Volume 53 Issues 1 January 2017 Page 12
MESSENGER A publication of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church January 2017 149 8th Ave S in South St. Paul, MN 55075 Hebrews 13:8 "JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER." As the calendar turns to 2017 there is no doubt that changes are on the horizon. Who can say what those changes will be? With a new president coming into the White House some are holding onto their hats with excitement. Others are holding on with worry and concern. That is the nature of life in these United States. Some things we want to change, while others we would like to see remain the same. Here at Grace, the year 2016 witnessed much that was anticipated and much that came in the form of surprises. We saw families grow and expand via marriage and birth. We observed some dear souls depart and join their Savior. New members came into our fellowship and some old ones transferred out or left us. We anticipated the blessing of hope and strength through God's Word and Sacraments, and we were not disappointed. God's promise that his Word is living and active remains in force, and we have relied on his promises and his power. That is also where our hope for 2017 lies. In a world of change our Lord Jesus does not change. Many claim that we are to change how we understand and respond to God's Word, but such a claim does not come from God. Many claim that we must conform our thinking and actions to a new way of looking at one another, but that is true only to the extent that God calls for in his Word. God's Word remains the same. Jesus reminds us of this when he says, "Heaven and earth will pass away but my Word will never pass away." The Word of God still condemns sin and calls sinners to repent. It still points out our failures and our need to change. It has not pulled back on the eternal consequences of sin. But because Jesus does not change, his promise of comfort and peace to all who repent and turn to him in faith remains rock-solid. Already in the Old Testament book of Malachi God said, I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. A changing God would leave us with no secure anchor for our lives. But a changeless God gives us the encouragement of knowing that He always stands with his arms wide open, for the sake of Christ Jesus. Christ does not change. In 2017 He will still provide for us what we most need in this world: a change of status before God through faith in Him. He is the same humble Savior who did not come to condemn but to give His sinless life as a ransom for us. He is still guiding and directing us through His Word. He is still present in the body and blood we receive in the sacrament which assure us of our forgiveness and empower us to make changes in our lives to better conform to God s will. As we stand on the brink of yet another new year, it is very easy to feel intimidated. We do not know much of what the new year has in store but we do know there will be change involved. God allows us to proceed with confidence as we remember this: in our changing world we have a changeless Savior. The Lord be with you in this new year! Pastor Hartwig I m under a lot of stress. A Changeless God, even in the year 2017!
Annual Report It is almost time for composing our 2016 annual report. This report is included at our fourth-quarter, congregational voters meeting on Sunday, January 22, 2016. Because it takes some time to put this report together and gather all the information, Brenda s deadline for reports is Monday, January 16. Rev. Thomas Hartwig 651.252.1130 Church Office, Brenda 651.451.1035 website: www.grace-ssp.org Food Drive Update Thank you to everyone who donated to our November food drive. We had 476 pounds of donations! It was just a little shy of last year s 532 pounds. Neighbors, Inc. loved getting the toilet paper because they were extremely low on that item. Thank you to Kelly and Kendra Hemmelman for packing all the donations and taking them to Neighbors, Inc. on Tuesday, November 29. Thank you, Donna and Pastor! Page 2
Meditations The current Meditations is on the spin rack in the lower narthex. Please help yourself! DVDs If you know of anyone who would like the weekly DVDs of our church service, please contact the office at (651-451-1035). Flowers for 2017 The flower chart is posted on the inside door to the west coat room. If you would like to beautify our altar on a certain Sunday, please fill in the date or call the church office to make arrangements. Mobile Apps WELS now offers mobile apps for both the ios and Android platforms. WELS ONLINE collects devotional and educational audio, video, and text content from WELS.net in an easy-touse application. Recycle Old Meditations and Portals of Prayer may be saved for the Prison Ministry, which sends them out nationwide. We have learned that they do not take Forward in Christ. Drop off your old copies of the Portals