THE KEY TO ST. PETER THE PARSON S PEN... JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH

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Michael Butler
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1 THE KEY TO ST. PETER THE PARSON S PEN... Grace, mercy, and peace from our God of new beginnings; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The coming of another new year brings us the opportunity to make a new beginning. It s a time to evaluate the past year, review how we have lived, and decide what we need to change to make the coming year better. As we remember the sorrows and joys, the problems and the blessings of the past year, we have a chance to leave all the bad things behind and take the good ones with us. We can have a fresh start. It s good to know that we can take down the old calendar and hang up a new one. We have a great opportunity this year, one that has not happened in over 100 years at St Peter as we build a new church and Sunday School building. So many people are working very hard, trying to cover all of the bases, wanting everything to be perfect, but I can guarantee one thing right now it is not going to be perfect. Even if we had unlimited funds, no one would be completely happy with the results. Committees are working, finding problems with what other committees did, doing their best to fix them and trying to make sure the entire congregation knows what is going on at all times. Some are getting involved and others are content to let things happen around them, trusting those on the committees to do the best that they can with what we have. I have learned over the years that being on a committee is a thankless job. Those not on the committee may think that it is moving slowly or, even worse, not trust those making the suggestions and grumbling about every decision made rather than getting involved and making their thoughts known ahead of time, criticizing the job after the fact. Now I have not witnessed this as of yet here at St Peter, but I have been warned from others that it is a real danger during a building program. Satan is always active and is looking for ways to come between God s people. We need to be on guard. And in the midst of all of this going on, we need to remember that we live in an imperfect world, tainted by sin. Whatever an imperfect human being does can never be perfect. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah knew how this worked. His forefathers, who traveled with Moses in the wilderness, often murmured against God. They complained about Moses. They rebelled by worshiping false gods. Even in the Promised Land, they continued to do things God told them not to do, and didn t do the things God told them to do. The book of Judges shows a deeply ingrained pattern of sin. Each time the Israelites abandoned the one true God, God allowed them to be oppressed by their JANUARY 2012 ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH 906 Hwy 59 N. P. O. Box 133 Bowie, TX Phone: Fax: stpetertexscty@att.net INSIDE THIS ISSUE: THE PARSON S PEN NEWSLETTER BIBLE STUDY / RECIPE DEADLINE FOR COOKBOOK SERVING GOD S HOUSE / LWML CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS EVE PICTURES KID S PAGE 6 JANUARY CALENDAR JANUARY PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE

2 enemies and they became slaves in their own land. Yet, God showed the pattern of His love by repeatedly sending leaders to defeat the enemy and reestablish faithful worship in the land. It s amazing how many times that cycle was repeated. This repetition demonstrates how firmly rooted our tendency to sin is, and how great God s love is. When we repent, God stands with open arms ready to receive us and restore us. God tells us through Isaiah, there is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides Me." (Isaiah 45:21, ESV) We are going to struggle over the next year, that is inevitable, but we need to keep our eyes focused on God and His Son s Great Commission given to us in Matthew 28:19-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV) And don t forget that last line of verse 20. Even as we struggle with our sin, and yes, at times one another, Jesus is with us to the end of the age. He will never leave us nor forsake us. When we find ourselves at our wits end with our Christian brother or sister about our new building, or anything for that matter, remember that Jesus died for their sins too. And may we never forget that we are building for the furtherance of God s Kingdom and not for our personal pride. If we continue to build to increase our evangelism, our proclamation of the Gospel to Bowie, Montague County and the world, does it really make sense to come to blows with a fellow Christian over the color of the carpet or the shape of a light fixture? Let s all keep that in mind if we find our blood pressure rising over the building program or anything else in the coming year and turn our grumbling into praising. Pastor K. BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES Pastor s Bible Study A Closer Look at the Lessons 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings In the Sanctuary Led by Pastor Knobloch Young Adults Bible Study Join the young adults to explore scripture 9:30 a.m. Sunday mornings In the Nelson Street house Led by Arn Anderson Wednesday Night Bible Study Study of Second Corinthians 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evenings In the Nelson Street House Led by Jim Atkinson Women s Bible Study Studying Ephesians Finding your identity and purpose in Christ 9:30 a.m. Thursday mornings In the Nelson Street House Led by Wanda Brummett Men s Bible Study Studying Joseph, Carpenter of Steel 6:45 a.m. Friday mornings In the Nelson Street House Led by Pastor Knobloch ST. PETER LUTHERAN COOKBOOK Recipe deadline is January 20. The LWML is working on publishing a cookbook. We need your recipes! Pick up a form in the basket in the back of the church, turn them in to the church office or to revksfrau@yahoo.com. We also are in need of people to help type recipes into a easy to use form on line. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Cyndi at

