In the Psalm for this weekend, we find these words:
“O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” (Psalm 26:8)
They are words that we say often at church. We hear them in different orders of service, and we find them in the prayer on the inside cover of your hymnal titled Upon Entering the Church. They are important words, and they are words that we hold close to our hearts.
But what does this verse mean to you? Do you love the habitation of the Lord’s house and the place where His glory dwells? Do you love to be in the Lord’s house? Do you love to be in the homes of people who put the Lord first? Do you have a hunger and thirst for what is good, right, and holy?
Since you are reading this, I have a feeling that your answer to each of those questions is yes. The Lord has filled you with His Holy Spirit and with a thirst for the things that are good. But why? Why has the Lord filled us with such a strong desire for Him? It is another good question to ask, and it is another question that has a few answers.
For starters, the Lord has filled you with a deep desire for Him because you are His creation. As we talked about in Youth Group this past Wednesday, it is impossible for the clay to know everything about the potter, yet without the potter, the clay would be nothing.
This leads us to another reason why the Lord has filled us with a desire to know Him. As His creation, we need to be in tune with our Creator. As human beings, we need a relationship with our Heavenly Father, so He calls us to the places where we can hear His Word most directly.
There is one more reason I would like to give for why the Lord has given us such a strong desire for Him. It is because He calls us to love our neighbors in the same way that He first loved us. But we can only do that after we have received the mercy and grace of the Lord.
So, brothers and sisters in Christ, my encouragement is for you to continue to love the Lord’s house, to seek out places and people who put Him first, and to know that when you do, you will be blessed.
The Lord will continue to bless you,
Pastor Dille
LLL Retreat
The topic for this year’s Annual Fall Retreat of CID LLL District is “Life Issues.” They will be discussing preborn and end of life issues. This will be held Saturday, September 12, at Camp Cilca with doors opening at 8:30. Retreat will be from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is $25.00 which includes lunch. Deadline is September 7. Mail registration to: Delores Blessman, 24204 CR 1850 N, Topeka, IL 61567. Delorisblessman@yahoo.com or 309-361-1461
Welcome back Eagle’s Nest Students!!
Goodbye to the Dille Family
At 9:00 a.m. on September 6, we will have a sendoff for Pastor Dille, Katie, and Kaleb in the fellowship hall. Bring your well wishes and cards.
Lifetime Plan for Giving
Scott Radden will be here Sunday, October 4 during the Sunday School hour for a presentation on the Lifetime Plan for Giving. He will be sharing information regarding financial planning, will preparedness, and tax advantaged ways to transfer money to heirs and charitable organizations when we go home to the Lord.
Response to the Gospel
Our Attendance Last Week
Sunday August 23 ………………………….. 449
Sunday School ………………………………… 49
Our Offering
Sunday August 23 …………………. $7,883.00
Online Offering ……………………… $4,114.00
Total Gen. Fun ………………….. $11,997.00
Life Quote
“Use the biological reality of the word ‘abortion’ to begin discussion to share that message with your unbelieving neighbor. Do so with boldness, but gentleness, please! Use the eternal reality of the word ‘abortion’ to share that message with your fellow believers. Speak the truth in love, please!” — Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, former Executive Director of Lutherans For Life – A Life Quote from Lutherans For Life • lutheransforlife.org
Family Life Center Annual Vision Dinner
Sept. 11, 2026 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Keller Convention Center
There is a sign-up list on the bulletin board.
LCMS Foundation
In putting together a Christian estate plan, initiation of your efforts is the most difficult part. This whole process requires conversations on many levels, with family, your professional advisors such as attorneys, financial planners and tax advisors, and maybe even ministry leaders. Your LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Counselor can be with you in all these conversations, even helping you to set up the appointments. You don’t have to be alone. Contact Scott Radden @ 618-977-4049 or scott.radden@lfnd.org.
LWML Fall Rally
Wednesday, September 9th at Immanuel Lutheran Church-Augsburg in Shobonier. Doors open at 9:30 and the rally will be from 10:00 to 2:30. Lunch will be served and a freewill offering will be accepted. Register by Monday, August 31. Text or Call Judy Wasmuth 618-267-7637 or email jwasmuth5th@gmail.com. Additional information is on the bulletin board.
Stewardship Moments
Matthew 16:26 – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”
He who dies with the most toy…is dead. But the one who trusts in the Lord, even though he dies, yet shall he live. We live out our trust in the Lord by faithfully fulfilling the roles God has given us to play in home, church and society as loving, generous people. Those who don’t know the Lord are afraid to be generous because they think that what they give away is lost to them. But we who know the Lord know that the things of this world become true blessings when they are used for God’s kingdom.
Prayer List
Roger Fritch, Larry Gehle, Steve Rubin, Gerry Thoman, Katie Cook, and Nikki Bishop
Opportunity to Serve
Please consider helping with weekly communion! There are several ways you can help. Communion cups and wafers may be filled on Thursday or before 11:30 on Friday. Or, if you attend 5:30 or 8:00 service, you can sign up to empty the cups and rearrange the trays for the next service. If you attend 10:30, you can help by cleaning up and putting the trays away. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board if you can help.
Lifelight Bible Study
Lifelight Bible study group will start back up on Sunday, September 13. The study is titled Miracles. Please sign up by August 31.
