“Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Acts 2:9-12
I’ve heard the pastor read these Bible verses during worship more than once on a Sunday morning, and I’m always glad that he is a trained public speaker. There are a lot of place names here that are difficult to pronounce. Why is this list here in the Bible? What does it mean?
On Pentecost, the people listening to the pastors preaching all heard words in their own language even though they weren’t sure that those preachers, Jesus’ disciples, could actually speak that language. That would be have been both amazing and perplexing. What did it mean?
I’ll tell you what it meant. God had a very important message to get out as quickly as possible, and he did not want a language barrier to prevent it. This message was so important that God wanted it to spread geographically as quickly as possible, so he brought people from all over the world to hear it right when it was preached, shortly after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
And I’ll tell you what that list of country names means today. It means that no one is left out. Christianity is not just for certain people in certain countries. The forgiveness of sins won by Jesus is for every person in every land. It’s for immigrants as well as natives, visitors as well as residents. Even if other people can’t pronounce the place that people are from, the wonders of God are for them.
In the sermon that follows these words, Peter explains that Jesus is the Savior of all people. He calls his hearers then and today to repentance and faith in Jesus. I’ll tell you what that means: Life and salvation.
Prayer:
Lord God, heavenly Father, I praise you for the wonderful things you have done for me through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
I don’t always know why God allows certain things to happen in my life. I have had some real bad times and some real good times.
When Jesus spoke the words from the Bible we are thinking about today, he was talking to his disciples. They had been through a few bad times, but there were some major bad times coming soon. That night, Jesus was arrested and killed. Why would God let the disciples go through all that? Jesus explained it even before it happened. He was preparing his disciples to testify.
They would talk about what they had seen early in Jesus’ ministry, since they had been there. And when they saw how it ended, in death and resurrection, they would be able to talk about how it all made sense in the end. Oh, that’s why God let that happen to them, and to his Son. He wanted to save them.
During the bad times, I wonder why God is letting the bad things happen. I pray for relief, and I wonder why God takes his time answering my prayer. If I learn anything from this Bible verse, I realize that God is letting the story play out, even in some bad ways, so that I can testify. I can testify to the goodness of God, to the eventual relief that he always gives, to his love.
During the good times, I learn to testify to God’s mercy and grace, since I don’t deserve them. I think about the longer arc of my life, and I realize how God has made all things work for my good. The bad times don’t look so bad when I view them like that. Oh, that’s why God gives me many seasons in my life, both good and bad. He wants me to testify.
In fact, I must testify, because I have witnessed so many lives turn from bad to good because of the forgiveness that Jesus won for them. I am compelled to say that Jesus is my Savior. He’s yours as well.
Prayer:
Lord, lead me to tell the story of your love throughout my life no matter what happens. Amen.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.” . . . This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Acts 2:14,16,17a
“What is happening?” Have you ever been in a situation where you looked around and could not figure out what was going on? People around you were paying attention, and they seemed to be following something, but you could not for the life of you figure out what was happening.
That must have been the situation for many people on Pentecost. Here were men with what seemed to be tongues of fire dancing on their heads. They were speaking in a multitude of different languages. It was nine in the morning, and nothing was happening that normally happened at nine in the morning.
Then Peter stood up, raised his voice, and explained. The prophet Joel had predicted this, Peter explained. The Holy Spirit was being poured out. The last days had begun.
For hundreds of years, the Holy Spirit had brought mostly Jewish people to faith in the Savior who was to come. Now there would be thousands, then millions, then billions of people coming to faith in Jesus as their Savior. The Spirit was being poured out on all people. Men and women, young people and old people—all were included. No one was excluded. Everyone was welcome.
And the last days had begun. Jesus had died, risen, and ascended into heaven. The only thing left for him to do was to return for Judgment Day. Now all of the prophecies about the last days would be fulfilled. The gospel of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus would be preached to all people.
Now you know what is happening. We are in the last days. The Spirit is being poured out on you, and you are being brought to a closer relationship with Jesus. Your life is blessed.
Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, God and Lord! May all your graces be outpoured. Amen.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them . . . When [people] heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?” Acts 2:4,6-8
Imagine being able to speak a foreign language without studying it. You are standing in front of a person who does not speak your language. You know what you want to say, and you open your mouth, and words come out that mean precisely what you want to say, but it’s in the other person’s language, not your own. Wouldn’t that be amazing? That’s the gift of speaking in tongues.