of Prayer and Meditations in the church office or in the box marked devotion books in the west coat room. The church office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays. Hospitalized If you are admitted to the hospital, have someone contact the church office, and Pastor will come to see you. The hospitals do not contact the churches because of privacy issues. Missing If your birthday or anniversary has been missing from our lists, please contact the church office, and we will add the date to our records. Messenger The Messenger is on our website each month. If you would like to help save printing/mailing costs and have the Messenger emailed to you, contact the office at Brenda s email, which is blindeman@grace-ssp.org. Address Change If you move and have a change of address, please contact the church office at 651-451-1035. Page 11
The Nominating Committee is looking for candidates to fill Church Council positions that will be up for election at the annual meeting on January 22, 2017. The positions up for election are the following: Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Christian Education Chairman, Buildings and Grounds Chairman, and two Elder positions. If you are a voting member and are interested in any of the positions, please contact the church office (651-451-1035) or Hal Shillingstad from the Nominating Committee (612-280-5690). If you are over 55 and would like to enjoy a homemade lunch, Golden Agers invites you on January 19! Grace Church has a group called the Golden Agers for anyone who is over 55. The Golden Agers would love to have more of Grace s members join them. This group meets at noon on the third Thursday of each month. It is a wonderful time for fellowship as well as the enjoyment of a delicious hot meal. We have a good mix of both men and women. Pastor also joins us for some spiritual enrichment. The cost for the dinner is $7.00. No reservation is needed! Guess what is on the menu? A fantastic meatloaf with roasted vegetable dinner will be served at noon in the Fellowship Hall on the 19th. Mark your calendars and join us! Volunteer Opportunities The Mission Wearhouse Thrift Store in Little Canada is in need of women and men to volunteer as cashier, receive and sort donations, organize donated books, size clothing, put merchandise out in store, be on call to pick up/deliver furniture, or do general maintenance. A monthly or weekly commitment is appreciated but is not required. Even coming one time would be a big help. Youth groups, ladies organizations, friends, and neighbors can volunteer as a group. It s a great way for retirees and stay-at -home moms to get out and enjoy fun and fellowship with fellow Christians. High school students, this is an excellent and fun way to get service hours! Contact us at 651-917-4149. December 2016 Council Meeting Highlights Congregation President David Ross called the October Council Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. with 7 members present. Pastor Hartwig opened with a reading from the Daily Lectionary taken from the Old Testament in Isaiah. Secretary s report for November was reviewed and accepted. Financial Secretary s report for November was reviewed and accepted. Treasurer s report for November was reviewed and approved subject to audit. The good news is that the debt service line item will be paid in full by end of December. A motion was made and approved that undesignated memorials will now go to the major repair fund but in the event of debt will revert back to debt relief. The children s Christmas program went very well this past Sunday with a good combination of choir and children. Nearly every child from the Sunday school program was present for the program. A motion was made and approved to close the front door project fund as of December 31. The November 2016 Elders report reflecting service and attendance statistics was reviewed. A motion was made and approved to remove Cleo Waldhauser, Alice Schmidt, and Marcella Miels due to their passing. A service contract with Kone Elevator was signed by Dave Ross effective January 1, 2017, for a yearly fee of $660.00. Our current snow removal service company appears to have gone out of business. Bids are currently being received from other companies. The next scheduled meetings are as follows: Elders at 6:15 p.m. and Council at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. 4 th Quarter Congregational Voters meeting in church on January 22, 2017, at 10:15 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Anthony Kulik Secretary Page 10
