St. Paul Epistle
www.stpaul.org Volume 99, Issue 6 October 1999
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Time! It's one of those precious gifts of God that we take for granted. Like breathing and smelling and seeing and hearing. I guess we only miss it when we don't have it any more.
Time! What we do with the time we have matters. It matters to God. It matters to those who love us. It matters to ourselves. It matters because what we do with our time affects our physical and mental health and well-being. It affects our ability to be there for our families and for others.
Time! Why do we spend so much of it doing things that really don't matter - I'm sure each of us has his or her own list of things of the addictions and diversions and trivia that we think will fill some void in us, but leave us empty instead.
Time! The time we spend with God - privately and publicly with others - is certainly the foundation that gives breadth and depth to all the rest of it. Regular worship and prayer and devotional time puts all the other time we have in perspective.
Time! I've never heard anyone say that they regretted not spending more time at the office or climbing the ladder of success or sitting in front of the idiot box or trying to meet the endless demands and pressures of others. I have heard that people regret not spending time taking care of themselves and their health. I have heard that people regret not spending more time with their loved ones - spouse, children, parents, friends, etc. I have heard that people regret letting things come between them and faith-building activities like worship.
Time! It's one of those precious gifts of God we take for granted. But, it's not too late to change that. God's blessings to you as you wrestle with making the best use of this precious gift.
Rev. Daniel Deutsch, Pastor
Pastoral Ramblings A monthly (or seasonal, as the case may be) rambling of thoughts ... thanks ... things coming up ... things to think about, etc.
"An Expression of God's Compassion in our community and beyond" - That's who we are and what we do as God's people here at St. Paul. That is the heart and soul of our mission statement. We need to continue to be aware that every month we send 11% of all of your offerings to St. Paul to our Synod for support of seminaries and colleges and missionaries, etc. - all of those things that we can't do alone but can do together with other congregations of our church. In addition, in order to support God's work done in our local community, we send 2.75% of all of your offerings to a local ministry. The Church Council decides each month where that money is to go. So far this year, we have sent contributions to St. Bernard's Soup Kitchen, Area Special Olympics, Call-Us-For-Help, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the nearby community of Comins where a tornado wrecked homes and lives this summer. This past month your contribution went to the Trinity Episcopal Sunday Night Supper program. Contributions to local ministries average $500-600 each month. Thank you for your continued support as we reach out to touch others with God's compassion.
Annual meeting - On Sunday, October 31st, following the 10:45 a.m. worship service, we will meet together for our annual look at the past year and at the year that lies ahead. We begin with a pot-luck luncheon and carry on with the reports and discussions as we eat together. I hope you can join us for this occasion (yes, we know it is trick or treat time - wear a costume and bring a treat). There are a number of important items concerning our ministry together here at St. Paul that need your input.
Confirmation Program for 7th and 8th graders: We are working with Grace Lutheran Church this year to integrate both our Confirmation and Youth programs. Pastor Owen Williams and I have spent a number of hours talking together about ministries that we as congregations can plan and carry out more effectively together. Rod and Lisa Borchard from St. Paul and Jim and Amy Townsend from Grace have been working on putting a program together for the high-school age youth. They began meeting every other Wednesday evening on Sept. 15. The 7th and 8th graders involved in the Confirmation programs of St. Paul and Grace are meeting every Wednesday evening and will be involved with some of the activities of the high school Youth group at least once each month. We see this as a way to integrate the groups and keep kids involved after Confirmation. Pastor Owen Williams, myself and parents will all be involved in the administration, teaching and activities of this year's program. We will also be integrating our Early Communion program with Grace - offering half-day workshops for parents and children together in the Fall and in the Spring. This fall's workshop will take place here at St. Paul on Saturday, Oct. 23. We are all excited about the possibilities of these new programs with Grace and ask for your support and your prayers.
Early Communion - A Communion workshop is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul. We will also hold one in the Spring at Grace. This workshop is for parents and students who are in the 4th grade or older this fall who wish to begin receiving the Lord's Supper. We will spend time talking about Baptism and the Lord's Supper and the relationship between the two. We will be using some videos to help with this process. A light lunch will be provided. If you are interested, please call the church office to sign-up for this event no later than October 15. Parents and children must attend together.
Emergencies - If you have need of emergency pastoral care and I or Leslie Nye (356-6109) are out-of-town or unavailable for any reason, please call Rev. Martha Hartman at (354- 5647), Rev. Owen Williams at (356-0957), Rev. Doug McCormick at 736-3642 or Rev. Lorraine Sundin at 356-5879. Martha is Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Barton City, Owen is Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Alpena, Doug is Pastor of New Life Lutheran Church in Hubbard Lake and Lorraine is Pastor of Spruce Lutheran Church. They have all agreed to be available for emergency pastoral needs.
