I Am My Father’s Child – June 13, 2018

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:8-15

I Am My Father’s Child


Daily Devotion – June 13, 2018

Devotion based on Genesis 3:8-15

See series: Devotions

Sadly, I am my father’s child.

When my first father, Adam, heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden, he didn’t run to greet his loving Creator to spend quality time and perfect fellowship with him. Instead Adam ran and hid among the trees. It’s quite silly, really—running and hiding from the Almighty! But that’s what sinful people do. They do foolish things. When Adam was confronted with his sin, he tried deflecting. He tried making excuses. He tried shifting blame. That was foolish.

I do that too; too often. When confronted with my sin I try to deflect the discussion to something else, something that isn’t the heart of the matter. I try to make excuses to justify my behavior, or at least make it a bit more understandable and therefore reasonable. When this fails, I try to shift the blame to someone else. Then, over time, shifting blame becomes a first resort rather than a last resort. Yes, they are quite silly—my foolish attempts to hide from the Almighty!

Thankfully, I am my Father’s child.

When the Lord God had exposed the wretched state of his first children, he went on to address the serpent. God pronounced a curse upon the serpent, and along with this curse he proclaimed a wonderful promise. One of the woman’s offspring—a Savior—would come. He would crush the devil. He would restore what had been broken. Centuries later that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

Now, by the grace of God and by the working of the Holy Spirit, I am a child of God. No longer estranged. Not disowned. Never abandoned. Having been freed from foolishness, I have been embraced. I am loved. I am forgiven. And I can walk with my Lord God in the morning, at mid-day, in the cool of the day—in peace and living hope.

Dear friend in Jesus, acknowledge that you are a child of the fall, and confess that you too often want others to take the fall for your transgressions. Then, rejoice that you are a child of the promise, and live as a redeemed, restored, forgiven child of your Father in heaven.

Prayer:
O Lord, help me remember, today and every day, that I am my Heavenly Father’s child. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Young – June 12, 2018

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

Young


Daily Devotion – June 12, 2018

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:16

See series: Devotions

Here’s a list you may or may not want to read. It’s an official list of signs you are growing older.

According to British researchers in the April 16 edition of Express magazine, the signs, on average, begin at age 41.

Ready? Here we go.

Number 21 on the list of signs that you are growing older: You do not know the names of any modern bands. Number 18: Having colleagues who don’t know what a cassette tape is. Number 12: Falling asleep in front of the TV.

Number 11: Choosing clothes and shoes for comfort instead of style. Number 9: Finding it hard to sit cross-legged on the floor. Number 7 is finding strange hairs growing out of your ears. Number 6 is misplacing your car keys.

Number 5 on the list of signs you are growing older: Not knowing any songs in the Top 10. Number 4 is giving out an involuntary groan when you bend down. Number 3 is talking about your ailments with others.

And according to researchers, the number 1 sign that you are growing older? Forgetting names.

We can smile at this list. In fact, we should. But as we do, there is also the quiet acknowledgement that, with each passing year, our bodies age. This reality is simply part of living in a world broken by sin—your sin and mine.

But here’s the good news. In Jesus, we are young. Through faith in his life and death and resurrection on our behalf, our inner self is being renewed day by day. As we bask in his full and complete forgiveness, all things are fresh and clean and new. There is purpose in our life. There is meaning. There is a vibrancy that no anti-aging product can ever produce. There is a spring in our step as we walk with our Savior, who is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

And as for these bodies of ours that keep getting older? When Jesus returns, even they will be young again. Better than ever. For all eternity.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on those days when my body feels its age, remind me that even the aging of my body is temporary. Remind me that in you, all things are new. Forever. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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The Right Conclusion – June 11, 2018

Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem, said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
Mark 3:20-22

The Right Conclusion


Daily Devotion – June 11, 2018

Devotion based on Mark 3:20-22

See series: Devotions

There were many people who had their ideas about Jesus. Their conclusions were often based on what they observed, and sometimes what they assumed. These personal ideas often led to the wrong conclusion. This is why I need to rely on the testimony of Scriptures and the gift of faith.

