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
It may not strike us as humane today, but many years ago an experiment took place. Researchers placed a set of rats in a large tub of water. Then they placed a second set of rats in another large tub of water. In the first tub, they left the rats alone. But in the second tub, they reached in and pulled one of the rats out of the water for a few moments from time to time and then put it back. The results were dramatic. While the first set of rats quickly gave up swimming and were ready to give in to drowning, the second set of rats kept right on swimming for hours. The reason was clear. The second set of rats had hope. The first set did not.
Have there been times in your life when you’ve felt as hopeless as a laboratory rat swimming around in a tub of water? Sin does that—your sin and mine. It pulls us into bad places from which we cannot escape. It isolates and surrounds us in despair. It makes life look dark and bleak.
But God did not abandon us to swim in the vat of our sins until we could swim no more. In fact, he did far more than pull us out from time to time to give us some desperate sense of hope. Instead, he became one of us. Through his life and death on our behalf, Jesus removed our sins forever. As he did, he destroyed the despair that our sin brings and replaced it with hope as God defines it—a sure, confident certainty based upon what Jesus Christ has already done.
And so there it is. Regardless of what is happening in your life, you are walking on the solid ground of your Savior’s promises. And through faith in him, you possess the sure hope that your journey ends in victory.
Prayer:
Dear Savior, forgive me for all the times I have given in to hopelessness and despair. Wash my sins away. By your Spirit, refresh my eyes to see the sure hope I possess in you. Amen.
Morrie Schwartz was a relatively unknown college professor for most of his life. Then he contracted ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He agreed to an interview on television to talk candidly about his condition and his impending death. That television appearance caught the attention of a former student of Morrie’s, a sportswriter from Detroit by the name of Mitch Albom. Albom looked up his old professor and rekindled their friendship. He began stopping by to see Morrie every Tuesday. Later, he turned their visits into a book, Tuesdays with Morrie. It became a national bestseller.
The attraction of Albom’s book lies in Morrie’s many observations on life. One of those observations is this: “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things.”
Living, yet having a meaningless life. Chasing after things that seem important but are wrong. Busy while half-asleep. Is this you? Is this your life? Is this what you’ve become?
Before you answer those questions, just remember: In this world, you and I stand surrounded by all kinds of things that are trying to put us to sleep. In all honesty, you and I must confess there have been times when we’ve fallen asleep and drifted away from what truly matters. Perhaps one of those times is right now.
If so, then the Lord has something to say to you from Romans chapter 13. He says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber.” It’s time to repent. It’s time to recognize the horror of sleepwalking through life, ignoring the only Savior we have, and look to Jesus. It’s time to be washed in his forgiveness purchased at Calvary’s cross and be refreshed in his Spirit. It’s time to wake up and live again!
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, forgive me for the times I have fallen asleep and drifted away. Refresh me. Revive me. Empower me to live my life in you. Amen.
[Jesus said] “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:42-44
In my childhood home, we had locks on the doors, bars on windows, a night watchman, two guard dogs, and a six-foot fence around our property. Even with all that security, thieves snuck in during the middle of the night, broke the kitchen window, and grabbed whatever was in the sink.
With the security we had then we were not able to prevent the break-in. Perhaps now, with the advances in security systems, we could. However, Jesus says that there’s one break-in that no security will ever prevent: his return.
Should that scare you? Not if you stay alert. Not if you keep watching for his return. When you wake up, when you lie down, when you go about your daily life, keep your eyes on Jesus. He came once when no one was watching to live, die, and rise again. He came to fulfill God’s law for you. He died to pay the price for your guilt. He rose again because he had fully paid for your sins.
Let his love for you cause you to repent and return to the Lord because no one knows when he will come again. It could be at any moment. So, keep watch for his coming. This doesn’t mean that you should stop living your life here and now. It does mean that whether our hands are busy with work or play, our hearts are yearning for heaven.
Thieves don’t make appointments. Neither does Jesus. He came once in grace to save. He’s coming again in glory to judge. So, keep watch, keep in the Word, and keep working while it is day.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am eager for your arrival. Keep me aware for your coming. Amen.
[Jesus said] “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:36-41
Near the end of the first Iraq War, Air Force pilot Robby Robbins received permission to fly home. He flew across the Atlantic, landed on United States soil, and drove all night to his Pennsylvania home. His arrival was supposed to be a surprise. But when he pulled into his driveway just after sunrise, Robbins saw a large banner hanging across the garage. The sign read, “Welcome Home, Dad!”
Robbins walked into the house. His children, half-ready for school, greeted him with squeals. His wife came running down the hall—hair done, make-up on, wearing a fresh yellow dress.
“How did you know?” Robbins asked.
