2020 DEC 27 Sunday Worship

 Online Bulletin

Christmas Day Worship

 Online Bulletin for Christmas Day Worship 2020

Christmas Eve Worship

 Online Bulletin for Christmas Eve

Christmas Week Worship Schedule

• WED 12/23- No Confirmation this week
• THR 12/14- Christmas Eve
• 5:00PM Worship @ St. Paul, Hanover TWP
• 6:30PM Worship @ St. John, Charter Oak
• 9:30PM Candlelight Worship @ Immanuel, Soldier TWP
• FRI 12/25 Christmas Day- 9:00AM Worship @ St. John
• SAT 12/26 5:00PM Sunday School @ Immanuel
• 6:00PM Worship with Communion @ Immanuel
• SUN 12/17 @ St. John:
• 8:45AM Sunday School
• 9:00AM Bible Class
• 10:00AM Worship

2020 DEC 20 | 4th Sunday in Advent Worship

Online Bulletin 

2020 DEC 16 | Wednesday Advent Midweek Worship

Online Bulletin 

Advent & Christmas Caroling

Since Covid restrictions prevent us from visiting the area nursing homes and care centers in person, we've chosen to sing virtually.

Sunday Worship; December 13, 2020

Online Bulletin

Advent Midweek Worship; WED DEC 9, 2020

 ONLINE BULLETIN

Sunday Worship; December 6, 2020

Online Bulletin for Sunday, December 6, 2020 

Daily devotion for November 5, 2020

Jesus' Word that Sustains the Weary (Isaiah 50:4) Today's Devotion from Pastor Merrill Saturday, December 5, 2020 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." Isaiah 60:1-3 [ESV] The Christmas carol, "We Three Kings of Orient Are," describes the visit of the Magi, or wise men from the East, to see the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. We don't know if they were three (the Bible does not give a number; it does mention three gifts--gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and they were almost certainly not kings, but many nativity scenes portray them that way. Perhaps that is because of this passage from Isaiah, which predicts that the Savior of Israel would come, and that "nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." We recall the light of the star that guided the Magi to the infant Jesus. The "light" in this passage certainly is Jesus, the promised Savior, and the coming of the Magi is the first time we see "nations" outside Israel coming to worship the newborn King. Verse 6 of Isaiah 60 mentions camels, which are traditionally the transport of the Magi, and includes the phrase, "they shall bring gold and frankincense." It all adds up. Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament to be not only the Savior of the Jewish nation, the children of Abraham, but the Savior of the nations. All nations would behold the glory of the Lord in the Messiah who was born King of the Jews. Advent reminds us that Jesus at His first coming came for all people. We rejoice that by God's grace we who were not born into the family of Abraham have been brought into the family of God. We have seen the light of God's glory, shining from the cross. By grace we have believed, and we, too, worship the newborn King. Advent also reminds us that all nations will be represented in the family of God when Jesus comes again. We remember the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20). Advent is a time to remember and support our missionaries, who bring the light of Jesus to nations in darkness. By the preaching of the Gospel, nations still come to the Savior's light, and kings to the brightness of His rising. Prayer: "Savior of the Nations, come, Virgin's Son, make here Your home! Marvel now, O heav'n and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth." (LSB #332, v. 1) Amen.

Daily Devotion for December 4 2020

Here is Friday's devotion. Jesus' Word that Sustains the Weary (Isaiah 50:4) Today's Devotion from Pastor Merrill Friday, December 4, 2020 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which He will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'" Jeremiah 23:5-6 [ESV] The family tree of Jesse in the Old Testament is pretty impressive. Jesse was the father of King David, and his family tree produced kings! For fourteen generations, spanning over 450 years, a descendant of Jesse reigned on the throne of the nation of Judah. But over time the kings from Jesse's family drifted away from faith in the LORD and led the nation further and further away from him. Finally the LORD allowed Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to invade Jerusalem and take the people captive. There was no more son of Jesse on the throne; God's people were captive to a foreign king in a foreign land. The family tree of Jesse had been reduced to a stump. But from this stump, God promised a live Branch. Echoing Isaiah 11, which predicted that a shoot would come forth from the "stump of Jesse," the prophet Jeremiah predicted, "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely...And this is the name by which He will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'" The "Branch" is capitalized, so this passage traditionally has been seen as a reference to Jesus. He would be born into the family tree of Jesse, a living Branch from the line of David. But most significant about this Branch is the name He is given in Jeremiah's prophecy: "The Lord is our righteousness." "None is righteous, no, not one," the Bible says. (Romans 3:10) The universal predicament of all human beings is that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None of us have a righteousness of our own before God. Indeed, Scripture tells us that "all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." (Isaiah 64:6) Enter the Branch from Jesse's stump. Jesus comes to be our righteousness. He lived the perfect life God desires, the life no human being can live. He offered that perfect life as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross. He took our sins, and in exchange He gives us His righteousness. We stand before God now clothed with Christ. God looks at us and He sees the perfect righteousness of His Son. The Lord is our righteousness! Prayer: "O come, Thou Branch of Jesse's tree, Free them from Satan's tyranny That trust Thy mighty power to save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel." (LSB #357, v. 4) Amen.

