Thursday, August 26, 2021

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 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 29. 2021

 

O God, the source of all that is just and good, nourish in us every virtue and bring to completion every good intent that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works; 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 29, 2021

 8:00 a.m.  Adult Class 

 9:00 a.m.  Divine Service 

10:30 p.m. Rally Day at Smith Lake

 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer 

 

Sunday, September 5, 2021

  8:00 a.m.    Adult Class 

  9:00 a.m.    Divine Service   

         

  THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  

 

  August 29, 2021

    Feast of The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist 

  September 1, 2021

    Commemoration of Joshua

  September 2, 2021

    Commemoration of Hannah

  September 3, 2021

    Commemoration of Gregory the Great, Pastor

  September 4, 2021

    Commemoration of Moses

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna    

Elder for August:  Boyd Shipler  

 

New Schedule - Beginning Sunday, September 12, Sunday School and adult class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Divine Service will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Stop by your church mailbox to pick up a reminder postcard for this time change. 

 

Partnership Rally Day at Smith Lake - The entire congregation is invited to our Partnership Rally Day at the east shelter at Smith Lake today at 10:30 a.m.  We will begin with a brief prayer service including the installation of Sunday School teachers and presentation of Bibles and Catechism, followed by lunch and games. Bring a lawn chair or blanket!

 

Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing - Join us Wednesday, September 8 at St. John’s for our Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing!  The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. in the church basement. Bring a main dish, side, or desert if you’re able.  (Feel free to come later if work prevents you from arriving at 5:30.)  Then, join us at the outdoor altar at 6:30 p.m. for a hymn sing; we'll be taking requests!  Please label your serving dishes if you’d like them back. 

 

Wednesday Catechesis Parent Meeting - Our start of the year parent/child meeting for Wednesday Christian Catechesis will be at the beginning of our first class on Wednesday, September 15th at 6:00 p.m.  We’d love for both parents to attend if possible.  

 

St. John’s T-Shirts - If you missed your opportunity to purchase a St. John’s T-shirt a year ago (or you would like a second one!), we now have T-shirts available in the church office. The cost is $6.00 and can be picked up any time.

 

New Resources Available - Take a look at the several new booklets in the pamphlet rack in the back of church.  New titles include, from the A Simple Explanation series: Angels, the Bible, and Church Symbols, and from the A Biblical Response series: Suicide, Addiction, homosexuality, Transgenderism, Divorce, and Abortion. Feel free to take as many of these booklets as you’d like. 

 

New Stained Glass Windows! - We will be blessing our new windows immediately following the Divine Service on Sunday, September 12. You can view pictures of the installation process of our new stained glass windows at: stjohnsburt.org/new-stain-glass-window-installation.html

 

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. 

 

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. 

 

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 Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook. 

 

Lutherans in Africa Updates - Great things continue to happen at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya and throughout the surrounding area for the good of Christ’s Church.  Lutherans in Africa publishes very informative monthly newsletters which you can find at lutheransinafrica.com/updates or by searching @LutheransInAfrica on Facebook.  The lutheransinafrica.com website is also updated regularly and is a great way to stay up to date on the work our mission dollars are supporting. 

 

Building Healthy Families: Date night! When was the last time you planned a date for your spouse? A home cooked meal, a game night, or recreating your first date are just a few ideas. A date doesn’t have to cost a lot to make it fun. What counts most is the time spent together! “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:8 Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

This work of art, which will be referenced in today’s sermon, is an icon known as Christ Pantocrator.  It originates from St. Catherine’s Monastery at Sinai as early as the 6th century. Pantocrator is a Greek word meaning “all-powerful” or “almighty.”

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 17)

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

The Lord instructs Israel to keep His commands so that other nations might inquire as to the greatness of their God.

