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 AFTER PENTECOST

June 27, 2021

 

Heavenly Father, during His earthly ministry Your Son Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. By the healing medicine of the Word and Sacraments pour into our hearts such love toward You that we may live eternally; through the same 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 27, 2021   8:00 a.m.      Adult Class    9:00 a.m.      Divine Service   10:00 a.m.     Cowell Baby Shower   Tuesday, June 29 2021   10:00 a.m.    Morning Prayer      6:00 p.m.    Evening Prayer

Wednesday, June 30, 2021     5:30-7:30 p.m.  Vacation Bible School     Sunday, July 4, 2021     8:00 a.m.       Adult Class      9:00 a.m.       Divine Service     HIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   June 27-    Commemoration of Cyril of Alexandria,           Pastor and Confessor   June 28-    Commemoration of Irenaeus of Lyons, Pastor   June 29-    Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles    July 2  -    Feast of The Visitation

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna       

Elder for June:  Jerry Koestler

 

An adorable baby is on the way…. Let’s shower the parents with gifts before the big day!!  Baby Girl Cowell will be here in about a month. Join us today after church to help celebrate the pending birth by bringing a copy of your favorite children’s book.  Coffee & Rolls will be served in the church basement.

 

Portals of Prayer - The July-September Portals of Prayer are available in the back of church. 

 

St. John’s VBS - Families and friends are welcome to join us for the closing session of VBS Wednesdays June 30 from 5:30-7:30. Our closing program will begin around 6:45. 

 

Quarterly Council Meeting will be held July 13 following the service. The Voter’s Meeting will be Sunday, July 18.

 

Greeter and Usher Sign-up - We're excited to reintroduce greeters to our Sunday mornings at St. John's!  Your family or you and a friend are welcome to sign up for a Sunday to greet on the back table.  Of course, hand shaking will be optional.  Also, we'd love to have at least one usher per month to help Jeff with duties as needed.  You can sign up for this on the back table as well. 

 

Parish Messenger Articles for the July/August Edition is due to Linda Kerkove today.

 

Sunday School/Service Time Change Discussion - Members of the Board of Education, Sunday school parents, and other members have been discussing over the past couple years the potential benefits of moving our Sunday school and adult Bible study to 8:30 a.m. and our service to 9:30 a.m.  The benefits that have been discussed for moving our Sunday schedule back 30 minutes include: 

• a little more time to get young children ready for Sunday school
• more time to evaluate road conditions in the winter
• more sunlight for driving to church in the winter
• more possibilities for after-church fundraising/mission lunches (with church ending a 

   little closer to lunch time).  

Because we would love for the entire congregation to be involved in this discussion, please think about what Sunday schedule you prefer so that you can be prepared to share your thoughts at the July 18th voter's meeting.  If possible, we would love to make a "yes" or "no" decision on this change before Sunday school begins in the fall.   

 

Vacation Prayer Cards - On the back table are prayer cards designed for you to put in your car or camper for when you travel. On the card is a prayer for before you travel along with other prayers and Psalms you can pray on the go. There is also information on how to find an LCMS congregation to worship with when you’re away from home on a Sunday. Feel free to take a card, laminated daily prayer folder, and Small Catechism for each of your vehicles!

 

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 waiting for them to be installed soon! 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. 

 

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.

 

Traveling to Camp Okoboji - Please be aware that construction is blocking the normal access from Highway 86 to the camp entrance.  If you would like detailed directions for how to get to the camp entrance, contact the church office. 

 

Building Healthy Families: Summer days are perfect for memory making! Making sandcastles at the beach, going for a bike ride, throwing a ball, or flying a kite are simple activities that make for great family time and memories. It’s time to disconnect the electronics and reconnect as a family! “Start children off in the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Churches of Burt Coffee - Join the Churches of Burt for coffee, rolls, and social time Saturday, July 10, from 8:00-10:30 at the Complex! If you’d like to volunteer or donate rolls for this event, please sign up on the back table. 

