BULLETIN August 4th, 2019- The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost

August 4, 2019

St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church

Montello, WI

St. John’s  Ev. Lutheran Church 313 East Montello St. Montello, WI 53949 Emmanuel  Ev. Lutheran Church W1568 Evergreen Lane Montello, WI 53949    

W E L C O M E    T O    O U R    C H U R C H 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  

 

608.297.2866 www.stjohnsmontello.org Like us on Facebook

 

G O D ’ S     W O R D    F O R     T O D A Y Faith-Life Reveals Itself in Love for Others – We cannot see into other people’s hearts, but we can discern Christian faith by its fruits in words and actions. God tells us that love, joy, peace, patience, and more make up the fruit of faith. (See Galatians 5:22,23.) If we truly have crossed over from death to life, it will show in love for others, as James has written: “I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18).  


P R E P A R A T I O N   F O R   W O R S H I P

We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.

OPENING HYMN 493                                                                 Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive

Please stand

CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION                                                           hymnal page 15

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 MERCY                                                                                                                hymnal page 15

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.

GLORY BE TO GOD                                                                                                                   hymnal page 16

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: O risen Lord, you came to your disciples and took away their fears with your word of peace. Come to us also by Word and sacrament, and banish our fears with the comforting assurance of your abiding presence; for you live and reign with the Father 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 LESSON                                                                                                         Deuteronomy 30: 9-14

Summary: Moses reminded the Israelites of the demands of God’s law

Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

PSALM 25                                                                                                                                         hymnal page 74

The lectern side sings the first line, the pulpit side sings the second line, and all sing the refrain and Gloria.

SECOND LESSON                                                                    Colossians 1:1-14 (today’s sermon text)

Summary: The gospel produces a heart of faith and a life of love

When Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints–the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.   You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

VERSE OF THE DAY                                                                                      Deuteronomy 30:14

Alleluia. The Word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. Alleluia.

C: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!                              

Please stand

C: Glory be to you, O Lord!                         

GOSPEL LESSON                                                                                                                             Luke 10:25-37

Summary: The parable of the good Samaritan

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied.  “How do you read it?” He answered: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ {Deut. 6:5}; and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ {Lev.19:18}”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied.  “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  `Look after him,’ he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

C: Praise be to you, O Christ!                            

NICENE CREED                                                                                           hymnal pages 18, 19

Please be seated

SERMON HYMN 498                                                          Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire

SERMON                                                                                                          Colossians 1:1-14

“Thank God For The Gospel’s Growing Season!”

  1. It takes root in our hearts
  2. It bears fruit in our lives

Please stand

CREATE IN ME                                                                                                            hymnal page 20

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, Prayer For Growth In Faith And Christian Living and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements for those on our Intercessory Prayers list.

LORD’S PRAYER                                                                                                                           hymnal page 20

Please be seated

494:1-4                                                                                     Blest Be the Tie that Binds

Please stand

CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING                                                                     hymnal page 25

Please be seated

CLOSING HYMN 494:5                                                            Blest Be the Tie that Binds

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 August 4 – August 10
Sun. 8:00 A.M. Emmanuel Worship with communion
  9:00 A.M. Emmanuel Congregational meeting
  10:00 A.M. St. John’s Worship
Mon.    
Tues. 9:00 A.M. St. John’s Elders meeting
  6:30 P.M. St. John’s Evangelism meeting
Wed. 6:30 P.M. St. John’s Worship with communion
Thurs. 8:30 A.M. St. John’s Faculty meeting
  2:00 P.M. Zietlow wedding rehearsal
Fri.   Zietlow wedding at Springbrook Farm
Sat.    
Theme for Next Sunday August 11 , 2019 Pentecost 9: “The Christ-Centered Home”
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

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Evie & Ron Blada, David Broderick, Sandy Buchholz, Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Marjorie Fabian, Lilah Farrell, Chris Krause (Gordy & Lin’s son), Pete Laun, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Delvin Mittelsteadt, Elsa Russell, Mark & Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son & daughter in-law), Carol Schumann, Jody Steigerwald (DuWayne & Pat Sommerfeld’s daughter), Karl Whitrock – (added this week: Lila Farrell)

– For those straying from the church

– For our communicants at Emmanuel

MEMORIAL In memory of Joel Jaster, a donation has been given from the Jaster family to purchase our new church doors at St. John’s. Your gift is appreciated! To keep updated on the St. John’s Church Door Project, check out the bulletin board located in the Information Room at St. John’s. This donation did not cover the full cost of our new doors so donations are still accepted to help offset the remaining cost.