 

Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-20

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 

 

Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus taught: “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Let us, then, his servants, follow our Lord and patiently submit to denunciations that we may be blessed! If, with slight forbearance, I hear some bitter or evil remark directed against me, I may return it, and then I shall inevitably become bitter myself. Either that, or I shall be tormented by unexpressed resentment. If I retaliate when cursed, how shall I be found to have followed the teaching of our Lord? For his saying has been handed down that one is defiled not by unclean dishes but by the words which proceed from his mouth.” - Tertullian, On Patience, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, 99. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Preparing for [private or corporate] Confession

“Consider how the Ten Commandments act as a mirror, showing us where we have sinned in our various places in life.  How have you - as a husband, wife, mother, father, daughter, son, teacher, student, employer, employee, and so forth - failed to fear love, and trust in God and love your neighbor?” - An Explanation of the Small Catechism (2017), p. 311

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: The Person of Christ, para. 76-79

No man besides [Christ], either in heaven or on earth, can say with truth, "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them" (Matthew 18:20). Also, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

     We do not understand these testimonies to mean that only Christ's divinity is present with us in the Christian Church and congregation, and that such presence does not apply to Christ according to His humanity... However, the Holy Scriptures say this only about Christ, and no other man. We hold that by these words the majesty of the man Christ is declared. Christ has received this majesty, according to His humanity, at the right hand of God's majesty and power. So also, according to His received human nature and with the same, He can be, and also is, present where He wants to be. He is present especially in His Church and congregation on earth as Mediator, Head, King, and High Priest. This presence is not a part, or only one half of Him. Christ's entire person is present, to which both natures belong, the divine and the human-not only according to His divinity, but also according to, and with, His received human nature. He is our Brother, and we are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. He has instituted His Holy Supper for the certain assurance and confirmation of this, so that He will be with us, and dwell, work, and be effective in us. 

 

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 22, 2021

 

Almighty and merciful God, defend Your Church from all false teaching and error that Your faithful people may confess You to be the only true God and rejoice in Your good gifts of life and salvation; 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 22, 2021

 8:00 a.m.  Adult Class 

 9:00 a.m.  Divine Service 

12:00 p.m. Baptism of Amelia Cowell

 

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer 

 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

  6:00 p.m.  Board of Ed. Meeting

 

          

  Sunday, August 29, 2021

   8:00 a.m.    Adult Class 

   9:00 a.m.    Divine Service   

  10:30 a.m.   Rally Day at Smith Lake

 

  THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  

 

  August 24, 2021 - Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle 

 

  August 27, 2021 - Commemoration of Monica, Faithful 

                                    Mother

 

  August 28, 2021 - Commemoration of Augustine of 

                                    Hippo, Doctor of the Church

 

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna    

Elder for August:  Boyd Shipler  

Greeter Today:  Cheryl Batt

 

New Schedule - Beginning Sunday, September 12, Sunday School and adult class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Divine Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. 

 

Amelia Opal’s Baptism Day - The congregation is invited to witness the Baptism of Amelia Opal Cowell today at 12:00 p.m.  Lunch in the church basement will immediately follow the Baptism.  

 

Partnership Rally Day at Smith Lake - The entire congregation is invited to our Partnership Rally Day at the east shelter at Smith Lake Sunday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m.  We will begin with a brief prayer service including the installation of Sunday School teachers and presentation of Bibles and Catechism, followed by lunch and games. Bring a lawn chair or blanket!

  • Note that we will have our regularly scheduled Divine Service at St. John’s at 9:00 a.m. on this Sunday as well. 

 

Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing - Join us Wednesday, September 8 at St. John’s for our Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing!  The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. in the church basement. Bring a main dish, side, or desert if you’re able.  (Feel free to come later if work prevents you from arriving at 5:30.)  Then, join us at the outdoor altar at 6:30 p.m. for a hymn sing; we'll be taking requests!  Please label your serving dishes if you’d like them back. 

 

St. John’s T-Shirts - If you missed your opportunity to purchase a St. John’s T-shirt a year ago (or you would like a second one!), we now have T-shirts available in the church office. The cost is $6.00 and can be picked up any time.

