When a man comes with vengeance, it’s pretty much a given that someone will die. When a hero comes with retribution, it’s pretty much a given that the bad guys will pay for what they’ve done. Because when the hero comes with vengeance and retribution, he comes as an unstoppable juggernaut of retaliation.
But what happens when God comes with vengeance? What happens when the retribution isn’t human, it’s divine? You heard what the prophet said: God will come with vengeance and divine retribution. God is the original, unstoppable, almighty juggernaut. The bad guys don’t stand a chance.
But who are the bad guys? God is not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with him the wicked cannot dwell (Psalm 5:4). That means sinners are the bad guys. Sinners like you and me.
In our verse for today, God threatens judgment. Why would he do such a thing? You’re on his side, aren’t you? Not when you sin. Sin means that you are on your side. And, you cannot hide it.
But with God, things are not always what they seem. When God comes with vengeance and retribution, he doesn’t take your life, he saves it. Listen again to what he says: “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come … to save you.” Your Savior Jesus fulfills these words. Christ comes with vengeance into a world destroyed by sin, a world full of people bound by sin, and he rains down holy retaliation on that sin! But not in the way you would expect.
When Jesus died on the cross, he destroyed the bad guy. But the bad guy wasn’t you. It was sin. Jesus took your infirmities and carried your sorrows to the cross, and by his wounds you are healed (Isaiah 53:4,5). That’s why you do not need to fear God’s wrath. All of God’s vengeance and all of his retribution for every sin fell on Jesus, not on you.
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, thank you for enduring divine retribution for my sins. Amen.
Job was one of the richest men in history. He had thousands of sheep, oxen, donkeys, and camels. He was blessed with seven sons and three daughters. And, best of all, he had tremendous faith in the LORD. Life was very good for Job, until the day when four disasters left him devastated.
It started when a messenger informed him that raiders had stolen all of his oxen and donkeys. Before that report was over, a second messenger arrived to say that fire from the sky had burned up all of his sheep. While he was still speaking, a third messenger came with news that bandits had carried off all of his camels. Before he could finish, a fourth messenger told Job that all of his children were killed when a building collapsed on them.
In grief, Job tore his clothing, shaved his head, and fell to the ground. And this is where you expect Job to curse God. Could you blame him? Whenever life takes a devastating turn, cursing the God who governs life seems like the natural thing to do.
Yet instead of cursing God, Job praised him: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Only a believer can praise God when trouble comes and it seems like God and his love are gone. Job did not praise God for the loss of his riches and children, but for the blessing God had given to him in his riches and children.
When you endure times when you cannot see God’s love, Job’s response is a necessary reminder that your faith is not based on your health, wealth, and feelings. As Job said, those things come and go. Instead, your faith is fixed on the LORD and his promises that everything he gives is good. It is certain that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Prayer:
Lord God, whether you give or take away, help me to always praise your name. Amen.
Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:1-7
What an incredible event! A son was born to Sarah when she was well past child-bearing age. Just as he had done with his son Ishmael, Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, setting him apart from other people as a member of the covenant God had made with Abraham.
Sarah’s laughter is pure joy. And she understands Isaac’s name, which means “laughter.” “Who would have thought?” Sarah muses to herself, in awe of God’s grace, power, and faithfulness.
God is faithful; he always keeps his promises—even if they are too incredible for us to understand. He fulfilled his Word of sending his own Son to pay for our sins, and he has promised that on the Last Day, he will raise the dead and take his believers to live with him forever in heaven. We have a gracious, powerful, and faithful God. He will fulfill his promises. He always does.
Prayer:
Faithful God, forgive me when I fail to trust you in all things. Strengthen my hope and confidence through your Word which will never fail. Amen.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Anna Mary Robertson was an old woman who had a hard life. She was the third of ten children born to a farmer in the 1860’s. Life on a farm in the 1800s meant hours of manual toil, day after day.
In 1887, Anna married a farmer and the hard work continued. As the years went on, she experienced the unspeakable grief of a mother watching her child die in infancy. Anna, however, went through this not just once, but five times.
Then her husband died from a heart attack. By the time she reached her 70’s, arthritis was taking over her body. She was no longer able to do the things she used to do. It was then that Anna Mary Robertson picked up a brush and began to paint.
