Invocation
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
Call to Worship
P: “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96: 1-3)
C: We come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S incerely!
We come with . . . . . . . . . T hanksgiving!
We come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A doring!
We come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R ejoicing!
P: We come in the name of God, “for great is the LORD and most worthy of praise.” (Psalm 96:4)
C: Oh, come, let us adore Him! Christ, the Lord!
Processional “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” Congregation
1. Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
2. God from true God, and Light from Light eternal,
Born of a virgin, to earth he comes,
Only begotten Son of God the Father.
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
3. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Congregation stands.
A Star Litany (Response Refrain: “We Three Kings”)
Pastor: “We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)
C: (sung) Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Ever leading, still proceeding,
Guide us with your perfect light!
P: God made the two great lights–the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. (Genesis 1:16)
Men: “[God] determines the number of the stars, and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4)
P: Christ, our Lord, has said, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22: 16)
Women: He is my Savior. He is my light and my salvation. He is the way for my life, the truth in whom I trust and the life that I shall lead.
C: I believe Jesus is Lord!
C: Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Ever leading, still proceeding,
Guide us with your perfect light!
Men: God says to me, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
P: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place.” (Psalm 8:3)
Women: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4)
P: Yet in Christ, God looks at us and says,
C: “That’s good!”
C: Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Ever leading, still proceeding,
Guide us with your perfect light!
P: I am one of God’s stars, one of His lights shining for Him in a dark, dark world.
Women: “[And] those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)
P: God has called all of us to be lights and calls us to shine, like the stars in the heavens.
Men: “That you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. (Philippians 2:15-16)
C: Lord, shine in us brightly and shine through us to others. Amen.
C: Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Ever leading, still proceeding,
Guide us with your perfect light!
Prayer for the Day Pastor
Lord Jesus Christ, bright Morning Star, we worship you this day with praise and thanksgiving. For the light with which You fill the earth, for the direction You give for us to follow, for the truth on which we stand firmly, for the opportunity to shine to others as You shine in and through us, we glorify Your name. Bless all our Christmas festivities and fill them with your presence among us as we celebrate your birth. You are our Lord! You are our Savior! In Your name we pray. Amen.
Congregation sits.
Hymn “As With Gladness Men of Old” Congregation
1. As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led by Thee.
- As with joyful steps they sped, Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before Thee, whom heav’n and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet ever seek Thy mercy seat.
- As they offered gifts most rare at Thy cradle, rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heav’nly King.
4. Holy Jesus, ev’ry day keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide, where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5. In the heav’nly country bright need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown, Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing, alleluias to our King.
The Christmas Message Pastor
THE CHRISTMAS STORY, Part 1, Luke 2:1-7
SONG “In Those Days Caesar Augustus” Grades 1-5
THE CHRISTMAS STORY, Part 2, Luke 2:8-14 Children &Congregation
Children: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Congregation: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Ch: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
C: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Ch: This will be a sign to you:
C: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Ch: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
C: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Song: “Christmas Jingle Bells” All Children; Congregation joins on refrain after V1&2
Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Sing and praise and shout hooray to the baby on the hay!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Sing and praise and shout hooray for Christ is born today!
THE CHRISTMAS STORY, Part 2, Luke 2:15-20 Children &Congregation
Ch: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
C: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Ch: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
C: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
Ch: And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
C: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Ch: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
PreK-K Recitation Let us gather round him,
Rejoice and praise his birth.
For the baby King named Jesus,
Is our Savior come to earth!
Song “Christ Is Born” All Children
Recitation: It’s Time Grades 3-4-5
Song “Light One Candle“ Grades 1-5
Recitation: Getting Ready Grade 3-4-5
Hymn “I Am So Glad When Christmas Comes” Congregation
1. I am so glad when Christmas comes,
The night of Jesus’ birth,
When Bethl’em’s star shone as the sun
And angels sang with mirth.
2. The little child of Bethlehem,
The King of heav’nly grace,
Came down from His exalted throne
To save our fallen race.
3. I love this precious Christmas eve
And my dear Savior mild,
And I shall not forget the truth:
He loves me as His child.
4 I am so glad when Christmas comes:
Let anthems fill the air!
He opens wide for every child
His paradise so fair.
Recitation Grades 1-2
with Chorus “Twinkle, Twinkle” All Children
Recitation: Everything Is Ready Grades 3-4-5
Hymn “Oh, How I Love Jesus” All Children
Hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Congregation
1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
2. For Christ is born of Mary, and, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to all the earth!
- How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts o human hears the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in!
