St. Paul s Lutheran Church Volume 24 Issue 1 February 2018 Lenten Study 2018 February 18 March 28 This series is an engaging introduction to the central practices of the Christian faith, why they are important, and how we can take part in them today. Our weekly emphasis of these practices will be on Prayer, Worship, Sacraments, Money, Service and Community. This series is designed to be a hands-on experience that will get participants talking and breathe new life into our congregation, and our facilitators do not have to know all of the answers! Each week will start with a video presentation from a Christian thought leader to prepare us for discussion of the selected topic for the week. In addition to group discussion, each participant will receive a journal with daily exercises and journaling space for your unique reflections. We believe the topics are relevant to our Christian journey...and particularly St. Paul s journey this year...and are sure to generate thought-provoking discussions. You will want to be there! How do I participate? Choose a small group, or attend our Midweek worship services on Wednesdays at 7pm beginning February 21, which will focus on the topic of the week. Small group signup sheets are available in the Gathering Room, or contact the church office to add your name to the list. Small Group times and locations: Sundays at 10:30am Church library Sundays at 6pm Ludwig home, Waukegan Sundays at 6pm Elenbaas home, Waukegan Tuesdays at 7pm Church library Wednesdays at 10am Church library Fridays at 7pm Kadish home, Mundelein Your input and insights are needed as we prepare to call a new pastor! Share your thoughts about the characteristics and qualities of the person you would like to see as St. Paul s new pastor at a special forum with a complimentary brunch. RSVP to the church office or via an RSVP form Sunday, February 25 at 10:15am to 1pm No 10:30am Worship or Adult Bible Study Extended Sunday School with lunch for the kids!
Have you ever had an amuse-bouche? An amuse-bouche (which is pronounced ah-moos boosh) is a little bite of something to eat which some restaurants offer to their guests before their meals are served. Amusebouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons but are served free and according to the chef's selection. An amuse-bouche is served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine. The term is French and literally means "mouth amuser. An amuse-bouche excites the tongue and helps the guest get ready for the wonderful new flavors to come! As an interim pastor, there are many roles I am grateful to take on at churches: Leader Question Asker and Clarity Bringer Encourager Worship Presider and Preacher Project Manager Administrator Pastoral Caregiver Teacher of the Faith Communicator Financial Analyst And one more. I am essentially an amuse-bouche for each congregation where I serve as interim pastor. What I hope to do here as St. Paul Lutheran Church s amuse-bouche is to introduce you to some new ideas, new flavors of worship, new ways of doing things. The reason? To help you get excited about calling a new pastor AND To help you prepare for the wonderful new flavors or worship and ministry to come once your new pastor begins her/ his ministry at St. Paul s. Like an amuse-bouche served at a restaurant, some things I do might seem a bit odd and some of the flavors will be completely new. Trust that I m doing this to help the members of St. Paul s and to help your new pastor. And who knows, you might find that you really relish the zest, sweetness and gusto of new flavors! As they say in the restaurant business, Enjoy! Pastor Janet Amuse-bouche Our quilters will dedicate another set of quilts to Lutheran World Relief on Sunday, February 4. Thanks to all who dedicate their time to this Dian Drasler Ann Kangas Dolores Kilpatrick Pat Ludwig Ellen Montgomery Debbie Robinson Marilyn Russo-Nixon Nancy Salmela Becky Schwarz Barb Stanhope Mary Wakelyn Celebrating 80+ years of life this month: Ivy Baranovic Russell Bloom Ardy Kasper Baerbel Love Ruth Porter Happy Birthday to you! Page 2
Our church is blessed with good stewardship of time, talents and financial gifts. We have continued to see very consistent giving and expenses over the last three years, and that is very appreciated. Nearly 30% of our giving units utilize online giving, which helps us maintain cash flow at a more consistent level throughout the year. We no longer see large swings down in January and during the summer. Online giving also allows us to improve our manual counting process and improves our process time for Sunday offerings, because all online giving is automatically credited to the right giver and the right account (Weekly, Raise the Roof, Mortgage Repayment, etc.) Thank you for your stewardship as we Continue the Journey. Mary Ellen Modlin, Financial Secretary Financial Recap November December Weekly Giving $23,712.00 $27,900.00 Monthly Income $26,134.24 $41,039.34 Monthly Expenses $32,762.47 $25,455.41 Monthly Difference -$6,628.23 $15,583.93 YTD Shortage -$15,583.93 $0 Fund Balances December Mortgage Repayment $10,671.20 Raise the Roof $16,804.26 