The 3rd Sunday in Lent
Jesus Rescues Us From God’s Law
St. John’s & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Churches
Montello & Mecan, WI
March 6, 2021
4:30p.m. St. John’s
March 7, 2021
8a.m. Emmanuel
10a.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 viewing our recorded worship service today. The bulletin includes the complete order of service, hymns, psalm, Bible readings and announcements. For those without internet access to our website stjohnsmontello.org, DVDs and written sermons plus the bulletin are available. Just phone secretary Ciara Neuhauser at the church office (608) 297-2866 or contact Pastor Zietlow (talk or text) at (608) 408-7830. ONLINE SERVICE/PRINTED BULLETIN OR SPLIT SCREEN If you’re watching our worship services on-line and want to also follow along with the bulletin, you can just print the bulletin out and watch it together with the service. Or you can do a “split screen.” This means you would click the menu button on the top right corner of your screen, click “new window” and then open a second window to our website and recorded service page. Click “bulletin can be accessed here” and now you have two windows. Make each window half-size, so that you have a split screen–one side for the service and one side for the bulletin. GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY Today’s theme: The 3rd Sunday in Lent: Jesus Rescues Us From God’s Law – For centuries Christians have spent Lent meditating on Jesus’ suffering and death, which atoned for our guilt. Lent is the “serious season” of the church year in which we put extra emphasis on recognizing and confessing our own sins. Congregations with special mid-week services usually keep a somber, reflective tone. The Sundays in Lent, however, serve as “mini Easters;” their readings and hymns bring comfort to the believers who are reflecting on their sins and Jesus’ passion. The third Sunday in Lent reminds us of God’s perfect law and his demand that we fear and love him. Thankfully, Jesus has fulfilled God’s law in our place. |
† 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 thankfulness of praise.
PASTOR’S WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
M: O Lord God my Creator and Savior–I have come before you to hear your holy Word and offer you my prayers and hymns of praise. Open my heart by your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of your Word I may repent of my sins, believe in Jesus, and grow day by day in grace and holiness. Compelled by Christ’s love for me, help me serve Him and share Him with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
† G A T H E R I N G R I T E O N T H E W O R D O F G O D †
God’s people long ago gather together for strength from God and for mutual encouragement. This alternate beginning for worship may be used on any occasion to remind God’s people of the blessings of his Word.
Please stand.
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
HYMN 221: 1 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
*Sung by soloist.
1 Blessed Jesus, at your Word We are gathered all to hear you.
Let our hearts and souls be stirred Now to seek and love and fear you,
By your teachings, sweet and holy, Drawn from earth to love you solely.
M: Oh, how I love your law!
C: I meditate on it all day long.
M: Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
C: for they are ever with me.
M: I have more insight than all my teachers,
C: for I meditate on your statutes.
M: How sweet are your words to my taste,
C: sweeter than honey to my mouth!
HYMN 221: 2 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
*Sung by soloist.
2 All our knowledge, sense, and sight Lie in deepest darkness shrouded
Till your Spirit breaks our night With the beams of truth unclouded.
You alone to God can win us; You must work all good within us.
M: All scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
C: so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16,17
M: Yet so often we have despised God’s Word and failed to gladly hear and learn it. For this and all our sins, we bow before God and humbly ask his 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.
HYMN 221: 3 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
*Sung by soloist.
3 Gracious Savior, good and kind, Light from Light, from God proceeding,
Open now our heart and mind; Help us by your Spirit’s pleading.
Hear the cry your people raises; Hear and bless our prayers and praises.
M: God gave his Word so ”that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The Scriptures testify about Jesus, who lived a perfect life for you, died on the cross to pay for all your sins, and rose again to assure you of your salvation. 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: (spoken) Amen.
HYMN 221: 4 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
*Sung by soloist.
4 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Praise to you and adoration!
Grant that we your Word may trust, Confident of our salvation,
While we here below must wander, Till we sing your praises yonder.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Almighty God, look with favor on your humble servants and stretch out the right hand of your power to defend us against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Be seated.
† T H E W O R D †
This service offers the congregation a form of worship that focuses on the proclamation of God’s Word. Believers respond to this divine gift with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
FIRST LESSON Exodus 20:1-17
Summary: At Mt. Sinai God gives Moses the Ten Commandments–a summary of His Law
And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
PSALM 19
*For your personal devotion at home.
Refrain
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The heavens declare the glory of God;*
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,*
their words to the ends of the world.
Refrain
The law of the LORD is perfect,*
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,*
giving light to the eyes.
They are more precious than gold;*
they are sweeter than honey.
By them is your servant taught;*
in keeping them there is great reward.
Refrain
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart*
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Redeemer.
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
EPISTLE LESSON 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Summary: The preaching of the cross is God’s wisdom
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
VERSE OF THE DAY John 3: 14, 15
M: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Please stand.
