God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:6,7
Most of us hate to wait. Patience is going out of style in our fast-paced world. We want it all, and we want it now.
But some things are worth the wait, aren’t they? Like that newborn baby that takes nine months to grow in mommy’s belly. A pregnant mother might have days when she wants that baby out—now! But when she finally holds her little baby in her arms, she has to admit it was worth the wait.
That’s also true of God’s salvation and his judgment, both of which will be seen in their final, perfect form on the day Jesus returns from heaven.
If you are suffering like the people to whom Saint Paul was writing, that day can’t come soon enough. They were suffering unfairly, not because of what they had done but because of who they were: simple Christians who had placed their faith in Jesus’ saving love. Nothing more. Paul promised them that someday God would “give relief to you who are troubled.” But for now, they needed to wait.
We sometimes suffer unjustly, too. We wonder where God is with his salvation and judgment. Doesn’t he see? Isn’t he just? Won’t he rescue me?
God’s reasons for waiting aren’t always clear. But this much we know, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Did you notice who God is waiting for? He’s waiting for you and me! The good news is “he is patient with you” and with me. He doesn’t want to see anyone perish. He “wants all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4).
But that often means we need to wait because to God’s way of thinking, saving people from sin and death forever through Jesus is worth the wait.
Prayer:
Jesus, help me patiently endure the wait for your perfect salvation and judgment, as I cling forever to your saving promises. Amen.
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:5
Things aren’t always what they seem. The Antiques Roadshow proves it.
If you’ve ever watched that show, you’ll know that people often bring an item that looks like junk for appraisal. I wouldn’t give them a dime for it, but the expert tells the owner, “You could expect to fetch at least $20,000 for this at auction.”
Often these appraisals are not based on the intrinsic value of the object itself. No one needs a $20,000 flower vase! Instead, the value is found in the object’s story: Where and when it was made, who owned it, etc. In order to know something’s value, you need to know the story behind it.
That’s also true when it comes to God’s judgment. People are tempted to make snap judgments about his judgment. They conclude his judgment is unfair, unloving, and unconcerned for those who stand under it. But they don’t know the full story.
Consider a comparison from everyday life. When a concerned father promises to punish his son if he does something dangerous, it has nothing to do with craving revenge. The father takes no joy in the thought of having to hand down punishment. Instead, his words proceed from a loving heart. On the outside, he may seem unfair, unloving, and unconcerned. But that’s because you don’t know the full story. The father loves his son and wants to keep him safe.
So it is with God’s judgment—even his promise of eternal punishment—springs from a heart of love and concern for sinners. He wants to get our attention because, the truth is, he also “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He sent his Son to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He desires mercy, not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). In his heart of hearts, he is our loving Savior, not a cold-hearted judge. And that is the full story.
Prayer:
Jesus, help me recognize your love even in your judgment. Amen.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10,11
I was studying in my dorm room at the seminary when one of my roommates walked in with a stunned look on his face. He asked if I could drive him to the hospital. He explained that his fiancée had been in a car accident. She and her younger sister had been driving to the hospital to visit their father who was dying of cancer when the accident occurred. Her sister did not survive. It is difficult to imagine a more tragic situation.
After a few hours at the hospital, I dropped my friend off at his future in-laws’ house. He was exhausted. I will never forget what he said to me. “Be still, and know that I am God.” The Holy Spirit had brought these powerful words from Psalm 46 to his mind in the hour of his greatest need. He could not possibly imagine why the Lord would have allowed such a tragedy to occur. He was completely powerless to fix it or make it all better for his fiancée and her family. All he could do is be still…and remember that God was in control.
What a difficult thing to do! We are so convinced that we are in control of our lives, that we are masters of our own fates. But…we…are…not. There is only One who is in control. There is only One who is God. And we are not he.
But that is alright. It is better than alright. It is a sigh of relief to our anxious hearts. Who better to be in control than the One who loved us enough to give his one and only Son to live and die for our sins? Who better to be in control than the One who conquered death when he rose from the grave?
Whatever burdens your heart this day, whatever causes you anxiety or worry or stress—be still, and know that the LORD Almighty is God. And he loves you; he forgives you; he cares about you. And he is all the God you will ever need.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I begin to believe that I am the master of my own fate, remind me that my times are in your hands. Give me the courage to be still and know that you are God. Amen.
