St. John's Lutheran (LCMS), Howard, SD
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Pastor's Sermon for July 1 Posted.
Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon for June 24th, 2007, The Fifth after Pentecost has been posted on his sermon website.
You can read the whole sermon by clicking here.
Coming Soon Listen to this sermon here.
Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor Watt's Sermon for June 24th, 2007, The Fifth after Pentecost has been posted on his sermon website.
You can read the whole sermon by clicking here.
Coming Soon Listen to this sermon here.
The text is:
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Lk 9:51-62 (ESV)
From the Sermon:
We heard also from Paul in the Second reading: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1, ESV) The freedom that Paul is talking about, the freedom Jesus won for us, isn’t the kind of freedom we often think about, especially as we think about last weekend’s celebration of our Nation’s independence. It’s not a freedom to do whatever we want. That kind of freedom is self indulgent. Christ set us free from our need to earn our own salvation. We don’t have to work to make our place with God. We don’t have to do good works to earn anything. Jesus has earned it all for us. In fact, Jesus freed us from the slavery to sin, death and Satan, so that we could be his servants. Just like the Declaration of Independence didn’t mean that our forefathers were free from dependence. They were just dependent on each other instead of the King. “Take my life, O Lord, renew, Consecrate my heart to you;” Disciples of Jesus are dependent on him. We are dependent on Jesus. We are free to serve. Free to follow Jesus… full time, with our whole heart, soul and mind.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Audio Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost is online
The PodCast for Pastor's Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost is now available.
Click here to read the Sermon:
Click here to listen to the Sermon:
Click here to read the Sermon:
Click here to listen to the Sermon:
Pastor's Sermon for June 24 posted
Pastor's Sermon Posted
Pastor Watt's Sermon for June 24th, 2007, The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost has been posted on his sermon website.
You can read the whole sermon by clicking here.
Coming Soon Listen to this sermon here.
Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor Watt's Sermon for June 24th, 2007, The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost has been posted on his sermon website.
You can read the whole sermon by clicking here.
Coming Soon Listen to this sermon here.
The text is:
Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:26-39, ESV)
From the Sermon:
Chaos, trouble, helplessness… that where we are most of the time in our lives isn’t it? Surgery doesn’t just cause us pain, it takes away our ability to care for ourselves and we have to depend on someone else. It may even mean a change of how we’ve always done things. The wind blows and the house creaks and the water rises. We panic about all our stuff we’re going to loose in the storm. We send out storm spotters to watch so we can scurry to cover and protection. Murderers live closer than we care to even talk about. News of father killing mothers and unborn children leave us wagging our heads and feeling well out of control. Drug dealers are selling to our kids. Not to mention that we let our kids go out and party on Friday nights closing our eyes to the danger. “They’re going to do it anyway.” Talk about helpless… and danger. My heart aches for the families that will be hurt when Satan’s handiwork comes to its fullness. Death hovers over us. We’ve not done a funeral here in quite awhile but sooner or later another casket will be lifted up our high stair case and set before this altar with broken hearts. All of these dangers are real. We get sick, we can’t control or even predict the weather, there’s real evil out there, and people die every day. Satan is constantly trying to get us to focus on our troubles instead of Jesus. We need money for the roof. So be it. The roof isn’t more important than God’s word proclaimed under it. We think we’ve got to do something to make people give more money to fix it… well remember that everything is in God’s hands…
Announcements for June 25
Greeters: Greg and Kathy Callies Acolytes: Ushers
Issues Etc. This Week. 12:20pm on KLOH 1050AM. Topic: End Times Teachings, Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Man
St. John's 2nd Annual Sausage Supper will be July 22nd. Mark your calendars!
Don’t forget the Raising the Roof breakfast on July 1st. Funds will be used to help pay for the shingles needed for the church roof. The event will be used to apply for additional funds from Thrivent.