Through these gracious gifts I can arrive at the right conclusion. This is important because during this life I will need to rely on Jesus. If I allow the world to influence me, I might come to the same conclusion his family did: Jesus is out of his mind … how can anyone promise or do what Jesus did! I might also be led to the same faulty conclusion the teachers of the law had: Jesus couldn’t possibly be God … he must be some kind of demon who masquerades as an agent of good.

Only the Scriptures lead me to the right conclusion. God’s Word reveals what I need to know and believe. In its inspired and error-free testimony I come to know the truth, and that truth is precious. Jesus came as my substitute to do what was impossible for me to accomplish. Jesus came as my Savior to rescue me from the judgment I deserved for my sin. Jesus came as the Son of God to secure my victory over death and hell.

It is only through the witness of the Scriptures that I can know the truth, and what a blessed truth it is. God’s Word leads me to the only right conclusion—Jesus is God’s Son and my Savior.

Prayer:
O gracious Father in heaven, I know I am easily confused and distracted. By your holy Word increase my faith to confess with confidence Jesus is my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Jesus Came to Call Sinners – June 10, 2018

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13

Jesus Came to Call Sinners


Daily Devotion – June 10, 2018

Devotion based on Matthew 9:10-13

See series: Devotions

The Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They didn’t accept him as the one God had promised to rescue them from sin’s curse and deliver them from their enemy Satan. As proof of their position, they pointed to Jesus’ activity of dining with people of ill-reputation (tax collectors) and eating with those whose lifestyle opposed God’s law (“sinners”). Their logic was that if Jesus is God, he would know what kind of people he was associating with and avoid them.

Jesus responded to his unbelieving critics, “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” The Pharisees considered themselves spiritually healthy because they strived to live good and obedient lives before God. They didn’t think they needed Jesus for spiritual healing to save them. So Jesus told them that he couldn’t help them because they wouldn’t admit that they were sick with sin. However, Jesus made it clear that he was glad to minister to those who admit their guilt and look to him as their only hope for salvation.

Jesus quotes God’s word recorded in Hosea’s prophecy, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Salvation from the condemnation we deserve as sinners doesn’t come by sacrifices that we make—by good things that we strive to do and wrong things we seek to avoid. Not at all! Rather, rescue from the curse of sin comes only by everything Jesus has done for us. The “mercy” that God desires is to sincerely admit that we are sinners and trust Jesus alone for full forgiveness of sins and free salvation from eternal death.

Jesus came to call sinners. That’s me. That’s you. He is our Savior!

Prayer:
Help me realize, dear Jesus, that I am sick with sin. Open my eyes to see you as my Savior and my heart to put my complete trust in you for salvation. Then open up my mouth to speak your praises for all your great goodness. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Eyes of Love – June 9, 2018

[Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God … being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:20-21

Eyes of Love


Daily Devotion – June 9, 2018

Devotion based on Romans 4:20-21

See series: Devotions

There’s a story about a nighttime fire that started in a family’s house. The entire family escaped except for one child—a young boy. The fire had forced him to keep climbing until he found himself on the roof. The boy was trapped. He could not go back downstairs—the heat was too intense. The smoke around him was so thick that it left him disoriented and confused. The thought of jumping off that roof paralyzed him with fear. So he stood, and time was running out.

But then below him, in the darkness, beyond the smoke, there came a voice. It was the voice of his father. “Jump, Son, jump!” the father cried out. “Just jump, and I will catch you.” But the boy could not see his father. On that terrible roof, all he could see were flames, sparks, darkness and smoke. In a choking voice the boy sobbed, “I’m afraid to jump, Daddy. I can’t see you.”

