Parish News for St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

27 December 2020

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist put Christmas in one verse: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (St. John 1.14). Not martyred but still a witness, John was exiled to Patmos and died an old man, according to tradition. He bore witness “to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw” (Revelation 1.2). Above all, he was an eyewitness of Christ who proclaims to us what he saw and heard concerning the “Word of Life” that was “made manifest” (1 John 1.1–3). “And we know that his testimony is true” (St. John 21.24). The readings today include John’s testimony of Christ’s atoning death and His third resurrection appearance (St. John 21.14). On the third day of Christmas, we find joy and gladness with John and all the apostles that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” who is “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2.1–2).

Parish News

Altar Flowers   are given to the glory of God by Mr. & Mrs. Kris Bilyeu in memory of Bill and Doris Lawton. 

2021 Altar Flowers Chart   is on the table in the Narthex.  Please print clearly to sign up for the dates you would like to donate flowers and, if you wish, a designation “in memory of” or “in honor of” a person or occasion. There are 21 Sundays still available to donate flowers, including four in January.  Please sign up today!

Sunday School and Adult Bible Study   Join us at 9am each Sunday. Adult Bible Class is studying the Gospel according to St. Luke, currently studying St. Luke 3.1-20, the Ministry of John the Baptist. High School class is studying the differences between Lutheran theology and other denominations with Vicar in the library.

Wabash Valley Right To Life  is sponsoring their annual pro-life billboard campaign, where positive life messages will be posted around Terre Haute in January and February 2021. We would like to raise $375 to sponsor a billboard this year. If you would like to contribute, please do so before January 6, marking your donation “Right to Life.”  Please call the church office with any questions or e-mail Stacy.Gibbens@ielcth.org.

Please pick up your 2021 Contribution Envelopes   in the Narthex.  Please e-mail Stacy.Gibbens@ielcth.org with any questions.

Talk Radio and Podcasts for the Christmas Season   Issues, Etc. is a radio show and podcast hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio.  Here are some of the topics for the next weeks: Christ’s Birth Foretold in Micah, Early Church Fathers on the Birth of Christ, The Christmas Hymn “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” Holiday Depression, The New Year Hymn “Now Greet the Swiftly Changing Year,” The Top Religion Stories of 2020 and more.  You can listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app and your favorite podcast provider.

Mark Your Calendar   to attend Epiphany Divine Service on Wednesday, January 6 at 7pm.

Prepare for Next Sunday

Genesis 46.1-7; 1 Peter 4.12-19; St. Matthew 2.13-23

Hymns: 897 – “Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band” 969, insert – 389 – 372 – 381 – 384 – 382

Order of Daily Prayer

L Make haste, O X God, to deliver me.

R Make haste to help me, O Lord.

     Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

     as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Psalm 2

Scripture Readings:

  [S] from Divine Service

  [Dec 28] St. Luke 2.15-20; Isaiah 32.1-8

  [Dec 29] St. Luke 2.22-24; Isaiah 46.3-13

  [Dec 30] St. Luke 2.25-32; Isaiah 49.1-13

  [Dec 31] St. Matthew 2.13-15; Isaiah 55.1-13

  [Jan 1] St. Luke 2.21; Galatians 3.23-29

  [Jan 2] St. Matthew 2.16-18; Isaiah 42.1-9

Hymn of the Day or Month Let All Together Praise Our God (389)

Catechism (bulletin)

Apostles’ Creed

Kyrie: L Lord, have mercy upon us;  R Christ, have mercy upon us; Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father

Collect of the Day (bulletin)

Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer

L Bless we the Lord.  R Thanks be to God.