Ex. 3:14)” The seven I AM statements include: “I am the bread of life (Jn. 6:35, 48, 51)”; “I am the light of the world (Jn. 8:12; 9:5)”; “I am the door of the sheep (Jn. 10:7, 9)”; “I am the good shepherd (Jn. 10:11, 14)”; “I am the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25)”; “I am the way, the truth, and the life   (Jn. 14:6)”; and “I am the true vine (Jn. 15:1)”. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

The Smalcald Articles, Preface, paragraphs 3, 10-11

The Roman court is terribly afraid of a free Christian council. They are ashamed to be exposed to the light. The Roman court has dashed the hope, even of those who are on their side, that they will ever permit a free council-much less hold one themselves. Many on the pope's side are greatly offended and rightly troubled at this negligence. They would rather see all Christendom perish and all souls damned than allow either himself or his followers to be reformed even a little or to have their tyranny be limited.  I would like to see a truly Christian council, so that many people and issues might be helped. Not that we need help. Our churches are now, through God's grace, enlightened and equipped with the pure Word and right use of the Sacraments, with knowledge of the various callings and right works. So, on our part, we ask for no council. On such points, we have nothing better to hope or expect from a council. But we see throughout the bishops' jurisdictions so many parishes vacant and desolate that it breaks our heart. Still, neither the bishops nor the Church officials care how the poor people live or die. Christ has died for them, and yet they are not allowed to hear Him speak as the true Shepherd with His sheep [Jn. 10:11-18]. This makes me shudder and fear that someday He might send a council of angels upon Germany who will destroy us like Sodom and Gomorrah for wickedly mocking Him. 

 

 

 

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 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Sunday, April 18, 2021

 

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; 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, April 18, 2021   8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class    9:00 a.m.     Divine Service   10:00 a.m.     Voter’s Meeting   Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer     Wednesday, April 21, 2021    6:00 p.m.    Christian Catechesis

Sunday, April 25, 2021       8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class        9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   April 20, 2021     Commemoration of Johannes Bugenhagen   April 21, 2021     Commemoration of Anselm of Canterbury   April 24, 2021     Commemoration of Johann Walter, Kantor

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Kitty Bierstedt 

Elder for April:  Boyd Shipler

Acolyte:  Breckin Borchardt

 

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

 

Thank You!  A special thank you to all those who attended the Easter egg hunt and Easter breakfast. Both of these events were great successes. We also give a huge thanks to  Karla Schutter, the Board of Education, the Wednesday Catechesis class for hosting these events, and the congregation for furnishing food for both of these events.  

 

Stain Glass Window Booklets which we used throughout Lent are available on the back table.  Feel free to take one home to keep.

 

Birthday Card Volunteer - We’d love to have a few volunteers to help write birthday cards and put them in the church boxes of our members. The church provides the cards and names for you to write. Please sign the sheet on the back table if you are interested.  We thank the LWML, especially Caradene Parsons, for their many months of contributing to this project.   

 

Skills and Interests Form - Each member (and non-member spouse) has received a Skills and Interests form in your church box.  As we slowly begin to get into the full swing of mission, mercy, and social activities at St. John’s in a more “normal” way, we would like to know what skills you have for serving your church and what interests you might have in growing in faith and fellowship with your fellow members.  This will help us better connect each of our members with opportunities to serve and grow in the best way for you and your life situation.   

 

Pastoral Care On Demand - Pastor Cowell would love to serve you Communion at church or at home, pray, read Scripture, offer Christian counsel, and/or just visit any time that works for you!  Call or text him any time at 319-464-5548. 

 

Stained Glass Window Project - We’ve met our financial goal for our new windows and are on track to possibly have them installed soon! There’s more information on the windows on the back table. Thanks for your generous contributions to this project.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - The easiest way to access our service livestreams and recordings is to click on the links posted on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org. 

 

Parish Messenger Articles for the May/June edition are due to Linda Kerkove by Sunday, April 25.

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity, Algona Schedule - Trinity, Algona continues to stream their worship services and other videos online. You can access these resources at trinityalgona.org/corona or the Trinity YouTube and Facebook pages either live or any time after as a recording.

 

Lund Twins - We give thanks to God with the Lund family that their twins, Dorothy and Henry, were born on April 8th.  We will continue to pray for Dorothy and Henry until they make it home from the NICU at Mercy, Des Moines, although you can rest assured from the letter on the back table that they are not experiencing any life-threatening health issues.  You can see pictures of the newborns in that letter as well.  

 

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji has been set for Saturday, June 19. The project and description sheet must be in by May 21.  If you would like to donate a quilt for the auction you may pick up an information sheet in the church office.

·         Volunteer Weekend is a great time to enjoy Camp Okoboji and share your time and talents. Come and help prepare Camp Okoboji for the upcoming summer season the weekend of April 30-May 2. Room and board will be provided for volunteers.  Our first omelet brunch of 2021 will be Sunday morning, May 2.  For more information, please call the office  at 712-337-3325.