It was then that the father cried out the one thing that made all the difference. “I know you can’t see me, Son,” the father said. “But I can see you.” That’s all the boy needed to hear. He jumped. His father caught him, and all was well.

Because of your sin and mine, life in this broken world is often like standing on the roof of a burning house. So much smoke, so much chaos, so much confusion—it can paralyze us with fear.

But beyond the darkness comes the voice of our heavenly Father. Through the power of his Word he calls to us. He calls to us to trust him, to trust his promises, to trust his will for our lives. And trust him we can—not because we see through the smoke, but because he does.

Our heavenly Father sees us. And he will catch us. Every time. After all, he gave his own Son to wash us clean and make us his own. Since then, his eyes of love have never left us.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through the darkness and smoke of this fallen world, you see us. By your Spirit, embrace us in this marvelous truth. Move us to trust your promises and your will for our lives. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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I Need the Holy Spirit – June 8, 2018

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:11

I Need the Holy Spirit


Daily Devotion – June 8, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 51:11

See series: Devotions

“I trust him about as far as I can throw him. If I don’t keep my eye on him every second, there’s no telling what he will try to pull. I have to be vigilant 24-7. I simply can’t trust him a bit.”

King David didn’t write those words. But maybe he could have. David was recovering from a serious spiritual crisis. He had sinned against the Lord. He had taken another man’s wife for his own. He had murdered that other man through conspiracy and misuse of power. He had deceived a nation—God’s people. He had denied his sins.

But David was forgiven. The Lord took away his sin. The Lord had cleansed him and made him clean. The Lord had washed away all his iniquity and cleansed him of sin. (Read Psalm 51.) Now David was moving forward in repentant faith. He knew he was forgiven and a child of God. He knew God would not hold his sin against him. But David also knew that his only hope of remaining a child of God was the work of the Holy Spirit.

So he prayed: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” As if to say, “Lord, I was born with a sinful nature. I trust that I have your forgiveness for that sinful nature and all that it does. But I don’t trust my sinful nature even as far as I can throw it. I need your help to keep that sinful nature from getting the best of me and taking me down. Be merciful to me and do not drive me away. Keep me close to you. If you should ever take your Holy Spirit from me, I’m a goner. So send the Holy Spirit to me again and again through your loving promises, that I may live and enjoy your love forever.”

We can pray the same thing. We have a sinful nature that we can’t trust. We have forgiveness through Christ, who died and rose again. We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit through Word and sacrament. We have the ongoing need and the gospel-born confidence to pray: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord, be merciful to me. As you have so richly forgiven me, so continue to send me your Holy Spirit, that I may not fall from faith, but remain your child forever. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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BULLETIN- THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST JUNE 10, 2018

EMMANUEL & ST. JOHN’S

Ev. Lutheran Churches

Mecan & Montello, WI

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

C:\Users\secretary\Downloads\believe_15323c.jpg

THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

JUNE 10, 2018

WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH! We extend a warm welcome to everyone today, especially our visitors. In the bulletin you’ll find an outline of today’s service, a calendar of events and other bits of information. In the red hymn book you’ll find the songs we sing and the order of service that we follow. If you would like a large print hymnal or bulletin please ask one of our ushers and they will gladly assist you. Restrooms and nursery area are located the parish hall at Emmanuel and in the lower level and “link-way” at St. John’s. It’s nice to have you visit today. May God bless our worship together!

A PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Heavenly Father, the strength of all who trust in you, mercifully hear our prayers. Be gracious to us in our weakness and give us strength to keep your commandments in all we say and do; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

SPEAK LORD! Today’s hymns and readings focus our thoughts on Jesus, who saved us from death in hell for life in heaven by conquering Satan and sin by his own death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. Yes, rejoice that Jesus is our Savior!

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY Your Dread Enemy, the Devil, Won’t Win – Adam and Eve ruined everything for everyone. They destined themselves for death. They took the perfect world that God created for everyone and put it under constant attack from all the demons. But God made a promise almost immediately. God said he would send a descendant of Eve to crush Satan’s power. Jesus, that descendant, demonstrated his authority over Satan even before he rose from the dead.

