Order of Service: The Service Setting Two – pg. 172
Today’s Theme: People often look to the judgment of experts, and are influenced by them. That poses a problem when it comes to Christ. The world’s experts generally see little value in Christ and his Word. Christ reminds us that when it comes to judgments about him and his kingdom, only one opinion matters – God the Father. Learn to evaluate the world’s experts properly, and trust’s God’s Word.
Hymns:914, 861, 517
Psalm:73B
Special Music:
Sermon:Philippians 3:4b-14 “Take Out the Garbage!”
LESSONS
Isaiah 43: 16-21
16This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 17who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 20The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Philippians 3:4b–14
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Luke 20:9–19
9He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
“I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” 3With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4In that day you will say:
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. 5Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. 6Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
32A I Turn to You, O LORD Psalm 32A
Second Reading Romans 8:1–10
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation for Lent CW 179b
Gospel Luke 15:1–3,11–32 (today’s sermon text)
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3Then Jesus told them this parable:
11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
The Rite of Holy Baptism & Hymn 684 CW 261, Emmanuel only
712 Delay Not! Delay Not CW 712
The Service CW 172
The Word
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
Choir How Beautiful
First Reading Exodus 3:1–15 (today’s sermon text)
1Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
15God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
85A LORD, in Your Mercy, Hear My Prayer Psalm 85A
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10:1–13
1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation for Lent CW 179b
Gospel Luke 13:1–9
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to you, O Christ!
867 Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near CW 867
Authors: Constance Dever, John Fawcett CCLI song # 7172414
8But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die! 9Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s house. 11Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”
12Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
42A As the Deer Psalm 42A
1984 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) Author: Martin Nystrom CCLI song #1431 license #5419073
Second Reading Philippians 3:17—4:1
17Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation for Lent CW 179b
Gospel Luke 13:31–35
31At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
546 Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus CW 546 soloist v.1,2
The Service CW 172
The Word
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
First Reading 1 Samuel 17:4–11,32–40,45–49
4A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
8Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
32David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
33Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
34But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
38Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
45David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
91A The Shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91A
Second Reading Hebrews 4:14–16 (today’s sermon text)
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
M: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation CW 179
Gospel Luke 4:1–13
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
M: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to you, O Christ!
864 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God CW 864
Sermon Hebrews 4:14-16
“Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence”
Here we find a perfect Savior
Here we find a sympathetic Helper
Apostles’ Creed CW 163
Hand Chimes St. John’s Sunday, CW 708
Prayer of the Church CW 182
Offering
Grades 3-8 St. John’s Sunday,“The King of Glory Comes”
Text: tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–1878, alt.; attr. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153, abr.
Text: Public domain
Confession CW 154
Lord, Have Mercy pastor reads, congregation sings
Glory Be to God
The Word
Prayer of the Day
First Reading
29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.
33When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
2D Great Are the Works of the LORD Psalm 2D
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 3:7–18
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Gospel Acclamation – Epiphany CW 161
Gospel Luke 9:28–36 (today’s sermon text)
28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
389 How Good, Lord, to Be Here CW 389
Sermon Luke 9:28-36
“It’s about Life on the other side of Death”
Little Lambs-8th Grade “We Have Sure Hope”
Sunday at St. John’s.
Nicene Creed CW 162
Prayer of the Church CW 164
Offering & Hand Chimes
Sunday at St. John’s.
The Sacrament
Preface CW 165, pastor reads and congregation sings
Holy, Holy, Holy
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord’s Prayer contemporary version
Words of Institution
O Christ, Lamb of God
Distribution
At St. John’s and Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Churches, we practice close communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service.
528 Christ, the Word of God Incarnate CW 528
Sunday at Emmanuel and Saturday at St. John’s, sing verses 1-4. Sunday at St. John’s, sing all verses.
Blessing CW 170
528 Christ, the Word of God Incarnate CW 528
Sunday at Emmanuel and Saturday at St. John’s, sing verses 5 and 6.
Hymn 867Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw NearChoir v. 1,2 Congregation v. 3,4
Text: John Fawcett, 1740-1817, alt.; (refrain): Constance Dever, b. 1960 Music: Constance Dever, b.1960
Invocation CW 154
Confession CW 154
Absolution CW 154
Lord, Have Mercy CW 156
Glory Be to God CW 157
The Word CW 160
Salutation CW 160
Prayer of the DayCW 160
First Reading Jeremiah 17:5-8
5This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Psalm 1A Blessed Are They CW 1
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Gospel Acclamation – EpiphanyCW 161
Gospel Luke 6:17-26 (today’s sermon text)
17He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Sermon Luke 6:17-26, “JESUS’ BLESSINGS BRING A DIFFERENT KIND OF JOY”
He shows us that it is a joy:
To be poor (20,24)
To be hungry (21a,25a)
To weep (21b,25b)
To suffer (22-23,26)
Nicene Creed CW 162
Prayer of the Church CW 164
Offering
The Sacrament
Preface CW 165
Holy, Holy, Holy CW 167
Prayer of ThanksgivingCW 168
Lord’s Prayer – contemporary versionCW 168
Words of Institution CW 168
O Christ, Lamb of God CW 169
Distribution
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice close Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service.
