June 2018 – Page 4 – St. John's Evangelical

Fatal Flaw – June 4, 2018

June 4, 2018 Kerry

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Mark 2:23-24

Fatal Flaw

Daily Devotion – June 4, 2018

Devotion based on Mark 2:23-24

See series: Devotions

The Pharisees had a fatal flaw. They were always intent on finding fault with others. Their main target was Jesus. On this occasion, however, they directed their attention to Jesus’ disciples. It seemed the disciples provided their accusers with a golden opportunity. As they walked through a field, they picked some heads of grain to eat. According to the Pharisees this was work, harvesting on the Sabbath.

Their assault on the disciples might have worked if Jesus didn’t call attention to their fatal flaw. While he didn’t defend his disciples’ actions, he did reveal the Pharisees abuse of the other commandments. In their fervor to keep the Sabbath Day, they rejected the other commandments, especially the ones which required them to love others. This was their fatal flaw.

Jesus’ exposure of their sin is what I need on a daily basis. It is easy for me to compare myself with others. I especially like comparing myself with those whose decisions, choices and lives are what I consider worse than mine. I can easily point out their misdeeds, and quickly feel better about myself because I am not like them. When I embark upon this self-righteous comparison, I am no different than the Pharisees. My fatal flaw is theirs.

This is why I need Jesus to uncover my sin of arrogance and self-centeredness. I also need to hear his call to repent. As I acknowledge and sincerely confess my guilt, he leads me to the forgiveness he provides. He directs me to his sinless life—every commandment perfectly kept. He leads me to his cross—every act of disobedience completely washed away. He even opens my eyes to his undeserved love—every reason I need to serve him and others in love.

Here is the only way I can address my fatal flaw: In Jesus I receive forgiveness. In Jesus I receive new strength and hope. In Jesus I receive the love that leads me to be loving.

Prayer:
O dearest Savior, remove my self-righteous pride. Replace it with your undeserved and unselfish love, and lead me to live in love with others. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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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Going to Heaven – June 3, 2018

June 3, 2018 Kerry

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23

Going to Heaven

Daily Devotion – June 3, 2018

Devotion based on Matthew 7:21-23

See series: Devotions

Many people think being a Christian is all about treating people fairly, doing to others what you want them to do to you, always doing the right thing in your life. While those are all good things, none of them makes a person a Christian.

Jesus said there would be people who do miracles and preach in his name and still not go to heaven. Only those who do the will of God are going to heaven. If I keep the Ten Commandments then, does that make me a Christian?

No, because I can’t keep the Ten Commandments. For God requires that not only my actions be perfectly conformed to his holy will, he also commands the same for my words and even my thoughts! Don’t murder includes not yelling in anger at the crazy driver who cut me off in traffic. Don’t steal includes not complaining about the lack of things in my life that I see others having in theirs. Don’t commit adultery includes not doing anything that hurts my marriage—ignoring or criticizing my spouse.

Despite my many failures to obey God’s commands, I know I am going to heaven. I’m absolutely certain! How can I be sure?

Jesus gave his life for me. He kept all the Ten Commandments in my place. He offered his life as payment for all the sins I’ve done—the complaining and hurting and yelling and thousands of other sinful actions, words, and thoughts.

I’m going to heaven because of Jesus. Nothing I do. Nothing I can do. Jesus has done it all for me. Not because I founded an orphanage, or gave blood numerous times to the Red Cross, or did other “Christian works.” Jesus will welcome me home because he fulfilled God’s will perfectly as my substitute. Heaven is his gift to me.

Even better, heaven is Jesus’ gift to you also. Being a Christian is not about what you do. Being a Christian is trusting Jesus who has done everything for you. He has forgiven you at the cost of his own life.

Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for taking false pride in the Christian things I do. Thanks for your unearned love and forgiveness, and the gift of heaven which you give to me by faith alone. Help me do the right things and treat people fairly as a simple way of thanking you for your gift of heaven. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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A Different Way – June 2, 2018

June 2, 2018 Kerry

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. … Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28

A Different Way

Daily Devotion – June 2, 2018

Devotion based on Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28

See series: Devotions

A two-year-old boy stubbornly seeks to gain his independence. As he searches, he develops a favorite phrase that quickly becomes a refrain in his life: “Me do it! Me do it by myself!” He wants to tie his own shoes: “Me do it by myself!” He wants to buckle himself in his car seat: “Me do it by myself!” He wants to pour his own glass of milk: “Me do it by myself!” Independence is a wonderful thing for a child to seek, unless, of course, he has not yet developed the ability to complete such tasks by himself. If he can’t yet tie his own shoes or buckle his own car seat or pour his own milk, the end result will only be frustration and failure and puddles of milk on the floor.