Welcome! Thank you for joining
us for worship this morning. In our service we gather before our almighty God
to offer him our worship and praise. We also gather to strengthen ourselves through the study of God’s holy and powerful
Word.
Restroomsare located in the link
way (through the Information Room and down the stairs) at St. John’s and lower level at Emmanuel.
NurseryIn the lower level of
both churches, the service is available to watch on TV and children have space
for their needs. At St. John’s exiting church, it is located down the stairs to
the left, to the link way, and down the stairs again to the left. At Emmanuel
exiting church, it is located down the hallway to the right.
Welcome Home!
Our
Need for Christian Community
The
Lost Are Now Found
You
Are Free to Be Yourself
You
Are Perfectly Safe Here
You
Have an Everlasting Family
You are Part of Christ’s
Glorious Kingdom
The Season of End TimeThe Church Year comes a close in November with the season of End Time. In
this season, we are reminded that we are living in the “last days” between
Christ’s first coming at Christmas and his second coming on Judgment Day. The
world could be ended at any time. For a believer, the end of his life or the
end of the world is a wonderful thing! It means the beginning of a new and
better existence in a much more glorious world than this one.
Our Worship Series: Welcome Home
The Holy Spirit wants believers to think of each
other as family. Having a spiritual family is essential to our well-being. In
this worship series, we look at how our Father knits us together in love and
unity. We see the benefits of being part of this family. In the Church, Christ
has given us a better home.
Our
Theme for Today: Home, Where You Are
Perfectly Safe
Twenty-one billion dollars. That is how much
Americans spend annually on home security. We want our homes to be a place that
our family can feel safe, where they can be apart from everything that can hurt
them.
However, the reality is that no matter how many
locks and alarms and cameras you might use to guard your house, you and your
family are not perfectly safe. There is a greater danger than thieves …
a greater threat than bullies. There is even something worse than physical
death. Judgment Day is coming, and with it, the destruction of all creation. If
that day comes and you are not prepared, you begin an eternal nightmare.
In the Church, our brother Jesus has given us a
home that is indeed perfectly safe. Not even Judgment Day can touch it.
Christians can look forward to Judgment Day with great anticipation. Even as
“the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:2), we have Christ’s
promise that we will be perfectly safe.
Order of Service
for THE LAST JUDGMENT
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XGathering X
OPENING HYMN
— 220 O’er the Distant
Mountains Breaking
Please stand
INVOCATION
M: The grace of
our Lord U Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be
with you all.
C: And also
with you.
CONFESSION
OF SINS
M: Beloved in the LORD, the
day is surely coming, and it will burn like a furnace.
Therefore,
let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father,
asking
him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
C: Holy and
merciful Father, I confess that I am sinful by nature,
and that I
have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
I have done
what is evil and failed to do what is good.
For this I
deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.
But I am
truly sorry for my sins,
and trusting
in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray:
Lord, have
mercy on me, a sinner.
M: 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 all your sins in the name of the
Father and of the Son U and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
M: In the peace
of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
After a brief musical introduction, soloist sings verse 1, the
congregation sings verse 2.
PRAYER OF
THE DAY
M: Lord God
Almighty, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we
may always look forward to the end of this present evil age and to the day of
your righteous judgment. Keep us steadfast in true and living faith and present
us at last holy and blameless before you; through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
X The
Word X
FIRST LESSON Jeremiah
26:1-6
The Lord’s judgment is
coming to bring destruction on those who refuse to listen to his Word. We
rejoice that in Christ, we are considered the family of God and so will be safe
on the Last Day.
1Early in the
reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from
the Lord: 2 “This
is what the Lord says:
Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s
house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in
the house of the Lord. Tell them
everything I command you; do not omit a word. 3 Perhaps
they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will
relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the
evil they have done.4 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not
listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you, 5 and
if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent
to you again and again (though you have not listened), 6 then
I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curseamong
all the nations of the earth.’”
PSALM OF THE
DAY – 133, Adult Choir
How Very Good and Pleasant
Choir sings the opening refrain and cantors sing
the verses. Congregation joins choir for refrains
after each verse.
Refrain:
♫ How very good and pleasant
when we live in unity.
It is like precious oil,
like fresh morning dew.
