Month: October 2021

It Is the Gift of God:

Celebrate Reformation Sunday 500 Years After the Diet at Worms

October 30, 2021

4:30 p.m. St. John’s

October 31, 2021

8 a.m. Emmanuel

10 a.m. St. John’s

Pastor Peter Zietlow

Pastor’s Greeting:  On April 18, 1521, Martin Luther stood to answer the questions put to him by the Roman church inquisitor Johann Eck, the secretary to the Archbishop of Trier.  He had received the papal decree earlier that demanded he recant his teaching or be excommunicated.  He had refused and Pope Leo declared him a heretic.  He was officially excommunicated ten days before the Diet, which was a formal assembly of churchmen, began.  After Luther’s opening statement, Eck told him all matters had long been settled by church councils; he was only to answer the question:  do you recant or not?  Luther’s answer: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God.  I cannot, and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.  Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; God help me!  Amen”

Congregation Hymn sung to the tune of CW 477 “What Is the World to Me”; 3 verses with new lyrics by Arden W. Mead interspersed with liturgy from Psalm 103 spoken responsively by Pastor and congregation:

By grace we have been saved, by God’s abundant favor.
 It is the gift of God through faith in Christ, our Savior.
  No merit may we claim, no effort of our own;
             It is the gift of God through faith in Christ alone. 

P With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name!

C With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been.

P The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death.

C His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.

P Each day that we live, he provides for our needs.

C He gives us the strength of a young eagle.

P How great is God’s love for all who worship him?

C Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!

P How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?

C Farther than the distance from east to west!

When we were dead in sin, God sent his Son to save us.
  It is the gift of God that life eternal gave us.
             By God’s abundant grace we with the Lord are raised.
   It is the gift of God, whose name fore’er be praised.

P The Lord is always kind to those who worship him,

C and he keeps his promises to their descendants who faithfully obey him.

P God has set up his kingdom in heaven, and he rules the whole creation.

C Let all of God’s creation and all that he rules come and praise the Lord.

P With all my heart I praise the Lord.

We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus.
          It is the gift of God that thus his mercy frees us
                   To live in holiness the life that God desires.
                      It is the gift of God that such good works inspires.

Prayer of the Day 

Your Word tells us, Lord, that it is by grace we are saved, not by works, and that it is a gift from God, lest anyone should boast. Let us bask in the blessing of this true gift from you of our salvation from sin, death and the devil, not because of anything we have done but because of what your Son did for us on the cross by dying in our stead for our transgressions and rising to life three days later that we might live a new life in heaven with you. May this miraculous message, uncovered again during the Reformation, which we celebrate this day, be our guiding light and our bold claim in how we live our lives for you. Amen.

Choir:  This Is My Word Text based on Isaiah 55:10-12; words and music by Pepper Choplin

The First Lesson  Isaiah 55:1-11

 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.  Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’”

Psalm 46  The Reformation Psalm is sung by the congregation to the tune of CW 441 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” with words as follows:

God is our Refuge and our Strength, our Helper ever near.
 The Lord of hosts is on our side to shelter us from fear.

Though mountains fall and storms arise and fearful tempests blow,
Our God is with us, and he leads where peaceful waters flow.

God’s steadfast help will surely come as certain as the dawn.
The Lord of hosts is on our side, so let all fear be gone!

The trembling nations hear his voice, their awesome Sov’reign own:
“Be still, and know that I am God, and I will reign alone!”

Come and behold what God has done: as adversaries yield,
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear and burns with fire the shield.

O God our Refuge, God our Strength, accept the praise we bring
For mercy shown by grace alone through Christ, our Savior-King!

The Second Lesson, Ephesians 2:1-10  (Sermon Text)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Alleluia verse is sung by the congregation to the tune of CW 322, “On What Has Now Been Sown”:

It is God’s gift alone that we to Christ belong,
                             Who claims us as his own and will our whole life long.
 Alleluia! By faith alone God’s gift we own. Alleluia!

Rise for The Gospel, John 17:1-10 

 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.  I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

Congregational Hymn, CW Supplement 756, “We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight,”  5 verses

We walk by faith and not by sight;                                                No gracious words we hear                                                           From him who spoke as none e’er spoke,                                   But we believe him near.

We may not touch his hands and side                               Nor follow where he trod,                                                              But in his promise we rejoice                                             And cry, My Lord and God!”

Help then, O Lord, our unbelief,                                          And may our faith abound                                                    To call on you when you are near                                      And seek where you are found.

For you, O resurrected Lord,                                               Are found in means divine:                                           Beneath the water and the Word,                                    Beneath the bread and wine.

Lord, when our life of faith is done,                                         In realms of clearer light,                                                          We may behold you as you are                                         With full and endless sight.

The Sermon:  Ephesians 2:1-10  “By Grace You Are Saved” Grace that’s 1.Needed (vv 1-3)  2.Offered (vv 4-7)  3.Reflected (vv 8-10)

Rise for the Creedal Hymn sung by the congregation to the tune of CW 256, “How Great Thou Art”

We all believe in God, almighty Father
who shattered chaos, said, “Let there be light!”
Sun, moon and stars show forth his praise together,
All things on earth his wisdom and his might.
God loved the world so much he freely gave his only Son the lost to save.
God loves each child; by faith we understand it is God’s gift—a Father’s hand.