Life Quote: “[W]hen you have a child who was born with special needs, it’s very confusing and disconcerting and you really don’t know which end is up and you feel like you’re from Mars and you did something wrong. It turns out that God blessed you with a really special package.” Actor John McGinley, who plays Dr. Perry Cox on the NBC comedy “Scrubs,” whose son, Max, has Down syndrome. A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life / www.lutheransforlife.org / 888-364-LIFE
Stewardship to Think About: Galatians 3:23-4:7: By faith in Jesus Christ we have become children of God. What a privilege—to be children of God! What an awesome challenge—to be children of God! May God’s Holy Spirit help us to speak and act more and more like our Father in heaven.
9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Elder’s Meeting
7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Peace, Rapid City
Tuesday: 7:30pm—Church Council Meeting
Saturday: 7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Mt. Calvary, Huron
Sunday: 8am—Roofing Project Breakfast (Thrivent Event)
9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Family Bible Class
12:30pm—Worship at Good Sam
7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Resurrection, Sioux Falls
Note about the LCMS National Convention: Pastor Watt is the circuit delegate. Our area Pre-Convention Meetings are June 30, 1pm-Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Huron or July 1, 3:30pm, Resurrection Lutheran, Sioux Falls. If you have questions about issues that will be discussed please plan to attend the meeting or talk to Pastor Watt.
Pastor Watt—Recovering from Surgery
Goldie Callies—Hospitalized / Released
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Ushers Today: Barney Mette, Rob Eggert, Walter Rentschler, Cody Hoyer Elder: Rod UlrichGreeters: Greg and Kathy Callies Acolytes: Ushers
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attendance and Offering: 6/17— 72 / $930Issues Etc. This Week. 12:20pm on KLOH 1050AM. Topic: End Times Teachings, Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Man
St. John's 2nd Annual Sausage Supper will be July 22nd. Mark your calendars!
Don’t forget the Raising the Roof breakfast on July 1st. Funds will be used to help pay for the shingles needed for the church roof. The event will be used to apply for additional funds from Thrivent.
Life Quote: “[W]hen you have a child who was born with special needs, it’s very confusing and disconcerting and you really don’t know which end is up and you feel like you’re from Mars and you did something wrong. It turns out that God blessed you with a really special package.” Actor John McGinley, who plays Dr. Perry Cox on the NBC comedy “Scrubs,” whose son, Max, has Down syndrome. A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life / www.lutheransforlife.org / 888-364-LIFE
Stewardship to Think About: Galatians 3:23-4:7: By faith in Jesus Christ we have become children of God. What a privilege—to be children of God! What an awesome challenge—to be children of God! May God’s Holy Spirit help us to speak and act more and more like our Father in heaven.
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S
Today: International LWML Convention (ends today)9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Elder’s Meeting
7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Peace, Rapid City
Tuesday: 7:30pm—Church Council Meeting
Saturday: 7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Mt. Calvary, Huron
Sunday: 8am—Roofing Project Breakfast (Thrivent Event)
9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Family Bible Class
12:30pm—Worship at Good Sam
7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Resurrection, Sioux Falls
Note about the LCMS National Convention: Pastor Watt is the circuit delegate. Our area Pre-Convention Meetings are June 30, 1pm-Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Huron or July 1, 3:30pm, Resurrection Lutheran, Sioux Falls. If you have questions about issues that will be discussed please plan to attend the meeting or talk to Pastor Watt.
GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER
Don Calmus, Ed Wenz, Flo Bader, Maynard Hahn—Hospice / CancerPastor Watt—Recovering from Surgery
Goldie Callies—Hospitalized / Released
Labels: Announcements
Bulletin for June 24, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Bulletin for 06/17/2007(pdf), The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, is online and available for download.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
Labels: Bulletin
Monday, June 18, 2007
Audio Sermon for 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Available
The PodCast for Pastor's Sermon for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost is now available.
Click here to read the Sermon:
Click here to listen to the Sermon:
Click here to read the Sermon:
Click here to listen to the Sermon:
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Pastor's Sermon Posted Pastor Watt's Sermon for June 17th, 2007, The Second Sunday after Pentecost has been posted on his sermon website.