Personal Pre-Communion Prayer
Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table. But you are the friend of sinners, and you will not cast me out. This bread is your body, which bore my sins upon the tree. This wine is your blood, which purifies me from all guilt. At your invitation, I come rejoicing. Receive me, my Savior.
Distribution Hymn 661 Draw Near and Take the Body of Your Lord Congregation
Text: Public domain. Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, Geneva, 1551, ed. Louis Borgeouis; setting: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Personal Post Communion Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for nourishing me in this sacrament with your body and blood. You have given me forgiveness, life, and salvation. Let me always remain in you as a branch remains in the vine. Send me out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.
O living Bread from heaven, how richly you have fed your guest! The gifts you now have given have filled my heart with joy and rest. Lord, grant me that thus strengthened with heavenly food, while here my course on earth is lengthened, I serve with holy fear. And when you call my spirit to leave this world below, I enter through your merit where joys unmingled flow.
Thanksgiving, Proclamation & Blessing CW 170
Hymn 800 How Firm a Foundation Congregation
Text: Public domain. Music: Genuine Church Music, Winchester, 1832, ed. Joseph Funk
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.
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
OPENING HYMN CW 779, “I Sing as I Rise Today”
† T H E C O M M O N S E R V I C E †
Please stand.
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
We confess to God that we have failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, and we plead for his mercy.
M: Beloved in the Lord; let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
C:Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
LORD, HAVE MERCY
Kyrie
C: Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
GLORY BE TO GOD
Gloria in Excelsis
C: Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise you, we bless you, we worship you,
we glorify you, we give thanks to you, your great glory,
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world; receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father; have mercy on us.
For you only are holy; you only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit, are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
M: Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift of grace that we come into your presence and offer true and faithful service. Grant that our worship on earth may always be pleasing to you, and in the life to come give us the fulfillment of what you have promised; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings.
† T H E W O R D †
The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
FIRST LESSON Proverbs 9:1-6
Summary: Wisdom has set her table
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment. “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.
PSALM 1
* Lectern side sing 1st line, pulpit side sing 2nd line, all sing refrains and Gloria.
Refrain: Blessed are they who hope, who hope in the Lord.
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked*
or stand in the way of sinners.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,*
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season*
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Refrain
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,*
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,*
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 5:15-20
Summary: Be filled with the Spirit
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
VERSE OF THE DAY Hebrews 4:12
M: Alleluia. The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Alleluia.
C: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Please stand.
GOSPEL LESSON John 6; 47-58 (today’s sermon text underlined)
C: Glory be to you, O Lord!
Summary: Eating and drinking Christ by faith
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”
C: Praise be to you, O Christ!
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Be seated.
HYMN OF THE DAY CW 185, ”O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace”
SERMON John 6: 51-58
Work and Strive for the Bread of Life
It alone has legitimate value
It alone has lasting benefits
Please stand.
C: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your HolySpirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. Amen.
Please be seated.
† O F F E R I N G S O F G I F T S & P R A Y E R S †
THE OFFERING
Members of this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained. Guests need not feel obligated to contribute. The plate is located in the church entryway.
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Prayer for Faithfulness to God and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcement details of today’s Intercessory Prayers.
Please stand.
LORD’S PRAYER
All:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
† H O L Y C O M M U N I O N †
PREFACE
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up unto the Lord.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: It is good and right so to do.
M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who promised that wherever two or three come together in his name, there he is with them to shepherd his flock till he comes again in glory. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Sanctus
C: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of heavenly hosts: heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he, blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
Agnus Dei
C: O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace. Amen.
Be seated.
PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION
Lord, I am not worthy to be a guest at your holy table. But you are the friend of sinners, and you will not cast me out. This bread is your body, which bore my sins upon the tree. This wine is your blood, which purifies me from all guilt. At your invitation, I come rejoicing. Receive me, my Savior. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
During the distribution the congregation may sing one or more hymns.
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice close Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS CW 354, “Lamb of God, We Fall before You”
*Sunday only,
PERSONAL PRAYERAFTER COMMUNION
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for nourishing me in this sacrament with your body and blood. You have given me forgiveness, life and salvation. Let me always remain in you as a branch remains in the vine. Send me out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.
O living Bread of heaven, how richly you have fed your guest! The gifts you now have given have filled my heart with joy and rest.
Lord grant me that thus strengthened with heavenly good, while here my course on earth is lengthened, I serve with holy fear.
And when you call my spirit to leave this world below, I enter through your merit where joys unmingled flow. Amen.
Please stand.
SONG OF SIMEON
Nunc Dimittis
C: Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
C: And his mercy endures forever.
M: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy supper. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
M: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
C: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Please be seated.
CLOSING HYMN CW 616, “Feed Your Children, God Most Holy”
† A N N O U N C E M E N T S †
August 22 – 28
Sun.
8:00a.m.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
10:00a.m.
St. John’s Worship with communion
Mon.
6:30p.m.
Joint Choir resumes at St. John’s
Tues.
3:00p.m.
First day of soccer (3rd – 8th grade)
Wed.
10:00a.m.
Montello Care Center Devotion
5:30p.m.
