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 LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
November 21, 2021
Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; 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, November 21, 2021 8:30 a.m. SS School/Adult Class 9:30 a.m. Divine Service 10:30 a.m. Council Meeting 1:00-3:00 p.m. Farewell for the Schlunds Tuesday, November 23, 2021 10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Wednesday, November 24, 2021 6:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Service | Sunday, November 28, 2021 8:15/8:30 a.m. Adult Class/SS School 9:30 a.m. Divine Service THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR November 23, 2021 Commemoration of Clement of Rome, Pastor |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna
Elder: Jeff Schutjer
Acolytes: Kenna Hatten and Taylor Parsons
Thanksgiving Service will be held here at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 24 at 6:00 p.m. Trinity will have a Thanksgiving Service on Thursday, November 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Council Meeting - We will have a brief council meeting after church today to approve our budget proposal and slate of officers in preparation for our voters meeting.
Voter’s Meeting - We will have a voter’s meeting after church on December 5th to approve the budget proposal and slate of officers.
Vacancy Updates - There is a handout on the back table sharing some updates about our Partnership vacancy.
Poinsettias - There is a sign-up sheet in the back of church to purchase poinsettias for the Advent and Christmas season. The poinsettias will decorate the sanctuary until the Christmas Day Divine Service, after which you can take yours to enjoy at home. Please pay Cheryl Batt by Sunday, December 5th. Thank you!
Adopt-a-Family - Information on our Christmas adopt-a-family for St. John’s is on the back table. All items are due December 12 for delivery. Checks/cash or gift cards can be left in the church office. Contact Doris Blocker or Deb Steven for more information.
Advent/Christmas Schedule - Please take an Advent/Christmas postcard on the back table and deliver one to a friend. Check off the names of people you deliver a card to and let’s try to get a card delivered to every member!
Christmas and Greeting Card Resources - Ad Crucem and Emmanuel Press are two companies that produce beautiful and faithful Christian gifts, including Christmas cards! 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 is an outgrowth of St. Paul’s Music Conservatory which distributes and promotes Christian music and instruction across the country and world. Learn more at: davidsharpmusic.org.
Flocknote Prayer Chain Coordinator Wanted - Want to help send out prayer requests to our congregation on Flocknote? Talk to Pastor Cowell; it’s a lot easier than you might think!
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.
St. John’s T-Shirts are available in the church office for $6.00.
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.
Hymn of the Month devotions for November are available in the along the east wall. 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.
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.
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 today from 1:00-3:00 p.m. This will also be Pastor Schlund’s final Sunday at Trinity.
Camp Okoboji Matching Gift - This Sunday and next Sunday we’ll be collecting monetary donations for Camp Okoboji as a part of their Giving Tuesday promotion. For every $2 donated to Camp on November 29 & 30, there will be a $1 matching donation by an anonymous friend of Camp up to $12,000! We’ll send our donations in after church on Nov. 28th.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Kossuth County Food Pantry - We’ll be collecting monetary donations in the back of church this Sunday for the Kossuth County Food Pantry.
Burt Christmas Activities:
· Lions Club Santa Day is Saturday, December 4 from 1-3 p.m. at the Burt Activity Complex. Cookies, candy and coffee will be served and the Burt Fire Dept. will give fire truck rides.
· Spaghetti Dinner - Following Santa Day the City Council of Burt will be hosting a spaghetti dinner from 4-7 p.m. as well as a pie auction. All proceeds to the Burt Swimming Pool.
· Vendor Show is Sunday, December 5 at the Burt Activity Complex from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.. Food will be served during the event along with a bake sale. All proceeds will go to the Burt Swimming Pool.
Soup Fundraiser at the Fenton Legion is today from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Last Sunday)
Old Testament: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Daniel sees the Ancient of Days sitting on his throne and one like a son of man ruling with him.
Epistle: Revelation 1:4b-8
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37
Jesus describes the end times and urges His disciples to “stay awake.”
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS
“We must not inordinately fix upon the chronology of what is said in Scripture, because frequently the Holy Spirit, having spoken of the end of the last times, then returns again to address a previous time, and fills up what had before been left unsaid. Nor must we look for a specific chronology in apocalyptic visions, but rather follow the meaning of those things which are prophesied.” - Victorinus of Petovium, Commentary on the Apocalypse, 7, qtd. in ACCS: Mark, 187.
LESSONS ON THE LITURGY
Alpha and Omega
Alpha (Α or α) and Omega (Ω or ω) are the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. In the book of Revelation Jesus says of Himself: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come.” When we use these letters in Christian art and architecture, we are confessing that Jesus is our eternal God in whom all good things exist.
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works, paragraphs 30, 34-35
Whether good works are necessary for preserving faith, righteousness, and salvation is another issue in dispute. This again is of high and great importance, for "the one who endures to the end will be saved". Faith [does not] lay hold of righteousness and salvation only in the beginning and then resigns its office to works as though they had to sustain faith, the righteousness received, and salvation. It means that the promise, not only of receiving, but also of retaining righteousness and salvation, is firm and sure to us.
They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. (Ro. 11:20)
[He will] present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith.(Colossians 1:22-23)
By God's power [you] are being guarded through faith for salvation. (1 Peter 1:5)
Obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [1 Peter 1:9]
It is clear from God's Word that faith is the proper and only means through which righteousness and salvation are not only received, but also preserved by God. Therefore, it right to reject [those who] say our good works preserve salvation, or the righteousness of faith that has been received, or even faith itself.
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