SEPT. 3 & 7, TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

 

WELCOME IN JESUS NAME.  We are happy to have you join in the worship of our Lord.  May your understanding of God’s Word and you love for Him be strengthened.  VISITORS…we are glad to have you with us.  If you desire a call from Pastor Suehring please contact him at 715-851-1151.  

 

The Gospel is also the basis for the Lord’s Supper, which we celebrate again today.  In this Sacrament, Christ Jesus is truly present with his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  In joyful obedience to the teachings of the Scriptures, St. John, and the congregations of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod practice “closed communion” with those who share our outward confession of the faith.  We ask guests who wish to commune to speak with the pastor before the service.

 

Order of Service – Wed.  pg. 184 LSB  

    

 

HYMNS: WED: 732, 760, 752, 809

      SUN: Service Bulletin

       

Scripture Lesson:

First Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16, “The Widow of Zarephath”

Epistle Reading: Galatians 5:26-6:10, “Bear One Another’s Burdens”

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34, “Do Not Be Anxious”

Att. Last week: Wed. 25   Comm. 17    Sun. 43   Comm. 37

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN

WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 9:30 am

            Communion Service St. John, Tigerton 5:00pm

SATURDAY: LCFS Thrift Store Workday

SUNDAY (9/14): Communion Service at St. John, Caroline 7:30 am

             Communion Service at St. John, Tigerton 9:00 am

Worship Service Immanuel, Caroline 10:30 am

 

Prayers for strength and healing for Carl Kriesel, Amber Selle, Cindy Polley, Maggie Huss, Carol Fuhrman, Judy Smith, Mike Kielblock, Karen Jensen, Sandy Vollmer, Diane Koepke, Marilyn Koepke, Don Wolff, Leah Lehman, Keith Alft Sr., Kathy Hintz, Clarence Natzke, Bentley Koepke, Tully Tauferner, Sharon 

Dedolph, and Judy Schroeder.  Pray for all who are in nursing homes or shut-ins. NOTE: If there are any names you wish to have added or taken off, please let Sarah know.  ALSO: If any of our members are in the hospital, please let Pastor know.  Hospitals no longer notify us.  Thanks.

 

Save the date – Saturday, September 27, 2025 Mark your calendars! Join the No Wisconsin and So Wisconsin LLL District at their annual joint convention hosted at Peace Lutheran Church, Neenah, Wisconsin. All are welcome to attend. Our guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour®. Join us for a day of spiritual growth with inspirational presentations to encourage and equip you as partners in His mission. More convention details will be shared later this summer.

 

St. John, Mattoon and Shepherd’s Watch Christian Academy is inviting you to a King’s Conquest concert on Friday, Oct. 24th at 7pm at the Shepherd’s Watch Christian Academy at 507 Stone St. Mattoon.  It is a free will offering Christian concert to help raise funds for a new electronic sign for St. John’s Church in Mattoon.  For more info see the bulletin board in the Narthex.

 

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Marion, is hosting their 15th annual “Not just another car show!” on September 14th from 8-3pm on the grounds of St. Mary’s, State Hwy 45, Marion.  This event is helping us to raise funds for our church improvement fund.  Alone with the car show, we will be serving food all day, having a bake sale, 50/50 raffles, bucket raffles, and silent auction.

 

Operation Christmas Child is collecting empty shoeboxes.  They can be dropped off in the fellowship hall.  Any questions contact Kevin or Cindy Mueller. 715-535-2894.  There is also a list of items that can be collected on the Narthex bulletin board.

 

NWD Adult Gathering – October 14, 2025 North Wisconsin District Adult Gathering Make plans now to attend the NWD Adult Gathering on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Weston. Registration & morning refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. with the program from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. A catered lunch will be served at noon. Devotions will be led by District President, Rev. Timothy Shoup. Keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Dan Paavola, will share a message based on his book, Our Way Home: A Journey through the Lord’s Prayer. Rev. Paavola currently serves as the pastor of River of Life Lutheran Church in Saukville, Wisconsin. Previously, Dan taught theology at Concordia University Wisconsin full time for 28 years and continues to teach at Concordia as Professor Emeritus. The $35 registration fee includes morning refreshments, program, and a catered lunch. Registration deadline is September 26th . Registration forms are available at NWD homepage at www.nwdlcms.org under ‘Events and Info’.

 

Tigerton Lions Club President Bert Lehman has announced the Tigerton Lions Club will host their annual Fall Steak Fry Saturday September 13.  Serving from 5- 7 pm at the Tigerton Community Center.  Serving a Large boneless New York Strip steak so tender you can cut it with a sharp glance. Steaks are grill over a charcoal & wood fire.  The meal includes a baked potato, salad, and homemade dessert.  Cost for the meal is $20.  If steak is not your thing a Hamburger is available for $7.  Beverages are available. To go orders are available.    All proceeds from the meal go to support local and Lions Charities. The Tigerton Lions Club has been supporting the Community of Tigerton for 70 years.

 

LIFE THOUGHTS FROM LUTHERANS FOR LIFE - The Scripture clearly declares every child as the direct work of the Heavenly Father’s own hands (Isaiah 29:22-23). We need never regard a single one with any shame. The Incarnate Savior Jesus authenticates Almighty God’s care even though impairments burden the human body (Mark 7:32-35). May the Lord grant our confidence (2 Corinthians 3:4) to overflow in extending this hope to neighbors facing life issues.

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Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

 

Introit: Psalm 84:1-4, 6, 15-16- Speak responsively

 

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, save your servant, who trusts in you- you are my God.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Give ear O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, 

Turn to me and be gracious to me; give strength to your servant.

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, save your servant, who trusts in you- you are my God.

 

Collect of the Day

 

O Lord, we implore You, let Your continual pity cleanse and defend Your Church; and because she cannot continue in safety without Your aid, preserve her evermore by Your help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reign with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings: 17:8-16

 

Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

 

Epistle Reading: Galatians 5:25-6:10

 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34

 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.