Outward bound! Gathering Awakening Serving

Transcription

1 ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 330/ AUGUST 2012 Outward bound! Gathering Awakening Serving

2 Pastor s Ponderings... When preparing and looking forward to my return visit to East Africa last month, the one thing I was so much looking forward to was seeing and hearing from some of the children raised by Annalena Tonneli. Annalena, a Catholic, studied law in Italy. But after a couple of years of working in that field, she felt called by God to go as a missionary into the NE desert of Kenya to work with Somali TB patients in the 1980 s. It was a part of the country totally ignored by the government and the world. It was also a time when Kenya suffered years of severe drought. One night an infant was left to die by parents who were no longer able to provide food for her. The infant was brought to the TB clinic the next day and given to Annalena. Over the weeks and months, 27 other dying babies were brought to the clinic. Not one died and Annalena raised them with the idea of resettling each one with their families once the drought was over. She was able to find the families of all except eight of the children. Those eight Somali children Annalena raised and educated as her own. Annalena was killed in Northern Somalia in 2006 by someone who was against her working for human rights for women and children. But Annalena s legacy lives on in those children. I was able to see 5 of those adult children each one a walking miracle of God. With the exception of two, each one is challenged in some way blindness, deafness, polio victims, mentally challenged... August Worship Participants 12-Aug 19-Aug 26-Aug 2-Sep 8:30 AM altar Blewitts Blewitts Blewitts Ellen Madigan 11:00 AM altar Nancy Alber Nancy Alber Nancy Alber Annelise Funfgeld bread Bonnie Wolfgang Bonnie Wolfgang Bonnie Wolfgang Nancy Alber Counters Lloyd Doering Kim Talbott Chris Gasser Nancy Alber Tom Smith Bill Osborn Lloyd Knudsen Rod Kaufman 8:30 AM acolyte Mira Hanft Matthew Molloy Matthew Molloy M. Braver 11:00 AM acolyte Andrew Edwards Andrew Edwards Megan Landis Emma Ilg 8:30 AM a. min Cathy Doering Cathy Doering Rod Sprang Rod Sprang 11:00 AM a. min Jon Edwards Jon Edwards Nick Schondel Nick Schondel 8:30 AM lector Rich Owens Rich Owens Angela Gasser Angella Gasser 11:00 AM lector Dennis Shanafelt Lori Miller Lori Miller Mavis Welty 8:30 AM ushers S. Miller Bravers Bravers Sickels A. Miller 11:00 AM ushers Farnsworth Baileys Baileys Welty Sir Louis 8:30 AM chalice Rich Owens Rich Owens Glenna Jackson Glenna Jackson Debi Gabriel Debi Gabriel Ethan Jackson Ethan Jackson 11:00 AM chalice Bob Schondel Bob Schondel Chris Heini Chris Heini Kathy Tabor Kathy Tabor Barb Heini Barb Heini 8:30 AM cup Barb Scheufler Barb Scheufler Debbie Sprang Debbie Sprang Mira Hanft Jessica Jarolim Matthew Molloy Matthew Molloy 11:00 AM cup Patty Frase Patty Frase Donna Osborn Donna Osborn Andrew Edwards Andrew Edwards Andrew Edwards Emma Ilg 8:30 AM screen Emily Sprang Armin Gasser Stuart Arbuckle M. Arbuckle 11:00 AM Deaconess Marla Nick Schondel Christian Heini Jenna Heini 8:30 AM Nursery Bruce Meeker Pat McGregor Tom Smith Mike Sommer Jennifer Lowe Janet McGregor Lynn Sommer Debbie Sprang 11:00 AM Nursery R. Stidham Donna Osborn Laurie Talbott Lori Miller Julianne Stidham Bill Osborn Tracee Teresko Kathy Tabor

3 Continued from pg. 2 Except for the one who is mentally challenged, each of those children is a leader in Kenyan society the regional social worker in charge of NE Kenya, a leader in the Teachers Service Commission of Kenya, an airplane pilot, a medical doctor, a member of parliament in the Kenyan government - to name a few. How often since 2006 those of us who knew and loved Annalena would ask ourselves what was the purpose of her death? Couldn t God have prevented it? Where s the sense in it all? Annalena knew that she wasn t safe in Somalia as the anarchy in that non-governmental country increased but she didn t stay there because it made sense. She remained there because of her faith. Annalena constantly reminded us that faith must be the guide to living not common sense. She preached to us as much as she taught her children. Annalena would ask, Does the Gospel make sense? When Jesus came to earth, could he not have healed all the sick, fed all the hungry and healed all the wounded? No the Gospel doesn t make sense; it s mystery. Back here in America, I live in a culture which believes in the common sense of money which guides our society. But as I reflect back on my East African trip and I remember Annalena. I hear her saying again faith must be the guide to life and not common sense. When did the Gospel ever make sense?

