January 4, 2009

 

 

Fellowship Schedule for next week

Sun.         8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am Worship Service / Communion

                  9:15 am Sunday School

                  11:30 am Free Preview of Financial Peace University

Mon          School Resumes

                  8:00 am LOL

                  8:30 am Ladies Tennis

                  3:30 pm Cheer Practice

                  5:30 pm Girls Basketball

                  7:00 pm Elders Meeting / Friendship Guild

Tue.         8:30 am Exercise Class

                  9:00 am LFL

                  9:30 am Quilters

                  6:00 pm BoyÕs Basketball

                  7:00 pm Church Council Meeting

Wed.       8:30 am Chapel

                  4:00 pm Girls Basketball

                  5:30 pm Confirmation

                  7:00 pm Worship

                  7:45 pm Free Preview of Financial Peace University

Thu.         8:30 am Exercise Class

                  9:30 pm Adult Bible Class

                  6:00 pm BoyÕs Basketball

                  5:30 pm Free Preview of Financial Peace University

                  6:30 pm MenÕs Club

                  7:30 pm Chancel Choir

Fri.           6:00 pm BoyÕs Basketball

Sat.          8:00 am BoyÕs Intramurals

Sun.         8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am Worship Service

                  9:15 am Sunday School

                  11:30 am Free Preview of Financial Peace University

TUESDAY EVENING BIBLE INSTITUTE IS BACK - You will have the opportunity to take one of the following classes.

 

=   The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod   =

 

Please visit our website at www.stjohns-mattoon.org for all email listings.

 

Rev. Bruce D. Osborne Senior Pastor                            Home: 235-1646

Rev. Troy A. Countryman    Assistant Pastor                      Home: 234-4573

Rev. Del L. Nack                     Assistant to the Pastor        Home: 234-4748

Mr. Kent R. Golchert            Principal                                     Home: 234-8463

Wendy Gagliardo                    Church Secretary                  

Anita Polston                            School Secretary  

Dr. Herman D. Taylor           Organist

Adam Stich                                Chancel Choir Director                 

Joyce D. Zschau                      Parish Nurse                             Home: 234-8227

 

LARGE PRINT WORSHIP BULLETINS, HYMNALS, BRAILE HYMNALS AND CHILDREN'S BULLETINS - are available from the ushers.

 

Assisting in Worship Today:

Elder:                       Doug ZuHone

Assisting:                Bill Havlik

Ushers:                     8:00 am Joel DuFrain, Fred Hood, Warren                                                   Moody & Clayton Wohltman

                                    9:15 am Doug Blume, Bill Gass & Mike Stortzum

                                    10:30 am Donna Homann & Todd Thoman

Altar Guild:            Christi Diepholz, Amy Borntrager & Tierre                                                   Diepholz

Acolytes:                 8:00 am Holly Wohltman & Gabriel Stoll

                                    9:15 am Rhett Farmer & Colton Anderson

                                    10:30 am  Erika Tomczewski & Austin Wetzel

Video:                       Mike Salinas

Interpreting: Kim Janssen  

Driver:                      Corinne Thomley (234-8748)

 

 

 

Assisting in Worship Next Week:

Elder:                       Doug ZuHone

Assisting:                Bill Havlik

Ushers:                     8:00 am Joel DuFrain, Fred Hood, Warren                                                   Moody & Clayton Wohltman

                                    9:15 am Doug Blume, Bill Gass & Mike Stortzum

                                    10:30 am Donna Homann & Todd Thoman

Altar Guild:            Christi Diepholz, Amy Borntrager & Tierre                                                   Diepholz

Acolytes:                 8:00 am Hannah Prevo & Hayley Gagliardo

                                    9:15 am Kirk Salinas & Jordan Pearce

                                    10:30 am Riley Phipps & Shelby Phipps

Video:                       Mike Salinas

Interpreting: Kim Janssen  

Driver:                      Roger Kearney (234-9810)

 

Members serving in the military: Cory Cunico, Joshua Golchert, Adam Deitz, Sloan Farrier, Travis Bartels, Jessica Hanner Custer, Justin Claypool, Joshua Layton, Justin Owens, Jason Wetzel, Alex Kull, Jason Cobb and Mark Anderson.

