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 27th 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).
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