Faculty/Staff Gathering at Sellnow’s
Thurs.
3:00p.m.
Soccer practice (3rd – 8th grade)
Fri.
Sat.
4:30p.m.
St. John’s Worship
Next week’s theme:- August 29, 2021 The 14thSunday after Pentecost: Faith Generates the Right Choice–Following Christ
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Worship
† C H U R C H N E W S †
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Jim & Caryl Bassett, Mike Brown, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Marian Heller, Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Arden Klimke, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Neil Miller, Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Kathy Ninneman, Karen Radke, Doris Smith, Mary Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Linda Lou Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law), Shirley Wilkens (added this week: )
– For the family of Michael Albrecht of Christ Alone–Mequon, our former principal at St. John’s–Montello, called to his eternal home on 8/15 at the age of 52
– For Gene & Sharon Crook who will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary on 8/22
– For Earl “Pete” and Lucy Laun who will celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary on 8/23
– For the family of our St. John’s member, Don Smith, called to his heavenly home on 8/19
– For the suffering and dying here in the US and overseas in Afghanistan & Haiti
– For our communicants
NATIONAL HYMNAL SUNDAY, SEPT. 19 There will be sign up sheets for the National Hymnal Sunday celebration on September 19, to help Ladies Aid plan on how many people will be attending the potluck luncheon. At Emmanuel the sheets will be in the hallway. At St. John’s they will be in the linkway on the table where the display is. The sheets will out starting the weekend of August 28 and 29 and the final date for sign up will be September 12. If you miss signing up, we encourage and welcome you to join and attend the celebratory potluck on Sunday, September 19.
ST. JOHN’S / EMMANUEL JOINT CHOIR will be starting this Monday, August 23. We will be preparing for National Hymnal Sunday for the next two weeks. We will not have choir practice on Labor Day, but we will continue practice on Mondays at 6:30 for the rest of the year. All members high school age and older are welcome to join! Please contact Lynn Sellnow if you have any questions(email: lynnsellnow@stjohnsmontello.org phone: 616-826-0816).
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:9
NEW SIDEWALK The sidewalk along the west side of St. John’s has been replaced this summer. Memorial gifts received in memory of Robert Mateske, Sr. made this project possible.
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE will take place at the Endeavor, WI fire station on Friday, August 27 from 11am – 6pm. You may register online or call Ruth Jones 608-587-2646. Thank you for giving!
SATURDAY WORSHIP SERVICES No Saturday 4:30pm St. John’s worship service on 9/11 & 9/18.
CHRISTIAN ONE LINERS (from a member) “When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.”
CROSSES The Time of the Church is the longest season of the church year. Green represents growth-growing the Church through witnessing and missions-becoming “fishers of men.”
This season appears 1st and 2nd Sunday of Epiphany and ends Transfiguration Sunday just before Lent. It reappears the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and ends on Reformation Sunday.
Please pick up your ribbon today! If you are in need of a cross or would like to gift to someone, please help yourself. They are available and both Emmanuel and St. John’s. Thank you again to Gene Crook (Emmanuel) and LuAnn Zieman (St. John’s) for creating and coordinating!
CHURCH NEWSLETTER The St. John’s church newsletter will be sent out via email to the congregations. Need to sign up on our mailing list? Please call the office. If you wish to receive a hard copy, we offer a yearly subscription for $10.00.
GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Please consider making a gift towards the following church or school projects. Your gift, to the project of your choice, will be recorded under your member account in our Shepherd’s Staff program unless you specifically request it 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 secretary, Ciara Neuhauser, if you have any questions.
Project Name & Brief Description Amount Needed
School HVAC Purifying System (air purifying system installed for classrooms) Donation received Thank you to our anonymous donator!
Church & School Computer Server Upgrade (costs for replacing server) $10,351.64
House Demolition (costs related to tear down of old Little Lambs house) $9,500.00
Ministerial Tuition Assistance (assistance for members pursuing the ministry) No limit in place
Outreach Activities (church and/or school outreach supplies, fees) No limit in place
School Athletic Fund (jerseys, equipment, tournament fees) No limit in place
St. John’s School Tuition Assistance (assistance for parents of students) No limit in place
School Technology Fund (maintain teacher and student computers, smartboards) No limit in place
† S C H O O L N E W S †
Jesus Gives the Bread of Life
That Our Faith Might Not Stumble
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – B
God’s Word for Today
Living as a Christian in this world is not an easy thing to do. The devil will place many obstacles in our way, all of which are bound to sin and unbelief. But Jesus has won the victory over Satan and gives us a way out of every temptation (1 Co 10:13). Most of all, our Savior gives us his words of promise, forgiveness and life, the Bread of Life. As we nourish our faith on this Bread of Life, we will be emboldened in our struggles against our spiritual enemies.
First Lesson (Proverbs 9:1-6)
What “main character” do we meet in these verses, and what are her characteristics?
What invitation does she offer to all?
Second Lesson (Ephesians 5:15-20)
What encouragement does Paul give in verse 15?
How are we to speak to one another as Christians?
Gospel (John 6:51-58)
True or false: Jesus is talking about Holy Communion in these verses.