ORDER OF SERVICE–LITURGY

“The Common Service” hymnal page 15

PASTOR’S GREETING

OPENING HYMN 343 “Christ Is the World’s Light”

(printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

LITURGY (hymnal page 15, read & sung responsively)

PRAYER OF THE DAY (read by the pastor)

(Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings)

THE DAY’S BIBLE READING THEME

God’s Plan to Save Mankind

FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15

The first promise of the Savior

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “The woman you put here with me– she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

PSALM 51a (hymnal page 86; all sing refrains and read verses)

EPISTLE LESSON 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 (today’s sermon text)

The wonderful effect of God’s plan

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” {Psalm 116:10} With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

VERSE OF THE DAY Alleluia. God was in Christ reconciling the world himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia. (2 Cor. 5:19)

LITURGY (hymnal pages 18, all sing)

“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

(Please stand)

After the announcement of the Gospel, all sing:

“Glory be to you, O Lord!”

GOSPEL Mark 3:20-35

The fulfillment of God’s plan

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

After the Gospel, all sing”

“Praise be to you, O Christ!”

APOSTLES’ CREED (hymnal page 19, all read)

(Please be seated)

SERMON HYMN 356 “You Are the Way; through You Alone”

(printed in hymnal, all sing)

SERMON 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

“We Believe and Therefore Speak”

Today we will focus in on exactly…

  1. What it is we believe
  2. Why we speak, and
  3. Where we are headed

(Please stand after the sermon)

LITURGY (hymnal page 20a, all sing)

(Please be seated)

OFFERING, WORSHIPER GREETINGS & FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS

OFFERING PRAYER (read by pastor)

PRAYER FOR SPEAKING (& LIVING) WHAT WE BELIEVE (read by pastor)

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: George Alexander, Gale “Blackie” Boyd, Alexandria Buehrens (Bob & Carolyn’s great granddaughter), Bob & Carolyn Buehrens, George Chapman, Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley & Liola Crown, Agnes Dassow, Caleb & Emery Degenstein (Mark Emond’s friends), Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Marjorie Fabian, Mike Farrell, Donna Gatzke, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Brian & Bonnie Harmon (Linda Lou Wacholtz’ sister & brother-in-law), Brody Henke, Ardis Henning, Mary Isberner, Geri Kerl (Sue Brown’s mother), Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Doris Klawitter, Aspen Raelynn Lefeber (Barb Hoffman’s greatgrandaughter), Anna Madigan, Kerry & Lily Mann, Ruthie Marcelain (Dawn’s granddaughter), Sherry Miller (Candace Sonnenberg’s sister), Steve Parrish, Wayne Riemer, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Schrank, Bill Schroeder (Ashley’s father-in-law), Carol Schumann, Jane Torres (Stacie Starke’s mother), Donny Weber (Betty’s son), Paul Weldon, Raymond Zacharias (Marilyn Riemer’s brother) – (added this week: David Broderick, Raymond Zacharias)

– For Scott Schomberg, principal & upper grades teacher at St. Matthew’s–Winona, MN who at our 5/20 St. John’s Voter’s meeting was called to serve the Lord as principal and upper grades teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School–Montello

– For Christian Stewardship

– For Vacation Time

– For our communicants at St. John’s

LORD’S PRAYER (hymnal page 20b, all read)

NOTE: AT EMMANUEL…

LITURGY (hymnal page 25)

HYMN 369:1-2 “Beautiful Savior” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING (hymnal page 25)

(Please be seated)

CLOSING HYMN 369:3-4 “Beautiful Savior” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

NOTE: AT ST. JOHN’S…

HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY (hymnal page 21, read & sung responsively)

We believe that in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, God comes to us with forgiveness through tangible means. Because the Bible has convinced us that Jesus’ body and blood are present in the sacrament and that receiving the sacrament together is a public statement of oneness in our beliefs, we ask our guests to speak with the pastor before communing. We look forward to any opportunity to discuss our Christian faith with you.