Sunday, Feb. 4 at noon By constitution, the congregation will elect members to the Church Council, the Mission Endowment Team and the Nominating Committee and will pass a budget for 2018. Please join us! The new Transition Team has been installed and had their first two meetings. The team members are: Pastor Janet Volk, Colin Byers, June Campbell, Rebekah Burton, Mary Ellen Modlin, Elise Helland, and Ben Gehrt. Pastor Janet laid the groundwork during the meeting as to what will be happening, duties of team members, overall expectations and time frames. In her words, we not only want to find a good pastor but, more importantly, the right pastor for St. Paul s; one who will meet our needs and expectations as we move forward. Please keep the Transition Team members in your prayers. Dear St. Paul s Lutheran Church, Thank you for your prayerful donation of $250 to the ministries of Love INC of Lake County s partner churches. By sharing your financial gifts, you are fulfilling a critical need in the body of Christ. How do your gifts impact families in Lake County? By creating a shared office and Help Center, we provide a place for churches to come together to listen to people s stories and determine the best ways to support them. Our Household Starter Kit ministry is one such support our churches provide to our families. Our church volunteers delivered a starter kit to Ms. O s family and she called to thank us. Her voice was cracking as she spoke about how nice the delivery team was, that they took time to ask how she was doing. Her children were overjoyed that they had their very own plates for the first time. A plate seems like a trivial thing to many. But to some it means everything. The fact that it was delivered with a smile and a prayer, In the Name of Christ, is why we exist. Thank you for being part of the body of Christ with us! Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) Page 3
Feb. 14 at 12pm & 7pm Ash Wednesday worship includes the imposition of ashes and begins the church season of Lent. Wednesdays at 6pm February 21 March 21 Join us for fellowship and a simple meal during the Lenten season before heading upstairs for worship. If you would like to bring a soup or dessert, please sign up on the form in the Gathering Room or call the church office. 9:00am Ushers Feb. 4 Hall, Sandine, Mizera, Dahlbo Feb. 11 J. & W. Burba, Sorensen, LaMontagne Feb. 18 Baraboo, Kilpatricks, Koskinen Feb. 25 Athanas, Robinson, Wiesemann, Nixon 10:30 Ushers Feb. 4 Alwardt Feb. 11 Hopkins Feb. 18 Gehrt Feb. 25 Swanick 9:00am Acolytes Feb. 11 Jesse & Jovanni Page 4 Wednesdays at 7pm February 21 March 21 Join us for midweek retreatstyle Lenten worship featuring the Holden Evening Prayer service and discussion of the Animate: Practices Lenten Study by one of our Adult Spiritual Growth Team leaders. The Worship Assistant's essential functions are leading the congregation and assisting the Pastor by reading the prayers and the first reading from the bible. You also help with handling the offering plates and extinguishing the candles when the acolytes are not serving. Pastor Janet gives you a binder with all of your speaking parts highlighted, and Adrianne can email these to you ahead of time upon request - it couldn't be easier! You do not need to be a singer - the choir can cover the Kyrie part if needed. Wearing a robe is encouraged but not required. They are hanging in the closet in the music room for those who wish to wear one. Serving communion is optional as well. So, are you interested? Click on the link on the church s website to go to an online sign-up form, or email beckyaingram@gmail.com if you would like more information or to give it a try. Greeters Wanted! The Welcome Team would like to make sure we are welcoming all worshippers to our Church. Our thought is to have Greeters present for these days: Transfiguration Sunday (Feb. 11) Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7pm Palm Sunday (March 25) Maundy Thursday (March 29) at 7pm Good Friday (March 30) at 7pm Easter Sunday (April 1) Pentecost Sunday (May 29). Greeters should arrive about 30 minutes prior to the service and stand near the main doors, opening them and saying hello. To sign up for one or more of these worship days, sign up on the white board in the Gathering Room or contact Becky Ingram at beckyaingram@gmail.com or Jane Ochoa at jane8186@sbcglobal.net. Thank you!
11 Transfiguration Sunday 19 Presidents Day 14 Ash Wednesday 1 2 8 9 22 23 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 4 Adult Bible Study Adult Bible Study 18 10:30am Small Group 6pm Elenbaas & Ludwig Small Groups 25 10:15am Forum & Brunch No 10:30am Worship/ Bible Study 6pm Elenbaas & Ludwig Small Groups 5 1-3pm Knit & Crochet 12 7pm Altar Guild 1-3pm Knit & Crochet 26 9:30am-3pm Quilters 6 7pm Tuesday Bible Study 13 7pm Tuesday Bible Study 20 7pm Small Group 27 7pm Small Group 7 10am Bible & Brew 10am Bible & Brew 12pm & 7pm Ash Wednesday Worship 21 10am Small Group 6pm Soup Supper 7pm Lenten Worship 28 10am Small Group 6pm Soup Supper 7pm Lenten Worship 15 7pm Church Council 16 7pm Kadish Small Group 7pm Kadish Small Group 3 10 17 24