Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
May 18, 2008

Prelude                                                                                                                  George McComb

Welcome

Opening Hymn                            Love Divine, All Love Excelling                                          #226

Children’s Choir

Sunday School Presentation

Children’s Object Lesson

Offering                                         We Give Thee but Thine Own                                           #391

Hymn                                                       Jesus Loves Me                                                        #369

Sermon                                                Pastor Richard Ewing
                                                                              Text: John 15:1-11

Hymn                                 Ye Servants of God, Your Masters Proclaim                                #175

The Benediction

The Doxology                                                                                                   Hymnal (front) p. 24

A pastor and deacons will be in the front of the sanctuary following the service to meet with those who desire to receive Christ as Savior and Lord, those who wish to renew their relationship with Him, and those who need prayer for specific needs. Anointing with oil, according to James 5:14, is available upon request.

Stand (optional)

We are thankful to have you join us for today’s service. It is our desire that you experience the presence of the Lord and the love of God’s people. If you are a first-time guest, please sign a registration card located in your pew and place it in the offering plate.

We welcome Pastor Richard Ewing who will be giving the message today. Thank you for being with us. We also welcome George McComb. Thank you for playing the organ for us this morning.

Deacons at the Altar: Bob Kezerle and Gordy Vaksdal

Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored in loving memory of Lillian Trotter by family and friends.

Altar flowers today are given by Barb and Vance Vaksdal in honor of their grandson, David Vaksdal’s high school graduation.

Note: Because of graduations today, and Memorial Day weekend next Sunday, tonight’s Prayer Time has been rescheduled for June 1st. Plan on joining us Sunday, June 1st at 5:00 pm in the Fireside Room.

A member of our congregation has offered to pay all the fees for someone to go to Bible Camp this summer. If you know of anyone who would like to go but needs help with the fees, please contact Pastor Skordahl.

Two families and the Youth Board will sponsor a family to attend Cedar Lake Bible Camp this summer. If you want to go to camp but need help with the fees, please contact Lisa Vaksdal or Kathy Hoge for more information. This is your chance to take a vacation with the Lord - to spend time learning more about His creation. Don’t miss it!

Please join us for a hamburger and hot dog picnic at Chapin Park for all members and Sunday School students. The picnic will begin at 11:15 this morning.

Pastor Skordahl is in Minneapolis at St. Michel’s Lutheran Church for his grandson’s confirmation, and at the AFLC for Coordinating Committee meetings. He and Cheryl will return Wednesday evening.

Thank you to Len and Jake Terry for putting the new countertop in Patrick’s office, and for putting a new cellar door on the rental house. Your time and efforts are appreciated.

Needed: VBS Snacks – There are papers at both entrances about snacks needed for VBS June 16 – 20. The paper on the east side is at the top of the stairs. The paper at the south entrance is on the bulletin board at the bottom of the stairs. Please sign your name on the sheet, tear off a tag, and donate goodies for the kids. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Let’s give a warm welcome to the new intern Pastor. On June 1st we will be having a brunch following the church service. It will be a good time of good food and fellowship. Please set aside this time so that we can encourage Patrick and Jennifer with a good turn out. There will also be a table set up for pantry supplies. If you can, just bring a food item, cleaning supply, etc. There is no need to wrap it. We have several breakfast choices – egg casserole, biscuits and gravy, muffins, and fruit.

Join Hands is a nationwide opportunity for youth and adults of all ages to come together for special projects. The Grundy County Chapter of Thrivent is sponsoring "Join Hands with our Servicemen and Women." Thrivent will allow our church $100 to purchase items for our members who are in the military. Anyone who volunteers to be part of this project will then be invited to help pack the items on June 14th (Flag Day). Five area Lutheran Churches will be involved in this project. Pizza and pop will be served after the boxes are packed. If you are willing to participate in this project, please call the office.

Morris Christian School and Preschool is currently registering students for next school year. For more information please visit www.morrischristianschool.org or call 941-9830.