Health - Many people have been and continue to be very concerned about my health and the load of this past year. I feel very loved and cared about and appreciate all the prayers and efforts to show love and to offer help. There are times when I feel really good and other times when I feel like I'm about to pass out. I think those times are getting fewer and farther between. Due to concerns with dizziness and lack of energy and inability to focus and even put thoughts together sometimes, I had an appointment with Occupational Therapy at AGH this past month. After conversation and numerous tests, they assured me that my recovery seemed normal for the kind of stroke I had and that I was probably pressing it to want to be back at full tilt after less than a month. They said it takes most stroke victims who have no permanent damage a couple of months to fully recover strength and endurance and energy, etc. So I'm trying to listen to that (along with the advice of many mothers in this congregation) and not expect so much from myself. I do feel stronger each day, but probably am not able to put in the long days that I have been used to or to stay on top of stuff as much as I would wish. I appreciate Leslie being on board as a Pastoral Assistant and will try and back off of some of the things that she can do. Please note the brief article about Leslie's installation on Sept. 5.
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.
LARC meeting - that stands for Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic. It is an acronym for the intentional coming together for ministry throughout the Christian world of these three denominations. Throughout the ELCA, congregations have been meeting together and discussing Covenant documents drafted by the leadership of these denominations. These documents are intended to help us discover unique ways to do ministry together in the various communities in which we live. On Saturday, September 11, a LARC meeting was held at St. Paul and attended by the Church Council leadership from St. Paul and Grace Lutheran, Trinity Episcopal, and the four Roman Catholic parishes in town (St. Mary, St. Anne, St. John and St. Bernard) have all been invited. Our plan was to discuss the Covenant document that was distributed at last January's joint worship service at St. Mary's and to arrive at some concensus of concrete ministry that we can do together in Alpena. There were about 35 people attending this meeting and we agreed to form a steering committee of lay and clergy from these 7 congregations to help plan some events for the coming year.
Pastoral Assistant - As most of you know by now, our Congregation has hired Leslie Nye to assist me and the congregation with various pastoral duties. We have contracted with her to work part-time through June of next year. Her responsibilities as outlined in the contract drawn up by the Call Committee and the Church Council will include the following: preaching all four services once-a- month (Saturday help in addition); liturgy help for various services as assigned by me; hospital and shut-in ministries (both doing as assigned by me and arranging for and supervising lay callers for shut-ins.); re- introducing and leading a once-a-month Healing service; publicizing and leading a weekly small-group Bible study at night; meeting with and providing leadership to the Education Committee; organizing, recruiting and beginning training of Stephen Ministers after attending training sessions herself along with the pastor(s) and other lay volunteers (we'll be hearing more about this program of training lay people to provide caring ministry to our congregation in the months ahead); and meeting with me on a regular basis for sharing and training. All of these pastoral duties have been approved by Bishop Hansen and I look forward to working with Leslie in the months ahead and being able to expand the pastoral ministry here at St. Paul. She was installed on September 5. Please keep her and the various ministries she will carry out in your prayers.
Prayer ministry - As you pray daily, lifting up your lives and the lives of those around you to His care, please keep in mind the elderly and the lonely and the ill of our congregation. Remember those at local Nursing homes - Tendercare: Jim Hartman, Loretta Kowalsky, Matilda Ohlrich, Marilyn Stephan, Agnes Sonnenberg, Alma Welk - Sally's Care Home: Jeanette Diemond, Otto and Hattie Kelm, Jim O"Brien, Eileen Werner - Other Care Homes: Ruth Schrader, Helen Kihn, Louise Cochrane, Alice Standen, Alice Bluck, Helen Martinson, Hilda Sommerfield. Remember those living at Luther Community Manor: Martha Beck, Erna Golder, Betty Killin, Viola Marquardt, Dorothy Sims, Dorothy Schiler, Virginia Kraft, Delores Stevens. Remember those living alone at home: Frank & Hilda Kelley, Margaret Knechtel, Margaret Kreutzfeldt, Grace McKay, Lila MacMillan, Bessie Nordguard, Pauline Olsen, Ardath Thorburn. Remember the sick and the hurting who are unable to join us in worship this month: Evelyn Siegert, Cathy Dohn, Russell Anderson, Wilbur Heringshausen. Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it to me." (Mt. 25:40)
God's richest blessings to each of you as we as we continue to be involved and participate in the life of the Church during these fall months!
