March 8, 2020 St. John’s Lutheran Church

Second Sunday in Lent

Welcome to St. John’s Lutheran Church

Good morning and a blessed welcome to you! It truly is an honor to have you

worshipping with us this morning and it is our prayer that you find great comfort and

peace in Jesus’ Word of love, mercy, and forgiveness! If you are visiting with us today,

please take one of the visitor gift bags from the visitors’ center.

At St. John’s we are pleased to offer a variety of service formats on Sunday morning. In

our 8:30 a.m. traditional service we offer familiar hymns and rich, traditional worship

forms in a meaningful and inspirational setting. Our 11:00 a.m. contemporary service

includes the same message as our 8:30 a.m. service but in an informal style, enhanced

with contemporary music. We encourage you to try both worship styles! Thank you

for worshipping with us; we would love to have you join us again!

(If you need any assistance or need a hearing aid device, please see one of the ushers.)

Contact Us

2727 North Union Boulevard Decatur, IL 62526

Phone: (217) 875-3656; website: www.stjohnsdecatur.com Church office hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Members of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod & Lutheran School Association.

St. John’s Staff Rev. Adam Ray, Lead Pastor ........................................... pastoradam@stjohnsdecatur.com

Rev. Jonathan Torreson, Assoc. Pastor .............................. pastorjon@stjohnsdecatur.com

Malinda Standerfer, Dir. of Christian Ed......................... dcemalinda@stjohnsdecatur.com

Ted Hesse, Worship Team Leader & Choir Director ................. tedh@stjohnsdecatur.com

Georgia Newman, Office Manager...................................... georgian@stjohnsdecatur.com Carol Reynolds, Financial Secretary ........................................ carolr@stjohnsdecatur.com

Columbus Miles, Custodian

LSA Faculty & Staff – Members of St. John’s Lutheran Church

Sharon Colbeck Misty Grinestaff-Balvanz Judy Gross Andi Livingston

Angela Martinek Jeff Salefski Brenda Salogga Melissa Saurmann

Tricia Summers Rachael Tavarczky Taylor Torreson Stephanie Wilkerson

Second Sunday in Lent

March 8, 2020

8:30 a.m.

Our Vision: Grounded in Christ, Growing in Faith, Branching Out to Others

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC AND A TIME FOR PRAYER

RINGING OF THE BELLS

WELCOME/GREETING OF ONE ANOTHER Please take time to complete the appropriate side of the attendance registration

cards. Once completed, pass the cards toward the center aisle. They will be

collected during the offering.

OPENING HYMN

The God of Abraham Praise (Vv. 1,3,7,9) LSB 798

INVOCATION

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

PRAYER OF THE DAY

LISTENING TO GOD SPEAK TO US THROUGH HIS WORD Genesis 12:1-9 1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your

father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great

nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All

the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord

had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he

left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his

livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed

for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the

land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time,

the area was inhabited by Canaanites. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said,

“I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and

dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 After that, Abram traveled

south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east.

There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. (NLT)

L: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

LISTENING TO GOD SPEAK TO US THROUGH HIS WORD Romans 4:1-8, 13-17 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he

discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him

acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not

God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted

him as righteous because of his faith.” 4 When people work, their wages are not a

gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not

because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are

declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose

disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy for those

whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” 13

Clearly, God’s promise to give the

whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to

God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14

If God’s

promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the

promise is pointless. 15

For the law always brings punishment on those who try to

obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) 16

So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain

to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith

like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17

That is what the

Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”

This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to

life and who creates new things out of nothing. (NLT)

L: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

HOLY GOSPEL John 3:1-17

L: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the third chapter.

C: Glory to You, O Lord. (sung)

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a

teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with

him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he

cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born

when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the

Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh,

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You

must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but

you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who

is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus

answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these

things? 11

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to

what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12

If I have told you

earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly

things? 13

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven,

the Son of Man. 14

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the

Son of Man be lifted up, 15

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in

him should not perish but have eternal life. 17

For God did not send his Son into the

world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through

him. (ESV)

L: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise to You, O Christ. (sung)

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Pastor Adam Ray

SERMON HYMN

God Loved the World So That He Gave (v.1-4, 6) LSB 571

SERMON When Masks Fall Off

John 3:1-17

Pastor Jonathan Torreson

APOSTLES’ CREED

GIVING TO JESUS THANKFULLY FROM THE HEART (Offerings & Tithes)

MINISTRY IN MUSIC

LSA Choir “When You Prayed Beneath the Trees”

OFFERTORY HYMN

Create in Me LSB 956

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

The Leader will conclude every prayer with: “let us pray to the Lord.”

People respond with: “Lord, have mercy.”

LORD’S PRAYER

RECOGNITION OF BAPTISM BIRTHDAYS

BLESSING

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SENDING HYMN

All Christians Who Have Been Baptized (Vv. 1,2,4,5,6) LSB 596

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting Five from Lutheran Service Book Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by

Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Second Sunday of Lent

March 8, 2020

11:00 a.m.