What’s the difference between the manna that was sent in Old Testament times and the Bread of Life?
Answers:
We meet wisdom. She is prepared for a feast and very hospitable.
Wisdom invites us to come to her home and eat, to walk in the way of understanding, and to leave our simpleton, worldly way of thinking. Such heavenly wisdom leads us on the right path that our faith might not stumble.
Paul encourages us to be careful in how we live our lives as Christians, to be wise in the decisions we make, understanding the Lord’s will for us.
We aren’t to use unwholesome talk. Instead, we should speak to one another spiritually, “with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs … giving thanks to God the Father for everything.”
False. Holy Communion had not yet been instituted when Jesus spoke these words in John 6. Instead, when Jesus says that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood to have eternal life, he’s talking about faith in him, spiritual eating. Jesus’ flesh and blood (his humanity) can be a huge stumbling block to people’s faith. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would “have no beauty or majesty to attract us to him” (53:2). This Jesus was a homeless man (Lk 9:58) from an insignificant city (Jn 1:46). When people saw Jesus’ flesh and blood, it was difficult to believe that he was the Messiah. Even John the Baptist would wonder whether Jesus was who he claimed to be (Mt 11:2-6).
The sending of manna came to an end; Jesus, the Bread of Life, endures forever and gives eternal life.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
8-14
10
8-15
51
102
St. John’s Altar Committee for August 2021:Lucy Laun&Kathy North
The Source of Spiritual Food for Spiritual Strength and Life
St. John’s & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Churches
Montello & Mecan, WI
Pastor Peter Zietlow
August 14, 2021
4:30p.m. St. John’s
August 15, 2021
8:00a.m. Emmanuel
10:00a.m. St. John’s
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church 313 East Montello St. Montello, WI 53949
Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church W1568 Evergreen Lane Montello, WI 53949
WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH We extend a warm welcome to everyone worshiping with us today! We ask God that he fill our hearts with peace, joy and understanding as we praise Him together.
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES † Sunday: 8:00a.m. at Emmanuel 10:00a.m. at St. John’s † Saturday: 4:30p.m. at St. John’s
Each worship service is posted to our website. If you don’t have internet access or are unable to attend today’s service, DVDs, sermons and the bulletin are available for your use at home. You may pick them up in the office or request them to be mailed. Please contact our secretary Ciara Neuhauser at the church office or Pastor Zietlow.
HOLY COMMUNION Communion is offered at both Emmanuel and St. John’s on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month and at St. John’s on the Saturdays before those Sundays. Private communion by request is also available from Pastor Zietlow or a church Elder at your home. Please call Pastor or the church office to schedule private communion.
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAYJesus Gives the Bread of Life That We Might Fulfill the Impossible – Have you ever been faced with an impossible task? When a job seems impossible, it’s difficult and frustrating to even attempt fulfilling it. For Christians, trusting in Jesus, believing his promises and loving others as he loves us sometimes seems impossible. But in today’s lessons we are shown how Jesus gives us the ability to fulfill impossible tasks by giving us the Bread of Life. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). But with God, nothing is impossible (Lk 1:37).
†P R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P †
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
*Saturday, St. John’s and Emmanuel, please proceed to bulletin page 5 and begin with Divine Service II.
†H O L Y B A P T I S M A T S T. J O H N ‘ S ·S U N D A Y †
This order incorporates Holy Baptism into congregational worship combining the sacrament of baptism with the confession of sins. Martin Luther said that confessing sins and receiving forgiveness is nothing else than a reliving of baptism. Thus this order provides opportunity not only to baptize but also to recall the lasting blessings of baptism.
HYMN CW 296:1-2, “Our Children Jesus Calls”
M: The grace of our Lord †Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
M: Our Savior Jesus Christ commanded baptism when he said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” All of us are born into this world with a deep need for baptism. From our parents we inherit a sinful nature; we are without true fear of God and true faith in God and are condemned to eternal death. But Jesus took away our sin by giving his life on the cross. At our baptism he clothes us with the robe of his righteousness and gives us a new life. Our sinful nature need not control us any longer. We recall what baptism means for our daily lives as we speak these words:
C: Baptism means that the sinful nature in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
M: As baptized children of God we confess our sins:
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son †and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
The Rite of Baptism continues at the font.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
M: In obedience to the command of our Lord and trusting in his promise, you have brought this child to be baptized. Jesus told us: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” It is in baptism that God grants the new life of forgiveness, joy, and peace to little children. By the power of God’s Word, this gracious water of life washes away sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe.
The minister applies water to the person presented for baptism as he says:
____, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Almighty God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has forgiven all your sins. By your baptism, you are born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven. May God strengthen you to live in your baptismal grace all the days of your life. Peace be with you.
Please stand.
EXHORTATION
M: Brothers and sisters in Christ:
Our Lord commands that we teach his precious truths to all who are baptized. Christian love therefore urges all of us, especially parents and sponsors, to assist in whatever manner possible so that ____ may remain a child of God until death. If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then answer: Yes, as God gives me strength.
C: Yes, as God gives me strength.