She never had any formal training. Nevertheless, her pictures radiated something that everyday people and art critics alike could not resist. They radiated something we might not expect. Her pictures radiated joy.
This is how Anna Mary Robertson Moses—Grandma Moses—got her start as an artist. She picked up her brush and shared her joy. And she kept right on sharing her joy until the age of 101.
Not all of us may experience as difficult a life as Grandma Moses. But we all know that life is often filled with pain, disappointment, and grief. And we know the guilt of all the wrongs we have committed. The guilt and grief of life can rob us of any joy we might hope to have.
But that’s why Jesus came. He came to rescue us from our sins and promise us an eternal life in the heavenly home he is preparing. We have every reason to rejoice.
So, while we may not be able to paint like Grandma Moses, we can share our joy by telling others the story of what Jesus has done for us. Let’s do just that until we are called home to him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in those moments when life is hard, remind me of the joy I have in you and your promises. Amen.
If you’re a Star Trek fan, you know Patrick Stewart as the captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Beyond that, however, Patrick Stewart is a gifted Shakespearean actor with a great love for British literature. In 1999, Stewart created a film version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Many consider it one of the best versions ever made.
Towards the end of the film, there is one especially poignant scene. Ebenezer Scrooge, in his bed, has just awakened. His encounters with the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future are now all behind him. At first, he’s still terrified that his soul is lost as a result of what he now sees as his empty, self-absorbed life. However, soon he realizes not only that he is still alive, but that it is Christmas morning. It dawns on him that he has just received a gift to celebrate Christmas, a gift that frees him from the shackles of his past wrongs, a gift to live an entirely new life.
And then it happens. In that moment when he realizes that all is forgiven and he now has a life before him that is fresh and clean and new, he begins to laugh. It is a laugh, the likes of which he has never laughed. It is not just a laugh of relief. It is a laugh of resurrection and restoration. It is a laugh of pure, simple joy.
This is why the Lord calls us to repentance. Does he want us to look upon our sins with sincere sorrow? Yes. But that is not where it ends. Rather, he longs for our repentant hearts to bask in the full forgiveness that Jesus Christ has purchased for us at the cross. He wants to refresh us in lives that are free and cleansed and clean.
In other words, he wants us to laugh the laugh that only the good news about Jesus can bring.
Prayer:
Refresh me, Lord Jesus, in the full forgiveness I have in you. Amen.
In 2008, a caravan of tourists in Utah decided to take the scenic route through a national park. The people in the lead vehicle entered the address of their destination into their GPS and everyone else followed. Over the next several hours, the roads became narrower, rockier, and steeper. The turns became sharper. But not to worry. The GPS told them that they were on the right track. This continued until they reached the edge of a sheer cliff. Now they began to panic. They could not go forward, and they could not find their way back. They stayed there all night. Finally, a search plane discovered where they were and a rescue party came to take them home. Think of the grief they could have avoided if only one person would have said, “This is no good. It’s time to turn around.”
You and I have such a person. His name is John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was quite a sight to see. He lived in the desert. For clothing, he wore camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. And so powerful was his message that crowds of people came out of their cities, towns, and comfortable homes just to hear him preach.
And the message he proclaimed was “Repent.”
To repent means to turn from sin and look to Jesus for forgiveness. But understand this key point. We don’t turn around to God in order to make God turn around to us. Rather, we can turn around because God is already facing us, already holding his arms out to hold us, already waiting to announce that our sins have been forgiven—paid for on the cross by Jesus.
With what sins are you struggling? Whatever they are, let the knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness cause you to turn from them and turn to him.
Prayer:
Lord, use the assurance of your forgiveness to turn me from my sin to you. Amen.
[E]verything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4
One of the most popular history teachers working today is Professor Gary Gallagher. He is so popular with his college students that even his 8 A.M. classes are full. Although they could skip class and simply get the notes from someone later, students show up, even after being out late the night before. They simply don’t want to miss Professor Gallagher’s lectures. Why? Well, as one admirer says, “He makes history come alive.” As a result, students realize that people and events from the past have a great deal to teach us.
