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 FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 3, 2022

 

Almighty God, You have built Your Church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. Continue to send Your messengers to preserve Your people in true peace that, by the preaching of Your Word, Your Church may be kept free from all harm and danger; 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, July 3, 2022     9:30 am         Divine Service      Tuesday, July 5, 2022     10:00 am       Morning Prayer     6:00  pm       Evening Prayer at Trinity   Sunday, July 10, 2022     9:30 am       Divine Service          10:30 am     Council Meeting     2:00 pm      St. John’s Pool Party

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR         July 6, 2022     Commemoration of Isaiah

 

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Kitty Bierstedt 

Elder: Jeff Schutjer     

Asst. Usher: Boyd Shipler

Greeter Today:  Barb Thilges & Shirlee Alt

Greeters Next Week: Roger & Marilyn Evans

 

Special Voter’s Meeting

Trinity and St. John's will hold a joint voter's meeting at the Trinity Life Center on Sunday, July 17 at 1:00 p.m. to vote to call a Partnership Senior Pastor.  After careful consideration of all the nominated pastors and several interviews, the Partnership call committee would like to recommend Pastor Cowell for the position of Partnership Senior Pastor.  You are welcome to stop in either church office to read every nominated pastor's self-evaluation questions before the voter's meeting. - Dale Yunginger, Call Committee Chairman; Bruce Hackbarth, Trinity President; Jeff Schutjer, St. John's President

 

St. John’s Pool Party! - Join us Sunday, July 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Bancroft Swimming Pool for a St. John’s day at the pool!  Let the front desk know you’re with St. John’s Burt for free admission.  If you’re not a swimmer we’ll have snacks and games at the park as well, and pizza in the park at 5:00 p.m.

·         A Sign up Sheet to provide bars or cookies for the Pool Party is on the back table.

 

A Quarterly Council Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 10th following the service.  The Voter’s Meeting will be on Sunday, July 17th.

 

Parish Messenger for the July/August edition is on the table in the back of church.

 

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.

 

Lorraine Drager is a resident of Good Samaritan Home for a month as she recovers from a fall.  Cards of encouragement and get well wishes can be sent to her at: Good Samaritan Home, 412 W Kennedy St., Algona, Iowa 50511 

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity Bible Study - Trinity’s Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Bible study is taking the month of July off. We will resume the first Wednesday in August. 

 

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!    

Summer Prayer and Scripture Series - An Evening Prayer Service will take place at 6 pm in Trinity’s Life Center on Tuesdays, July 5 & 19; & August 9. This will be a spoken service and include reflections from 1 John followed by refreshments & social time. See the handout (yellow) on the back table about this special opportunity to gather for prayer and Scripture in the summer months.

 

Young Adult Bible Study - You are invited to attend a young adult (post-high school) Bible study opportunity hosted in our circuit.  The Bible study is every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in the old parsonage next to Zion Lutheran Church in LuVerne.  Contact Pastor Steve Struecker at 515-320-2014 with questions. 

   

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji will be held on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

·         Jr. High Week Camp for 6-8th Grades  - July 10-16 

·         Concordia Cub Week for 3-5th grades - July 17-23.

         Contact Camp Okoboji for more information and to register:   

         https://www.campokoboji.org/youth-camps.php or 866-449-3326.

 

Prayers 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. 

 

Building Healthy Families - Many years ago, our Lutheran ancestors left behind the familiar and came to America seeking religious freedom in a new land. We celebrate that freedom today, even as we recognize the growing challenges to religious liberty. Join us in praying for our leaders this week, both those in government and in our church. Pray that God will strengthen our leaders to speak and act in ways that secure our freedom not just to have faith, but to live out that faith in the public square. Your prayers for the staff and leadership of Lutheran Family Service as they boldly proclaim God’s plan for life, marriage and family are also appreciated. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Burt Summer Celebration is being held Saturday, July 9th.  Events: Garage Sales, Coffee & Rolls at 8:00 a.m.; Parade will be held this year at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the Complex. Lots of activities will be held during the afternoon and the evening will end with fireworks and a street dance.  More information is posted on the church bulletin boards.

 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 9)

Old Testament: Isaiah 66:1-14

Heaven is the Lord’s throne, and earth is His footstool.  The Lord looks to him who is humble and contrite in spirit. 

 

Epistle: Galatians 6:1-14

St. Paul teaches about forgiveness, supporting the ministry, and doing good to everyone.

 

Gospel: Luke 10:1-20

Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to heal the sick and preach that the kingdom of God has come near.