We human beings, by our natures, want to operate exactly that same way when it comes to our relationship with God. Our grammar may be a little better, but the message remains the same: “I want to get right with God by myself!” And, by our very natures, we stubbornly think that we can.

We think God will be happy with us if we observe most of his laws most of the time or, at least, if we observe most of his laws better than most others do. But here’s the problem: Our holy God demands perfection from us. And not just most of the time. All of the time. Because none of us can claim that sort of perfection on our own, what the Bible says is true of all of us: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We have failed to meet our holy God’s holy standards. That failure to observe all of God’s laws absolutely perfectly leads to a much worse result than puddles of milk on the floor. Our sin should result in eternal death in hell.

This is why God planned a different way for us to be saved from hell. Because he knew we could not obtain righteousness (perfection) on our own, he planned to give it to us as a gift. He sent his Son Jesus into the world in order to live the righteous life we could not and to pay the price we owed for our sins through his death. Christ did all of that work in our place, as our substitute. And now, God offers Jesus’ perfectly righteous life to us as a free gift—a free gift that he gives to us through faith. God’s Word clearly says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

“I want to get right with God by myself!” Faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior leads us to strike that stubborn phrase from our vocabulary—that stubborn attitude from our lives—forever! Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to cling instead to Christ and his righteousness as the only way to get right with God and as the only way to heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, grant me a heart that despairs of myself and my own failed attempts to gain righteousness before God. In its place, grant me a heart that trusts only in you and the righteousness you won for me through your life. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

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BULLETIN- JUNE 3, 2018- THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST JUNE 3, 2018

June 1, 2018 Kerry

ST. JOHN’S

Evangelical Lutheran Church

Montello, WI

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

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THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

JUNE 3, 2018

WELCOME GUEST PASTOR PHIL JANKE FROM WINNEBAGO LUTHERAN ACADEMY

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!

THE SEASON OF PENTECOST During the festival half of the church year (Advent–Pentecost), we focus on the birth and life, suffering and death, resurrection and ascension of our Savior, Jesus Christ. During the 25 Sundays of the Pentecost season, we turn our attention away from Jesus works to his words, listening and learning as he teaches of God’s love and a Christian’s life.

A PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP

Yours forever, oh, how blest, They who find in you their rest!

Savior, Guardian, heav’nly Friend, Oh, defend us to the end.

Yours forever! You are Guide, All our needs by you supplied,

All our sins by you forgiv’n, Lead us, Lord, from earth to heav’n. (Hymn 426 v.2)

ORDER OF SERVICE–LITURGY

“Service of Word” (hymnal page 38)

PASTOR’S GREETING

OPENING HYMN 336 “Come unto Me, Ye Weary” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

LITURGY (hymnal page 38, read & sung responsively)

(Please stand)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

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

SCRIPTURE READING THEME

The 2nd Sunday after Pentecost: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (today’s sermon text)

The Sabbath of the old covenant

“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.

PSALM 126 (hymnal page 113, men sing first line, women sing second line, all sing refrains and Gloria)

EPISTLE LESSON 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[^a^] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

VERSE OF THE DAY Alleluia. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Alleluia (Psalm 119:105)

LITURGY (hymnal page 40, all sing)

“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written…”

(Please stand)

GOSPEL LESSON Mark 2:23-28

Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grain fields, his disciples began breaking off heads of wheat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against the law to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

But Jesus replied, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what King David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest), ate the special bread reserved for the priests alone, and then gave some to his companions. That was breaking the law, too.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people to benefit the Sabbath. And I, the Son of Man, am master even of the Sabbath!”

After the reading of the Gospel, all sing:

“Praise be to you, O Christ”

(Please be seated)

SERMON HYMN 385“Chief of Sinners Though I Be”

(printed in hymnal, all sing)

SERMON THEME Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – “Find Rest in Christ”

(Please stand after the sermon)

APOSTLES’ CREED (hymnal page 41, all read)

(Please be seated)

OFFERING, WORSHIPER GREETINGS, FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS & WELS DVD CONNECTION

OFFERING PRAYER

(Please stand)

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (hymnal page 42, read responsively)

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, 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 – (added this week:

– For the family of Clemens Bredeson, Karin Stellick’s father, called home on 5/30

– For Aspen Raelynn Lefeber (greatgrandaughter of Barb Hoffman) born 5/8 (11 weeks early) to Autumn Hoffman and Brendon Lefeber

– 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 Jesse Peter Zietlow (Pastor & Lauren’s grandson), the son of Ben & Caitlin, whose 4/17 baptism at the hospital will be affirmed in today’s (6/3) worship service at St. Paul’s–New Ulm, MN

LORD’S PRAYER (hymnal page 43a, all read)

(Please be seated)

HYMN 440:1-2 “On Eagles’ Wings”

(Please stand)

CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING (hymnal pages 43b-44)

(Please be seated)

CLOSING HYMN 440:3 “On Eagles’ Wings” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Theme for Next Sunday, June 10, 2018:

The Third Sunday after Pentecost: God’s Plan to Save Mankind

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

ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK JUNE 3-JUNE 9
Sun.	8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship with communion
	10:00 A.M.		St. John’s Worship
Mon.
Tues.	9:00 A.M.		St. John’s Elders meeting
Wed.	6:30 P.M.		St. John’s Worship
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.

SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 The 2nd Sunday after Pentecost: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath
8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M.		St. John’s Worship with communion
11:15 A.M.		Hemling Farewell Luncheon

See the source image THANK YOU for all the prayers and support during my chemo treatments over the last six months. My doctor has informed me that I am officially in remission, but I will need numerous checkups through the years. I am both humbled and blessed with the support I have received. Please keep my family and I in your prayers as I continue the fight against Lymphoma. God is good!!

All my love, Anna Madigan

THANK YOU parents for the wonderful end-of-the-year breakfast. It was such a special way to end the school year. Thank you also for the goodies, and thoughts and prayers throughout the year. I am so blessed to work with your children.

HEMLING FAREWELL NEXT SUNDAY Please join us next Sunday, 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 on that day 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 image LIFETOUCH PHOTOS If you were unable to schedule a photo session through Lifetouch for our new church directory and would still like to be in it in order to receive your copy FREE, please send your photo to Pastor Pete or Ciara BY JUNE 14^TH. You may also schedule Ciara to take your picture 608-297-2866. Thank you.

OFFICE SUMMER HOURS Starting JUNE 4^TH, I will be in the office Mondays 8:00am-4:00pm, Tuesdays 8:00am-4:00pm, and Thursdays 8:00am-12:00pm. -Ciara

CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “Stop, Drop, and Roll won’t work in Hell.”

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

Usher Schedule

June 3

(with comm)

Kenon Smith; Chief, Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann, Corey Kaul, Jerre Duerr

Darrel Buchholz, Paul Wuerch, Paul Dahlke, comm. assist. Lucas Stelter

June 10

(with comm)

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

DuWayne Sommerfeld, Glenn Buchholz, Joe Heller

June 17

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

Wayne Stelter, Warren Buchholz, DuWayne Sommerfeld

June 24

(with comm)

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

Lucas Stelter, Bob Ferber, Brian Ninneman

*St. John’s Greeter Schedule*
June 3	Linda Lou Wacholtz & Karen Wojtalewicz
June 10	Don & Doris Smith
June 17	James & Linda Wachholz
June 24	Ron & Evie Blada

Attendance

Emmanuel

St. John’s

5-27 5-30

105 14

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

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My Body is a Temple – June 1, 2018

June 1, 2018 Kerry

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

My Body is a Temple

Daily Devotion – June 1, 2018

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 3:16

See series: Devotions

“My body is a temple.” Those could either be the prideful words of a fitness fanatic who is in shape and knows it… or a Christian. For some people, eating right, working out, and living a “healthy lifestyle” is a religion. They themselves become the idol. Their body is the temple. Their pride is their motivation.

Christians can say, “my body is a temple,” because they believe in the one true God. God’s temple used to be in a traveling tent in the desert wilderness. God’s temple used to be a magnificent stone edifice in Jerusalem. But since Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit to his church on earth; God’s temple is in human hearts. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of people.

What kind of people does he choose to dwell in? Good people? People who chose to let him in? People who don’t resist him as badly? We might be tempted to think that there was at least something different, better, or “easier” about us that made the Holy Spirit want to live in us. But it isn’t true.

The Holy Spirit comes to hard-hearted, unwilling souls lost in unbelief and dead in sin—hearts that don’t deserve him and would never ask for him on their own. And yet the Holy Spirit never forces anyone. He gently, powerfully turns those unwilling hearts into willing hearts by his gracious gospel of forgiveness, then dwells in those willing hearts. Yours. Mine. Ours.

When you look at the members of the congregation you attend, give thanks for them. Pray for them. Practice love toward them. Forgive them as Christ forgave you. Live at peace with them. Serve in unity with them, as God’s temple, together.

When Christians say, “my body is a temple,” it’s the very opposite of pride and self-centeredness. They say it together: “WE are God’s temple. The Holy Spirit lives in me and in you… in US, through faith in Christ.”

Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for coming to this dark, dead soul and giving me life through the gospel of Christ. Thank you for graciously living in me and joining me to my fellow Christians. Let us serve together as your temple. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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