M: Let us pray:
Merciful Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessing of baptism by which you offer and grant the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Help us to regard our baptism as the robe of righteousness we are to wear all the days of our life. Look with special favor on ____ and grant him a rich measure of your Spirit that he may grow in faith and godly living. Make us willing to carry out our responsibilities to those who have been baptized, so that all of us may finally come to the blessed joys of heaven, through Jesus our Lord.
C: Amen.
Please be seated.
HYMN CW 296:3, “Our Children Jesus Calls”
†D I V I N E S E R V I C E II †
Divine Service II is a version of the historic liturgy of the Christian church.
HYMN CW 108, “Jesus, Refuge of the Weary”
Please stand.
INVOCATION
The name of the triune God and the sign of the cross remind worshipers of their baptisms.
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION
M: Friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.
C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin.
For faithless worrying and selfish pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away from Your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus’ sake.
ABSOLUTION
The use of the keys is that special power and right which Christ gave to His church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners. John 20:21-23
M: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In His great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the Word of Christ through His called servant:
I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
LORD, HAVE MERCY
Kyrie: Kyrie is the Greek word for Lord. The expression “Lord, have mercy” is one of the oldest worship responses in the Christian church. Mark 10:47
M: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the well-being of all people everywhere, that they may receive from You all they need to sustain body and life, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
M: For the spread of Your life-giving Gospel throughout the world, that all who are lost in sin may be brought to faith in You, hear our prayer, O Christ.
C: Christ, have mercy.
M: For patience and perseverance in this life, that we may not lose the hope of heaven as we await Your return, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
M: Lord of life, live in us that we may live for You.
C: Amen.
GLORY BE TO GOD
Luke 2:14 (sung to the tune of Hymn 152 “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”. Christians praise God by proclaiming the great things He has done to accomplish our rescue from sin. “Glory to God in the Highest” has been a Christian song of worship since the fourth century.
All glory be to God on high! Your name, O Lord, we glorify;
We praise You for Your peace and grace, Your favor toward our fallen race.
Our grateful thanks to You we bring, for Your great glory, heav’nly King,
For all, O Father, You have done, through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
O Lamb of God, to You we pray. You take all human sin away.
Have mercy, Lord; receive our prayer; from God’s right hand, Your mercy share.
You, Christ, are holy– Lord alone; the Father’s glory You made known.
We by Your Spirit sing again: “All glory be to God!” Amen.
†T H E W O R D †
SALUTATION
This greeting has deep roots in Christian worship and marks the beginning of the Word section of this service.
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
FIRST LESSON 1 Kings 19:3-8 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: An angel strengthens Elijah
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
PSALM 34
Saturday: sing in unison.
Sunday: men sing 1st line, women sing 2nd line, all sing refrains and Gloria.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;*
blessed are they who take refuge in him.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous*
and his ears are attentive to their cry.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,*
and he delivers them.
Refrain
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;*
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted*
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The LORD redeems his servants;*
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:30–5:2
Summary: Spiritual living flows from God who has forgiven us
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
VERSE OF THE DAY Hebrews 11:1
Alleluia. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Alleluia.
Please stand.
GOSPEL LESSON
M: The Gospel according to John 6: 41-51.
C: Glory be to You, O Lord.
Summary: Jesus is the Bread of Life, the True Source of Spiritual Food
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
M: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to You, O Christ.
Please be seated.
HYMN OF THE DAY CW 446“I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus”
SERMON 1 Kings 19:3-9
“We’ve Got Nowhere To Go But To God”
Giving up (3, 4)
Getting help (5-7)
Going on (8)
Please stand.
NICENE CREED
Public confession is faith’s response to God’s saving Word. Christians composed the Nicene Creed in the fourth century to defend the Bible’s teachings that both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are true God, equal to the Father in one eternal, undivided Trinity.
C: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian* and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Please be seated.
†O F F E R I N G S O F G I F T S & P R A Y E R S †
THE OFFERING
Members of this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained. Guests need not feel obligated to contribute. The plate is located in the church entryway.
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Prayer for Delight In God’s Word Both His Laws and His Promises and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcement details of today’s Intercessory Prayers.
Please stand.
LORD’S PRAYER
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN CW 473:1-3,“Savior, I Follow On”
CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING
M: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Next week’s theme: August 22, 2021 The 13thSunday after Pentecost: Eating Spiritual Food Equals Believing in Christ
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Worship with communion
† C H U R C H N E W S †
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Jim & Caryl Bassett, Mike Brown, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Marian Heller, Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Arden Klimke, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Neil Miller, Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Kathy Ninneman, Al Pompa (Pete & Lucy Laun’s brother-in-law), Karen Radke, Don & Doris Smith, Mary Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Linda Lou Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law), Shirley Wilkens (added this week: Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Arden Klimke, Kathy Ninneman, Shirley Wilkens)
– For the family of our St. John’s member, Liola Crown, called to her heavenly home Wednesday evening (8/11)
– For Salem Adonis Michael Bignell, the son of Michael Bignell and Destiny Thome, baptized today (8/15) at St. John’s
– For blessings received
NATIONAL HYMNAL SUNDAY, SEPT. 19 There will be sign up sheets for the National Hymnal Sunday celebration on September 19, to help Ladies Aid plan on how many people will be attending the potluck luncheon. At Emmanuel the sheets will be in the hallway. At St. John’s they will be in the linkway on the table where the display is. The sheets will out starting the weekend of August 28 and 29 and the final date for sign up will be September 12. If you miss signing up, we encourage and welcome you to join and attend the celebratory potluck on Sunday, September 19.
