St. Paul Epistle
www.stpaul.org Volume 2001, Issue 7 July 2001
Our house is just a couple blocks away from Thompson Park. In the midst of the glorious weather we've been having, I occasionally take time to just sit on the rocks and watch the Yinglings and other sailboats cruise around the bay. From shore, they look like graceful dancers waltzing across a blue ballroom floor. Their pirouettes and crisscross patterns seem effortless. On board, it may be a different picture: the crew scrambling to carry out the leader's barked orders, ducking to avoid the swinging boom, wrestling with the sails and rigging. But there are peaceful moments as well the boat running before the wind, light spray balancing the warm sun, silence broken only by the slap of the waves and the cry of a gull.
Sailing can be a metaphor of our life with God. In his book The Life You've Always Wanted (which our Church Council has been reading together), John Ortberg describes spiritual growth with sailing imagery. Spiritual transformation, the process of being slowly changed to act more like Jesus, happens much like sails being filled with the wind. God does the work. Ortberg writes, "We can hoist the sails and steer the rudder, but we are utterly dependent on the wind." Jesus described the Spirit in those terms: "The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." God does something amazing within us when His Spirit blows through our lives. He transforms us from the inside out.
The heart of spiritual life has to do with our relationships with God and the people He created. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Are we growing in our ability to love God and people? That kind of transformation can only come from the breath of God's Spirit. As Ortberg notes, "Our task is to do whatever enables us to catch the wind." Just as a sailor discerns where to steer and when to raise and lower which sails, we need to be sensitive to what God is doing in our midst. Where is God's Spirit blowing in your life? What opportunities for worship, prayer, and reading the Bible do you see God providing? Where is God calling you to reach out to someone? Watch and listen for the wind, and adjust your sails accordingly.
May God grant you good sailing weather and a safe harbor in the storms.
Pastor Kurt
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Pastoral Ramblings
A monthly (or seasonal ... or occasional, as the case may be) rambling of thoughts ... thanks ... things coming up ... things to think about, etc.
A Summertime Schedule for Worship and Study! - June 3-Sept. 2: 5:30 p.m.
- Sat. evening worship as usual with communion on alternating Saturdays (1st and 3rd) .
8:00 a.m. - Sunday morning traditional, liturgical worship with communion at each service.
9:00 a.m. - Adult Bible study of the book of Revelation (along with coffee and eats) in the fellowship hall.
10:00 a.m. - Sunday morning contemporary worship using the present 9:20 and 10:45 a.m. format with communion on alternating Sundays (2nd and 4th).
The church Council will act as listeners and recorders at 2 different times during the summer to receive feedback and feelings about this summer program - its advantages and disadvantages. These times have been set as follows: Sundays July 1 and August 5 after both the 8 and 10 a.m. worship service. There will be Council Members (identified by their green tags) available in the Narthex following each of those services to receive your input - positive and negative. If you have suggestions you wish to communicate other than orally, please use the registration cards in the pews and place them in the offering plate or hand them to one of the Council members.
How Can Someone Receive Care from a Stephen Minister? - Pastor Dan is our Stephen Leader who coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, you can talk to him, or to any of our other Stephen Leaders (Georgene Hildebrand, Mary Lou Deutsch, Pastor Kurt, Emily Jensen). Any of our Stephen Ministers would also be happy to help you through the process. (If you want to talk about Stephen Ministry for someone else, make sure you get his or her permission first.)
How can Someone Become a Stephen Minister? - Begin by talking with one of our Stephen Leaders or Stephen Ministers and they can tell you more. We will be training a new class of Stephen Ministers once each year, and we plan to begin our next training class this coming August. Stephen Minsters make a two-year commitment to train and serve.
Service opportunity - There is a newly formed group of St. Paul members who provide a complete meal for members of the congregation who have just been released from the hospital when they return home. We are looking for additional volunteers to cook and/or deliver meals. If you are interested or know of someone who would like a meal following their hospital stay, please call Arlene Williams, 356-0598 or Lori Ludwig, 356-4753.
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. Due to new Federal Health Care regulations concerning privacy, the hospital can no longer publish names of those who are in the hospital. Thanks for helping us out with this important ministry.
