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 TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 23, 2022
Almighty and everlasting God, You are always more ready to hear than we to pray and always ready to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour down on us the abundance of Your mercy; forgive us those things of which our conscience is afraid; and give us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask except by the merits and mediation of 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, October 23, 2022 8:30 am Sunday School/Adult Class 9:30 am Divine Service Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:00 am Morning Prayer Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6:00 pm Wednesday Catechesis Thursday, October 27, 2022 3:00 pm Titonka Care Center | Sunday, October 30, 2022 8:30 am Sunday School/Adult Class 9:30 am Divine Service (Reformation) 1:30 pm Partnership Voters Meeting (Trinity) THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR October 23 - Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr October 25 - Commemoration of Dorcas, Lydia, and Phoebe, Faithful Women October 26 - Commemoration of Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters October 28 - Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles |
ST. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna
Elder: Jerry Koestler
Asst. Usher: Roger Evans
Acolyte: Caelum Blocker
Greeters Today: Joe and Tina Heyes & Rialyn
Greeters Next Week: David and Lisa Haase
Flowers on the Altar today are given in memory of Arnie Skadburg.
“Share the Blessing” letter and giving envelope is on the small table in the back. This is a special offering to the church during the harvest time, previously known as “Corn, Bean, Cash.”
Adult Bible Study - During Bible study, we are asking volunteers to share one or several devotions from their favorite devotional resources. Pastor Cowell will have several devotion books available as well if you would like to read from them. Sign up for a Sunday in the back of church, and contact Pastor Cowell with questions.
Partnership Associate Pastor Call Meeting - A Partnership voter’s meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 30 at 1:30 p.m. in the sanctuary at Trinity to vote on the Partnership Associate Pastor call committee’s recommendation to call Pastor Jonathan Meyer of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of O’Fallon, Missouri as our Partnership Associate Pastor. If you have any questions please speak with a member of the call committee or with Pastor Cowell.
Parish Messenger for November/December 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.
St. John’s Help Wanted List - Check the back table the next few weeks to see a number of one-time, short-term, and recurring tasks related to human care, evangelism, and mercy that Pastor Cowell needs your help with. These are all tasks which would benefit our congregation and our community, and which our members are well equipped to lead on behalf of St. John’s. Take a look and see if you would be able to help out with any of these special projects, and talk to Pastor Cowell if you have any suggestions of your own!
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.
Budget Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the church.
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!
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.
Trinity Quilting Convocation - The Trinity TLC Quilters invite you to our first ever Quilting Convocation on Saturday, November 12th. This is a day of fellowship with fellow Christian quilters, observing new quilting techniques, participating in hands-on demonstrations, and learning more about operating a Christian quilting organization. Information and registration forms are on the table in the back. Registration is due November 1st.
Ian Hurricane Relief ~ If you or your congregation wish to provide financial support, please make a check to IDW-Ian Relief and send to:
- Iowa District West, 409 Kenyon Road Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
- To give online through the District, go to www.idwlcms.org and click on “Donate” at the top of the homepage. - Ellie Menz, IDW Disaster Response Coordinator
Did You Know - “It’s more important what God thinks of you than what others think of you.” How often have you heard (or said) these words? Yet so often we slip into the habit of living for the approval of others. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to do things for the approval of men. In the same chapter, He assures us that our Father, who sees and knows us inside out, is the One who can and will meet all our needs, including our need to be recognized, valued, and loved. Whew! What a relief! Life begins to look different (and much better!) when seen through the eyes of faith in our loving, gracious, living and forgiving God. Live in the light of that great love this week! Lutheran Family Service - www.LutheranFamilyService.org.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Trunk or Treat - The churches of Burt will be hosting a trunk-or-treat in the Presbyterian parking lot in conjunction with the town of Burt’s trick-or-treating night: Monday, October 31 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. If you would like to host a trunk, donate individually wrapped bars, or volunteer in any way, please text or call Hannah Cowell at 712-294-4962.
Omelet Breakfast - The Burt Lions Club is hosting their annual Omelet Breakfast Sunday, November 13th from 9:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m. at the Activity Complex.
Annual Soup Luncheon sponsored by the Lakota Ambulance will be held on Sunday, November 6 at the Lakota Fire Station. Serving of several soups, sandwiches and bars. Free will offering.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Proper 25)
Old Testament: Genesis 4:1-15
God is displeased with Cain’s sacrifice and pleased with Abel’s, so Cain kills his brother in anger.
Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Paul proclaims: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Gospel: Luke 18:9-17
Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple and instructs His disciples to let the children come to Him.
LESSONS ON THE LITURGY
What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel?
The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, in Jesus, for our salvation. The Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and brings God’s grace and favor. The Law must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to sinners who refuse to repent; the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled by their sins. See Romans 3:20; John 6:63; Romans 1:16. - An Explanation of the Small Catechism (2017), p. 49
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V (III): Love & Fulfilling the Law, para. 209-212
flesh and righteousness of the flesh cannot endure the judgment of God. Jonah 2:8 also says: They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy, i.e., all confidence is vain, except confidence in mercy; mercy delivers us; our own merits, our own efforts, do not. Accordingly, Daniel, also prays, (Dan. 9:18):
For we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do it; defer not for Thine own sake, O my God; for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.
Thus Daniel teaches us in praying to lay hold upon mercy, i.e., to trust in God’s mercy, and not to trust in our own merits before God. We also wonder what our adversaries do in prayer, if, indeed; the profane men ever ask anything of God. If they declare that they are worthy because they have love and good works, and ask for grace as a debt, they pray precisely like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, who says: I am not as other men are. He who thus prays for grace, and does not rely upon God’s mercy, treats Christ with dishonor, who, since He is our High Priest, intercedes for us. Thus, therefore, prayer relies upon God’s mercy, when we believe that we are heard for the sake of Christ, the High Priest, as He Himself says, John 14:13: Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. In My, name, He says, because without this High Priest we cannot approach the Father.
St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.
Phone: 515-924-3344
Email: churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org
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