The ACTS. March 2018/St. Paul Lutheran Church. A Choice Between Good and Evil. Sunday Worship 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

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1 The ACTS March 2018/St. Paul Lutheran Church In Jesus Name, Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God. Sunday Worship 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship in Lent March 7, 14, 21 5:15 p.m. Lenten Small Group 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper 6:45 p.m. Worship in Fellowship Hall 7:15 p.m. Lenten Small Group HOLY WEEK & EASTER SCHEDULE Maundy Thursday, March 29-7:00 worship Good Friday, March 30-7:00 worship Saturday Easter Vigil, March 31-7:00 worship Easter Sunday, April 1-8:30 & 11:00 worship with Easter breakfast from 9:45-10:45 Regular Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Friday A Choice Between Good and Evil God is a God of love. God desires peace, not violence. The Lord also created the cosmos and gives us all freedom. This freedom allows us to make choices for good or evil. Because we have this freedom we also have responsibility for our own decisions. An understanding of this should keep us from blaming God when things go wrong. Our God does not prevent tragedies like the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where there was so much death and injury, just as God does not prevent drought, tornadoes or hurricanes from occurring. God set the earth spinning on its axis and gives us freedom. Humans are allowed to make choices. God does not direct every event, every action on our planet or in the cosmos. God's power is not the power of a dictator. God's power is from love. The power of love is amazing. It heals broken hearts. Love can bridge the gaps of loneliness and sorrow. The same loneliness and sorrow that could destroy a person so much, that he would decide to shoot up a school full of people. And it is the only thing that can help us make sense of tragedy and heal a world that is broken. We can t respond in anger to one another while we are trying to fix what is so obviously wrong. We must move forward in love. We must engage in conversation and continue to love each other until that love spreads and heals. May God's peace be known through us! Pastor Jared

2 From the Congregation The Season of Lent WEDNESDAYS IN LENT March 7, 14, 21 5:15 p.m. Lenten Small Group 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper 6:45 p.m. Worship in Fellowship Hall 7:15 p.m. Lenten Small Group *Wednesday night Lenten Small Groups - All groups will be reading and discussing: A Bigger Table, by John Pavlovitz. ASH WEDNESDAY Page 2

3 Supporting the Needs & Programs of Our Church Giving is something that most people do without thinking. We experience it starting at an early age when our parents are there to ensure that our basic needs are met. They provide the basics of food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. Their giving keeps expanding to include toys, sports, entertainment, education, electronics and the list continues to grow. Hopefully as we grow and become adults, the feeling of giving becomes a part of our life also. It expands beyond the family to charities, the church and an ever expanding list of organizations committed to doing good works. Why do we give? For many, it is to experience the joy of generosity, it just feels good. For some, it is the desire to share the abundance of the blessings that they have received. We give to the church because we are asked to contribute for the purpose of: Spreading the Gospel of Christ Support the work of the church as directed by the congregation within the: Church Community World Now for the big questions: Do you Pledge? If so, thank you. Without your committed support, we would not be able to support many of our outreach programs and it is your support that keeps our facility operating and in reasonably good repair. Next question: Is your pledged amount as large as it could or should be or is it what is available after all of your other commitments have been met? We know that many don t attend church every Sunday for a number of valid reasons. An expanding list of commitments to others reduces our free time. But, St Paul s financial needs do not stop on the weeks that you are not there. My last question: If you made a pledge to the church for some amount to be given weekly or monthly and you place it in the offering plate when you do attend, does that offering include the funds for the Sundays you did not attend church? Or, do you view the funds not given as found money now to be used for another need or for the purchase of something on someone s wish list? Please consider the option of using your bank s Autopay process. It will automatically transfer funds from your account to the St Paul bank account. You specify the frequency, timing and the amount and it becomes one less thing for you to worry about. Another form of giving is of your time. We need and appreciate volunteers as much as we need and appreciate your financial support. There is always a committee or function that is looking for help. Things done by a volunteer is money not spent by the church for staff salary. Thanks for listening, Bud Krick Council Corner Page 3

4 Bulletin Board Holy Crafters Meet March 6 Join us for Holy Crafters on Tuesday, March 6, from 6:30-11 in Fellowship Hall to work on your projects whatever they may be- scrapbooking, card-making, knitting, sewing, homework...! Questions? Contact Kathy Baids. An Invitation From Faith Circle Faith Circle is a social, prayerful, service and learning-oriented group of women that meet the second Tuesday of each month in the school year. Our next meeting is March 13 at noon in Fellowship Hall when our speaker will represent the Northwestern Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit. Please join us! Bring your lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided. Questions? Contact Jean Siegel. This year s Lenten Draping represents the night prior to Jesus being taken to Pilot for judgment. It comes from John 18:12. So the Roman cohort, and the commander, and the officers arrested Jesus and bound him.. Page 4

