Prayer:

Jesus, priceless treasure,

Fount of purest pleasure,

Truest friend to me.

Thou art mine, O Lamb, divine!

I will suffer naught to hide thee.

Naught I ask beside thee.

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal 349:1)

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 2, 2010

Worship Focus: Jesus, our kind, wise heavenly Friend

Order of Worship: Service of Word and Sacrament, p. 26

Hymns: 147, 365, 505, 411

Personal Preparation for Holy Communion, p. 156

God's Word

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 20:12-17

Witness the friendship of Jonathan and David.

Psalm 65, p. 89

The Lord's loving-kindness cares for us.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Take note of the Apostle's description of love.

Gospel: John 13:31-35

As Jesus has loved us, so also we love one another.

1 Samuel 20:12-17

Friendship Excelling in Love: A Case Study of Jonathan and David

1. The characteristics of friendship
   1. Tell the story of Jonathan and David.
   2. What are some underlying characteristics you see in their friendship?
2. The failures of earthly friendship
   1. How do earthly friendships fall short?
   2. Tell how David experienced the failure of earthly friendships.
   3. How does Jesus' friendship to you excel in love?

Lord's Supper

At St. John’s we observe the biblical practice of “close communion,” since the Bible teaches that communing together is an outward sign of the inner closeness of faith that seeks to agree in all that the Bible teaches. Therefore, we ask that only those commune who are confirmed members of our church body and of those churches which have declared fellowship with the WELS. If you have further questions about this, please talk with the pastor.

This Week's Kingdom Work
Week of May 2, 2010

• Monday
  • 9:30am Pastors' Circuit Meeting @ Willmar
• Wednesday
  • 4:00pm Catechism Class
  • 7:00pm Bible Class: Our Lutheran Heritage
• Sunday
  • 9:15am Sunday school
  • 9:30am Youth Bible Class
  • 9:30am Adult Bible Class
  • 10:30am Divine Service

News & Notes

Finances: We need about $6000 a month to meet our operating expenses. In April the General Fund received $4771.13, leaving a deficit of $316.28 in the red. (The General Fund had started the month at $908.59 in the black.) Our God has richly blessed us. Please consider how you can help out our congregation.

We made up a little ground toward our WELS Mission Commitment. $1009 was given in April, bringing the year-to-date total to $2564.75. However, to meet the commitment of $10,000, we should have been at $3333 at the end of April. May our Lord bless our offerings here as well.

Graduate Sunday: Our high school graduates this year are Ryan Flaten, Kelsey Jepma, and Cory Schroeder, all from the Hancock Public High School. We give thanks to our Savior for bringing them to this point in life and will be recognizing this milestone in an upcoming service. The exact Sunday will be announced soon.

May ushers: Dick Smith (capt.), Justin Flaten, Dick Lubenow, Chad Rohloff, Sam Roth

May cleaners: Delroy & Jane Theilke; Jolene Greiner, Jiana Thielke

Today's Greeters: Jiana Thielke