 

Partnership Highway Clean-up - St. John’s and Trinity will be cleaning our partnership Adopt-a-Highway ditch on Saturday, May 15th, at 10:00 a.m.  If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please sign the sheet on the back table and we will get you more information. 

 

Seminary Call Day - We will be praying for the vicars and pastoral candidates from our seminaries as they are placed and called this month.  Call day at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne is April 27th at 7:00 p.m. Call day at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is April 28th at 7:00 p.m.  You can find more information about vicarage placements and pastoral calls at ctsfw.edu and csl.edu.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

City of Burt Clean-up Day - Burt’s free trash pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st from 8:00-11:30 a.m.  This year the city is requesting residents to drop their items at the Community Center rather than placing them on the curb.  The city has asked the Churches of Burt volunteer group to help deliver items to the Community Center for residents who are not physically able to deliver themselves.  Volunteers will meet at the Community Center at 8:00 (or whenever you can), receive addresses for a pick-up, and drop off the items back at the Community Center.  Please sign the sheet in the back of church if you are able to help with this project so we can give the city an idea of how many volunteers we have lined up. 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Easter 3)

Old Testament: Acts 3:11-21

Peter accuses the Jews of killing the Author of Life, but promises forgiveness to all who repent.

 

Epistle: 1 John 3:1-7

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. 

 

Gospel: Luke 24:36-49

Jesus eats fish in front of His disciples, and then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures. 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Neither sight alone nor handling of the Lord’s limbs was still enough to ensure that they would become witnesses of Christ and bravely endure everything for the preaching of the truth, fighting against falsehood even to the shedding of their blood.  Who gave them such a capability?  Listen to the Lord himself: ‘Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.’ ‘You have seen and touched, but you are still not able to preach and die for what you have seen and touched, until you are clothed with power from on high.’” - Augustine, Sermon 265D.6, qtd. from ACCS: Luke, p. 390. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Praying Before Worship

Whenever you come to receive God’s Divine Service, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself with prayer to receive His gifts by faith. You can pray using your own words, or, use this prayer found in the inside cover of the hymnal: 

     “O Lord, my creator, redeemer, and comforter, as I come to worship You in spirit and in  

       truth, I humbly pray that You would open my heart to the preaching of Your Word so that 

       I may repent of my sins, believe in Jesus Christ as my only Savior, and grow in grace and 

       holiness.  Hear me for the sake of His name. Amen.”

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XII: Repentance, paragraphs 88-89

When will conscience be quieted if we receive forgiveness of sins on the ground that we love, or that we do the works of the Law? The Law will always accuse us, because we never satisfy God's Law. Chrysostom asks about repentance, "Where are we made sure that our sins are forgiven?" The adversaries also ask about the same subject. Consciences cannot be made at peace unless they know it is God's command and the very Gospel that they should be firmly confident that sins are forgiven freely for Christ's sake, and that they should not doubt this. If anyone doubts, he charges the divine promise with falsehood, as 1 John 5:10 says. We teach that the Gospel requires this certainty of faith. The adversaries leave consciences uncertain and wavering. Consciences, however, do nothing by faith when they constantly doubt whether they have forgiveness. In this doubt how can they call upon God? How can they be confident that they are heard? So the entire life would be without God and without the true worship of God. This is what Paul says, "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). Because they are constantly occupied with this doubt, they never experience what faith is. So finally they rush at last into despair. Such is the doctrine of the adversaries, the doctrine of the Law, the setting aside of the Gospel, the doctrine of despair. 

 

 

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 OF EASTER

Sunday, April 11, 2021

 

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S Today, April 11, 2021   8:00 a.m.  Sunday School    9:00 a.m.  Divine Service   10:00 a.m.  Quarterly Council Meeting   Tuesday, April 13, 2021   8:30 a.m.   Pastor Circuit Meeting                      NO Morning Prayer

Wednesday, April 14, 2021      6:00 p.m.     Christian Catechesis       Sunday, April 18, 2021       8:00 a.m.     Sunday School/Adult Class        9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     10:00 a.m.     Voter’s Meeting      THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR    None this week

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna

Elder for April:  Boyd Shipler

Acolytes:  Caelum Blocker

                  Zack Steven

 

Quarterly Council Meeting will be held today following the service. Voter’s Meeting will be Sunday, April 18.

 

Thank You!  A special thank you to all those who attended the Easter egg hunt and Easter breakfast. Both of these events were great successes. We also give a huge thanks to  Karla Schutter, the Board of Education, the Wednesday Catechesis class for hosting these events, and the congregation for furnishing food for both of these events.  

 

Stain Glass Window Booklets which we used throughout Lent are available on the back table.  Feel free to take one home to keep.