Burt Summer Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 10th.  The parade starts at 1:00 p.m. with fun events at the Burt Activity Complex from 2-6 p.m. The Street Dance-Farm Rock will begin at 9:00 p.m. and the evening will conclude with Fireworks by the Burt Fire Department on the athletic field.  Food and Beverages available all day.  **Meyer Bicycle Shop will be holding a Grand Opening at 10 a.m. with free Dilly Bars for first 90 kids under 16. (More information is posted on flyer along ramp)

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 8)

Old Testament: Lamentations 3:22-33

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15

St. Paul encourages the Church at Corinth to contribute to the needs of the ministry and the relief of the saints as did the Christians in Macedonia. 

 

Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

Jesus heals Jairus’ daughter and a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years.

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

[With reference to the woman with the discharge of blood in Mark 5:21-43]: “In an instant, faith cures where human skill had failed through twelve years.” - Peter Chrysologus, On the Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue, and On the Woman Suffering from an Issue of Blood 1, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, p. 74. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Chi-Rho 

A popular symbol of Christ is the Chi-Rho (kie-row).  This is the symbol that appears to us to be an english X on top of a P.  Those are actually two Greek letters, the “X” being the chi and the “P” being the rho.  These are the first two letters of the title “Christ.”  Therefore when you see the Chi-Rho on stoles, paraments, altars, or anywhere else in the church you are reminded that this is a place where Christ is present to fulfill His role as the one anointed to be your savior and eternal king. 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V: Love and Fulfilling the Law, para. 190-192

We cannot obey the Law, unless we have been born again through the Gospel. We cannot love God, unless we have received the forgiveness of sins. For as long as we feel that He is angry with us, our human nature runs away from His anger and judgment. If anyone should object that this view of faith (which desires those things offered by the promise) becomes confused with hope, we answer as follows. Hope expects promised things, and hope and faith cannot be separated in reality. Such needless debate takes place in the schools. The Epistle to the Hebrews defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). Yet if anyone wants a distinction between faith and hope, we say that the object of hope is properly a future event, but that faith is concerned with future and present things. Faith receives the forgiveness of sins offered in the promise in the present.

     From these statements we hope that it is clear both what faith is and that we are justified, reconciled, and regenerated through faith. We are compelled to hold on to these teachings because we want to teach the righteousness of the Gospel, not the righteousness of the Law. For those who teach that we are justified by love teach the righteousness of the Law. They do not teach us in justification to trust in Christ as Mediator. 

 

 

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 AFTER PENTECOST

June 20, 2021

 

Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; 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, June 20, 2021   8:00 a.m.          Adult Class    9:00 a.m.          Divine Service    Tuesday, June 22, 2021   10:00 a.m.        Morning Prayer    Wednesday, June 23, 2021   5:30-7:30 p.m.  Vacation Bible School   Sunday, June 27, 2021   8:00 a.m.           Adult Class

9:00 a.m.       Divine Service       10:00 a.m.     Cowell Baby Shower    THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   June 24, 2021     Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist      June 25, 2021     Commemoration of The Presentation of the          Augsburg Confession     June 26, 2021     Commemoration of Jeremiah

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna   

Elder for June:  Jerry Koestler

 

Thank You to all the church members who sent memorials, made bars and worked at Pam’s funeral. It was greatly appreciated! Also, a special thanks to Pastor Cowell for  many visits and the funeral service.  May God bless you all!    Pam Madsen Family

 

Portals of Prayer - The July-September Portals of Prayer are available in the back of church. 

 

St. John’s VBS - Families and friends are welcome to join us for the remaining two VBS Wednesdays: June 23 and 30 from 5:30-7:30.  We’d love volunteers for these three Wednesdays as well. 

 

Greeter and Usher Sign-up - We're excited to reintroduce greeters to our Sunday mornings at St. John's!  Your family or you and a friend are welcome to sign up for a Sunday to greet on the back table.  Of course, hand shaking will be optional.  Also, we'd love to have at least one usher per month to help Jeff with duties as needed.  You can sign up for this on the back table as well. 

 

Float Driver Needed - We’re looking for a volunteer to drive the church float in the Burt Summer Celebration Parade on July 10, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Please let the church office know if you would be willing to drive.

 

Parish Messenger Articles for the July/August Edition is due to Linda Kerkove by Sunday, June 27.