4 Movie Mania We will have a movie mania for all 7 th and 8 th graders on Sunday, August 19th. The movie will be The Odd Life of Timothy Green, rated PG. Time and theater to be announced but we will see a matinee and then gather at the Hanft s for pizza, discussion and fellowship. Cost will be approximately $6 plus any snacks purchased at the theater and $5 to cover pizza and drinks for later. Parents are welcome to attend. This will be a great opportunity for our new group to have some fun and bond before we start our new year together. I encourage all 7 th and 8 th graders to participate! Please contact Sherie Hanft with any questions or sm44281@yahoo.com

5 Calling all 7 th and 8 th graders and parents! Affirmation Orientation We will have our Affirmation orientation on Sunday, August 12 th at 9:45 am. This meeting is essential for ALL affirmation youth and parents to learn what is coming up for the year, what the program is all about and what we can expect. Please plan to attend. You can contact Marla or Sherie with any questions.

6 SHARING CENTER - AUGUST UPDATE Come, let us sing to the Lord!" Psalm 95 The St. Paul Youth Choir welcomes all children from first grade through 8th grade. We sing special music during worship the first and second Sundays each month, offer a Christmas Eve Cantata, and partner with the Adult Choir for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday services. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7:00-7:45 beginning September 5th. Questions? Please contact Kate Ilg at kateeilg@gmail.com or (330) Hope you can join us! Back to School Time! Beginning immediately, we would like to collect school supplies to hand out to our clients. As you are starting to shop the back-to-school sales for your own children & grandchildren, please consider picking up a few extra items for Sharing Center clients. Items needed include: spiral notebooks, folders, colored pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks/ bottles, dry erase markers, pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, pencil boxes/pouches, backpacks, loose leaf paper. Thank you for your generous support! August needs: all canned vegetables, canned fruit (peaches, pears, mixed fruit ), canned beans (black, kidney, refried..), cream of mushroom/chicken soups, canned tuna/chicken

7 Visitors to St. Paul Six Japanese youth and two adults are being hosted by three St. Paul families and supported by many St. Paul families during their stay. They have traveled to Columbus, New Jersey for a mission trip and will return to Japan August 6th. THOSE ASSIGNED TO WORK IN THE SHARING CENTER ON FRIDAY EVENINGS IN AUGUST ARE AS FOLLOWS. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HELP ON THE NIGHT ASSIGNED TO YOU, PLEASE FIND A REPLACEMENT AND CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE, 330/ Please be sure to arrive by 6:00 pm. Driver Thursday morning Panera Jon Edwards 10-Aug 16-Aug Friday night Paula Funfgeld Mark Blewitt Debbie Blewitt Randy Meyer McMillen Fam. Sue Edwards Eleanor Hanson Jim Jarolim Chris Ilg Debi Gabriel Mavis Welty Chet Welty John Braver K. Braver M. Jordan Debbie Heufner Marla Kay Jennifer Owens Wendy Kaufman Sharon Methodist (2 people) Annelise Funfgeld Julianne Stidham John Hanft Nora Gleason Karen Becker Judy/Mike Rogers Jim Jarolim 17-Aug Clarks Lesley Jarolim 23-Aug 24-Aug 30-Aug Tom Baumgardner 31-Aug Malls Karen Edwards Steve Kay Dance Team (2 people) Nancie Smith Pat McGregor Janet McGregor Lucy Bowers Kate Ilg 6-Sep 7-Sep 13-Sep Rod Kaufman Chet Welty 14-Sep Talbotts Lloyd Knud- Joanne sen Knudsen 20-Sep Sherie Hanft 21-Sep Curtis Mall Debbie Mall Tammi Velez 27-Sep Bruce Meeker 28-Sep Dolly Kozub Lori Miller Carol Sours Laura Hoynes

8 Celebration on the Circle Come Grow With Us Sunday, September 9 Worship on the circle at 10:15am followed by Celebration! Walk around the circle and learn more about the many ministries of St. Paul through various activities, crafts, and games. Free food, Prizes, Giveaways, Magician and more! Invite your friends, family and neighbors to come and celebrate with St. Paul!