We gather here together
with our hearts and voices
raised
to God, who’s the center
Of our unity and praise!
SECOND
LESSON 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
The Lord Jesus is
revealed as a judge. His ruling will be just. Those who do not acknowledge him
will be punished. But those who have faith in him will be brought to
everlasting glory.
5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is
right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God,
for which you are suffering.6 God is just: He will pay
back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to
you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus
is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He
will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of
our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting
destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the
glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be
glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who
have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
After a
brief musical introduction, the congregation sings the following.
♫ 4 Yea, Amen, let all
adore you High on your eternal throne.
Ev’ry knee shall bow
before you; Come and take your people home!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
You shall reign and you alone!
Please stand
GOSPEL Luke 19:11-27 (today’s sermon text)
Through a parable Jesus
teaches that on Judgment Day those who wasted their God-given gifts will have
to give an account. Fortunately, when judging us, the Master will look at what
Christ has done as our Savior.
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable,
because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of
God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A
man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and
then to return. 13 So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said,
‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We
don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the
servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had
gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have
been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept
it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you,
because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what
you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked
servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put
in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you
put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it
with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give
it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied,
‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one
who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But
those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here
and kill them in front of me.’”
M: This is
the Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
HYMN OF THE
DAY — 337 Delay Not! Delay Not
SERMON Luke 19:11-27
When Jesus Returns, the Rewards Will Be Right
For those who hated his reign
For those who wasted his gifts
For those who worked for his kingdom
Please stand
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose
again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting.
Amen.
Please be seated
THANK
OFFERING
Members of this congregation have joined together in love and faith to do
the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel
obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
X Prayers X
Please stand
PRAYER OF
THE CHURCH
M: Out of the
depths we cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear our voices.
C:Let your
ears be attentive to our cries for mercy.
M: Heavenly
Father, we confess with sorrow that we have sinned
and deserve only your anger and
punishment.
C:If you kept
a record of sins, we would surely be lost.
M: We confess
with joy that your unfailing love has redeemed us.
C:Our hope is
in you and in your full redemption.
M: Around us we
see the birth pangs of the last days:
war, famine, earthquakes, false prophets,
spiritual apathy.
C:Use these
signs to remind us that we do not know
the day or the hour when Christ will come
again.
M: Keep us
faithful to your Word; send your Spirit to strengthen our faith
so that we are always prepared for your
Son’s return as judge.
C:Make us
faithful in sharing your Word,
and cause many more to put their hope in
you before the end comes.
M: Build our
fellowship of love as brothers and sisters in faith.
C: Help us support one another when trials and
troubles come our way.
Special prayers and intercessions may
follow
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private
petitions.
Silent prayer
M: Heavenly Father, we eagerly await for Jesus to
come again and make all things new.
May he find us, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of
life,
faithfully enduring until the end, through
the power of your Holy Spirit.
C:Come, Lord
Jesus. May your grace be with us. Amen.
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
listed on page 12
LORD’S PRAYER
M: Lord,
remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
C:Our Father
in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive
those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
*Emmanuel continues with…
Please be seated
ADULT
CHOIR Go Now In
Peace
*St. John’s continues with…
X The Sacrament X
At St. John’s Ev.
Lutheran Church we practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship
today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the
pastor prior to the service.
COMMUNION LITURGY hymnal
pages 33-36
Please be seated
DISTRIBUTIUON
HYMNS – 306 Before You, God, the Judge of All
382
My Hope Is
Built on Nothing Less
ADULT
CHOIR Go Now In Peace
At the close of each service, all veterans are
kindly asked to stand be recognized.
After today’s service, please give your friendship registers to an
usher or pastor.
XAnnouncements X
Activities for the week of November 10 –
November 16
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with communion
2:00 P.M.
Sacred Concert at WLA
Mon.
VETERAN’S DAY
9:00 A.M.
Pastor’s Study Club – St. John’s Montello
6:30 P.M.
Choir at St. John’s
7:30 P.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.
6:30 P.M.
Evangelism meeting at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
Men’s Bible Study at St. John’s
Wed.
No St. John’s/Little Lambs School –
Parent/Teacher Conferences
10:00 A.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
Women’s Bible Study at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Worship
Thurs.
6:00 P.M.