 

An adorable baby is on the way…. Let’s shower the parents with gifts before the big day!!  Baby Girl Cowell will be here in about a month. Join us June 27^th after church to help celebrate the pending birth by bringing a copy of your favorite children’s book.  Coffee & Rolls will be served in the church basement.

 

Sunday School/Service Time Change Discussion - Members of the Board of Education, Sunday school parents, and other members have been discussing over the past couple years the potential benefits of moving our Sunday school and adult Bible study to 8:30 a.m. and our service to 9:30 a.m.  The benefits that have been discussed for moving our Sunday schedule back 30 minutes include: 

• a little more time to get young children ready for Sunday school
• more time to evaluate road conditions in the winter
• more sunlight for driving to church in the winter
• more possibilities for after-church fundraising/mission lunches (with church ending a 

   little closer to lunch time).  

Because we would love for the entire congregation to be involved in this discussion, please think about what Sunday schedule you prefer so that you can be prepared to share your thoughts at the July 18th voter's meeting.  If possible, we would love to make a "yes" or "no" decision on this change before Sunday school begins in the fall.   

Vacation Prayer Cards - On the back table are prayer cards designed for you to put in your car or camper for when you travel. On the card is a prayer for before you travel along with other prayers and Psalms you can pray on the go. There is also information on how to find an LCMS congregation to worship with when you’re away from home on a Sunday. Feel free to take a card, laminated daily prayer folder, and Small Catechism for each of your vehicles!

 

Skills and Interests Form - If you have not yet completed your Skills and Interests form, you are still welcome to turn it in at the church office.  If you need an extra copy, they are available on the back table. 

 

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 waiting for them to be installed soon! 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. 

 

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.

 

Traveling to Camp Okoboji - Please be aware that construction is blocking the normal access from Highway 86 to the camp entrance.  If you would like detailed directions for how to get to the camp entrance, contact the church office. 

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Churches of Burt Coffee - Join the Churches of Burt for coffee, rolls, and social time Saturday, July 10, from 8:00-10:30 at the Complex! If you’d like to volunteer or donate rolls for this event, please sign up on the back table. 

Burt Summer Celebration will be held on Saturday, July 10th.  The parade starts at 1:00 p.m. with fun events at the Burt Activity Complex from 2-6 p.m.   The Street Dance-Farm Rock will begin at 9:00 and the evening will conclude with Fireworks by the Burt Fire Department on the athletic field.  Food and Beverages available all day.  **Meyer Bicycle Shop will be holding a Grand Opening at 10 a.m. with free Dilly Bars for first 90 kids under 16. (More information is posted on flyer along ramp)

 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 7)

Old Testament: Job 38:1-11

The Lord asks Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”

 

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Paul and the Apostles sought to remove every obstacle from receiving the gospel of salvation.

 

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

Jesus awakes from His nap to rebuke the wind and waves during a great storm at sea.

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“When [Jesus] disperses its waves, Habakkuk’s words are fulfilled, where he speaks of the Lord ‘scattering the waters in his passage [Hab. 3:10].’ When at his rebuke the sea is calmed, Nahum’s prophecy is fulfilled: ‘He rebukes the sea and makes it dry [Nah. 1:4].’” - Tertullian, Against Marcion 4.20, qtd. In ACCS: Mark, p. 64

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

This Friday, June 25th we celebrate the presentation of the Augsburg Confession to Emperor Charles V in 1530.  One interesting historical note about the day is that the Emperor decided to move the assembly from the much larger hall where the other business of the diet (meeting) had taken place into the palace chapel for the reading of the document by the Lutherans.  This was so that far less people could be present to hear the Lutheran’s confession of faith as it was read.  Nevertheless, it is said that Christian Beyer, who read the Augsburg Confession to Emperor Charles, spoke in such a loud and distinct voice that even the crowd listening through the open windows could hear every word.  May God grant us Lutherans boldness to proclaim the truth of His Word regardless of the barriers in our way. 