We all believe in God’s true Son, Christ Jesus,
Born of a virgin, for us crucified.
His holy death and resurrection frees us
To rise from sin, and in his grace abide.
Ascended to his throne in heav’n on high with saving love he still is nigh.
He will return as Shepherd, Judge and King. He is God’s gift—his praise we sing!

And we give thanks for God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son,
By whose blest inspiration we inherit the benefits of all that Christ has done.
The holy Church is gathered ’round the Word where God’s good news in faith is heard.
Forgiven and forgiving, we shall rise to claim God’s gift of Paradise.

Piano Interlude  Keira Breiwa playing “Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” and Molly Utke playing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

Prayers based on Martin Luther’s Small Catechism Creed spoken responsively by Pastor and congregation:

P O God the Father Almighty, we offer our thanks for richly and daily providing us with all that we need to support the bodies you have given us and the lives we are privileged to live. 

C Make us truly grateful for your gifts of goods and clothing, house and home, spouse and children, property, and all that we call ours—that we may regard them as your blessings and dedicate them to your service.

P O Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, for us and for our salvation you became true man. 

C It is your gift alone that purchased and won us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil—not with gold or silver, but with your holy, precious blood and your innocent suffering and death. Keep us firm in that saving faith.            

P O Holy Spirit, we acknowledge all the gifts of God today only because you have called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with your gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith.  Continue to inspire us in all these ways, we pray, that the things we do may show forth your glory.

C By your Word and sacraments, you have united us with the whole Christian Church on earth. Continue to call, gather, enlighten, and sanctify more believers, and keep them with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.    Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction  It is the gift of God that he has blessed us and keeps us.  The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Amen.

The Closing Hymn, CW 201, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” 4 verses

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev’ry need That has us now o’ertaken.

The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;

Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;

On earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected. But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected.  You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is,

The almighty Lord. And there’s no other God;

He holds the field forever.

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,

We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.

This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done!

One little word can fell him.

The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;

He’s by our side upon the plain With his good gifts and Spirit.

And do what they will—Hate, steal, hurt, or kill—

Though all may be gone, Our victory is won;

The kingdom’s ours forever!

Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. composite.

† ANNOUNCEMENTS †

October 31 — November 6

Sun.	8:00a.m.	Emmanuel Worship
	8:30a.m.	Sunday School at St. John’s
	9:00a.m.	Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
	10:00a.m.	St. John’s Worship
Mon.	3:30p.m.	A Team Basketball starts in Princeton
	3:30p.m.	Cheerleading practice starts in Montello
	3:30p.m.	Hand In Prayer meeting at St. John’s
	6:30p.m.	Joint Choir at St. John’s
	7:30p.m.	Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.	8:00a.m.	School Chapel
	9:00a.m.	Joint Elders meeting at St. John’s
	3:30p.m.	C Team Basketball practice starts in Princeton
	6:30p.m.	Joint Worship meeting at St. John’s
Wed.	10:30a.m.	Adult Bible Study
	1:45p.m.	Early School Release
	2:15p.m.	Public Teen Confirmation Class at St. John’s
	2:30p.m.	St. John’s Faculty Bible Study
	6:30p.m.	Evangelism meeting at St. John’s
Thurs.	8:00a,m.	St. John’s Teen Confirmation class
	12:00p.m.	Ladies Aid  dessert & meeting
	3:30p.m.	A Team Basketball practice in Princeton
	3:30p.m.	C Team Basketball practice in Montello
	6:00p.m.	Griefshare at St. John’s
Fri.
Sat.	4:30p.m.	St. John’s Worship
Next week’s theme: November 7, 2021End Times 2: Last Judgement
	Day Light Savings Time
8:00 a.m.	Emmanuel Worship
8:30a.m.	Sunday School at St. John’s
9:00a.m.	Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
9:00a.m.	Emmanuel Council meeting
10:00a.m.	St. John’s Worship

† CHURCH NEWS †

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)

– For the sick and distressed: Caryl Bassett, Mike Brown, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Sharon Crook, Jan Dahlke, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken & Sally Elmer, Mike Farrell, Donna Gatzke, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Carol Hamberger, Marian Heller, Louise Hillmer, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Ellie Kendall, Bob Klapper, Arden Klimke, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Phil Nelson (Melanie Zuehls’ step-father), Karen Radke, Wanda Sellnow (Principal Larry Sellnow’s mother), Doris Smith, Mary Smith, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Kathy Weinfurter (Ken Pabelick’s mother-in-law) (added this week: )

– For the family of our St. John’s member Elsa Russell, called to her Savior’s side in heaven on Thursday 10/28

– Election Day (11/2)

SAVE THE DATE Our next Ladies Aid meeting is Thursday, Nov. 4 at 12:45p.m. This will be a dessert only (no lunch) meeting. See you there!

SAVE THE DATE Sunday, Nov. 14 at 11a.m. St. John’s Teacher Call Voters meeting. 