Griefshare at St. John’s lower level
(10 of 13 weeks)
6:00 P.M.
School Board meeting at St. John’s
Fri.
Sat.
Theme for Next Sunday November 17 ,
2019End Times 3: The Saints
Triumphant–Welcome Home #5: You Have An Everlasting Family
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Congregational meeting
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
9:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Scholastic Book Fair in St. John’s gym
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS – For those hospitalized, ill,
shut-in and facing trials: Wyatt Beahm (infant son of William and Alyssa
Beahm), Ron Blada, Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Reinold
Eckelberg, Harold Fandrey, Lilah Farrell, Xzander Jahr, 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: Wyatt Beahm)
– For the
family of John Smith, age 82, (Kenon’s father) called home on 11/3
– For Paul
and Luanne Weldon who celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary
yesterday (11/9)
– For
Veteran’s Day (11/11)
– For our communicants at St.
John’s
AMMO
BOX As Veterans Day approaches, our congregation’s Lutheran Military
Support Group (LMSG) is asking for donations in support of our military men,
women and their families. LMSG, a partnership of ELS and WELS veterans, is
working to grow awareness of and bring Christian support to military members
and their families in our congregations and beyond. By placing your gift in the
AMMO can located in the front entry of both churches, you are supporting the
work of local congregations that are ministering to nearby military families,
the WELS European chaplain program and global broadcasts of Time of Grace to
our military. Questions? See LMSG Congregational Liaison Mark Emond or visit
www.lutheranmilitary.org. THANK YOU for standing shoulder to shoulder with those
serving our nation!!
WOMEN’S
BIBLE STUDY: RUTH “A short story masterpiece that showcases steadfast love
and the kind of selfless humility that God rewards.” ~People’s
Bible
All women are invited to come to our new Women’s Bible
Study for fellowship, fun, and growing in God’s Word! We have started a
four-week study of the book of Ruth this week Wednesday, November 6th at 6:30pm
in St. John’s church basement. Come learn about God-inspired
devotion, love, and most importantly, how the Savior ties into the whole
thing! Please contact Rachel Naumann at rnaumann@stjohnsmontello.org or
847.913.2135 with any questions.
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY The Men’s Bible study will pick up again this
Tuesday and the following, November 12 and 19. See you then.
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.
ACTS–ACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE
GOSPEL IN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH Adult Bible Study meets Monday at 7:30pm &
Wednesday at 10am in the St. John’s conference room.
NEW LIFE IN CHRIST Bible Information
Class (leads to membership) is at 7:30pm in the St. John’s conference room
(alternate times may also be scheduled).
GRIEFSHARE The 13-week
session of Griefshare takes place every Thursday. Sessions are held at 6:00p.m.
in the lower level of St. John’s. Join us for week #10, November 14. If you
have any questions or concerns, please call Mark Emond (608) 697-1600.
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!)
CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “Prayer:
Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!”
HOLIDAY TRAIL: NOVEMBER 23, 2019 St. John’s is again a part of this year’s Holiday Trail. Our stop will be
open from 9:00am – 4:00pm. The Scholastic Bookfair and Thai Village Craft sale
will be the main events here along with a few other perks. Plan to come, bring
a friend and enjoy a day of Christmas shopping around town.
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA Opportunities for gospel connections are
flourishing across the African continent. Christian groups in Uganda, Liberia,
Mozambique, and more are learning about WELS and Lutheran doctrine and reaching
out for fellowship and doctrinal instruction. To follow what’s happening with
WELS mission work across Africa, visit wels.net/missions or follow Missions on Facebook at fb.com/WELSMissions.
EQUIPPING CHRISTIAN WITNESSES Equipping Christian Witnesses, the new
campaign from Martin Luther College, focuses on recruitment, financial aid, and
facilities. By enrolling more future ministry workers, helping them fund their
Christian education, and enhancing their learning environments across the
campus, WELS strengthens the foundation for its future. Learn more at mlc-wels.edu/mlc-campaign.
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.
Emm/Usher Schedule
November 10
Emm Darrell
Buchholz, Glenn Buchholz, Paul Dahlke
SJ (comm) Kenon
Smith; Chief, Martin Schmanke, Aaron Kendall,
Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann
November 17
Emm DuWayne
Sommerfeld, Warren Buchholz, Don Stelter
SJ Cal
Kapp; Chief, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith, Joe Zauner Sr.,
Joe Zauner Jr.
