January 2019 – St. John's Evangelical

Sure Hope – January 31, 2019

January 31, 2019 Kerry

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

Sure Hope

Daily Devotion – January 31, 2019

Devotion based on 1 Peter 1:3

See series: Devotions

Can you imagine how horrible Peter must have felt on Good Friday evening and Saturday? He’d blown it, blown it, blown it! He couldn’t have failed more miserably! Just as Jesus had told him, he had denied his Savior three times! How horrible those days must have been for Peter!

Peter of course is not the only one who’s blown it. As I consider my life, I see my failures over and over again. I’ve failed to fight temptation, failed to show love, failed to be faithful. I’ve failed! And sometimes I’ve failed spectacularly. I can relate to Peter and how disappointed he was in himself. Perhaps like him I even weep bitterly.

But oh how things changed for Peter on Easter Sunday, as Jesus came popping into the room and showed the disciples his hands and side! He was risen! He had conquered! Sin was forgiven! The proof was in those nail-scarred—but risen—hands of Jesus! In fact, even Peter’s sin was forgiven!

And so are yours! Your sins are fully forgiven, because Jesus died and rose! And so you have a new birth into a hope which is living and ongoing! Trusting in Jesus, you ARE going to heaven! That is true today, will be true tomorrow, and someday you’ll enjoy the full blessings of it! It’s proven true by Jesus’ rising from the dead!

And so you have real hope, sure hope. No matter if your life is going great or poorly, if you’re old or young, if you’re successful or struggling, you have real, sure hope! You ARE going to heaven! Jesus’ resurrection proves it!

Prayer:
O risen Savior, remind me of your resurrection, that I might live my life in hope, every day. 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.

Mission Accomplished – January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019 Kerry

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1-3

Mission Accomplished

Daily Devotion – January 30, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 61:1-3

See series: Devotions

There was no spark left in his eyes, not even a flicker of joy in his heart. Life had become a mere existence that he didn’t even want to hold on to anymore. He had lost track of the number of sleepless nights he had spent on the hard “mattress,” if you could call it that. The days spent in darkness had long since begun to run together. Thoughts of escape no longer occupied his mind. He had lost hope.

It’s the kind of situation they make movies about, but few of us have ever experienced. Being held prisoner in the worst of conditions by an enemy who has no intention of releasing us is something that few have experienced–physically that is.

Spiritually… that’s a different matter. Each one of us was born into this world under those conditions. Our enemy, the devil, had full control and no intention of releasing his prize. With the shackles of sin and guilt fastened securely and the very real terror of inevitable death there was no hope. Escape was out of the question.

Then our Savior came. His mission was to rescue prisoners, and that is exactly what he did. He broke your shackles by sacrificing his life as payment for your sin and guilt. He scattered the darkness of death by rising from the grave. He now proclaims to you the good news that the perfect life led has been given to you. You are no longer a prisoner, but a perfect, and perfectly free, child of God.

The darkness of death that haunts the dreams of all people no longer haunts you. You have been set free from that fear because through faith in Jesus you will rise to life just as he did.

Jesus came into our world on a rescue mission, and he now proclaims, “Mission accomplished.” You have been set free. Now you can live in peace and hope. Now you can live forever with your Savior.

Prayer:
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to make it your mission to rescue me. Thank you for being my Savior. Give me the strength to live in the freedom you have won for me. In your name I ask it. 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 the Right Parts – January 29, 2019

January 29, 2019 Kerry

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:12-21,26,27

All the Right Parts

Daily Devotion – January 29, 2019

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-21,26,27

See series: Devotions

Many parts…one body. What a great mystery and marvel the Christian church is!

I am one of the least musically inclined pastors you can find in our church body, but I have yet to serve in a congregation that did not more than make up for my shortcomings: a keyboard player with her baby in a playpen behind her; a quartet in a small congregation that rivaled any vocal musicians anywhere; an organist who soaked her arthritic hands in hot wax to loosen them up for the morning service; a man who could play and lead others to play just about any instrument; a computer program called HymnSoft and a solid, sound system to play it.

Many parts…one body. What a great mystery and marvel the Christian church is!

I enjoy yard work and tried to make it my practice to always attend work days at church and pitch in with the mowing, trimming, weeding, etc. that needed to be done. Nevertheless, I couldn’t always be there, and church maintenance was not my strongest gift, but I have yet to serve in a congregation that did not have those men and women who said; “Pastor, would it be OK if I planted flowers around the church?” or those who were always, without being asked, changing light bulbs, trimming hedges, and picking up trash.

