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

 

 

 

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

January 9, 2022

 

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same 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, January 9, 2022   8:15/8:30 a.m.  Adult/Sunday School   9:30 a.m.           Divine Service     10:30 a.m.          Council Meeting   Tuesday, January 11, 2022     No  Morning Prayer    8:30 a.m.  Pastor Circuit Meeting   Wednesday, January 12, 2022     6:00 p.m.   Christian Catechesis

Sunday, January 16, 2022      8:15/8:30 a.m.  Adult/Sunday School      9:30 a.m.            Divine Service     10:30 a.m.           Voter’s Meeting     THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR         January 10, 2021       Commemoration of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of          Nazianzus, & Gregory of Nyssa, the Cappadocian          Fathers

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna 

Elder:   Tony Hatten

Asst. Usher:  John Schutter  

Acolytes: Breckin and Brayton Borchardt

Greeters: Ben and Beth Borchardt     

 

Sunday Bible Study - Join us Sunday mornings at 8:15 a.m. in the church basement for adult Bible Study. We are studying  a new series on Christian ethics.

 

Tuesday Morning Prayer - There will be NO Tuesday morning prayer on January 11, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.  Pastor will be at a circuit pastors meeting.

 

First Quarter Council Meeting will be held today following the service. The Voter’s Meeting will be January 16, 2022 following the service.

 

Thank You to all who have served on the Council as officers this past year!  A heartfelt thank you also, to Cheryl Batt for her many years of service on the Altar Guild as Flower chairman.

 

Flower Position Open - If you have an interest in helping order and care for the altar flowers, Christmas poinsettias, palm branches, and Easter lilies, please speak with Janice Reimers who can give you a more detailed description of the job.  We would love to have a volunteer for this position as soon as possible! 

 

Information for the Annual Report 

·         If you are responsible for a year end report for the Annual Report, now is the time to start working on those articles.  You may email them to churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org or return them to the church office. Our deadline for those articles is January 16th.

·         Addresses - Any change of address that you or your children have, we will need those updates to put in the year end report.  You may email those at churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org or bring them to the office.

 

Lutheran Witness Renewal - The yearly subscription to the Lutheran Witness will come due on March 1, 2022.  To be able to continue to receive  without interruption your copy, you may pay in the church office during the next several weeks.  The cost this year is $22.70.  If you do not receive the Witness and would like to or wish to cancel you may also do that in the office.

 

Hymn of the Month devotions for January are available on the lectern in the back of church.

 

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 - A new Usher list and Greeter list is now available on the back table for the 2022 year.  Feel free to fill in one or more spots!  At the beginning of the new year we will be contacting people to fill the empty spots.

 

Vacancy Updates - There is a handout on the back table sharing some updates about our Partnership vacancy. 

 

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.

 

Portals of Prayer Devotionals for January-March are now in the basket in the back along the east wall.  

 

Thank You so much to the members of St. John’s for your generous gift! May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you with His peace and joy this Christmastide and forever. In Him, Pastor Mark and Hope Lund and family

     Note:  A family Christmas picture card is posted along the ramp.

 

A New Birthday Card sign-up sheet is now available on the back table.  If you would be willing to take a month or two to fill out birthday cards, please sign up.  Any questions contact office.

 

Shopping through Amazon Smile- Sign up at Amazon Smile to have 0.5% of your eligible purchases donated to St. John’s! Click this link to sign up: smile.amazon.com/ch/42-0950037, click on the Amazon Smile button on the stjohnsburt.org homepage.  

 

Thank You!  “Praise God from whom all blessings flow …,”  God has blessed Camp Okoboji through the 2021 Day of Legacy and Giving Tuesday Campaign and match! With deep appreciation, we say Thank You for your commitment, participation and help in exceeding our goals and creating a huge success!  A total of $45,602.42 was raised! 

                                 Trusting in Jesus Our Savior, Kirk Wanke, Camp Okoboji, Executive Director

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

TLC Quilts Available - Don’t forget about the TLC Quilter’s “giving pew” by the east doors of St. John’s.  Feel free to take and give away as many quilts and bears as you’d like!  

 

Winter at Camp Okoboji - More information call Camp: 712-337-3325

·         January 28-30:  Family Ice Fishing Retreat

For families of all sizes and ages who love to fish or want to learn!!   Expect good food, good fellowship, and good fishing for this weekend retreat.  Pastor Ben Dose of Zion - Arcadia & Pastor Jim Stogdill of Messiah - Johnston will be our Camp and Bible Study leaders.

·          January 29:  Winter Games Family Funfest

Join us from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for some Family Winter Fun during the University Of Okoboji Winter Games.  Events to include our renowned Ping Pong Tournament, Sledding, Inflatables, Yard Games, Face Painting, Hot Chocolate and S’mores, and Sleigh Rides (weather permitting).  A meal will be available.    

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Baptism of Our Lord)

Old Testament: Isaiah 43:1-7

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

 

Epistle: Romans 6:1-11 

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”

 

Gospel: Luke 3:15-22

John the Baptist preaches of Jesus and Jesus is baptized.

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Today, then, is another kind of birth of the Savior. We see him born with the same sort of signs, the same sort of wonders, but with greater mystery. The Holy Spirit, who was present to him then in the womb, now pours out upon him in the torrent. He who then purified Mary for him now sanctifies the running waters for him. The Father who then overshadowed in power now cries out with his voice.” - Maximus of Turin, Sermon 13A, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, 65-66

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

How can (baptismal) water do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8) - Luther’s Small Catechism, Baptism, Third Part

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, Part IV: Baptism, paragraphs 21-25

You must honor Baptism and consider it glorious because of the Word. For God Himself has honored it both by words and deeds. Furthermore, He confirmed it with miracles from heaven. Was it a joke that, when Christ was baptized, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended visibly, and everything was divine glory and majesty [Lu. 3:21-22]?

     I encourage that these two—the water and the Word—by no means be separated from each other and parted. If the Word is separated from the water it may be then called a bathkeeper's baptism. When the Word is added, as God has ordained, it is a Sacrament, called Christ's Baptism. This is the first part about the holy Sacrament's essence and dignity.

    In the second place, since we know now what Baptism is and how it is to be regarded, we must also learn why and for what purpose it is instituted. We must learn what it profits, gives, and works. For this also we cannot find a better resource than Christ's words quoted above, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" [Mk. 16:16]. Therefore, state it most simply in this way: the power, work, profit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is this—to save [1 Pt. 3:21]. For no one is baptized in order that he may become a prince, but, as the words say, that he "be saved." To be saved is to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil [Col. 1:13-14]. It means to enter into Christ's kingdom [Jn. 3:5], and to live with Him forever.