Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
June 15, 2008
Prelude Elaine Anderson
Welcome
Opening Hymn A Mighty Fortress #141
Scripture Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah
58:6-12
OT p. 558
New Testament: Romans
2:17-29
NT p. 123
Confession of Faith: Apostle’s Creed Hymnal front p.4 Confession of Sin: Hymnal front p. 49 #10
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me #215
Children’s Object Lesson
Offering We Give Thee but Thine Own #391
Hymn By Grace I Am an Heir of Heaven #409
Sermon
Luke 6:36-42
Patrick Lohse, Intern Pastor
Hymn My Heart Is Longing to Praise My Savior #198
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.
Deacons at the Altar: Tom Mickelson and Bruce Egeland
Greeters today: Audrey Hexdall and Anita Sampson
Last Sunday’s attendance: 138
Last Sunday’s offering: Current $3865.00 Missions $206.00
Needed to meet budget: Current $4250.00 Missions $306.00
Weekly offering average (June 1 to present): $3806.00
STAR articles are due in the office by June 27. Please be prompt so that newsletters can be sent on time.
Thank you to Paul and Char Fruland for donating a printer for Patrick’s office. Your donation is appreciated.
We need a computer 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.
VBS starts tomorrow at 9:00 am. Remember to pray for the Team, the leaders, and the students.
Let’s pray this week for the persecuted Christians in Bangladesh. Freedom of religion is supposedly guaranteed, but increasing Islamics are anti-Christian. Birth certificates are denied in one area as legal status is removed from families. Churches are closing and few Christians feel safe worshipping publicly. Pray that Christ’s love would flood Bangladesh.
AFLBS Timothy Team
Please pray for the members of the Timothy Team, Cassie Fugleburg, Laura Satren, Ryan Fosland, and Owen Parsley as they work with our VBS students and leaders.
Thank you to Shirley and Alan Love for keeping the team in their home this week. We need people to provide lunches and suppers this week. If you can provide a lunch or supper, please contact the church. These kids are giving up their summer to teach the Gospel. Let’s support them and show them how much we appreciate their ministry.
Come now, you who say,
"Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" -
yet you do not know what tomorrow
will bring. What is your life?
For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say,
"If the Lord wills, we will live
and do this or that."
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.James 4:13-17
Prayer Connection —June 15, 2008
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." (Ephesians 6:17-20) The prayers of believers are empowered by God through our salvation and the Holy Spirit. Spurgeon says, "If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ." Because we are praying to the omnipotent God, our prayers will also be omnipotent! Never underestimate the power of prayer; it is as huge as our God. "Jesus replied, `I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:21-22) Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets so that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer brings inner strength to God's warriors and sends them forth to spiritual battle with their muscles firm and their armor in place." (Spurgeon)
Our Heavenly Father,
You have taught us to pray. May we always begin each plea with praise and thanksgiving. Thank You for Your waiting ear and willingness to hear each utterance and groan. Thank You that what David said is true, that, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear me." Lord, teach us how to live that our very lives will become a constant prayer. As each thought is formed in our minds, let our hearts form a prayer over it. Thank You Lord, for the sweet communion that we receive when we are in prayer with You. And thank You for teaching us the most precious prayer, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and King. Amen"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11) "Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him. We should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there." (R. A. Torrey) Call me anytime 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
Mon – Fri: 9:00 am Vacation Bible School
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: The AFLBS Summer Teams
Special Needs: Arlene
Johnson
Vivian
Walker
Sue Gipes
Eldora Leranger
Margie
Monahan
Bailey Bergstrom
Chris Perry Roy
Egeland
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: St. John Lutheran Church, Schwer,
Rev. Matthew Steendahl
Praise: For the mercy of the Lord!
Pastor Dave and Cheryl Skordahl
38 Lynwood Drive Morris, IL 60450
815 942-3670 (Home) 815 735-7329(Cell)Patrick Lohse, Intern Pastor
510 Narvick Ave. Apt. 6 Morris, IL 60450
815 941-2407 (Home) 815-584-7122 (Cell)
"Be merciful,
just as your Father is merciful.
And do not judge
and you will not be judged;
and do not condemn,
and you will not be condemned;
pardon, and you will be pardoned."Luke 6:36-37
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.
You are invited
To an Open House
To celebrate Mildred Hausken’s
90th birthday
Sunday, June 22
From 2 to 5 pm
In Fellowship Hall
No gifts please