Evelyn Friedrich, wife of St. John's former Pastor Henry Friedrich, called to glory.

Evelyn Friedrich, 92, of Algona, IA died on November 27 at Windsor Manor Assisted Living. Services to be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 5th at 11:00 am. Burial will be at a later date in East Lawn Cemetery, Algona, IA. Evelyn's services will be live streamed on Trinity Lutheran's YouTube page https://youtu.be/zce5hYIAFLE Evelyn was born on February 1, 1928 at Lotts Creek, IA. Her parents were Ernest E. Meyer and Ella nee Nemitz. She was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church, Fenton, IA and later confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Burt, IA. She grew up in Kossuth County where she graduated from Burt High School in 1945 after which she attended Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught school in Portland Township for four years before moving on to teach Junior High in Forest City, IA for three years. On June 21, 1953 she was united in marriage to Henry Friedrich at St. John's Lutheran Church, Burt, IA. Following their marriage they moved to Oakridge, OR where Henry was installed and ordained at his first parish, St. Luke's Lutheran Church. Evelyn's first years of marriage were spent as a homemaker and as secretary of the churches they served. Moves were made to The Dalles, OR, Marcus, IA, Charter Oak, IA, Jamestown, ND, and Juneau, Alaska. In addition to assisting with teaching and secretarial work in churches she was a member of Band Boosters, Tourist Club, Arts and Crafts work at the Marcus Fair, Librarian at Alfred Dickey Library in Jamestown, ND, and Librarian in Algona Public Library. Evelyn enjoyed being part of her church family by teaching Sunday school and confirmation classes, Vacation Bible School, and participating in LWML. Vacations with family and friends in the United States included trips to Alaska and Hawaii, and international trips to Scandinavian countries, Germany, Austria, the Holy Land, England and Canada. She is survived by Henry, her husband of 67 years, their four children, Barb (David) King, Lacey, WA, Brian (Laurie) St. Paul, MN, Mark (Cindy) Apache Junction, AZ, and Linda, Oakland, CA; nine grandchildren Aaron King, Micah Friedrich, Leah (Phil) Vogel, Philip Friedrich, Megan (Andrew) Ramsey, Daniel Friedrich, Nikki Friedrich, Nathan Friedrich, and Abby Friedrich; and four great-grandchildren Haley Ramsey, Camden Vogel, Hercules Guerrero, and Piper Ramsey. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brothers, Eugene Meyer and Eu Claire Meyer, and one daughter-in-law Kathy. Loving her Savior and life with family and friends were highlights, especially as she was able to share friendship, smiles, hugs, meals, and laughter with them. “I thank my God for His love and the love I have known because of you. God's love and peace be with you! As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!” Evelyn desired memorial gifts be designated for Concordia University, St. Paul, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Lutheran Hour Ministries, or Mountain View Lutheran Church.

Midweek Advent Worship, Wed. Dec. 2, 2020

Sun Nov 29, 2020 First Sunday in Advent

Christ the King Sunday Worship Nov 22, 2020

 Full Online Bulletin

LAST SUNDAY IN THE CHURCH YEARR

November 22, 2020

DIVINE SERVICE, SETTING ONE         Page 151

Hymn of Invocation:  "Thine Forever, God of Love" LSB 687

Confession & Absolution

Kyrie  (responses spoken) LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

Holy Gospel Matthew 25:31–46

Hymn of the Day:  "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" LSB 709

Sermon Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 "Gathering the Scattered"

Apostles’ Creed

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Hymn: 525 Crown Him with Many Crowns LSB 525

LYF Coffee Fundraiser

 

ONLINE WORSHIP SUN NOV 15, 2020

  

 FULL ONLINE BULLETIN

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

November 15, 2020

DIVINE SERVICE, SETTING ONE         Page 151

Hymn of Invocation:  "O Worship the King" LSB 804

Confession & Absolution

Kyrie  (responses spoken)  