This morning our Sunday School Department will be offering up praises to God in the form of thanks to teachers, students, and parents for a year of blessings and growth in the Lord. The 1st and 2nd graders will recite the Ten Commandments, the 3rd and 4th graders will recite the Lord’s Prayer, and our 5th and 6th graders will share personal readings about their favorite Bible stories. We also will recognize 4 students for attendance. They are Alexis Smyk. Alex Higgins, Alina Higgins and perfect attendance to Rico Frederick. We pray that their spiritual growth continues over the summer months.

Have you been wondering what you can do to help with Vacation Bible School? We are looking for a place to house two of the team members from AFLBS who will be leading VBS. If you can open your home for this ministry team, please let Kathy Hoge know by the first of June. We are also looking for a couple of adults to help during the week with crafts. Even if you can only help for 2 – 3 days, you will be richly blessed by helping with this wonderful outreach to our church and community.

Last Sunday’s attendance: 134

Last Sunday’s offering: Current $2838.00 Missions $440.00

Needed to meet budget: Current $4250.00 Missions $306.00

2008 weekly offering average: $3281.00

All Church Women are invited to the Gardner Church of Hope annual June Brunch. It will be held on Monday, June 2 at 9:30 am. Jerri Smith will be portraying "Esther." For reservations or more information call 815 237-8312 or 815 584-2894.

Prayer Connection —May 18, 2008

We have completeness in Christ Jesus because He Is. "Jesus answered, ‘I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’." (John 14:6) Christ's death and resurrection provide the bridge and gate to the road that leads to eternal life. "I AM the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." (John 10:9) We know how narrow the road and gate are, but we keep our eyes on Jesus, and stay on the path because He helps us. "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’." (John 8:12) Jesus is the very truth. "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, You are right in saying I AM a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37) We, who have faith in Christ Jesus, will bear good fruit. "I AM the vine; you are the braches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) We know the essence of the Christ Jesus. "I AM the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15) Jesus is sufficient... He is all we need. "Then Jesus declared, `I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

Father God,
Thank You for sending the living sacrifice in Christ Jesus. For Your great mercy and unending grace, we bow before You. We are not worthy, but through the cross and through the blood shed for us, we have become whole in Jesus Christ. The cross bridged the gap between us, so that through Jesus, we can come to You and ask for anything. Thank You that through the cross we will have everlasting life. We bind Your promise, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Oh, yes Lord, we believe this, and we look forward to spending eternity with You. Thank You for the completeness in Christ that you have given us through His death and resurrection. We believe Your truth and Your truth shall set us free. Thank You, Father, for in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and we have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In the name of the Great I AM, Jesus Christ! Amen

Jesus is the only path up the mountain. Only through Him, can we become complete and know the true and living God. And only through the resurrection do we gain life — Jesus said He was "the life" conquering death on our behalf. Praise God and alleluia! "Truly, truly, I say to you," Jesus said, "he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24)  Call on me for any prayer needs at schwiesowfam@sbcglobal.net or 941-4645.  I wish for you a prayer filled week.

                                                                                                   Ann Schwiesow

 

This Week at Bethlehem

Today:                                 8:00 am     Men’s prayer in Pastor’s study

                                            9:00 am     Worship Service-Radio 95.7 FM

  10:15 am     Sunday School

Tuesday:                             9:30 am     Ladies’ Bible Study

                                            6:30 pm     Pioneer Club

Thursday:                           6:00 am     Men’s Bible Study (IHOP)

Saturday:                            7:30 am     Men’s breakfast (Kitchen)

Sunday:                               8:00 am     Prayer in Pastor’s Study

    9:00 am     Worship Service-Radio 95.7 FM

 

Please remember the following people in your prayers this week:

Missionaries: Cup of Cold Water

Special Needs:

Les Geisert       Mickey McComas       Sue Gipes         Jim Cook

Roy Egeland    Allen Leranger            Vivian Walker   Chris Perry

Lawrence Larson    Helen Hexdall

(Special Needs requests will be in the bulletin for two consecutive Sundays.

Please call the office to be included for a longer period of time.)

Church of the Week: Faith Lutheran Church, Ottawa, Pastor Peter Ward

Praise: That the Lord allows us to abide in Him

Pastor Dave and Cheryl Skordahl
38 Lynwood Drive Morris, IL 60450
815 942-3670 (Home) 815 735-7329(Cell)

 

Abide in me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you,
unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5