 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV: The Mass, paragraphs 28-29

God had commanded this: "Hear Me," that is, "believe Me that I am your God, and that I wish to be known when I care for you and help you. I do not need your sacrificial victims. Believe that I want to be God the Justifier and Savior, not because of works, but because of My Word and promise. Seek and expect help from Me from the heart."

     Psalm 50:13-15, which rejects sacrificial victims and requires prayer: "Do I eat the flesh of bulls?" "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." The psalmist testifies that this is true service and true honor if we call upon Him from the heart.

     Likewise, "Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but You have given me an open ear" (Psalm 40:6), that is, "You have offered me Your Word that I may hear it, and You do require that I believe Your Word and Your promises. You truly desire to care for me and to help," and so on. Likewise, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). "Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord" (Psalm 4:5). He asks us to hope, and says that this is a righteous sacrifice, meaning that other sacrifices are not true and righteous sacrifices. And, "I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:17). 

 

 

 

 

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 AFTER PENTECOST

June 13, 2021

 

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, June 13, 2021   8:00 a.m.      Adult Class    9:00 a.m.      Divine Service    Tuesday, June 15, 2021   10:00 a.m.  Morning Prayer    Wednesday, June 16, 2021 5:30-7:30 p.m.  Vacation Bible School

Sunday, June 20 2021     8:00 a.m.     Adult Class      9:00 a.m.     Divine Service     THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR   June 14     Commemoration of Elisha

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Kitty Bierstedt 

Elder for June:  Jerry Koestler

 

St. John’s VBS - Families and friends are welcome to join us for the remaining three VBS Wednesdays: June 16, 23, and 30 from 5:30-7:30.  We’d love volunteers for these three Wednesdays as well. 

 

Greeter and Usher Sign-up - We're excited to reintroduce greeters to our Sunday mornings at St. John's!  Your family or you and a friend are welcome to sign up for a Sunday to greet on the back table.  Of course, hand shaking will be optional.  Also, we'd love to have at least one usher per month to help Jeff with duties as needed.  You can sign up for this on the back table as well. 

 

Float Driver Needed - We’re looking for a volunteer to drive the church float in the Burt Summer Celebration Parade on July 10, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Please let the church office know if you would be willing to drive.

An adorable baby is on the way…. Let’s shower the parents with gifts before the big day!!  Baby Girl Cowell will be here in about a month.   Join us June 27^th after church to help celebrate the pending birth by bringing a copy of your favorite children’s book. 

Vacation Prayer Cards - On the back table are prayer cards designed for you to put in your car or camper for when you travel. On the card is a prayer for before you travel along with other prayers and Psalms you can pray on the go. There is also information on how to find an LCMS congregation to worship with when you’re away from home on a Sunday. Feel free to take a card, laminated daily prayer folder, and Small Catechism for each of your vehicles!

Parish Messenger Articles for the July/August Edition is due to Linda Kerkove by Sunday, June 27.

 

Sunday School/Service Time Change Discussion - Members of the Board of Education, Sunday school parents, and other members have been discussing over the past couple years the potential benefits of moving our Sunday school and adult Bible study to 8:30 a.m. and our service to 9:30 a.m.  The benefits that have been discussed for moving our Sunday schedule back 30 minutes include: 

• a little more time to get young children ready for Sunday school
• more time to evaluate road conditions in the winter
• more sunlight for driving to church in the winter
• more possibilities for after-church fundraising/mission lunches (with church ending a 

   little closer to lunch time).  

Because we would love for the entire congregation to be involved in this discussion, please think about what Sunday schedule you prefer so that you can be prepared to share your thoughts at the July 18th voter's meeting.  If possible, we would love to make a "yes" or "no" decision on this change before Sunday school begins in the fall.   

Skills and Interests Form - If you have not yet completed your Skills and Interests form, you are still welcome to turn it in at the church office.  If you need an extra copy, they are available on the back table. 

 

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 waiting for them to be 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. 

 

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.

 

St. Lukes (Fairville) 125th Celebration - You are invited to join us as we celebrate one year later our 125th Anniversary! On Sunday, June 13, we will have a meal for everyone from noon-1:30 p.m., followed by our anniversary service at 2:00 p.m. After the service, we will have fellowship with cake and ice cream with our time capsule on display. Everyone is invited to join us at one or all events!