God gave that gift to his disciples on Pentecost. It was a special gift from the Holy Spirit. It was not to impress people. It was not to make those disciples proud of how special they were. It was for one purpose: to get the message out.
Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. His disciples were to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to everyone they met. But what if those people spoke a different language? The disciples were all from the same people group, and they spoke the same languages. Did they each have to take time to learn a new language in order to take the gospel to the ends of the earth?
Instead of taking that time, the disciples received the gift of speaking in tongues. After the gospel was passed on to many people speaking many languages, the Spirit did not give that gift any more.
You might wish you had that gift today. But God knows precisely what he is doing. He has given you other gifts. One gift is your knowledge and faith that Jesus is your Savior. Another gift is your penitent heart. A further gift is your desire to get that message about Jesus out there. God bless that desire.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, give me the will and the opportunity to speak about Jesus to everyone I meet. Amen.
[Jesus said] “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.” John 15:26
I love a clear phone call. When I see all of the bars on my phone lit up, I know that I will be able to understand everything the other person is saying. The texts will go right through, and the internet will respond quickly when I ask a question.
I hate a garbled phone call. It doesn’t matter how loudly or slowly the other person speaks. It’s like that telephone game, where something is hindering your hearing, and you know you are not getting the real message. In the end, you wonder if anything you heard is what was actually said.
Jesus’ disciples were supposed to pass on what he said. But they had to wonder if they would get it right. They knew they couldn’t even say it back correctly when they were with him. How were they supposed to get it right after he was gone?
In our Bible verse for today, Jesus reassured his disciples that he would send someone to prompt their memories and get everything right. He called that person the Advocate, because that person would stick up for him. That person turned out to be the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He never lies. His line to the Father and the Son is always clear. His testimony is always spot on.
When the Holy Spirit arrived in such a dramatic and visible way on Pentecost (see Acts 2), it was to assure the disciples and everyone who heard them that they would say the right thing about Jesus. The disciples were human beings with human failings, but when it came to talking about Jesus, they would play no game of telephone.
The message of the disciples, recorded for you without error in the Bible, is clear. Jesus rose from the dead. He is your Savior. When he says you are forgiven, there are no strings attached. You are hearing it correctly. Believe it.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, teach me to listen carefully to your clear words of truth. Amen.
When the day of Pentecost came, [the disciples] were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
You’re starting up a new restaurant. How do you get business? You let your community know that they have a need (they get hungry); there is a solution (food) and you have the best solution in town (your barbeque beats everyone else’s). Perhaps you hand out free samples at the fair, entice people with coupons or specials, and you hope that word of mouth drives hungry customers your way.
God was starting his New Testament Church. Jesus had died, risen, and ascended to heaven. Now what? How would God gather people into his Church? Through his disciples, he let the people of Jerusalem know that they had a need (for God to forgive their sins) and that there was a solution (Jesus had died for their sins). This was not just a slick ad campaign. Free forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life through Jesus beat any other deal in the world.
Have you ever marveled that God has delivered this same message to you? You have a need (for God to forgive your sins against him) and there is a solution (Jesus has died for your sins). The same Holy Spirit who filled the first disciples works through the message of forgiveness to give and grow your faith. God continues to build his Church just as he did all those years ago—by the power of his Spirit working through his word.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, my sin means I have the greatest need—I need a Savior from sin; I need Jesus. Work powerfully through your Word to bring me to daily repentance and free forgiveness. Move my heart and my tongue to thank and honor God with all that I do and say. Amen.
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
313 East Montello St.
Montello, WI 53949
Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
W1568 Evergreen
Lane
Montello, WI 53949
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.
Pastor Peter Zietlow
Pastor Peter Zietlow
XG O D ’ S W O R D
F O R T O D A Y X
Jesus Pours Out
His Holy Spirit – Once God made people speak many languages because of
their disobedience. When the Spirit came on the great day of Pentecost in
Jerusalem, God filled people with the ability to speak languages to spread
the amazing good news of Jesus’ resurrection.
608.297.2866
www.stjohnsmontello.org
Like us on Facebook
608.297.2866
www.stjohnsmontello.org
Like us on Facebook
Pastor’s Greeting
Opening Hymn CW
179 “Hail Thee, Festival Day,” v. 1-4
P: This is the day that the Lord has made.