CARD/GIFTCARD SHOWER Throughout the month of July, we will be having a Card/Gift Card Shower! This will be for all of our three new teachers here at St. John’s :

Ms. Shelley Myers : Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade teacher

Mrs. Lynn Sellnow : Little Lambs Director/Teacher

Mr. Larry Sellnow : Principal and 6th, 7th & 8th grade teacher

Two card/gift card boxes will be located in St. John’s linkway. Please help us welcome and show our appreciation for our new teachers! 

FATHER MARQUETTE DAYS AUGUST 17! Show your St. John’s pride as we walk in the Father Marquette Days Parade! This year’s theme is “Salute to the Military: Red, White and Blue.” We are looking for members who would want to walk with our float and hand out waters with koozies to help spread the word about St. John’s. Stay tuned for time and meeting place!

St. John’s is also getting a men’s softball team in for Father Marquette Days. Come and support our team! Interested in playing? Contact the office 297-2866.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Concert on the Ball Diamond: September 7 at 6:30p.m. at St. John’s

Emmanuel/St. John’s Church Picnic: September 8 at 10:00a.m. at Montello City Park

FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS Please complete the friendship register page each week. This helps your pastor and other church leaders stay in touch and keep contact information up to date. Thanks!

TO ENCOURAGE FELLOWSHIP following today’s worship service, the ushers will not be dismissing pew by pew from front to back as in the past.  Instead, all are encouraged to stay and visit and encourage one another.  Please give an usher or pastor your completed friendship register.

ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL & LITTLE LAMBS REGISTRATION School Registration is Sunday, August 25 at 11:00a.m. in St. John’s gym. If you were enrolled last school year and/or have enrolled for this coming school year, look for your summer registration packets coming to you via mail. In them, you will find everything you need to know about registration and this upcoming school year. Are you new and/or need to enroll? Call the office (608-297-2866), email (scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org) or stop by the office today!

MEDITATIONS New “Meditations” WELS daily devotional booklets are available in the church entry (many thanks to our generous members for donating!) 

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 Aug/Sept in St. John’s Information Room. Schedules will be available for pick up every 2 months.

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!

CHILDREN’S CHURCH BAGS Check out our new Children’s Church Bags that are located in the Information Room at St. John’s. Children: use during the service as you please and return them to the tree at the end of each service! A big thank you to St. John’s Hand In Prayer group for donating towards the bags and to you guys, Gene Crook & Jack Steuck, for building the wooden trees. Thank you to you gals, Ciara Neuhauser & Blake Seeley, for making the children’s church bags for Emmanuel and St. John’s.

CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “Peace starts with a smile.”

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 and get started today!

FORWARD IN CHRIST Please do not turn in any past Forward in Christ magazines as we no longer accept them due to the personal information that is provided inside. Thanks!

GRIEFSHARE The next 13-week session of Griefshare will start September 5 at 6:00p.m. in the lower level at St. John’s. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Mark Emond (608) 697-1600.

ST. JOHN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL will begin Sunday, September 15 at 8:30a.m. at St. John’s. Ages 3 through 6th grade, member or not, are all invited to come! Please help spread the word!

WELS CONVENTION Thank you Paul Van Treeck for serving as St. John’s delegate to synod convention this past week at Martin Luther College–New Ulm, MN

Attendance Emmanuel St. John’s
7-28                                    7-31  75                                         116                                      
St. John’s Altar Committee August 2019 Jennie Utke & Susan Brown

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.

 Tuesday: 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.

Wednesday: 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.

Thursday: 8:00a.m. – 2:00p.m.

●●● Welcome To Our Visitors! Please Sign Our Guest Register Find & Like us on Facebook Visit our website link:  www.stjohnsmontello.org Pastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830 E-mail: zietlowPL6@hotmail.com Little Lambs Director & Teacher Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816 K, 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554 3rd-5th Grade Teacher Ms. 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 ●●●

Living in the Light – August 4, 2019

(The Father) has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:12-14

Living in the Light


Daily Devotion – August 4, 2019

Devotion based on Colossians 1:12-14

See series: Devotions

Five-year-old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. “It’s dark in there and I’m scared.” She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, “It’s OK—Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?” (Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys)

Many people, like Johnny, are afraid of the dark. It is frightening not to know what’s out there waiting for you, what might jump out to grab you.

Those who do not know Jesus spend their lives in spiritual darkness. They don’t know what tragedy might jump out to grab them on any given day. They don’t know what is waiting for them when they face death one day. All of us were born this way. We did not know who God is or how we might know him.