 

New Resources Available - Take a look at the several new booklets in the pamphlet rack in the back of church.  New titles include, from the A Simple Explanation series: Angels, the Bible, and Church Symbols, and from the A Biblical Response series: Suicide, Addiction, homosexuality, Transgenderism, Divorce, and Abortion. Feel free to take as many of these booklets as you’d like. 

 

New Stained Glass Windows! - You can view pictures of the installation process of our new stained glass windows at: stjohnsburt.org/new-stain-glass-window-installation.html

 

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 are due to Linda Kerkove for the September/October edition today.

 

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. 

 

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 Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook. 

 

Lutherans in Africa Updates - Great things continue to happen at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya and throughout the surrounding area for the good of Christ’s Church.  Lutherans in Africa publishes very informative monthly newsletters which you can find at lutheransinafrica.com/updates or by searching @LutheransInAfrica on Facebook.  The lutheransinafrica.com website is also updated regularly and is a great way to stay up to date on the work our mission dollars are supporting. 

 

Did You Know - Lutheran Family Service is 120 years old! Established in 1901 to find loving Christian homes for orphans in the Fort Dodge area, LFS has been serving families ever since! Still providing pregnancy counseling and adoption services, our services have expanded to meet emerging needs through the years include mental health and marriage counseling, life advocacy, teaching and supporting young people, and support for church workers. All this help is provided through gifts that come from people like you – our LCMS partners throughout the state. Your gift, sent by mail to LFS at 409 Kenyon Road, Suite C, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, or made through our web site will be used to serve someone in need this year. Thanking God for His provision for His people through LFS for 120 years! Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

 LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 16)

Old Testament: Isaiah 29:11-19

Isaiah’s vision is like a book that cannot be read, but soon the Lord will cause the deaf to hear it and the blind to see it. 

 

Epistle: Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

 

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

The Pharisees rebuke Jesus’ disciples for eating with defiled (unwashed) hands, and Jesus responds: “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“So let us devote ourselves to those at peace in their devotion to God, and not to those who seek peace through hypocrisy. For he says in one place: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’ And again: ‘They blessed with their mouth, but they cursed in their heart.’ And again he says: ‘They flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.’” - Clement of Rome, The Letter to the Corinthians, 14, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, 97-98 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Why do men serve in the pastoral office?

One of the several reasons God instructs that pastors should be men is that this follows God’s natural order of creation of a husband being the head of a household.  Because Christ is the bridegroom of His bride the Church, it is a man who ought to stand before the people as the representative of Christ the Bridegroom. These truths are confessed in detail in Ephesians chapter five which we hear in the liturgy today, and can be summarized by Eph. 5:23 - “The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.”

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, Part I: Ten Commandments, Fourth Commandment, para. 108-109, 111-113

     Learn what is the honor towards parents that this commandment requires. We must serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor. We must do all this not only gladly, but with humility and reverence, as doing it before God. For the child who knows how to regard parents in his heart will not allow them to do without, but will share with them whatever he possesses.

     Second, notice how holy a work is assigned to children here. Unfortunately, this is disregarded. No one notices that God has commanded it or that it is a holy, divine doctrine. For if it had been regarded as holy, everyone who lives according to these words must be holy people. There would have been no need to invent monasticism or spiritual orders. Every child would have said, "If I am to do good and holy works, I know of none better than to give all honor and obedience to my parents, because God has Himself commanded it. For what God commands must be much better and far nobler than everything that we may come up with ourselves. Since there is no higher or better teacher to be found than God, there can certainly be no better teaching than what He provides. If, then, it is God who commands this, I will never improve upon it." 

