March 1998
St. Paul Epistle
NEW MEMBER SUNDAY
We will receive new members on Sunday, March 29. Following the late service, a pot-luck reception will be held in the fellowship hall in their honor. Persons received by either adult membership, transfer, affirmation of faith etc will be include. Therefore, if you would like to join St. Paul, please let us know of your interest and we will be happy to meet with you. Who should attend the pot-luck? Those persons who would like to welcome new members, those who are interested in getting to know the new members, church council members, and you. We want to welcome all persons who are joining us. We want to make them feel at home. We do that by sharing our time and interest in them.
INVITE A FRIEND TO WORSHIP
Have you invited a friend to worship with you lately? If not, consider inviting someone to join with you and your family in worship. To make it even nicer, why not pick them up and bring them with you and in the process bring them down for coffee, juice and goodies. We are always looking for new friends and think that St. Paul is a friendly place to be. So how about it, will you bring a friend to worship?
GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS
What did you think about the worship service in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, 22 February because of the heat being out of commission? We would appreciate hearing your comments about the setting, the experience and your thoughts and dreams as a result of the experience. Below are just a few of the off the cuff comments by people at they were leaving the worship service.
These are a few of the comments we received as folks were walking out and as they have seen us since Sunday. Your thoughts and ideas are important, especially as the church council sets down to do short and long term planning for St. Paul Lutheran. If you have suggestions, ideas or dreams about this or other items for the life, witness and mission of St. Paul Lutheran, please share it with one of the council members They are: Alice Gapske, Don Parkham, Diane Lozon, Rod Borchard, Myra Gapske, Tim Rumbles, Jon/Julie Deno, Diane Centela, Don Wyman, Jeff Hoseksema, Rodney Lang, Don Urban, Dana Panknin, Don Grzeskowiak. If you want a copy of the council, their committee assignments, address or phone numbers, please pick up a copy from the Bulletin board in the narthex. Thanks!
Pastor Ron Bessert
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Our Lenten journey for this year has begun with a reminder of our transitoriness - "ashes to ashes and dust to dust". The Lenten journey will last 40 days (not including Sundays) and will end on Easter Sunday, April 12, with the celebration of the resurrection of the One who died so that we might live.
God invites you to come along on this journey for 1998. We meet together on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. with services of prayer and meditation as devotional resting places along the way to Calvary. Invite a friend or a neighbor to come along with you.
The theme for this year's mid-week journey is The Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Following is a map of the journey with all stops taking place at both 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.:
Our journey begins and ends with the Lord as our food, our guide, our inspiration, our hope. His blessings and peace be with you as we travel together and draw closer to Him in these Lenten days.
LENTEN LOVE PROJECTS
The season of Lent - observed by Christians since 200 A.D. - is named for the time of the year when the days begin to lengthen. Lent has traditionally been a time for self-examination and repentance...a time of personal housecleaning and a new commitment to the One who called us in Baptism to be His own. It has also been a time for "giving up" something as a reminder of the One who gave Himself up for us.
This year, I would like to suggest a different Lenten discipline. Instead of (or in addition to if such sacrifice is essential or meaningful to you) "giving up" something for the season of Lent, I encourage you to "add" something for the 40 days of Lent. Each week a different Lenten Love project will be suggested in the weekly Sunday bulletin. These projects will involve our hands, our voices, our hearts, our minds, our actions. They are intended to help us grow in our faith and bring us closer to our Lord. Following is a summary of all the projects for the season:
Lent I - Hand of Love - Write a letter or send a card of appreciation each day to a friend, a loved one, a relative, etc. ... just to practice a lost art.
Lent II - Voice of Love - Make a telephone call each day to a friend, a relative, a neighbor to thank them for their presence in your life and let them know that they are in your thoughts and prayers.
Lent III - Deed of Love - Select one friend, neighbor, or stranger this week and take a gift of flowers or cookies or baked goods to them.
Lent IV - Heart of Love - Make a list of 5 people (friends, enemies, family, etc.) and pray for them each day.
