Our Savior Lutheran Church Newton, Iowa September 1, 2013

“Rebuilding the Walls”

OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCHMissouri Synod

www.oursavlutheran.comEmail: oursavr@iowatelecom.netOffice Phone: 641-792-1084

Reverend John M. Moore, PastorEmail: pastorjmmoore@iowatelecom.netCell Phone: 521-3000

Rev. Dr. Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Our Missionaries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Rev. Carl & Chen Hsi Li HansonOur Missionaries, Hong Kong, China

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 1, 2013

Those serving This Week

Celebrant: Pastor John MooreElder: Doug RinggerLay Readers: Emma GlennMusician Joy McGinleyUshers: Jim & Marilyn MagnusonGreeters: Loretta ToolAltar Guild: Ann RaygarBulletin Assembler: Kayla Corso

elders aT our savior

Chairman Doug Ringger Secretary Rick Hartz Charities Bill Rozendaal Ushers/Music Gary Gerdts Altar Guild Gary Gerdts Lay Readers/Greeters Randy Ervin

Attendance

8/25 90

2

We have a hearing assistance system. Contact an usher if you would like to use a personal receiver.

Welcome to Our Savior Lutheran Church! We thank God you are here and pray that God’s Word will speak to you today. Guests, we hope you will join us often as we gather around the Word. We want to know how we may serve you, so please sign the guest book. Also, please introduce yourself to those around you and to the Pastor.

Those desiring to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament at the Altar, please review both sides of the Communion RegistRation CaRd in the pew before. If you are in agreement you may hand it to our usher as you come for communion.

“Rebuilding the Walls”September 1, 2013

PONDERING THE STORY (Today we explore chapter chapter Chapter 21, Rebuilding the Walls, pages 291-304) If you wanted build a tall wooden fence all around your yard, who would you call? Would you call someone who served drinks at the local restaurant? No. You would call someone who is trained and experienced constructing a fence, and make sure you went by to check out his work. That’s not necessarily how God works. The Temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt under the direction of Zerubbabel and was now complete, but the wall around Jerusalem that kept the inhabitants safe and secure was in gross disrepair. So who does God call to remedy the situation? A cupbearer of King Artexerxes—the guy who’s job is to test the king’s wine and make sure it is not poisoned. What qualifies Nehemiah for the job? What has he done to prove that he can get the job done right? Nothing. But Nehemiah has a heart for God, and the things of God. God sends Nehemiah off to Jerusalem with Artaxerxes blessings. He also raises up a priest by the name of Ezra to rebuild the hearts of the people. Ezra gather’s them as one and reads the entire Law of Moses to them. They are brought to tears, weeping in repentant sorrow and warm joy. The Levites go among the people and explain it all. God’s word breathes life back into them, especially as they begin to celebrate with God His wonderful plan of deliverance and restoration. (Next week read “The Birth of the King, pages 309 -319).

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPENING HYMN “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word” LSB 904 Stz. 1-4 INVOCATIONP In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.C Amen.

P When Nehemiah heard of the dilapidated condition of the wall around Jerusalem, and the trouble and disgrace the Jews of the city were enduring, he sat down and wept. For some days he mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then he cried out:

LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands,

3

4

then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

They are your servants and your people,whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. (Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Brothers and Sisters, take comfort in the One who covers all our sins by His blood and gathers us together in His grace, the perfect Israelite and second Adam, Jesus, the Christ. In Jesus the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled, and “all the promises of God find their Yes”... That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory (2 Cor 1:20 ESV).

Yes and Amen. Amen! Amen!, Your Word is true, and You are faithful, O, Lord.

A READING of THE STORY from GOD’S HOLY WORD Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites…instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”… On the second day of the month, …they found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: … So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. (Nehemiah 8:5-10, 13-18)

SERMON HYMN “Glorious Things of You Are Spoken” LSB 648 Stz. 1-4

SERMON By Pastor John Moore “The Fresh Air of Prayer: Yes and Amen”

APOSTLES’ CREED

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPERP Alleluia! Christ is risen!C He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

P It was with joy on the night that Jesus was betrayed that he gathered with his friends to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus knew his time with them was coming to an end, and he wanted to leave a gift that they would remember him by. Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying “Take eat, this is my body, which is given for you for the forgiveness of all of your sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus took the cup as well and blessed it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Drink of it all of you, this is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you for the forgiveness of all of your sins. Every time you drink this cup remember me.” C We come to your table Lord to receive you through the gifts of bread and wine. Come Lord Jesus! and teach us to pray…

THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE INVITATIONP The table is prepared, the feast is ready, and Jesus is here. Come receive in faith the gifts he gives. C Thank you Jesus, for your invitation. We come to your table to receive from you your precious gifts. Amen.

