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 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

September 12, 2021

 

Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue to preserve Your Church in safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S   Today, September 12, 2021    8:30 a.m.  SS School/Adult Class                       9:30 a.m.  Divine Service   10:30  a.m. Blessing of New Windows   Tuesday, September 14, 2021    No Morning Prayer    8:30 a.m.  Circuit Pastor’s Meeting at St.                         John’s Burt         Wednesday, September 15, 2021   6:00 p.m.  Christian Catechesis

Sunday, September 19, 2021      8:30 a.m.    SS School/Adult Class       9:30 a.m.    Divine Service            THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR         September 14, 2021       Feast of the Holy Cross         September 16, 2021        Commemoration of Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor           and Martyr

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna 

Elder for September:  Tony Hatten 

 

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

 

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.  

 

Hymn of the Month devotions for September are available on the lectern in the back of the church. You can also view a digital version of the Hymn of the Month devotion at: trinityalgona.org/blog/2021/09/01/o-god-my-faithful-god

 

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. 

 

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.

 

Greeter 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. We have several opening spots for you to fill in.  Of course, hand shaking will be optional.  

 

Usher Sign-up - 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. 

 

Many Thanks to those who volunteered in any way for Rally Sunday. A special thanks to Kitty, Lynn, and Karla for helping to prepare and serve the meal!

 

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.  You can access a pdf of the service bulletin for the livestreams on YouTube by clicking on the link found under the title of each video.  Here is an example: 

 

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. 

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Haiti Relief - If you would like to donate toward Haiti earthquake relief, you can do so online by going to ministryinmission.org and clicking the “donate” button.  You can also learn more about the situation in Haiti at this website.  You can also donate by sending a check to either: 

     Iowa District West-Haiti Relief, 409 Kenyon Road Suite B , Fort Dodge, Iowa 50502; or: 

     Ministry in Mission, Jackie Rychel, 13442 Shady Lane, Chesterland OH 44026  

 

Ida Relief - If you would like to provide financial support for Hurricane Ida disaster relief, you can make a check to “IDW - Ida Relief” and send to:  Iowa District West, 409 Kenyon Road Suite B, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50502

 

LWML Fall Rally for the Northeast Zone will be held at Trinity in Algona on Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. Monetary in-gathering offering will go to Lotus Community project, a women’s and children’s shelter at Vincent, Iowa. Speaker will begin right after the opening devotions and before the meeting. This is to accommodate any additional congregational members who may wish to come hear about the work at Lotus.

 

Trinity, Algona Resources - Visit trinitalgona.org or search “Trinity, Algona” on YouTube and Facebook to view Trinity’s several digital resources for your faith. 

 

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 - “He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands…” Do you recall the words to this Sunday School song? It’s more than just a fun song. This song speaks truth about how much God loves us and is in control – even during uncertain times like we’re living in today. Be assured: He has not forgotten or abandoned you. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” I John 4:9 Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 19)

Old Testament:  Isaiah 50:4-10

“The Lord God has given me [Isaiah] the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.”

 

Epistle:  James 3:1-12

No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

 

Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

Jesus casts a demon out of a father’s son after the disciples were unable to do so. 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

[Speaking on Mark 9:21: “Jesus said, ‘How long has the child had this evil spirit?’ And the father said, ‘from childhood.’”] “Lacking the premise of original sin, what possible cause can be imagined in this youth why he should since childhood have been vexed with this most fierce demonic possession? It seems clear that no actual sin of his own could have elicited this. So let the catholic remember and confess that no one is born into this world free from the taint of the first transgression. Let him implore the grace of God, through which he might be ‘delivered from this body of death through Jesus Christ our Lord.’” - Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1.25, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, 123.

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Eight-Sided Font

Many baptismal fonts, including ours at St. John’s, are an eight-sided structure.  The number eight represents resurrection and new creation.  Ever since God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, time has passed in seven day increments.  When Jesus came to save the world from sin He was crucified on the sixth day (Friday), rested in the tomb on the seventh day (Saturday), and by raising from the tomb on Sunday introduced a new eighth day into creation - the day of the new creation.  Our eight-sided baptismal font reminds us that all who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His resurrection and are made new creations in Him. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article VII: The Holy Supper, para. 68-71

Unworthy guests go to this Sacrament without true repentance and sorrow for their sins, without true faith and the good intention of amending their lives. By unworthy eating, they are guilty of profaning Christ's body and blood.

    Some Christians have a weak faith and are shy, troubled, and terrified because of the great number of their sins. They think that in their great impurity they are not worthy of this precious treasure and Christ's benefits. They feel their weakness of faith and lament it, and from their hearts desire that they may serve God with stronger, more joyful faith and pure obedience. These are the truly worthy guests for whom this Sacrament has been especially instituted. Christ says:

    - Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

    - Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (Matthew 9:12)

    - As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him; for God has welcomed him. [Romans 14:1-3]

    - Whoever believes in [the Son, be it with a strong or a weak faith,] may have eternal life. [Jn. 3:15]

Worthiness does not depend on the greatness or smallness, the weakness or strength of faith. Instead, it depends on Christ's merit, which the distressed father of little faith [Mark 9:24] enjoyed.