This reality is all the more true when it comes to your relationship with God. On the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit has chosen to record real events in the real lives of real people. The stories are compelling and dramatic. The stories are true.
These stories are not meant to merely entertain us. They are meant to teach us. In the lives of people who lived long ago, we see ourselves. We see them committing the same sins we commit. We see them suffering the same things we suffer.
But, even more importantly, we see how God loved and cared for those people. We see how he rescued and kept his promises to those people. We see how willing he was to forgive those people. And, when we see this, we are encouraged. It reminds us that the same God loves, cares, rescues, forgives, and keeps his promises to us.
He can do this because of the Savior he sent, the one we know as Jesus. He is the same savior those people in the Bible looked to for forgiveness. Isn’t it marvelous? Isn’t it encouraging?
So, go ahead and open that Bible on your coffee table or on your app. Read again the stories found there. And let God’s goodness to those who have gone before encourage you as you look forward to your future.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, teach me through your Word. Fill me with endurance, encouragement, and certainty about my future. Amen.
[P]raise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37
The great British writer, G.K. Chesterton, lived his life in the early years of the 20th Century. He was a happy bear of a man. He always had an easy smile, a ready laugh, and an exuberant personality. As a Christian, however, there was one subject he never failed to take seriously. If there was a single sermon he could preach, he once wrote, it would be against the sin of pride.
When a fiery prohibitionist demanded that Chesterton take “The Pledge” to abstain from alcoholic beverages, Chesterton had a ready answer. He would swear off drinking, he said, when the temperance reformer swore off the sins of pride. Then he ended with this. “The wickedest work in this world is symbolized not by a wine glass but by a looking-glass.”
Chesterton was not alone. Shakespeare said, “He that is proud eats up himself.” CS Lewis said, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” And Martin Luther wryly observed that pride “is truly a disease that mocks all doctors…[for it] is a diabolical temptation in the spirit which is not [even] felt.” Luther was right. The disease of pride is so pervasive in us that we often don’t even know it’s there.
This is where the Lord steps in. In love, he does what is necessary in our lives to highlight the disease. He helps us to see it because he knows that as long as we are proud, we cannot see our need for Jesus. And without Jesus, we are lost.
May God do whatever is necessary to reveal and destroy the pride in our hearts so that we look less and less at ourselves and more and more at Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, destroy the disease of pride in my heart so that I see you more clearly. Amen.
There was once a mighty tree, strong and wide and beautiful and tall. It was the kind of tree that looked as if it could withstand any trouble, any wind, or any storm.
But then something went wrong. The mighty tree grew weak. The leaves withered. Bugs infested the bark. Finally, one day, that once-mighty tree fell. Someone hauled the wood away. And there, where that giant tree had once stood, all that was left was a stump.
This is the image God used to explain what had happened to his Old Testament people, Israel. He had chosen them to be his own special people. He had blessed them. He had made them into a mighty nation. But they failed to appreciate all he had done. They went their own way rather than his way. Even their kings who ought to have led them toward God, led them instead away from God. So, God allowed Israel’s enemies to overtake them. What had once been a strong, proud people was now nothing more than a stump.
But, in the midst of this misery God gave his people a promise. Out of the stump of Israel, a strong shoot would arise. The shoot’s name was Jesus Christ.
Isaiah’s prophecy promised that the shoot named Jesus would bear fruit. And what remarkable fruit he bears! He gives spiritual life to sinfully dead people like us by forgiving our sins and reuniting us to our heavenly Father.
This time of year, as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, marvel that your good God kept the promise he made through the prophet Isaiah. Be thankful that he did not give up on his people and leave them a worthless stump. Take comfort in knowing that he used them to send the world a Savior—your Savior.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for keeping your promise to send the world a Savior. Comfort me this day knowing that he is my Savior. Amen.
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
313 East Montello St.
Montello, WI 53949
Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
W1568 Evergreen
Lane
Montello, WI 53949
Pastor Rick Zahn
XW E L C O M E
T O O U R C H U R C H X
We extend a warm
welcome to everyone today, especially our visitors. In the bulletin you’ll find an outline of
today’s service, a calendar of events and other bits of information. In the red hymn book you’ll find the
songs we sing and the order of service that we follow. If you would like a large print hymnal or bulletin please ask one
of our ushers and they will gladly assist you. Restrooms and nursery area are located in
the parish hall at Emmanuel and in the lower level and link-way at St.