 

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji has been set for Saturday, June 19 at 12:30 p.m. For decades, the Auxiliary has hosted a Quilt Auction and Craft Sale, which they have used to fund multiple projects at Camp. 

·         Be a Volunteer Counselor! We are still seeking high school youth and college-aged young adults to serve as counselors for our camp weeks.

·         For anyone coming to Camp Okoboji, please be aware that construction is blocking the normal access from Highway 86 to the camp entrance.  Access to camp must go the long way completely around the Wahpeton loop.  That would mean exiting off Highway 86 at the first road north of the normal camp turn, going past Kazarelli’s restaurant, taking the right hand curve before Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, past Gull Point State Park, past Crescent Beach Resort and arriving at our entrance.  

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 6)

• Old Testament: Ezekiel 17:22-24
• The Lord will take a twig and plant it on the mountain height of Israel, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar.
•  
• Epistle: 2 Corthians 5:1-17
• Whether we are in the body or in heaven with Jesus we aim to please the Lord wherever we are.
•  
• Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
• Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God is like a seed scattered on the ground, and like a mustard seed.

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

• “Christ is the kingdom of heaven. Sown like a mustard seed in the garden of the virgin’s womb, he grew up into the tree of the cross whose branches stretch across the world. Crushed in the mortar of the passion, its fruit has produced seasoning enough for the flavoring and preservation of every living creature with which it comes in contact.” - Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 17, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, p. 62. 
•  

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY

• What is the Bible?
• The Bible gathers together the writings of God’s chosen prophets and apostles over a period of more than a thousand years.  Through the Holy Spirit, God Himself gave these writers the thoughts and words they recorded (verbal inspiration), such that the Bible is God’s Word.  For this reason, the Scriptures are both infallible (incapable of error) and inerrant (containing no mistakes).  Holy Scripture is therefore entirely reliable and gives us everything we need to know and believe for Christian faith and life.  See Hebrews 1:1-2; Ephesians 2:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21. - An Explanation of the Small Catechism (CPH: 2017), p. 46-47
•  

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

• Large Catechism, Part II: Apostles’ Creed, paragraphs 53-55
• 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 and preaches to 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.
•    We believe that in this Christian Church we have forgive-ness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution and through all kinds of comforting promises from the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever ought to be preached about the Sacraments belongs here. In short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity belong here, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. God's grace is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Spirit through God's Word in the unity of the Christian Church. Yet because of our flesh, which we bear about with us, we are never without sin.
•    In the Christian Church we shall daily receive the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. So even though we have sins, the Holy Spirit does not allow them to harm us. For in the Church there is nothing but forgiveness of sin. This is because God forgives us and because we forgive, bear with, and help one another.

 

 

 

 

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 6, 2021

 

Almighty and eternal God, Your Son Jesus triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your will; 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 1, 2021   8:00 a.m.      Adult Class    9:00 a.m.      Divine Service    Tuesday, June 8, 2021   No Morning Prayer    Wednesday, June 9, 2021 5:30-7:30 p.m.   Vacation Bible School

Sunday, June 13, 2021     8:00 a.m.     Adult Class      9:00 a.m.     Divine Service   THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR    June 11, 2021     Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle    June 12, 2021     Commemoration of The Ecumenical          Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna

Elder for June:  Jerry Koestler

Officiant:  Rev. Mark Lund

 

Pastor Cowell on Vacation - Pastor Cowell is on vacation till Tuesday, June 8th.  If you need to reach him during that time you can call or text him on his cell phone at: 319-464-5548.  If you are in immediate need of pastoral care, please call the Trinity pastoral care phone at 515-361-1269, which either Pastor Schlund or Lund will be carrying.  

 

St. John’s VBS is scheduled to begin this Wednesday, June 9, 2021.  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. Registration forms are on the table or you may email the church office for one to fill out.  

Other Scheduled VBS are Wednesday  June 16, 23 & 30th 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 

VBS Volunteers - If you would like to volunteer to help at VBS any of the four Wednesdays, or to make cookies/bars for any of the meals, please sign up on the sheets on the back table.