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article VII & VIII: The Church, paragraphs 36-38

Righteousness of the heart is a spiritual matter, a matter of enlivening hearts. Clearly human traditions do not enliven hearts and are not effects of the Holy Spirit. Such efforts are love for one's neighbor, self-control, and so on. They are not tools through which God moves hearts to believe, as are the divinely given Word and Sacraments. Rather, traditions are customs that have no connection to the heart. They perish with the using, and we must not believe that they are necessary for righteousness before God. To the same effect Paul says, "The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). But there is no need to cite many testimonies. For they are everywhere clear in the Scriptures, and we have gathered many of them in the latter articles of our Confession. In this controversy the point to be decided must be repeated, namely, whether human traditions are acts of worship necessary for righteousness before God. In due course we will discuss this matter more fully.

     The adversaries say that universal traditions should be observed because they were supposedly handed down by the apostles. What religious men they are! They wish that the ceremonies received from the apostles be kept. Yet, they do not wish the apostles' doctrine to be kept. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.

Phone: 515-924-3344

Email:  churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org

 

 

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 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

June 26, 2022

 

Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name and nourish us with all goodness that we may love and serve our neighbor; 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, June 26, 2022     9:30 am   Divine Service    IDW Convention Begins at Camp Okoboji   Tuesday, 28 2022     NO  Morning Prayer     IDW West Convention     Sunday, July 3, 2022     9:30am    Divine Service

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR        June 26     Commemoration of Jeremiah     June 27      Commemoration of Cyril of                          Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor     June 28      Commemoration of Irenaeus of                          Lyons, Pastor     June 29      Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles      July 2         Feast of The Visitation

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna    

Elder: Jerry Koestler  

Asst. Usher: Harold Lavrenz

Greeter Today:    Jeff and Brenda Schutjer

Greeters Next Week: Boyd and Rosann Shipler

 

Pastoral Call Process Update 

- The Partnership senior pastor call committee has received a list of fifteen pastoral candidates 

   who were nominated for our consideration by members of our congregations and by 

   President Turner.  

 

- The committee is now in the process of reviewing the candidates’ information and availability 

   for a call and selecting several to interview to get a better idea of if they would be the right 

   pastor for our congregations. 

 

- These interviews will result in the committee making a recommendation to the congregations 

   who will then vote to extend a call to one of these candidates.  

 

- We have received a self-evaluation document of each of these fifteen pastors in which they 

   describe their ministry style as well as their preferences regarding various church practices 

   and traditions.  You are welcome to read these documents for yourself in the church office 

   Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 am-12:00 pm, or by special appointment.  These documents cannot be 

   copied or leave the church office.

 

- We will give the congregations two weeks’ notice of our voters meeting when we are ready to 

   make our decision as a congregation. 

 

St. John’s Pool Party! - Join us Sunday, July 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Bancroft Swimming Pool for a St. John’s day at the pool!  Let the front desk know you’re with St. John’s Burt for free admission.  If you’re not a swimmer we’ll have snacks and games at the park as well, and pizza in the park at 5:00 p.m.

 

Parish Messenger for the July/August edition is on the table in the back of church.

 

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 - The July-September edition is available in the basket along the east wall. 

 

Lorraine Drager is a resident of Good Samaritan Home for a month as she recovers from a fall.  Cards of encouragement and get well wishes can be sent to her at: Good Samaritan Home, 412 W Kennedy St., Algona, Iowa 50511 

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity Bible Study - Trinity’s Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Bible study is taking the month of July off. We will resume the first Wednesday in August. 

 

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!    

 

Summer Prayer and Scripture Series - An Evening Prayer Service will take place at 6 pm in Trinity’s Life Center on Tuesdays; July 5 & 19; & August 9. This will be a spoken service and include reflections from 1 John followed by refreshments & social time. See the handout (yellow) on the back table about this special opportunity to gather for prayer and Scripture in the summer months.

 

Young Adult Bible Study - You are invited to attend a young adult (post-high school) Bible study opportunity hosted in our circuit.  The Bible study is every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in the old parsonage next to Zion Lutheran Church in LuVerne.  Contact Pastor Steve Struecker at 515-320-2014 with questions. 

   

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji will be held on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

·         Jr. High Week Camp for 6-8th Grades  - July 10-16 

·         Concordia Cub Week for 3-5th grades - July 17-23.

         Contact Camp Okoboji for more information and to register:   

         https://www.campokoboji.org/youth-camps.php or 866-449-3326.

 

Prayers 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. 