November 24
Emm Wayne Stelter, Bob Ferber,
Gary Wegner
SJ (comm) James Wachholz;
Chief, Jon Vote, Joe Vote, Jesse Schable, Richard Freitag
November 27 Thanksgiving
Eve
SJ Jack
Yates; Chief, Ben Jaster, Jacob Jaster, Jeff Reimer,
Jeremy Breiwa
November 28
Thanksgiving
Emm Darrell
Buchholz, Don Stelter, Gary Wegner
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
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
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
11-3 11-6
110
124 2
St. John’s Altar Committee
November 2019
Jennie Utke
&
Susan Brown
Save the Date for
our Thanksgiving Services!November
27 6:30pm Thanksgiving Eve at St. John’s
November
28 9:00am
Thanksgiving Day at Emmanuel
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Welcome To Our
Visitors!Please Sign Our
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website link:www.stjohnsmontello.orgPastor Peter
Zietlow: (608) 408-7830
E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.comLittle Lambs
Director & Teacher Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816
K, 1st &
2nd Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554
3rd-5th
Grade Teacher Ms. Rachel Naumann: (847)
913-2135
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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
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“No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
Are you forgetting things more than you used to? Do you find yourself staring at someone you’ve known for years but, for the life of you, you can’t remember her name? Do you walk into a room and then wonder what you came there to do? We all forget from time to time, some of us more and some less, but forgetting is a reality of the human condition.
Forgetting is not, however, a reality of God’s condition. God cannot forget because God is all-knowing. God knows everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen. This is what makes Jeremiah 31:34 so amazing. God promises that he will both forgive and forget our sins. In other words, he will treat us as if we had never committed a single sin. He can do this because Jesus already paid the price of all sins by his death for us.
Whatever sin is troubling you, whatever guilt is burdening you, whatever memory is haunting you, forget it. Leave it behind. Leave it at the foot of the cross where it belongs. Go into your day free and filled with joy because God forgives and forgets.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus thank you for erasing my sin from God’s mind. Let my life today reflect how thankful I am for this great gift. Amen.
Every January 20th we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a great social reformer who exposed the wickedness of racism by leading the United States to more fully express its founding principles of equal rights for all humans.
Did you know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was named after another great reformer? The original Martin Luther was a pastor in Germany who lived about 500 years ago. Martin Luther reformed the church by exposing the false teachings that had crept into the church and returning God’s people to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith.
Every October 31st we remember the day when Martin Luther began the movement to reform the church by publishing a document called the 95 theses. These theses, or statements, uncovered the corruption in the church, pointing people back to the Bible as the true authority for all our teaching and practices.
Martin Luther was a courageous leader who stood up for God’s truth no matter what the consequences. We still need courageous leaders who will point people to God’s truth. Jesus told us that if we hold to his teaching then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. The truth about Jesus’ forgiveness sets us free from guilt and shame. This frees us to serve others, giving our lives true meaning and purpose.
You may not think of yourself as a courageous leader. But, like Martin Luther, you can point people to Jesus and his truth. And you can be sure that the truth will set those people free.
Prayer:
Lord God, use me to point people to the truth so that the truth might set them free. Amen.
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. . . . For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:31,34
Why should we go to church? Everything we get at church we can get online, right? I can Google great sermons. I can put together the perfect playlist of worship songs. So why should I go to a building, when I can get all the biblical information I could ever want on the internet?
That is a legitimate question. You can get all sorts of great biblical information online. But attending a worship service is much more than gaining information. At worship, you will be surrounded by fellow Christians. It might just be the only time during the week that you are not in the minority. The value of this cannot be overestimated. We become like those with whom we gather.
Worship is also where God confirms his covenant with us. The heart of this agreement is found in the book of Jeremiah, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” God upheld his side of the agreement by sending Jesus to pay for all our sins. We are reminded of this every time we worship as the pastor announces that our sins are forgiven. What a blessing! It is no wonder we want to be in worship so that we can hear those sweet words.
It is true that there are plenty of great spiritual resources online. But God has designed our weekly gatherings to deliver his forgiveness uniquely through worship. So where are you going to worship this week?