“I didn’t. We kept listening to the news. When we saw that the war was almost over, we knew you’d be home soon. We knew you would want to surprise us, so we were ready every day.”
When Jesus returns, he won’t be crossing the sea or driving across the country. Swiftly and suddenly, he will sweep aside the heavens and snatch up his family to reunite with them in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.
Jesus is coming! We don’t know when that will be, but we want to be prepared every day. Like Noah, we trust the good news of God’s rescue plan. As we rely on the perfection of Jesus, repent of our sins, and rejoice in his forgiveness, we will be ready to welcome him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I don’t know when you will come but comfort me with the knowledge that you will take me to heaven to be with you forever. Amen.
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-14
How many hours of sleep do you get in a day? Do you get the recommended eight? Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ and author of this letter to the Christians in Rome, contended that we may sleep more than we realize.
He was referring to spiritual sleep. Like a leaf in a river, it is easy to be carried along wherever life takes us, to go through the motions of our daily routine, jumping from activity to activity. We are living but we aren’t really awake. We are not aware of who we are or what our purpose is. When this happens, we are not living our faith intentionally. We are just going through the motions.
Paul encourages us to wake up, to rejoice that Jesus has rescued us from the sins that separated us from him. He encourages us to dress ourselves in the armor of light, ready to reflect the love of Jesus and to serve our neighbor’s good.
Do this today. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow may be too late because Jesus has promised he will return to judge the living and the dead. So, let’s not be spiritually asleep when he does. Rather, let’s be wide awake and ready!
Prayer:
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus, I want to walk as a child of the light. Amen.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. . . . Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you.” Genesis 6 and 7 (selected verses)
Be Prepared
Daily Devotion – December 3, 2019
Devotion based on Genesis 6 and 7 (selected verses)
According to a group of scientists, global catastrophe is two minutes away. Because of this, people are preparing themselves and their loved ones for the end of the world as we know it. They build bunkers. They stockpile food and munitions. When asked why one survivalist says: “You can’t always rely on the government or society to help you.”
According to the Bible, in Noah’s day, a world-wide flood was 120 years away. God named corruption, violence, and wickedness as the reasons why he was putting an end to all people. Because of this, Noah prepared himself and his family for the end of the world as they knew it. He built a boat to God’s specifications that carried his family and all kinds of animals above the waters for an entire year. Although Noah warned people of what was to come, they refused to heed his warning and were shocked when the flood swept them away.
Jesus compared the day this world will end to the day the great flood arrived. According to Jesus, no one knows when the end will come.
Are you prepared?. No bunker or boat will save you. But you can rely on God’s covenant promise. Whoever believes and is baptized in Jesus’ name will be saved. He died for our wickedness and was raised back to life to prove he had made us right with God. Rest in the ark of Jesus. He will save you from the destruction of that day and deliver you to an eternal home in heaven.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, rescue me for I rest in you. Amen.
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. . . . He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Isaiah 2:3-5
In 2008, Mexico City native Pedro Reyes melted down 1,527 weapons to make the same number of shovels to be used for planting trees in the community. The guns Reyes used represent a fraction of the weapons Mexican authorities seize every day. He called his project, “Palas por Pistolas,” or “Pistols to Shovels.”
Twenty-seven hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah foresaw the day when nations “will beat their swords into plowshares.” Sadly, in spite of efforts such as “Pistols to shovels,” this day has not yet come. We still have no peace and little patience with one another. Despite our best efforts and intentions, we just can’t manufacture the peace we dream of. Sin in the world and our hearts make peace impossible for us.
But not for God. He set up a peace that prevails when he climbed Mount Calvary to hang on a cross. Jesus endured the injustice of people so he could justify people before God. All who trust in him have forgiveness for all their sins, peace with God, and the promise of an eternal end to all their earthly suffering.
When Jesus comes again, he will set right, once and forever, all that is broken. Everyone who believes in him will see this peace realized. He will remove all sin and hatred from our hearts and clothe us in his glorious goodness.
Do you want this lasting peace? Do you want a peace that quiets every guilty conscience? Then climb Mount Calvary by faith and find refuge under the cross. Do you want a peace that no diagnosis, disaster, or death can dissolve? Then walk in the light of the Lord, and he will direct your eyes to the day when he will craft the weapons of death into instruments of life.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I am anxious about anything, guard my heart and mind with your peace in every way. Amen.
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
One Advent candle is lit.
OPENING HYMN1The Advent of Our King
Please stand
CONFESSION OF SINShymnal page 38
We confess to God that we have failed to live up to the perfect standards in his
law, and we plead for his mercy.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FORGIVENESShymnal page 38
The pastor announces the forgiveness of sins won for us by the perfect life and innocent sufferings and death of Jesus, our Savior.