John’s. It’s nice to have you visit
today. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more, as you see the
day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Welcome to God’s house! May God bless our worship together.
608.297.2866
www.stjohnsmontello.org
Like us on Facebook
XG O D ’ S W O R D
F O R T O D A Y X
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near! The forerunner
prepares for the coming Christ by preaching repentance that brings renewal
of life. The Root of Jesse will come in swift judgment on the unrepentant but
in mercy and grace for God’s people. His coming will end the wickedness of
the world and usher in a new age restored to the perfection with which God
made it. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, fixes our attention on
the need for true preparation for the Lord’s coming. Such preparation means
repenting—recognizing how our sins have offended God and trusting him for
the forgiveness he gives us in Christ. Jesus, the only Savior, brings peace
to a troubled heart.
XP
R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P X
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.
CHOIR SINGS Lead Us To Your Light
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Two Advent candles are lit.
OPENING
HYMN702Prepare the Royal
Highway
See below.
Please stand
CONFESSION
& ABSOLUTION hymnal page 26
When we confess to God that we have
failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, the pastor announces the
perfect forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus.
LORD, HAVE MERCYhymnal
page 27
The Church brings her
concerns and prayers to a loving Father in heaven, who has shown great mercy to
us and promised to hear our ardent cries for help.
O LORD, OUR LORDhymnal
page 28
This song of praise reminds
us of the wonderful things God has done for us, not the least of which is the
salvation he gives through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way
for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed
light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus
Christ 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
XT
H E W O R D X
The
Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
FIRST
LESSONIsaiah 11:1-10 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: The
blessings of righteousness and peace
A shoot
will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear
fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest
on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and
of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– and he will
delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he
hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with
justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his
mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and
faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the
goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will
lead them. The cow will feed with the
bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the
ox. The infant will play near the hole
of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the
earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will
stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place
of rest will be glorious.
PSALM 130 hymnal page 114
Sung
in unison.
SECOND LESSON Romans
15:4-13
Summary: The blessings of hope, joy,
and peace
For
everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that
through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth
you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ
accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of
God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the
Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns
to your name.”
{2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49}
Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
{Deut. 32:43}
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to
him, all you peoples.” {Psalm 117:1}
And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who
will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.”
{Isaiah 11:10}
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in
him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
VERSE
OF THE DAYLuke 3: 4, 6
Alleluia. Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him. All mankind will see God’s salvation. Alleluia.
C:♫
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Please stand
GOSPEL LESSONMatthew 3:1-12
Summary: The blessings of repentance
In those
days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was
spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A
voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him.'”
John’s
clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and
all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when
he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he
said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming
wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with
repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does
not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I
baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more
powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will
clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.”
C:♫
Praise
be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
HYMN OF
THE DAY 16 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
SERMONIsaiah 11: 1-1
“Behold, a Branch Is Growing”
1.
Equipped with righteousness 2. To
bless us with peace
Please stand
NICENE CREED hymnal page 31
Please be seated
X O F F E R I N G S O F G
I F T S & P R A
Y E R S X
THE
OFFERING
The ushers now
gather the “Thank-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. Please also sign our Friendship Registers and
greet one another.
Please stand
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Advent Prayer and
Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements for those
on our Intercessory Prayers list.
LORD’S PRAYERhymnal
page32
XS
E R V I C E O F T H E
S A C R A M E N T X
In this
service we celebrate the gift of Jesus’ redeeming love, we bear witness to the
Christian fellowship we share, and we proclaim his death until he returns.
Please be seated for the distribution
At St. John’s and Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we
practice closed 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 27 O Jesus, Lamb of God, You Are
As you leave today’s
service, please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or
pastor.
Announcements
Activities for the week
of December 8 – December 14
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with
communion
4:30 P.M.
Advent by Candlelight at Emmanuel
Mon.
6:00 P.M.
Hands In Prayer meeting at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
Choir at St. John’s
7:30 P.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.
8:30 A.M.
Elders meeting at St. John’s
Wed.