 

 

Thursday, August 12, 2021

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 TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 15, 2021

 

Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow His steps in the way that leads to life eternal; 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, August 15, 2021

  8:00 a.m.   Adult Class 

  9:00 a.m.   Divine Service 

 

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

 10:00 a.m.  Morning Prayer  

 

Sunday, August 22, 2021

  8:00 a.m.   Adult Class 

  9:00 a.m.   Divine Service 

 12:00 p.m.  Baptism of Amelia Cowell           

  THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  

 

  August 15, 2021

    Feast of St. Mary, Mother of our Lord 

 

  August 16, 2021

    Commemoration of Isaac

 

  August 17, 2021

    Commemoration of Johann Gerhard, Theologian

 

  August 19, 2021

    Commemoration of Bernard of Clairvaux, 

      Hymnwriter and Theologian

 

  August 20, 2021

    Commemoration of Samuel

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna    

Elder for August:  Boyd Shipler  

Greeters for Today:  Boyd and Rosann Shipler

 

New Schedule - Beginning Sunday, September 12, Sunday School and adult class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Divine Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. 

 

Amelia Opal’s Baptism Day - The congregation is invited to witness the Baptism of Amelia Opal Cowell on Sunday, August 22nd at 12:00 p.m.  Lunch in the church basement will immediately follow the Baptism.  

 

Partnership Rally Day at Smith Lake - The entire congregation is invited to our Partnership Rally Day at the east shelter at Smith Lake Sunday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m.  We will begin with a brief prayer service including the installation of Sunday School teachers and presentation of Bibles and Catechism, followed by lunch and games. Bring a lawn chair or blanket!

  • Note that we will have our regularly scheduled Divine Service at St. John’s at 9:00 a.m. on this Sunday as well. 

 

Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing - Join us Wednesday, September 8 at St. John’s for our Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing!  The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. in the church basement. Bring a main dish, side, or desert if you’re able.  (Feel free to come later if work prevents you from arriving at 5:30.)  Then, join us at the outdoor altar at 6:30 p.m. for a hymn sing; we'll be taking requests!  Please label your serving dishes if you’d like them back. 

 

St. John’s T-Shirts - If you missed your opportunity to purchase a St. John’s T-shirt a year ago (or you would like a second one!), we now have T-shirts available in the church office. The cost is $6.00 and can be picked up any time.

 

Stained Glass Windows have been installed! Take a moment and view our newly installed windows at the east entrance of the church.  Thank you to everyone who generously supported this project, especially Esther Christensen and Helen Smith families for their memorial donations.  Also, special thanks to Pam and Randy Reimers for coordinating with Bogenrief Studios out of Sutherland, Iowa in the designing and installation of these beautiful windows. 

 

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 are due to Linda Kerkove for the September/October edition by Sunday, August 22.

 

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. 

 

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 Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook. 

 

Lutherans in Africa Updates - Great things continue to happen at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya and throughout the surrounding area for the good of Christ’s Church.  Lutherans in Africa publishes very informative monthly newsletters which you can find at lutheransinafrica.com/updates or by searching @LutheransInAfrica on Facebook.  The lutheransinafrica.com website is also updated regularly and is a great way to stay up to date on the work our mission dollars are supporting. 

 

Building Healthy Families: School starts soon! How can you prepare your child for a successful school year? Setting routines such as selecting outfits, getting homework completed and papers signed the night before makes for a smoother morning. Additionally, daily prayer for your child and involving him/her in family devotions are great choices! “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4   Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 15)

Old Testament: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18

Joshua says to the tribes of Israel: “choose this day whom you will serve [...]. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 

Epistle: Ephesians 5:6-21

Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

 

Gospel: John 6:51-69

Jesus says: “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

[Speaking on Ephesians 5:16b: “...the days are evil.”:] “When Paul says ‘the days are evil,’ he does not mean that they are created evil or that they are by their very nature evil. Rather he says this of the troubling events that occur in time. We are in the habit of saying, ‘I have had a terrible day.’ But that does not imply that the day itself is intrinsically terrible. Rather it refers to what has occurred in the day. Some of the things that occur in it are good, as they are enabled by God. Some are bad, because they are brought about by evil willing. Therefore it is we humans who are the authors of the evils that occur in time. Only on this basis are the times called evil.” - Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 18.5.15-17, qtd. in ACCS: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 180. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