Fifth Sunday Door Offering
On the 5th Sunday of the month, we will receive a door offering in support of Lutheran Care Center for the “Chapel Challenge.” The August 29 & 30 door offering will help LCC place new carpet in the Chapel, because the original carpet has ripples that make it unsafe. Thank you for taking up the challenge and helping the LCC worship life! Make checks payable to LCC-Chapel Challenge.
Youth Corner
Cruise Night
Saturday, Sept. 12th. We will be serving from 4:00pm until we run out of food. Avery Bohnhoff will be performing from 5-7. We will also be serving ice cream from Culver’s.
ST. JOHN’S YOUTH DRIVE-IN MENU
GRILL — Hot Dogs $2.00, Polish Sausage $3.00
APPETIZERS — Cruisin’ Tacos $6.00, Nachos $3.00, Chips $1.00
DESSERT — Ice Cream $3.00
DRINKS — Water $1.00, Soda (can) $1.00
Cruise Night: Sept 6th — Serving 4:00 – 7:30 (money goes to our Youth)
Larry Brandt Golf Outing
September 19th
1 p.m. Tee Off
Choir
Choir practice is resuming Monday, September 14th. Rehearsal time is at 5:15 pm in the church balcony, and new singers are welcome. If anyone has questions, feel free to contact Dennis Lading at 217-821-8483.
New Directory
It’s time for an upgrade of our Church Directory. In September we’ll publish a new Directory. Please help us ensure that the church office has your accurate address, phone number(s), and email address. Photos for the directory will usually be gleaned from public photos on Facebook. If you want to submit a photo to appear in the Directory, please email it to office@stjohnsLCMS.net Thank you!
Man Up!
Books are only $10 in the Atrium. Kickoff event for this study is August 30 at 7:00pm; after that we meet the last Sunday of each month to discuss two chapters. High School guys and older are urged to participate! Old books from the previous study are still good – don’t buy a new one – but do signup if you’re studying with us this Fall. – Pastor Burdick
Lydia Guild
The Lydia guild will begin meeting again Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00. All ladies of the congregation are welcome.
Altar Flowers
Flowers on the Altar may be placed in remembrance of or in thanksgiving. There is a calendar at the top of the stairs in the atrium. Altar flowers are $60.
Flowers are still needed for these dates:
September 20
If questions, contact the church office 217-342-4334.
Right to Life
Effingham Area Right to Life invites the community to a memorial service on Saturday, September 12, at 9:00 am at the Teutopolis Knight of Columbus Memorial to the Unborn, located in front of the Seminary Tower at 210 S. Pearl Street in Teutopolis. Coffee and donuts will be served immediately following. Join them in prayer as we remember the lives lost to abortion and affirm the sacredness and dignity of every human life.
The Cross at the Crossroads
The community is invited to celebrate “25 Years of Faith, Hope, and Impact” at the Cross at the Crossroads on Saturday, September 19, from 6:00-9:00 pm. This free, family-friendly event will include food, drinks, live music, a community prayer service, children’s activities, a Prayer & Praise Wall, giveaways, and more!
Anniversaries This Week
8-30-1980 Fred & Ruth Bray
9-01-1984 John & Perrie Richards
9-02-2001 Justin & Britt Wendling
9-02-2017 Luke & Jessica Mottashed
9-02-2000 Nikki & Chris Daniels
9-03-2016 Luke & Melissa Goldstein
9-04-2020 Angie & Josh Heuerman
9-04-2004 Erica & Jonathan Marxmann
9-04-2021 Greg & Lori Lustig
9-05-1992 Brian & Jill Haake
9-05-1981 Curt & Lori Meseke
9-05-1992 Joe & Carol Budde
9-05-2021 Nicholas & Rushida Miller
St. Peter’s Fall Lunch
Sunday, September 13, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the St. Peter School Gym for lunch. Carry outs will be available. Free will donation.
Birthdays This Week
8-30 Camille Zeigler, Danny Klepzig, Mark Holland, Rick Gregory
8-31 Tristan Devall
9-01 Deb Gregory, Lyle Tolch
9-02 Atticus Jennings, Brayden Kuhns, Isaac Galvan, Sherrie Stremming
9-03 Mallory Weber
9-04 Justin Norris, Kristin Hippchen
9-05 Alan Phelps, Gale Budde, Joe Gibbons, Kirby Tolch
New Member Welcome will be September 13
Change to Door Locks
The doors will now be locking at 10:45 instead of 11:45 on Sundays.
Calendar — August 30 – September 6, 2026
Sunday 30
8:00 a.m. Worship w/HC
9:15 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship w/HC
6:00 p.m. Holy Trinity committee meeting
7:00 p.m. Man Up
Monday 31
Pastor Dille Sabbath
6:00 p.m. Preschool Meet the Teacher
7:00 p.m. Lutheran Care Board
Tuesday 1
5:30 p.m. Board of Trustees
5:30 p.m. Board of Education
6:00 p.m. Preschool Meet the Teacher
7:00 p.m. Lydia Guild
Wednesday 2
10:00 a.m. Bible Study
1:00 p.m. Office Staff Devotion and Meeting
5:00 p.m. Bell Choir
6:00 p.m. Youth Fellowship
Friday 4
Pastor Burdick Sabbath
9:00 a.m. Holy Trinity Board Meeting
Saturday 5
8:00 a.m. Band Practice
5:30 p.m. Worship w/HC