ST. JOHN’S & EMMANUEL
Ev. Lutheran Churches
Montello & Mecan, WI
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY
DECEMBER 31, 2017 & JANUARY 1, 2018
WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH! 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 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. May God bless our worship together!
A PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
Help us, O Lord, for now we enter
Upon another year today.
In you our hopes and thoughts now center;
Renew our courage for the way.
New life, new strength, new happiness
We ask of you, oh, hear and bless. (Hymn 70:1)
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY Jesus Comes to Save Us, Even as an Infant – Whether or not we had a “good Christmas,” as some may ask us, today over and over we hear good news of God’s grace.
ORDER OF SERVICE–LITURGY
“Service of the Word and Sacrament” (hymnal page 26)
PASTOR’S GREETING
OPENING HYMN 441:1-4 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
(Please stand)
LITURGY (hymnal page 26, read & sung responsively)
(Please be seated for the day’s Bible readings)
OLD TESTAMENT Psalm 90
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.
PSALM 145 (hymnal page 119, sung in unison)
EPISTLE 1 Peter 1:22-25 (today’s sermon text)
Born Anew For the New Year
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
VERSE OF THE DAY (hymnal page 30, all sing)
“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written…”
(Please stand)
GOSPEL: Luke 12:22-34
Do Not Worry
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
After the Gospel, all sing:
“Praise be to you, O Christ!”
(Please be seated)
SERMON HYMN 69 “Help Us, O Lord, for Now We Enter” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
SERMON: 1 Peter 1:22-25
“Change in the New Year”
1. What has changed
2. What needs to change
3. What never changes
HYMN 551: 1-2 “For All the Saints” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
READING OF THE NAMES OF OUR 2017 SAINTS TRIUMPHANT (Emmanuel and St. John’s members called home this past year)
| Name | To heaven | Age |
| Arlowayne Wegner | January 4 | 91 |
| Don Schumann | February 13 | 90 |
| Mary Raymond | March 8 | 81 |
| Frieda Wachholz-Ritchie | March 19 | 99 |
| Pat Ewert | March 30 | 84 |
HYMN 551: 3-4 “For All the Saints” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
| Name | To heaven | Age |
| George Raymond | April 5 | 83 |
| Henry Vierow | May 27 | 88 |
| Marolyn Warner | July 18 | 79 |
| Dorothy Klawitter | July 24 | 79 |
| Don Werdin | August 2 | 84 |
HYMN 551: 5-6 “For All the Saints” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
| Name | To heaven | Age |
| Bob Mateske | August 30 | 91 |
| Gene Boville | October 9 | 89 |
| Carolyn Smart | October 18 | 82 |
| Alice John | November 6 | 95 |
| Walter Bubolz | November 16 | 99 |
HYMN 551: 7-8 “For All the Saints” (printed in hymnal, all sing)
(Please stand)
NICENE CREED (hymnal page 31, read responsively)
(Please be seated)
OFFERING, GREETINGS, FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS,
OFFERING PRAYER
(Please stand)
NEW YEAR PRAYER (read by pastor)
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and others facing trials: George Alexander, Bill Aumann, Chuck Boetcher, Alexandria Buehrens (Bob & Carolyn’s great granddaughter), Bob & Carolyn Buehrens, Sharon Crook, Harley & Liola Crown, Agnes Dassow, Mavis DeWitt, Susan DeWitt (Mavis’ daughter-in-law), Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Mike Farrell, Jaedan Gain (Ed & Marlene Buchholz’s great grandson), Donna Gatzke, Lori Gerth (Marvis Wegner’s sister), Millie Henke, Laurana Hoffman (Tim’s daughter), LuAnn Hoffman-Reber, Drake Hunter (Bill & Cally’s grandson), Mary Isberner, Geri Kerl (Sue Brown’s mother), Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Anna Madigan, Linda Malsack, Sherry Miller (Candace Sonnenberg’s sister), Marion Neuman (Marjorie Fabian’s sister), Marolyn Riemer, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Schrank, Becky Schulz (Kristen Cragin’s sister), Jordan Scott (Debbie Parrish’s grandson), Roger Stellick (Doug’s uncle), Jennifer Strauss, Dennis Umland (Harold Fandrey’s brother), Linda Lou Wacholtz, Bob Wegner – (added this week: Bob Buehrens)
– For Gordon & Marjorie Fabian who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday (12/30)
LORD’S PRAYER (hymnal page 32b)
HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY (hymnal page 33, sung & read responsively)
(Please be seated for holy communion)
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel 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.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 310:1-6 “I Come, O Savior, to Your Table”(printed in hymnal, all sing)
(After the distribution, please stand)
LITURGY (hymnal page 36)
(Please be seated)
CLOSING HYMN 441:5,6 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”(printed in hymnal, all sing)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Theme for next Sunday (1/7):
The Sunday after Christmas–New Year’s Eve: Jesus Shared Our Humanity
Note: Please give your completed friendship register page to an usher or pastor as you leave today’s service.
| ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 6 | |||
| Sun. | 8:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Worship | |
| 8:20 A.M. | Emmanuel Nursery Sunday School | ||
| 8:30 A.M. | St. John’s Sunday School | ||
| 10:00 A.M. | St. John’s Worship | ||
| 7:00 P.M. | St. John’s Candlelight Memorial/New Year’s Eve Worship with communion | ||
| Mon. | 9:00 A.M. | Emmanuel memorial/New Year’s Day Worship with communion | |
| Tues. | 8:00 A.M. | SJS classes resume | |
| 9:00 A.M. | Elder’s meeting at St. John’s | ||
| Wed. | 10:00 A.M. | Adult Bible Study at St. John’s begins | |
| 1:40 P.M. | SJS/LL Early dismissal | ||
| 2:15 P.M. | Public School Teen Confirmation class at St. John’s | ||
| 6:30 P.M. | St. John’s Worship | ||
| 7:30 P.M. | Bible Information Class at St. John’s begins | ||
| Thurs. | 12:00 P.M. | Ladies Aid lunch & meeting | |
| Fri. | |||
| Sat. | |||
| SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018
The Sunday after Christmas–New Year’s Eve: Jesus Shared Our Humanity |
|||
| 8:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Worship with communion | ||
| 8:20 A.M. | Emmanuel Nursery Sunday School | ||
| 8:30 A.M. | St. John’s Sunday School | ||
| 9:00 A.M. | Emmanuel Adult Bible Study | ||
| 10:00 A.M. | St. John’s Worship | ||
LITTLE LAMBS DIRECTOR CALL MEETING Our current Little Lambs director, Sandy Hemling, has asked to step down from her position as Little Lambs director. The school board has requested from our WELS Northern Wisconsin District President, Pastor Joel Zank, a list of candidates to be reviewed at a Call meeting scheduled for Sunday 1/7/18 at 11:30 a.m. We thank Sandy Hemling for her faithful service and willingness to continue serving part-time in coming months until her position as Little Lambs director is filled.
ST. JOHN’S OFFERING STATEMENT SIGN-UP The signup sheet is located in the church link way. Please sign up if you wish to have a copy of your 2017 offering statement.
ST. JOHN’S OFFERING ENVELOPES 2018 are located in the link way of church. Please pick yours up but do not use until January 2018. If you do not have a box, feel free to contact pastor or the office and we will get one to you!
EMMANUEL SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS will resume January 7, 2018 at 9:00a.m.
NEW YEAR’S EVE LOCK-IN All 6th-12th graders are invited to our youth group’s 3rd annual NYE lock-in. Enjoy an evening of fun & games, movies, not to mention lots of snacks & food. We will begin after St. John’s New Years Eve service, concluding at 9 am on NY’s day. For more details, or to sign up, call or text us at 608-697-1600(Mark)or 608-697-3327(Patty). Deadline to sign up is December 27.
NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY COMMUNION/SAINTS TRIUMPHANT SERVICES Sunday 12/31 7pm at St. John’s and Monday 1/1 9am at Emmanuel, communion services are scheduled where the names of our E/SJ members called to their heavenly home in 2017 will be read and bells tolled. “For all the saints who from their labors rest…” (Hymn 551)
INTERACTIVE FAITH Adult Discipleship offers LIVE online Bible studies for use by congregations, small groups, or individuals to serve as a mid-week Bible study. Gather at your church or around the computer to join in fellowship and learn about the Bible with brothers and sisters in faith from around the country.