Our Vision: Grounded in Christ, Growing in Faith, Branching Out to Others

Please take time to complete the appropriate side of the attendance registration card.

Once completed, pass the cards toward the center aisle.

They will be collected during the offering.

OPENING PRAISE SONGS

God So Loved

Reckless Love

WELCOME/GREETING

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

I Will Look Up

GIVING TO JESUS THANKFULLY FROM THE HEART

Blessed Assurance

SCRIPTURE READING

John 3:1-17

MESSAGE

When Masks Fall Off

John 3:1-17

Pastor Jonathan Torreson

APOSTLES’ CREED

PRAYERS

LORD’S PRAYER

RECOGNITION OF BAPTISM BIRTHDAYS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SENDING SONG

Build Your Kingdom Here

BLESSING

Sunday Servants Preacher ................................................................................. Pastor Jonathan Torreson

Worship Leader .................................................................................. Pastor Adam Ray

Reader ................................................................................................. Cathi Tavarczky

Lay Minister .................................................................... 8:30 a.m. – Larry Westbrook

11:00 a.m. – Paul Stanzione

Greeters .................................................................. 8:30 a.m. – Bruce & Linda Duncan

11:00 a.m. – Lawson & Andi Livingston

Organist....................................................................................... 8:30 a.m. – Carol Pelz

Ushers .................................................... 8:30 a.m. – Gary Schwartzle/Rick Laskowski

Acolytes ............................................................ 8:30 a.m. – Jacob Clapp/Sam Albrecht

11:00 a.m. – Lucas May/Maggye Smith

Computer ............................................................................. 8:30 a.m. – Mike Patzwitz

Thank You for Your Service!

Praise Team

Vocals ....................................................................... Melissa Saurmann & Ted Hesse

Acoustic Guitar ...................................................... Dan Cummings & Wendy Salefski

Piano .................................................................................................... Angela Cushing

Audio ....................................................................................................... John Salogga

Computer ................................................................................................ Katie Salogga

St. John’s Lutheran Church 2727 North Union Boulevard, Decatur, IL 62526

Phone: (217) 875-3656; website: www.stjohnsdecatur.com

Church office hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday

Members of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod & Lutheran School Association.

Our Mission

We are restored to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

As a family of Christians, we are dedicated to the love and forgiveness of Christ

as we reach out, preach and teach the truth of God’s Word to each other,

our Community and the world.

CHURCH CHATTER

In Need of Prayer: If you would like to be added to the prayer list or the prayer

chain, please contact the church office. Please call the prayer chain with an update of

your prayer request.

Hospital: DMH: Christina Patterson & Cheryl Ruffini

In the Military: Kaleb Blakeman, Laura Byers, Bryon Chaney, Kimberly

Chaney, Kristel Chaney, Travis Chaney, Dan Cheney, Tristin Comer, Randy

Edwards, Austin Highcock, Destiny Little, Aaron Lung, Andrew Nailer, Jared

Pinney, Caitlin Salefski, Tyler Salefski, Gavin Stanzione, Jacob Thornell

Altar Flowers: Given to the Glory of God by Bill and Vada Wond in honor of

their 50th

Wedding Anniversary.

Congregation News

Voter’s Meeting is today at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

Lent Services is Wednesday, March 11. Services times are:

10:00 a.m. at the DMH Cancer Care Center

5:00 p.m. – Meal served by the Confirmation Class (Taco & Nacho Bar)

6:30 p.m. – Service in the Sanctuary

Wednesday Bible Study will begin at 10:30 a.m. starting Wednesday, February 26th

through April 1st, during Lent.

Ladies Friendship Circle: The March meeting will be moved to Tuesday, March

10 at 1:00 p.m., due to the election’s the next week. Our speaker will be Penny

Weaver of New Life Pregnancy Center. Let’s have a big turnout for her.

Good Samaritan: St. John’s volunteers are scheduled to serve at the Good

Samaritan Inn on Sunday, March 15. We need four or five people to arrive at 9:00

a.m. to help prepare the meal, and another seven volunteers to be available to serve

the meal between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please phone the church office at 875-

3656 or Jerry Pelz, if you are able to help.

New Life Pregnancy Center News – CHANGE FOR LIIFE – Baby Bottle

Campaign. Bottles are available on the back table of the Sanctuary. Return filled

bottle by March 8 to church.

New Mexico High School Mission Trip: If you are interested in attending the High

School mission trip, our first Mission Trip meeting is Wednesday March 18th

following the Lenten service. (Approx. 7pm) Please have your $50 down payment at

that time so we can reserve flights. If you have any questions, please contact

Malinda.