C: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
P: This is the day of which Jesus declared: “You will receive the power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you.
C: And you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.”
Psalm 118:24; Acts 1:8
Confession
of Sin
P: If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful
and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1John 1:8-9
Let
us therefore humbly confess our sin to God and seek forgiveness through Jesus
Christ our Savior.
C: Have mercy on us,
O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion
blot out our transgressions. Wash away
all our iniquities, and cleanse us from our sin. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a
right spirit within us. Do not cast us
away from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and
grant us a willing spirit to sustain us. Psalm 51: 1,2;10-12
P: God, our Heavenly Father, has been merciful
to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and
by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Let us pray:
God, we offer to you praise for the gift of your Spirit. When we are lonely, the Spirit comes to be
our friend. When we are filled with
doubt and lack faith, the Spirit speaks the word of truth. When we are filled with hatred, the Spirit
brings to us the gift of love. For your
Spirit we praise you, O God, our redeemer.
Amen
P: This Day of
Pentecost is witness and celebration to the pouring out of God’s Spirit upon
those who believe in Christ. It is
celebrated as the birthday of the Christian church. Pentecost, Greek for “the fiftieth,” is celebrated on the fiftieth day after
Easter. It is a reminder that we, too,
have the gift of the Spirit that was poured out upon the first century church
on the Day of Pentecost. It is a
reminder that we are co-heirs with Christ, to suffer with Him that we may also
be glorified with him; that the manifestation of the Spirit was given for the
common good; that we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body; and that the
Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives inside believers. This gift of the Holy Spirit that was
promised and given to all believers on the first Pentecost is promised for you
and your children and for all whom the Lord will call.
Verse of the Day:
P: Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your
faithful people, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia
Congregation
Hymn: CW177, verse 1
Come, Holy
Ghost, Creator blest,
And make
our hearts your place of rest;
Come with
your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill
the hearts which you have made.
P: The Holy Spirit is
the third person of the Trinity. There are many references made to the Spirit’s
attributes and work in both the Old and
New Testaments. The very first reference
is “in the beginning“–in Genesis.
Reader
1: Now the earth was
formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the
Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
(Genesis 1:2)
In
this verse we learn that the Holy Spirit was hovering above the waters. The word “hovering” suggests a bird tenderly
protecting her helpless young in the nest.
Although
much is shrouded in mystery, we may be sure of this: God’s Spirit was there in the beginning,
taking the formless mass, moving through the darkness, filling the emptiness,
preparing the way for God to speak the creative word and bring light into the
world.
We can be encouraged that God’s Holy Spirit still hovers
over the darkness today. Though we may
not see or feel him, yet he is there. He
still moves through the emptiness of life, preparing the way for God to bring
us out of the darkness and into the light once again.
Reader
2: And the Lord God
formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and man became a living being.
(Genesis 2:7)
The Hebrew word ruah can be translated “breath” or
“spirit.” The phrase “breath of life,”
therefore, refers to more than simply the air that Adam
breathes. It is the animating life force that comes
only from God’s Spirit. By itself, the
body is simply “the dust of the ground”–a collection of chemical elements
bound together as water and protein. But
life comes only from the inbreathing of God’s Spirit.
All
that we are and have we owe to God who has brought us to life by his
Spirit. Material things do not last
forever; they return to dust eventually.
Life comes only from God–both physically and
spiritually. Just as we owe our physical
life to the Spirit of God, we also owe our spiritual life to him as well. For without the “inbreathing” of God’s Spirit
in the work of regeneration, we could not be born again.
Congregation
Hymn: CW177, verses 2,3
To you, the Counselor, we cry,
To you, the
gift of God most high;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul’s anointing from above.
Your light
to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed
your love in ev’ry heart;
The
weakness of our mortal state
With
deathless might invigorate.
P: The Virgin Birth
of Jesus Christ is a foundational doctrine of the Christian church. Both Matthew and Luke plainly ascribe the
conception of Jesus Christ to the action of the Holy Spirit. Luke adds an intriguing phrase when he
reports the angel Gabriel’s words to Mary:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you.” (Luke 1:35) .
The verb for “overshadow” speaks of the direct, personal presence of God. The same verb is used in all three accounts
of the Transfiguration to describe the cloud that enveloped Jesus, Moses, and
Elijah (and Peter, James and John) on the mountain. From that cloud came a voice saying, “This is
my Son,” even as Gabriel told Mary, “The holy one to be born will be called the
Son of God.”
