Bulletins/Announcements

St. Paul Lutheran’s Mission is to be an expression of God’s compassion in our community and beyond. 

 WE REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS:  Hilma Burnham, Brett Precord, Elana Aal, Jim Stafford, Deb Lange, Lisa Borchard, Karen Bisson, Chuck Connolly, Cliff Wyman, Lois Cramer, Lisa Taylor, Alice Cornell, Jodi Headley, Sue Robb, Lois Chapman, Sally Barney, Louis Blemke, Terry Hand, Karin Hamann, June Kaszubowski, Hannah Schooley, Mary Steinke, Greg LaHaie, Bill Hays, Tatum Wallace, Donna Stepanski, Marie Kirschner, Betty Kirschner, and Pastor Kurt Peterson. (Prayer is the best medicine and we are prepared to pray indefinitely for folks. Would you please help the church office keep our list current?  Unless we know otherwise, our normal practice is to remove names after a month.  Thank you for your partnership in prayer.) 

We remember our prayer partners in the North/West Lower Michigan Synod:  

* Trinity Lutheran Church, Manton, Pastor Richard Anderson 

 WORSHIP ATTENDANCE          

Saturday       5:30 p.m.      (03/29)      103   

Sunday         8:00 a.m.      (03/30)        54   

                   10:30 a.m.                     179   

Total                                                 336                                

FLOWERS IN THE CHANCEL (foot of the cross) are given in celebration of the wedding of Robert Allen Leavesley and Mary Alice Taivaloja. 

Mark Your Calendar:  Vacation Bible School will be June 15 – 19, 2008.  More details coming soon. 

The Long Rapids Community Chorus will present “Easter Joy” on Sunday, April 6 at 4:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 167 S. Ripley.  If you have questions please contact Anne at 354-5461. 

The April Service Activity is the Baby Pantry which is located on the corner of 9th and Chisholm.  Items needed:  Powered baby formula, food, diapers, baby wipes, new/gently used baby clothes, baby bedding, high chairs, strollers, toys and books.  Please leave donations in the provided baskets in the Narthex (back of Sanctuary), hallway, or Fellowship Hall.  If you have any questions please contact Gloria Gunderson at 354-2947. 

Looking to connect with Jesus, a few other people…and grow yourself?   Some new small group Bible studies are forming in April.  We will meet about 5-6 times, every week or two; and we’ll rap up before summer.  If you are interested in a group for couples, working women, or working men one of these opportunities might fit you.  We will encourage each other, give an ear to God’s word, and pray for each other.  Pastor Paul will be the teacher for these informal groups.  For more info or to sign up, please contact Kathy Froggett (354-7126) Wayne Kowalski (356-2882) or Pastor Paul (356-1658 or paul@stpaul.org)  

The Egermeier’s Bible Story Book readings for next week are: The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, page 484, Sharing in the Early Church, page 495, An Angel Opens Prison Doors, page 496 and Seven Are Chosen, page 501. Parents, will you invest ten minutes a day in your children by reading God’s word with them? All it takes is time.  I’ll bet you’re willing to give it.

Together with their parents, the following youth have completed our Faith Stepping Stones Holy Communion instruction, and will receive Holy Communion for the first time today:  Chloe May Ferguson, Benjamin N. Strong, Hannah Thayer, and Taylor Truman. 

Congratulations to Robert Allen Leavesley and Mary Alice (Taivaloja) Leavesley on their wedding, April 5, 2008.  May the Lord bless this union. 

Discipleship Orientation – What does God expect of his disciples?  This three session class is based on the 5 ways of life God has prepared for us as his disciples: weekly worship, learning, praying, serving, giving.  A refresher for established folks and fresh orientation for those joining St. Paul’s ministry.  Teachers: Pastor Paul, Pastor Rod, Julie Wood and lay leaders.  If you have any questions you can contact one of the pastors at the church, 356-1658. This class will meet in the multi-purpose room at 9:20 on April 6, 13, and 20.  New disciples will be received into our ministry on Sunday, April 27, at the 10:30 service with a luncheon following the service. 

This week we join in prayer with the other LARCC churches (Grace Lutheran, Trinity Episcopal, First Congregational, St. Anne, St. Mary, St. Bernard and St. John the Baptist Catholic churches) for Habitat for Humanity and Re-Member Mission Team at the First Congregational Church. 

The Esther Bible Study will meet on Tuesday, April 8th at 12:30 p.m.  Lunch will be served. 

About St. Paul’s Eucharistic Ministry:  Christianity is essentially a lay movement.  Think about that for a moment.  Long before there were ever ordained pastors, Christians were gathering to hear the word and share the Lord’s Supper.  We have in our congregation now trained lay people who will help extend the Lord’s Supper, extend God’s table, if you will, to our homebound members who are not able to come to God’s house.  These folks will see that more regular visits are paid to our shut-ins and that they have a chance to be nourished at God’s table.  So, the first weekend of each month, you’ll see the communion kits that they will use out on the altar.  We will bless the Eucharistic Ministers present at the service and then everyone will be sent out to “Serve the Lord with gladness.” Again, this ministry is an extension of the meal that we share here together.  If you have questions or want to learn more, please contact Gerry Ludwig, 356-1059, or Pastor Paul (paul@stpaul.org), 356-1658.  

WEEK AT A GLANCE:   APRIL 6 - 13, 2008

SUN.    Worship Service – 8:00/HC, 10:30/HC; Education Hour – 9:15 a.m.; Disciples Orientation – 9:15 a.m.

MON.    Youth Praise Band – 4:00 p.m.; Girl Scouts - 6:00 p.m.; Stephen Ministry Training – 6:30 p.m.

TUES.   Esther Bible Study – 12:30 p.m.; Stewardship – 5:00 p.m.; Cub Scouts – 6:30 p.m.; Boy Scouts - 7:00 p.m.; Outreach – 7:00 p.m.

WED.   Cherub Choir – 6:30 p.m.; Children’s’ Choir – 6:45 p.m.

THURS.            Adult Choir – 6:00 p.m.; R & R (library) – 6:30 p.m.; Praise Band – 7:00 p.m.

FRI.      Scout Sleepover

SAT.     Worship - 5:30 p.m.

SUN.    Worship – 8:00/HC, 10:30; Education Hour – 9:15 a.m.; Disciples Orientation – 9:15 a.m.