 

Building Healthy Families What are some of your best childhood memories? Psychologist Mary Pipher says there are three things that most people usually remember with great happiness from childhood -- time spent outdoors, vacations and family meals. During these long summer days, be sure to relax with your children outdoors with unplanned time together. Take some time off work…plan a picnic…let your children or grandchildren choose the spot. You don’t have to leave home to enjoy vacation! Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Burt Summer Celebration is being held Saturday, July 9th.  Events: Garage Sales, Coffee & Rolls at 8:00 a.m.; Parade will be held this year at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the Complex. Lots of activities will be held during the afternoon and the evening will end with fireworks and a street dance.  More information is posted on the church bulletin boards.

 

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 8)

Old Testament: 1 Kings 19-9b-21

The Lord tells Elijah He will leave seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal, and Elisha begins to follow Elijah.

 

Epistle: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

St. Paul lists the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. 

 

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem, and tells His disciples: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

 

“A person who wishes to become the Lord’s disciple must repudiate a human obligation, however honorable it may appear, if it slows us ever so slightly in giving the wholehearted obedience we owe to God.” - Basil the Great, Concerning Baptism 1.1, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, p. 169

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

The Divine Service 

We call our worship a Divine Service because the best part of our worship isn’t what we do but what God does.  In this Divine Service God serves us His absolution, His Word and preaching, and His Holy Supper.  Our natural response to receiving these great gifts of God in His Divine Service is to praise His name with psalms and hymns and to joyfully confess back to him in prayers and Creeds what He has done for us.  You can read more about this term “Divine Service” on page viii of Lutheran Service Book. – The content of this lesson comes from Scott Kinnaman, Worshiping with Angels and Archangels: An Introduction to the Divine Service, 4-5.

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

 

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV: The Mass, paragraphs 96-98

This heresy is that the Mass justifies by the outward act, that when applied it merits the pardon of guilt and punishment even for the unjust if they do not present an obstacle. We object to these deadly errors, which divert people from the glory of Christ's passion and overthrow the doctrine about the righteousness of faith. In the [Old Testament], the godless believed they merited the forgiveness of sins, not through faith, but through sacrifices. They increased these services and sacrifices, set up the worship of Baal in Israel, and even sacrificed in the groves in Judah. Therefore, the prophets condemn this belief and war against not only the worshipers of Baal, but also other priests who made sacrifices ordained by God with this godless belief [1 Kings 18:1-40]. Carnal people cannot tolerate that the honor of an atoning sacrifice belongs solely to Christ's sacrifice because they do not understand the righteousness of faith. The godless priests in Judah held a false belief about such sacrifices; Baal worship even continued in Israel. Nevertheless, a Church of God was there that objected to these godless services [1 Kings 19:18]. Baal worship remains in the realm of the pope: the abuse of the Mass. They think they can merit the pardon of guilt and punishment for the unrighteous. All who believe the Gospel should condemn these wicked services. 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.

Phone: 515-924-3344

Email:  churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org

 

 

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 AFTER PENTECOST

June 19, 2022

 

O God, You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding. Cast out all sins and evil desires from us, and pour into our hearts Your Holy Spirit to guide us into all blessedness; 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, June 19, 2022     9:30 am   Divine Service     Tuesday, 21 2022     10:00am  Morning Prayer      6:00pm   Evening Prayer at Trinity   Sunday, June 26, 2022     9:30am    Divine Service

THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR        June 24, 2022     Feast of The Nativity of St. John the Baptist      June 25, 2022     Commemoration of The Presentation of         the Augsburg Confession

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna        

Elder: Jerry Koestler

Greeter Today:    Barb Harms & Donna Haase  

Greeters Next Week:  Jeff and Brenda Schutjer

 

A Reception in celebration of Breckin Borchardt’s Confirmation will be held in the back of church following the service today.  Breckin is the son of Ben and Beth Borchardt and his baptismal sponsors are: Lindsay (Borchardt) Anderson and Brian Berte.  Please continue to pray that Breckin might make the same bold confession of faith as he did today his whole life long.   

 

Pastoral Call Process Update 

- The Partnership senior pastor call committee has received a list of fifteen pastoral candidates 

   who were nominated for our consideration by members of our congregations and by 

   President Turner.  

 

- The committee is now in the process of reviewing the candidates’ information and availability 

   for a call and selecting several to interview to get a better idea of if they would be the right 

   pastor for our congregations. 

 

- These interviews will result in the committee making a recommendation to the congregations 

   who will then vote to extend a call to one of these candidates.  

 

- We have received a self-evaluation document of each of these fifteen pastors in which they 

   describe their ministry style as well as their preferences regarding various church practices 

   and traditions.  You are welcome to read these documents for yourself in the church office 

   Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 am-12:00 pm, or by special appointment.  These documents cannot be 

   copied or leave the church office.

