ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH A North American Lutheran Church 1764 Meyersville Road Meyersville, TX 77974-4143 CHURCH OFFICE: 361-277-8653 stjohnevlutheran@juno.com PARSONAGE: 361-275-9895 (Pr. John s Cell: 361-243-0373) jboor1@juno.com Ministers - The People of St. John Pastor - The Rev. John Boor Organist - Mr. Bruce A. Weise Sixth Sunday after Epiphany February 17, 2019 Greeter This Week: Beverly Bodden Greeter Next Week: John & Margie Swannack Reader This Week: Cathie Bettge Reader Next Week: Kathy Dunn Acolytes This Week: Cason & Ella Jander Acolytes Next Week: Volunteer Needed Altar Guild This Month: Betty Diebel & Virginia Jank Altar Guild Next Month: Carol Ann Sagebiel & Cathie Bettge Communion Assistant This Month: Johnny Jank Communion Assistant Next Month: Glenn Ruschhaupt Large Print Bulletins are available in the Narthex. Ask an usher for a copy. Busy Bags are available in the Narthex for all children to enjoy. MISSION STATEMENT We the members of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Meyersville, strive to be witnesses for Christ, a Christian family striving to be models and examples to others, loving one another and trying to be friendly to all; acknowledging that we are sinful, but being patient, faithful, giving, caring, forgiving, and forgiven believers. HOLY COMMUNION You are invited to commune with us if, as a baptized Christian, you believe that you are a sinner and in need of God s forgiveness; that the body and blood of Jesus are truly present in the Sacrament; that this is more than a symbolic act, but a way God proclaims forgiveness to us who are repentant. May your participation increase your faith and strengthen your love for God and one another.
HOLY COMMUNION The Service begins with the first notes of the prelude. Please show your respect with silent meditation at this time. PRELUDE RINGING OF THE CHURCH BELL ANNOUNCEMENTS PRAISES AND CONCERNS Stand p. 56: BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS HYMN: LBW #518 Beautiful Savior p. 57-58: KYRIE p. 60: HYMN OF PRAISE This is the Feast PRAYER OF THE DAY P The Lord be with you, C And also with you. (sung) P Let us pray: All: O Lord, graciously hear the requests of your people. May we who are afflicted for our sins be mercifully relieved, for the sake of your glory, to find new life through the love of Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. FIRST READING Cursed or Blessed? Jeremiah recounted the Word of the Lord against Judah. Their sins of idolatry and greed caused the Lord to be angry with them, so angry, that he threatened to turn them over to their enemies. Those whose hearts have turned away from God will be cursed. But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed like trees planted by water. Jeremiah 17:5-8 (Page 665, RSV Pew Bible) 5 Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
RESPONSIVE READING Like a Tree Planted by Streams Blessed are those who do not keep company with scoffers but who delight in the Lord. They shall be like trees planted by the waters, bearing fruit in due season and prospering by the blessing of the Lord s goodness. Psalm 1 (Page 465, RSV Pew Bible) 1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful! 2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and they meditate on his law day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. 4 It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, nor the sinner in the council of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed. SECOND READING Paul Proclaims Christ Raised Paul addressed the Corinthians who were questioning Jesus resurrection. If Christ was not raised from the dead by the glory of God, then our faith is in vain. If Jesus was never raised from the dead, then we are still captive to sin and living life in futility. If our hope is in this life only, then we of all people are the most to be pitied. However, Paul asserted, Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead! 1 Corinthians 15:[1-11]12-20 (Page 1001, RSV Pew Bible) [ 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.] 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Stand p. 62 GOSPEL VERSE Alleluia GOSPEL READING Luke 6:17-26 (Page 895, RSV Pew Bible) P The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 6 th chapter. C Glory to you, O Lord. (sung) 17 {Jesus} came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the
kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ. (sung) Sit SERMON HYMN: WOV #764 Blest Are They Stand p. 65: APOSTLES CREED HYMN: WOV #775 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, listen to Your children praying, Lord, send Your spirit in this place; Lord, listen to Your children praying, Send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace! p. 65: PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH p. 66: SHARING OF THE PEACE Sit OFFERING
Stand p. 66: OFFERTORY: Let the vineyards... p. 67: OFFERTORY PRAYER p. 68: THE GREAT THANKSGIVING p. 70: EUCHARISTIC PRAYER #33 (right column) p. 71: LORD S PRAYER p. 72: LAMB OF GOD Sit DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION SOFT HYMNS FOR MEDITATION Stand p. 72: POST COMMUNION: Thank the Lord... p. 74: PRAYER AND BENEDICTION Pastor: Go in peace, serve the Lord People: Thanks be to God THE DOXOLOGY (Hymn #565) POSTLUDE Keep up with St. John online St. John Meyersville https://www.facebook.com/stjohnmeyersville Or visit our website at: stjohnmeyersville.org
