St. Paul s Epistle. The Season of Lent

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1 St. Paul s Epistle S T. P A U L E V. L U T H E R A N C H U R C H 3 C R A F T S M A N L A N E A M H E R S T, N H Volume 7, Issue 3 The Season of Lent On Wednesday, March 6, the season of Lent will officially begin. The season of Lent is a 40-day spiritual journey that leads us to reflect on our own sinfulness and need for a Savior. Lent also reveals our Savior and how he willingly suffered and died to provide for us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Our midweek services this year will use a series from NPH entitled Three Words of Truth. The following are the three word phrases that we will consider during our six midweek services: Ash Wednesday, Is it I? Midweek 2 Love One Another Midweek 3 Watch and Pray Midweek 4 I am He Midweek 5 What is Truth? Midweek 6 Take Him Away! The Sundays in Lent are not counted as a part of the 40 days of Lent, they have been referred to as islands of refreshment in our Lenten walk. This year on the Sundays in Lent we will look to our Savior for spiritual refreshment and encouragement. On the Sundays in Lent we will look at the gospels to learn an important truth from our Savior. The Sundays in Lent will focus on the theme Learn in Lent. The following are the truths that we want to Learn in Lent, from our Savior: 1st Sunday in Lent = Learn in Lent...how to face temptation. (Luke 4:1-13) 2nd Sunday in Lent = Learn in Lent about Jesus determination to march to Jerusalem. (Luke 13:31-35) 3rd Sunday in Lent = Learn in Lent...that tragedy reminds us to repent. (Luke 13:1-9) 4th Sunday in Lent = Learn in Lent...about our Father s love. (Luke 15:1-3,11b-32) 5th Sunday in Lent = Learn in Lent...not to reject your Savior. (Luke 20:9-19) Join us for the many worship opportunities we will have over the next two months. Come and hear the words of truth revealed to us on the pages of Scripture. Come and learn from your Savior during this Lenten season about his amazing love for you and how that impacts your life now and for all eternity.

2 I Need More GOOD NEWS Indeed, we live in frazzled and frustrated times. Just turn on the nightly news. So frequently we are given reports of events that have devastated property and lives; are told about individuals that have deviated from law and order; and hear of other stories that dampen our spirits. On a regular basis, most of the news is not good news, and a depressed sigh first finds solace in the silence of a turned-off television. Turns out, though, that we don t have to turn on a TV to know that. We don t even need to be near it. As our consciences rerun the past, we see where our own deviations have had a devastating impact. As a direct result, our spirits are dampened and depressed. Even life-long Christians feel the sting of past sins as their consciences cry a guilty testimony. That s the news we know by nature. That s God s Law on sinful hearts, and that s why stricken hearts crave more good news. The calm to the craving is not attained by turning off; we get it by tuning in. The answer is not in blocking out God s Word or dulling our consciences by making poor excuses. The solution is still found in what God s good news says to every individual even to you. The calm, promise, and solution remains the message of the gospel! Hearts are calmed at the message of Christ for us! And it s in that message the apostle Paul, a very real sinner, would have sinners still take comfort and confidence. As he lifted Timothy s eyes and heart to the grace of the cross, so he lifts ours: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst (1 Timothy 1:15). Craving more good news? Forgiven sinner, tune in to the Savior who carried your every sin! See him in his Word! Redeemed believer, tune in to the gospel God s good news that quiets sin s accusations! Hear that saving message! Beloved child of God, tune in to the trustworthy message of the Bible and let your heart sigh with thanksgiving. Jesus came to save sinners. Jesus came to save you! That s the good news! Crave it. Enjoy it. And stay tuned in!

