st. john’s evangelical - st. john's...

St. John’s Evangelical

Lutheran Church

Welcome to our visitors!

It is our hope and prayer that the message you hear today from God’s Word

will fill your heart with the peace that only God can offer and the joy we have in

knowing that Jesus Christ is our Savior from sin.

Large print service folders are available from an usher.

Worship Notes

Altar flowers are placed by Erik & Julie Campbell in celebration of their 20th

wedding anniversary and in thanks for blessings received.

We thank the following for serving as St. John’s 2015-16 Sunday School

teachers: Lisa Rouse, Amanda Hansen & Emily Hedden (K3); Anne Henne &

Amy Stauffer (K4); Lisa Festerling & Katie Gnat (K5); Becky Rehborg (Grades

1-2); Kurt Kostrzewa (Grades 3-4); Ned & Dawn Farley (Grades 5-7); Brian &

Tracey Lampe (Teens). Substitutes: Katie Chavez, Kim Dvorachek, Julie

Handeland, Elizabeth Sipe. Superintendent: Mark Gaub.

We thank the following for serving as St. John’s 2015-2016 Chinese teachers:

Mary Groth and Kurt Meingast.

In Our Prayers

Ernst Lehninger hospitalized at Froedtert and Paul Grant hospitalized this past

week at St. Luke’s.

Unity Sunday

September 13, 2015

A quick scan of the gymnasium this morning reveals the many differences among the members of

St. John’s. Some are young; others are only young at heart. Some work in offices; others work in

factories. For many, English is their first and only language; others are more comfortable speaking

Mandarin. In spite of these differences and all the things that could separate and divide us, we stand

united. As Christians, we are united by a common faith and we share a common goal. And we gather

for worship on this special occasion to celebrate the unity that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prelude

Opening Hymn Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Please stand to sing the final stanza setting by Robert J. Powell

C: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King!

C: Praise him for his grace and favor to our forebears in distress.

Praise him, still the same forever, slow to chide and swift to bless.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious is his faithfulness!

Choir: Tenderly he shields and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows.

In his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows.

C: Angels, help us to adore him, who behold him face to face.

Sun and moon bow down before him; all who dwell in time and space.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.

M: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy

Spirit be with you.

C: And also with you.

pg. 4

DIALOGUE OF PRAISE

M: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

C: O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory

above the heavens.

M: Give thanks to the Lord of lords, to him who alone does great wonders, who by his

understanding made the heavens, who spread out the earth upon the waters, who made the

great lights – the sun to govern the day, the moon and stars to govern the night.

C: Great is the Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

M: But our iniquities have separated us from our God; our sins have hidden his face from us so

that he will not hear. We look for light, but all is darkness. We look for brightness, but we

walk in deep shadows. We look for deliverance, but it is far away.

C: For our offenses are many in his sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are

ever with us, and we acknowledge our sins.

M: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. He will not

always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or

repay us according to our iniquities.

C: From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be

praised.

pg. 5

Prayer of the Day

M: Let us pray:

Lord of the Church, you have united us in faith and worship to make disciples of all nations

and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service. Guide our leaders and help them fulfill

their responsibilities with patience and understanding. Keep this congregation faithful to your

Word that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord: your Son, our

Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

forever.

C: Amen.

Be seated

Children’s Choir Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord

by Deborah Holden-Holloway

Come, let us sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord,

Bring to the Lord our adoration.

All hills and valleys rejoice, lift up your voice, sing to the Lord.

All that on earth can sing, praise your King,

pg. 6

Praise the Lord of all creation!

Come, let us sing, sing, sing to the Lord.

For the Lord, our God,

Creator, master, savior, teacher, friend

Is with us now and always;

Let us praise the Lord evermore,

Praise the Lord forevermore!

Come, let us sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord,

Bring to the Lord our adoration.

All hills and valleys rejoice, lift up your voice, sing to the Lord.

All that on earth can sing, praise your King,

Praise the Lord of all creation!

