Worship this Week, November 5, 2006
Worship This Week – November 5, 2006

All Saints Day

Today's General Theme: God's grace in Christ makes us saints; we thank God for the blessings He has given us through faithful believers and consider their example for our imitation
Mood of Service: Triumphant/joyful/spirited
Notes: A special day of celebration in remembrance of martyrs was observed already in the third century Church. In Lutheran usage, of course, we do not honor or worship the saints themselves, but rather give thanks to the Lord of the Church for the blessings He has brought us through their service and example. We must also remember the Scriptural usage of the term "saint": not a perfect person holy by merit, but a person made holy by redemption in Christ, that is, any believer. This will protect us from any tendency to emphasize the virtue of any human being, and keep our faith focused on Christ alone.(www.pericope.org)

Processional Hymn Onward Christian Soldiers Tune: St. Gertrude - LW518 Lyrics
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 26:1-4;8-9;12-13;19-21
Epistle Reading Revelation 21:9-11;22-27;22:1-5
Holy Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
Hymn of the Day For All the Saints Sine nomine - LW191 Lyrics under copyright
Recessional Hymn Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won Jesus, meine Zuversicht - LW139 Lyrics

Labels: Worship

  ¶ 10/31/2006 08:59:00 AM 0 Comments

  Pastor's Sermon Outline Posted Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon October 29th has been posted on his sermon website. It is the first in a three part series on the reformation. You can see a pdf file of the PowerPoint slides that go with the sermon here. You can read it by clicking here.

The text is:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:20-25, ESV)

From the Sermon:

We are Justified!
* To be “justified” is to be declared "not guilty" by God
* A person is justified by
* grace alone,
* through faith alone,
* on account of Christ alone
* Good works have no place in becoming right with God

Labels: Sermon, Worship

  ¶ 10/26/2006 06:11:00 PM 0 Comments

  Announcements - Oct 29, 2006 Worship This Week
Ushers:     John Haak; Henry Rentschler; Clint Hoyer; John Albert
Greeters: Rob and Staci Eggert       Acolytes: Emily German Jeremy Crittenden
Announcements
Stewardship: Reformation Sunday, God raised up people like Martin Luther to re-discover the Biblical truth that we are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  The Scriptures also say that we Christian stewards are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  By wisely managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes we show that we really are the saved people of God.
Life Quote: October 29 “Life issues will not disappear. Satan is still working overtime to destroy God’s greatest creation—human life. Warriors are still needed. Let us pledge to redouble our efforts until all life is accorded the dignity given it by God.” Diane E. Schroeder, President, National Lutherans For Life A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life / www.lutheransforlife.org / 888-364-LIFE
Looking for a Family Christmas Project?: Put your faith into practice. SD Human Services Center is looking for gift donations for their patients. Purchase new items to be used as Christmas gifts and send them unwrapped to HSC, Volunteer Services, P.O. Box 7600, Yankton, SD 57078 by December 4, 2006 Items requested for men, women and teens: Large and xl Tees, jeans, XL flannel shirts, shampoo, conditioner, handkerchiefs, lotion, ball caps, gloves, underwear, swimsuits, pajamas, slippers, athletic socks, playing cards, board games, stationary, candy bars, gum, snacks, 30-min phone cards, and videos. 
Events
This Week at St. John’s
     Sunday:     9:30 am—Worship Service
          10:30 am—Family Bible Class (Basement)
          5:30pm—Youth Group, Pizza party and scavenger hunt (Basement)
          No Adult Education Class
     Wednesday:     1:30pm—Afternoon LWML
          3:15pm—Kids for Christ (Basement)
          6:30pm—Private Confession (Church Sanctuary)
Today! All Students 7-12 join us tonight at the church for a pizza party and scavenger hunt.  Bring a friend!  You will be visiting homes around town to collect a bible verse and ingredients for cookies.  Upon returning to the church, it’s time to make the cookies.  5:30pm
PotatoeFeed:  Less than a month away.  Find the food signup sheet on the bulletin board.  God’s People at Prayer
Fire as District Office—Thanksgiving for minimal damage
Violet Schwader—Birthday
KFUO Radio—87th Anniversary Synod’s Radio Station in St. Louis
Deb Dalton—Medical Tests
Worship next week.
Propers:      All Saints Day     p. 116
Readings:     Isa 26:1-4,8-9, 12-13, 19-21; Rev 21:9-11, 22-27; 22:1-5; Matt 5:1-12
Hymns:     YLW 518; LW 191; YLW 139
Ushers:     Gary Bell; Barry Callies; Maynard Hahn; Dale Hoyer   
Greeters: John and Joyce Haak      Acolytes: McKayla Zobel Evan Schwader 

Labels: Announcements

  ¶ 10/26/2006 02:38:00 PM 0 Comments

  Confirmation Class Blog Check out the Confirmation Class Blog.

What's there?
Class Schedule, Memory Work and other important Class info.

Pastor Watt

Labels: Education

  ¶ 10/25/2006 07:39:00 AM 0 Comments

  Worship This Week, October 29, 2006
Worship This Week – October 29, 2006

Festival of the Reformation

Today's General Theme: We thank God for blessing His Church through the reformation begun by Martin Luther
Mood of Service: Militant/aggressive/determined
Notes: The Christian serves God in the midst of turmoil and opposition. God has not promised it would be otherwise. We may be tempted to think that because we are on God's side and try to serve Him, we should be popular or at least have an easy life. That this is a false hope is shown by Jesus Christ Himself Who certainly deserved the best this world could offer, but instead endured suffering and pain. Martin Luther also experienced this phenomenon, as will all who sincerely serve God. Our joy will be found in heaven, not in this world. Yet our enemies will not succeed in overwhelming us, because God will watch over and protect us.(www.pericope.org)

Processional Hymn A Mighty Fortress Ein Feste Burg - LW297 Lyrics
Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 31:31-34
Epistle Reading Romans 3:19-28
Holy Gospel John 8:31-36
Hymn of the Day Salvation unto Us Has Come Es is Das Heil - 355 Lyrics
Distribution Hymns
God's Word is Our Great Heritage Reuter - 333 Lyrics
Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared Du Lebensbrot, Herr Jesu Christ - LW246 Lyrics under copyright
Recessional Hymn O Lord, We Praise You Gott Sei Gelobet Und Gebenedeiet - 238 Lyrics

Labels: Worship

  ¶ 10/23/2006 08:00:00 AM 0 Comments

  Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon October 22th has been posted on his sermon website. You can read it by clicking here.