Many parts…one body. What a great mystery and marvel the Christian church is! We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. This mystery and this marvel is the work of the Holy Spirit, so today, this “mouth” says, “I need you, hands and feet. Thank you for your service. You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Prayer:
Holy Spirit of God, thank you for so richly supplying the needs of our individual congregations and, on a much grander scale, equipping the entire Christian church for service to Jesus our head. Bless the hands and feet, the eyes and ears, as they serve Jesus, our Head, now and forever. 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.

An Amazing Claim – January 28, 2019

January 28, 2019 Kerry

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:17-21

An Amazing Claim

Daily Devotion – January 28, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 4:17-21

See series: Devotions

Have you ever heard somebody make a claim about themselves that you had a hard time believing? “I used to be in the secret service and worked for five US Presidents.” “I met legendary coach Bobby Knight and was asked to assist with his summer camp.” “My parents competed on the US National Curling Team.” “I worked under Hillary Clinton in the State Department.” If we know the person to be a liar or if we just can’t see it because of what else we know of the person, we meet such claims with a shake of the head or a raising of the eyebrow: “It’s not true!” If we know and trust the people who make the claim, we are fascinated by such connections and accomplishments. Perhaps we begin to think differently or more highly about that person, and our respect and awe for them grows.

Early in his earthly ministry Jesus of Nazareth made a claim about himself. He visited a Jewish house of worship, a synagogue, and read a passage written some 700 years earlier by the well-known prophet Isaiah. Those who took God’s Old Testament words seriously knew this selection to be talking about the long-awaited Messiah. This Anointed One (did you know that the words Messiah and Christ are both titles that mean “the anointed one?”) would come and do wonderful, fantastic, beautiful, yes miraculous, things! How the people looked for and longed for this Messiah who would bring a message of good news, freedom, and healing. Can you imagine the stunned silence in the room when Jesus made the claim that he was the one Isaiah had been talking about? Many of the people there in his hometown rejected him and his claim. They just couldn’t see it.

It has been several thousand years since Jesus made that claim about himself to a small group of people in a Galilean synagogue. But he still makes that claim about himself in the Bible today. Jesus is rightly called the Christ because he fulfilled every word written about him. He talked the talk and walked the walk. He tells us and shows us that God so loved us he sent a Savior from sin. Jesus proclaims that God looks on us with favor because he himself has done everything to wipe away anything that would bring God’s disfavor. He frees us from the prison house of sin and slavery to the deceiver. He promises life and heaven as he speaks to us about his resurrection from death and ascension into heaven. By Spirit-worked faith we trust Jesus’ amazing claim and receive all the blessings the truth of his claim brings to us!

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, open my eyes more and more through the power of the gospel to see Jesus as the anointed one, my Savior from sin, death, and hell, that I might live and face death with peace, joy, and hope. In Jesus’ name. 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.

Outsider – January 27, 2019

January 27, 2019 Kerry

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.”
Acts 10:34

Outsider

Daily Devotion – January 27, 2019

Devotion based on Acts 10:34

See series: Devotions

The bus was crowded. But it was a good kind of crowded. The bus was full of young Christians on their way to a weekend retreat. There were smiles. There was laughter. There were the happy sounds of people getting re-acquainted or getting acquainted for the first time.

But then there was the young man sitting on an aisle seat about a third of the way from the front. He looked to be in his twenties. His hair was a bit greasy. He had forgotten to shave. His clothes were shabby and carried a faint whiff of dried sweat. His body language oozed with awkwardness. Clearly he seemed uncomfortable to be there. For the most part he kept his head down and said nothing.

And how did those around him react? They were pleasant, and they were polite. But it was the kind of pleasant politeness that we have all seen at one time or another. It was the kind of pleasant politeness that looked past him, that looked through him—the kind of pleasant politeness that quietly dismissed him.

The bus arrived at the retreat. Everyone piled out, retrieved their luggage, found their rooms. Later they all gathered for their first big meal together. The food was delicious. And now it was time for the keynote speaker. The printed program said that he would give a compelling presentation on the subject of favoritism. From behind a small curtain the speaker emerged. It was the awkward, shabby man on the bus. Only he wasn’t awkward and shabby anymore. Instead he was clean-shaven, well-dressed, gracious, and smiling. But before he said a word he had already made his point. And no one who had ridden with him on that bus would ever forget it.