3 HARBOR HOMES Are you looking for new or different housing? Where would you go if you are low income or a street person? Are you addicted to drugs or other chemicals and have no health insurance and want help RIGHT NOW? Where would you go? Do you have other medical problems but no one will see you because you have no medical insurance? Where would you go? Do you want to work but have limited skills or do not know how to write a resume? Where would you get help? Are you a homeless Vet needing help? Where would you go? Harbor Homes of Nashua and surrounding areas provides the answers to these life changing questions. On Monday evening, March 11 th at 7 p.m., these questions will be answered by Mark Stokes of Harbor Homes at the Sisters in Faith meeting. The whole congregation is invited to come and hear what services are available to those in need in our communities. The program will start at 7p.m. followed by a dessert. The business meeting will follow. Nashua Soup Kitchen Pantry Since I am the one delivering our donations to the Soup Kitchen Pantry, I thought I would share the gratitude and appreciation for our donations with you. There are always volunteers at the loading dock to unload my car and smiling faces greet me and others who donate. whether they are helping to unload four bags or a truck load (or a school bus filled with donations), they are always appreciative. Families and individuals can come to the Food Pantry once a month for a food box (they can choose their own items) and twice a week for perishable items (fruit, breads, vegetables, and misc. bakery items. ) They can request a toiletry bag once a month. Toiletry bags are filled with whatever donations they have on hand on that day. Toilet paper is on everyone s list, but they can only have one roll at a time. I really don t know how that works! The last time I was there, a man standing outside told me he was doing his laundry there as they have washers and dryers. I am constantly surprised at the variety of help that the NSKS offers people. They prepare people for job interviews, speak Spanish to those who do not know the ins and outs of the welfare system, offer emergency shelter to families and individuals. They have a birthday party for children that could not have one, and treat every person with respect. Oh, about the birthday parties, they have gifts donated for the foreseeable future, but could use wrapping paper, paper cups, plates, napkins. Thank you all for the support of the NSKS as it is greatly needed. The collection box with monthly suggestions is located in the Fellowship Hall by the Ladies Room. Kris Fietze

4 LWMS NEWS Here are two upcoming opportunities to participate with LWMS - Lutheran Women's Missionary Society. 1 - The Freedom Circuits Spring Rally is in April - see the flyer. 2 - The international convention, held in June, is offering an early registration discount - see flyer.

5 YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!! We need a person, or a group of people, to coordinate the Easter breakfast this year. The Easter breakfast will take place on Sunday, April 21 from 8:00-9:30 a.m. Information can be provided for how the Easter breakfast was done in the past, but if you have a new idea that is fine as well. If you are interested in providing this service or have any questions please speak to Pastor Korthals.

6 Nursery Help Needed We are in need of volunteers to help in the nursery during the service and during Bible class. You may have noticed that we can have many little ones in the service on Sundays. Some families prefer to have their children remain in the service and make use of the new activity bags that are in the narthex. Others find it hard to concentrate on the service, especially the sermon, if their little ones are too active. Several women have been faithfully serving as nursery attendants for the past couple years and we thank them for their service. In order to provide a nursery both during the service and Bible class, but also allow the women to attend one or the other, we would like to have two people available each Sunday, one for the service and another for the Bible class hour. Please consider giving one hour a month to serve the congregation in this way. The white board outside the nursery shows the schedule for the month. If you have questions please see Pat Miragliuolo. For Sale The Board of Elders has decided to sell the snow blower we purchased in Since the purchase the snow blower has been used for a max of 20 hours at the most. As Balcom Landscaping is now clearing our sidewalks, etc. the use of this piece of equipment is not needed. The original purchase price was $1, The snow blower is like new. It has been maintained for the last three years and is running great. The Board of Elders feels $1,000 is a fair price because of its condition. We are offering it to the members of St. Paul first after which we will seek other buyers. Below are some of the specifications. ARIENS SNO-THRO DELUXE SERIES MODEL NO TWO STAGE BLOWER 28 CLEARING WIDTH ELECTRIC START For more information you can contact Dennis Fietze for the details. Church Cancellation Due To Inclement Weather If there is inclement weather forecast for a Sunday morning or an evening when we have a special service you can check to the following locations to see if our service has been cancelled: WMUR-TV 9, and on the radio at 95.7 FM (WZID), 96.5 FM (The Mill), and WFEA on AM radio.

7 March Birthdays at St. Paul Please take time to give birthday greetings to the members and friends at St. Paul listed below. If your birthday is not listed please contact Pastor Korthals or Jan Gurgel so we can update our files at church. March 7 March 8 March 8 March 9 March 17 March 19 March 21 March 21 March 23 March 24 Evelyn Capelle Ava Becker Diane Habhegger Sandy Budnik Sonja Tahsin Cheryl Hayes Rachel Danhof Mikayla Ackerson Charles Danhof James Horvath Our Stewardship of Time and Treasures Avg. worship attendance through February Avg. communion attendance through February Avg. Sunday Bible Class attendance 22 Avg. Sunday School attendance 9 Offerings received YTD (as of 2/17) $112,013 Offerings needed YTD (as of 2/17) $109,038