PASTORAL ACTS
SHERRY WYMAN joined her Lord in eternity on August 27, 1999. Her funeral was held August 30, 1999.
ANNA PINKERT joined her Lord in eternity on September 7, 1999. Her funeral was held September 10, 1999.
On September 12, 1999, TARYN KENNEDY BATES was baptized, daughter of Mark & Kristen Bates with sponsors August & Julie Miller.
On September 19, 1999, RACHAEL MARIE BEBEE was baptized, daughter of Tim and Lori Bebee.
On September 19, 1999, MARIAH PAIGE BURNHAM was baptized, daughter of Michael & Jennifer Burnham with sponsors Melvin & Jody Fox
RICHARD J. LETOURNEAU & JESSICA J. JOHNSON were married September 18, 1999. They were attended by Scott Pilarski and Sarah Ableidinger
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A note from Leslie Nye....
Does the thought of picking up a Bible and reading scripture sound intimidating, scarey, and perhaps even boring? I admit, that although I have daily devotions, I don't read from a Bible on a daily basis.
One of the biggest reasons is that I'm not sure where to start (with Genesis 1:1, a Psalm, or Matthew 1:1?). Another reason is time constraints is ten minutes ok or do I need to schedule an hour, and if so, where will it fit in my 27 hour day? Also, I know that God's promises of His love, His promises of eternal life are found between the covers of a Bible but where? Since I'm not a theologian (and never intend to be) some things in the Bible are beyond my understanding, or pretty dull (take Numbers 26:5-51 or Numbers 33:5- 49 for example).
Think about it, do you read your Bible daily, or are you like me, and really reluctant to do Bible reading on a regular basis?
No matter which category you fall into, I'd like to invite YOU to attend the first session of a new Bible study series at St. Paul. Monday, October 11, 1999 is the date, 7 p.m. is the time and the lounge is the place.
At this kick off session those present will decide which day of the week and what time works best for those attending. These sessions will last approximately 45 minutes to one hour. You don't have to be a theologian, Bible scholar, or even a member of St. Paul to attend. EVERYONE is WELCOME! In order to get us comfortable, the first couple of sessions will be on getting acquainted with your Bible. There will be several samples of different versions so you can decide which particular one you're most comfortable with.
We'll discuss why the Bible is divided into old and new testaments, who wrote which books, and why some Bibles have extra books in them.
The materials we have chosen are excellent they'll take the fear and mystery out of Bible reading. "Ten Key Promises From the Bible" is the title of the series we'll be using after the introductory session.
After planning and preparing for this study series, my opinions have changed. I guess I'm still apprehensive, but my fears are lessening and I'm getting excited. Excited to learn just what is found between the covers of the Bible, excited to discover just where those beautiful promises of God are found, excited to grow and to see where this journey of faith will lead. I'm also excited about seeing YOU on October 11th at 7 p.m. Please join me!
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Now that cooler weather is here, many of us are in the process of putting away the summer clothes and filling up the empty space in our closets with winter clothes. Have you checked your sweatshirt stash lately? Need a new one to wear to events at church, getting groceries, or even raking leaves? If so, why not treat yourself to a new sweatshirt with St. Paul Lutheran Church monogrammed on the front, along with a picture of a chalice, grapes, wheat and a cross. These sweatshirts are hunter green, come in adult sizes small through extra large at $20 each or extra extra large for $22 each. The lettering is done in gold. A sample is in the church office. If you are interested, please leave your name, phone number, size needed and tax deductible donation check with either Linda or Jackie. We'll send in the order on October 20th, and call you when the sweatshirts arrive. What a neat way to treat yourself. What a unique Christmas gift for that someone special in your life.
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Dear Friends in Christ:
"Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs
of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." James 5:14-15
It is on these words that the Church bases it's belief of healing and tradition of holding healing services. There is a rich history of healing within the Church.
The early Church inherited the ideas and methods of healing from the Jewish tradition. A Jew would visit a Rabbi and be anointed if they were ill instead of visiting a doctor. It should be noted that the act of anointing was originally a means of healing instead of preparing for death, as we often think of it today.
Caring for the sick was always a tradition in the Church. In fact, one 'law' from the early Church notes that each congregation had to appoint at least one widow to take care of women who were sick. It is also interesting to note that it was the elders, or laity who were the people designated to provide this service. Healing is mentioned in both the old and new testaments.