CHRISTIAN ONE LINERS (from a member) “Well, this explains a lot! A pastor said: “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” My friend replied, “I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.” Pastor questioned, “How come I don’t see you except at Christmas and Easter?” He whispered back, “I’m in the secret service.”
CROSSES The Time of the Church is the longest season of the church year. Green represents growth-growing the Church through witnessing and missions-becoming “fishers of men.”
This season appears 1st and 2nd Sunday of Epiphany and ends Transfiguration Sunday just before Lent. It reappears the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and ends on Reformation Sunday.
Please pick up your ribbon today! If you are in need of a cross or would like to gift to someone, please help yourself. They are available and both Emmanuel and St. John’s. Thank you again to Gene Crook (Emmanuel) and LuAnn Zieman (St. John’s) for creating and coordinating!
CHURCH NEWSLETTER The St. John’s church newsletter will be sent out via email to the congregations. Need to sign up on our mailing list? Please call the office. If you wish to receive a hard copy, we offer a yearly subscription for $10.00.
GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTSPlease consider making a gift towards the following church or school projects. Your gift, to the project of your choice, will be recorded under your member account in our Shepherd’s Staff program unless you specifically request it 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 secretary, Ciara Neuhauser, if you have any questions.
Project Name & Brief Description Amount Needed
School HVAC Purifying System (air purifying system installed for classrooms) $1,770.00
Church & School Computer Server Upgrade (costs for replacing server) $10,351.64
House Demolition (costs related to tear down of old Little Lambs house) $9,500.00
Ministerial Tuition Assistance (assistance for members pursuing the ministry) No limit in place
Outreach Activities (church and/or school outreach supplies, fees) No limit in place
School Athletic Fund (jerseys, equipment, tournament fees) No limit in place
St. John’s School Tuition Assistance (assistance for parents of students) No limit in place
School Technology Fund (maintain teacher and student computers, smartboards) No limit in place
† S C H O O L N E W S †
Jesus Gives the Bread of Life
That We Might Fulfill the Impossible
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – B
God’s Word for Today
Have you ever been faced with an impossible task? When a job seems impossible, it’s difficult and frustrating to even attempt fulfilling it. For Christians, trusting in Jesus, believing his promises and loving others as he loves us sometimes seems impossible. But in today’s lessons we are shown how Jesus gives us the ability to fulfill impossible tasks by giving us the Bread of Life. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). But with God, nothing is impossible (Lk 1:37).
First Lesson (1 Kings 19:3-8)
What was Elijah grumbling about?
What did the Lord command Elijah to do?
Second Lesson (Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2)
What model of love does Paul present in these verses?
How is that love going to manifest itself, according to Paul?
Is it easy to show this type of unconditional love to others?
Gospel (John 6:41-51)
With what statement of Jesus were the people have difficulty and why? How did Jesus react?
What important truth about our Christian lives does Jesus make clear in verses 44-45?
Answers:
Elijah was complaining about his life as a prophet of God. He was being chased by wicked Queen Jezebel (1 Kgs 19:2), and now he simply wanted to die.
The Lord wanted him to get up and eat. He sustained Elijah when the prophet thought that his situation was impossible.
Paul encourages us to love others just as Christ loves us. Jesus’ love is a sacrificial and forgiving love.
Paul gives an extensive list in 4:31-32.
For sinners like us it is impossible to have this type of love for one another unless Jesus gives us the Bread of Life, his Word of forgiveness. Jesus’ love and forgiveness for us moves us to love others in similar ways.
They grumbled at the fact that Jesus called himself the “bread that came down from heaven.” His claim that he was from heaven seemed to be blasphemous. Jesus told them to stop their grumbling.
Jesus points out that apart from the working of his heavenly Father, we are unable to believe in him and come to him. The Father does this work of winning and wooing us to faith through the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Co 2:9-10). The Holy Spirit brings us to faith by supplying us with the Bread of Life, the truth about Jesus our Savior. Apart from the working of the Holy Trinity, our faith in Jesus would be an impossible task for us.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
7-31
12
8-1
57
108
8-7
8-8
50
St. John’s Altar Committee for August 2021:Lucy Laun&Kathy North
●●● Welcome To Our Visitors! Find & Like us on Facebook Visit our website:www.stjohnsmontello.org Pastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830, E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.com Little Lambs Director & Teacher Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816 K, 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554 3rd-5th Grade Teacher Ms. Katlynn Tindall: 262-352-7021 Principal & 6th – 8th Grade Teacher Mr. Larry Sellnow:616-822-6689, Email: principal@stjohnsmontello.org Church & School Secretary/Office Ciara Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866 Church & School Address/Mail: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949 Church & School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org ●●●
WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH We extend a warm welcome to everyone worshiping with us today! We ask God that he fill our hearts with peace, joy and understanding as we praise Him together during this Pentecost season. WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES † Saturday: 4:30p.m. at St. John’s † Sunday: 8:00a.m. at Emmanuel 10:00a.m. at St. John’s Each worship service is posted to our website. If you don’t have internet access or are unable to attend today’s service, DVDs, sermons and the bulletin are available for your use at home. You may pick them up in the office or request them to be mailed. Please contact our secretary Ciara Neuhauser at the church office or Pastor Zietlow.