A Brief History of Communion Frequency

There are two reasons why Lutheran churches in America have not celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day.  The first reason is that back in the days of the American frontier not every church had their own pastor. This means congregations would have to wait until a pastor made his circuit to their church to celebrate the Sacrament.  The second reason, which pertains to present-day Lutheranism, is the wide acceptance of rationalism and other philosophies born out of the Enlightenment which favor the rational thoughts of the mind over the unexplainable mystery of the Sacrament. These unbiblical worldviews have produced a fear among Christians over receiving the Sacrament too frequently, lest it lose its “meaning”.  On the contrary, the Church unanimously celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and feast day for the first 1,500 years of her history, as did Martin Luther and the first few generations of Lutherans.  Only later in the history of Lutheranism did many Lutherans succumb to the worldviews of secular society and other Protestant denominations and miss out on the joy and benefit of receiving this gift of God on a weekly basis. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, Apostles’ Creed, Article III: The Holy Spirit, paragraphs 40-45

What do you mean "I believe in the Holy Spirit?" Answer, "I believe that the Holy Spirit makes me holy, as His name implies."

     "But how does He accomplish this, or what are His method and means to this end?" Answer, "By the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. For the Spirit has His own congregation in the world, which is the mother that conceives and bears every Christian through God's Word. Through the Word He reveals and preaches, He illumines and enkindles hearts, so that they understand, accept, cling to, and persevere in the Word."

 

 

 

Thursday, August 05, 2021

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 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 8, 2021

 

Gracious Father, Your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Grant that Christ, the bread of life, may live in us and we in Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S

 

Today, August 8, 2021

  8:00 a.m.      Adult Class 

  9:00 a.m.      Divine Service 

 

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

  10:00 a.m.     Morning Prayer 

 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

   6:00 p.m.      Sign Making Day  

 

Sunday, August 15, 2021

   8:00 a.m.       Adult Class 

   9:00 a.m.       Divine Service              

  THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  

 

  August 10, 2021

    Commemoration of Laurence, Deacon and Martyr





 

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:   Marcia Hanna   

Elder for August:  Boyd Shipler  

Greeters for Today:  Al and Peggy Schadendorf

 

New Schedule - Beginning Sunday, September 12, Sunday School and adult class will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Divine Service will begin at 9:30 a.m. 

 

Welcome! - We thank God with John Schutter who on Sunday, August 1, in the presence of representatives from the St. John’s elders and congregation, confessed his shared faith in the doctrine of Holy Scripture taught and believed by the Christians of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and was welcomed into membership at St. John’s.  We rejoice for John to join us at Holy Communion and to participate fully in the life of our church family. 

 

Amelia Opal’s Baptism Day - The congregation is invited to witness the Baptism of Amelia Opal Cowell on Sunday, August 22nd at 12:00 p.m.  Lunch in the church basement will immediately follow the Baptism.  

 

Partnership Rally Day at Smith Lake - The entire congregation is invited to our Partnership Rally Day at the east shelter at Smith Lake Sunday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m.  We will begin with a brief prayer service including the installation of Sunday School teachers and presentation of Bibles and Catechism, followed by lunch and games. Bring a lawn chair or blanket!

  • Note that we will have our regularly scheduled Divine Service at St. John’s at 9:00 a.m. on this Sunday as well. 

 

Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing - Join us Wednesday, September 8 at St. John’s for our Partnership Potluck and Hymn Sing!  The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. in the church basement. Bring a main dish, side, or desert if you’re able.  (Feel free to come later if work prevents you from arriving at 5:30.)  Then, join us at the outdoor altar at 6:30 p.m. for a hymn sing; we'll be taking requests!  Please label your serving dishes if you’d like them back. 

 

Sign-Making Day at St. John’s - Kim Kollasch with 400 Rustic Station Home & Design will be hosting a Joshua 24:15 sign making event at St. John’s on Wednesday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m.  If you would like to attend, please let the church office know by Monday. The cost of the project is $50. You can see an example of the type of sign you would make in the back of church. 