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS 372 “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”,

369:1-2 “Beautiful Savior” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

SONG OF SIMEON, CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING (hymnal page 24-25)

CLOSING HYMN 369:3-4 “Beautiful Savior” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Theme for next Sunday, June 17, 2018

(Father’s Day—The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost):

The Growth of God’s Kingdom

Note: Please give your completed friendship register page to an usher or pastor as you leave today’s service.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK JUNE 10-JUNE 16
Sun. 8:00 A.M. Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M. St. John’s Worship with communion
11:15 A.M. Hemling Farewell Luncheon
Mon.
Tues. 9:00 A.M. NW District Convention at Manitowoc Lutheran High School
Wed. 9:00 A.M. NW District Convention at Manitowoc Lutheran High School
6:00 P.M. St. John’s Evangelism/Stewardship meeting
6:30 P.M. St. John’s Worship
Thurs. FLAG DAY
10:00 A.M. Montello Care Center devotion
Fri.
Sat.
SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018

 (Father’s Day—The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost):

The Growth of God’s Kingdom

8:00 A.M. Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M. St. John’s Worship

HEMLING FAREWELL TODAY Please join us  TODAY, June 10, to say “Thank You!” to Tim & Sandy Hemling for their faithful service at St. John’s & Emmanuel during the past seven years.  Immediately following the 10 a.m. service at St. John’s,  a light luncheon of sandwiches, bars, & beverages will be served in the lower level.  Please come and greet them there.  A card box will be available at both churches if you wish to share cards/gifts.

FREE THRIVENT T-SHIRTS  Extra T-shirts from past Thrivent Action Team events are displayed in the linkway at St. John’s.  They are FREE to good homes.  Adult sizes are clearly marked on the collar tags or the red cardboard tags attached to each shirt.

THIS YEAR’S HIGHSCHOOL GRADUATION Abel Bain (Martin Luther Preparatory), Seryna Jungenberg, Corey Kaul (WLA), Jonathan Lambrecht, Jasmine Lange (Montello), Morgan Marceau (Portage), Leah Wachholz (Montello) (Please give the church office a call with any updates.)

See the source imageLIFETOUCH PHOTOS This is the LAST WEEK to get your photos submitted for our new directory!!! If you were unable to schedule a photo session through Lifetouch and would still like to be in it in order to receive your copy FREE, please send your photo in BY JUNE 14TH to Pastor Pete or Ciara. You may also schedule Ciara to take your picture 608-297-2866. Thank you.

OFFICE SUMMER HOURS Mondays 8:00am-4:00pm, Tuesdays 8:00am-4:00pm, and Thursdays 8:00am-12:00pm.

CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “Don’t wait for 6 strong men to carry you to/from church.”

NWD CONVENTION We thank our members who agreed to serve as lay-delegates at our WELS N WI District Convention at Manitowoc LHS on 6/12,13 – representing Emmanuel: Bruce Stelter & representing St. John’s: Mark Emond

NEW TEACHER FURNITURE SHOWER Our new Kindergarten & 1st grade teacher, Rachel Naumann, is moving to Montello next weekend.  After living in dormitories for 10 years, she’s moving into her rented home at 55 Church Street.  I asked if she needed any furniture, and she answered: “Oh yes, actually! I’m needing any couches or chairs for a living room, any coffee tables also for a living room, and maybe a small dresser or nightstand for the small spare bedroom. And any deck furniture, as the house as a smaller deck out back! Anything extra from anyone would be fantastic!”  Please phone, text, or e-mail Rachel with items that you could donate. (847-913-2135 & rachnau94@gmail.com) Photos of items would be appreciated.  Free pick up is available.