Since we cannot find God, he finds us. He reaches out to us in the darkness and pulls us into the light of Jesus Christ. Seeing Jesus means seeing God. In Jesus, we see that God loves us and forgives us. We no longer need to be afraid of what is waiting for us when we face death. We have eternal life. We no longer need to fear what will happen in this life. We have an all-powerful Lord who loves us. How good it is to live in the light!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for rescuing me from the darkness of sin and unbelief. Bathe me in the light of your truth until I see you face to face. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Life is About the Cross – August 3, 2019

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 6:14

Life is About the Cross


Daily Devotion – August 3, 2019

Devotion based on Galatians 6:14

See series: Devotions

Most of you have probably never heard of a man by the name of Christian Hosoi. In the world of competitive skateboarding, however, Christian Hosoi is a legend. Already in his early teens, he was doing things with a skateboard no one else could do. With early success came fame. With fame came commercial endorsements. With commercial endorsements came lots of money. And when all of this mingled with a reckless, pleasure-seeking lifestyle, Christian Hosoi found himself in the middle of his own self-made universe. Life was about him. It was that simple.

Then his universe collapsed. His finances took a serious downturn. Substance abuse consumed him. Finally, authorities arrested him at an airport for transporting drugs. He received a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Behind bars, one day he had an opportunity to talk to a close friend by phone. Her advice was simple. “Find a Bible,” she said. “Find a Bible and read it.” He did. At first, it was slow going, but then he read about King David’s downfall and God’s forgiveness. That kept him reading. And he kept right on reading until the Word of God brought him to the foot of the cross, the message of what God had done for him through the life and death of Jesus Christ. For the first time in his life, life was not about him. Instead, his life was about something far better.

You and I don’t need to face prison time in order to acknowledge that, very often, our lives have revolved around us. The devil wants us to think that way. The sinful culture around us and our own sinful nature wants us to think that way.

The Apostle Paul had once thought that way too. But the Lord Jesus intervened, and Paul’s life began to be about something far better. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul says. Forgiven through faith in Jesus, you and I can echo his words.

Prayer:
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for all the times I have allowed my life to be about me. Move me by your Spirit to embrace the reality that my life is about the cross. My life is about you. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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God Given Strength – August 2, 2019

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, . . . I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12,13

God Given Strength


Daily Devotion – August 2, 2019

Devotion based on Philippians 4:12,13

See series: Devotions

God wants us to always be content. But even after we learn the secret of being content, few of us live it. It is so easy to think that we will finally be happy when we get this or finally earn enough for that.

Discontent flows from envy, jealousy, worry, and fear. But when we remember the secret of being content those things disappear. God gives us everything we need, right now.

Paul believed that. That made him content at his richest and his poorest. But Paul did not reach such contentment on his own. Paul confessed, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul could cope with any and every situation only because Jesus gave him such strength.

Jesus gives you this same strength. Because in Jesus, you have everything you need. Remember, Jesus lived, died, and rose for you. You are forgiven. That is the one thing truly needed and you have it.

As awesome as your earthly blessings may be, they are just that, earthly—good only for today and your time here on earth. But when you die the only blessing that will matter is forgiveness in Christ. That blessing is the difference between heaven and hell. That blessing goes with you beyond the grave into eternity.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for forgiveness, and thank you for everything else. Please give me the strength to always be content. Amen

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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The Secret of Being Content – August 1, 2019

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. . . . My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:12,19

The Secret of Being Content


Daily Devotion – August 1, 2019

Devotion based on Philippians 4:12,19

See series: Devotions

This verse is surprising when you realize where the apostle Paul was when he wrote it. Paul was in prison in Rome waiting for his trial. He was “in chains for Christ” (Philippians 1:13) because his crime was telling people about Christ. Execution was a possibility, and all he had done was tell people about Jesus.

So how could Paul be content? His life was so unfair. He didn’t have a home. He couldn’t do his mission work. He didn’t have enough to be content!

But contentment is not getting what you want. Contentment is wanting what you’ve got.

This is why Paul wrote what he did: “I have learned the secret of being content.” He had to be taught to be okay with what he had because it is not something that comes naturally. God had to teach him.

Once he learned the secret, Paul could be content in any and every situation. Whether sitting down to feast or eating prison rations. Whether sleeping in a bed or shackled to a guard. Paul’s contentment was completely independent of what he had or where he was.

So what is the secret of being content? What do we need to learn to be content in any and every situation? Here is Paul’s answer: “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

The secret of being content is believing that God is the Provider. God will give you exactly what you need. God will provide plenty when you need it. He will let you be in need when you need it. God will always provide exactly what you need at exactly the right time.

You can be sure of this because God has already provided what you needed most. He provided his Son, Jesus, who paid the price for your sins so that you now stand before God forgiven. Knowing that you are a forgiven child of God means you can be content, whatever your situation.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting all of my needs. Help me to be content. Amen.

DailyCreative Commons License Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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