- O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.
Recitation: Star PreK & K
“S” is for Savior, now born as a child.
“T” is for tender, so sweet and so mild
“A” is for amazing. God’s Son is our King. So,
“R” is for royal. His praises we sing.
Song “Ev’rybody Ought to Know” All Children
Christmas Pageant Procession
Song “In A Little Stable” Aaron & Vicky Wachholz
Recitation: God’s Son Grades 3-4-5; Congregation joins on final verses
C: There is no star that’s brighter.
There is no light so bold.
Than God’s own SON, born Jesus,
Whom prophets had foretold.
C: And now with hallelujahs,
In celebrating praise
We come as God’s dear faithful
And praise Him all our days.
Hymn “Away in a Manger” Children V1, Congregation V2-3
2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
3. Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.
Recitation: The Announcement All Children
Hymn “Silent Night” Congregation
1. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!
3. Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Your holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Your birth, Jesus, Lord, at Your birth.
Congregation stands.
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
P: May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may the light of Christ, the bright Morning Star, ever shine upon you, guide you in His way, and give you hope. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Go in peace and shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life.
All: Amen! Alleluia! Amen!
Congregation sits.
Recessional Hymn “Joy to the World” Congregation
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Thank you to:
The Sunday School Children. PreK-K: Preston Jahr, Xzander Jahr, Grant Wolsdorf. Grades 1&2: Wesley Jahr, MaKinleigh Kaenel, Estrella Kaenel, Jaxon Wolsdorf, Trenton Jahr, Annalyse Van Treeck. Grades 3-4-5: Nolan Van Treeck, Molly Utke, Wally Wolsdorf.
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
January 2 – January 8
| Sun. | 8:00a.m. | Emmanuel Worship |
| 9:00a.m. | Adult Bible Study at St. John’s | |
| 10:00a.m. | St. John’s Worship | |
| Mon. | 8:00a.m. | School resumes |
| 3:30p.m. | A Basketball/Cheerleading practice | |
| 6:30p.m. | Joint Choir at St. John’s | |
| 7:30p.m. | Adult Bible Study at St. John’s | |
| Tues. | 3:30p.m. | C Basketball practice |
| 6:00p.m. | Griefshare in Princeton (week 1) | |
| 6:30p.m. | Joint Worship Committee meeting at St. John’s | |
| Wed. | 8:00a.m. | School Chapel |
| 10:30a.m. | Adult Bible Study at St. John’s | |
| 1:45p.m. | Early School Dismissal | |
| 2:15p.m. | Public School Teen Confirmation | |
| Thurs. | 8:00a.m. | St. John’s Teen Confirmation |
| 12:30p.m. | Ladies Aid dessert/meeting | |
| 3:30p.m. | A/C Basketball practice | |
| 6:00p.m. | Griefshare in Montello (week 1) | |
| Fri. | 4:30p.m. | Basketball/Cheer games @ Fox Lake |
| Sat. | 10:00a.m. | Basketball/Cheer games @ Mayville |
| 4:30p.m. | St. John’s Worship with communion | |
Next week’s theme: January 9, 2022Epiphany 1 – The Baptism of our Lord | ||
| Sun. | 8:00a.m. | Emmanuel Worship with communion |
| 8:30a.m. | Sunday School at St. John’s | |
| 9:00a.m. | Adult Bible Study at St. John’s | |
| 10:00a.m.. | St. John’s Worship with communion |
C H U R C H N E W S
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For the sick and distressed…Caryl Bassett, Mike Brown, Ed & Warren Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Ann & Roberta Davison (Beth Johnson’s daughters), Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Diane Eisermann, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Judy Freitag, Donna Gatzke, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Marian Heller, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Bob Klapper, Arden Klimke, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Diane Metcalf, Mary Anne Myers (Teacher Shelley Myers’ mother), Arlene Neale (Ruth Jones’ sister), Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Steve Parrish, Karen Radke, Wanda Sellnow (Principal Larry Sellnow’s mother), Doris Smith, Mary Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law) (added this week: )
– For Christian Education and Mrs. Ashley Phillips who was called at the 12/19 St. John’s Voters meeting to serve as our Kindergarten teacher
– For the family of Pastor Rolfe Westendorf called home on 12/28 at the age of 88
– For Missions
NEW CHURCH ATTENDANCE SYSTEM Using your smartphones, please scan the code on the back side of the bulletin, using your phone camera, and fill out the prompted information. This new system directly notifies our pastor and keeps your current and our system updated. If you do not have a smartphone, please fill out the attendance card located at the end of each pew. Please it in the offering plate when you are finished. Thank you!
GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Please consider making a gift towards the following church or school projects. Your gift, to the project of your church, will be recorded under your member account in our Shepherd’s Staff program unless you specifically request it to be recorded as anonymous. Donor names and gift amounts are not published. Your gift can be placed in the offering plate, the locked drop box by the office, or mailed. Please contact the church/school office secretary, Ciara Neuhauser, if you have any questions.
Continued…
Project Name & Brief Description Amount Needed
House Demolition $9,500.00
(costs related to tear down of old Little Lambs house)
Church Piano $1,500.00
Church A/V Upgrades $2,000.00
Ministerial Tuition Assistance No limit in place
(assistance for members pursuing the ministry)
Outreach Activities No limit in place
(church and/or school outreach supplies, fees) No limit in place
St. John’s School Tuition Assistance No limit in place
(assistance for parents of students)
School Technology Fund No limit in place
(maintain teacher and student computers, devices, smartboards)
S C H O O L N E W S
BASKETBALL & CHEERLEADING Games Jan. 7 @ 4:30pm Fox Lake and Jan. 8 @ 10:00am Mayville. Come support your Jaguars!
God Fulfills his Covenant Pledge
The Second Sunday after Christmas – Series C
God’s Word for Today
God’s activity at that first Christmas time when Jesus was born was the unfolding of the grand covenant of world-wide blessings. This is the covenant that had been made to Abraham around 2000 years earlier. Now approximately 2000 years after Jesus’ birth we continue to reap the benefits. Through Christ we enjoy a “dear Father – son” relationship with the almighty God himself.
First Lesson (Genesis 17:1-7)
- What was the covenant that God had made with Abraham?
- What did he command as the way to seal this covenant to make its reality constantly evident to the people? (Gen 9-14)
Second Lesson (Galatians 4:4-7)
- What do you understand by “when the time had fully come?”
- What is the result of Jesus coming?
Gospel (Luke 1:68-75)
- What did Zechariah acknowledge (v.72) when he broke into song at the birth of John the Baptist?
- What is the result of God accomplishing his promise? (v.74-75)
Answers:
- He was going to make Abraham the “father of many nations,” be their God and provide them the land as their own. In Gen 12:3 he clarifies that “all nations will be blessed” because of him. It is from his descendants that the Savior would be born for the benefit of the whole world. (Do you see this includes you?)
- All the male children were to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant. In the next generations it was to be an automatic rite carried out on the boys when they were eight days old. It would connect them with the covenant God and his blessings to his people.
- God’s plans for us have not only a specific purpose but also a specific time schedule. Jesus was born at a specific time because all the elements God was putting in place were ready. His countdown was over. What wisdom we see in the way he carried it out so that the world would know the Savior!
- God’s Son became fully human and under law (including circumcised on the eighth day). He did this so he could free us from the curse of law. Now we receive the full relationship and blessings of being free sons (inheriting children) of God. (Do you live in the security, peace and love of that relationship?)
- He saw this as the fulfillment of the “holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham” (See the Genesis 17 reading)
- We will not only be rescued from our enemies (the curse of sin, the fear of death and the power of the devil), but will also be able to serve him without fear (no longer a slave but a son- Gal 4:7)
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 12-23 | 104 | |
| 12-24 | 253 | |
| 12-25 | 56 | |
| 12-26 | 42 | 71 |
St. John’s Altar Committee for January 2022:Kathy North & Lucy Laun |
Help us stay in touch!
Scan the code below using your smartphone camera and fill out the prompted information. Don’t have a smartphone? That’s ok! Fill out an attendance card located at the end of each pew and place it in the offering plate located at the entry of each church.
Welcome to our visitors!
Find & Like us on Facebook
Visit our website: www.stjohnsmontello.org
Pastor Pete Zietlow: 608-408-7830, Email: zietlowPL6@hotmail.com
Principal & 6-8 Grade Teacher Larry Sellnow: 616-822-6689,
Email: principal@stjohnsmontello.org
3-5 Grade Teacher Katlynn Tindall: 262-352-7021
K-2 Grade Teacher Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554
Little Lambs Director Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816
Church/School Secretary/Office Ciara Neuhauser: 608-297-2866
Church/School Address: 313 E Montello St. Montello, WI 53949
Church/School Email: scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org