Lent V - Mind of Love - Pray for yourself each day this week, looking inward and contemplating God's love and plan for your life.
Lent VI - Victory of Love - (Holy Week) Invite an unchurched friend, neighbor, co-worker, relative, etc. to worship with you on Easter. If they are alone, invite them for a meal after worship.
May God surround you with the gift of new life as you practice these Lenten Love projects.
In His Name,
Pastor Dan Deutsch
SMALL GROUP NEWS
Womens' Issues Small Group: This group will be meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Meetings are held in the lounge and begin at 7 p.m. There will be new activities and new topics this year. Feel free to join in these lively discussions and studies. We would love to have YOU be part of the group. Please call Leslie Nye for more information at 356- 6109.
Daytime Bible Discussion for Retirees: This group is currently studying the New Testament book of Mark. Their meetings for March will include Mondays, the 2nd and 16th and 30th , at 9:30 a.m. They welcome new people to join in this time of study and fellowship. Please call Arlene Anderson at 356-1556 for more information.
The "Practicing Our Faith" Small Group Book Discussion is holding monthly discussions at two different times. We meet on the 1st Monday of each month at 7 p.m. and repeat the class on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 11:45 a.m. For March, the classes meet on the 2nd and the 11th. Both sessions will meet in the lounge. Feel free to bring your lunch to the Wednesday noon gathering. Please call Pastor Dan or Mary Lou at 595-2086 for more information.
A Prayer Ministry group that meets in the evening has recently been formed. Please call Vern Kingsbury (356-9790) if you would like to be part of this group or would like more information. They meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. There is also a daytime group that will continue meeting this year. Don Smith leads this group and meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the library. Please call Don at 354-4479 is you are interested in being part of this daytime group.
The Support Group "Dealing with Grief" meets on the first Wednesday evening of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Alice Gapske. Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th. This group is open to anyone who has experienced a loss in life and would like help in dealing with their pain. Please call Alice at 356-1910 for more information.
A Group for Parents of Young Children that deals with parenting issues meets every third Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth room. Their meetings in March include the 3rd and the 24th. Please call Denise Hoeksema, 354-7509, for more information.
A Relationship Group for Young Couples dealing with Marriage is led by Dane and Kori Werth. They meet on the 4th Saturday of the month at 5:00 p.m. at church. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th . New couples are always welcome. Call Kori at 354-2688 for more information.
A Scripture Discussion Group that meets weekly on Tuesday mornings from 7-7:45 a.m. in the lounge. The Scripture lessons appointed for the following Sunday are discussed. New participants are always welcome to come and bring a cup of coffee and join in the discussion. Please call Pastor Deutsch if you have questions or would like more information.
An Interest Group for Basketball Players began meeting this past month. If you are interested in participating and playing in our gym, please call Jeff Hoeksma at 354-7509 for more information. They meet on Thursday evenings at 8:30 p.m.
SCRIPTURE QUIZ
1. Jesus told his disciples to do this rather than being anxious about their life and circumstances:
(A)Seek God's kingdom(B)Think positive thoughts (C)Go to synagogue.
2. This person was Isaac's older half-brother:
(A)Esau (B)Jacob (C)Ishmael
3. After having his feet anointed by a woman who was a sinner, Jesus told his judgmental Pharisee hosts that the person who is forgiven little, does this little:
( A)Loves (B)Forgives (C)Prays
Answers found in: 1.(Luke 12:22-31), 2.(Genesis 16:15 & Genesis 21:1-3) 3. (Luke 7:47) Work Bee Altar Care general cleaning work bee will take place Tuesday, March 31 at 9:30a.m. We have lots of silver to polish. Will you help?
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Thank You!!! We want to send a huge thank you to Milt & Faye Hasse for constructing and installing the new pew racks.
They look great!!
