Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dispelling the Darkness
August 17, 2008

Prelude                                                                                                                                Judy Watters

Welcome

Opening Hymns                                   How Majestic Is Your Name
                                                                                         Thou Art Worthy                                          (see bulletin)
                                                                                        Jesus, Your Name

Scripture Readings:
                     Old Testament: Leviticus 18:1-5                                                                               OT p. 89
                    New Testament: Matthew 5:43-48                                                                             NT p. 4

Confession of Faith:                                        Apostle’s Creed                                    Hymnal front p.4

Confession of Sin:                                                                                                  Hymnal front p. 48 #4

 Hymn                                                                 Rock of Ages                                                         #398

Pastoral Prayer

Children’s Object Lesson

Offering                                                We Give Thee but Thine Own                                            #391

Hymn                                                           Search Me, O God                                                       #478

Sermon                                                   "Battlefield of the Mind"
                                                                                         Romans 7:4-25
                                                                                 Pastor David Skordahl

Hymn                                                      Make Me a Captive Lord                                                  #470

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: Bruce Egeland and Gordy Vaksdal

Today’s radio broadcast is sponsored by Richard Hexdall in honor of his mother’s birthday. Helen Hexdall will be 96 on August 23rd. Happy birthday, Helen!

Greeter today: Kathy Hoge

The Sunday School is eagerly anticipating the start of a new school year Sunday, September 7th. God has blessed us with many returning teachers, but we still need substitutes who would be willing to fill in. Or maybe you have a heart for leading children’s choir. Are you that person God is nudging to help Him in His work here at Bethlehem? Talk to Kathy Hoge or Ann Higgins if you would like to help.

Would you like to be involved in a ministry of serving the Lord in praise and song? Then join us for our first choir practice of the fall on Wednesday, September 3, from 6:30 until 7:30 pm. We will begin singing on Sunday, September 14th.

The Music Fund is getting low. Please consider an extra donation for this ministry, as the Lord leads. We are thankful to Elaine and the choir and appreciate their contribution to our Worship Services. Thank you.

Please pray for the persecuted Church in Egypt. Churches cannot be built, repaired, or even painted without permission of the president. Believers are often attacked by Muslim extremists, girls raped and forced to marry Muslims. All that goes on without punishment. Revival is happening, but at a great price. Pray for a safety hedge around Christians there, and that Muslims who are hungry for Bibles will be able to receive them.

Council Members: Remember the Council meeting Wednesday, August 20th at 7:00 pm in the Lounge.

Roy Hope will be here for a special concert on Sunday evening, September 7th, at 6:30 pm. Roy Hope presents a concert of Gospel music for both young and old. Please plan to attend. You will be blessed by Roy’s music.

Stavanger Lutheran Church is having their annual Pork Chop Supper and Bake Sale Saturday August 23, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. The cost is $8 for one chop, $9 for 2 chops, and $4 for a hot dog meal. There are a limited number of tickets. Tickets are $1 more when purchased at the door.
Call 357-6339 or 357-8867 to purchase tickets.

Attention parents of high school students: There is a free class on planning for college that will be held at the Grundy County Administration Center. Each class is from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. There are four classes to choose from: Weds. Aug. 27, Thurs. Aug. 28, Tues. Sept. 2, and Thurs. Sept. 4. The class will give information on applying for college, getting scholarships, financing, and more. Call 815 434-0395 for reservations or more information.

Volunteers are needed to staff the Homeless Shelter this fall and winter. If you are interested in working with other churches on this project, please call the office at 815 942-1145.

GriefShare Seminar and Support Group is starting new sessions at Cross Lutheran Church south of Yorkville. The initial meeting is Saturday, September 6, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The remaining sessions will be on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm from September 11 until November 20th. There are also support groups for children and teens. Contact Karen Hardecopf (630-553-7335) for more information.

The beginning of fall is a busy time and everyone needs information concerning activities that are starting up again. If you have announcements or articles that need to be in the Sept./Oct. STAR, please have them in the office no later than next Sunday, August 24. Thank you.

THE SKORDAHL’S SAY THANKS

Thank you so very much to the many of you who prayed for us and those who mailed condolence cards to us because of the death of Cheryl’s dear Foster Mother/Aunt Hazel Thykeson from Portland, ND. Your kind thoughtfulness and expressions of love are deeply appreciated. Thanks also to the entire congregation for the beautiful bouquet of flowers for the funeral.