 

Homebound Members: Jim & Mona Durdel, Ted Alwardt, Frieda Noll, Blanche Ashworth, Boyd & Erna Bridges, Frank & Ruth Edwards, Dorothy Emily, Phyllis Freeman, Oscar Hoenes, Harvey & Jean Janssen, Dale King, Dean Noffke, Robert & Diane Pierce, Ruby Steinemann, Opal VonBehrens, JoAnn Wright

 

Members in assisted living: Esther Gaskill, Ruth Vogel, Helen Ewald, Alice Tomkins, Frannie Sanders, Lois Hitchen, Bill Kelly, Helen Smith, Retha Schwartz, John Hensley, Lorraine Seils, Marguerite Lepper, Leon Bareither, Flossie Bridges, Josephine Arnholt, Harold Buesking, Rex Smock

 

Requested prayers: Ava Gass, Mike Hagen, Rex Smock, Brandon Doss, Oliver Countryman, Matthew Gunderson, Patrick Conley, Barb Coyne, Ciera Parrish, Connie Elder, Wilb Walker, Kristina Crawford, Keith Wright, Dennis Epperson, Richard Saamet, Kolin Golchert, Rob Doyle, Hannah Hudson and Tonya Patrick.  Our Christian sympathy is extended to Moe & Norma Ferree at the loss of his sister Madonna Ohm ;to Virginia & Dan Johnson at the loss of her mother, Inez Thompson; to Victoria & Richard Grice at the loss of grandmother, Inez Thompson & brother-in-law, Jim Castin

 

Church Attendance:    Christmas Eve – 483, Christmas Day - 109,

Dec. 28th - 423

                      

Adult Sunday School (9:15 am) Bible Readings for next weeks class:  Mon. – Revelation 6:1-8:5, Tue. – Revelation 8:6-9:21, Wed. – Revelation 10:1-11, Thu. - Revelation 11:1-19, Fri.- Revelation 12:1-17, Sat.- Revelation 13:1-18.

 

AUCTION INVITES & DINNER TICKETS - Please check your mailbox for your invitation to the St. John's PTL Auction.  You will also find a dinner ticket with your invite that needs to be returned to the school office no later than Friday, January 23rd.  There are extra dinner tickets available if you would like to purchase more for family and friends.  Any questions please call Sara Titus at 234-3458. 

 

The next Council Meeting is scheduled

For Tuesday, January 6 at 7:00 pm.

 

Church OfficerÕs Installation will be January 11th 

at the 10:30 am Worship Service.

(This is for all officers current & new)

 

Treasurers of all church organizations it is annual report time.  Please email a report to the church office or turn in a ready to print hard copy as soon as possible.

 

VoterÕs Assembly will meet at 7:30 on January 12,

New VoterÕs Orientation will beat 7:00 pm that evening

Please check your mailboxes, the 2009 contribution envelopes are in. Please discard the 2008 envelopes because most of the numbers have changed. Please remember, your mail box number is located below your mailbox.  If you would like contribution envelopes and have not received them please contact the church office.  There are some envelopes located on the table in the activity center hallway if you do not have a mailbox.

 

The DinerÕs Club will meet January 17th at 6:00 pm at JibbyÕs, 19 N. Main in Sullivan.  Please sign up on the clipboard by the mailboxes.  Any questions, please call Dick Anderson at 273-7589.

 

Exercise Classes will start January 6, on Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:30 am – 9:00 am.  Please bring your own weights & bands.  For more information please call Norma Ferree.

 

Be certain to "speak up for life" - add your name to the Signature Ad that protests legalization of abortion through the Roe vs Wade decision of the Supreme Court. The two page ad will appear in the JG/TC on January 22. The sign up table will be in the hall between church services on January 4 and 11. Your donation helps pay for the ad.

 

Mattoon's Crisis Pregnancy Center opens in January. Keep up your financial support and lets fill the hall crib with diapers, wipes, baby blankets and warm winter clothing. CPC will also supply needy moms with cribs, car seats and other items whenever these are available through donations. St. John's is designating the period between the Epiphany of our Lord and Life Sunday January 18 with this drive for our modern day "widows and orphans." Collections will continue until February 15.

 

Lutherans for LifeÕs January meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m on Tuesday, January 6 in the teachers lounge. Come see what there is for you to do.  Everyone is welcome.

Free Preview of Financial Peace University

Sunday, January 4th at 11:30 am, Wednesday, January 7th at 7:45 pm, Thursday January 8th at 5:30 pm,  & Sunday January 11th at 11:30 am

 

 

F.P.U. (Financial Peace University), taught by Angela Hampton, with a cost of $100 for the kit needed to complete the course.  Class runs from January 13 to April 7th 

 

Answers Academy, taught by Mr. Michael Gass, with a cost of $10 per participant workbook (a couple could share one book if desired). Class runs from January 13 to April 7th

 

Grace Based Parenting, taught by Pastor Osborne, with a cost of $10 per participant workbook (a couple should share one book if desired). Class runs from January 13 to March 17th

 

I Am A LutheranÉWhat Does This Mean? taught by Pastor Countryman, class runs from January 13 to March 17th.  We encourage you to bring your LutherÕs Small Catechism and your Bible to class.  You may purchase a small catechism for $10.