Busy Bags: Located on the pew in the back of the sanctuary are busy bags for our

younger members. Items include crayons, pipe cleaners and lacing cards to help

keep children engaged during worship. Please enjoy the bags during service and

return them to the wooden crate after service. Enjoy

Connect Night Update: Thank you to all who came out for Connect Night. We

spent the evening working on several service projects. The following is the totals of

each item that was made: 70 – Toiletry Kits for Lutheran Family & Child Services

and DOVE; 70 – Homeless Blessing Bags; 217 – Rice & Bean Meal packs for local

food banks; 15 – St. John’s Busy Bags; 8 – Tie Blankets for child abuse victims at

Crossing Healthcare; 60 – Birthday in a Bag kits for NECF/DOVE/Lutheran Family

Services; 68 – Hope Hats for Cancer Care Center/DMH/St. Mary’s; 79 – Shoe kits

for Sole Hope Children in Uganda; 22 – Joy Placemats made for residents at Decatur

Rehab; and 100 – Dog and cat toys made for the Macon County Animal Shelter.

Liberian Children's Ministry Update: The total donated to date is $3721.56. This

means that we can sponsor nearly 149 children in Liberian Lutheran Schools. There

are donation envelopes in the pews, in the back of the church, and in the Fellowship

Hall.

Stewardship Seed: Matthew 15:27 – “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the

crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” These are the words of faith, for faith

means receiving what God gives. And God has given us so much more than just the

crumbs that fall from the table. He has given us life, salvation, body and soul, eyes

and ears, possessions and income. That’s where our stewardship starts, with faith in

the God who is the greatest Giver.

Development Committee of the LSA School Board is creating an Ad-Hoc

Committee to help with fund- raising ideas to help support the LSA. If you are

interested in helping with this endeavor, please reach out to your LSA school board

representative from your church.

Lutheran School Association

LSA Alumni: We would like to update our alumni database and we need your help.

Please go to our website at www.lsadecatur.net and look for the menus dropdown

icon. The alumni section is located at the end of the list. Please scroll to Alumni

information 2019 and complete the Google form.

Last Week’s Giving

General Fund .............................................................................................. $11,930.75

Amount Needed To Meet Budget .............................................................. $14,044.04

Children’s Sunday School ................................................................................... $3.72

Last Week’s Attendance

8:30 a.m. ................................................................................................................. 162

11:00 a.m. ............................................................................................................... 121

Total ........................................................................................................................ 283

Children’s Sunday School ........................................................................................ 15

Adult Sunday School ................................................................................................ 32

Lent Service 10:00 a.m. ............................................................................................ 20

Lent Service 6:30 p.m............................................................................................. 114

Nursing Home Services

Village Clara ............................................................................................................... 8

Prairie Creek Village .................................................................................................. 4

Decatur Rehab ......................................................................................................... 19

Total 31

Pro-Life Corner: “Parents make mistakes, and so do their children.

Don’t let the thought of failure prevent you, my friends, from going

for the prize. If you have not been in it before, get in the game,

follow Christ. If you have tried hard and feel you have not

succeeded, don’t give up. Fight the good fight. Run the race with

full determination. With Christ, you will obtain the prize.” Dr.

Oswald Hoffmann, former speaker of “The Lutheran Hour”

THE LORD’S WORK

Sunday, March 8

8:30 a.m. ........................................................................................ Traditional Service

9:45 a.m. ............................................................................................. Education Hour

11:00 a.m. ................................................................................ Contemporary Service

1:30 p.m. ................................................................................... Voter’s Meeting (FH)

6-8:00 p.m. .............................................................................. Sr. High Youth Groups

Monday, March 9

1:00 p.m. ............................................................... Social Ministry Meeting (Lounge)

6:30 p.m. ........................................................................................... Boy Scouts (FH)

Tuesday, March 10

1:00 p.m. ................................................................................ Staff Meeting (Lounge)

1:00 p.m. ........................................................................................... Friendship Circle

6:30 p.m. ....................................................................... Lay Ministry Meeting (Rock)

Wednesday, March 11

10:00 a.m. ............................................................Lent Service at Cancer Care Center

10:30 a.m. ............................................................................... Adult Bible Study (FH)

5:00 p.m. ............................................................................. Lenten Meal Begins (FH)

6:30 p.m. .............................................................................. Lent Service (Sanctuary)

7:30 p.m. .......................................................................... Senior High Youth Leaders

Thursday, March 12

6:00 p.m. ............................................................................................. Choir Rehearsal

7:00 p.m. ........................................................................................... Worship Practice

Friday, March 13

No church activities scheduled.

Saturday, March 14

No church activities scheduled.

Sunday, March 15

8:30 a.m. ........................................................................................ Traditional Service

9:45 a.m. ............................................................................................. Education Hour

11:00 a.m. ................................................................................ Contemporary Service

4-5:30 p.m. .............................................................................................. Confirmation

5:30-8:00 p.m........................................................................... Jr. High Youth Groups