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.
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