THE LAMPLIGHTER. May Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE LAMPLIGHTER. May Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH"

Amice Lucas
5 years ago
Views:

May 2018 THE LAMPLIGHTER Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105) Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service ST.

1 May 2018 THE LAMPLIGHTER Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105) Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 124 Maple St. North, Box 38 Lester Prairie, MN Worship - Sunday 8:00 & 10:30 AM Sunday School/Bible Study 9:15 AM Church Staff: Rev. Eric Nelson, Pastor revericnelson@embarqmail.com Katie Kuball, DCE stpauldce@gmail.com Amanda Streufert, Admin. Assistant amandastreufert@embarqmail.com Phone: (320) Fax: (320) stpaulslp@embarqmail.com Web Address: INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastor 1 Announcements 2-6 Birthdays & Anniversaries 7 Council Minutes 8-10 Calendar of Events 11 It s a rather bleak description Paul gives in his letter to the Ephesians. He doesn t say that sin has weakened us. He doesn t say that sin is a bit of a problem for us. He says that we are dead in our transgressions and sins (Eph. 2:1). Does that bleak and harsh description actually describe us? After all, we breathe and move about. We are not reclining in a casket that is buried six feet under ground. How can it be said that we are dead? It is true that our hearts may beat and our lungs may take in air. But sin cuts us off from God. Apart from God there is no true life. We are nothing more than walking corpses. Is there anything that can be done about our bleak condition? Can we shape up and put forth a better effort to live a better life? Should we try to be more kind and generous to others? Would more prayer help? What can we do? This is what makes Paul s description so devastating. What can the dead do? The dead are helpless. They can do nothing to change their miserable condition. Here is where we get into the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is able to give us the new life we need. The Holy Spirit does his work on us by means of the Gospel. It is the Gospel that proclaims our sins are forgiven because the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. If we are forgiven, there is no judgment to face. We are no longer cut off from God. As a result, we are no longer dead in our transgressions and sins. How do we know that the Holy Spirit has done his work on us? On the day of Pentecost, the followers of Christ heard a mighty wind and saw what appeared to be tongues of fire. There was no mistake that the Spirit had come upon them. Also, if the Spirit has given us new life, why do we still struggle with sin? We are selfish. We lose our patience. We neglect God. As a result, we are not the people that we should be. It is because of these sins that we see the need for a Savior who died on the cross. That is the work of the Spirit. When the Spirit has done his work on us, we trust that Jesus shed his blood for us. We believe that we are saved because the tomb was empty on Easter. Apart from the Spirit, we would have no faith. We would remain dead in our transgression and sins. But now we have new life. That is why we believe that we have a Savior in Christ our Lord. Have a blessed Pentecost!

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 2 The St. Paul s LWML would like to say THANK YOU to all who helped with the Easter Breakfast in anyway.

washed and dried the dishes. THANK YOU to the members of the congregation that donated butter, coffee, foil, rolls, and coffee cake.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of our 2017-2018 Sunday School staff Erin Herrmann, Krystal Kube, Brittany Matthews, Jason and Mandy Lyons, Gary and Larisa Kosek, JaNaye Dressler, Alex Nelson,

2 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 2 The St. Paul s LWML would like to say THANK YOU to all who helped with the Easter Breakfast in anyway. THANK YOU to the people that helped set up the tables on Saturday, to the waitresses, servers, to the ladies that worked in the Kitchen on the food for the breakfast, and to the men and women that washed and dried the dishes. THANK YOU to the members of the congregation that donated butter, coffee, foil, rolls, and coffee cake. A Big THANK YOU to Michael Food s for donating 3 cases of Eggs and to Big Don s for donating the milk, juice, and Dixie Cups. A special THANKS goes out to everyone who came to the Easter Breakfast. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of our Sunday School staff Erin Herrmann, Krystal Kube, Brittany Matthews, Jason and Mandy Lyons, Gary and Larisa Kosek, JaNaye Dressler, Alex Nelson, Evan Lee, Drew Jackson, Zach Jackson, Leighton Buhr, Cole Ehrke, Leah Bettcher, Christine Feltmann, Liam Meyer, Ben Hecksel, Tracy Albers, Tracy Peterson, Tracy Jackson, Lori Ehrke, Darlene Schmidt, Angie Christen, Anita Bahr, Jen Schauer, Sheldon Ehrke, Todd and Dawn Ruschmeyer, April Lee, Christin LaMott, Brittany Litzau, Katelin Dietel, Jennie Ruwersma, Derek Litzau, Jane Holasek, Katie Nelson, Julie Dial, Sally Engen, and Christine Ernst. We are very grateful for the amount of time and effort you have put into the Christian education here at St. Paul! Please note that contributions to the General Fund during the first quarter of this year are nearly $10,000 behind last year at the same time (See Chart). To keep from having to look at borrowing money to meet our monthly expenses, your continued financial support is urgently needed, especially going into the summer months when our weekly church attendance falls. Dave Hoernemann, Chairman We will begin our Summer Worship Schedule on Sunday, May 20th. DIRECT DEPOSIT- St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church wants to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for individual congregation members. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving. If you would like more information, or forms to enroll, please contact the church office. Thank you! Service times will be 8:00 am and 9:30 am.