In this broken, sinful world full of broken, sinful people, each of us gets a turn at feeling like the awkward, shabby outsider. When that happens, think about two things. First, thank and praise your Lord that he does not show favoritism. He loves you and accepts you completely in the blood of his Son. Second, remember that the time will quickly come when an awkward, shabby outsider will cross paths with you. When that time arrives, treat that person as your Lord has treated you.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive my sins of favoritism. Wash me in the blood of your Son. Thank you for embracing me in Jesus. Empower me to treat the outsiders in my life with love. 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.

Not Fair – January 26, 2019

January 26, 2019 Kerry

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 15:15

Not Fair

Daily Devotion – January 26, 2019

Devotion based on Mark 15:15

See series: Devotions

“It’s not fair!” the five-year-old pleads as his mother takes away his toy truck.

“It’s not fair!” the teenager protests when her father grounds her for two weeks.

We all want life to be fair. Or so we claim. One of my professors in college had formerly served as the vice-principal of a high school. As such, he was responsible for disciplining students. He told us how often students would insist, “That’s not fair!” after he announced their punishment. He always responded the same way, “You don’t want it to be fair. You want it to be unfair in your advantage.”

This is truer for most of us than we would like to admit. As the police officer approaches your car after pulling you over and you KNOW you were going fifty-five miles per hour in a forty mile per hour zone, you are not hoping he will be fair. You are hoping he will be unfair in your advantage and let you go without giving you a ticket.

In the history of this world there has never been an event less fair than the sentencing of Jesus Christ to die on a Roman cross. He had broken no law. He was, in every sense, completely innocent. He was not just innocent of crimes against the government; he was innocent of a single sin against God. Yet, the Roman Governor, Pilate, sentenced Jesus to death and freed a known murderer named Barabbas. It was not fair.

And we can thank God that it was not fair. You see, it was not just Barabbas who was set free on that Friday in Jerusalem. We were set free as well. Our sins against God deserved his eternal anger and punishment. But, Jesus was punished instead. He went to the cross. We were set free. By faith in him, we are free from our sins, free from guilt, free from fear, free from punishment.

What Jesus endured was not fair. But he was willing to endure it because of his great love for us. When it comes to our salvation, thank God it’s not fair!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, how grateful I am that you were willing to take my place. Rather than object to the injustice, you accepted it. I can never thank you enough. But, may my life this day be a demonstration of my gratitude. 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.

BULLETIN- THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY JANUARY 27, 2019

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 Kerry

EMMANUEL AND ST. JOHN’S

Ev. Lutheran Churches

Mecan and Montello, WI

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

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THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

JANUARY 27, 2019

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!

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY Jesus’ “going public” should not have surprised his Jewish countrymen. They had known of the coming Messiah for a long time, dating back to the promise given Abraham (Genesis 12:3), even to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). Yet, when Jesus finally arrived, “his own did not receive him” (John 1:10). He was not the kind of Savior that many were looking for. That too was foretold: “He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3).

A PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive. Bless our worship today and throughout the week. Amen.

ORDER OF SERVICE–LITURGY

The Common Service (hymnal page 15)

PASTOR’S GREETING

OPENING HYMN 79:1-3 “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”

(printed in the hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

LITURGY (hymnal page 15, sung and read responsively)

PRAYER OF THE DAY (pastor reads)

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

SCRIPTURE READING THEME: Jesus is the Promised Deliverer

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 61:1-6

The Anointed One proclaims freedom

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

PSALM 19 (hymnal page 70, lectern side sings the first line, pulpit side sings the second line, all sing refrains and Gloria)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-21, 26, 27

Christ sets us free and makes us members of his Body

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

VERSE OF THE DAY (pastor reads)

Alleluia! Jesus went through Galilee, teach, preaching, and healing every disease. Alleluia! (Matthew 4:23)

LITURGY (hymnal page 18, all sing)

“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

(Please stand)

After the announcement of the Gospel, all sing:

“Glory be to you, O Lord!”