GOSPEL LESSON John 2:13-22 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: Jesus clears the temple–a call to repentance
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Be seated.
SERMON HYMN 774 Church of God, Elect and Glorious
*Sung by soloist.
SERMON John 2: 13-22
“JESUS CLEANS HOUSE!”
- His cleaning puts us under God’s spotlight (v. 13-17)
- His cleansing brings us into God’s love-light (v. 18-22)
APOSTLES’ CREED
*For your personal devotion at home.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker or 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.
LENTEN SEASON PRAYER & INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
*Read by pastor.
Please stand.
LORD’S PRAYER
*Spoken by congregation.
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.
CLOSING PRAYER
P: Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart, that being strengthened and comforted by your holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
Then Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN 530 Hark! The Church Proclaims Her Honor
*Sung by congregation.
| 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. |
X A N N O U N C E M E N T S X
March 7 – March 13
| Sun. | 8:00 a.m. | Emmanuel Worship |
| 10:00 a.m. | St. John’s Worship | |
| Mon. | 9:00 a.m. | Pastors Study Club – Wautoma |
| 6:30 p.m. | Joint Council meeting at Emmanuel | |
| Tues. | 8:00 a.m. | School Chapel |
| 6:00 p.m. | School Board meeting at St. John’s | |
| Wed. | 11:40 a.m. | School & Little Lambs Early Release |
| 10:00 a.m. | Public School 8th Grade Confirmation Zoom meeting | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Emmanuel Lenten Devotion | |
| 6:30 p.m. | St. John’s Lenten Devotion | |
| Thurs. | 8:00 a.m. | St. John’s Teen Confirmation |
| 6:00 p.m. | Griefshare at St. John’s | |
| Fri. | No School – Luther Prep Musical | |
| Sat. | 4:30 p.m. | St. John’s Worship with communion |
| Next week’s theme: March 14, 2021 The Fourth Sunday in Lent: Faith Looks To Jesus | ||
| Daylight Saving Time | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | Emmanuel Worship with communion | |
| 10:00 a.m. | St. John’s Worship with communion |
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Jim & Caryl Bassett, Pat Bornick, Glenn Buchholz, Bob Buehrens, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Gene & Sharon Crook, Liola Crown, Roberta Davison (Beth John’s daughter), Reinold Eckelberg, Ken Elmer, Mike Farrell, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Louise Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Eleanor Kendall, Julie Klawitter, Betty Kozlowski, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Jenell Mann, Lilly Mann, Delvin Mittelsteadt, Kathy Ninneman, Barbara Petrick, Al Pompa (Pete & Lucy Laun’s brother-in-law), Karen Radke, LuAnn Reber, Jeff Reimer, David Scharf, Roxanne Schmanke, Don & Doris Smith, Carol Stempniak, Jennifer Strauss, Ramona Wacholtz (Dennis’ wife), Dixie Wagner, John Wildt, Harold & brother Paul Wuerch – (added this week: )
– For pastors and teachers
– For God’s people who are under spiritual attack
| Church News SPRING MISSION OFFERINGS are being collected by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society throughout March.Containers are located in the entrance at both St. John’s and Emmanuel—Please give your gift at the church where you are a member. 75% of gifts given will support Beaver Dam Circuit projects—HM/Pastoral Studies Institute & WM/Latin America Special Projects. 25% of gifts given will support home & world mission projects that will be decided by ballot in May and will be presented at the 2021 LWMS Convention, June 24-27, in Sharonville, Ohio. Gifts welcome from all who love missions! EMMANUEL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS There are no new council members to report. 1) Parish Flooring updates: The Parish Hall flooring project is on hold pending reduced COVID-19 risks. 2) Update on survey of Church West property line. This project is still in process but is close to completion. 3) Internet capability: Starlink Satellite Internet is now available for the Emmanuel location. The council will determine the next if any steps to be taken. 4) Robert Schrank estate update: As a result of decreased staffing capability caused by COVID-19, a necessary IRS tax review still needs to be completed however the estate transfer is still in process. 5) Well update: The casing has been installed leaving the pump, plumbing, and electrical connection for completion. Because these items must be installed into a hand dug trench, a thawed ground will be necessary. 6) Election of 2020 officers: All elected for another term. a) President – Incumbent – Darrell Buchholz b) Treasurer – Incumbent – Wayne Stelter c) Secretary – Incumbent – Lucas Stelter d) Trustee – Don Stelter e) Cemetery committee member – Joe Heller f) Darrell Buchholz will represent Emmanuel as a lay-delegate for any Synod Convention related meetings on July 26-29, 2021. 6) The Emmanuel congregation approved a donation of $500 for the following school wish list items listed in the bulletin: * Little Lambs Stacking Pegboard Set * Geoboards * Rollee Pollee Nap Sac * iPad covers * Handheld Vacuum * Magnetic book holder |
| School news DR. SEUSS WEEK! Be sure to check out our school Facebook page for pictures from this week! FREE MEAL SIGNUP FOR SCHOOL FAMILIES ONLY Hello School Families! Please find the link on our school Facebook page to sign up for free meals. Breakfast and lunch included! The offer is good until May. Meals will be dropped off on Wednesdays at St. John’s. WISHLIST ITEMS Little Lambs – Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade – 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade – 6th , 7th & 8th Grade –Tuition Assistance LIST OF DEDICICATED ACCOUNTS Want to make a donation 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 |
Due to COVID, we are unable to hold our annual Art For Dinner fundraiser. In place of this year’s event, we will be doing a school/congregation cookbook along with St. John’s goodies that will be for sale. The AFD committee is working with the students to create a design that will be printed on these items.
