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 TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

February 27, 2022

 

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; 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, February 27, 2022   8:15/8:30 a.m.  Adult/Sunday School   9:30 a.m.           Divine Service    Tuesday, March 1, 2022   10:00 a.m.  Morning Prayer   6:00 p.m.  Shrove Tuesday at Trinity    Wednesday, March 2 2022   6:00 p.m.     Ash Wednesday Service

Sunday, March 6, 2022   8:15/8:30 a.m.   Adult/School School   9:30 a.m.             Divine Service   10:30 a.m.           Informational Voter’s Meeting   10:15-noon         Farewell Reception at Trinity for                                   Pastor Lund     THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR       None for this week

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today: Marcia Hanna

Elder:  Jerry Koestler     

Asst. Usher:  John Schutter   

Greeters:  Gordon and Mary-Shipler Oleson

Acolytes:  Kenna Hatten and Taylor Parsons

 

Congregational Voter’s Meeting - We will have a brief, informational voter’s meeting next Sunday, March 6 following the service to share updates on our Partnership’s vacancy and the calling process. 

 

Tuesday Morning Prayer will be held Tuesday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m.

 

Shrove Tuesday Meal - Join us at Trinity on Tuesday, March 1st for our annual Partnership Shrove Tuesday celebration!  We'll begin in the sanctuary at 6:00 p.m. for a brief time of confession and prayer, and then proceed to the Life Center at 6:15 p.m. for a pancake meal.  Come and feast before the Lenten fast begins!

 

Ash Wednesday Service at St. John’s will be on Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m.  

 

Lent Schedule - Feel free to take and share as many Lent schedules and magnet clips as you would like on the back table. 

 

Sunday Bible Study - Beginning Sunday, March 13 adult Bible class will feature a video-led study of the resurrection of Jesus based on Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Easter.  Note that class will now “officially” begin at 8:30 a.m. 

 

Lenten Daily Devotions - Be sure to pick up a Lenten devotional booklet from the back table.  This year's devotion is entitled “Witnesses to Christ.”

 

2021 Annual Report is now available in the back of the church along the east wall. Please, take one per family.

 

Cards of Condolences on the loss of Donald Sebby can be sent to Russ and Sue Reimers at their new address: 1009 Day St. Fairmont, MN 56031.

 

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! 

 

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! 

 

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.

 

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.

 

New Library Books - Check out the church library as over a dozen new books enter circulation throughout the next few weeks.  Pastor Cowell would be happy to share his recommendations with you!

 

2021 Thrivent Choice Dollars must be directed by March 31. Consider joining others who have directed their Dollars toward St. John’s ministry.

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Lund Reception - Pastor Lund’s last day at Trinity is Sunday, March 6.  Following the 9:00 a.m. service at Trinity on March 6 at 10:15 a.m. there will be a farewell reception for the Lund family in the Trinity Life Center. 

 

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!    

 

Prayers are needed for Pastor Andrew Johnson whose cancer has relapsed and will be receiving chemo treatments at Mayo.  He will be undergoing a tandem autologous stem cell transplant requiring him to be in Rochester for 10 weeks.  A Benefit is being planned by his church,  Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, Iowa on March 6.  You may read more about this benefit on the flier that is posted on the ramp bulletin board.          

 

Building Healthy Families -  “Oh be careful little eyes what you see…” Remember this old Sunday School song? As simple as the lyrics may be, they hold a profound truth for us today. Some of the things we look at – in person or on a TV, computer screen or smart phone – aren’t good for us and aren’t God-pleasing. Our hearts and minds are imprinted with images and messages that negatively influence how we feel about ourselves and others. Be careful to avoid sites, shows and lyrics that don’t reflect God’s good will for you, His child. His designs and plans for you are oh so much better! “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37 Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Community Coffee is being held each Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. at the Burt Complex. Everyone is welcome.

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Transfiguration)

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Moses dies after being able to see the Promised Land, and Joshua takes his place.

 

Epistle: Hebrews 3:1-6

Moses was faithful in God’s house as a servant, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.

 

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, and Moses and Elijah appear at His side.

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Peter saw this grace [of the Transfiguration], and so did those who were with him, although they were heavy with sleep.  The incomprehensible magnificence of the Godhead overwhelms the perceptions of our body.  If the sharpness of bodily vision cannot bear the ray of the sun directly into watching eyes, how may the corruption of human members endure the glory of God?” - Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 7.17, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, 160. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Date of Easter

This Wednesday the season of Lent begins.  Why, you might ask, does Lent begin at a different time every year?  This is because Easter Day is never on the same calendar day.  Page xxiii of our hymnal gives this explanation for the date of Easter: “Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox on March 21.  This full moon may happen on any date between March 21 and April 18 inclusive.  If the full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday following.  Easter Day cannot be earlier than March 22 or later than April 25.”  Whew! Praise God that we are saved by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection for us and not by our ability to calculate the appropriate time to celebrate it!

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, Ten Commandments, paragraphs 95-98

So much depends upon God's Word. Without it, no holy day can be sanctified. Therefore, we must know that God insists upon a strict observance of this command and will punish all who despise His Word and are not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for the purpose.

     It is not only the people who misuse and desecrate the holy day who sin against this commandment (those who neglect to hear God's Word because of greed or frivolity or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine). Even that other crowd sins [when] they listen to God's Word like it was any other trifle and only come to preaching because of custom. At the end of the year they know as little of God's Word as at the beginning. Up to now the opinion prevailed that you had properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a Mass or the Gospel read. But no one cared for God's Word, and no one taught it. Now that we have God's Word, we fail to correct the abuse. We allow ourselves to be preached to and admonished, but we do not listen seriously.

     Know, therefore, that you must be concerned not only about hearing, but also about learning and retaining God's Word in memory. Do not think that this is optional for you or of no great importance. Think that it is God's commandment, who will require an account from you about how you have heard, learned, and honored His Word.