HOLY COMMUNION Communion is offered at both Emmanuel and St. John’s on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month and at St. John’s on the Saturdays before those Sundays. Private communion by request is also available from Pastor Zietlow or a church Elder at your home. Please call Pastor or the church office to schedule private communion.
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAYToday’s theme: The 10th Sunday after Pentecost – Jesus Gives the Bread of Life To Unify Us in Faith, Love and Purpose – It’s easy to become distracted as a member of a Christian congregation. Sometimes false teaching and opinions destroy a congregation’s unity. Sometimes it’s just plain hard to get along with your fellow Christians, and often long-standing resentment follows. Sometimes congregations get caught up in too many “projects” and “programs” that take them off their divine purpose. Only Jesus can overcome such distractions. He gives us his Word, the Bread of Life, to unify us in faith, love and purpose.
†P R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P †
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
OPENING HYMN CWS 232, “Lord of My Life, Whose Tender Care”
† S E R V I C E O F THE W O R D †
Please stand.
M: The grace of our Lord † Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.
CONFESSION OF SINS
We confess to God that we have failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, and we plead for his mercy.
M:We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
M:God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
OH, TASTE AND SEE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray.
O Lord, your ears are always open to the prayers of your humble servants, who come to you in Jesus’ name. Teach us always to ask according to your will that we may never fail to obtain the blessings you have promised; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings
†T H E W O R D †
The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
FIRST LESSON Exodus 24:3-11 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: A marvelous fellowship meal at Mt. Sinai pictures the fellowship we have with God in Christ
When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”
Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
PSALM 84
*Saturday: Sing in unison.
* Sunday: Cantor sings 1st line, congregation sings 2nd line, all sing refrains and Gloria.
How lovely is your dwelling place,*
O LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,*
for the courts of the LORD.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;*
they are ever praising you.
Refrain
Better is one day in your courts*
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God*
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
O LORD Almighty,*
blessed are they who trust in you.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:1-7,11-16
Summary: Fellowship with God means unity with fellow Christians
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
VERSE OF THE DAY John 6:68
M: Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
Please stand
GOSPEL LESSON John 6:1-15
Summary: A miraculous meal demonstrates the power of the true Prophet who came to give us fellowship with God
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages (Greek-two hundred Denarii)would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Please be seated.
HYMN OF THE DAY CW 538, “The Church’s One Foundation”
SERMON Exodus 24: 3-11
“HERE’S HOW WE GET IN GOOD WITH GOD”
Our relationship with God is…
Purchased with a hero’s blood (v. 4b-6, 8)
Personalized through the holy Word (v. 3-4a, 7, 12)
Pictured by a heavenly meal (9-11)
Please stand.
APOSTLES’ CREED
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Please be seated.
†O F F E R I N G S O F G I F T S & P R A Y E R S †
THE OFFERING
Members of this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained. Guests need not feel obligated to contribute. The plate is located in the church entryway.
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Prayer for God’s Children to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcement details of today’s Intercessory Prayers.
Please stand.
LORD’S PRAYER
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
HYMN CW 494, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds”
M:O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
M: As you go from here, remember this:
God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,
from generation to generation.
Just as a father has compassion on his children
so God has compassion on those who fear him,
who listen to his voice,
and who do his will.
Go out in the knowledge that the everlasting love of God goes with you.
Amen.
Please be seated.
CLOSING HYMN CW 616, “Feed Your Children, God Most Holy”
School & Little Lambs Registration in St. John’s gym
Mon.
6:00p.m.
Principals’ Conference – Redeemer, FDL
Tues.
9:00a.m.
Joint Elders meeting at St. John’s
Wed.
Thurs.
12:00p.m.
Ladies Aid lunch and meeting at St. John’s
Fri.
Sat.
4:30p.m.
St. John’s Worship
5:30p.m.
Evangelism meeting at St. John’s
Next week’s theme: August 8, 2021 The 11thSunday after Pentecost: To Attain Spiritual Food: Human Efforts Fail; God’s Gift Prevails
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship
9:00a.m.
Emmanuel Congregational meeting
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Worship
† C H U R C H N E W S †
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Jim & Caryl Bassett, Cheri Borzick, Mike Brown, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Marian Heller, Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Neil Miller, Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Al Pompa (Pete & Lucy Laun’s brother-in-law), Karen Radke, LuAnn Reber, Jeff Reimer & son Tim, Don & Doris Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Jennifer Strauss, Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law), (added this week: )
-For Salem Adonis Michael Bignell, the son of our St. John’s member Michael Bignell and Destiny Thome, born on 7/12.
-For the family of Kenny Hillmer, our St. John’s member called to his heavenly home on 7/25.