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 3 GRADUATION SUNDAY St.

Please bring your graduation gown if you have already received it.

Kuball (DCE) know. SUNDAY SCHOOL & ACT BELLS: Both groups will play for Pre-Service at BOTH services on Sunday, May 6 th!

VBS/CAMP OMEGA HELPERS NEEDED Students and Adults are needed to help the week of July 23 rd -27 th.

Students going into grades 7 & 8 are needed to be helpers all over the place!

We will be having a VBS work day on Wednesday, July 18 th.

3 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 3 GRADUATION SUNDAY St. Paul high school Seniors will be honored during the 9:30 AM worship service on Sunday, May 20 th. Please bring your graduation gown if you have already received it. An information sheet was mailed out a couple weeks ago if you did not receive one, please call the church and let Katie Kuball (DCE) know. SUNDAY SCHOOL & ACT BELLS: Both groups will play for Pre-Service at BOTH services on Sunday, May 6 th! Please be at church READY TO PRACTICE by 7:30am! VBS/CAMP OMEGA HELPERS NEEDED Students and Adults are needed to help the week of July 23 rd -27 th. Adults are needed to help teach VBS, assist with crafts and snacks. Students going into grades 7 & 8 are needed to be helpers all over the place! We will need at least 4 high school age (or older) students to help the Camp Omega Counselors. We will be having a VBS work day on Wednesday, July 18 th. You may sign up to help on the sheet in the lower Narthex or by talking to Katie Kuball or Jane Holasek. VBS/CAMP OMEGA DATES Monday Friday July 23 rd -27 th Registration forms are now available here at church and online at Please turn forms in ASAP to the church office. Thank you!! CARNIVAL Sunday, May 13 th (during the Sunday School Hour)! Fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! Come and enjoy games, a bounce house, popcorn and snow cones! (Parents, please plan on attending this with your children!) The offices will be closed Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day.

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 4 LWML S NEXT MEETING WHEN: Monday, May 7 2018, 7:00 pm PLACE: Church basement The May meeting of St. Paul s LWML will be held on Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m. Joyce Miller will lead devotions.

4 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 4 LWML S NEXT MEETING WHEN: Monday, May , 7:00 pm PLACE: Church basement The May meeting of St. Paul s LWML will be held on Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m. Joyce Miller will lead devotions. Our mission donation for May will be given to Lutheran Military Veterans & Families Ministries. All ladies of the congregation are encouraged to attend! The LWML of St. Paul s met Monday, April 2, 2018 at 7 p.m. 17 members present and Pastor Nelson present. Pastor led us in a Bible study about the resurrection. Secretary s Report was approved. Treasurer s Report showed a balance of $1, Correspondence and Thank yous from: Sylvia Kuenzel family, Andy Jones (adopt-a-student) CIRCLE REPORTS: Circle One, funerals: Served Sylvia Kuenzel Funeral. Circle Two, Program: Joyce Miller will lead devotions at our May meeting. Circle Three, Altar: Pastor Appreciation for April. Circle Four, Visiting: Doris Dammann and Joyce Burandt will visit shut-ins in April. Circle Five, Missions: Easter cards sent to Military members and Andy Jones Christian Life Chairman: The Spring Rally will be held on Saturday, April 21 st, at First Ev. Lutheran in Glencoe. The theme is Muslims Need Jesus. Cost is $5 per person. Donations of 10- $10 gas cards for Holiday or Super America will be purchased for Nader Alaraj, the featured speaker. $50 for the mite offering will also be given. The 27 th Biennial MN South District Convention will be June at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato. UNFINISHED BUSNINESS: Served 224 at the Easter breakfast. Thanks to all the great help we had from the congregation for it! Funds provided by the Gift Fund will be used to purchase 2 new acolyte gowns and to contribute to the window covering fund. NEW BUSINESS: None DONATIONS: Orphan Grain Train $150 Offering was collected. April birthdays acknowledged. Table prayer said. Meeting adjourned by President Jan Monroe. Next Meeting: May 7 at 7 pm. Servers for May will be Carol Dammann and Dorothy Klobe. Jane Holasek, Secretary Joint Ascension Eve Service Wednesday, May 9th, 7:00 PM at St. Peter Lutheran, Lester Prairie

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 5 Lester Prairie Sandwich Ministry... A community-wide Ministry for the Marie Sandvick Center, Minneapolis. Volunteers and donations are needed to help assemble sandwiches.