GOSPEL: Luke 4:14-21 (today’s sermon text)

At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus identifies himself as the promised Savior-the “Anointed One-the Christ”

John Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” {Isaiah 61:1,2}

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

After the reading of the Gospel, all sing:

“Praise be to you, O Christ”

THE APOSTLES’ CREED (hymnal page 19)

(Please be seated)

SERMON HYMN 79:4-5 “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”

SERMON: Luke 4:14-21

“The Synagogue Service at Nazareth”

(Please stand after the sermon)

LITURGY (hymnal page 20, all sing)

(Please be seated)

OFFERING, WORSHIPER GREETINGS & FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS

OFFERING PRAYER

(Please stand)

EPIPHANY PRAYER (read by pastor)

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: George Alexander, George Chapman, Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley & Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Reinold Eckelberg, Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Earl Ewert, Mike Farrell, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Dawn Hirn (Linda Krause’s niece), Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Arden “Bill” Klimke, Linda Krause, Pete Laun, Lilly Mann, LuAnn Reber, Frankie Russell, Mark & Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son & daughter in-law), Al & Darlene Schmidt (Dawn Marcelain & Candace Sonnenberg’s parents), Dennis Schwanke (Mary Isberner’s friend), Amanda Stalker, Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Donny Weber (Betty’s son), Cheryl Wegner, Paul Weldon, Millie Wildt (John’s wife) – (added this week: Cheryl Wegner)

– For Robyn Ashman currently serving as the pre-schol director at Immanuel–Greenville, called at the 1/20 St. John’s Voters meeting to serve as our K4,K5 teacher, who for personal reasons returned her Call to Montello on 1/24

– For Harper Bea Laber, the daughter of Cody & Paige Laber, who will be baptized today at St. John’s at 1:00pm

– For Christians suffering persecution

– For our communicants at St. John’s

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

Note: At Emmanuel, the service continues with…

LITURGY (hymnal page 25)

(Please be seated)

HYMN 93: 1-3 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

LITURGY (hymnal page 25b)

CLOSING HYMN 93:4 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

Note: At St. John’s, the service continues with…

(Please remain standing)

HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY (hymnal page 21)

(Please be seated for the distribution)

DISTRIBUTION HYMN 311:1-4 “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness”, 93: 1-3 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(After the distribution, please stand)

LITURGY (hymnal page 24)

(Please be seated)

CLOSING HYMN 93:4 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Note: As you leave today’s service please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or pastor)

Announcements

Theme for Next Sunday February 3, 2019

Epiphany 4: “Jesus Proclaims the Truth” (in Spite of Rejection)

Activities for the week of January 27 – February 2
Sun.	8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship
	8:30 A.M.		St. John’s Sunday School
	9:00 A.M.		St. John’s Adult Bible Study
	9:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Council meeting
	10:00 A.M.		St. John’s Worship with communion
	11:15 A.M.		St. John’s Elders/Shepherd meeting and lunch
	1:00 P.M.		Harper Bea Laber private baptism at St. John’s
Mon.	9:00 A.M.		Pastors Conference at St. Luke-Oakfield
	6:30 P.M.		Choir at St. John’s
	6:30 P.M.		Bible Information Class at St. John’s
	7:30 P.M.		Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.	6:30 P.M.		Men’s Bible Study at St. John’s
Wed.	8:00 A.M.		St. John’s School Chapel
	10:00 A.M.		Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
	1:40 P.M.		St. John’s School/Little Lambs early release
	2:15 P.M.		Public School Teen Confirmation at St. John’s
	6:30 P.M.		St. John’s Worship with communion
Thurs.	8:00 A.M.		St. John’s School Teen Confirmation
	6:00 P.M.		Griefshare (2^nd of 13 weeks) in St. John’s lower level
Fri.
Sat.	5:00 P.M.		Art for Dinner at Montello Community Room
Schedule for Next Sunday: February 3, 2019 Epiphany 4: “Jesus Proclaims the Truth” (in Spite of Rejection)
8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship with communion
8:30 A.M.		St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.		Emmanuel/St. John’s Adult Bible Study
9:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Congregational meeting
10:00 A.M.		St. John’s Worship
11:15 A.M.		St. John’s Voters meeting

ST. JOHN’S VOTERS MEETING ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3^RD

Following 10:00am church at St. John’s on February 3^rd, there will be a Voters meeting. Everyone and anyone, plan to attend!

2019 OFFERING ENVELOPES are ready for pick up in the link way at St. John’s. If you did not receive a box and would like to, please let Ciara know at the office (297-2866) or there is a sign up in the link way.