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Lenten Luncheons
The Esther Circle is going to be serving the Lenten Luncheons this year. The luncheons will be held following the 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Services during Lent. The proceeds will go toward sponsoring their 7 year old foster child, Marcos Nehemias Fipaque Dieguez, from Guatemala. For the first luncheon, March 4th, they will be serving a variety of homemade soup and sandwiches along with cake or dessert bar. A free will offering will cover the cost.
Sunday School News $300 Charitable Contribution
We had a wonderful session with the children and teachers on February 15th regarding giving a charitable contribution from the Sunday School offerings. The children were quite active in their proposals- all the way from Preschool to Eighth Grade! The suggested list of charities from the children was quite long. By a wide majority they decided to keep the money in the community and make the first contribution to Hospice of the Sunrise Shore. We were delighted by the wonderful response we received from the children . We are looking forward to doing this as an annual project in February of each year. Andrea Dutcher, Joanne Gallagher Co-superintendents
Everyone is invited to attend the Action for L.S.S.M. Region #3 Lenten Brunch at Grace Lutheran Church on Thursday, March 12, 1998. Brunch will be at 10:00 a.m. and a communion service at 11:00 a.m. Bring homemade articles, school supplies and care and share items. Make your reservations by March 9th with Jeanette Grove at 379-4495.
Vacation Bible School Scheduled for June 22-26 Esther Kindt is planning the St. Paul Lutheran Vacation Bible School for the week of June 22-26, 1998. Needed are teachers, teacher helpers, gym assistants, music helpers, kitchen helpers, cookie and kool aid donators, and anyone who would like to help young children experience the joy and learning at our VBS this year.Call the church office 356-1658 or Esther evenings 471-2274.
Gifts of Personal Property Although individuals make contributions of cash to charities such as St. Paul ELCA on a regular basis, there are other opportunities for gift giving that can benefit both the individual taxpayer and the charity.
One of these opportunities involves gifting tangible personal property to a charity. Personal property can involve many different types of property: automobiles, boats, jewelry, valuable antiques, and coin collections. These assets represent items that have provided great enjoyment or usefulness to their owner, but are no longer needed, or the owner wishes to pass them on to others. By making a gift of personal property to a charity, the owner gets a tax deduction.
However, for certain tangible personal property that has increased in value from the taxpayers original cost, the deduction may be limited to the taxpayers cost. Gifts of property (other than publicly traded stocks or other securities ) in excess of $5,000 will generally require an appraisal or may be referenced to a recognized valuation guide, such as a "blue book" for automobiles. Although the charity is required to identify and acknowledge the gift. The individual making the gift is responsible for determining the value of the gift. Before making such a gift, the donor should be sure the gift will be of value to the charity, rather than becoming a burden.
If you wish to know more about the benefits of gift giving, contact your tax advisor, or the Trust Fund committee.
EASTER FLOWER CROSS
The beautiful Easter flower cross will be assembled again this year for our Easter worship. It requires a minimum of 45 lilies and 60 mums to cover the cross and decorate the church. The last day to order is March 16, 1998.
Easter Lily, 6-7 bloom - $7.00 Yellow 6" Mum - $7.00 Number of Plants ________ Number of Plants________
Please Circle One of the following: In Honor of To the Glory of God In memory of
(Please write the names of your loved ones clearly) _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________
From: _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone No.______________ You may present my flowers to a shut-in.
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Pastoral Acts:
ESTHER STEIN passed away on February 8th, 1998. Her funeral was held at St. Paul Lutheran on February 10th and was officiated at by Pastor Ronald C. Bessert.
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The Boy Scouts would like to thank everyone who helped with and attended the spaghetti dinner to make it such a success this year. Troop happenings: * Troop 92 took First place at the Klondike Derby on Feb. 14th. WAY to GO! * The troop is currently planning a trip to the Auburn palace to see the Pistons play and other activities in the Flint area. * The Scout food drive will begin March 21/22 with food bags available for pick up. Drop off of food items begins March 28/29 with a deadline of April 5.
If you are interested in joining scouts please contact the church office for leaders names.