Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
June 8, 2008
Prelude Elaine Anderson
Welcome
Opening
Hymn
Our God Reigns|
I
Live
(see bulletin)
Great and Mighty
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Micah
7:18-20
OT p. 702
New Testament: Romans
2:1-11
NT p. 123
Confession of Faith: Apostle’s Creed Hymnal front p.4
Confession of Sin: Hymnal front p. 49 #7
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn Jesus Paid It All #407
Children’s Object Lesson
Offering We Give Thee but Thine Own #391
Hymn God’s Word is our Great Heritage #258
Sermon
"Welcome Back"
Luke 15:11-32
Pastor David Skordahl
Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy #416
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.
Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored in loving memory of Scott Vaksdal, whose birthday would have been June 15, by family and friends.
Last Sunday’s attendance: 171
Last Sunday’s offering: Current $3747.00 Missions $293.00
Needed to meet budget: Current $4250.00 Missions $306.00
Weekly offering average (June 1 to present): $3763.00
Bible School Help: We need 2 homes to house the four Timothy team members from AFLBS who will be leading VBS. The team members (two girls and two boys) will be spending much of the day at our church, and the evenings at Grace. If you can open your home for this ministry team, please let Kathy Hoge know immediately.
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.
Jenny and I would like to express our thanks for the wonderful turnout at last Sunday's brunch. We are also grateful for the many food items, cleaning supplies, and financial gifts we received. The hospitality and love shown to us by the members here at Bethlehem Lutheran has already made us feel at home. We look forward to growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) with you in the following year!
Pastor Dave and Cheryl will be leaving after church for the AFLC Convention in Oklahoma. After that they will be on vacation for a week. Please pray for safe travel and for the AFLC Convention. Patrick’s cell phone number is 815-584-7122. Please call Patrick or the office if you need something.
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts !" Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."
Isaiah 6:1-7
Prayer Connection —June 8, 2008
"Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. Praise be to the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28: 2, 6-9) On our recent trips to Georgia to visit and then bring our son home for leave, one could not help notice huge billboards with only these two words; `TRUST GOD'. There may not be two words more important. These two words speak volumes. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Charles Spurgeon once said, "The Lord our God has set ring upon ring, defense upon defense, around His people. All the powers of providence and grace protect the saints. Material and spiritual forces alike surround her. The Lord keeps His people doubly fenced by walls and bulwarks, and hence He speaks of a double peace. `Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee', `Thou wilt keep him in peace, peace', saith the Hebrew. God does nothing by halves, but everything by doubles. His salvation is decreed and appointed, and this is made the basis for the unbroken serenity of all His chosen". Trust God, trust in Him.
Heavenly Father,
Help us, Father, to surrender our very lives to Your trust. Help us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to You. Grant us the peace that surpasses all understanding that You so readily give to those who trust in You fully and completely. Help us to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, so that we can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. We praise Your name, LORD, because we can say, `You are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust'. Thank You for loving us so much. Thank You for taking care of all the details of our lives to the point that we can rest in the knowledge that You are in complete control of every circumstance. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. We will trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, is the Rock eternal. How great is Your Glory!! We pray in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus. Amen
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare". (Psalm 40:3-5) "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:4-6) And as Paul writes in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Call on me anytime at schwiesowfam@sbcglobal.net or 941-4645. Have a blessed, prayerful 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
Tuesday: 7:00 pm Trustees Meet
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: Todd Schierkolk family, Mexico
Special Needs: Arlene Johnson Vivian Walker Eldora Leranger Margie Monahan Jim Cook Roy Egeland Chris Perry Bailey Bergstrom Sue Gipes Mickey McComas
(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: Zion Evangelical Lutheran, Alaska, Pastor Horne
Praise: For the Lord’s mercy!
Pastor Dave and Cheryl Skordahl
38 Lynwood Drive Morris, IL 60450
815 942-3670 (Home) 815 735-7329(Cell)
Patrick Lohse, Intern Pastor
510 W Narvick, Apt. 6 Morris, IL 60450
815 -941-2407 (Home) 815-584-7122 (Cell)
"But we had to be merry and rejoice,
for this brother of yours was dead
and has begun to live,
and was lost and has been found.Luke 15:32
STAR articles are due in the office by June 27. Please be prompt so that newsletters can be sent on time.
We need a computer and printer for Patrick’s office. If you have (or know of) a computer that is in good shape and is not too old, please call the office. Thank you.
A CHANCE TO HELP CHILDREN IN FARAWAY PLACES
Vacation Bible School and the Mission Outreach Committee are collecting items on the "wants & needs" list for the Foundation for His Ministry Orphanage in Baja. Donations can be placed in the boxes at the church entrances. Following is a list of items needed. Only new items will be accepted. The children at the orphanage appreciate your donations.
Markers: New Testament Illustrated Coloring Books Sharpie permanent
Play Doh
Crayola Markers Ribbons
Elmer's Glue Sticks Shoe Laces
Glitter Glue Backpacks
Stickers Sandals for Boys and Girls
Balloons Tennis Shoes (all sizes)Only new items will be accepted. Cash donations are also welcome and can be placed in the container in the church office or placed in a marked envelope (FFHM) in the Sunday collection plate.
If you have questions please call Fran McCluckie 942-3831.
Let’s pray this week for our persecuted brothers and sisters in the country of: Algeria. Christians there have suffered a reign of violence from the Islamic Salvation Front. Members have been known to slit throats of anyone who has not lived up to their call to Islamic fundamentalism. In 2007 a new anti-conversion law was implemented, so strict that any liberty to practice Christianity has ended. Few Christians are left. They suffer discouragement. Pray for the Christians that they will be encouraged to share their faith and lead many to Christ.