GIFTS TO MISSIONS  Three gifts have been made to WELS Mission projects:  1) St. John’s School & Little Lambs gave $644.36 to this year LWMS sponsored Kids C.A.R.E. mission project, Feeding Jesus’ Lambs in Nepal.  This will be presented at the LWMS Convention in Green Bay, June 21-24.  2)  St. John’s Sunday School gave $488.49 to their 2017-2018 mission project, India Children’s Homes & School.  3) St. John’s freewill offering for Cameroon from Mission Festival Sunday 5/20 was $364.00.  Emmanuel’s freewill offering was $125 plus a special $1000 gift from one member.  Total gift for Cameroon:  $1,489.00.  Thank you, God, for these blessings to missions!!

Usher Schedule
June 10

SJ

(with comm)

E

Cal Kapp; Chief, Robin Smith, Del Henke, Joe Zauner, Gordon Krause

DuWayne Sommerfeld, Glenn Buchholz, Joe Heller

June 17

SJ

E

James Wachholz; Chief, Richard Freitag, Gerhardt Voigt, Mitch Simon, Karl Whitrock

Wayne Stelter, Warren Buchholz, DuWayne Sommerfeld

June 24

SJ

(with comm)

E

Dennis Wacholtz; Chief, Matt Borzick, Glen Bubolz, Al Rosenthal, Christopher Smith

Lucas Stelter, Bob Ferber, Brian Ninneman

St. John’s Greeter Schedule
June 10 Don & Doris Smith
June 17 James & Linda Wachholz
June 24 Ron & Evie Blada
Attendance Emmanuel St. John’s
6-3 6-6 75 122 12
St. John’s Altar Committee

June 2018

Diane Eisermann

&

Delores Cotte

Welcome To Our Visitors!

Please Sign Our Guest Register

Visit our website & Facebook link at: www.stjohnsmontello.org

https://www.facebook.com/St-Johns-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-107160252675/

Pastor Peter Zietlow Office (608) 297-2321

Cell & Text (608) 408-7830, E-mail: zietlowpl6@hotmail.com

Principal Tim Hemling (608) 745-2549

Teacher Karin Stellick (920) 342-3689

Teacher Sara Borck (858) 731-7919

Teacher Sandra Hemling (608) 745-2776

Parish/School Secretary Ciara Neuhauser (608) 297-2866

Altar Ladies Elaine Kelm (920) 344-0025 &

Carolyn Rosenthal 589-5036

Mail to: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949

OR scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Principal Mr. David Schroeder/WLA office (920) 921-4930

WLA website: www.wlavikings.org

Loneliness – June 7, 2018

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Psalm 139:7-8

Loneliness


Daily Devotion – June 7, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 139:7-8

See series: Devotions

A five-year-old boy had a terrible nightmare. He dreamt that his family had vanished and left him all alone. The boy woke up terrified in the middle of the night and began frantically searching the house in the darkness, looking for his parents. But it was to no avail, for in his confusion, he forgot to check their bedroom. What a relief when his bewildered father came downstairs and found him whimpering in the kitchen.

Loneliness is a terrible feeling and abandonment is even worse. Here’s where we discover the amazing comfort of God’s omnipresence, which means that God is present everywhere. Only God possesses this quality, so the psalm writer, King David, makes it clear that the Holy Spirit is truly God because he, too, is everywhere.

And what a comfort! A five-year-old child is terrified if he’s left all alone, but even for adults the world is a frightening place. How should we deal with financial ruin, terminal illness, or the death of someone we dearly love? How can we handle even just the stress of daily living and the endless stream of nagging problems? Most importantly, how can we face our own death? The problems of this world are too big for us to handle on our own. We know this. But we are not alone.

Make sure you know why this is true.

Jesus died praying Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God the Father abandoned his only Son while Jesus was on the cross. Jesus was plunged into darkness and indescribable suffering…alone. Why was Jesus torn from his Father? Why did he experience the terrible abandonment of God? He was getting what we deserved. He was suffering for our sins. He endured our punishment. Jesus cried out to his Heavenly Father, “Why have you forsaken me?” so we would never have to.

