Bulletin – August 22, 2021 – St. John's Evangelical

The 13^th Sunday after Pentecost

Eating Spiritual Food Equals Believing in Christ

St. John’s & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Churches

Montello & Mecan, WI

Pastor Pete Zietlow

August 21, 2021

4:30p.m. St. John’s

August 22, 2021

8:00a.m. Emmanuel

10:00a.m. St. John’s

† 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 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 1^st line, pulpit side sing 2^nd 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 Holy Spirit 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 PRAYER AFTER 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”

Text Box: Songs are reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-722228.
Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ® (NIV ®). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Service of Word and Sacrament © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

† 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 (3^rd – 8^th grade)

Wed.	10:00a.m.	Montello Care Center Devotion
	5:30p.m.	Faculty/Staff Gathering at Sellnow’s

Thurs.	3:00p.m.	Soccer practice (3^rd – 8^th grade)

Fri.


Sat.	4:30p.m.	St. John’s Worship


*Next week’s theme:-* *August 29, 2021* The 14^thSunday 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 1^st and 2^nd Sunday of Epiphany and ends Transfiguration Sunday just before Lent. It reappears the 2^nd 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 †

TIMELINE INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE Flyer (US Letter)

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).