ST. PAUL S NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 Dear Friends of Christ, ST. PAUL S NEWSLETTER Fall/Winter What is God s plan for the local church? The apostle Paul lays it out in Ephesians chapters two and three. If you have a Bible, go ahead and turn there. It begins with the Gospel in Ephesians 2:1-10. We were dead in the trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). But God made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5). For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). But that Gospel leads to some very disruptive implications. Implication number one: unity. As Paul writes of Jews and Gentiles at the end of chapter two, God abolished the dividing wall of hostility that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father (Eph. 2:15b-18). Note that the gospel alone creates this unity: it is the cross by which Christ has put to death their hostility. After all, what else could ever bring together two peoples with such different history, ethnicity, religion, and culture? Now, what s the purpose for this unity between Jews and Gentiles? Skip down to Ephesians 3:10. His intent was that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Take a group of Jews and Gentiles who share nothing in common except for a centuries-old loathing for one another. Bring them together into the local church where they rub shoulders on a regular basis, and things explode, right? No! Because of the one thing they do have in common the bond of Christ they live together in astonishing love and unity. Unity that is so unexpected, so contrary to how our world operates, that even the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms sit up and take notice. Amazing, isn t it? May we here at St. Paul s learn of this gift of unity in Christ Jesus, our Lord. In His Service, Pastor David Tilney

2 Boxes are available in the narthex Please bring your filled box back by Sunday, Nov 11 Please also include $9.00 for shipping Are you interested in being in the Handbell Choir? I would like to get some Bell Ringers practicing for the Christmas season. Questions? See, call or text Sharon Wimmer sbeckwimmer@aol.com Young life will be meeting here at St. Paul s Church for a lunch hour every other Thursday, (High School students from Cloquet) If you can help with monetary donations or provide a lunch please contact Pam Wagman , Pastor Tilney or Brian Points (area director) for YL younglifepoints@gmail.com The Wee Care Sewers are at work preparing layettes for the Lake Superior Life Care Center. If you are seeking a ministry, dedicated to reaching out to families dealing with a crisis pregnancy, come to a meeting. We meet on the first Thursday of the month Sept-May 9:00am Book Club Monday, November 19, 10:00 am The Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis ***************** Monday, December 17, 10:00 am A Simple Christmas by Mike Huckabee Questions? See Phil or Teri Johnson Wednesday, November 21,6:30 pm Women s Bible Study, Bible Study, Kids Club not meeting today

3 Lay Shepherds Ministry Not Just the Loud Ones She only has time to talk to the loud ones, answered the first-grader when his mother asked if his teacher ever talks to him. Only time for the loud ones this is a child s version of The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It s the loud ones, the squeaking wheels, that get most of the pastoral attention in most churches. The loud ones need to be heard but what about the silent ones? To correct this serious imbalance, conscientious Lay Pastoral Care Ministry leaders feel compelled to assess the state of their ministry and take action to do one of the following: Strengthen their already effective ministry. Persevere until their struggling ministry is successful. Re-start their failed ministry. Lay Pastoral Care leaders are accountable, first to God and second to the congregation, to provide every-member care. Peter says, Be shepherds of God s flock which is under your care (1 Peter 5:1-4). Many of God s flock get lost in churches of 250 members or more. Those who are not the loud ones are not speaking up about their physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, social, marital, personal, relational, inward or outward struggles. They bear their burdens alone. They either suffer in silence, drop out of church, or attend elsewhere. In any case they are not being loved (cared for, tended, shepherded) as God intends. His love with skin on it is to be passed along to even the least of these. The mother who asked her first grade son, Does your teacher ever talk to you? wrote: Imagine you have five corn plants You notice small differences; one doesn t grow as fast, one is tall but sparse, one looks blighted. You tend them carefully, each according to its needs Now imagine you have a whole field of corn. You still provide care but you do it on a much larger scale. Every plant receives the same mechanized dose of water and fertilizer. Some have been poorly planted, some don t get enough sun, some never tassel. But you cannot see this. To you they are just long rows of green We learn a great lesson about caring for God s people from this mother. If each and every church member is to be adequately pastured, can the pastor do it alone? Never! Every-member care will happen only when a sufficient number of laypeople are called forth and equipped to pastorally connect with five or more households each. Then all of God s people, not only the loud ones, will have someone there for them: A Lay Shepherd who will pray for them regularly, be available to them, contact them faithfully, and provide an example. Then not only the loud ones will receive attention. Then not only the squeaking wheels will get greased. While Lay Shepherds are giving specialized care to individual members of the church, the Pastor will be giving specialized care to the church as a whole by preaching, teaching, equipping, supporting, and leading. It is only when the Pastor fulfills their God-given assignment and Lay Shepherds fulfill their God-given assignment that God s kind of care will be given to all of His people, not just the loud ones.

