St. Paul Epistle

Volume 2002, Issue 4
April 2002

Dear Victorious Ones!

One of the great questions asked in the Scriptures was asked of Mary of Magdala by two angels, "Woman, why are you weeping?" (Jn. 20:13)

There is certainly nothing wrong with weeping. After all, Jesus wept on occasion - at the death of his close friend, Lazarus, for instance. Jesus also sorrowed over the dead lives of people who lived as if they had no hope ... people who existed from day to day not knowing who they were or where they were going or why they were here.

"Woman, why are you weeping?" It is a good question to ask of ourselves as we bask in the glow of the empty tomb during this season of Easter. Do we weep as people without hope? Do we cry over the mundane things of life - the spilled milk and the broken bones?

"Woman, why are you weeping?" He is no longer in the grave. He is not among the dead things of life where there is no meaning ... no purpose ... no hope. He is alive! He is risen! We have hope!

"Woman, why are you weeping?" This Easter season bury your sorrow, your tears, and all your mundane things in the empty tomb. Live your life as if it were really true that the grave could not hold Him and cannot hold us.

The season of Easter lasts for a week of Sundays ... seven Sundays in all ... the celebration of resurrection to eternal life too awesome an undertaking for just one Sunday. So the season of Easter began this year on March 31 and runs through May 12 - each Sunday a mini-celebration of the Easter message of hope and new life brought by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

May God's gracious Spirit surround you and hold you as you celebrate in your life the good news that He is risen! He is alive ... and we do have hope!

Blessings in the Risen One,

Rev. Dan Deutsch, Pastor

Pastoral Ramblings

A monthly (or seasonal as this newsletter is) rambling of thoughts ... thanks ... things coming up ... things to think about, etc.

Summer Camp! - Did you know that our Synod of the ELCA helps to support the ministry of not just one, but two Lutheran camps here in Northern Lower Michigan? They are Stony Lake Lutheran Camp and MichiLuca. We have scholarships available in a Campership Fund to help defray the cost of camp - $50 for each child or a maximum total of $100 per family. Please call the church office if you are planning on sending a child to one of these Lutheran camps this summer in order to obtain the scholarship. This Campership Fund will also be used to help defray the costs of Confirmation Camp when that begins again. If you wish to donate to this Fund, simply mark your donation "Campership Fund".

Hospital calls - If you or a loved one is going to be in the hospital for surgery, tests, etc., please call the church office to let us know. We will add you to the published prayer list in the bulletin (if you wish) so that others can join in prayers for you. Also let the church office know if you would like to be called on for prayer while you are at the hospital. Thanks for helping us out with this important ministry.

Stephen Ministry - It's your ministry! It is an important way we at St. Paul care for one another. If you are going through a difficult time, consider having a Stephen Minister. If you know someone else who is facing difficulties, suggest that they request Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministry belongs to all of us! Please keep our trained and active Stephen Ministers in your thoughts and prayers - Jim Anderson, Iris Arthur, Chuck Connolly, Mary Lou Deutsch, Joyce Hines, Denise Hoeksema, Shirley Houston, Ellie Larson, Jerry Sloan, Marian Urlaub.

Stewardship - A steward is a person who manages or administers something for someone else. The Bible calls us stewards. And, so, we are - caretakers of everything we are and have ... caretakers for our Creator for the good of others ... caretakers of the time we have to spend, of the money we have to spend and of the various and unique gifts and abilities we have to spend for the good of others.

This Spring we are again emphasizing the Time and Talent portion of what it means to be stewards of God's gifts to us. This Fall we will again emphasize the Financial portion of what it means to be stewards of God's gifts to us.

The Time and Talent form that is included in this newsletter is the same one that many of you took the time to fill out last year. It is an extensive listing of opportunities to share your interests and gifts with others either through St. Paul or through the community in which we live. If you filled one out last year and do not need to update it, there is no need to fill out another one. If you did not fill one out last year, please take the time to do that this year and return the form either during one of the worship services the weekend of May 4/5 or drop it off at the church office. We are attempting to keep these opportunities up-to-date and have rejoiced at finding new opportunities for service for a number of people this past year.

Babies and Baptism - The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is a special event in the lives of the child, the family, the godparents and the church. In order to help us better understand what God is doing through the Sacrament, we continue to hold regular 1-hour classes led by trained teachers. These classes include a video, a review of the service of Holy Baptism and an opportunity to ask questions about this Sacrament.

Parents and godparents are both invited to come to these meetings. Most of us who look forward to having a baby spend time in various kinds of birthing classes or parent-to-be classes to help us prepare for the event. The church also needs to prepare us for the event of new birth through the waters of Holy Baptism. If you are expecting a child in the coming months or have recently given birth, you are asked to call the church office to sign-up for the following class being offered on May 12.

The class will meet during the SS hour (9:15 - 10:15 a.m.) in the library on the 2nd floor of the educational building.

Prayer Chapel - Our prayer chapel is open for your use anytime that the church is open - and that includes the normal church office hours of 8-4 p.m. weekdays, 6:30-9 p.m. Mon-Thursday evenings while there are other activities scheduled at St. Paul. Please feel free to take advantage of these times. There are resources available there for times of private prayer and meditation. If you haven't yet stopped in to see the beautiful stained glass windows recently dedicated, please take the opportunity to do so.

