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 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
November 7, 2021
Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; 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, November 7, 2021 8:30 a.m. SS School/Adult Class 9:30 a.m. Divine Service Tuesday, November 9, 2021 NO Morning Prayer 8:30 a.m. Pastor at Circuit Meeting Wednesday, November 10, 2021 6:00 p.m. Christian Catechesis | Sunday, November 14, 2021 8:30 a.m. SS School/Adult Class 9:30 a.m. Divine Service THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR November 8, 2021 - Commemoration of Johann von Staupitz, Luther's Father Confessor November 9, 2021 - Commemoration of Martin Chemnitz, Pastor and Confessor November 11, 2021 - Commemoration of Martin of Tours, Pastor |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Kitty Bierstedt
Elder for November: Jeff Schutjer
Acolyte: Caelum Blocker
Flowers on the Altar today were given in celebration of Alfred and Peggy Schadendorf’s 61st Wedding Anniversary on November 5.
Call Declined - Two weeks ago I (Pastor Cowell) announced that I have declined the call to serve as associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Davenport. It is my joy to continue to serve you and the saints at Trinity, Algona as your pastor. Please keep Trinity, Davenport in your prayers as their search for a pastor continues.
Church Year Resource - Would you like to know more about the special people and events we commemorate throughout the Church Year? You can read a short introduction into each commemoration and feast day as they come up in the calendar year at communication.cph.org/
Christmas and Greeting Card Resources - If you ever need a greeting, sympathy, or Christmas card, the card rack in the back of the sanctuary is always a great place to look! Two other great places to find beautiful and distinctly Christian greeting cards are Ad Crucem and Emmanuel Press. These two Lutheran companies also sell a variety of other high-quality and theologically faithful Christian gifts. The following two links will take you specifically to the greeting card section of each website:
- Ad Crucem: adcrucem.com/collections/greeting-cards-1
- Emmanuel Press: emmanuelpress.us/christmas-cards/
David’s Harp Center for Musical Development - For several years we have been supporting the ministry of St. Paul’s Music Conservatory in Council Bluffs, IA. Due to the great success of this program, SPMC has grown into the service organization known as David’s Harp. The mission of David’s Harp is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ by printing musical resources and establishing centers for musical development not just in Council Bluffs, but all throughout the churches, schools and missions of the LCMS. Visit davidsharpmusic.org to learn more.
Flocknote Prayer Chain Coordinator Wanted - St. John’s is looking for a volunteer to be our Flocknote Prayer Chain coordinator. This volunteer would be responsible for scheduling (in advance) our daily prayer text messages, including creating prayers submitted by members and prayers in light of various contemporary events. While the volunteer should be comfortable operating the basic functions of a computer, the Flocknote program is very easy to work with and Pastor Cowell will give you a step-by-step training for how to schedule the prayers. You can expect the time commitment for this position to be around 1-2 hours a month. Please speak with Pastor Cowell if you are interested in helping in this way.
St. John’s T-Shirts are available in the church office for $6.00.
Greeter and Usher Sign-up - There are still plenty of open spots for greeters and ushers! The sign-up sheet is on the back table.
Hymn of the Month devotions for November are available on the lectern in the back of church. You can also view a digital version of the Hymn of the Month devotion at:
trinityalgona.org/blog/2021/11/03/lift-high-the-cross.
Pastoral Care On Demand - Need prayer, Scripture, Communion, Absolution, or a listening ear? Feel free to call or text Pastor Cowell anytime for a visit at 319-464-5548.
SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
TLC Quilts Available - As the weather turns cold, don’t forget about the TLC Quilter’s “giving pew” by the east doors of St. John’s. You are welcome to take and give these quilts, bears, etc. to anyone who might need them. You could give them to someone in financial hardship, someone in need of sympathy or friendship, or simply someone who needs to know that the Church loves them and God loves them!
Trinity Weekday Bible Class - All are welcome to attend a weekly Bible study on Wednesdays at 9:30 in the Trinity Life Center conference room. They are currently studying 1 Corinthians.
Trinity, Algona Resources - Visit trinitalgona.org or search “Trinity, Algona” on YouTube and Facebook to view Trinity’s several digital resources for your faith.
Schlund Farewell Reception - You are invited to bid farewell to Pastor Schlund and his family at an open house reception in the Trinity Life Center Sunday, November 21st from 1:00-3:00. This will also be Pastor Schlund’s final Sunday at Trinity.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Lakota Ambulance Annual Fundraiser Meal of turkey, gravy over mashed potatoes, roll and applesauce will be held today, November 7 from 10 a.m -1 p.m. at Lakota Fire Station. Dine in or take out will be provided.
Fall Harvest Festival Meal is being held today at the Lone Rock Presbyterian Church. Serving will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Vickie’s Country Catering will be serving a traditional turkey meal with desserts. Take outs available! Free Will Donation. Bring food items for Kossuth County Food Pantry.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (All Saints Day)
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-17
John sees the great multitude of the redeemed surrounding the throne and the Lamb.
Epistle: 1 John 3:1-3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Jesus proclaims the beatitudes to His disciples.
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS
“We know many poor people, indeed, who are not merely poor but blessed. For the necessity of poverty does not produce blessedness in each of us, but a devout trust sustained through poverty does. Some, having no worldly resources, continue to sin and remain without faith in God. Clearly we cannot call these people blessed. We must inquire just who are the blessed of whom the Lord says, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Jesus means that those persons are truly blessed who, having spurned the riches and resources of the world to become rich in God, desire to be poor in the world. Indeed, such people seem to be poor in the sight of the world, but they are rich in God, needy in the world but wealthy in Christ.” - Chromatius, Tractate on Matthew 17.2.1-2, qtd. in ACCS: Matthew 1-13, 81.
LESSONS ON THE LITURGY
Lutherans Love the Saints
Here’s what Article XXI of our Augsburg Confession says regarding our relationship with the saints in heaven:
Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling. For example, the emperor may follow the example of David in making war to drive away the Turk from his country. For both are kings. But the Scriptures do not teach that we are to call on the saints or to ask the saints for help. Scripture sets before us the one Christ as the Mediator, Atoning Sacrifice, High Priest, and Intercessor. He is to be prayed to. He has promised that He will hear our prayer. This is the worship that He approves above all other worship, that He be called upon in all afflictions. “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1).
In short, we let the saints be saints and let Jesus be Jesus. We praise the faith of the saints, follow their lead, and are inspired by their good works and holy lives, but we look to Christ alone for forgiveness and life and pray to God alone in times of need.
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article XI: God’s Eternal Election, para. 46
God ordained in His eternal purpose what cannot fail or be overthrown. He placed salvation for safekeeping in the almighty hand of our Savior, Jesus Christ, from which no one can snatch us (John 10:28). Therefore, Paul asks in Romans, because we "are called according to His purpose" (8:28), who "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord"? (8:39).
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