Salutation and Collect of the Day

Epistle 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Holy Gospel Matthew 25:14–30

Hymn of the Day:   "Lord of All Good" LSB 786

Sermon Matthew 25:14-30

"It's About Being Faithful"

Nicene Creed

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer  

The Words of Our Lord

Pax Domini  

Distribution with Dismissal at End

Post-Communion Collect

Benediction  

Hymn to Depart:  "We Praise You, O God" LSB 785

LYF Thanksgiving Take Out

 

ONLINE BULLETIN for NOV 8, 2020

 CLICK HERE for FULL BULLETIN

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

November 8, 2020

DIVINE SERVICE, SETTING ONE         Page 151

Hymn of Invocation:  "Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray" LSB 663

Confession & Absolution

Introit Ps. 84:1, 9–12; antiphon: Ps. 84:3

Salutation and Collect of the Day

Epistle 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Holy Gospel Matthew 25:1–13

Hymn of the Day:  "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" LSB 516

Sermon Matthew 25:1-13    "A Wake-Up Call"

Apostles’ Creed

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Hymn:   "Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers" LSB 515

This Week @ St. John

 

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF     Oct.  25 – Nov. 1

 

MON-SAT:    6:25am THY STRONG WORD, KDSN

                                Rev.  Josh Keinath, Zion, Denison

                      TODAY:          Reformation Day observed

                      WED:              3:30pm Confirmation – St. John

                                              7:30pmElders’ Meeting – at St. John

                      THUR:            9:30am Ricketts Bible Study

                      SAT:               5pm Sunday School at St. Paul

                                              6pm Worship Service at St. Paul

NEXT SUN:    8:45am Sunday School

                                              9am Bible Class

                                              10am Communion Service at St. John

                                                                                                                     

WEEKLY REPORT…Offering $2,225.00

ATTENDANCE:    80

 

PRAYERS… Melvin Goslar, Paul Briggle (St, Paul), Milroy Rabe (St. Paul); Marlon Jepsen (St. Paul),

Arlene Nemitz (St. Paul), Luella Henschen, Rodney Kunze & members of our congregations who are

suffering or recovering from Covid 19.

 

DECORATING COMMITTEE.. we are looking for a couple people to decorate St. John church for holidays. Please let Pastor or office know if you are interested.

SNOW REMOVAL .. We are in need if 1 or 2 people who would be interested in removing snow from sidewalks. If interested let Jason Kuhlmann, Brad Bramley, Brent Friedrichs or Office know.

 

CHURCH JANITOR NEEDED.. The job consists of 20 hours a week. To see the list of duties please stop at the office.

 

2021 BALLOT:  Officers for 2021 are President Brian Koeppen; Vice- President  Steve Kuhlmann; Secretary – Linda Nepper; Treasurer – Becky Dorale; Finance Secretary – Steve & Karleen Beeck; Assistant Finance Secretary – Brian & Valeta Pautsch; Board of Trustees: Brent Friedrichs; Mission Secretary – Joel Kuhlmann; Board of Elders: Brady Goslar, Roger Kunze (for 2 yrs), David Klinker; Board of Education Karla Dorale; Board of Finance – Steve Garrett & Randy Kruse; Stewardship Lee Kuhlmann.

 

RICKETTS COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY:  Pastor is leading a Bible Study on Thurs. mornings at the Ricketts Community Center.  We begin at 9:30am.  They are doing a study of Paul's letter to the Galatians. There's coffee, sometimes other goodies, & always food for our spiritual lives in God's Word. We are practicing social distancing, but masks are encouraged in case we get larger numbers of people.  If you are looking for a Bible study during the week, come join us!

FROM LWML….LWML thanks everyone who brought coats in.

 

LYF will have their Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 15^th. All dinners are carry out.

 

T.A.P.  it is time to get ready for the Temporary Aid Program. We are to have it in November. A list of items will be in next week’s bulletin.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR IOWA LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY and SECONDARY SCHOOLS?  Direct your state tax dollars to benefit these students through the Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization (ILSTO).  By donating to ILSTO, students will receive more financial aid to enable them to attend. All donations help whether it’s $500, $1,000 or $10,000 that you would normally pay in state tax. In addition, the benefit to you is a great tax credit of 65% on your Iowa state taxes.  For further information, please contact Dewey Torkelson at 712-260-2991. You might also check the websites: www.iowalutheransto.org and www.iowasto.org   

 

NEED to Know before November 3! Christians can have varying opinions on political issues such as healthcare or immigration or taxation. When it comes to God’s truth issues—the sanctity of life and marriage and human sexuality—only God’s opinion counts. “Your identity in Christ trumps your identity as an American and even as an individual with opinions. Every time. No exceptions.” (Peter Slayton The Lutheran Witness August 2020, P. 14)  As citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), God calls us to defend God’s truths “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).  Shine your light!  Please vote to affirm life. Lutheran Family Service – Rev. Dr. Jim Lamb, Life Advocate

 

DON’T FORGET!!!!!   DON’T FORGET!!!