 

- We will give the congregations two weeks’ notice of our voters meeting when we are ready to 

   make our decision as a congregation. 

 

Parish Messenger for the July/August edition is due to Linda Kerkove today.

 

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 - The July-September edition is available in the basket along the east wall. 

 

St. John’s Pool Party! - Join us Sunday, July 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Bancroft Swimming Pool for a St. John’s day at the pool!  Let the front desk know you’re with St. John’s Burt for free admission.  If you’re not a swimmer we’ll have snacks and games at the park as well, and pizza in the park at 5:00 p.m.

 

A Big Thank You to those who came and helped clean up the huge tree branch that  had fallen in the parking lot.  Many hands make for light work!  Trustees

 

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity Bible Study - Join Pastor Cowell Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. for Bible study at Trinity’s Life Center conference room.  We are studying biblical interpretation. 

 

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!    

 

Summer Prayer and Scripture Series - An Evening Prayer Service will take place at 6 pm in Trinity’s Life Center on Tuesdays, June 21; July 5 & 19; & August 9. This will be a spoken service and include reflections from 1 John followed by refreshments & social time. See the handout (yellow) on the back table about this special opportunity to gather for prayer and Scripture in the summer months.

 

Young Adult Bible Study - You are invited to attend a young adult (post-high school) Bible study opportunity hosted in our circuit.  The Bible study is every 2nd and 4th Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in the old parsonage next to Zion Lutheran Church in LuVerne.  Contact Pastor Steve Struecker at 515-320-2014 with questions. 

   

Camp News:

·         Quilt Auction at Camp Okoboji will be held on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m.

·         Jr. High Week Camp for 6-8th Grades  - July 10-16 

·         Concordia Cub Week for 3-5th grades - July 17-23.

         Contact Camp Okoboji for more information and to register:   

         https://www.campokoboji.org/youth-camps.php or 866-449-3326.

 

Prayers 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.     

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Burt Summer Celebration is being held Saturday, July 9th.  Events: Garage Sales, Coffee & Rolls at 8:00 a.m.; Parade will be held this year at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the Complex. Lots of activities will be held during the afternoon and the evening will end with fireworks and a street dance.  More information is posted on the church bulletin boards.

 

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 7)

Old Testament: Isaiah 65:1-9

The Lord was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for Him, and said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by His name. 

 

Epistle: Galatians 3:23-4:7

In Baptism you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 

 

Gospel: Luke 8:26-39

Jesus casts a demon out of a man from the Gerasenes who had lived among the tombs.  The demon’s name was Legion, and Jesus cast him into a herd of pigs. 

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

 

“In great misery and nakedness, [the demoniac] wandered among the graves of the dead. He was in utter wretchedness, leading a disgraceful life. He was a proof of the cruelty of the demons and a plain demonstration of their impurity. … Whoever they possess and subject to their power, at once they make him an example of great misery, deprived of every blessing, destitute of all sobriety, and entirely deprived even of reason.” - Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Homily 44, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, p. 139. 

 

LESSONS ON THE LITURGY 

Matins

The service of Matins originated as one of the monastic “hours” or prayer services that were sung seven times a day.  The Lutheran church has historically retained Matins as a prayer service to be used Monday through Saturday in the morning, with the Divine Service being held every Sunday.  The chief functions of Matins are meditation on the Word, morning praise of our Creator and Redeemer, and prayer for the day which we are about to begin.     

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Large Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, 5th Petition, paragraphs 88-91

There is great need for us to call upon God and to pray, "Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses." It is not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer. (He has given us the Gospel, in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought about it.) But the purpose of this prayer is that we may recognize and receive such forgiveness. The flesh in which we daily live is of such a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God. It is ever active in evil lusts and devices, so that we sin daily in word and deed, by what we do and fail to do. By this the conscience is thrown into unrest, so that it is afraid of God's wrath and displeasure. So it loses the comfort and confidence derived from the Gospel. Therefore, it is always necessary that we receive consolation to comfort the conscience again.

     This serves God's purpose of breaking our pride and keeping us humble. God has reserved this right for Himself: if anyone wants to boast of his godliness and despise others, that person is to think about himself and place this prayer before his eyes. He will find that he is no better than others and that in God's presence all must tuck their tails and be glad that they can gain forgiveness. Let no one think that as long as he lives here he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness. In short, if God does not forgive without stopping, we are lost. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.

Phone: 515-924-3344

Email:  churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org