9 August: 1 Ruth Johnsen 11 Abby Smith 11 Andrew Ward 14 Russell Farnsworth 21 Robby Herman 28 Haley Bowers 7 Lynn Sommer 11 C.J. Mall 12 Brenna Roy 16 Lucy Bowers 24 Ty Bishop Light your baptismal candle! In Our Thoughts and Prayers... Pictured: Madelaine Arbuckle (left) Grace Braver (right) St. Paul Financial Report July of Fiscal Year 2012 Budget $26,976 General Fund Offerings $24,891 Renovation Fund Offerings $1761 Attendance Report 2011 (month total 769) Average Weekly Attendance (month total 618) Average Weekly Attendance St. Paul children and youth attended Camp Mowana this summer! There were also two St. Paul members on staff--nick Schondel served as a lifeguard, and Andrew Ward returned as a camp counselor.

10 Tuesday Morning Women s Group begins again this Fall Date to be announced

11 Prayer Shawl Scarf Ministry Please join us to knit or crochet prayer shawls or scarves on Monday, September 17 at 7 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The scarves are collected and given to the Sharing Center clients in December and January. The prayer shawls are given as needed mainly to St. Paul Lutheran members. We meet the first and third Mondays of the month. We will work on scarves and the prayer shawls both of which are needed. Everyone over 18 is welcome to join us as we converse and knit or crochet away. You do not really need experience, just the willingness to work on these projects. You do not have to be a member of St. Paul to help us with this ministry. Scarves should be anywhere from 3 to 7 inches wide and at least four feet or longer. Prayer Shawls should be 20 inches wide and about six feet long. Also, because of allergies, if you can keep them fur free, that would be great. If you need further information, please contact Cathy Doering at or at cdoering1@aol.com. If you need yarn, it is available for $3.00 a skein money due at time of taking the skein. Blessings, Cathy Doering Minutes of the July 8, 2012 Special congregational meeting The meeting was called to by President Glenna Jackson. Forty members were needed for a quorum. Fifty-nine members were in attendance. Glenna led us in prayer. Discussion followed led by Glenna. During the April, 2012 council meeting, Deaconess Marla requested a maternity leave. Although her due date is October 26, due to carrying twins and the complications that may accompany this type of pregnancy, Marla requested that her leave begin at the end of August. A replacement will need to be hired in Marla s absence. Several members of the congregation were discussed as replacements: Kate Ilg, Karen Edwards, and Sherie Hanft. Kate and Karen currently are extended in their current duties with St. Paul. Sherie previously did similar duties at St. Paul and was approached to fill in for Marla and accepted. Expenditures within the church over $5,000 require a special congregational meeting. The position offered will be paid commiserate with Kate Ilg s hourly rate and the position will be paid for 20 hours per week beginning in August. There will be some overlap with Marla s end of job duties and Sherie starting her new position. A basic job description was written including duties to include Faith Trek, Affirmation, Small Group studies and Junior/Senior High School youth ministries. A motion was made by Rich Owens to vote on whether we should hire Sherie Hanft as a temporary replacement for Marla s duties while she takes maternity leave beginning the end of August. Lori Miller seconded the motion. Those present voted unanimously 59/0 to move forward with hiring Sherie Hanft as a replacement for Marla during her maternity leave. There were no abstentions and there was no further discussion. Therefore, the Council has been given permission to hire Sherie Hanft beginning the end of August. Glenna gave a brief recap on the renovation. St. Paul has received three bids, and the contractor that came in with the lowest bid has recently lost several jobs and they are eager to start work. They have offered to extend financing. Council will discuss at the monthly council meeting to be held tomorrow, July 9. Glenna then led the congregation in a closing prayer, and we stood In Christ, Laurie Sickels

12 Check out the latest happenings at St. Paul on the Interactive Calendar! Check out the latest happenings at St. Paul on the Interactive Calendar! A church spanning three centuries, yet vibrant and meeting the needs of people today! A church spanning three centuries, yet vibrant and meeting the needs of people today!