 

Greeter and Usher Sign-up - We're excited to reintroduce greeters to our Sunday mornings at St. John's!  Your family or you and a friend are welcome to sign up for a Sunday to greet on the back table.  Of course, hand shaking will be optional.  Also, we'd love to have at least one usher per month to help Jeff with duties as needed.  You can sign up for this on the back table as well. 

 

Vacation Prayer Cards - On the back table are prayer cards designed for you to put in your car or camper for when you travel. On the card is a prayer for before you travel along with other prayers and Psalms you can pray on the go. There is also information on how to find an LCMS congregation to worship with when you’re away from home on a Sunday. Feel free to take a card, laminated daily prayer folder, and Small Catechism for each of your vehicles!

 

Skills and Interests Form - If you have not yet completed your Skills and Interests form, you are still welcome to turn it in at the church office.  If you need an extra copy, they are available on the back table. 

 

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 waiting for them to be 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. 

 

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.

 

St. Lukes (Fairville) 125th Celebration - You are invited to join us as we celebrate one year later our 125th Anniversary! On Sunday, June 13, we will have a meal for everyone from noon-1:30 p.m., followed by our anniversary service at 2:00 p.m. After the service, we will have fellowship with cake and ice cream with our time capsule on display. Everyone is invited to join us at one or all events!

 

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 Week. 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: It’s wedding season! You may be attending a wedding or celebrating your own anniversary soon. Consider taking time this week to look through your old wedding photos. Revisit the fun, emotion, fears, laughs, and tears of the day with your spouse. Have a conversation about all you’ve learned about life, family, and faith since that day. Who are you now compared to who you were then? What has changed? How has God made His presence known as the third person in your marriage described in Ecclesiastes 4:12? Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org

  COMMUNITY NEWS

Burt Fire Department Pancake Breakfast will be held today (June 6, 2021) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Burt Activity Complex. Menu: Pancakes, eggs, bacon and drinks. Free-will donation.

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 5)

Old Testament: Genesis 3:8–15

The Lord meets Adam and Eve in the Garden and they confess that they have eaten from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

 

Epistle: 2 Corthinans 4: 13-5:1

We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

 

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35

The scribes accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul, and Jesus tells the crowd: “Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“[The adversary] enticed man to transgress his Maker's law, and thereby got him into his power; yet his power consists in transgression and apostasy, and with these he bound man [to himself]; so again, on the other hand, it was necessary that through man himself he should, when conquered, be bound with the same chains with which he had bound man, in order that man, being set free, might return to his Lord, leaving to him (Satan) those bonds by which he himself had been fettered, that is, sin. For when Satan is bound, man is set free; since none can enter a strong man's house and spoil his goods, unless he first bind the strong man himself. [...] And justly indeed is he led captive, who had led men unjustly into bondage; while man, who had been led captive in times past, was rescued from the grasp of his possessor, according to the tender mercy of God the Father, who had compassion on His own handiwork, and gave to it salvation, restoring it by means of the Word — that is, by Christ — in order that men might learn by actual proof that he receives incorruptibility not of himself, but by the free gift of God.” - Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.21.3, retrieved from newadvent.org/fathers/0103521.htm. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Prayer after Communion

Some people find it helpful to pray a silent prayer by themselves after they receive the Lord’s Supper.  This prayer from the inside cover of our hymnal can help you give thanks after receiving the sacrament:

     “Almighty and everlasting God, I thank and praise You for feeding me the life-giving body and 

       blood of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  Send Your Holy Spirit that, having with my mouth 

       received the holy Sacrament, I may by faith obtain and eternally enjoy Your divine grace, the 

       forgiveness of sins, unity with Christ, and life eternal; through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.”

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II: Original Sin, paragraph 14

These were the reasons why, in the description of original sin, we made mention of concupiscence also, and denied to man’s natural strength the fear of God and trust in Him. For we wished to indicate that original sin contains also these diseases, namely, ignorance of God, contempt for God, the being destitute of the fear of God and trust in Him, inability to love God. These are the chief faults of human nature, conflicting especially with the first table of the Decalog.