September 13, 2020

300 N. Huntersville Road, Batesville, IN 47006

Worship Service: 9:00am

[* = Those who are able may stand, L = Leader, P = People and A = All]

Words of Welcome: Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. – Proverbs 22:6

Thought to Ponder: When I look, I can find signs of God’s presence all around me.

Organ Prelude: “Exultate Deo” — Williams

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 148 and 149) Please respond “Praise the Lord!”: L: Praise God in the highest heavens. Praise God from the heights…L: Praise God for sun, moon, and stars. Praise God for all of Creation …L: Men and women, old and young, let all people sing forth God’s praises…L: For the Lord takes pleasure in God’s people. God gives victory to the humble and uplifts the downtrodden…L: God seeks justice in all nations; rulers of all kinds are bound by the decrees of our God…L: Sing to the Lord a new song for God is faithful in all things…L: Praise the Lord!...

*Musical Meditation #1: “The Solid Rock” arr. DeCou

*Prayer of the Day + : Creator God, we come before you this day as children eager to learn of your marvelous works and grace. Breathe into us the refreshment of your Word, as we once again recall our sacred story. Make pliable our clay, that we might creatively meet the future. Tickle our beings, that we might be totally present in this moment. Keep our hearts pounding and our veins surging with the blood of new life. Remind us always that we are children of your love. For we pray it in the name of the One who showed us it was so, Jesus. Amen.

Hymn: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”1) Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty- hold me with thy powerful hand:Bread of Heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.Feed me till I want no more.

2) Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through:Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield.Be thou still me strength and shield.

Mission Moment: St. John’s Membership Services

Especially for ChildrenThe Song: “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world.Every child in every land, Jesus holds them in His hand,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

*Musical Meditation #2: “Clair de Lune” — Debussy; Jane Link

Reading from the Holy Scripture : Exodus 14:19-31Matthew 18:21-35

Message: “Forgiveness”

Musical Reflection: “Scene” — (from “Orpheus”) von Gluck; Jane LinkPastoral Prayer

Invitation for Our Offerings:

Organ Offertory: “Jesus, Jesus, Thou Art Mine” — J.S. Bach

* Offertory Prayer:

* Benediction:

Organ Postlude: “Song of Triumph” — Rogers+ Adapted from Bread for the Journey, original by Rev. Ruth Duck

Ministers Every MemberPastor Rev. Joseph FeldmannPastor Emeritus Rev. David JohnstonOrganist/Choir Director Mr. David W. Hanson

BENEVOLENCE CALENDAR:September 6 – Centerstone Uspiritus (Brooklawn)September 13 – St. John’s Membership ServicesSeptember 20 – Boy Scouts of America, #634September 27 – St. John’s Pastors FundAll offerings placed in the pew envelopes go to the mission for that Sunday. Your weekly offerings for the Local Church Expenses, Benevolences, and Building Fund should be placed in regular numbered church offering envelopes. These are available at the back of the church. If you are visiting with us this morning, we invite you to sign a visitor card and place it in the offering plate . Thank you for worshipping with us.

St. John’s Prayer List -- September 2020 Those Bereaved (these names remain on for one year): Michael Shane (Chantel Weiler’s father); Luella Meyer; Oscar Hicks (friend of Kristina Frye); Irvin Placke; Mary Lou Walter (mother of Vicky Wintz); Mary Krekeler (Teri Sitterding’s mother); Ruth Ann Clark (sister-in-law of Bea Wessel); Toni Frye (Peter’s Mother); Carol Maple, family of Mark Wittkamper. Diana Schantz (sister to Becky & Roger Schutte and nurse to majority of Batesville); Mary Barnes (Charlotte Huffmeyer’s sister); Marilyn Tangman (friend of Candy Bessler’s father); Glen Butte (former member); Jason Wintz (son-in-law to Shannon Hankins & nephew to Jim Wintz); Randy Riehle (brother to Pam Gutzwiller & son of Marlene Riehle).

Others For Whom We Have Been Asked To Pray: Doris Lamping; Naomi Gabbard; Debbie Rollins; Rita Zimmerman (cancer); Judy Risch; Beverly Hitchcock (cancer); Steve Gookins; Carl Holbert (health issues); Bill Nicholson; Brian Meyers; Elton Linville; Howard & Bea Wessel; Dave Butt (cancer), Vicki Wilhelm; Dave Amberger (health issues); Nikki Sarringhaus; Vernon Meyers; Nathan Hall; Jessica Wiedeman (cancer); Rhonda Zukoski (cancer); Mary Curran (breast cancer); Toby Holman (diabetes); Martha Dieckmann; Chuck Klosterman; Jessica Schumacher (health issues); Valerie, Dave & Jakob Stebel (continued prayers after the loss of their son/brother, Cody); prayers for Claire Ronnebaum and her family (3 year old with cancer); Cason Weberding; Gayle Sarringhaus; Greg Bultman (health issues); Paul Long (health issues); Mike Straber; Donna Doyle (diagnosed with ALS), Tracy (stage 4 cancer); Barbara Schwartz (heart problems); Julie Sparks (cancer); Ron Raver (health issues); Carol Pinckney (pancreatic cancer, friend of Elizabeth Hall); Ella Meyer (Bill’s wife, health issues); Sandy Dalton (heart surgery, Bea & Howard Wessel’s daughter); Sharon Bartling Much (health issues); Dennis Winia (health issues, friend of Ron Meyer); Rev. Charles Flory (health issues). Beth (Evans) Lamping (health issues, friend of Sherry Linville and a teacher at Batesville); Larry Barton (Elizabeth Hall’s father, having triple bypass surgery). Don Barton (uncle of Elizabeth Hall) pray for peace and comfort in his last days.

Members/Friends Serving Active Duty in the Armed Forces: Aaron Gordon; Chris Williams; Kris Freeman; Steven Meer; Ryan Miller (Mac & Gail Miller’s son), Curtis Davidson (Scott & Sharon Davidson’s son); Brantley Springmeyer (grandson of Ron & Jenell Schroeder).Our Members and Friends in Nursing/Retirement Homes: (For Peace) St. Andrews Health Center in Batesville: Willis RouseMajestic Care Nursing Home in Connersville: Ruth Thie

Our Prayer List is an important part of ministry for our congregation. If you would like to have a name added, please fill out the Prayer List Request form and turn in to the office. If you would like to help update us on the condition of someone who has been on the prayer list, we appreciate those notes also and if you added a name and the person can now be removed from our prayer list, please let the church office know. Thank you.

(see backside for scriptures)

Scriptures for Sunday, September 13, 2020

Exodus 14:19-31 (Common English Bible)God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. It stood between Egypt’s camp and

Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. As morning approached, the Lord looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. The Lord jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.

The Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the amazing power of the Lord against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Matthew 18:21-35Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you,

seventy-seven times.“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with

his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”