All future events will be at this time) Sandwich Making events take place the third Thursday of every month at 8:30 AM. Everyone is welcome to help with this servant event.

This month you will hear the following program topics: May 6 "Love One Another as I Have Loved You" with Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer.

There are times Christians might readily wish the Lord would airlift them out of this world. Because we have some work to do, the Lord Jesus prays we be kept safe. So, how's that working for you?

5 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 5 Lester Prairie Sandwich Ministry... A community-wide Ministry for the Marie Sandvick Center, Minneapolis. Volunteers and donations are needed to help assemble sandwiches. This month s sandwich making date is: May 17th at 8:30 am. (Please note the time change. All future events will be at this time) Sandwich Making events take place the third Thursday of every month at 8:30 AM. Everyone is welcome to help with this servant event. Lutheran Hour Sermon Topics For May Each Sunday during May at 12:30 pm listen to the Lutheran Hour over radio station KDUZ 1260 AM. This month you will hear the following program topics: May 6 "Love One Another as I Have Loved You" with Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer. Jesus calls His followers to be different as they deal with difficult people. (John 15:9-17) May 13 "Keep Them" with Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus. There are times Christians might readily wish the Lord would airlift them out of this world. Because we have some work to do, the Lord Jesus prays we be kept safe. So, how's that working for you? (John 17:14-17) May 20 "Functional Atheist No More!" with Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer. Christians like to think of themselves as following the first disciples. That's uncomfortably true. The first disciples had trouble believing the promises of Jesus for their daily lives. Too often we do too. On Pentecost the Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus gave the first disciples faith like they had never had before. Today the same Spirit is ready to do the same for us. (Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27) May 27 "Impossible" with Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus. Can death hold us? Experience says, "Yes!"' the Apostle Peter says, "No." Today's sermon talks about making possible that which can't happen. (Acts 2:22-24) God s Word provides the light we need. Psalm 119:105 Do you shop on Amazon? If so, try shopping through Amazon Smile and have a percentage of what you spend come back to the church! Go to or search for St Paul Lutheran Church, Lester Pr, MN and shop like usual. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases back to the church.

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 6 Taste of Panama Meal WHAT: Do you still have questions about what you would experience if

Come eat a typical Panamanian meal, ask any questions you have, and get a further look into what it s like to be a part

WHEN: After 2 nd Service on Sunday, May 6 th WHERE: Church Basement WHO: Hosted by the 2017 & 2018 Panama Mission Trip

Miriam Lee Fargen Baptized: March 31, 2018 Parents: Ryan and Savannah Joint Worship here (with St.

6 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 6 Taste of Panama Meal WHAT: Do you still have questions about what you would experience if you went on the Panama Mission Trip? Come eat a typical Panamanian meal, ask any questions you have, and get a further look into what it s like to be a part of the Panama Mission Trip Team! WHEN: After 2 nd Service on Sunday, May 6 th WHERE: Church Basement WHO: Hosted by the 2017 & 2018 Panama Mission Trip Teams COST: NONE Just come and experience! Miriam Lee Fargen Baptized: March 31, 2018 Parents: Ryan and Savannah Joint Worship here (with St. Peter s) Sunday, May 27th at 9:00 am There will only be 1 service that day. Adopt-a-Highway Ditch clean-up will take place on Sunday, May 6th. All members of the congregation are invited to help with this. Please meet at 12:30 pm in the Church. A short instructional video will be shown and then we will car pool out to our area. Please prayerfully consider helping with this service project.

L A M P L I G H T E R Page 10 The Congregational memory verse for the month of May is Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

7 L A M P L I G H T E R Page 10 The Congregational memory verse for the month of May is Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!. Date 1st Service 2nd Service Thank you to everyone who signed up to be a greeter. Here is the greeter schedule for May. If you would like to become a greeter, please contact the church office at John & Julie Lange Chuck & Kim Reed 13 Shadd & Julie Dial Brett & Darlene Schmidt 20 Gaylen & Bonnie Schoenfeld Carolyn Toenies 27 Sandy Fiecke Joyce Miller

Edition Non-Profit Organization BULK RATE U.S.

8 ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 124 MAPLE ST N P.O. BOX 38 LESTER PRAIRIE MN THE LAMPLIGHTER May 2018 Edition Non-Profit Organization BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #2 Lester Prairie, MN Address Service Requested

THE LAMPLIGHTER. October Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service

THE LAMPLIGHTER. October Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service October 2018 THE LAMPLIGHTER Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105) Reach Out and Share the Love of Christ through Word & Service ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 124