8:00 A.M.
St. John’s School Chapel
10:00 A.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
1:40 P.M.
St. John’s School/Little Lambs early release
2:15 P.M.
Public School Teen Confirmation at St. John’s
3:30 P.M.
Emmanuel Advent Devotion
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Advent Devotion
7:30 P.M.
Bible Information Class at St. John’s
Thurs.
8:00 A.M.
St. John’s School Teen Confirmation
10:00 A.M.
Montello Care Center Devotion
6:00 P.M.
School Board meeting at St. John’s
6:00 P.M.
Griefshare at St. John’s lower level (final session)
Fri.
Sat.
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School Christmas Service practice
Theme
for Next Sunday December 15 , 2019Advent 3: “The
Lord’s Coming Is Near”
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS – For those hospitalized, ill,
shut-in and facing trials: Wyatt Beahm (William and Alyssa Beahm’s infant son),
Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Harold
Fandrey, Lilah Farrell, Xzander Jahr, Melvin Johnson (Beth’s son), Oliver Knoch
(Kenon & Mary Smith’s grandson), Chris Krause (Gordy and Linda’s son),
Robert Lederer (Jackie and Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Delvin Mittelsteadt, Mark
and Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son and daughter in-law), Kathryn Sigrist (Pastor
Gary & Orlene Johnson’s daughter), Doris Smith, Jennifer Strauss – (added
this week: )
– For
Natasha Rebecca Jahr, the daughter of Andrew and Rebecca Jahr, who was baptized
yesterday (12/7) at St. John’s
– For our communicants at St.
John’s
ADVENT HAS BEGUN! It’s the season that anticipates the
coming of the Savior. We prepare for this coming in many ways. But
one way is by decorating and beautifying our homes and churches. We use a
circle of artificial greens around our Advent candles in the front of the
church, with each candle lit in order on Sundays in Advent, and each candle
symbolizing an important event on the way to the Savior’s birth—the last candle
is the Christ Candle. But another way is to hang Christmas wreaths on the
church doors as a sign of welcome. Once again—anyone interested in
donating toward the purchase of wreaths for the front doors at St. John’s is
encouraged to contact LuAnn Zieman at 608-297-2422 or
email zieman@bugnet.net or by mail at W1440 State Rd 23, Montello, WI
53949.
ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT WOMEN’S PROGRAM hosted by
Emmanuel and supported by a Thrivent Action Team Project will be held today,
Sunday Dec. 8 at 4:30pm at Emmanuel Parish Hall. We are looking forward to
hosting all who have signed up for this special evening. If you have any
questions, call Sue Stelter (608)297-2761.
EMMANUEL CHRISTMAS SERVICE Monday, Dec. 23 at 6:30pm.
All are invited after the service for refreshments and fellowship in the Parish
Hall. If you have an extra plate of cookies, please bring them to share.
CHOIR
Are any members of Emmanuel and St. John’s interested in being
part of the choir for the Christmas Eve Services? If so, practices will
be on Monday evenings in Dec., 6:30pm at St. John’s. Any questions, please
call Lynn Sellnow 616-826-0816.
MEMBERS OF ST. JOHNS AND SCHOOL FAMILIES This past
summer the St. Johns council authorized the borrowing of $10,000 from the
church’s line of credit to replace and refurbish the school boilers. As some
may be aware, there have been a number of issues from the last couple years
keeping the boilers running and the school heated and it could no longer be
repaired. This project was completed late last fall. This also means that the
church officially is borrowing money from its line of credit. If you wish to
donate to help paying off the loan, please go ahead and do so. Any amount would
be greatly appreciated. Look to the information room for where this project is
at with regards to being paid off and where the other projects on the board are
at with funding.
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “The best mathematical equation
I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.”
UPDATE on CARDS FOR PRISON MINISTRY Thanks to all who picked up packs of cards to write
for the prison ministry. All the cards are out. Please return
completed cards by Thanksgiving Day, November 28, to the collection box in the
linkway or to the church office.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY A “Sneak Peek at the Gospel” for the day is the topic of the
Sunday morning Bible study every week. It’s from 9:00-9:45am – come anytime. We
meet in the church. All are welcomed. All are encouraged to attend.