You can read the whole sermon by clicking here.
Coming Soon Listen to this sermon here.
The text is:
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. (2 Samuel 11:26-12:10,13-15, ESV)
From the Sermon:
There is sin in your life. I know there is because there is sin in my life too. We will struggle with sin until our dying day or until Jesus returns again. As Jesus says it comes out of our hearts. But, it doesn’t have to rule our lives; it doesn’t have to control us. God had made a way of dealing with it. “If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse of from all unrighteousness.” That is what we are doing here today isn’t it; receiving the gift he brings, forgiveness of sins, being cleansed from all unrighteousness. In this wonderful building God comes to us in Word and water, Body and Blood and Bread and Wine for the forgiveness of our sins. It’s not God forgetting the things we do, but God restoring our relationship to him through the punishment and death of another; God declaring us “not guilty” of sin, even though we are sinful.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Announcement for June 17, 2007
Worship This Week
Ushers Today: Barney Mette, Rob Eggert, Walter Rentschler, Cody Hoyer Elder: Rod Ulrich
Greeters: Pastor And Waunita Watt and Family Acolytes: Ushers
Announcements
Attendance and Offering: 6/10— 88/68 $2799.30 (1500 roof project)
Life Quote: “Call not that man wretched who, whatever ills he suffers, has a child to love.” Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) U.S. philosopher. A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life / www.lutheransforlife.org / 888-364-LIFE
Stewardship: Galatians 2:15-21; 3:10-14: St. Paul reminded the Galatians and us that we do not produce good works as Christian stewards in order to gain salvation. Rather, we produce good works as Christian stewards as an appropriate response to being saved by grace through faith in Jesus as our Savior.
"My faith is so weak." If you've every wondered exactly what faith is you can find out in God's Word. Host a bible study in your home. Each study is five weeks. The total cost is $25 for materials for 10 people. Contact Pastor Watt to schedule a time and starting date.
Issues Etc. This Week. 12:20pm on KLOH 1050AM. Topic: Prayer Dr. Andrew Steinmann, Professor of Theology and Hebrew Concordia University Chicago.
Serve the community: Are you looking for a rewarding experience? Do you love children? FAST (Fun After School Time) is looking for a volunteer for 1 or 2 days a week starting next fall. You can make a difference in the life of a child with a small amount of time and effort. For more information please contact Director Cheryl Laible at 772-4443.
St. John's 2nd Annual Sausage Supper will be July 22nd. Mark your calendars!
Don’t forget the Raising the Roof breakfast on July 1st. Funds will be used to help pay for the shingles needed for the church roof. The event will be used to apply for additional funds from Thrivent.
Come and join 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 your 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.
This Week at St. John’s
Today: 9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Family Bible Class
Monday: 9:30am to Noon—Pastor’s Study Group, Sioux Falls, SD
Wednesday: Thru June 25—National LWML Convention, Sioux Falls
Sunday: 9:30am—Worship
10:30am—Family Bible Class
7:30pm—District Pre-Convention Meeting, Peace Lutheran, Rapid City
Note about the LCMS National Convention: Pastor Watt is the circuit delegate. Our area Pre-Convention Meetings are June 30, 1pm-Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Huron or July 1, 3:30pm, Resurrection Lutheran, Sioux Falls. If you have questions about issues that will be discussed please plan to attend the meeting or talk to Pastor Watt.
God’s People at Prayer
Don Calmus, Ed Wenz, Flo Bader—Hospice / Cancer Maynard Hahn—Test Results
Pastor Watt—Surgery Goldie Callies—Hospitalized
LWML National Convention, Sioux Falls
Labels: Announcements
Bulletin for June 17, 2007 is available online
The Bulletin for 06/17/2007(pdf), The Third Sunday after Pentecost, is online and available for download.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
Labels: Bulletin
Special Voter's Meeting - June 3, 2007
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Special Voters Meeting
Sunday, June 3, 2007 10:45 a.m.