 

Babysitting will be provided!

 

For more information, please contact the church office. Remember, we ask you to sign up in advance, so we can have the materials ordered.

 

F.P.U. will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, all other classes will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 pm each Tuesday.

Hope to see you there!

 

A fellowship dinner will be held from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm every Tuesday prior to the classes, if you would like to help with the preparation or serve please contact Carole Wilson at 234-2960.  You donÕt have to share in the fellowship dinner to take the classes & you donÕt have to take the classes to share in the fellowship dinner.

 

 

 

 

January 4, 2009

The Epiphany of Our Lord

 

 

 

Prelude                              Jesu, Joy of ManÕs Desiring - J. S. Bach

 

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise                                               LSB 394

1

Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
    Manifested by the star
    To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal DavidÕs stem
In Thy birth at Bethlehem:
    Anthems be to Thee addressed,
    God in man made manifest.

 

2

Manifest at JordanÕs stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
    And at Cana wedding guest
    In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in powÕr divine,
Changing water into wine;
    Anthems be to Thee addressed,
    God in man made manifest.

 

3

Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
    Manifest in valiant fight,
    Quelling all the devilÕs might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill;
    Anthems be to Thee addressed,
    God in man made manifest.

 

4

Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavÕns shall flee;
    Christ will then like lightning shine,
    All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
    Thou by all wilt be confessed,
    God in man made manifest.

 

Stand

 

5

Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word—
    Grace to imitate Thee now
    And be pure, as pure art Thou;
That we might become like Thee
At Thy great epiphany
    And may praise Thee, ever blest,
    God in man made manifest.

 

Text (sts. 1–5) and Music: Public domain

 

Confession and Absolution

P

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C

Amen.

 

P

Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

 

P

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C

who made heaven and earth.

P

I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C

and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

 

P

O almighty God, merciful Father,

C

I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P

Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C

Amen.

 

Service of the Word

 

Introit                                                  Ps. 45:6–8a; antiphon: Ps. 45:17

I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;

     therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.

I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;

     therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Gloria Patri

C

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P

The Lord be with you.

C

And with thy spirit.

 

P

Let us pray.

 

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of  Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

C

Amen.

 

Sit

 

Paul understands the secret purpose of Christ: In the  Òrich varietyÓ of GodÕs wisdom, the Òboundless richesÓ of Christ are given to Jews and Gentiles alike.

 

Epistle                                                                                          Ephesians 3:1–12

1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of GodÕs grace that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

      7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of GodÕs grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

 

P

This is the Word of the Lord.

C

Thanks be to God.

 

The spiritual quest of all human beings is mirrored in the journey of the magi.  They find and adore the Christ child, the fulfillment of their hope, the epiphany and glory of God.

 

Stand

 

Holy Gospel                                                                                 Matthew 2:1–12

P

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the second chapter.

C

Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

 

1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, ÒWhere is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.Ó 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5They told him, ÒIn Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

 

        6ÒÔAnd you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

      for from you shall come a ruler

        who will shepherd my people Israel.ÕÓ

 

      7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ÒGo and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.Ó 9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 

P

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C

Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

 

Nicene Creed

C

I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from

     heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the

     Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living

     and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

 

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and

     glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Sit

 

As with Gladness Men of Old                                                          LSB 397

1

As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
    As with joy they hailed its light,
    Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led by Thee.

 

2

As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
    There to bend the knee before
    Thee, whom heavÕn and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

 

3

As they offered gifts most rare
At Thy cradle, rude and bare,
    So may we with holy joy,
    Pure and free from sinÕs alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavÕnly King.

 

4

Holy Jesus, evÕry day
Keep us in the narrow way;
    And when earthly things are past,
    Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

 

5

In the heavÕnly country bright
Need they no created light;
    Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
    Thou its sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.

 

Text (sts. 1–5) and Music: Public domain

 

Sermon

 

Stand

 

Offertory

C

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit.  Amen.

 

Sit

 

Announcements & Record of Fellowship is Shared

 

Organ Offertory                I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light

 

Offering

 

Stand

 

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow                            LSB 805

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavÕnly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
    Amen.

 

Text and Music: Public domain

 

Prayer of the Church

P

Lord, in Your mercy,

C

hear our prayer.

 

Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P

The Lord be with you.

C

And with thy spirit.

P

Lift up your hearts.

C

We lift them up unto the Lord.

P

Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.

C

It is meet and right so to do.

 

P

It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for what had been hidden from before the foundation of the world You have made known to the nations in Your Son.  In Him, being found in the substance of our mortal nature, You have manifested the fullness of Your glory.  Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

C

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;