OH TASTE AND SEEhymnal page 39
This paraphrase of Psalm 34:8 reminds us of how sweet the good news of salvation is for Christians. Those who take refuge in Jesus, our Good Shepherd, are blessed.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Almighty God, your Son our Savior was taken up in glory and intercedes for us at your right hand. Through your living and abiding Word, give us hearts to know him and faith to follow where he has gone; 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 LESSONIsaiah 2:1-5
Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
PSALM 18 hymnal page 69
The lectern side sings line one, the pulpit side sings line 2, everyone sings the refrains and Gloria.
SECOND LESSON Romans 13:11-14
Wake up and walk in the light of the Lord
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
VERSE OF THE DAYRevelation 22:20
Alleluia. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 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!
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
C:♫ Praise be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
HYMN OF THE DAY 2Savior of the Nations, Come
SERMONMatthew 24:37-44
“Keep Your Eyes Wide Open!”
Watch out for… 1. Indifference 2. Unbelief 3. Carelessness
Please stand
APOSTLES’ CREED hymnal page 41
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
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.
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Advent Season Prayer (hymnal page 123, read responsively) and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements for those on our Intercessory Prayers list.
Please stand
LORD’S PRAYERhymnal page 43
Please be seated
HYMN 207The Day Is Surely Drawing Near
Please stand
CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING hymnal page 43, 44
Please be seated
CLOSING HYMN610Thank We All Our God
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 1 – December 7
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
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
11:15 A.M.
St. John’s Christmas Tree set up & decorating
9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Thai Village Craft Sale in St. John’s link way (final day)
Mon.
6:30 P.M.
Choir at St. John’s
7:30 P.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.
9:00 A.M.
Elders meeting at St. John’s
6:00 P.M.
Joint Worship Committee meeting at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
Evangelism Committee 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
5:30 P.M.
Christmas Dinner at St. John’s
Fri.
Sat.
Theme for Next Sunday December 8 , 2019Advent 2: “The Blessings of Christ’s Advent”
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
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), Shirley Krueger, Robert Lederer (Jackie and Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Delvin Mittelsteadt, Mark and Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son and daughter in-law), Katie Segrist (Pastor Gary & Orlene Johnson’s daughter), Doris Smith, Jennifer Strauss – (added this week: )
– For James Plocher from Vassar, MI who accepted the Lord’s Call to serve as pastor of St. John’s–Pardeeville
– For our communicants at Emmanuel
ST. JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREE SET UP AND DECORATING Everyone is welcome to stay after the 10:00am St. John’s service and help set the Christmas tree up. The more hands, the merrier! Thank you in advance.
ADVENT BEGINS TODAY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1! 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.
THAI VILLAGE will be open today for the final day at St. John’s. Thai Village will be open today 9:00am-12:00pm. Come check out high quality fair trade goods including jewelry, bags/purse, greeting cards, ornaments, gifts and more! You can check out other items online at https://thaivillage.org/.
ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT WOMEN’S PROGRAM hosted by Emmanuel will be held next Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 4:30 at Emmanuel Parish Hall. This year’s program “An Evening With Isaiah” will be part of our inspirational readings and songs of the season. This year along with refreshments and desserts we will be serving appetizers. Signup sheets are out today in St. John’ information room and Emmanuel’s Parish Hall. We hope you can join us. Any questions contact Sue Stelter (608) 297-2761.
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.
LADIES AID INVITES YOU TO OUR PARISH CHRISTMAS DINNER: DECEMBER 5TH5:30pm Punch and Fellowship, 6:00pm Dinner. The cost is $17.65 per person. We have extended the deadline to today, December 1st. What’s on the menu? roast beef, southern fried chicken, baked Virginian ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed veggies and full salad bar. Please pay either Kay Maass or Bernice Wegner or drop your payment off at the school/church office. Checks should be made out to St. John’s Ladies Aid. Hope to see you there!
CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “The will of God never takes you to where the grace of God will not protect you.”
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
essage changes us.”
WHAT ARE THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION? When many Christian congregation receive Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper in a worship service, the minister removes the cloth from the Holy Communion items, separates the bread and the wine, and then speaks words similar to these, “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.” These words are called the Words of Institution. In this column entitled, “Questions About Christianity”, we are looking at the different parts of a basic Christian liturgical worship service. This month we will learn about the Words of Institution by answering this question, “What are the Words of Institution?”