Reformation Sunday (Oct 24)

  

REFORMATION DAY OBSERVANCE

October 25, 2020

Full Online Bulletin

DIVINE SERVICE, SETTING FIVE                        Page 213

Opening Hymn:  "Salvation unto Us Has Come"          LSB 555 sts. 1–3, 6, 9–10

Confession & Absolution

Introit        Ps. 9:1–2, 9–10; antiphon: Ps. 9:18

Gloria in Excelsis Hymn:  "All Glory Be to God Alone"         LSB 948

Salutation and Collect of the Day        

Sit

First Reading         Revelation 14:6–7

Epistle         Romans 3:19–28

Stand

Holy Gospel         John 8:31–36

Nicene Creed        

Hymn of the Day:  "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"         LSB 656

Sit

Sermon        John 8:31-36

"True Freedom"

Stand

Prayer of the Church         Page 215

Stand

Preface         LSB 216

Lord’s Prayer        

The Words of Our Lord        

Pax Domini        

Sit

Distribution with Dismissal at End

Stand

Post-Communion Collect        Page 218

Benedicamus         Page 218

Benediction        

Hymn to Depart:  "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage"         LSB 582

This Week @ St. John

 

October 18-25

 

MON-SAT:    6:25am THY STRONG WORD, KDSN 

        Rev. Kluzek, Faith, Deloit; St John, Kiron

TODAY: Welcome Pastor Johnson of Trinity, Manilla

TUES: Pastor back in the office

WED: 3:30pm Confirmation – St. John

7:30pm Voters’ Meeting – at St. John

THUR: 9:30am Ricketts Bible Study

SAT: 1-4pm Servant Event at St. John

5pm Sunday School at St. Paul

6pm Communion Service at St. Paul

NEXT SUN: 8:45am Sunday School

9am Bible Class

10am Communion Service at St. John 

WEEKLY REPORT…Offering $4,336.00

 ATTENDANCE:    73

PRAYERS… Melvin Goslar, Paul Briggle (St, Paul), Milroy Rabe (St. Paul); Marlon Jepsen (St. Paul), 

Arlene Nemitz (St. Paul), Luella Henschen, Becky Kunze & members of our congregations who are suffering 

or recovering from Covid 19.

DECORATING COMMITTEE.. we are looking for a couple people to decorate St. John church for holidays. Please let Pastor or office know if you are interested.

PASTOR is gone this weekend for his "Fall Getaway Weekend". He will be back in the office on Tuesday. We did not have communion today but will on the 25th instead.

VOTERS MEETING…  The voters assembly will meet on Wed., Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.  On the agenda for the voters meeting are the approval of the 2021 budget, election of officers for 2021, and allocation of mission money to individual missionaries.

2021 BALLOT:  President – Brian Koeppen; Vice- President – Steve Kuhlmann; Secretary – Linda Nepper; Treasurer – Becky Dorale; Finance Secretary – Steve & Karleen Beeck; Assistant Finance Secretary – Brian & Valeta Pautsch; Board of Trustees: Brent Friedricks; Mission Secretary – Joel Kuhlmann; Board of Elders: (#) Brady Goslar, Roger Kunze (served 1 yr), David Klinker; Board of Education – Karla Dorale; Board of Finance – (2) Steve Garrett, Randy Kruse; Stewardship – Lee Kuhlmann. Voting will be Wednesday night. All welcome.

RICKETTS COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY:  Pastor is leading a Bible Study on Thurs. mornings at the Ricketts Community Center.  We begin at 9:30am.  We have begun a study of Paul's letter to the Galatians. There's coffee, sometimes other goodies, & always food for our spiritual lives in God's Word. We  are practicing social distancing, but masks are encouraged in case we get larger numbers of people.  If you are looking for a Bible study during the week, come join us!
 

NOT MUCH TIME….LWML is collecting men, women & children’s new or lightly used winter coats. These coats will be given to Crossroads in Denison for people in our area. We will collect till Oct. 25th. Please NO sweatshirts, sweaters or light jackets. Thank you.