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 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

August 21, 2022

 

O Lord, You have called us to enter Your kingdom through the narrow door. Guide us by Your Word and Spirit, and lead us now and always into the feast of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S   Today,  August 21, 2022    9:30 am    Divine Service       Tuesday, August 23, 2022     10:00 am    Morning Prayer       Thursday, August 25, 2022      3:00 pm    Titonka Care Center

Sunday, August 28, 2022     9:30 am     Divine Service                          (Pastor Cowell Installation)     11:00 am   Rally Service at Smith Lake   THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR        August 24, 2022     Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle      August 27, 2022     Commemoration of Monica, Faithful Mother

 

ST. JOHN’S NEWS

 

Organist Today:  Marcia Hanna 

Elder:  Boyd Shipler

Greeters Today:  Barb Schroeder

Greeters Next Week: Ervin and Pat Eimers

 

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 Rally Day at Smith Lake - will be August 28 at Smith Lake.  We’ll have social time at 11:00, worship at 11:30, and lunch and games at noon. We’ll also present 3rd grade Bibles and Catechisms and bless our kids’ school backpacks. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on!

            * We will also have our regularly scheduled 9:30 a.m. Divine Service on this day. 

 

Sunday School/Adult Class will begin September 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the church basement.

 

Wednesday Catechesis begins September 7th at 6:00 p.m. with our parent/student/teacher meeting. 

 

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.

 

A 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. 

 

Thank you so much for the C.F.W. Walther Sermons! It was such a blessing to receive as I took my first call. In Christ, Pastor James Clevand, St. Mark Lutheran, Houston 

 

Thank You, friends at St. John’s for the thoughtful gift of the double stroller/wagon to haul Amelia and baby 3 in, as well as the other baby items.  We can’t wait for our third child to get to meet you all! - Pastor and Hannah Cowell

 

Thank You to all who helped us move last weekend; we couldn’t have done it without you!  What a joy it is to live three minutes closer to St. John’s! - Pastor, Hannah, Penelope, & Amelia

SYNOD, DISTRICT & PARTNERSHIP NEWS

 

Trinity Bible Study - You are invited to Bible study every Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the Life Center conference room.

 

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!

 

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. 

 

Building Healthy Families - “A man’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14) It’s easier for us to deal with short term difficulties, including sickness that resolves with treatment or time. But many are suffering today from the prolonged nature of personal, cultural or political unrest and turmoil we see all around, creating low levels of stress that are constant and unresolved. Everyone needs someone with whom they can share both burdens and encouragement. Look around to see who God has put on your path. Who has or is close to having a broken spirit and needs a word of hope from you? Your listening ear can be just what they need when feeling overwhelmed. LFS counselors are also available to help, in person or through video link, when needed. Lutheran Family Service 

- www.LutheranFamilyService.org.

LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 16)

Old Testament: Isaiah 66:18-23

“From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.” 

 

Epistle: Hebrews 12:4-29

God disciplines us as a father disciplines his son. 

 

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

“Strive to enter through the narrow door.”

 

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS

“‘Strive to enter in by the narrow door.’ This reply may seem perhaps to wander from the scope of the question. The man wanted to learn whether there would be few who are saved, but he explained to him the way whereby he might be saved himself. He said, ‘Strive to enter in by the narrow door.’ What do we answer to this objection? . . . It was a necessary and valuable thing to know how a man may obtain salvation. He is purposely silent to the useless question. He proceeds to speak of what was essential, namely, of the knowledge necessary for the performance of those duties by which people can enter the narrow door.” - Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Homily 99, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, p. 229. 

 

FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD

Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Art. VI: The Third Use of God’s Law, para. 9-12

Because of fleshly lusts, God's regenerate children need the daily instruction and admonition of the Law in this life. But they also need frequent punishments. So they will follow God's Spirit, as it is written: 

 

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes. (Psalm 119:71)

 

I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

 

If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)

 

Dr. Luther explained this in the Epistle [Ephesians 4:22-28].

     “We must explain what the Gospel does and Law's office in this matter, regarding believers' good works. The Law says it is God's will that we should walk in a new life. But it does not give the power to do it. The Holy Spirit renews the heart. He is given and received, not through the Law, but through the preaching of the Gospel. Thereafter, the Holy Spirit uses the Law in order to teach the regenerate from it and to point out and show them in the Ten Commandments what is the "will of God, what is acceptable and perfect" in what "good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Phone: 515-924-3344

Email:  churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org