Prayer ministry - As you pray daily, lifting up your lives and the lives of those around you to His care, please keep in mind Matilda Ohlrich, Marilyn Stephan, Agnes Sonnenberg, Cleo Sonnenberg, Alma Welk, Irene Smith, Sam Kramer, Jeanette Diemond, Eileen Werner - Other Care Homes: Ruth Schrader, Alice Standen, Alice Bluck, Helen Martinson, Hilda Sommerfield, Erna Golder, Betty Kollin, Viola Marquardt, Delores Stevens, Jeanette Pernie.,Vi Bailey, Hilda Kelley, Margaret Kreutzfeldt, Grace McKay, Lila MacMillan, Bessie Nordguard, Pauline Olsen, Ardith Thorburn, Edna Zielinski, Mildred O'Brien, Evelyn Siegert, Marie Kirschner, Inez Owens, Russ Robb, Leona Warren. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it to me." (Mt. 25:40)
Thanks - a special word of thanks to all of you who continue to support and pray for and be involved in the ministry of God's people at St. Paul. The long list of people from Altar Guild ladies, Funeral luncheon preparers and servers, Counters, Newsletter stuffers, Choir members and worship leaders and assistants, those who care for and look after our property, those who teach and care for our young people, those who pray for shut-ins and special needs ... the list is endless. There would be no ministry here without each and every one of you. Thanks also to those of you who returned your "Time and Talents" survey. We are still in the process of compiling and organizing them. If you have not filled one out and returned it, there is still time to do so. You can either pick up a form from the Kiosk or download a copy of the form from our website. All of these and all that we do as God's people here at St. Paul is in order to "be an expression of God's compassion in our community and beyond." That is who we are and what we do here. Thank you for your involvement.
Did you know that you can listen at home to the sermon given each Sunday? If you are out-of-town or ill and happen to miss a Sunday or if you just want to hear it again, the sermon for each week is taped and sent to our website - www.stpaul.org There are many other items of interest on our website including the weekly bulletin announcements, the monthly newsletters, special items of interest and links to other church-related websites.
God's gracious presence be with each of you as we celebrate the relaxing and renewing time of summer!
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WELCA GENERAL MEETING - Our organization of women had their meeting June 13th. This is the last regular meeting until September. We still need women to secure as officers. We have one for treasurer but need secretary, also chairperson for standing committees. These people serve on the board and make decisions pertaining to St. Paul Congregation. We also try to let everyone know of our N/W. Michigan Synod activities as well as national programs. If you would be interested in helping please contact Mary Steinke or Brenda Rosenberg.
ATTENTION LADIES! - "Life of Prayer" Synodical Women's Convention is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. With a prayer labyrinth experience scheduled for Friday, July 27, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church in Kentwood, Michigan. Registration cost is $30.00 with breakfast and lunch included. It will be a business convention this year and part of that will be our keynote speaker, Valora Starr Butler. The Synod would like to see us send a representative. All ladies are welcome to attend. Please call Mary Steinke for more information.
Would you like to grow deeper in your prayer life? Do you wish to experience God's presence but struggle to put aside the static worries and concerns? Do you long to hear God's voice, directing and guiding you? Then you won't want to miss the N/W Lower Michigan Synodical Women of the ELCA FALL RETREAT. It will be held September 21-22, 2001 at Kettunen Center in Tustin, MI. The theme will be "Show Me Your Glory: experiencing God's awesome presence" and will feature Rev. Barbara Schmitz as retreat leader. Registration forms are available at the church office.
Triennial Convention "Listen, God Is Calling" is scheduled for July 8-14, 2002 in Philadelphia, PA. What can you expect?
Other necessary information such as scholarships, in- kind gifts and registration will be forthcoming. For updates, check http://www.elca.org/wo/tricony.html
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WHY LUTHERANS LOVE TO SING
By Garrison Keillor
I have made fun of Lutherans for years -- who wouldn't, if you lived in Minnesota? But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn.
We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their constant guilt that burns like a pilot light, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them.
If you ask an audience in New York City, a relatively "Lutheranless" place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Lutherans they'll smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach and down the road!
And Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It's a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We're too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. And when you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment.
I once sang the bass line of "Children of the Heavenly Father" in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.
I do believe this: people who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress.
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From the very bottom of my heart... I'm still speechless...there isn't enough space in this newsletter, nor can I come up with enough words to truly tell you how grateful I am. And besides...the tears have started again...THANK YOU and God's richest blessings to each of YOU, His people.