Through faith in Jesus God is present with you forever. No matter what you’re going through; no matter how dark things are, the Lord almighty is with you. He has you by the hand and he will never let you go. Never! Not even death can separate you from him.

The Lord almighty is with you and with him you are safe.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I have nothing to fear because you are with me. Help me to ponder that truth this day. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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The Lord Gives Us Rest – June 6, 2018

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”
Deuteronomy 5:12-15

The Lord Gives Us Rest


Daily Devotion – June 6, 2018

Devotion based on Deuteronomy 5:12-15

See series: Devotions

Last month was a busy one for our family. With two birthdays, two graduations, Mother’s Day, and a wedding, we had plenty of happy occasions to celebrate. By the end of the month we were exhausted, running from one big event to the next. However, we often reminded ourselves how blessed we were that these were happy events that kept us so busy. Life could just as easily throw an equally large number of challenges and tragedies at us in a short period of time.

Whether we are overwhelmed with the good things of this world or with disasters, we can quickly forget that this world is not the only one. We get so caught up in the daily chores, weekly specials, monthly bills, and annual events that it seems that time will always just keep marching forward. We lose sight of Jesus’ promise to return one day soon and end the world as we know it. So in the Third Commandment, the Lord commanded his people to take a regular rest from their earthly routines.

When we gather for worship on a weekly basis, the Lord not only gives us momentary relief from the daily grind, he gives us true, eternal rest for our souls. Just as God had rescued his Old Testament people from slavery in Egypt, he rescued us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil by the work of his Son Jesus Christ. In our worship services, the Lord reminds us through his Word about everything that Christ has done for us. Confidently in Christ, we know that the sad times of life now will soon be a bygone experience, while the happy events of this world are a foretaste of unending heavenly joy we will have through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord God, break through my focus on the busyness of this world to remind me of the blessedness of the world to come. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Something More – June 5, 2018

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7

Something More


Daily Devotion – June 5, 2018

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 4:7

See series: Devotions

In the 1930’s and ‘40’s, an actress by the name of Hedy Lamarr was one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood. Many called her, “the most beautiful woman in the world.” People flocked into the theaters to see her movies. The profits from her films were in the millions. She was one of the reigning queens of the silver screen.

But as the years went by, her outward beauty faded. Her box office popularity declined, and many dismissed her as an aging remnant from a bygone era. In her closing years she lived quietly, rarely leaving her home. She died in the year 2000.

A recent documentary entitled, “Bombshell” reveals that Hedy Lamarr had much more than just a pretty face for moviegoers to see. She also possessed scientific, inventive genius. Unknown to almost anyone at the time, Hedy Lamarr, in the days of World War II, created and patented a radio frequency system to benefit the U.S. Navy. This system is the basis for the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS technology that the world enjoys today.

People knew Hedy Lamarr for her physical beauty, even though she had much more to offer. For what do people know you? Perhaps some know you for what you do for a living. Perhaps others know you for your favorite hobby or a particular talent you have. Perhaps still others know you for your role as a parent or grandparent. And it’s likely that there are all kinds of people in your life who do not know you for anything specific at all.

Regardless whether people take note of us for anything, you and I have something to offer—something more significant than what we do for a living, how we look, or what abilities we have. Beyond all that, you and I possess the treasure of the gospel. You and I possess the extraordinary news that God has entered our world in the person of Jesus Christ, that he has washed away our every sinful failure through his death on the cross. You and I possess the history-changing message that, through faith in Jesus Christ, people receive forgiveness, peace, purpose, fulfillment, and life eternal in heaven.

What we have to offer outshines even the invention of Wi-Fi. Let’s share it.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the treasure of the gospel. Give me opportunities this week to share my treasure with others. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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