DRAFT MINUTES
President Joe Bechen called the special meeting to order. Today’s meeting is to determine an option for roofing the main body of the church.
Trustees John Rentschler and Curt Hueners shared their findings with the congregation. They have identified three options: steel with exposed fasteners, steel with raised seams and asphalt shingles (30 year or 50 year products).
Pros and cons of all three options was discussed. The condition of the roof under the current shingles is not certain. There are issues of leaking, air flow and longevity as well as cost and availability of contractors.
Labor is approximately the same under all three options. There is approximately $750-800 difference between 30 year and 50 year asphalt shingles. Contractors have been identified for the steel options but not yet for the asphalt options.
There will need to be a contractual agreement between the contractor and the church once the option is decided.
Motion was made by Helen Sprecher/seconded by Jim Litterick to pursue the option of the 50 year shingles. Motion passed by ballot vote of 44 yes and 21 no. (Gary Hueners and Karen Hueners supervised the count).
Following discussion, motion was made by Jim Rentschler/seconded by Max Schwader to authorize the trustees to determine the appropriate contractor and to choose color as best match in their opinion. Motion carried.
Max also commented that the trustees should do what they see fit with regard to the airflow issue, additional insulation, etc.
President Bechen introduced the topic of funds needed for this project. The current church budget is already in deficit and cannot accommodate this project (recognizing that this is essential and needs to be done). Motion was made by Tom Hueners/seconced by John Haak that a congregational breakfast be held on Sunday, July 1 at 8:00 a.m. as an event as a basis to request Thrivent funds. Motion passed.
The June newsletter should include a reference to the event and to the need regarding the roofing project. Thrivent could also send out postcards regarding the event.
Motion was made to adjourn by John Haak/seconded by Earl Voeltz. Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. Kathy Callies, Secretary
Special Voters Meeting
Sunday, June 3, 2007 10:45 a.m.
DRAFT MINUTES
President Joe Bechen called the special meeting to order. Today’s meeting is to determine an option for roofing the main body of the church.
Trustees John Rentschler and Curt Hueners shared their findings with the congregation. They have identified three options: steel with exposed fasteners, steel with raised seams and asphalt shingles (30 year or 50 year products).
Pros and cons of all three options was discussed. The condition of the roof under the current shingles is not certain. There are issues of leaking, air flow and longevity as well as cost and availability of contractors.
Labor is approximately the same under all three options. There is approximately $750-800 difference between 30 year and 50 year asphalt shingles. Contractors have been identified for the steel options but not yet for the asphalt options.
There will need to be a contractual agreement between the contractor and the church once the option is decided.
Motion was made by Helen Sprecher/seconded by Jim Litterick to pursue the option of the 50 year shingles. Motion passed by ballot vote of 44 yes and 21 no. (Gary Hueners and Karen Hueners supervised the count).
Following discussion, motion was made by Jim Rentschler/seconded by Max Schwader to authorize the trustees to determine the appropriate contractor and to choose color as best match in their opinion. Motion carried.
Max also commented that the trustees should do what they see fit with regard to the airflow issue, additional insulation, etc.
President Bechen introduced the topic of funds needed for this project. The current church budget is already in deficit and cannot accommodate this project (recognizing that this is essential and needs to be done). Motion was made by Tom Hueners/seconced by John Haak that a congregational breakfast be held on Sunday, July 1 at 8:00 a.m. as an event as a basis to request Thrivent funds. Motion passed.
The June newsletter should include a reference to the event and to the need regarding the roofing project. Thrivent could also send out postcards regarding the event.
Motion was made to adjourn by John Haak/seconded by Earl Voeltz. Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. Kathy Callies, Secretary
Labels: Calendar, VotersMeeting
Friday, June 01, 2007
The Bulletin for June 3, 2007 - Trinity Sunday is online.
The Bulletin for 06/03/2007(pdf), The Festival of The Holy Trinity, is online and available for download.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
St. John's uses the Three Year Lectionary from Lutheran Service Book.