 

Thank You to those members who purchased an Easter Lily to make our Easter morning worship beautiful and inspirational.  Cheryl Batt

 

Birthday Card Volunteer - We’d love to have a few volunteers to help write birthday cards and put them in the church boxes of our members. The church provides the cards and names for you to write. Please sign the sheet on the back table if you are interested.  We thank the LWML, especially Caradene Parsons, for their many months of contributing to this project.   

 

Skills and Interests Form - Each member (and non-member spouse) has received a Skills and Interests form in your church box.  As we slowly begin to get into the full swing of mission, mercy, and social activities at St. John’s in a more “normal” way, we would like to know what skills you have for serving your church and what interests you might have in growing in faith and fellowship with your fellow members.  This will help us better connect each of our members with opportunities to serve and grow in the best way for you and your life situation.   

 

Pastoral Care On Demand - Pastor Cowell would love to serve you Communion at church or at home, pray, read Scripture, offer Christian counsel, and/or just visit any time that works for you!  Call or text him any time at 319-464-5548. 

 

Stained Glass Window Project - We’ve met our financial goal for our new windows and are on track to possibly have them installed soon! There’s more information on the windows on the back table. Thanks for your generous contributions to this project.  

 

St. John’s Live-streamed Service - The easiest way to access our service livestreams and recordings is to click on the links posted on the homepage of stjohnsburt.org. 

 

Parish Messenger Articles for the May/June edition are due to Linda Kerkove by April 25.

 

Lent Midweek Offering Thank-You - Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Wednesday Catechesis charity project by giving offerings during our Lenten midweek services.  We collected $1485.  The charities these offerings go toward are: Lakota Ambulance, Kossuth County Cancer Support Foundation, Lutherans in Africa, Moving Veterans Forward, Camp Okoboji, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and Winding Roads Foster Care Transitional Home.  Our catechesis students will be writing letters to these charities explaining to them who they are and why they chose to give money toward their cause along with the donation check. 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity, Algona Schedule - Trinity, Algona continues to stream their worship services and other videos online. You can access these resources at trinityalgona.org/corona or the Trinity YouTube and Facebook pages either live or any time after as a recording.

 

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji has been set for Saturday, June 19. The project and description sheet must be in by May 21.  If you would like to donate a quilt for the auction you may pick up an information sheet in the church office.

·         Volunteer Weekend is a great time to enjoy Camp Okoboji and share your time and talents. Come and help prepare Camp Okoboji for the upcoming summer season the weekend of April 30-May 2. Room and board will be provided for volunteers.  Our first omelet brunch of 2021 will be Sunday morning, May 2.  For more information, please call the office  at 712-337-3325.

 

Partnership Highway Clean-up - St. John’s and Trinity will be cleaning our partnership Adopt-a-Highway ditch on Saturday, May 15th, at 10:00 a.m.  If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please sign the sheet on the back table and we will get you more information. 

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

City of Burt Clean-up Day - Burt’s free trash pick-up day is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st from 8:00-11:30 a.m.  This year the city is requesting residents to drop their items at the Community Center rather than placing them on the curb.  The city has asked the Churches of Burt volunteer group to help deliver items to the Community Center for residents who are not physically able to deliver themselves.  Volunteers will meet at the Community Center at 8:00 (or whenever you can), receive addresses for a pick-up, and drop off the items back at the Community Center.  Please sign the sheet in the back of church if you are able to help with this project so we can give the city an idea of how many volunteers we have lined up. 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Easter 2)

Old Testament:  Acts 4:32-35

The full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

 

Epistle: 1 John 1:1-2:2

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

Gospel: John 20:19-31

Jesus appears to the disciples, and then to Thomas, and gives them authority to forgive and retain sins. 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“’And when He had so said [Peace be with you], He showed unto them His hands and His side.’  For nails had pierced his hands, a spear had laid open his side: and there the marks of the wounds are preserved for healing the hearts of the doubting.” - St. Augustine, On the Gospel of St. John, Tractate 121.4, quoted from: newadvent.org/fathers/1701121.htm. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Office of the Keys

What is the Office of the Keys?  The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.  Where is this written?  This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23) [Luther’s Small Catechism, Confession]

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article VIII: The Person of Christ, para. 33-37

Next to the article of the Holy Trinity this is the greatest mystery in heaven and on earth. Paul says, "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, what kind of communion of the divine nature must that be of which the apostle says, "in [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" so that God and man are one person? It is highly important that this doctrine about the communion of the properties of both natures be treated and explained with proper discrimination. There are many ways and modes of speaking about the person of Christ and of its natures and properties. When these are used without proper distinction, the doctrine becomes confused and the simple reader is easily led astray.

     In Christ two distinct natures exist and remain unchanged and unconfused in their natural essence and properties. Yet there is only one person consisting of both natures. Therefore, that which is an attribute of only one nature is attributed not to that nature alone, as separate. It is attributed to the entire person, who is at the same time God and man (whether the person is called God or man).

     In this way of speaking, it does not make sense that what is attributed to the person is at the same time a property of both natures.