Communion Schedule - We continue to celebrate the Sacrament every weekend at alternating services. The 8:00 a.m. Sunday service offers the opportunity to receive the Sacrament weekly at a formal, liturgical service. It is also offered at the 5:30 p.m. and 9:15 a.m. services on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and at the 10:30 a.m. service on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month and at all services on the 5th Sunday of any month. This information is published each week in our bulletin and in the Saturday edition of the Alpena News. Please feel free to call if you have any questions.

God's richest blessings to each of you as we celebrate for the next seven Sundays the greatest event in all of human history - the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

PASTORAL ACTS

GEORGE R. STEIN joined our Lord in eternity on March 7, 2002. His funeral was held at Wachterhauser Funeral Home on March 11, 2002

CLARENCE DIEMOND joined our Lord in eternity on March 7, 2002. His funeral was held here, at St. Paul Lutheran, on March 11, 2002.

ROSEMARY "BETTY" WENDLAND joined our Lord in eternity on March 8, 2002. Her funeral was held at Wachterhauser Funeral Home on March 12, 2002.

BETTY A. KOLLIN joined our Lord in eternity March 24, 2002. Her funeral was held March 26, here, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

ALICE STANDEN joined our Lord in eternity March 30 , 2002. Her funeral was held April 3, here, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

On March 30, 2002 NATHANIEL JOSEPH MUSZYNSKI was baptized, son of Mark and Lori (Kindt) Muszynski with sponsors Linda and Greg Lahaie.

Shelter, Inc. of Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency and Presque Isle Coutnies is presenting their 3rd Annual Music fund-raiser and Silent Auction on April the 13th at the Alpena High School Auditorium. The auction starts at 6:00 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:00 p.m. Heading up the list of performers are Greg Altman, Julie Wood, Steve Mousseau, Ed Dowling, Bob Madsen, Joanne Root and the group, "Three on A String." There may be other entertainers added to the roster. Susan Armstrong will be furnishing the music during the silent auction portion of this event.

We are looking for Sunday school teachers for next year for several grades. Please feel free to stop anytime to observe the different classes. If you are interested in more information please contact Joanne Gallagher or Andrea Dutcher or any other Sunday school teacher.

2002 Graduations... If you know of a church member who has or will be graduating from High School, College or with an Advance Degree in the year 2002, please complete the following form and return it to the church office by May 1st. We would like to honor Higher Education through the recognition of our graduates.

Name _________________________________________

School ________________________________________

Area of Study ___________________________________

Date of Graduation_______________________________

Future Plans ____________________________________

_______________________________________________

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

ATTENTION LADIES

Women of the Sunrise Conference are invited to the yearly meeting to be held this year at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Herron on April 20. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. with Vicar Leslie Nye leading morning worship. The guest speaker will be Katie Luther. Please call in your reservations by April 8, 2002 to Phyllis at (989) 727-2047. The cost of lunch is $6.00 and may be paid during registration.

The Spring Gathering of the North West Lower Michigan Synodical Women of the ELCA will be Saturday, April 27, 2002. It will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Cadillac, Michigan. The theme will be "Caring for Yourself, So You Can Care for Others." Registration and morning coffee will be at 9:30 a.m. and the closing litany at 2:15 p.m. We will be gathering: Personal care items, paper products, large diapers, cleaning products (i.e. bleach, bathroom cleaner) and blankets for the OASIS (shelter) in Cadillac. Registration forms are due by April 17 and are available at the church office. The registration fee is $10.00.

The Action for L.S.S.M. Spring meeting will be held this year at St. Paul on Saturday, May 4. Hostesses will be the women of the church. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with coffee and sweet breads. Morning devotions will be led by Pastor Kurt Jensen. The speaker for the meeting will be Nikki Nash, manager of the Lynn Street Manor Apartments in Onaway. All men and women of the church are invited to attend. Please let the church secretary know if you are coming as lunch will be included. Registration fee is $6.00. For further information contact Mary Steinke (356-1425) or Ottilie Kubbe (727-2424). If you can help on that day, please let us know. Grace Olsen has placed boxes in the usher's room and in the dining room for those who wish to donate the following items: Baby Supplies (layettes, single items such as diapers lotions, pins, baby clothes, etc), Personal Care Items (toiletries, Kleenex, towels), Bingo Prizes such as small boxes of food, personal items and jewelry.

The WELCA Board Meeting will be May 13, at 7:00 p.m. New officers are needed. We have so many capable women in our congregation. Would you please consider a contribution of your time and ideas?

"Listen, God is Calling" is the title for the ELCA Fifth Triennial Gathering scheduled for July 8-14, 2002 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Call Mary Steinke if you would like additional information.

Camp Michi-Lu-Ca dates are already filling up. All kinds of camping experiences for students from elementary age to high school are offered at this camp, located just an hour and a half from Alpena. If your student would like to participate in one of these life-changing experiences, stop by the church office for registration information or look at their website: www.lormm.org

Thank you to everyone who gave me greeting cards for my L.S.S.M. project. You gave me 2388 cards total! I separated 2001 for the tops which were sent to the Trinity/St. John Community Center, Neighborhood House, and Luther Manor, all in Saginaw. You gave me 387 new cards which were sent to the thrift store in Saginaw. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Margaret Kreutzfeldt

Dishes
Dishes are piling up again in the buffer room. Please pick up your cake pans, pie plates, and casseroles so you have them available the next time you want them.

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