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the gift of the Church. Lead me to gather with other believers so that I might receive your forgiveness and be strengthened to live for you. Amen.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33
Going to the pool used to be quite stressful for me. I felt like I spent all my time reminding my kids of the pool rules. I’d yell, “Stop running by the pool! You are going to get hurt.” They would walk for a moment, but sure enough, the next time they got out of the pool they would run to the other side.
It’s much better now. My kids are older and they seem to understand that if they run, they can slip and fall and hurt themselves. They don’t need external reminders because they internally understand the reasons for the rules.
In a certain sense, this is what it means to be a New Testament Christian. Before Jesus came, the Old Testament believers behaved like my young children. They needed lots of rules and reminders. And even when God sent special prophets to point them back to the written code of God’s law, they still slipped back into their old rebellious ways.
But the prophet Jeremiah looked forward to the day when God would do something new. The prophet spoke of a day when the Lord would establish a new covenant with his people. He would write his laws in their minds and their hearts. God’s people would no longer need all the rules and reminders to follow him because they would be his mature sons and daughters.
Jeremiah’s words have come true. Jesus has come and made us right with God. He sends his Holy Spirit to us so that we might follow him internally, from the heart.
Call upon the Holy Spirit to show you Jesus and the power of his love. Ask him to lead you in the process of maturing in your faith, so you would follow him.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, live in me that I might live as a mature follower of Jesus. Write God’s precious laws on my heart and give me the desire and strength to follow them. Amen
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24
The United States seems to be more divided than ever. We are divided politically, socially, racially, and economically. All this division has made us hostile and judgmental. Just turn on your TV, look at your Facebook feed, or read the editorial column in your local newspaper, and you will hear angry voices defaming their opponents.
How does God’s Word respond to all this division?
God responds by clumping all the different groups into one group. He says, “There is no difference . . . all have sinned.” God does not divide people based on their politics, social views, race, or finances. He puts everyone into one category. All are sinners.
At first, that might seem depressing. You might be thinking, “There is nobody who does good, not even one, really?”
But keep reading.
The writer of these words, the Apostle Paul, continues, “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” When Jesus died, he died for the sins of the whole world. All humanity has been declared “not guilty” in Jesus. Not everyone believes they need his forgiveness or have his forgiveness. But, because Jesus accomplished it, his forgiveness is there for them.
If we embraced what God says, our world could be a much better place. If we believed that all people are sinners, including ourselves, we wouldn’t look down on other people. If we believed that God had mercy on them all in Jesus, then we might begin to have mercy on them as well.
So, when you find yourself adding to this world’s hostility and division, remember that you are no different than anyone else. You are a sinner just like them. When you struggle to care for someone with opposing views, love them with the same love that Jesus showed you on the cross. After all, we are all equally sinners and equally saved.
Prayer:
Lord God, forgive me for the times I was judgmental and looked down on others. Lead me to love others just as you have loved me in Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Bible can be hard to read for many reasons. For one thing, it sometimes contains unfamiliar words. One of those words that keeps coming up in the Bible is “covenant.”
So, what is a covenant? And why does it matter?
A covenant is an agreement between two individuals or groups. It’s like a legal contract where both groups sign on the dotted line and promise to uphold their end of the deal.
The surprising message of the Bible is that God made a covenant with his people. He wanted to partner with them.
In the second book of the Bible, God made a covenant with the nation of Israel. He agreed to bless them and make them into a great nation while they agreed to obey his laws. Unfortunately, the Israelites broke their side of the agreement almost immediately and the nation unraveled like a runaway ball of yarn.
We can relate. We have made promises to follow what God says. We said we were going to love him and love people. But almost immediately we found ourselves breaking our promises.
That’s why we need to hear the comforting words of the prophet Jeremiah. He said that God was going to make a new covenant with his people. It wasn’t going to be like the old covenant, where the people promised to hold up their end of the agreement.
No, this time, God was going to make a covenant where he fulfilled all the requirements of all his laws. That’s what the story of Jesus is all about. Jesus came into this world to fulfill all of God’s commands on our behalf. Then he died to receive the punishment we deserve for breaking God’s covenant. This new covenant is a one-sided covenant. God simply forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake, period. What a gift! What a God!
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for your new covenant and for the peace and forgiveness it gives. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