Since Jesus was born of Mary, we know that he was truly
human. Since he was conceived through
the Holy Spirit, we know that he was more than a man. He was fully God and yet fully man at the
same time. Deity and humanity
joined together. The Holy Spirit is not the main focus, yet
he is there, acting as the “agent” of the Father’s will. He is the one who creates the human life of
the Son of God.
Reader
3: And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. (John 14:16)
Among
all the names of the Holy Spirit, none is so well known as the name
“Counselor.” Many Christians also know
the Greek word that it translates–parakletos. The King James Version translates it as
“Comforter.” The word itself means “one
who is called alongside to help.” It
speaks of helping someone who cannot
help himself.
Jesus spoke these words just a few hours before his
crucifixion. He was comforting his
disciples before the fact. But, no
doubt, remembering those words after his death, resurrection and ascension meant a great deal more. Only after his departure from them did they
realize what a great gift Christ had given them.
P: The Holy Spirit
could not come until Jesus left the earth.
Jesus said in John 16:7, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going
away. Unless I go away, the Counselor
will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Jesus goes on in the following verses to
explain the Spirit’s purpose: “When he
comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness
and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to
righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no
longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands
condemned.”
Congregation
Hymn: CW supplement 723 “Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from
Heaven,” verse 1
Holy Spirit, the dove sent from heaven,
Ever one with the One who is three,
From the Father you came,
Words of peace to proclaim,
Come and comfort us, speak tenderly.
You, the fragrance of life we are seeking,
Fill your temple, your altar make clean.
Joyous shelter of love,
Gracious friend from above,
In your care we are resting, serene.
Reader
4: At that moment
heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
lighting on him. (Matthew 3:16)
At
Christ’s baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him “like a dove.” The dove is a particularly appropriate symbol
because it is a beautiful, graceful bird.
The word also implies honesty.
The Holy Spirit is pure, open and honest and produces the same qualities
in the people he touches. As the dove
descended from heaven, so does the Holy Spirit come down to bless the people of
the earth. A dove is also a symbol of
peace. The Holy Spirit brings peace to
those who believe. The fact that the
dove came directly to Christ shows also the personal relationship the Holy
Spirit has with each believer.
This symbol of the Spirit has a great deal to say to us
about the effect of the Holy Spirit on our lives. 1. He
brings peace to our souls. 2. He comes quietly, without fanfare. 3. He
establishes a personal relationship with us.
4. He produces gentleness within,
not a harsh and critical spirit. 5. He leads us toward purity and honesty. 6. He
brings God’s divine approval that we are indeed his children. 7. He
leads us toward a grace-filled Christian life.
Congregation
Hymn: CW supplement 723 “Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from
Heaven,” verse 2
Holy Spirit, the fire celestial,
Who on Pentecost came as foretold
To descend from on high,
And the Church occupy
As the cloud filled the temple of old;
All the baptized you seal with your promise,
All believers your gift there receive,
So that all the elect–
All in Christ–may expect
To enjoy what by grace they believe.
Reader
5: They saw what
seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of
them. (Acts 2:3)
Fire
is one of the most frequent biblical images for God’s presence with his
people. There is Moses and the burning
bush, the pillar of fire, the fire from the Lord consuming the burnt offering,
all from Exodus and Leviticus. In
Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.”
God
sent the “tongues of fire” on the day of Pentecost as a sign that he was about
to pour out the Holy Spirit in a new and powerful way. Just as the fiery pillar represented God’s
personal presence with his people, the Holy spirit takes up residence in all
believers. But now God’s presence will
be personal and individual–thus the “tongues of fire” rested on each person
individually. Where once God worked
primarily in and through a nation, now he works in and through individuals.
Fire, as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, represents God’s
presence, his protection, his cleansing and purifying of his people, his
enabling that allows us to let our light shine brightly for Jesus Christ.
Congregation Hymn: CW
supplement 723 “Holy Spirit, the Dove
Sent from Heaven,” verse 3
Holy Spirit, the unction of blessing,
Sacred oil of the green olive tree,
Giving heat, giving light,
as the tent lamps ignite
And as Aaron praised God joyfully.