Daniel Habben, pastor at St. John, St. John’s, Antigua, will lead the next interactive faith Bible study starting in January. Entitled “Isaiah: God confronts and comforts his people,” the study will cover the first 12 chapters of Isaiah. “ ‘A virgin will be with child . . . and he was pierced for our transgressions.’ Seven hundred years before the arrival of God’s Son into our world, the Holy Spirit worked especially hard through the prophet Isaiah to get the people of his day to turn from their sin and embrace their Savior-God,” says Habben. “Through the words of Isaiah, God still confronts and comforts his people.”
The study will be streamed Wednesdays at 6 and 8 p.m. CT, from Jan. 10–Feb. 7, 2018.
When: Wednesday’s Jan. 10 – Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (central)
Who: Rev. Daniel Habben
What:“Isaiah: God confronts and comforts his people”
Study guides will be available in January.
For more information, visit the website: https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/adult-discipleship/interactive-faith/
CHURCH WEBSITE Thank you Kerry and Jen Mann for the work on our church website: www.stjohnsmontello.org. Your comments and suggestions for improvement are welcomed: 414-339-9031 – kerry@inmarketsuccess.com
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 12/3 at Emmanuel: Josh & Amanda Kuchar and son Weston, 12/10 at St. John’s: Adam Myers & Jennifer Strauss – A new “Bible Information Class” will begin on Wed 1/3/18 at 7:30pm in pastor’s office/conference room at St. John’s. Alternate days/times can also be scheduled. Free study guides are available from pastor…just ask.
NEW WEEKDAY/EVE BIBLE CLASS Beginning January 2018, we’ll be starting a new weekday/eve Bible Study entitled: “Your Questions–Scriptures Answers: Adiaphora” (things that God doesn’t command or forbid in the Bible and how we are to properly use our Christian freedom). We meet at St. John’s in the pastor’s office/conference room Monday 7:30pm (beginning 1/8) and Wednesday 10am (beginning 1/3). “Therefore let us leave the elementery teachings about Chrsit and go on to maturity…” (Hebrews 6:1)
In addition to our regular St. John’s Sunday 10:00 a.m. and Emmanuel 8:00 a.m. services, please see our special Christmas Service schedule below. God bless you this Christmas season!
| Sunday, December 31, 2017 | 7:00 p.m. | New Year’s Eve Service at St. John’s with communion |
| Monday, January 1, 2018 | 9:00 a.m. | New Year’s Day service at Emmanuel with communion |
USHERS
Emmanuel: December 31 New Year’s Eve Lucas Stelter, Paul Wuerch, DuWayne Sommerfeld January 1 New Year’s Day (C) 9:00am Brian Ninneman, Bob Ferber, Joe Heller, communion assistant: Wayne Stelter, January 1 New Year’s Day (C) Brian Ninneman, Bob Ferber, Joe Heller, communion assistant: Wayne Stelter, January 7 (C) Lucas Stelter, Warren Buchholz, Don Stelter, communion assistant: Wayne Stelter
St. John’s: December 31 New Year’s Eve Don Smith; Chief, Calvin Wojtalewicz, Zeb Zuehls, Mark Emond, Kevin Kaul, December 31 New Year’s Eve Candlelight (C) 7:00pm Kenon Smith; Chief, Scott Ritz, James Kunde, Ken Borzick, Thomas Wojtalewicz, January 7 Cal Kapp; Chief, Martin Schmanke, Lee Ollendorf, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher
GREETERS TODAY Paul & Christa Van Treeck
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 12-23E 12-24 12-24 Candle. 12-25 12-27 | 150 30 79 79 | 91 124 0 |
| ST. JOHN’S ALTAR COMMITTEE CONTACT DECEMBER 2017 | Jennie Utke & Susan Brown | |
Welcome To Our Visitors!
Please Sign Our Guest Register
Visit our website & Facebook link at: www.stjohnsmontello.org
Pastor Peter Zietlow Office (608) 297-2321
Cell & Text (608) 408-7830, E-mail: ZietlowPL6@hotmail.com
Principal Tim Hemling (608) 745-2549
Teacher Karin Stellick (920) 342-3689
Teacher Sara Borck (858) 731-7919
Teacher Sandra Hemling (608) 745-2776
Parish/School Secretary Ciara Neuhauser (608) 297-2866
Altar Ladies Elaine Kelm (920) 344-0025 &
Carolyn Rosenthal 589-5036
Mail to: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949
OR scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
Winnebago Lutheran Academy
Principal Mr. David Schroeder/WLA office (920) 921-4930
WLA website: www.wlavikings.org