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 LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
November 20, 2022
Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S Today, November 20, 2022 8:30 am Sunday School/Adult Class 9:30 am Divine Service 1 10:30 am Council Meeting Monday, November 21, 2022 7:00 p.m. Elder’s Meeting Tuesday, November 22, 2022 10:00 am Morning Prayer Wednesday, November 23, 2022 6:00 pm Thanksgiving Service- Burt | Thursday, November 24, 2022 9:00 am Thanksgiving Service-Trinity Sunday, November 27, 2022 8:30 am Sunday School/Adult Class 9:30 am Divine Service THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH YEAR November 23, 2022 Commemoration of Clement of Rome, Pastor |
St. JOHN’S NEWS
Organist Today: Marcia Hanna
Elder: Jeff Schutjer
Acolytes: Caelum Blocker and Brayton Borchardt
Greeters Today: Al and Peggy Schadendorf
Greeters Next Sunday: Ben & Beth Borchardt
Flowers on the Altar today were given in celebration of Red and Doris Madsen’s 71st Wedding Anniversary.
Call Update - On Sunday, October 30th our Partnership congregations voted unanimously to call Pastor Jonathan Meyer of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, O’Fallon, Missouri to be our Partnership associate pastor. Please pray for Pastor Meyer as he spends the next several weeks deliberating where God would have him serve.
A Special Council Meeting will be held today following the service. This meeting is to approve the 2023 budget and slate of 2023 officers. A voters’ meeting is scheduled for December 4th to vote on the 2023 budget and officers.
The Nominating Committee is looking for members to fill some of the areas on the church council. If you would be willing to help, please contact Lynn Bierstedt.
Poinsettias - There is a sign-up sheet in the back of the church to purchase poinsettias for Advent and Christmas. The poinsettias will decorate the sanctuary until the Christmas Day Divine Service, after which you can take yours to enjoy at home. Please order and pay Vickie Madsen by November 27th.
“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.”
Thanksgiving Service will be held here at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 23 at 6 p.m. Trinity will hold a service on Thanksgiving Day at 9:00 am.
An Partnership Advent and Christmas service schedule is on the table in the back. Our three Advent midweek services will be hosted by Trinity this year.
Adopted Family - St. John’s has adopted a family again this year. This family is a father, mother and 6 children. A list of the needs/wants are on the table in the back. Sunday Dec 11th would be the last day gifts/money can be accepted for the family. Money and or gift cards can be left in the church office or given to Doris Blocker or Debra Steven. A box designated for the gifts is on display in the back.
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.
“This Is My Son” Advent/Christmas Daily Devotion Booklets are now available on the back table. Feel free to take one with you!
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.
Greeter and Usher sign-up lists are now available in the back for the 2023 year. Please, feel free to fill your name in more than once.
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.
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 - A young adult (post-high school) Bible study meets 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.
COMMUNITY NEWS
A Special Offering - We will be collecting a special monetary donation in the back of the church this Sunday for the Kossuth County Food Pantry.
Santa Day in Burt will be held on Saturday, December 3 from 1-3 pm at the Activity Complex. Come visit Santa and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Fire Truck Rides will also be taking place.
Vendor Show - Burt Summer Celebration is hosting a Vendor Show in the Burt new gym on Santa Day - Saturday December 3 and will be serving walking tacos.
Santa Day is coming to Lone Rock on Sunday, December 4, at the Lone Rock Legion from 10:30-12:30 p.m. We will be serving Chili, Cinnamon Rolls, Hot Dogs, Chips.
LECTIONARY SUMMARY (Last Sunday)
Old Testament: Malachi 3:13-18
“Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”
Epistle: Colossians 1:13-20
God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Gospel: Luke 23:27-43
Jesus is crucified alongside two criminals, and Jesus says to the one who prays to Him: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS
“‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ Through saying this, he also gave to all those who believe and confess access to the entrance that Adam previously had closed by sinning. Who else could remove ‘the flaming turning sword which was placed to guard the tree of life’ and the gates of paradise? What other sentinel was able to turn the ‘cherubim’ from their incessant vigil, except only he to whom ‘was given all power in heaven and in earth?’ No one else besides him could do these things.” - Origen, Homilies on Leviticus 9.5, qtd. in ACCS: Luke, p. 365
FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD
Large Catechism, Part V: Sacrament of the Altar, paragraphs 28-31
Our wise spirits with their great art and wisdom cry, "How can bread and wine forgive sins or strengthen faith?" They know that we do not say this about bread and wine. But we speak about the bread and wine that is Christ's body and blood and has the words attached to it. That, we say, is truly the treasure—and nothing else—through which such forgiveness is gained. Now the only way this treasure is passed along and made our very own is in the words "Given … and shed for you." For in the words you have both truths, that it is Christ's body and blood, and that it is yours as a treasure and gift. Now Christ's body can never be an unfruitful, empty thing that does or profits nothing. Yet, no matter how great the treasure is in itself, it must be included in the Word and administered to us. Otherwise we would never be able to know or seek it.
It is useless talk when they say that Christ's body and blood are not given and shed for us in the Lord's Supper, so we could not have forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. Although the work is done and the forgiveness of sins is secured by the cross, it cannot come to us in any other way than through the Word. We know that such a thing was accomplished to be given to us, by preaching the oral Word. How do they know or make the forgiveness their own, unless they believe the Gospel?
St. John’s Lutheran Church – Burt, IA.
Phone: 515-924-3344
Email: churchoffice@stjohnsburt.org
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