Blessed living and life-giving water,
Now preserve us from evil within;
For in Jesus, God’s Son,
All believers are one
In this washing that cleanses from sin.
Reader
6: Jesus said, “If you
knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have
asked him and he would have given you living water….Everyone who drinks this
water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him
will never thirst. Indeed, the water I
give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:10,13)
Water
is one of the most common symbols for the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Since water is necessary for human life, the
phrase “living water” is an excellent metaphor for the Spirit’s work in the
human heart.
Jesus
promised the woman at the well that he would give her “living water” which
would satisfy her thirst forever. That
“living water” becomes a “spring of water” within the heart of the believer,
welling up to eternal life. It is a
picture of how the Spirit works in the human heart. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the
“living water” produces a new life that becomes evident to others.
Water is also necessary for cleansing. Ephesians 5:26 pictures this aspect of the
Spirit’s work when it mentions the “washing with water through the Word.” The Word is the cleansing agent; the Spirit is
the cleansing power. As the Spirit
applies the Word to our lives, we are cleansed from the stain of sin and the
filth of the world.
The Holy Spirit flows through believers like a mighty river
of living water, bringing new life and providing deep, inner cleansing. As we yield ourselves to Christ, the
abundance of the “living water” flows out to those around us.
Congregation
Hymn: CW supplement 723 “Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from Heaven,” verse 4
Holy Spirit, the wind of great power,
Source of strength and of peace and of love,
Truest Comforter, plead
As you bring all our need
To the throne of God’s glory above.
Be the light that enlightens the Scriptures;
Keep our feet from each devilish snare;
Only you can make whole
All that troubles our soul;
By your chrism*, Christ’s triumph we share.
(*baptismal robe)
Reader
7: The wind blows
where it pleases. You hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the
Spirit. (John 3:8)
Wind
serves as a particularly good symbol of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus points out to Nicodemus, wind by its
very nature is invisible and unpredictable.
It can blow from any direction, or not at all. We feel its effect and hear it whistling
through the leaves, but it is totally free from our control.
In John 20:22, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” On the day of
Pentecost in Acts 2:2, the Holy Spirit came with a sound like “the blowing of a
violent wind.” Just as the wind filled
the whole house, the disciples themselves were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter
uses the imagery of a driving wind to picture the writers of Scripture being
carried along by the Holy Spirit in 2 Peter 1:21. As the wind moves a ship’s sails, so the Holy
Spirit moved the prophets so that what they said was exactly what God wanted.
The symbol of the Holy Spirit as God’s wind ought to greatly
encourage us. Only the Holy Spirit can
wake us from our spiritual lethargy. He
alone can rid us of the toxic fumes of unbelief and worldliness. He alone can bring the sweet aroma of heaven
back into our lives.
P: Do you not know that your body is a temple of
the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1Corinthians 6:19)
Why
do some Christians think that it doesn’t matter how we live as long as we are
saved? Why do some people, who have been
baptized as infants and confirmed, publicly declaring they are followers of
Christ, go for years without following him?
How can a true Christian commit acts of hatred or immorality? These issues are all addressed in
1Corinthians 6. Paul used the image of
the Old Testament temple to help us understand the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit. During those days, the temple
represented the presence of God with his people. When the Israelites passed by the Temple
Mount, they thought, God is in this place.
Even the pagans of other nations understood that the God of Israel
dwelled with his people in the temple at Jerusalem. The temple stood as a visible reminder that
God was not far off in the heavens, but had chosen to live among his people.
Today
there is no one building that Christians look to as the temple. Even though church buildings are sometimes
called “the house of God,” they aren’t temples in the Old Testament sense. God now dwells in his people. Every Christian is a temple of God. Almighty God has come to live in us. We carry with us, wherever we go, the name
of God, the testimony of God, the Spirit of God, and the presence of God.
How
then can any believer continue living in sin?
How can a Christian commit adultery?
It is simply unthinkable for those who understand the high calling of
being God’s temple. Remember, God’s
Spirit goes with you wherever you go. He
is there when you rise, when you dress, when you eat, when you drink, when you
speak on the phone or send an email, when you watch TV, when you drive your
car. Everywhere you go, God’s Spirit
goes with you. You cannot escape him for
he lives within you.
Therefore,
honor God with your body. Don’t defile
the Lord’s reputation by what you see, what you say, where you go, or what you
do. You are God’s temple. It’s a high calling and an awesome
responsibility that must not be taken lightly.