Sincerely,
Pastor Dave and Cheryl

THIS Thursday, August 21st, at 2:00 pm, our congregation is taking a program to the residents of the Grundy Home. If you are available that afternoon, please consider coming out to support this effort. We currently have 10 members at the Grundy Home. They would love to see you.
We will be serving pies, and are thankful for each person who generously volunteered to bake. Cheryl Skordahl will present a devotional message, Alan Love will treat us to a medley of songs on the accordion. Carolyn Steele will play a violin solo and also accompany some group singing.
Our desire is to bring the love of Jesus into the lives of the residents, as we fellowship together with them. Some help is needed to cut and distribute the pies and coffee after the program. Needless to say, we enjoy the pies as much as the residents! Join us if you can.

Last Sunday’s attendance: 129

Last Sunday’s offering: Current $3,403 Missions $316

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

Weekly offering average $3,719 (June 1 to present)

Commandments 1-5
& their meanings

Introduction: I am the Lord thy God.

I. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

II. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive, by His name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

III. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

We should fear and love God so that we do not despise His Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy, and gladly hear and learn it.

IV. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

We should fear and love God so that we do not despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them.

V. Thou shalt not kill.

We should fear and love God so that we do our neighbor no bodily harm nor cause him any suffering, but help and befriend him in every need.

Prayer Connection — August 17, 2008

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:10-12) We must be encouraged by the knowledge that God is in control of our lives and He will accomplish His purpose. "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me" (Psalms 57:2). God wants us to know Him, God wants us to seek knowledge of Him through His Word and be encouraged. A beautiful line in a hymn written by M. Clarkson reads, "Teach us to know You, always among us, quietly sovereign — Lord of our now." "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1)

Our Heavenly Father,
Thank You that there is no situation, circumstance, or relationship beyond Your caring. We are so grateful that we can come to You and ask, "Lord, what do You want us to do?" knowing that You desire to impart to us Your wisdom, answers, and solutions. How comforting and encouraging to know that you are in control of the ongoing daily details of our lives. Help us to yield to Your will through active and continuous consulting in all things. Help us to surrender control of our time, our energy, our talents, our money, our dreams, our desires, our future, and our entire selves. Thank You that Your purposes will be accomplished as we give over control to You. Your Word tells us that if we fully obey You and carefully follow all of Your commands You will set us high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon us and accompany us if we obey You, our Lord and our God. You are absolutely sovereign and the King of all Kings. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master. Amen

Augustine wrote these profound words to God, "God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honour and glory." It is so vitally assuring to remember that God is still on the throne and He indeed rules over the affairs of men. "Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:3-4) We are wise to remember that God is our ultimate source of encouragement.  I wish you a prayer-filled week. God bless. Call on me anytime at schwiesowfam@sbcglobal.net or 941-4645.

                                                                                                                               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 F

4:30 pm      AFLC District Pastors’ Family Picnic

Weds.                              7:00 pm      Church Council Meets in the Lounge

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: Del Palmer, AFLC Missions Director

Special Needs:
Vivian Walker                                          Aaron Noone                                     Tom Bishop
Mickey McComas                                    Lois Tweedt                                       Tom Ricket
Milo Peterson                                           Jim Koedding                                     Roy Egeland

The family of Ron Linnemann

(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.)

Praise: For the law that drives us to Jesus Christ

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

Patrick Lohse, Intern Pastor
Patrick and Jennifer Lohse

510 Narvick Ave. Apt. 6 Morris, IL 60450
815 941-2407 (Home) 815-584-7122 (Cell)

Wretched man
that I am!
Who will deliver me
from this body
of death?
Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ
our Lord!
So then,
I of myself serve
the law of God
with my mind,
but with my flesh
I serve
the law of sin.

Romans 7: 24-25

Sunday School begins on September 7th for all ages, 3 years (as of September 1) through High School. We also have an adult class taught by Pastor Skordahl. We are looking forward to a year of fellowshipping with friends and growing closer to the Lord. Watch the bulletin for a special event we have planned for Rally Day. Be sure to attend Worship Service with your family at 9:00 am before Sunday School.

Are you a junior high or high school student looking to hang out, do cool activities, and have a Bible study that is relevant to where you are in your walk with God? Become part of the newly formed youth group as we initiate the school year with a "Progressive Fast Food Restaurant Dinner". Each Sunday we will meet at the church for games, snacks and Bible study. The fun will start at the church Sunday Sept 7th at 6:00. Bring your appetite, $10, and your Bible.

This year our Corn Festival Lawn Service will feature the Wissmann Family. Loren, Gloria, and their 13 children will be singing and playing a wide variety of musical instruments as they share the timeless message of Jesus Christ. Why not invite family and friends who don’t attend church? They will hear beautiful music along with the promise of salvation in Jesus.