HANDS IN PRAYER The Hands In Prayer Group from Emmanuel and St. John’s church members want to invite anyone that would like to join us at our next meeting. At this meeting you will learn a little more about what we enjoy doing for our two churches and the community. We would love to have you join our Christian group.  This meeting will be held on November 1st at 3:30 PM in the church basement of St. John’s.  No crafting skills are needed.  Our meetings are based on Hebrews 10:24 & 25 – “Let’s us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let encourage one another – all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

JOINT REFORMATION SERVICE After a year’s hiatus, The WLA Association Joint Reformation Service will be on TODAY, October 31st, at 3:00 p.m., at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1600 South Main Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.   The WLA Traveling Choir will be bringing God’s Word to us in song under the direction of Mr. Dale Witte, who will also serve as organist.  Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Dean of Chapel, Rev. Aaron Christie, will be our guest preacher.  The presiding minister will be St. Peter’s new pastor, Rev. Luke Boehringer.  We pray you will come and praise God for allowing our congregations to build on the three pillars of the Lutheran Reformation—that we are saved:  Sola Gratia (by Grace Alone),  Sola Fide (by Faith Alone), and Sola Scriptura (by Scripture Alone).

WLA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN  Thank you from Winnebago Lutheran Academy for having us visit your church services recently.  It was a privilege to share with you some WLA Association news along with our plans to build a new high school campus.  Please contact Kevin Ehlke with any questions you may have at 920-539-4041 or kehlke@wlavikings.org. If you would like to give in support of our current capital campaign, please use the brochures provided at your church or go to our website forward.wlavikings.org/donate.  Gifts can be mailed to WLA or given online at our website.  Thank you for your continued support of WLA!

MISSION FESTIVAL COMING TO EMMANUEL & ST. JOHN’S on Sunday, November 21.  Guest speaker during worship services will be Mr. Shannon Bohme, coordinator of WELS Mission Journeys, which provides an opportunity for all WELS members to walk together in the Great Commission. Through church- or school-based volunteer trips to WELS mission fields at home and abroad, members have the opportunity to engage in Christian service.  Pre-trip training led by a team leader equips volunteers to have significant impact during their trip, which are self-funded by the team. While volunteering, the learning and sharing of outreach ideas will allow teams to explore how they can use their God-given abilities to engage in outreach activities in their home congregation upon their return home. With the Lord’s blessing, these trips will inspire a lifelong journey of service and outreach for all who volunteer.

   Following the 10 a.m. service at St. John’s, all are invited to a lunch (Freewill Offering will be taken) in the lower level.  Please plan to stay for a short afternoon presentation by Mr. Bohme. He will highlight what is happening in home missions and discuss where we want to go as a synod with 100 new church plants in 10 years starting in 2023!  That’s exciting mission work!

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY:  COLLECTING BOOKS FOR TOTS  FINAL CALL!! During October congregational members are invited to donate new or gently used storybooks for ages 1-5 for Smart Start Day Care, Inc. in Montello.  Board books would be especially welcome.  St. John’s Sunday School children are sponsoring this community service project.  They are learning to “shine for Jesus in their community.”  Will you help us?  A collection box is located in the linkway.

GIFTS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS Please consider making a gift towards the following church or school projects.  Your gift, to the project of your choice, will be recorded under your member account in our Shepherd’s Staff program unless you specifically request it be recorded as anonymous.  Donor names and gift amounts are not published.  Your gift can be placed in the offering plate, the locked drop box by the office, or mailed.  Please contact the church/school secretary, Ciara Neuhauser, if you have any questions.  

Project Name & Brief Description                                 Amount Needed   

Church & School Computer Server Upgrade                              $7,851.64

(costs for replacing server)                                                

House Demolition               $9,500.00

(costs related to tear down of old Little Lambs house)                                                   

Church Piano                                                                               $6,000.00

Church A/V Upgrades                                                                    $2,996.29

School Athletic Fund   $1,000.00

(jerseys, equipment, tournament fees)               

Ministerial Tuition Assistance                       –                     No limit in place

(assistance for members pursuing the ministry)                     

Outreach Activities                                                              No limit in place

(church and/or school outreach supplies, fees)                                                         

St. John’s School Tuition Assistance 

(assistance for parents of students)                     No limit in place

School Technology Fund                                                    No limit in place

(maintain teacher and student computers, smartboards)                     

† SCHOOL NEWS †

TRUNK OR TREAT Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Trunk or Treat. What a great turn out it was! Be sure to check out our school Facebook page for pictures. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to make this event happen. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13 We hope this can continue to grow so we can continue to support those around us with God’s word and some fall fun…so spread the word for next year! 

BASKETBALL & CHEERLEADING Starts this week! A Team practice is Monday, Nov. 1 at 3:30pm in Princeton gym and Cheer practice is at 3:30pm in Montello gym. Player families: please refer to our Facebook groups for more information. Go Jaguars!

Attendance	Emmanuel	St. John’s
10-23		17
10-24	33	135
St. John’s Altar Committee for October 2021:Kathy North & Lucy Laun