Labels: PodCast, Sermon

Labels: Education, Family Bible Class

The text is:

1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:1-9 (ESV)

From the Sermon:

Back at the Tower of Babel, God broke up the people’s pride by breaking up their communication. He scattered them across the face of the earth to prevent greater evil. He breaks our pride by allowing trouble and pain in our lives. That trouble and pain show us that we are fully and completely dependant on Him. Death shows us how helpless we really are. How scattered we become when we push God away.

But the God that scattered is also the God who gathers. The same God who took away the ability to communicate gave it back again. That’s what happened on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came and turned dis-unity, scattered people, dis-united, scattered language, into unified people who each heard “the mighty works of God” in their own language. It was a return to Babel, actually it was “Babel undone.” But God didn’t bring this unity so that those people could once again build a tower, a monument to their own interests. He did it to bring the true unity in Jesus Christ. Remember the “mighty works of God!”

Labels: Pentecost, Sermon, Worship

Announcements

Attendance and Offering: 5/20— 55 $1,227.00

Today on Issues Etc. 12:20pm on LKOH 1050AM. “Confession & Forgiveness” Rev. Peter Bender, Director Concordia Catechetical Academy

The National LWML Convention in Sioux Falls! It’s coming soon! June 20-25. Contact members of LWML or Altar Guild for more info!

The Synod’s Convention is this Summer in July: July 14-19 in Houston Texas. Pastor Watt is the circuit delegate. Please watch for important District information on the convention.

Watch for more information on St. John’s Second Annual Sausage Supper. July 22 following Sunday morning Worship. Get ready to work!

Life Quote: “Even though our country is filled with devastation from the evil of abortion, our future as Christians is certain. Christ has overcome ‘the evil one’ . . . let us go forward speaking truth in love, doing the work God has given us and relying on His promises! ‘Jesus answered, ‘We must do what the One who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming’” (John 9:4 GOD’S WORD). Diane E. Schroeder, President, Lutherans For Life. A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life / www.lutheransforlife.org / 888-364-LIFE

Invitation to Travel to the Holy Land: Join me (Pastor Nabil Nour, a native of Israel) on a spiritual journey to the Holy land. Hear the good news, see the wonderful and glorious sights, smell the rich aroma, and get a taste of foreign delicacies. We will be departing from Minneapolis on October 2nd, 2007 for 11 days. If this is a trip you wanted to take, now is the time to take the adventure of a life time. You will come back refreshed, rejuvenated and rejoicing because you walked the walk of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Bible will come alive and the names and places will jump at you whenever you read or hear them. The price for the 11 day trip including airfare, hotels and two meals a day is $2850.00 One of those nights you will be a guest at my parents home in Haifa. The only thing that you are responsible for is you noon meals and spending money. For further information contact: Pastor Nabil S. Nour Phil. 1:6 C/O Redeemer Lutheran Church PO Box 158 Armour,SD 57313-0158 (605) 724-2489 or (605) 724-2722.

Sponsor the Newsletter: The cost for publishing and mailing St. John’s News each month is $100. If you would like to sponsor the newsletter for a month please contact pastor Watt. pastor@stjohnshoward.org or (605)579-0005.

This Week at St. John’s

Today: 9:30am—Worship

10:30am—Family Bible Class

Monday: Memorial Day

10:30am—Memorial Day Program, Graceland Cemetery

Thursday: 5:30pm—In Home Bible Study (Mae Brummett-Host)

Next Sunday: 9:30am—Worship w/ Holy Communion (Festival of the Holy Trinity)

10:30am—Family Bible Class

God’s People at Prayer

Don Calmus, Ed Wenz, Flo Bader (Pastor’s Aunt), Gloria Zobel, Phil Bremmon, Leona Stanghor: Cancer and/or Hospice

Ron Van Pelt, Ila Kunningham (Kristi Bartcher’s Sister-in-Law), Etheldra Rassmussen—Hospitalized

Labels: Announcements

Labels: Bulletin

The text is:

20“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:20-26 (ESV)

From the Sermon:

True unity doesn’t come from sinful people. It can’t come from sinful people. It comes only from and through Jesus Christ. Jesus brings unity to a divided world. He brings restoration to a separated world. Through God’s Word made Flesh, we find peace, healing and wholeness; first, in restoration of our relationship with God; and then in our relationships to other people. It’s the Ten Commandments. The first three “You shall have no other Gods; You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy;” talk about our relationship to God, the rest “you shall not steal, you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery; all talk about our relationship with other people. Jesus keeps these commandments perfectly in our place. That is how in Jesus Christ we have true unity. He is the one who has knit us together into one body. That’s what Jesus is talking about when He prays that they may be in us. We are united to God and to one another through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Labels: Sermon, Worship

Labels: News, Newsletter

Labels: Bulletin

The text is:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

From the Sermon:

That’s why God has given us this place to gather. He knows how hard it is for us to hold on. That’s exactly why he gives us his Word that he promise will work in our hearts. That’s why he attaches His Word to water in baptism. So that we can see what it means to have our sins washed away. That’s why Jesus comes to us in his very body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. He connects to us through the forgiveness that comes though the same body and blood that hung on the cross for you.