5 Bulletin Board GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS MARCH 17! Love great live jazz? Looking for a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? The 13th Annual Wheaton North High School Swing Dance is Saturday, March 17, 7:00-10:00 p.m. in the WNHS Commons. Come early from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for free Swing Dance Lessons! It's a Community Event supporting the WNHS Band Program, with District 200 families, faculty, students & friends (12yrs +) invited to swing the night away or just enjoy great live jazz performed by our student musicians, including St. Paul's very own Alex Michalak, Will Richards, and Daniel Yurko. Discounted advance tickets at wheatonnorthband.com. Hope to see you there! HOW IMPORTANT ARE GREETERS? Do you like being greeted as you walk into the sanctuary, or do you think that's old hat? Are those greetings for visitors necessary to define us as a friendly church, or are those brownie mixes a waste of time? After many years as the greeter chair, Marilyn Dashiell is feeling like she needs a break. If you are interested in organizing the greeters and welcomers for Sunday mornings, please give her or the pastor a call or . Someone who has energy, basic computer skills, and a desire to welcome others is needed. Check Out the Library There s a new display in the library nook with books appropriate for the Season of Lent. Featured are a variety of devotionals and several books highlighting Jesus. You are also welcome to browse through the library shelves in the new location in the room formerly known as the Esther Room. You could also just sit and relax in the chairs in the nook! DO YOU HAVE A HEART FOR SERVICE? The Caring Board is looking for friendly people with a serving heart to join our board. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Library (formerly known as the Esther Room). Come and see what we are all about! Questions? Contact Kathy Baids. Page 5

6 Harvey, Carolyn 3/1 Queewa, Sahr 3/1 Cook, Bob 3/2 Coughlin, Dennis 3/2 Johnson, Mitchell 3/3 Harvey, Christina 3/4 LaMar, Al 3/5 Simpson, Chris 3/5 Dec, Nancy 3/6 Krick, Anne 3/6 Riesz, Eileen 3/6 Therron, Tyler 3/6 Dickson, Mary 3/7 Gavin, Kate 3/9 Carr, Heidi 3/10 Karlsson, Molly 3/11 Harrington, Mike 3/12 Lindgren, Clayton 3/12 Kalbfleisch, Kate 3/13 Carlson, Nancy 3/14 Sons, Ashley 3/14 Jackson, Parker 3/15 Mullinger, Allie 3/16 Vicha, Pat 3/17 Alley, Debbie 3/21 Harms, Dave 3/21 Morrissey, William 3/21 Huber, Jeff 3/22 Keith, Mackenzie 3/23 Troxel, Terrie 3/23 Keys, Emily 3/24 McCoyd, Audrey 3/24 Carr, Steve 3/25 Nass, Mike 3/25 Young, Terrence 3/25 Bateman, Lori 3/27 Nikitas, Stefanie 3/29 Braun, Lucas 3/30 Harms, Ginny 3/30 Gustafson, Eileen 3/31 Kadrmas, Lauren 3/31 Vollum, Peyton 3/31 Winthers, Mary Lou 3/31 Let Us Pray... for these members and friends of St. Paul The week of March 4: Pete and Laura Pohl; Dwight Nielsen; Doris Kolar; Rita Hansen; Eileen and David Gustafson; Emily Breckman; Lori and Anna Bateman; Bob, Eleanore, Grace, Will and Meg Richards. The week of March 11: Thomas, Lori, Ryan & Justin Blackburn; Paul & Susan Brinkman; Tim, Krista & Kenley Diehl; Patty Fess; Patti & Lauren Kadrmas; Scott & Kathy Rambo. The week of March 18: Bill, Dru, Brian & Claire Bergman; Ed Berndt; Steve Heidi, Alexander & Samantha Carr; Kate Kalbfleisch; Kelli Adamson. The week of March 25: Grant & Sheila Eckhoff; Tom, Cari, Kate & Julia Gavin; Larry & Laurel Larson; Bruce & Pat Beck. Page 6

7 Financials, January, 2018 Page 7

8 St. Paul Lutheran Church, ELCA 515 S. Wheaton Avenue Wheaton, IL Rev. Jared Olson Phone: Fax: Pastor Office Website: stpaulwheaton.org Sunday worship: 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Membership Directory Have you checked out your listing on the new St. Paul online Membership Directory? Set up a login to check out your listing and take a look around the online directory (which is still a work in progess). It only takes a few moments to create a login. Go to members.instantchurchdirectory.com/signup where you will be prompted to enter your and to create a password. Sync Our Church Directory to Your Mobile Device It s EASY to download the FREE app to your Apple, Android or Kindle Fire device: Go to your device s App Store Search for Instant Church Directory Enter your as it is listed in our church directory Enter the assigned password into the app to begin syncing. If you want to change your information or add a photo, or if you have any problem with login, please contact jan@stpaulwheaton.org.