Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
June 22, 2008
Prelude Elaine Anderson
Welcome
Opening Hymn Dearest Jesus, Draw Thou Near Me #235
Scripture Readings:
New Testament: Acts
26:1-18
NT p. 119 New Testament: Matthew
16:13-20
NT p. 14
Confession of Faith: Apostle’s Creed Hymnal front p.4 Confession of Sin: Hymnal front p. 48 #5
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness #559
Children’s Object Lesson
Offering We Give Thee but Thine Own #391
Hymn I Love to Tell the Story #304
Sermon
"Unexpected Conversion"
Jonah 3:1-10
Patrick Lohse, Intern Pastor
Hymn Jesus Saves #520
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: Dean and Alice Jacobson
Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored in loving memory of Allan Leranger (whose birthday would have been July 3) by friends and family.
Altar flowers today are given by Jeannie and Jim LeFevers in honor of their 6th wedding anniversary, which was June 13th. Congratulations Jeannie and Jim.
The pedestal bouquet is given by Roy and Ardelle Egeland in loving memory of Brent.
Council Members: There will be a Council meeting on Thursday, June 26th at 7:00 pm in the Lounge. Please plan to attend.
Last Sunday’s attendance: 143
Last Sunday’s offering: Current $3,969.39 Missions $296.00
Needed to meet budget: Current $4,250.00 Missions $306.00
Weekly offering average (June 1 to present): $3,861.00
STAR articles are due in the office by June 27. Please be prompt so that newsletters can be sent on time.
Let’s pray this week for the persecuted Christians in Brunei, an Islamic state with freedoms of religion eroding. Christian literature is banned, church leaders are being expelled, and Christmas celebrations are outlawed. Muslims control the education and conversion to Christianity is illegal. Pray for the Sultan to come to Christ, and for the protection of the Christians.
Thank you to all who helped with Vacation Bible School. There were about 35 children in attendance each day who learned about God’s amazing creation. It takes effort from many to make VBS successful. Thank you to the organizers, crew leaders, craft and snack coordinators, and especially the AFLBS Timothy Team for all their hard work. Continue to pray for the Timothy Team as they go on to minister in other churches. And pray for the children who attended VBS. Pray that they might continue to grow in faith.
Thank you to everyone who helped feed the Timothy Team this past week. Thank you for donations of money, donations of food, for taking the kids out to eat, and for having them in your homes for meals. They appreciated everything that each of you did to make their stay in Morris comfortable. Thanks again to Shirley and Allan Love, for keeping the Team in their home. May the Lord bless each of you for being a part of this ministry.
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 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
This afternoon
From 2 to 5 pm
In Fellowship Hall
No gifts please
Prayer Connection —June 22, 2008
"And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." (Deuteronomy 10:12-14) We must ask ourselves if we are living for the Lord or sort of around Him. Brother Lawrence had this to say about the importance of God in our lives. "What should we set as our ultimate goal in this life? The answer: the perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be. ..I sought no more than how to be God's and God's alone. My goal made me resolve to give my all for the All... Always I worshipped Him as often as I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence. When I wandered, I brought Him back to my mind... At all times, every hour, every minute, even at the busiest times. I drove away from my mind everything capable of spoiling the sense of the presence of God…I just make it my business to persevere in His holy presence... My soul has had a habitual, silent, secret conversation with God." What an ideal to attain in our quest for a scrupulous relationship with Christ.
Our Heavenly Father,
You have said, "Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." O Lord, thank You for keeping that promise and all Your promises! We can look forward to each day with Your confidence and hope for a future with You for all eternity. You make life worth living and we cannot imagine how hopeless life is without You in every moment. You have also commanded us to, "Love You with all our heart and with all our soul and all our strength." Please help us to do what is pleasing to You at all times. That is our hearts desire, Lord, to please You and never to grieve You. Teach us Lord, through Your Word, to be exactly who You want us to be in the Lord. We ask this through our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer and King, Christ Jesus! Amen
"In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that underneath are the everlasting arms full of support, provision, comfort and strength." (Oswald Chambers) "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." Deuteronomy7:9 And from 1 Chronicles 28:9, "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." Call on 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
Thursday: 6:00 am Men’s Bible Study (IHOP)
7:00 pm Church Council meets
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: Nathan and Rhoda Jore and family, Uganda
Special Needs:
Arlene Johnson Vivian Walker Gene Timmons Chris Perry
Eldora Leranger Margie Monahan Sue Gipes Lois Tweedt
Ron Linnemann Roy Egeland Mickey McComas Jim Koedding
(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: Grace Lutheran, Pastor Steven Heilmann
Praise: For people who believe the Word of God
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)
Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Jonah 3: 5 & 10
Do not love the world
or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world –
the desires of the flesh
and the desires of the eyes
and the pride in possessions –
is not from the Father
but is from the world.
And the world is passing away
along with its desires,
but whoever does the will of God
abides forever.I John 2:15-17