Come, let us sing, sing, sing to the Lord!

THE WORD

First Lesson Isaiah 42:8-13

Isaiah reminds us that as believers, we are united under God.

“I am the LORD; that is my name!

I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.

See, the former things have taken place,

and new things I declare;

before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,

you islands, and all who live in them.

Let the desert and its towns raise their voices;

let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.

Let the people of Sela sing for joy;

let them shout from the mountaintops.

Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands.

The LORD will march out like a mighty man,

like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;

with a shout he will raise the battle cry

and will triumph over his enemies.

pg. 7

Adult Choir & Congregation In Unity and Peace

by James J. Chepponis

Choir: Refrain

C: Refrain

Choir: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, agree in ev’rything you say.

May there be no divisions among you, but be united in one mind.

For there is one Lord, one faith, one God of us all.

C: Refrain

Choir: Live a life that is worthy of your call, be humble, gentle, and patient.

Bear with each other in ways that are loving, preserve the unity of faith.


C: Refrain

Choir: Share the love that has joined us as one, unite in spirit and ideals.

Never be rivals, do not be conceited, but look to others in their need.


C: Refrain

pg. 8

Second Lesson Ephesians 4:1-6

Paul reminds us of the source of our unity.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to

keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you

were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father

of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Combined Choirs Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep

arranged by August Stellhorn

Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep, who thy Father’s flock dost keep,

Safe we wake and safe we sleep, guarded still by thee.

In thy promise firm we stand; none can pluck us from thy hand,

Speak – we hear – at thy command, we will follow thee.

By thy blood our souls were bought, by thy life salvation wrought,

By thy light our feet are taught, Lord, to follow thee.

Father, draw us to thy Son; we with joy will follow on,

Till the work of grace is done, and from sin set free.

We in robes of glory dressed, join th’assembly of the blest,

Gathered to eternal rest in the fold with thee.

Please stand

Gospel Lesson John 3:14-17

Jesus reminds us that he is the center of our unity.

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone

who believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall

not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but

to save the world through him.”

Be seated

pg. 9

Chinese Choir & Congregation As the Deer

Chinese Hymnal 402

Choir: As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you.

You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.

You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone will my spirit yield.


I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy.

You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.



C: You’re my friend and you’re my Father even though you are my King.

I love you more than any other, so much more than anything.



Hymn of the Day The Church’s One Foundation (see pg. 13)

Christian Worship 538

Sermon Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity Comes from Sacrifice

Please stand

Apostles’ Creed

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was

buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended

into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he

will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the

forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

pg. 10

Be seated

Offering

The members of St. John’s have joined together to do the Lord’s work in our community

and around the world, and our offerings are a joyful response of our faith. If you are a

visitor today, you are welcome but not obligated to give an offering.

Adult Handbell Choir Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow

arranged by Ron Mallory

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Installation of Sunday School and Chinese teachers

Please stand

Prayer of the Church

M: Our God in heaven, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we thank you for the precious Christian

fellowship we are now enjoying in your name.

C: We thank you for the privilege of worshiping you, the true and only God.

M: Heavenly Father, give us all a sincere longing to assemble in your name, to worship you, and

to be edified by the preaching and teaching of your Word.

C: We thank you for the privilege of hearing your Word by which we grow in faith toward a

better understanding of your love.

M: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to cling to you in true faith as our Savior and Lord.

C: We thank you for loving us and redeeming us from our sins with your own precious

blood.

pg. 11

M: Holy Spirit, open our hearts to the Word of truth spoken here today. Cause us to mature in our

faith and give us a deeper love for our God and for one another.

C: We thank you for giving us the grace to praise you continually with our whole lives. Give

us a desire only for those things which are righteous and good.

M: Lord God, grant us the gifts of patience, kindness, and gentleness that we may help family and

neighbor, that we may be forgiving, and that we may live in peace with all people.

C: We thank you for bringing us together to lift our voices in praise. Bless us as we glorify

you and comfort and strengthen one another.