– For marriage
– For missions
NEW CHRISTIAN WORSHIP HYMNAL PRE ORDER Be sure to check out our new CW hymnal display in Emmanuel parish hall and St. John’s link way. Here, you can also find a pre order sign up. The cost per hymnal is $24 each. You can submit your payment to Ciara in the office.
Starting today, St. John’s and Emmanuel also have weekly informational short videos and fliers, leading up to National Hymnal Sunday (Sept. 19), that will give you a better understanding of our new CW hymnal and what’s to come. You can find these on our Facebook page, website: www.stjohnsmontello.org, and email.
ATTENTION SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF EMMANUEL AND ST JOHN’S At 6:30pm, there is adult softball on the baseball diamond behind St. John’s. This is open to men and women who have graduated high school (recently or a long time ago!). We are not preparing for a future event, just gathering in fellowship and activity during the warmer months of the year. See you then!
CROSSES The Time of the Church is the longest season of the church year. Green represents growth-growing the Church through witnessing and missions-becoming “fishers of men.”
This season appears 1st and 2nd Sunday of Epiphany and ends Transfiguration Sunday just before Lent. It reappears the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and ends on Reformation Sunday.
Please pick up your ribbon today! If you are in need of a cross or would like to gift to someone, please help yourself. They are available and both Emmanuel and St. John’s. Thank you again to Gene Crook (Emmanuel) and LuAnn Zieman (St. John’s) for creating and coordinating!
CHURCH NEWSLETTER The St. John’s church newsletter will be sent out via email to the congregations. Need to sign up on our mailing list? Please call the office. If you wish to receive a hard copy, we offer a yearly subscription for $10.00.
LIST OF DEDICICATED ACCOUNTS Want to donate and know exactly where your money is going?! Here is a list of accounts between St. John’s church and school that you can choose from:
Church General, School General, House/Parking Lot, Family Easter Festival, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, School Technology, Church Video/Audio System, Security System, Tuition Assistance, Athletic Fund, Outreach Events, School Server Upgrade, School HVAC/Purifying System
CHRISTIAN ONE LINERS (from a member) “It is easier to preach ten sermons than to live one.”
† S C H O O L N E W S †
LIST OF DEDICICATED ACCOUNTS Want to donate and know exactly where your money is going?! Here is a list of accounts between St. John’s church and school that you can choose from:
Church General, School General, House/Parking Lot, Family Easter Festival, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, School Technology, Church Video/Audio System, Security System, Tuition Assistance, Athletic Fund, Outreach Events, School Server Upgrade, School HVAC/Purifying System
Jesus Gives the Bread of Life
To Unify Us in Faith, Love and Purpose
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost – B
God’s Word for Today
It’s easy to become distracted as a member of a Christian congregation. Sometimes false teaching and opinions destroy a congregation’s unity. Sometimes it’s just plain hard to get along with your fellow Christians, and often long-standing resentment follows. Sometimes congregations get caught up in too many “projects” and “programs” that take them off their divine purpose. Only Jesus can overcome such distractions. He gives us his Word, the Bread of Life, to unify us in faith, love and purpose.
First Lesson (Exodus 24:3-11)
How did the people respond to the words and laws that Moses brought them from the Lord?
In what two ways was this covenant (agreement) with the Lord sealed?
Second Lesson (Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16)
What concept does Paul emphasize in verses 2-7?
What special gifts has Jesus given to his Church? What is the ultimate purpose of their work in the Church?
How is unity attained in the Church?
Gospel (John 6:1-15)
What concern did Jesus have for the great crowds who were following him? What was Philip’s response?
How did Jesus show his power? How did some wrongly react to Jesus’ miracle?
Answers:
They said with one voice that they would do everything the Lord had commanded.
Moses sealed the covenant by sprinkling the people with the blood of the covenant. The Lord sealed the covenant by eating and drinking with the seventy elders of Israel.
Paul emphasizes that Christians are to desire unity and “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” That means being “humble and gentle.” We need to “be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Jesus has given the Church public ministers of the gospel (“pastors and teachers”). The ultimate purpose of their work is that the Church might “reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature.”
Unity is reached through a faithful proclamation of the truth, the Word of God, the Bread of Life.
Jesus wanted to give the people something to eat. Philip thought that it was the people’s responsibility to find food for themselves.
Jesus fed the entire crowd with just two fish and five loaves of bread. Some people, seeing this miracle, wanted to make Jesus a worldly king by force. But Jesus had not come principally to give physical bread but spiritual bread, the Bread of Life.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
7-24
7-25
St. John’s Altar Committee for July 2021:Lucy Laun&Kathy North
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
Monday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday 8:00am – 4:00pm
●●● Welcome To Our Visitors! Find & Like us on Facebook Visit our website:www.stjohnsmontello.org Pastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830, E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.com Little Lambs Director & Teacher Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816 K, 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554 3rd-5th Grade Teacher Ms. Katlynn Tindall: 262-352-7021 Principal & 6th – 8th Grade Teacher Mr. Larry Sellnow:616-822-6689, Email: principal@stjohnsmontello.org Church & School Secretary/Office Ciara Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866 Church & School Address/Mail: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949 Church & School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org ●●●