2018 OFFERING STATEMENT SIGN UP is now available in the link way. Please pick your statement up in the link way as well.

HELP US DELIVER A VALENTINE OF SCRIPTURE AND SONG! Any time of year is a good time to share the love of Jesus with others! Come Valentine Caroling at the Montello Care Center on Sunday morning, February 10–all love songs–God’s love for us and our love for Him! St. John’s members of all ages are invited! Please meet in the entrance of the Care Center for your song books, so we can be ready to sing at 9 a.m. We will return in plenty of time for church at 10 a.m.

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

What Drives You? That is one of the questions we will be thinking about this coming week at the Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday at 6:30pm. We will be asking the man called Saul, who is also the Apostle Paul, the same question. In January/February we will be looking to grow as we consider: “You Can Call Me Saul-You Can Call Me Paul-Just Call Me Saved By Grace,” as we see him in the book of Acts.

ART FOR DINNER SILENT AUCTION IN LINK WAY

Come check out some silent auction items that will be at Art for Dinner! They are currently located in the link way at St. John’s and will be there until Feb. 1.

Art for Dinner will be held Saturday, February 2^nd, at 5:00p.m. in the Montello High School community room.

It is coming up fast! This year the money raised will go to our Athletic Fund (funds will cover things such as new uniforms, tournament fees, updated equipment, etc.)

We need your help! Please consider purchasing a ticket

($25 ea.) and enjoying the evening or consider making a donation. Deadline for purchasing a ticket is TOMORROW, Monday January 28^th. We are also looking for donations of items for our basket raffle. If you would be able to donate a basket already made up, any type of items, or services, gift cards, or products! If you know of any businesses that would be willing to donate, please ask them as well. Please have all donations turned into the office by THIS Wednesday, January 30^th. If you would like to work on projects at home or in the classroom, please feel free to do so and we would love to include them in our silent auction fundraiser. Any other family (Grandmas, Dads, Uncles, Cousins) art projects are welcome as well. God has blessed many of us with lots of different talents! We are very excited to be having this fundraiser and with your help, we are hoping that it will be a great success! Please help spread the word to anyone you think would like to support our school!

Any questions, please contact:

Megan Jaster- 608-369-3456 mj.jastersag@outlook.com or

Ciara Neuhauser 608-369-0901 ciaraneuhauser24@gmail.com

THE 6^TH ANNUAL IRONMEN OF GOD MEN’S CONFERENCE will be held Saturday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Ixonia. Come and hear God’s word aimed straight at men! Speakers and registration info at www.ironmenofgodwi.org.

Usher Schedule

January 27

Brian Ninnemann, Noah Buchholz, Gary Wagner

Don Smith; Chief, Richard Freitag, Gerhardt Voigt, Mitch Simon, Karl Whitrock

February 3

Darrel Buchholz, Bruce Stelter, Brian Ninnemann, comm. assist. Lucas Stelter

Kenon Smith; Chief, Matt Borzick, Glen Bubolz, Al Rosenthal, Christopher Smith

February 10

DuWayne Sommerfeld, Paul Wuerch, Paul Dahlke

Cal Kapp; Chief, Calvin Wojtalewicz, Zeb Zuehls, Mark Emond, Kevin Kaul

February 17

Wayne Stelter, Glenn Buchholz, Joe Heller

James Wachholz; Chief, Scott Ritz, Ken Borzick, Ben Emond, Thomas Wojtalewicz

February 24

Lucas Stelter, Warren Buchholz, DuWayne Sommerfeld

Dennis Wacholtz; Chief, James Henke, Paul Van Treeck, Martin Schmanke, Lee Ollendorf

St. John’s Greeters Schedule
January 27	Jim & Diane Eisermann
February 3	Harold & Judy Fandrey
February 10	Kenon & Mary Smith
February 17	Al & Carolyn Rosenthal
February 24	Dixie Wagner & Bernice Wegner

Attendance

Emmanuel

St. John’s

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St. John’s Altar Committee:

January 2019

Welcome To Our Visitors!