M: We thank you for this opportunity to gather around your Word as one Christian family. Let

your kingdom come to us and others, so that we and many more might join the assembly of

saints and angels to sing your praise forever.

C: Savior of all, hear our prayer and help us in our mission. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

C: Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Be seated

Hymn How Firm a Foundation (see pg. 14)

Christian Worship Supplement 768

pg. 12

Please stand

M: God our Father, your Son Jesus prayed that his followers might be one. Make your Church

one with him as he is one with you, so that in unity and peace we may carry the message of

your love to the world, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the

Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with

gladness.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among

yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C: Amen.

Be seated

Closing Hymn Go, My Children, with My Blessing (see pg. 16)

Christian Worship 332

Announcements

Postlude

Following the service, refreshments will be served in the commons area.

pg. 13

pg. 14

pg. 15

pg. 16

pg. 17

Serving at Worship

Preacher Pastor Kyle Bitter

Presiding Minister Pastor Joel Leyrer

Lectors Pastor Eric Schroeder

Pastor Joshua Yu

Pianist Lynn Kozlowski

Adult Choir Director Dr. William Braun

Children’s Choir Director Terry Buske

Handbell Choir Director Kristi Meyer

Head Ushers Mark Naumann & Matt Bahr

Acknowledgements

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” Text and tune public domain.

“Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep” Text public domain.

“The Church’s One Foundation” Text and tune public domain.

“Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow” Text public domain.

“How Firm a Foundation” Text and tune public domain.

Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-709971, all rights reserved

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” Text © 1985 Church Publishing, Inc.

“Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord” Text © 1995 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.

”In Unity and Peace” Text and tune © 1997 GIA Publications, Inc.

“Go, My Children, with My Blessing” Text © 1983 Concordia Publishing House. Tune public

domain.

Reprinted under CCLI #11141903, all rights reserved

“As the Deer” Text © 1984 Brentwood Benson Publishing.

pg. 18

Sunday Bible Classes New Sunday Bible Classes and Sunday School begin next Sunday at 9:15 AM.

A staffed nursery is available during Bible class.

The Life of Abraham

Taught by Prof. Bill Tackmier (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary)

in the Fellowship Hall

Abraham, who lived 2,000 years before Jesus, is in many ways similar to us, who live 2,000 years after

Jesus. He experienced many of the same issues, doubts, fears, and challenges that we do and was

sustained by many of the same promises of a Savior that we rely on. This study will focus on the book

of Genesis, chapters 12-25.

Astronomy, the Church, and the Calendar

Taught by Dr. Kerry Kuehn (Wisconsin Lutheran College)

in the School Lecture Room

Did you know that until the nineteenth century, the church was the single largest supporter of

astronomical research? Or that astronomy played an important part in the educational system of the

Lutheran reformers during the 16th century? Why have Christians like Copernicus and Kepler been so

interested – and influential – in the development of astronomy? In this six-week bible class, we will

explore the relationship between astronomy and the church – and how Christians have wrestled with

astronomical problems from ancient to modern times.

The Wonders of God – Bible Information Class

Taught by the Pastoral Staff

in the St. Matthew’s Room

This course provides a general overview of the Bible, touches upon every major Christine doctrine, and

supplies a solid understanding of what we confess and believe as a confessional Lutheran Church.

Since it provides the foundation for a deeper relationship with God, we encourage both members and

non-members to attend. Please note there will also be some week-night evening classes.

pg. 19

Readings for the Week of Pentecost 16

M Proverbs 30:4-9…..………………………………………. 1 Timothy 4:4-8

T 1 Timothy 6:6-12a…….….………………………………. Luke 16:9-13

W 1 Corinthians 7:20-24…………………………………….. Acts 27:20-37

TH 1 Kings 17:1-6……………………………………………. 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

F John 4:31-38……………………………………………… 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

S Luke 6:20-26………………………………………………Revelation 22:1-5

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