 

St. John’s T-Shirts - If you missed your opportunity to purchase a St. John’s T-shirt a year ago (or you would like a second one!), we now have T-shirts available in the church office. The cost is $6.00 and can be picked up any time.

 

Stained Glass Windows have been installed! Take a moment and view our newly installed windows at the east entrance of the church.  Thank you to everyone who generously supported this project, especially Esther Christensen and Helen Smith families for their memorial donations.  Also, special thanks to Pam and Randy Reimers for coordinating with Bogenrief Studios out of Sutherland, Iowa in the designing and installation of these beautiful windows. 

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 are due to Linda Kerkove for the September/October edition by Sunday, August 22.

 

Thank You for all the kind words and prayers for our family on the passing of our father, Larry Manus.  Also, a big thank you to everyone who worked and provided food for Dad’s lunch after his service.  - Larry Manus Family

 

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. 

 

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 Resources - You can find a variety of digital media for your faith, including service livestreams, at trinityalgona.org or by searching Trinity, Algona on YouTube and Facebook. 

 

Lutherans in Africa Updates - Great things continue to happen at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya and throughout the surrounding area for the good of Christ’s Church.  Lutherans in Africa publishes very informative monthly newsletters which you can find at lutheransinafrica.com/updates or by searching @LutheransInAfrica on Facebook.  The lutheransinafrica.com website is also updated regularly and is a great way to stay up to date on the work our mission dollars are supporting. 

 

Did You Know: For people who use texting on their phone to communicate with others, the average number of text messages sent and received on a weekday is…94! Many of us are in constant communication with others and connected to devices most hours of the day. But sometimes that connection becomes a distraction. If you’re not texting regularly – or if you are and need a break – remember to take advantage of the most important form of communication we have, which is available any time – day or night: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 14)

Old Testament:  1 Kings 19:1-8          

Elijah fled from Jezebel into the desert to die, but the Angel of the Lord fed him in the desert and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

 

Epistle: Ephesians 4:17-5:2

Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

Gospel: John 6:35-51

Jesus says to the Jews: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

[Speaking on Ephesians 4:19: “they [the unbelieving Gentiles] have become callous and have given themselves us to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness.”:] “They have lost their moral compass through lack of hope in a future life. Living now as if they had no future, they pollute their own lives with the foulest behaviors. They refuse to submit themselves to the most elementary requirement of faith, which brings their pleasure-seeking into accountability in relation to the future life. It is this future life that these people declare to be ridiculous. Hence they pretend to have a right to debauch themselves. They covet the goods of others with ravenous greed, as though there were no life whatever after this little space.” - Ambrosiaster, Epistle to the Ephesians 4.19, qtd. in ACCS: Gatlatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 162.

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Age Requirement of the Lord’s Supper

Contrary to popular belief, there is technically no age requirement for the Lord’s Supper.  The only requirement is that a Christian ought be capable of acknowledging who they are (a sinner), who Jesus is (by way of the catechism), and what they are eating at the Holy Supper (Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins).  In fact Luther encourages parents to bring their children who are capable of discerning these things to the Supper.  Johannes Bugenhagen, Luther’s pastor, says: “After this confession is made, also the little children of about eight years or less should be admitted to the table of Him who says: “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” 

 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article I: Original Sin, paragraphs 6, 8-10

Christ redeemed human nature as His work, sanctifies it, raises it from the dead, and gloriously adorns it as His work. But original sin He has not created, received, redeemed, or sanctified. He will not raise it, adorn it, or save it in the elect. In the ‹blessed› resurrection original sin will be entirely destroyed [1 Corinthians 15:51-57]. […]

     On the other hand, we believe, teach, and confess that original sin is not a minor corruption. It is so deep a corruption of human nature that nothing healthy or uncorrupt remains in man's body or soul, in his inward or outward powers [Romans 3:10-12]. As the Church sings:

 

Through Adam's fall is all corrupt, Nature and essence human.