Labels: Confirmation, Sermon, Worship

Labels: Bulletin

Pastor’s Report Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Rev. Jonathan C. Watt – St. John's Lutheran Church, Howard, South Dakota

General

ü I have been elected as the circuit delegate to the Synodical Convention in Huston Texas, July 14-19, 2007. Pulpit supply will be needed.

Education

ü April 26^th, 5:30pm is the first In Home Bible Study. I am looking for more members to host studies in there home.

ü There will be three confirmads this year. Thomas Carrico, Allisa Mette, Jeremy Crittenden. Questioning is May 9^th 7:30pm. All are encouraged to attend. Confirmation is May 13^th, 9:30am.

ü Sunday Morning Bible class continues through the Gospel of Matthew. We are studying one chapter at a time. All are encouraged to attend.

Worship Calendar

ü Reminder: Worship services at Good Samaritan are the first Sunday of every month at 12:30pm.

ü Questioning May 9^th 7:30pm. All members are encourage to attend.

ü Confirmation May 13^th, 9:30am.

ü Festival of the Holy Trinity, June 3^rd, w/ Holy Communion.

Labels: Administration, Pastor's Report

The secretary’s minutes of January 21, 2007 were read and approved.

Theresa VanSickle read the treasurer’s report which coincides with the Financial Committee’s records. Motion was made and seconded to approve the report. Curt Hueners/Jim Rentschler. Motion carried.

Elders: Gary Bell reported that the elders have been updating the membership and are recommending the following actions. Jason Polzen to be approved for a peaceful release to Calvary Assembly of God. Tom Hueners/Jerry Sprecher. Motion passed.

To be removed from membership roles:

Geraldene Bridges Curt Hueners/Tom Hueners. Motion unanimously passed.

Dennis Dale Gary Bell/Steve Litterick. Motion unanimously passed.

Summer Huber Steve Litterick/Deana Nelson. Motion unanimously passed.

Paul Huber Donna Bechen/Doug Larsen. Motion unanimously passed.

Charidy Simmons. Nyla Larsen/Gary Bell. Motion unanimously passed.

Nichelle Burger. Donna Bechen/Deana Nelson. Motion unanimously passed.

Betty Hoyer. Gary Bell/Donna Bechen. Motion unanimously passed.

The elders also reported that they will be reviewing and approving a letter regarding financial support. Gary asked that if possible that members be encouraged to support this request. The elders are also considering two communion Sundays per month.

Trustees: John Rentschler reported regarding the roof repair project. The roof was last shingles in 1980. The best estimates to date are $6000 for the project. John also suggested that additional insulation (approximately $850) should be done at the same time. Replacement of knob and tube wiring could also be accomplished by the trustees. Joe Bechen indicated that the current church budget cannot accommodate this project; on the other hand to postpone this project will mean greater repairs will be needed (new ceiling, etc.) Motion was made to approve the trustees to continue to pursue cost estimates and alternatives (steel roofing) for this project and that a special voters meeting can be called to learn of their report. Curt Hueners/Jim Litterick. Motion passed. Joe also asked that if anyone was interested in volunteering to help head a fund drive for the roofing project that he would like to hear from them.

Board of Education: Max Schwader reported that no director has yet volunteered for Vacation Bible School.

Cemetery Board: Earl Voeltz reported that one bid for mowing has been received from Gary Wenz. (Totals $130 for the cemetery, church yard and parsonage).

Pastor’s Report: (attached)

Audit committee: Tom Hueners reported that the committee has reviewed all of the books and found only minor questions which have been satisfactorily addressed. Motion to approve report of the audit committee was made and seconded. Gary Bell/Harlan Haak. Motion passed.

Old business: None

New business: None

The next Voters Meeting is for July 8 with the church council meeting on Wednesday, June 27.

We concluded with the Lord’s Prayer.

Submitted:

Kathy Callies, Secretary

Labels: Administration, VotersMeeting

The text is:

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:1-18, ESV)

From the Sermon:

We are all Gentiles; people who were lost until faith in Jesus was planted in our hearts through God’s Word, water and the work of the Holy Spirit. And we’d be lost too if that same Spirit didn’t come to us every week right here in God’s Word, preached into your ears. Our faith would die of malnutrition if that same Spirit didn’t use the bread and wine, and the body and blood of Jesus to make it grow. When you look around the room here you can glorify God and say with the church at Jerusalem, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life. (Acts 11:18, ESV)

Labels: Sermon, Worship