4 Men s Ministry Event : Cabin Fever Reliever Men are invited to the Cabin Fever Reliever on Friday, January 18 at 6:00 pm at St. Paul s Lutheran Church. Guest speaker, raffle prizes, and lots of fun! Dinner will be provide. RSVP by calling the church office at stpaulscquet@gmail.com

5 Outreach Women s Ministry Event: Craft Night Come and learn how to make A Giving Plate on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00 pm at St. Paul s Lutheran Church. Supplies will be provide. A Christian devotion will be given. Dessert and coffee will be provided. Please invite family, friends, associates, and neighbors to this special night of fun and fellowship. RSVP by calling the church office or stpaulscloquet@gmail.com La Sunday, Dec 9, 3:00pm The WMF Christmas Tea has been changed to a afternoon event. Please invite your family and friends. See upcoming bulletins Sunday School Christmas Program Sunday, Dec 23, 10:30 am Note Time Changes All Sunday School Classes / Confirmation 9:00 am Worship Service/ Christmas Program 10:30 am Monday, December 24, 5:00 pm

6 November Wee Care Sewers... meet at 9:00a.m. 1 Young Life Lunch 11:45 am 3 Lay Shepherds meeting 9:30 a.m. 4 Daylights Savings 5 Membership class 5;30 14 Ruby s Pantry 15 Board of Elders meeting 6:30p.m. 15 Young Life Lunch 11:45 am 19 Book Club 10:00 am 21Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service (No Women's Bible Study, Bible study/ Kids club) 22 Thanksgiving Day (Office Closed) 26 Cards & Crafters 9-4pm 29 Ladies WMF Bible Study 1:30p.m. Sunday Worship services 9:00 am Communion 1st Sunday of the month Sunday School / Confirmation 10:30 am Wednesdays Men s Prayer 7:30a.m., Women's Bible Study 9:00a.m. Bible Study & Kids Club 6:30p.m. December Lake Superior District Pastors & Wives Conference 11:30am 4 Outreach Event: Women s Craft Night- Make A Giving Plate 7:00 pm 6 Wee Care Sewers 9:00 a.m. 9 Christmas Tea 3:00 p.m. 11 Board of Elders meeting 6:30p.m. 13 Young Life Lunch 11:45 17 Book Club 10:00 a.m. 20 Last day of Sunday School classes / Book Club 6:30 p.m. 23 Sunday School/Confirmation 9:00 am * Note Time changes 23 Children's Christmas Program/ Worship Service 10:30 am 24 Christmas Eve Service 5:00 pm 25 Christmas Day 26 Ruby s Pantry (No Kids Club/ Bible Study) 27 No WMF Ladies Bible 30 No Sunday School/ Confirmation 31 New Years Eve January 2019 February New Years Day (Office Closed) 4 Parish Ed 6:30 p.m. 2 No Bible Study/ Kids Club 7 Wee Care 9:00 a.m. 3 Wee Care Sewers 12 Board of Elders 6:30 p.m. 7 Parish Ed 6:30 p.m. 14 Valentines Day 9 Board of Elders 6:30 p.m. 27 Ruby's Pantry 18 Outreach Event: Men s Cabin Fever Reliever 6:00 pm 28 Ladies Bible Study 1:30 pm 23 Ruby s Pantry

7 Fly Convention 2019, July 1-6 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:5-6 (ESV) Youth interested in the Fly Convention in July see Pastor Tilney Held at the YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, CO ST PAULS BOARD OF ELDERS rd QUARTER HI-LIGHTS CURRENT MEMBERS: Art Alanen (Building & Grounds), LeRoy Bergstrom, Duane Crestik (Parish ED), Martin Gaulke (Secretary), Mark Illikainen (Chairman), Phil Johnson (Vice Chairman), Kevin Kantonen, Justin Kantonen (Local Outreach), Mark Rosenthal (Treasurer) Pastor Tilney (Advisory non-voting) Wetlands Delineation completed on Church lots and two of the lots are considered wetlands. We have or soon will have all 8 lots listed for sale. We will consider offers on an individual basis if prospective buyers do not want to purchase all 8 lots. Local Outreach committee has been organized and had a successful entry in the July 4 th Parade. We are also in the process of starting and Long Term planning Committee. We have had increased use of our parking lot for pick-up and drop off of students for school. Signage has now been installed to hopefully alleviate this problem. We are now in the process of having background checks completed on all employees and volunteers as seen fit by the board. We are continuing research and planning for some type of assistance for Pastor Tilney. It is still to be determined if that will be an intern or assistant pastor. The board is providing treats for the 4 th Sunday of each month for fellowship after church. As of SEPT, ACTUAL YTD/BUDGET DIFFERENCE General offering budget 171, ,700 Offering YTD is 7,954 below budget Total Expenses under budget 152, ,674 Expenses YTD are 6,671 under budget Ne Income under budget 19,350 22,000 Net Income YTD is 2,650 under budget These are General offering amounts only, and do not include offerings for Roof Repair, Radio Broadcasts, Wee Care Sewers, WMF, George Fund, Missions, Gifts, Memorials, ect. Ladies WMF Bible Study, the new study book for 2019 are ready to order: Please see Gail in the Office, $12.00 God s Servants Teach Us Life Lessons

8 St. Paul s Lutheran Church (AFLC) 1705 Wilson Ave. Cloquet, MN (218) Our Mission It would be simplistic, and biblically wrong, to say that each believer is only responsible for their own little corner of the world. The call to be a follower of Jesus Christ starts with the transformation of a single heart; but is as broad as the call to transform the whole world. In Romans chapter 10, Paul challenges believers to remember that part of the Christian life involves outreach as well as personal transformation. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Rom 10:14) We, as a church, are called to have the same concern for people, both at home and abroad. People are the same, regardless of where they live. People without Christ are frustrated, bewildered, and defeated by life's problems. They long for what Christ offers; fulfillment, strength, peace, wisdom, hope, meaning, and life eternal. It is our joy as a people of God, to point the way to Christ, where all these desires can be satisfied.