Please Sign Our Guest Register

Visit our website link at: www.stjohnsmontello.org

Like & find us on Facebook

Pastor Peter Zietlow Office (608) 297-2321

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

Teacher Karin Stellick (920) 342-3689

Teacher Sara Borck (858) 731-7919

Lead Teacher Rachel Naumann (847) 913-2135

Teacher Cassie Doering (920) 723-8986

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

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Loved by God – January 25, 2019

January 25, 2019 Kerry

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Loved by God

Daily Devotion – January 25, 2019

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 5:17

See series: Devotions

A woman got a new job in customer service. All day, every day, she answered complaints with a smile on her face. One day when she came home, her husband asked how things were going at work. She said, “Customer service would be a wonderful job if it weren’t for the people.”

People can be a challenge for us all. When there’s a breakdown in a marriage relationship, it’s like having a disease; you feel it in every part of your life. When children argue and disobey, they test their parents’ patience. An uncaring boss can make you hate your job. Troublesome neighbors make you want to move somewhere far away. How do you deal with people who make your life difficult? God’s Word speaks of an old way of doing things and a new way.

The old way is to count people’s flaws and hold them against them. The old way is to view people as obstacles to our happiness. In other words, the old way is to do the opposite of what God tells us. God tells us to love others. The old way ignores God and puts ourselves, first. For all the complaining we may do about people, we don’t always stop to consider that God has that much of a right and more to complain about us.

Instead, God sent us his Son. When people did their worst to Jesus, he turned the other cheek. When they crucified him without cause, he prayed for their forgiveness. On his cross, Jesus paid for the sins of everyone, including you. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we no longer view people from a worldly point of view.

Loved by God, forgiven in Christ, connected to Jesus by faith, each of us is a new creation, and God has given us a new way of doing things. We can love as we are loved. We can forgive as we are forgiven. The old is gone; the new has come.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me and paying for all my sins. Help me fight against my old sinful nature. Help me love others as you love me. 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.

Crazy – January 24, 2019

January 24, 2019 Kerry

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35

Crazy

Daily Devotion – January 24, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 1:35

See series: Devotions

When God first made the promise, to human ears it must have sounded crazy: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son…” (Isaiah 7:14). The virgin will conceive? That just doesn’t happen!

But it did happen. It happened to Mary, as the Holy Spirit miraculously caused her to become pregnant with Jesus. And so we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in Jesus Christ…who was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” It sounds crazy, but God made it happen.

And so God the Holy Spirit has the power to make all sorts of other crazy-sounding promises come true too. He promises that in Baptism he will wash your sins away; he does it. He promises that the gospel is God’s power for salvation; it is. He promises that in the Lord’s Supper he’ll give us Jesus’ true body and blood; he does. He promises to make all things work for your good; he has, and he’ll continue to do so. He promises that by faith in Jesus he’ll take you to heaven someday; he will.

For, you see, ultimately it doesn’t matter how “crazy” God’s promises may sound to our ears. What matters is the power behind those promises. And just who is the power behind those promises? The power behind those promises is the Almighty Holy Spirit! So, just as God’s “crazy” promise that a virgin would conceive came true, so God the Holy Spirit will fulfill all his promises. That’s crazy all right–crazy good!

Prayer:
O Holy Spirit, assure me that you have the power to fulfill all your promises. 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.

You make God Smile – January 23, 2019

January 23, 2019 Kerry

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 62:1-5

You make God Smile

Daily Devotion – January 23, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 62:1-5

See series: Devotions

As the music played quietly in the background, another look at his watch revealed that it was time. “Any moment now,” he anxiously thought. Then the doors opened, and there she was—more beautiful than he had ever seen her. Flashes popped as she slowly made her way down the aisle. Pictures that captured his face revealed a smile that would not be going away anytime soon. He couldn’t help it. There was his bride!

That joy and delight is what God has for those who believe in him. That’s right. You make God smile. Allow your jaw to drop in awe at that beautiful truth.

We know what makes God happy—total perfection. “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). We also know that God hates sin and will absolutely never allow any sinner to enter into his kingdom. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Revelation 21:27). Yet he takes delight in you. Seeing you makes his face light up like a groom seeing his bride on his wedding day.

Every sin and imperfection that should cause God to look at you in disgust was removed by Jesus when he died for you on the cross. Through faith God has clothed you with the perfect life of Jesus so that now when he looks at you he sees beautiful perfection and nothing that would prevent you from entering his kingdom.

No matter what is going on in your life, or what others think when they look at you, God looks at you with loving eyes. What he sees gives him great joy and will continue to give him great joy for all of eternity.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, thank you for removing my sin and making me a delight to your eyes. 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.