LAMB OF GOD (AGNUS DEI) LSB 550

DISTRIBUTION “Forgive Us, Lord, for Shallow Thankfulness” LSB 788“O Christ, Our True and Only Light” LSB 839“Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” LSB 901 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

BLESSINGBut for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays….“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. (Malachi 4:2, 5)

CLOSING HYMN “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” LSB 357 Stz. 1, 4 & 7

5

6

Lord, Teach us to PrayRemember in your prayers...

U Darlene Seibert, Amanda Hartz’s mom, as she moves into her second round of chemotherapy.

U Janna Putz, Janet Hartz’s sister-in-law, as she has finished her radiation treatments.

U Max Hodges and Roger Holst, ongoing health concerns.

U Those in need of healing of mind, body or spirit.

U Blessings on our community and the seeds planted during Impact World Tour.

U The Ministry of the Hephzibah House.

U Rod Brouwer of the Ministries of “Grace Without Borders”.

U The Ministry of The Pregnancy Center of Central Iowa.

U Fungchatou & Kalia Lo, Our Missionaries to Cambodia.

U Carl & Chen Hsi Li Hanson, Our Missionaries to Hong Kong, China.

U Ed Strohschein, Business Manager for LCMS World Mission - Asian - Pacific.

U The Malaria Initiative and the end of Malaria deaths in the world.

U Mission Cambodia Christmas 2013.

7

This Week at Our Savior . . .Sunday (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00am The STory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30am adulT BiBle STudy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00pm howeward Bound @ Zimmermann’S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . miTBox Sunday

monday (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labor Day (office cloSed)

TueSday (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . buLLetin DeaDLine

wedneSday (4) . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00pm The STory @ BridgehouSe coffee co .

friday (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30am BiBle STudy @ midTown

SaTurday (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00am lwml Zone Board meeTing

Sunday (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00am The STory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30am Sunday School & adulT BiBle STudy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunday School rally day

Happy Bir thday

Happy Anniversary

September 1St

Lana Corso

Linda deGreef

September 2nD

James & Jo

moses

September 2nD

shawn o’Conner

September 3rD

eva BorChert

noeLLe roBy

September 4th

Patsy weddeLL September 5th

marva doerrinG

8

SCHOOL KITS LWML Faith Society will be collecting items for Lutheran World Relief School Kits, during the month of September through Sunday, October 6th. You can obtain kit information at the School Kit display in the Narthex. If you can provide items for one full kit or any of the items, it will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, LWML Faith Society.

SAVE THE DATE We are having our 2nd Annual Golf Outing on Sunday, September 22nd. Whether you are a avid or not so avid golfer, this will be a great family and friends event. Watch for a sign up sheet to be posted soon.

UPDATE ON RAISING THE ROOF As of last Sunday, we have raised $14,020.00 for our new roof. The total needed is $28,000.00. Thank you so much for all of the generous contributions. We will be continuing to collect funds. Simply mark your check as “Roof Fund” and place in the collection plate.

IT’S OFFICIAL (as of the Council meeting August 20)! Our Savior Lutheran Church will be sending a mission team to build a church in Kalanthom Village, Ratanakiri, Cambodia at the invitation of Dr. Fung Lo. Our own Ian Moore is heading up the Mission Team of 12 people primarily college age. They will be going over Christmas break (approximate dates of December 20, 2013 to Jan 3, 2014). This is a GOD SIZED ADVENTURE! Will you support them? Please pray for wisdom and guidance for God to assemble and direct this team. Pray also for the partners whom God has chosen to fund what God is directing. The first expense is the cost of the Church building for the saints of Kalanthom ($6,000). The second expense is food, transportation, and lodging of the Mission Team while in Cambodia over 2 weeks ($500 per person-- $6,000 total for a team of twelve). The greatest expense is the cost of airfare to get to Phnom Penh (and back!) which is approximately $3,000 per person). God is already answering our prayers and moving people to fund this. Are you one of those people?

FOR SALE Thomas electric organ. $25. All proceeds will to OSL. Please contact the church office for further details.

LAWN MOWING CONTRIBUTIONS Thank you to everyone for the contributions to the lawn mowing funds. Going forward if you’d like to contrinube, please put in the collection plate (note what the donation is for).

OUR VBS MISSION PROJECT was to purchase insecticide-treated mosquito nets for families in Africa to help protect them from malaria. We received $120.60 from the redemption of cans/bottles and offerings during VBS. Each $10 donation funds one net so we will help 12 more families. Our Sunday School/Kingdom Quest will continue to work with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, which is led by Lutheran World Relief and LCMS so you may still contribute if you wish. Just place your contribution in the basket under the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or in the offering plate and mark it for malaria nets. The goal is to end malaria deaths by 2015. (Statistics show that one child dies from malaria every 60 seconds.) Thanks so much for all of your prayers, cans/bottles, and monetary support for The Lutheran Malaria Initiative.

Announcements