Other than Christ, the most well known 'healer' of the Bible was Luke, the apostle. It is Luke who is the patron saint of doctors. His feast day is October 18th. Because of this, it seems very appropriate to begin holding our healing services on Sunday, October 17th. Healing services will be held on the third Sunday of each month. These services will begin at noon and last approximately half an hour.
What will take place during one of these services at St. Paul? We will sing a familiar hymn or two. We will hear a scripture reading or psalm. For those who wish, there will be an opportunity for anointment. There will be time for silent reflection and prayer. No one will ask why you are at the service. Whether your ills or worries are physical, emotional or spiritual that's between you and the Great Healer God.
There are no guarantees given at this service you may be healed, or you may not be relieved of your burdens. That's for God to decide and to work with. He reminds us that "My power works best in your weakness". (2 Corinthians 12:8). We don't know why some of us are sick, depressed, or struggling. But we do know that each of us is a precious, much loved child of a loving God.
This is an opportunity to take time from the hectic pace of our lives and "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
This is a chance to "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
This is a time to gather strength to face our challenges as we remember "Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9)
This is a time of comfort and prayer because "When I pray You answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need" (Psalm 138:3).
Please come. Come to pray. Come to rest. Come to be listen. Come to be strengthened. Come to be comforted. Please come.
Your Servant in Christ,
Leslie Nye
Healing service: Sunday, October 17, 1999 at Noon
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We pray God's blessings on the young people who participated in the Rite of Confirmation on Sunday September 26, 1999: Mike Centala, Travis Cramer, Kate Dutcher, Abbi Kaszubowski, Mike Lamb, Rachel Marzean, Nick Prevo, Brett Steinke, and Vanessa Wekwert.
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The Lutheran World Relief Box Car Loading will be October 16, 1999. The last day to drop off items at the church is October 8th. Please leave them in the room off the kitchen. Specific items needed are quilts, blankets, new bars of soap, layettes, sewing kits, school kits, health kits, sweaters & sweatshirts for men, women and children, lightweight men's clothing and men's work clothing, children's clothing. No shoes, socks or heavy winter clothing.
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Esther Circle Members
Esther Circle Meetings have been moved to a new time and date.They will meet the first Tuesday at 1pm each month. The first new meeting time is scheduled for October 5th at 1pm. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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Check it out: Have you seen our Web page? Please make note to take a look. Our site address is www.stpaul.org. This is a great way for yourself, family and friends to stay informed about activities and events at St. Paul. Take our address with you as you travel this winter to keep abreast of what is going on back home. Feel free to use this as a means of communication with us also. If you have information you wish to inform us about, address changes, your e-mail address, just to say hello, etc, send it to linda@stpaul.org.
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What is Action for LSSM ? Our organization called Action for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. Action is an auxiliary of the Lutheran Social Services. The name describes perfectly how men and women reach out to people they serve together . I am the Regional Coordinator of thirteen area churches from east Tawas to Cheboygan including St. Paul Lutheran. We collect items year round including new Greeting cards and new and used Christmas cards. I am putting a plea out for used and new large towels, and wide bias tape to make bibs. Other items needed are jewelry pins, clip earrings, bingo prizes for the nursing homes. Puzzle books, large envelopes, writing paper with lines, tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap, paper products, school supplies, and yarn. If anybody collect things bring them to St. Paul in the room by the Sunday School office. A donation is always accepted to help buy these items that are not collected. Thank you for making a difference in each life! Jenette Pernie, Regional Coordinator#3
LSSM Fall Meeting Report The fall meeting for Action was held Saturday, September 18, 1999 at Spruce Lutheran Church. Sixty three people were present nine churches represented Communion service was by Pastor Laraine Sundin. Ella Mallace from Lutheran Community Manor showed a video and spoke about Lutheran Social Services. St. Paul had a large display of items including 203 towel bibs, care & share items etc., and a donation of money from the Welca Group. We are really proud of St. Paul and all they do. The offering of $306.25 collected will help defray the mailing costs for Action for LSSM Jenette Pernie, Regional Coordinator #3
A Lesson From a Child: Joe was asked by a neighbor to drive her son to a hospital. Although he had other things planned. Joe didn't know how to say no. He put the child in the car and started on the 50 mile journey. Suddenly the boy turned to him and shyly asked, "Are you God?" Startled, Joe said no. The boy continued, "I heard Mom asking God for some way to get me to a doctor. If you are not God, do you work for Him?" Joe replied, "I guess so, sometimes, And now that you ask, I'll be doing a lot more of it."