The text is:

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10:2-12, ESV)

From the Sermon:

Forgiveness is the foundation of our relationship with God. Just as Paul says, it’s all about what Christ did for us, He is the bridegroom we are his bride. He sanctifies us, by cleansing us with water and the word. To be baptized is to be a member of the church, the bride of Christ. To be baptized is to be washed clean of sin, even the sin of not wanting to submit to the Bridegroom and God’s Word about marriage or anything else. St. Paul says that Christ gave himself up for the Church, for His bride. That is talking about the cross. A husband is to give his life for his bride, to provide for her, to protect her, to hold her welfare above his own, to sacrifice all for her. That’s what Jesus did. Our sin, our rejection of God’s control over our lives deserves a permanent divorce from God. But Jesus brings us to God as his perfect bride because he takes our place in punishment. He holds our welfare above his own. He sacrifices his life for ours. He suffers the permanent separation from God on the cross, we see that when he shouts “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, ESV) And so when God look to us in judgment he only sees that we have been washed clean, that we are “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,” that we are “holy and without blemish.”

Labels: Sermon, Worship

  ¶ 10/21/2006 11:45:00 AM 0 Comments

  Worship This Week, October 22, 2006
Worship This Week – October 22, 2006

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (LW, Series B)

Seasonal Emphasis: The Christian looks forward to the goal of everlasting life
Today's General Theme: Our relationship with God is the top priority in life
Mood of Service: Joyful/aggressive/militantJoyful/aggressive/militant

Notes: This day begins a new emphasis in the Pentecost season. We now focus on our hope of sharing God's glory forever. This hope gives meaning and purpose to our lives, and gives courage in time of opposition. It provides the assurance of victory over Satan and the forces of evil. Since God can help us only when we trust Him completely, today's service teaches us that our relationship with Him is to be our first concern in life. This practical application of the First commandment makes God truly our God and us His children. Then all the benefits His grace offers become ours in Christ.(www.pericope.org)

Processional Hymn Just as I am, Without One Plea -- Woodworth -- 359 -- Lyrics
Old Testament Reading Genesis 2:18-24
Epistle Reading Hebrews 2:9-18
Holy Gospel Mark 10:2-16
Hymn of the Day Our Father, by Whose Name - Rhosymedre -- 465 Lyrics Under Copyright
Recessional Hymn My Faith Looks Trustingly - Olivet -- 378 -- Lyrics

Labels: Worship

  ¶ 10/18/2006 08:16:00 AM 0 Comments

  Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon October 15th has been posted on his sermon website. You can read it by clicking here.

The text is:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34, ESV)

From the Sermon:

“That I may be His own” just think about that for a moment. Jesus Christ came, is born a human being, “that I may be His own.” Jesus lives on earth, walks the roads of the middle east “that I may be His own.” He hangs on the cross, and suffers not just the physical suffering of that punishment, but also the spiritual suffering that our sins deserve, “that I may be His own.” He ascends into the cloud up to the throne of God, the Father, and prays for me there, “that I may be His own.” He comes here in His Word, in Water connected to His Word, and in His very body and Blood, in with and under bread and wine, “that I may be His own.” His own to serve Him in worship, with the time that He gives me, with the talents that He gives me, and even with the money that He gives me. That’s Christian Stewardship. That’s giving to the church for the all the right reasons.

Labels: Sermon, Worship

  ¶ 10/13/2006 03:28:00 PM 0 Comments

  Worship This Week - October 15, 2006
Worship This Week – October 15, 2006

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (LW, Series B)

Seasonal Emphasis: General description of Christian living in this present world
Today's General Theme: God has shown for us, expressed in His Word, is loveMood of Service: Serious/reflective but not melancholy or somber
Notes: Today's service differs from that of Pentecost 14 in its emphasis on God's Word revealing to us what love means in our lives. Jesus is the Perfect Example of that love in action, but it is God's word that expresses His will for our own lives and relationships. (www.pericope.org)

Processional Hymn Come, Oh Come, Thou Quickening Spirit - Komm, o komm du Geist -- 165 (Lyrics under copyright)
Old Testament Reading Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29
Epistle Reading James 4:7-5:6
Holy Gospel Mark 9:38-50
Hymn of the Day I Lay My Sins on Jesus - Munich -- 366 -- Lyrics
Recessional Hymn God, Whose Almighty Word - Italian Hymn -- 317 -- Lyrics

Labels: Worship

  ¶ 10/10/2006 11:53:00 AM 0 Comments

  Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon for LWML Sunday, October 7th has been posted on his sermon website. You can read it by clicking here.The text is

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, ESV)

From the Sermon:

That’s Jesus whom God sent to save His people from their sin. He is the great light that walked among people, healing and teaching, preaching and forgiving. He shined on them the light of God’s Word. He made it clear that God was in the world to save them from sin. He hung on the cross and died. The sky turned black. Sin and death and Satan seemed to have won. But Easter brought light and life.

Labels: Sermon, Worship

  ¶ 10/07/2006 06:11:00 PM 0 Comments