We can rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the strength
necessary to follow and live for Jesus.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of
love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy
1:7).
C: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be
guided by the Spirit.” (Galatians
5:22-23;25)
P: Let us pray: Holy Spirit, you have made us your dwelling
place. Make us mindful of your presence
in everything we do, and guide us so that we produce the fruits of your
Spirit. Amen
Offering (Greet
your neighbors and sign the register.)
Prayers
Spirit divine, hear our prayer and make our hearts your
home. Descend with all your gracious
power. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
**Communion at St.
John’s follows hymnal pages 21-24**
Closing Hymn, CW
323, “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
As you leave today’s
service, please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or
pastor.
XAnnouncements X
Activities for the week of June 9-June
15
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with
communion
11:15 A.M.
Bible Information Class at St. John’s
Mon.
Tues.
Wed.
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Worship
Thurs.
10:00 a.m.
Montello Care Center Devotion
6:00 P.M.
St. John’s School Board meeting
Fri.
Sat.
Theme for Next Sunday June 16, 2019Father’s Day: Trinity Sunday
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
11:15 A.M.
Bible Information Class at St. John’s
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS – For those hospitalized, ill,
shut-in and facing trials: George Alexander, Ron Blada, Pat Bornick, Pastor
Raymond Cox (Marjorie’s Fabian’s brother), Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley
& Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Jerre Duerr, Reinold Eckelberg,
Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Earl Ewert, Marjorie Fabian, Harold Fandrey, Mike
Farrell, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Dawn Hirn (Linda Krause’s
niece), Xzander Jahr, Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Arden “Bill”
Klimke, Linda Krause, Jim Kunde (our former SJ member), Delvin Mittelsteadt,
Jean Muhlenbeck (WELS member at Zion–Bristol, St. John’s visitor), Debbie
Parrish, Arlene Prill, LuAnn Reber, Mark & Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son &
daughter in-law), Carol Schumann, Dennis Schwanke (Mary Isberner’s friend),
Amanda Stalker, Jennifer Strauss, Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Donny Weber
(Betty’s son), Heidi Weishaar (Dennis & Sharon Kekow’s daughter), Karl
Whitrock, Millie Wildt (John’s wife) – (added this week: Marjorie Fabian)
–
For our high school and college graduates (see list of graduates, please give
updates to Ciara)
–
For those who serve in the military, including our St. John’s member, Dan
Finger (see photo, pg. 16, 2nd from the left) stationed in the Middle East
Congratulations to Marshal Walker for being this year’s Montello High
School Valedictorian and Parker Stelter for being this year’s Montello High
School Salutatorian. Blessings to you all in your future! (If any 2019 graduates are missed, please let Ciara in the office
know.)
MANY
THANKS to those who helped at yesterday’s Work Day at St.
John’s
THANK YOU Dear St. John’s School and Church friends,
Thank you so much for the outpouring of cards, gifts, well wishes, and
prayers as I move on to a new adventure in my life. They are all greatly
appreciated. I pray that the ministry here at St. John’s and Emmanuel will
continue to grow and prosper. Thank you again and God’s blessings to all. Yours
in Christ,
Karin Stellick
VBS
This year’s Vacation Bible School will be June 24-28 at St. John’s. Camp
Phillip will be hosting again! This year’s theme is “BigFootPrints to Follow”.
We are accepting 3K-8th graders! 3K/4K will run from 8:00am-11:30am.
Kindergarten-8th grade will run 8:00am-2:00pm. Stop in or call the
office 297-2866 to register today!
VBS
DONATIONS Donations needed for this year’s Vacation Bible
School are as follows: 10-20 blindfolds, bubbles, rope or masking tape, prize
items from the dollar store, sand, bubble bath solution, Elmer’s glitter glue, colored
glitter, baking soda, contact lens solution containing boric acid and sodium
borate, river rocks, colored tissue paper, contact paper, butter, sugar,
cinnamon, fresh fruit (any), any yogurt, maple syrup, regular marshmallows,
mini marshmallows, pretzel sticks, chocolate or vanilla pudding or strawberry
yogurt, cake cones, apples, chocolate vanilla or banana pudding, popcorn,
raisins, banana chips, goldfish, M&M’s, sunflower seeds, chocolate rice
chex, bananas, graham crackers, Nutella. There is a drop box located in St.