3 PAGE 3 SERVING IN GOD S HOUSE IN JANUARY Elder Jimmie Little Counters Bryan Roth, Kenneth Geis, Terry Henry Nursery 1/1 - Valarie Gill & Dana Moeller 1/8 - Kristen Henry & Jeannine Yowell 1/15 - Rebecca Pickett & Kelly Roth 1/22 - Maci Ferguson & Monica Mayfield 1/29 - Rebecca Horton & CharLasch Altar Guild-Hazel Beyer & Betty Robinson Altar Care-Hazel Beyer, Becky Geis, Nancy Hammer, Robin Reynolds Lay Readers 1/1 - William Pickett 1/8 - Bryan Roth 1/15 - Monty Moeller 1/22 - Arn Anderson 1/29 - Bob Aune Acolytes 1/1 - Cade Roth & Grant Roth 1/8 - Shelby Keyes & Isaac Babineaux 1/15 - Hattie Hammer & Marli Moeller 1/22 - Maddie Kurz & Deagan Kurz 1/29 - Victoria Lasch & Shelby Horton Lutheran Women s Mission League On December 13, the ladies had a Christmas party at the home of Glenda Roth. They shared lots of good food and fellowship. Instead of exchanging gifts with each other, they sent an offering to the Hope Center in Russia. Please come to the next meeting on January 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson Street House. Viola Robinson will present the topic Standing on a Rock. The project for January is to start the quilts and LWR kits (Hazel Beyer and Viola Robinson are the committee members). The ladies from LWML would like to extend a sincere wish for blessings to each and every one for the new year! Officers for 2012 President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Christian Growth Historian Hospital Cheer Visit Service Committee Labels & Coupons Baptismal Banners Pastoral Counselor Jeannine Yowell Donna Roth Cyndi Knobloch Diana Atkinson Jo Kleinhans Viola Robinson Diana Atkinson, Chairman; Doris Long Doris Long & Clara Noack, Co-Chairmen; Jo Kleinhans Betty Robinson Donna Roth Rev. Larry Knobloch

P AGE 4 The Children s Christmas Program was very

Travis Fechtler was the main narrator of the story.

memories and stories of Christmas past that were told

4 P AGE 4 The Children s Christmas Program was very special; with only a handful of children and young adults. They worked to create the story of Christ s birth. Travis Fechtler was the main narrator of the story. The members also helped with some very special memories and stories of Christmas past that were told throughout the program. All the kids did a great job singing and reading. Thanks to all that helped make it happen!

5 Children s Christmas Program Pictures P AGE 5

6 KID S PAGE PAGE 6

January Preliminary Construction Timeline Task Name Duration Beginning & Completion Grade Beams/Slab 16 days 12/28-1/23 Site Utilities 8 days 1/4-1/13 Plumbing 121 days

7 January Preliminary Construction Timeline Task Name Duration Beginning & Completion Grade Beams/Slab 16 days 12/28-1/23 Site Utilities 8 days 1/4-1/13 Plumbing 121 days 1/12-6/28 Electrical 122 days 1/12-6/29 Termite Treatment 2 days 1/18-1/19 Metal Building Framing 33 days 1/31-3/15 January St. Peter Lutheran Church P.O. Box 133 Bowie, Texas 76230

THE KEY TO ST. PETER THE PARSON S PEN... JULY 2012 ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH

THE KEY TO ST. PETER THE PARSON S PEN... As I prepared to write this month s Parson s Pen for the newsletter, the Supreme Court healthcare decision was fresh on my mind. Today I received this e-mail from