Thursday, March 10, 2022

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 SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

March 13, 2022

 

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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, March 13, 2022

  8:30 a.m.     Adult Class/Sunday School

  9:30 a.m.     Divine Service 

 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

  10:00 a.m.    Morning Prayer

 

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

   5:00 p.m.     Midweek Lenten Service

   6:30 p.m.     Christian Catechesis 

                          (at Trinity)

   Sunday, March 20, 2022

     8:30 a.m.     Adult Class/Sunday School

     9:30 a.m.     Divine Service

   

  THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR  

 

  March 17, 2022

    Commemoration of Patrick, Missionary to Ireland

 

  March 19, 2022

    Feast of St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus 

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna 

Elder:  Jeff Schutjer    

Asst. Usher:  Ben Borchardt

Greeters: Gabby Kelly & 2-4th Sunday School Class

Acolytes:  Breckin and Brayton Borchardt

 

Tuesday Morning Prayer will be held on Tuesday, March 15th at 10:00 a.m.

 

Midweek Lenten Service will be held at St. John’s Wednesday, March 16th at 5:00 p.m.  

 

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

 

Sunday Bible Study - Adult Bible class is featuring 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 Charity Project - During the season of Lent St. John’s will be raising money to purchase a book for every seminary student who is receiving a pastoral call this spring.  You can read more about this project and see the book we will be purchasing on the back table.  You can give to this mission during our Wednesday Lenten services or by designating a gift to “Lent Charity Project” on your envelope. 

 

Parish Messengers are now on the back table instead of in your boxes. Please, pick one up!

 

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.”

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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

 

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.          

 

Installation Service for Rev. Mark Lund will be held on March 20th at 2:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Garner.

 

Did You Know: Who was the man God used to bring the Gospel to convert pagans to Christ over 1600 years ago in Ireland? Most of the world will celebrate him this Thursday with parades and green beer but without an awareness of his significant role in Christian history. The little known and incredible story of St. Patrick is researched and well told by physicist and writer, John Murphy Ball, a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, Huntsville, Alabama. Look it up, share it with your children and grandchildren, and be amazed again with the many ways our loving Lord directs the paths of the faithful, from the beginning of time until this very day. Find St. Patrick’s story on the web at https://witness.lcms.org/2011/in-search-of-st-patrick-3-2011/ 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.

 

Burt Lions Club French Toast Breakfast will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 8-12:30 p.m. at the Burt Complex.  The Burt Library will be holding a Bake Sale during the breakfast.


Bingo - Burt Fire Department will hold its final Bingo Event on Friday, March 18, 2022 at the Burt Activity Center.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the Event will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Lent 2)

Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:8-15

The people seek to kill Jeremiah for prophesying against Jerusalem. 

 

Epistle: Philippians 3:17-4:1

St. Paul urges the Philippians to imitate his life of faith in Jesus who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body.

 

Gospel: Luke 13:31-35

Jesus is not deterred by Herod’s desire to kill Him.  He also laments over the faithlessness of Jerusalem. 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“The Pharisees, however, imagined that the power of Herod would terrify [Jesus], and humble Him unto mean fears, although He is Lord of powers, and begets in us spiritual bravery by His words, "Fear not them who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul," And that He too makes no account of the violence of men He showed, saying, "But I must walk today and tomorrow and the day after." And in saying, "I must," He does not imply that an inevitable necessity, so to speak, was laid upon Him, but rather that by the power of His own will, freely and without danger He would go wherever He chose, and traverse Judaea without any one opposing Him or plotting Him ill, until of His own accord He received His consummation upon the precious cross.” - Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermon 100, qtd. from tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_10_sermons_99_109.htm 

 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Purple Paraments

Purple, like black, is a penitential color, in contrast to a festive one.  Purple was a very cherished and expensive color in the world Jesus lived, as the dye used to make the color was painstakingly acquired from a Mediterranean shellfish.  Thus purple clothes were worn exclusively by royalty.  As the soldiers mocked and tormented Jesus at his crucifixion they placed on him a purple garment in order to ridicule him and belittle the claim that he was the King of the Jews.  Therefore, purple is used during this penitential season of Lent as a reminder of the contempt and scorn Jesus endured, and the sacrifice he made for our eternal salvation as our eternal king. 

 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Augsburg Confession, Article XXVIII: Church Authority, paragraphs 14-18

Therefore the power of the Church and the civil power must not be confounded. The power of the Church has its own commission to teach the Gospel and to administer the Sacraments. Let it not break into the office of another; let it not transfer the kingdoms of this world; let it not abrogate the laws of civil rulers; let it not abolish lawful obedience; let it not interfere with judgments concerning civil ordinances or contracts; let it not prescribe laws to civil rulers concerning the form of the Commonwealth. As Christ says, John 18:36: My kingdom is not of this world; also Luke 12:14: Who made Me a judge or a divider over you? Paul also says, Phil. 3:20: Our citizenship is in heaven; 2 Cor. 10:4: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the casting down of imaginations.  After this manner our teachers discriminate between the duties of both these powers, and command that both be honored and acknowledged as gifts and blessings of God.