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN Today 2/17 Mon 2/18 Tues 2/19 Wed 2/20 Thurs 2/21 Fri 2/22 Next Sun Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Worship Office Closed ~ President s Day 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Hours 6:30 p.m. 4-H Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Hours 10:00 a.m. Comm. Service Cuero Nursing 1:30 p.m. Quilters 7:00 p.m. Men s Bible Study 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Hours *Committee Reports Due 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Hours *Newsletter Deadline Seventh Sunday after Epiphany 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Worship Welcome Visitors! We would like to extend a special welcome to all visitors. If you are looking for a church home, we pray you would consider St. John s. Prayer request cards are available in the pews and can be filled out and handed to an usher during the first hymn for your request to be included in the day's prayer. If you have a private prayer request please fill out the appropriate side and give to the pastor. Sunday, February 10, 2019 General $1,344.00, MOM $440.00, Sunday School $30.39, Youth $25.00, Organ $50.00, OSC $10.00, Building $240.00, Church Reno. $2,080.00 Total: $4,219.39 Attendance: - 85 Sunday School: 14 -Adults, 22-Children
Mission of the Month of February The Boys & Girls Club of DeWitt County Mission Statement In our community there are hundreds of boys and girls left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets, or who, in increasing numbers, spend many hours at home with no adult care or supervision. These youngsters often form groups or gangs and risk getting involved with the wrong leaders, eventually finding themselves in serious trouble. The Boys and Girls club mission is to work with youth of all backgrounds, with a special concern for those from disadvantaged circumstances, to help them develop the skills to become productive citizens and leaders. The DeWitt county community has needed something like this for a number of years. It has been well accepted by the school districts, the City of Cuero and area church leaders. St. John s own Laurie Pokluda sits on the board of this club. If you have questions Laurie will be glad to answer them. Enchilada Lunch There will be an enchilada benefit lunch TODAY to help Will Green with travel expenses to Australia in the Summer of 2019. Will has been invited for cross country to participate in the Down Under Sports Tournaments hosted on the Gold Coast of Australia. Tickets are $8.00 per plate & you can buy them at the door. Thank you for your support! Beef Stew Lunch Meyersville Fireman s Assoc. Annual Beef Stew lunch is next Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 11:00-1:00. $10.00 per quart, to go only at the fire house. Tickets available at the Meyersville Store.
Bible Study What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? The dictionary describes a disciple as a follower, student or apprentice of a teacher or leader. Our Sunday Morning Bible study begins a new Two Part series titled Disciples of the Cross. Part one is Who We Are and will be followed by Part Two, What We Do. Our group invites you to join us for this interesting look at what it means to be a disciple of Christ and how that plays itself out in many areas of life and ministry. Just get up a little earlier and come in for a cup of coffee, a couple of donut holes or a cookie or two, some fun fellowship and a discussion of our lesson and current events each Sunday morning. We would love to have your input. Special Prayers for Cole Cole is home now and able to be with his family & friends. Though he has a long road ahead of him, God has been with him every step of the way. We ask for your continued prayers for Cole s recovery and for spiritual strength, strong faith and unlimited patience for him and his family. Thank you and may God bless you all. +Please pray at 12:00 PM daily for Cole+ At his request, these are the prayers he has on his list: Healing- physical, emotional & spiritual To help family stay strong Patience Stay positive The drive to keep trying (perseverance) Church Renovation Update Our new bathroom is not quite complete, but the contractor is letting us use it until final finish work is completed. The contractor is in the process of pouring necessary concrete for the elevator shaft. The estimated costs for construction, change orders, materials testing, architect, and incidentals is $599,553. We are required to pay as construction progresses so the bills are coming in on a regular basis. This project received almost unanimous support so we ask that you prayerfully consider giving generously to this project. GOAL: $599,553 RECEIVED AS OF January 20, 2019: $353,220
PRAYER REQUESTS: If you have a request for the Prayer Chain, contact Evelyn Diebel. And please update your request at least once a month so the list can be kept current and up to date. If you wish to receive the Prayer Chain requests, please contact Evelyn Diebel at (361)275-5979. Our Military and their families: Nicholas Jacobs - U.S. Air Force, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada Russell Copeland - U.S. Army Reserves John Otto - USMC, Japan Jonathon Albrecht - U.S. Army, Kentucky Chase Schroeder - U.S. Navy Austin Schroeder - U.S. Navy Jennifer Cornett - U.S. Air Force Lee Magruder - U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant, Fort Rucker, AL, going to Warrant Officer Candidate School then to Army Aviation Flight School Katrina Moritz - U.S. Air Force Michael Petrash II - Iraq Please Pray for: Adam Womble Nate Boehl Hunter Jacob Glynn Yurick Kenny Jacob Cole Ohrt Carlton Migura Robby Bitterly Carly Waters Seth Wendel Marv Sager Slade Doehrman (Slade likes to receive cards, his address is: 11049 FM 236, Cuero 77954) Nursing Home: Yorktown Manor ~ Marjorie Ideus, Barbara Mueller Homebound: Bette Jo Haun
Epiphany 6 February 17, 2019 Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C) What does it mean to be blessed? God and the world have two different definitions. The prophet Jeremiah shares God s Word saying, to be blessed is to trust in the Lord and to be cursed is to put our trust in idols and material goods. Jesus taught his followers that they will be blessed when they follow his ways; it will happen when they least expect it: when they are poor, hungry, weeping, hated, and excluded. He who would preach the Gospel must go directly to preaching the resurrectcion of Christ. He who does not preach the resurrection is no apostle, for this is the chief part of our faith... -Martin Luther- Exposition on 1 Peter 1:3, 1522