Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
June 29, 2008

Prelude                                                                                                               Elaine Anderson

Welcome

Opening Hymns                            We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise                                             O Lord, You’re Beautiful                                                                                         (see bulletin)
                                                                       Wonderful, Merciful Savior

AFLC Convention Report                                                                            Pastor Gerry Steele

Scripture Readings:
                  New Testament: Romans 3:21-31                                                                 NT p. 124
                  New Testament: Matthew 5:17-19                                                                NT p. 3

Confession of Faith:                                Apostle’s Creed                                Hymnal front p.4 Confession of Sin:                                                                                       Hymnal front p.48 #3

 Hymn                                                      Jesus Paid It All                                                   #407

Pastoral Prayer

Children’s Object Lesson

Offering                                       We Give Thee but Thine Own                                         #391

Hymn                                            Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior                                       #457

Sermon                                          "When God Isn’t Enough"
                                                                                Exodus 20:1-17
                                                                       Pastor David Skordahl

Hymn                                         O for a Closer Walk with God                                          #466

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: Doug Gipes and Len Terry

Greeters today: Bob and Audrey Keech

Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored by friends and family of Helen Johnson. It would have been Helen’s 95th birthday June 30th.

Last Sunday’s attendance: 134

Last Sunday’s offering: Current $4,128 Missions $276

Needed to meet budget: Current $4,250 Missions $306

Weekly offering average (June 1 to present): $3927

Let’s pray this week for the persecuted Christians in Chechnya. Christians in Chechnya are being targeted for persecution. The leader of the Baptist Church was beheaded last year. Many are fleeing the country, and the isolated Grozny congregation now consists of less than 100 elderly women and orphans. Pray for strength for the remaining Christians to live a strong witness.

If anyone has a 6 foot and an 8 foot ladder (in good condition) that you would be willing to donate to the church, please call the church office. Thank you.

I wish to thank everyone for your kind greetings, phone calls, cards, and prayers at my 90th birthday party. They were all so appreciated and enjoyed. God bless you all. Love, Mildred Hausken

We will need housing for the Ambassadors for one night, July 15th. There are 3 young ladies and 2 young men. If you can help with this, please contact the church office at 815 942-1145. Thank you!

The Ambassadors Music Ministry Team from the Association Free Lutheran Bible School in Minneapolis will present an inspirational concert here on Tuesday, July 15th, at 7:00 PM. You are encouraged to attend this concert featuring Christian music ranging from traditional to contemporary. The 60-minute concert includes more than ten songs, two testimonies of faith, and a brief message. Mark your calendars!

Bethlehem is again responsible for delivering Mobile Meals for the month of August. All routes (A, B, D) are picked up at the Morris Hospital. Participation drops on weekends, so Routes A and B are combined on Sunday and A and D are combined on Saturday.

There is a sign-up sheet in the office. Please consider helping even if it is just for a day. Please include your phone number as you sign up. Any questions, call Merle McTague at 942-2024. Thanks.

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.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s
desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n
rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved
us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is
just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall
wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the
brave!

-Francis Scott Key
1814

Prayer Connection —June 29, 2008

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) When we think of a yoke, we can imagine two walking in step with one another. Imagine the lifting of our burden if we are walking shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip, and heart to heart with Jesus. Being yoked with Jesus releases us from the bondage of slavery to sin. Our bond with Christ gives us freedom and victory over sin and death. Hallelujah! Charles Spurgeon wrote an insightful piece about yoking with our Savior. "Now I think the Savior says to us, ‘I am bearing one end of the yoke on my shoulder; come, my disciple, place your neck under the other side of it, and then learn of me. Keep step with me, be as I am, do as I do. I am meek and lowly in heart; your heart must be like mine, and then we will work together in blessed fellowship, and you will find that working with me is a happy thing; for my yoke is easy to me, and will be to you. Come then, true yoke-fellow, come and be yoked with me, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.’ If that be the meaning of the text, and perhaps it is, it invites us to a fellowship most near and honorable. If it be not the meaning of the text, it is at any rate a position to be sought after, to be laborers together with Christ, bearing the same yoke. Such be our lot. Amen."

Our Heavenly Father,
We will wait for You, Lord, our souls will wait, and in Your Word we will put our hope. Our souls wait for You, Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. And this is love for You our God, to obey Your commands and Your commands are not burdensome. Help us Lord, to take Your yoke onto our shoulders. Help us to carry our loads and burdens. Transfer Your strength and righteousness and life to us. Let Your footsteps become our footsteps. Help us to keep in perfect step with You. Help us to understand that it is for freedom that You have set us free, and that we must stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery, but become yoked in love with You. In the name of Redeemer and Lord, Christ Jesus. Amen

If we are yoked with Jesus then He is always there. Whether we feel His presence or not, He is with us always. Psalm 139: 7-10 explains, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast." C. Spurgeon continues with his sermon, "Christ's yoke is easy, because, although a state of subjection, it is the very opposite of a state of bondage. Although His yoke is a band, still it is love's band. It is the opposite of slavery. This service rendered to Christ is not a legal constraint or a restraint. It is not slavish fear, it is not the thumbscrew of conscience to a must-do, a must-serve-the Lord; but it is a preference of Him and His service so deep and radical, and all-pervading, that no other conceivable way or course of life is so agreeable as just that which Christ requires."  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)

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

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: Gideons

Special Needs:
Arlene Johnson              Vivian Walker             Gene Timmons                Chris Perry
Lawrence Larson           Margie Monahan        Sue Gipes                         Lois Tweedt
 Ron Linnemann            Roy Egeland                 Mickey McComas           Jim Koedding
Bailey Bergstrom           Martha Fritz                Florence Whyte

(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: Newark Lutheran Church, Pastor Chuck Sampson

Praise: That we need nothing besides 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)

Then God spoke
all these words, saying,
"I am
the LORD your God,
who brought you out of
the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods besides Me."

Exodus 20:1-3