John’s link way or stop by the office. Any donation is appreciated! Thank you!
NEW
MEMBERSHIP CLASS began on 4/28 11:15am at St. John’s.
Join us in the link-way conference room for an hour or so after the 10am SJ
worship service.
UNCLAIMED
DISHES IN CHURCH KITCHEN Please check the accumulation of unclaimed dishes in
the St. John’s kitchen. Items unclaimed by the end of June will be
disposed of.
MEDITATIONS “Meditations” WELS
daily devotional booklets began on 6/2 and are available in the church entry
(many thanks to our generous members for covering the $2K/yr cost)
PLEASE
BE RESPECTFUL of
your fellow worshipers preparing their hearts for worship. If you are visiting
with others, please keep your voices down. Thank you!
USHER AND GREETER
SCHEDULE If
you are signed up to be a St. John’s usher and/or greeter, please pick up your
hard copy of April-May and June-July in St. John’s Information Room.
Schedules will be available for pick up every 2 months.
LITTLE LAMBS PRE
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Pick up your 3K/4K registration form in the office
today! Please help spread the word!
CHECK
OUT OUR UPDATED INFORMATION ROOM This room is located at the top
of St. John’s link way stairs and the church entry way. Here you will find
bulletin boards labeled “Home Missions” and “LWMS”. Home Missions will provide information on what’s going on at St.
John’s church and school, events, educational and youth group updates. You will
also find informational brochures and magazines, usher and greeter schedules,
the church newsletter, children’s coloring sheets and crayons and other
miscellaneous information related to our church and school. Please help
yourself!
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “People
are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and back of
the church..”
ACH What is ACH?Automated Clearing House is an
electronic payments network use by individuals, businesses, financial
institutions and government organizations. The network functions as an efficient,
electronic alternative to paper checks. It allows funds to be electronically
debited or credited to a checking account, savings account, financial
institution general ledger account or credited to a loan account.Please pick your form
up in the Information Room or the office today.
EMMANUEL OFFERING OPTIONS In addition to the traditional
offering envelope option for our weekly offerings, Emmanuel is inviting any
members to consider direct payment (weekly or monthly) from your bank’s
checking or savings account to the church’s account. If you are interested in
this option, please phone or e-mail Monika Waisbrot (608-286-3937 mwaisbrot@myfirstnational.com), branch manager at Fortifi Bank–Montello,
who can help you make it happen. (business cards are available on the
Meditations shelf)
OUR KIDS GAME $931.11 TO MISSIONS THIS YEAR The mission projects of our day school, Little Lambs, and Sunday School
kids have been completed for 2018-2019. Kids C.A.R.E. mission gift given by our
day school and Little Lambs students totaled $594.07 for the home mission
project: Kids Summer Bible Camps. This amount will be pooled with gifts from
kids all over the U.S. and presented at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society
Convention, June 27-30, in Des Moines, Iowa. St. John’s Sunday School students’
mission gift totaled $337.04 for our WELS Camp Phillip in Wautoma.
MEMBER Dan Finger (top left) who is currently serving in the Middle East.
Thank you to all who serve!
OFFICE HOURS I will be in the office Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:00am-4:00pm
and Thursdays 8:00am-2:00pm. Thanks! –Ciara Neuhauser
TASTE OF MISSIONS—An Event Meant for
the Whole Family! Join us on July 13, 2019, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in
Mequon, Wis., for the first annual Taste of Missions event! Starting
at 12:00 P.M., sample ethnic cuisine from some of our mission
fields while enjoying fellowship and presentations from home and world
missionaries alike. Meet former missionaries and committee
members who have served WELS Missions and hear stories of God’s
magnificent grace in action at home and abroad. View
displays, participate in family-friendly activities coordinated by
our missionaries, and ask questions about the ups and downs of
mission work during a panel discussion. We will conclude the event at 4:00
P.M. with a special worship service celebrating the blessings the Lord
has showered on WELS Missions. Registration is $5 per person,
with children under the age of five attending
for free. Register by June 30 at wels.net/tasteofmissions2019.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
6-2 6-4
85
105?
