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 EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
July 31, 2022
O Lord, grant us wisdom to recognize the treasures You have stored up for us in heaven, that we may never despair but always rejoice and be thankful for the riches of Your grace; 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 31, 2022 9:30 am Divine Service Tuesday, August 2, 2022 10:00 am Morning Prayer Sunday, August 7, 2022 9:30 am Divine Service | THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR July 31, 2022 Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea August 3, 2022 Commemoration of Joanna, Mary, and Salome--Myrrhbearers |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna
Elder: Jeff Schutjer
Asst. Usher: Boyd Shipler
Greeters Today: Terry and Vickie Briggs
Greeters Next Week: Hannah Cowell & girls
Pastoral Call Update - On July 17th our Partnership joint voters meeting voted to call Pastor Cowell as our Partnership senior pastor, which he has accepted. His installation date into this new position is set for August 28th at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s. You can pick up a copy of Pastor Cowell’s letter of acceptance on the back table.
Partnership Associate Pastor Nominations - Green nomination forms are available on the back table to nominate a pastor to be considered for the Partnership associate pastor position. All nominations must be signed. The deadline for submitted nominations is Sunday, August 7th. Please turn completed nominations into the church office.
St. John’s Potluck & Game Night - Our third summer outreach event will be a potluck and game night at St. John’s Wednesday, August 10th beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the meal. If you’re able, please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Pork burgers will be provided for the main dish.
Rally Sunday will be August 28 at 11:00 am at Smith Lake with worship beginning at 11:30 and a picnic and games at noon! We’ll also present 3rd grade Bibles and Catechisms and bless our kids’ school backpacks.
* Sunday School begins Sept 11; Midweek begins Sept 7.
Thank You to all who sent a card or attended my 90th birthday celebration. It was a wonderful day with family and friends. God bless each of you for all the love shown to me. Pat Eimers
Parish Messenger for the September/October edition is due August 28 to Linda Kerkove.
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.
Sunday School teacher is needed beginning this fall for the 3-5th grade class. If you are interested in serving on a regular or occasional basis, please talk with Karla Schutter.
SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS
Trinity Bible Study - Trinity’s Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. Bible study will resume this Wednesday, August 3.
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!
TLC Quilters need flat sheets. Thanks sew much for helping us help others in need!
Summer Prayer and Scripture Series - Our final Evening Prayer Service will take place at 6 pm in Trinity’s Life Center on Tuesday, August 9. 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 6:30 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:
· Omelet Brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Camp Okoboji on August 7, 2022.
· Family Retreat 2 - August 7-12: For families of all ages! Our family retreats are designed to provide families an experience that leads toward household and Individual faith formation, strengthening family relationships and creating an environment for rest and relaxation. Call camp at (712) 337-3325 to register.
Building Healthy Families: Many of us grew up learning to be tough and to never ask for help. But through the many trials of recent years, we have found that if we ask for help, we can get it from our friends, family, pastors and others. When you are in need, don’t try to be the Lone Ranger. God has placed numerous people in your life to help you. Remember Paul’s admonition: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 When you allow others to care for you, you’re giving them an opportunity to grow in their relationship to Christ. Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 13)
Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14: 2:18-26
King Solomon reflects on how the work of our hands is a mere breath.
Epistle: Colossians 3:1-11
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool.
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS
[Jesus said to the brother in Luke 12:13-14:] “‘Tell me, man, who has appointed me a judge of the inheritance among you? I have come to gather, not to scatter.’ He said, ‘I say to you, guard against all greed.’ Greed wants to divide, just as love desires to gather.” - Augustine, Sermon 265.9, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, 207.
LESSONS ON THE LITURGY
The Sign of the Cross
The making of the sign of the cross by touching your head, heart, and shoulders is perhaps the oldest rubric in the history of the Christian Church, likely dating to the times of the apostles themselves. Every time you cross yourself you are retracing the sign first made upon you at your Baptism, thus bringing to mind the gifts of the forgiveness, life, and salvation of Christ’s cross given to you there in water and word. Look for places in the liturgy such as the Invocation, Absolution, Creed, Sacrament, and Benediction where you can trace this reminder of your Baptism on yourself.
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article VI: Third Use of God’s Law, para. 22-25
Although in this life the good works of believers are imperfect and impure because of sin in the flesh, nevertheless they are acceptable and well pleasing to God. The Gospel teaches that our spiritual offerings are acceptable to God through faith for Christ's sake. In this way Christians are not under the Law, but under grace. For by faith in Christ the persons are freed from the Law's curse and condemnation. They act not by coercion of the Law, but by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, voluntarily and spontaneously from their hearts. However, they still have a constant struggle against the old Adam.
The old Adam is still a part of them. It must be forced to obey Christ. It not only requires the teaching, admonition, force, and threatening of the Law, but it also often needs the club of punishments and troubles. This goes on until the body of sin is entirely put off and a person is perfectly renewed in the resurrection. Then he will need neither the preaching of the Law nor its threats, just as he will no longer need the Gospel. These belong to this imperfect life. Just as people will see God face-to-face, so they will—through the power of God's indwelling Spirit—do the will of God with unmingled joy, voluntarily, unconstrained, without any hindrance, and with entire purity and perfection. They will rejoice in it eternally.
St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.
Phone: 515-924-3344
Email: churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org