ACH What is
ACH? Automated Clearing House. Interested in having your church offering
automatically deposited? Stop by the office or Information Room and fill out
your application today.
MEDITATIONS & FORWARD IN CHRIST New “Meditations” and “Forward in Christ” WELS daily devotional
booklets and WELS monthly devotional magazine are available in the church entry
(many thanks to our generous members for donating!)
WELS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LUTHERAN
LEADERSHIP WELS Congregational
Services will host the first WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership at
the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 21-23. The conference will have five
keynote presentations that deal with major cultural challenges before every
WELS congregation. Twenty-five breakout sessions will deal with issues specific
to certain congregations, including overcoming a consumer mentality in church,
Christian apologetics, increasing volunteerism, retaining and gaining young
members, fully utilizing the gifts of women in ministry, equipping members for
personal evangelism, having a “high-expectations” church, strategic planning,
using social media for outreach, operating a financially sustainable elementary
school, and more. Learn more at register at lutheranleadership.com.
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “We don’t
change the message, the
message changes us.”
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
12-1
12-4
65 44
110 36
St. John’s Altar Committee
December 2019
Diane Eisermann
&
Delores Cotte
Emm/Usher Schedule
Emmanuel &
St. John’s Holiday Worship 2019
December 8
Emm Don Stelter, Noah Buchholz, Joe Heller
SJ (comm) James Wachholz; Chief, Kenny
Wojtalewicz, Zeb Zuehls,
Mark Emond, Ben Emond
December 11 Advent
Emm Wayne Stelter, Don Stelter, Joe Heller
SJ James Wachholz, Chief, Ben Emond, Kevin
Kaul, Corey Kaul, Ken Borzick
December 15
Emm Darrell Buchholz, Bruce Stelter, Gary Wegner
SJ Don Smith; Chief, Matt Borzick, Haiden Van
Treeck,
Paul Van Treeck, Nolan Van Treeck
December 18 Advent
Emm Wayne
Stelter, Don Stelter, Joe Heller
SJ Kenon
Smith; Chief, Martin Schmanke, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann
December 22
Emm DuWayne
Sommerfeld, Paul Wuerch, Paul Dahlke
SJ
(comm) James Wachholz;
Chief, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith, Joe Zauner Sr.,
Joe Zauner Jr.
December 23 Emm ?
December 24 SJ James Wachholz; Chief,
Jon Vote, Jesse Schable,
Gordon Krause,
Gerhardt Voigt
December 25
Emm ?
December 29
Emm Wayne
Stelter, Glenn Buccholz, Joe Heller
SJ Don
Smith; Chief, Ben Jaster, Jacob Jaster, Jeff Reimer, Jeremy Breiwa
December 11 3:30pm
Emmanuel – Advent Devotion
6:30pm St. John’s – Advent Devotion
December 18 3:30pm
Emmanuel – Advent Devotion
6:30pm St. John’s – Advent Devotion
December 22 10:00am St. John’s Sunday School Christmas
Worship
December 23 6:30pm Emmanuel – Children’s Christmas Worship
December 24 4:00pm St. John’s – St. John’s School &
Little Lambs Christmas Eve Worship
December 25 9:00am
Emmanuel – Christmas Day Worship
NO ST. JOHN’S 6:30PM SERVICE
December 31 7:00pm St. John’s – New Year’s Eve Memorial
Worship with communion
January 1 9:00am Emmanuel – New Year’s Day Memorial
Worship with communion
NO ST. JOHN’S 6:30PM SERVICE
Emmanuel &
St. John’s Holiday Worship 2019
●●●
Welcome To Our Visitors!Please Sign Our Guest RegisterFind & Like us on FacebookVisit our website link:www.stjohnsmontello.orgPastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830
E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.comLittle 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. Rachel Naumann: (847)
913-2135
Principal & 6th – 8th
Grade Teacher Mr. Larry Sellnow:616-822-6689
Church & School Secretary Ciara
Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866
Altar Ladies: Elaine Kelm: (920) 344-0025&Carolyn Rosenthal: 589-5036
Church & School Address/Mail: 313 E
Montello St, Montello, WI 53949
Church & School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
●●●
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