St. John’s Altar Committee
June 2019
Diane
Eisermann
&
Delores Cotte
●●●
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 Sara Borck: (858) 731-7919
K & 1st Grade Teacher Cassie Doering: (920) 723-8986
2nd-4th Grade Teacher Karin Stellick: (920) 342-3689
Lead & 5th-8th Grade Teacher
Rachel Naumann: (847) 913-2135
Church & School Secretary Ciara Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866
Altar Ladies: Elaine Kelm: (920) 344-0025 & Carolyn Rosenthal:
589-5036
Church & School Mail: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI
53949
Church
& School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
●●●
If you ask people who have traveled around the world, “What is the cleanest city you have ever seen?” many of them will answer, “Singapore.” If you go there, however, you’d better understand that the governing authorities take their city’s cleanliness seriously—very seriously.
For instance, Orchard Road is the most famous shopping street in Singapore. Tens of thousands mingle there every day. However, hidden in the crowd are some 400 plainclothes officers. Their sole job is to catch people doing something that may threaten their city’s cleanliness. If they spot you dropping a piece of paper, they can fine you hundreds of dollars. If you are a repeat offender, it can cost you thousands. In addition, they may also sentence you to several hours of community service and require you to attend lectures on littering. In short, if you find yourself in Singapore, enjoy the wonderful sights, friendly people, and cleanliness. But if you make a mistake and litter, your stay may come at a cost.
Life in heaven comes at a cost as well. But the cost is not money or a lecture on littering. The cost is the precious blood of the Son of God. The Lord’s desire for us to be with him was so intense that he himself was willing to pay the price to make it so. And now it is his blood that has washed our sins away and made all things right. It is his blood that has given us the privilege to go through the gates into the city of heaven.
But in that city, there is not just an absence of the rubbish of sin. Rather, there is complete life, light, goodness, and joy. All because Jesus is there. All because he has made us clean.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you have washed my robes and made me clean. Through faith in you, heaven awaits. Oh, how I look forward to that day! Amen.
Imagine for a minute that you have to do a terrible job for a year. Maybe the work is hard. Maybe it’s high-stress. Maybe the work is far from rewarding. Now imagine you are told you will be paid just fifteen thousand dollars for this year of work. How do you suppose you will do your job? Will you be excited? Will you be motivated to do your best? Probably not. You will be tempted to show up late and give it little effort. You may not even make it through the entire year before quitting.
Now imagine you are facing the same job, but this time you know you will be paid fifteen million dollars. Now, how will you do your job? Your attitude will likely be very different. You will show up on time, be excited, and even brag about how great this job is that pays so well.
Like a terrible job, our life in this world is often difficult. But Jesus promises that when this world ends, he will return and bring with him a reward far greater than fifteen million dollars. He promises to bring us to the mansions of heaven and an eternity without a single care or concern. Remarkably, he promises to give us this as a reward even though it is a reward, he won for us. Think of how comforting this is! It means we don’t have to worry whether we will be good enough to earn his reward. It means we don’t have to wonder whether we will receive his reward. He promises to give us the reward he has earned.
Let this be your encouragement during difficult days. Let it move you to serve your Lord with joy and excitement. Let it keep you from ever quitting. After all, a remarkable reward is on the way!
Prayer:
With everything that is happening in our busy world keep me focused on your return and the reward you will bring. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
“Did he forget?” I had this thought a few times as a child as I waited for my dad to pick me up from school. Most days dad was there when school got out and although I had to wait for his turn to pull up to the curb, I was sure I was getting picked up. However, on rare occasions dad wasn’t there right away. I watched as the number of kids standing at the curb dwindled. I wondered what could have happened. Had my father forgotten and would he ever show up?
Fortunately, without fail, he always showed up, usually just a few minutes after all the other parents had picked up their children, I would crawl into the backseat of his car and with exasperation ask, “What were you doing?” My dad would always respond, “Coming to get you.”
It has been just shy of two thousand years since Jesus said, “I am coming soon.” It is easy to wonder if Jesus has forgotten his promise and to ask what is taking him so long.
But, much like time is different to an anxious child than to an adult, time is different for us than it is for God. The Bible tells us that, for God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. The God who lives without beginning or end has a longer and better view of time than we do.
We also know that when God makes a promise, he keeps it. He does not forget. He does not change his mind.
So, we can know for certain that Jesus will come soon. He promised it. He will come soon to take us from this life to our eternal home and the life we were meant to live. Even now we know at this very hour, he is coming to take us to be with him.
Prayer:
Help me to wait patiently on your good timing, and give me the sure confidence that you will return soon. Amen.