With love from your servant in Christ,
Pastoral Assistant Leslie Nye
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The church campground is open for your summer enjoyment. Stop by the office to get a key (deposit required), if you would like to go there for the day. Remember we do not have trash pickup there so please take things home with you.
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July 1, 2001
To the people of God at St. Paul Lutheran Church - Dear Friends:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ! Those are the words of my first communication to you in September of 1995 after accepting the call to serve you as a Pastor. They are among my favorite words of Scripture, perhaps because I have so much need of God's "grace" and "peace" in my life ... perhaps because ministry is not always an easy thing to do given the stresses and expectations of pastoral ministry in a large parish.
As most of you are aware, these past few years have brought some personal health struggles into our lives along with the aging process that affects us all. I am finding it more and more difficult to give the kind of time and energy and focus that I have been used to giving in pastoral ministry and that this congregation needs and deserves.
Mary Lou and I have spent considerable time in prayer and discussion of the present demands of both our jobs that keep us going in different directions. We would like to spend more time together working at something that would involve fewer demands on our energies, give us time to work together and, yet, be doing something worthwhile while we are still "relatively young (we will both be 60 next year) and in reasonably good condition."
Accordingly, we are in the process of exploring volunteer opportunities for both of us with the Division for Global Mission of our church body (ELCA) as well as exploring possible volunteer positions with the Stephen Ministry program. There are many opportunities for volunteer work both here and abroad that we are qualified and gifted to work at together as we look forward to the beginning years of "retirement."
We are looking at a retirement date of June of next year (2002). Prior to that time, I will carry out all of the normal pastoral functions that I am able to giving particular attention to the nurturing of Pastor Kurt and his ministry skills and the continued shepherding of our Stephen Ministry program of lay caring ministry.
We are thankful for your gracious support and prayers these last few years as we have struggled with our various health problems. We will keep you informed as this coming year progresses and the date for retirement nears.
God's Blessings to each of you,
Rev. Dan Deutsch, Pastor
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To the congregation of St. Paul:
Greetings and God's peace to all of you;
Over the past six years, our congregation has been truly blessed to have Pastor Dan Deutsch minister to us and nurture our spiritual needs. The church council has received Pastor Deutsch's intent to retire in June 2002. Although we are saddened by the fact that we now are faced with the end to this wonderful chapter in our history book, we completely understand and support the decision that he and MaryLou have prayerfully made together.
The church council will be meeting in August at our annual retreat to put together our next steps to handle this new challenge. Our commitment to you is to not only keep you informed of the process as we move forward, but that you give us your feedback and suggestions as well. This is truly a challenge we will successfully meet together.
Please keep Pastor Dan, MaryLou, the entire church staff and your leaders in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare to move from this chapter to the next chapter in our great history.
In His name,
Jeff Hoeksema
Church Council President
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Council Corner
The St. Paul Church Council met June 19, 2001. We had a full agenda, beginning with devotions led by Bill Schwartz. We then discussed Chapter three of "The Life You've Always Wanted," which is about spiritual discipline.
The local mission funds for June will be allocated to Habitat for Humanity, Alpena. We will also try setting these funds at a flat $500.00 per month, with review of this new policy periodically.
We finalized plans for Les' potluck.
In other matters, we authorized property committee to go ahead with the lighting for the stained glass windows in the front of the church, as moneys have been donated to cover the cost. Additionally, we reviewed the ongoing work of the R & R and Property committees. We voted to have property committee amend the rules for use of the church property to clarify that it is not to be used for commercial enterprises.
The annual Council retreat is coming up in August. We will be discussing the worship schedule, the direction of the Pastoral Assistant's position, and long-term planning in view of Pastor Dan's anticipated retirement next summer.
Finally, the financial statement was reviewed, showing a deficit of nearly $15,000 through May.
Respectfully submitted,
Dana D. Panknin
Secretary
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PASTORAL ACTS
ROBERT WIESCHOWSKI AND ERIN STRALEY were married June 15, 2001. They were attended by Mike McCumber and Ashley Robertson
ADAM BEUKER AND SARAH SWALLOW were married June 30, 2001. They were attended by Kurt Charles Beuker and Seth Wenzel.