The Words of Institution were first spoken by Jesus in an upper room in Jerusalem on Maundy Thursday while he was eating the Passover meal with his disciples. During this meal Jesus took unleavened bread and wine and gave them to his disciples to eat and to drink. As he did this, he spoke the Words of Institution and instituted Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Since Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians record slightly different versions of the Words of Institution, the one that is listed above is a compilation of all four of them. It is uncertain when the Words of Institution were first used during a worship service. They seem to have been used as early as the third century, but it is quite possible they were used even earlier.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
11-24 11-28
51
130
St. John’s Altar CommitteeDecember 2019
Diane Eisermann&Delores Cotte
Christian churches differ on why the Words of Institution are important to say during a worship service. Some insist they must be said because it is when the bread and wine also become Jesus’ body and blood. However, the Bible does not make this clear. What it does make clear is when people receive the bread, they are also receiving Jesus’ body and when they receive the wine, they are also receiving Jesus’ blood. In the very least, most Christian churches agree the Words of Institution are a good way to remind those receiving Holy Communion about how Jesus instituted it. It reminds them Jesus is their Savior whom they must believe in because he shed his blood and gave his life into death on the cross to forgive them of their sins. The Words of Institution also remind those receiving Holy Communion when they partake of this Sacrament God forgives their sins, strengthens their faith, gives them power to live a more God-pleasing life, and assures them they will go to heaven one day. Lastly, when the minister speaks the Words of Institution, he is preaching the gospel to everyone in the worship service, which God the Holy Spirit uses to strengthen everyone’s faith and not just those receiving Holy Communion.
Regardless of what you believe or your church teaches about the Words of Institution, it is a part of a basic Christian liturgy and it is something that has great benefit to our faith and our salvation.
December 1
Emm (comm) Lucas Stelter, Jim Stuempges, Paul Dahlke,
comm. assist. Brian Ninnemann
SJ Don Smith; Chief, Gerhardt Voigt, Mitch Simon, Gordon Krause,
Glen Bubolz
December 4 Advent
Emm Wayne Stelter, Don Stelter, Joe Heller
SJ Kenon Smith; Chief, Al Rosenthal, Christopher Smith,
Calvin Wojtalewicz, Thomas Wojtalewicz
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
In recent years there have been a variety of songs about what a horrible thing war is, and they call for no more war. Wouldn’t that be a marvelous thing? It would be great!
The problem is, we are sinful human beings. Sinful human beings are selfish, become angry, desire to lord over others and harbor hatred. All of this often leads to outbursts of anger, fights, violence, and yes, even war. The only way the problem of war can be solved is if the problem of sin can be solved.
Thankfully, it has. During the month of December, Christians prepare to again celebrate the birth of Jesus. The name “Jesus” means “savior.” That is what Jesus came to do—save people from their sins. In Jesus, we have forgiveness. In Jesus, we have life eternal. In Jesus, we have the solution to sin. And in heaven, we will enjoy it completely.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were no more wars on this earth? On this side of eternity, though, there will never be perfect peace. Sadly, on this side of eternity, there will always be wars.
But not on the other side of eternity! In heaven, there will be perfect peace, perfect joy, perfect harmony! Rejoice in the peace God gives through Jesus, for your sins really are forgiven! And look forward to the amazing peace which awaits you in life eternal!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, if it is your will, prevent wars on this earth. But even more importantly, focus my attention on the perfect peace which you have won for me, and which I will enjoy forever! Amen.
Temptation makes people lose perspective. The student tempted to cheat on a test can easily forget that getting caught will earn him an F. The teen tempted to cheat on a curfew can easily forget that getting caught will earn a grounding. The husband tempted to cheat on his family can easily forget that his actions will destroy that family. There are consequences to the choices we make.
The first Adam realized this when he heard that sickening thud of the gate to Eden’s paradise slamming shut behind him. Adam and Eve had blown it. Their choices had earned them a one-way ticket out of Eden. Paradise lost.
With his sacrifice, with his shouts of agony and bitter pain, Christ Jesus opened the gate that Adam had slammed shut. As you see him battered and bloody, suspended on a cross for crimes he didn’t commit, remember that Jesus is still the King of heaven and earth. He still holds the key to eternal life. He still readily opens the door to all who simply trust in him. Paradise found.
When someone asks me why I am a Christian, I usually say, “Because I find in Jesus all the things that I cannot find anywhere else in the world.” Things like hope—real hope, lasting hope, is found only in Jesus. And we need it. Every day we see promises that go unfulfilled. Every day we see evidence of man’s ugliness and spiritual deadness. Every day we see horrible tragedies that we have no answers for. We need hope.
People put their hope in many things. But only Jesus can promise and deliver on the hope of a better life after this one. When death draws near and we get ready to close our eyes, there is nothing for faithful hearts to fear. Because Jesus is there with his promise. “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Prayer:
King of life and death, draw near to me with your kindness and mercy throughout the seasons of my life. And when it comes time for me to die, be with me especially then, directing my heart to your empty tomb, to your royal power, and to the paradise that awaits me through you. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