For the cookbook, we are asking the congregation to submit a recipe they would like included in the cookbook to Ciara in the school office BY MARCH 15.
All proceeds will go to the school’s technology fund in hopes to upgrade the student’s chrome books. This will be our only fundraiser for this year. Talk to the school office about order forms for the cookbook and how to make donations to this year’s fundraiser. We would like to thank everyone that has helped support Art For Dinner in the past. We are hopeful that the dinner can take place again in the future.
–Art For Dinner Committee
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Lent is the six week observance of the “passion” of Christ, that is, his suffering and death for our sins and the eternal rescue of all! The Church traditionally observes Lent with midweek worship that helps point to and prepares God’s people for Holy Week and Easter.
There will be 3:30pm worship at Emmanuel with Pastor Dolan leading.
Also, there is 6:30pm worship at St. John’s led by Pastor Zietlow and the pastors of our nearby sister congregations.
The Scripture devotions will talk about “The Hands of Lent.”
The 3:30pm Emmanuel worship will be recorded and be made available for viewing on the St. John’s website, stjohnsmontello.org.
Divine Jesus Rescues Us From God’s Law
The Third Sunday in Lent – B
God’s Word for Today
The season of Lent has historically been a time for Christians to meditate on Jesus’ passion. His suffering and death atoned for the sins we committed. Therefore, Lent is the “serious season” of the church year where we Christians put an extra emphasis on recognizing and confessing our own sins. Congregations that have special mid-week services are able to make the tone somber and reflective. The Sundays in Lent, however, serve as “mini Easters” where the readings and hymns bring joy and comfort to the believer who is reflecting on his/her own sins and Jesus’ passion during this season. The third Sunday in Lent reminds us of God’s perfect law and his holy demand that we fear and love him. Thankfully, Jesus has fulfilled God’s law in our place.
First Lesson (Exodus 20:1-17)
- Why does God remind the Israelites that he brought them out of Egypt before giving the Ten Commandments?
- Since God already wrote his commandments on our hearts, why did he etch them on stone (and in the Bible) for us?
Second Lesson (1 Corinthians 1:22-25)
- How is Christ crucified “foolishness” to many people?
- What is the essence of a Christian’s message to the world?
Gospel (John 2:13-22)
- Why do you think the Jewish leaders allowed the buying and selling of animals in the temple courts?
- How do you know that Jesus wasn’t sinning by angrily overturning the tables and driving out the moneychangers?
- Why are Jesus’ words in v. 19 significant?
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Answers:
- The holy God who demands we keep his commandments wants an attitude of love and trust on the part of his children. His law cannot instill that love and trust, but only his gospel can. By reminding the Israelites of how he rescued them from Egypt, he is putting in the forefront of their mind his love and mercy. For us, it reminds us that this holy God sent Jesus to rescue us from our sins.
- Since the human heart is darkened or calloused by our own sin and the sin around us, we need God’s law written down – in detail – for us so we know exactly what his will is.
- Later in this letter Paul explains that people don’t naturally understand or believe in Jesus, but only by the Holy Spirit can people recognize God’s wisdom in sending Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, the message of Jesus dying on a cross to save us makes no sense. With the Holy Spirit, we see God’s wisdom and love in providing the perfect Savior.
- “Christ crucified” is the heart of the gospel. The only way sinners can stand before a holy God is if their sins are removed. The only way sins are removed is by Christ being crucified for us.
- As is often the case today, monetary profit becomes more important than the integrity of worshiping the true God.
- What was at stake was the glory and honor of God. His temple was to be a place for worship, not business transactions. God the Father often displayed this righteous anger in the Old Testament. Scripture makes it clear that in his entire life, Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
- Our Savior predicted his own resurrection from the dead. He truly is God and keeps his Word. That truth gives us imperfect creatures hope and comfort. Only God can save us; Jesus is God. He has rescued us! (see Romans 4:25)
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 2-27 | 23 | |
| 2-28 | 40 | 71 |
| 3-3 | ? | 29 |
| St. John’s Altar Committee March 2021 | Delores Cotte & Diane Eisermann |
| ●●● 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 ●●● |