Finance Secretary Report November 2016 November General Fund Receipts $14,608.40 Monthly Average Needed to Meet Our $17,377.58 Projected Budget YTD General Fund Receipts $173,077.08 YTD Average Needed to Meet Our $191,153.42 Projected Budget YTD Total Receipts 2016 $194,871.58 YTD Total Receipts 2015 $204,938.84 Total Current Debt $38.69 Major Repair Project Fund (on hand) $2,395.00 Sunday School Carpet $3,250.00 (Goal: $3,600.00) NOVEMBER S ATTENDANCE Sunday, November 6 9:00 a.m. 98 Communion: 94 Monday, November 7 7:00 p.m. 14 Communion: 10 Sunday, November 13 9:00 a.m. 96 Monday, November 14 7:00 p.m. 20 Communion: 17 Sunday, November 20 9:00 a.m. 86 Communion: 73 Monday, November 23 Thanksgiving Eve 7:00 p.m. 69 Sunday, November 27 9:00 a.m. 122 Wednesday, November 30 Advent 7:00 p.m. 50 Thank the Lord as He continues to strengthen the hearts of His people through the Word and they in turn respond with their gifts of love. Thrivent Choice Dollars Thrivent Choice lets you help choose where some of Thrivent Financials charitable outreach funds go. Eligible members are designated Choice Dollars based on their insurance premium, contract values, and Thrivent volunteer leadership. Thrivent members who received emails or letters in the mail with x number of dollars can designate their Choice Dollars to Grace now if they choose. Eligible members may call Thrivent (800-847-4836) and say, Thrivent Choice. If you have a computer, you may go on-line at www.thrivent.com. For the organization search, use only this information: Grace 55075 Minnesota. This will help you find our church in the listing. The program will continue to be available for eligible benefit members by calling 1-800-847-4836 (at the beginning of a new year or quarterly in January, April, July, and October) to again direct your designated Choice Dollars. Since the program began, we have received $21,470.00. Thank you! Aluminum Please continue to collect and then drop off your aluminum cans. The proceeds benefit the Young People s Society and the Pioneers. Deposit the aluminum in the large grey/green storage shed under the fire escape behind the church garage by sliding the roof away from you. Please do not leave items near the alley by themselves because others will help themselves to the cans. Thank you! Page 3
2016 Christmas Party Fun Gals of Grace Christmas Party About thirty ladies from Grace attended the annual Christmas party at Concord Lanes in South St. Paul on Tuesday, December 6. We were served a chicken dinner. Afterwards we played some games. All were a big hit. Two of them were the right and left game and the saran wrap ball game. Attendees brought teenage gifts that were added to our church donations for Neighbors, Inc. We all also went home with a gift, or two, or three. Everyone had a very good time! Thank you to the ambitious gals who had a part in organizing the party and directing the games! Page 4
Pastor Dan Lindner LindnerDan@hotmail.com Office 612-379-4296 SCHOOL NEWS True North WELS Campus Ministry www.truenorthwels.org All college students in the Twin Cities are invited to join True North WELS Campus Ministries Sunday worship opportunities. 10:00 a.m. Worship Service St. John s Lutheran Church 610 Broadway St NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Address 1313 5th St E #328 Box 33 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Students, please check the website (www.truenorthwels.org) for the latest news and updates. 1200 Oakdale Avenue West St. Paul, MN 55118 651.455.1521 www.stcroixlutheran.org New Academic Dean Mr. Ryan Rathje has accepted a call to SCL for the position of Academic Dean for grades 6-12. Please keep Mr. Rathje and his family in your prayers. He will begin serving in July, 2017. Football to State Seven Years Straight The Crusader football team celebrated an undefeated season until the final seconds of their last game against the Rochester Lourdes at the state 3A Prep Bowl in the new U.S. Bank stadium on Saturday, November 26. Saturday, January 21 St. Croix Lutheran at Wisconsin Lutheran College for the WLC Jazz Festival at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, January 22 New Friends at 1:00 p.m. and wear an ugly seasonal sweater Wednesday, January 25 One Act Play, Fire Exit, at 7:00 p.m. Night to Shine St. Croix has been named an official host for Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation on Friday, February 10. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God s love for people with special needs. Over 200 participants from the community will be welcomed to St. Croix. Please share the news of this complimentary event with anyone you know who has special needs and would like to be a king or queen for a night. Learn more on the school website or call Mrs. Lorna Kapanke at St. Croix. Amazon Smile! Do you happen to shop on Amazon.com? You can use Smile.Amazon.com to support SCL with every purchase you make. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to SCL. Triple your impact by purchasing Amazon Scrip cards from the SCL Scrip office! St. Andrew s Lutheran Preschool St. Andrew s Church has a preschool for 3-, 4-, and 5-yearolds. To register or to discuss before/after school care, please contact Joan Tjernagel at 651-459-3021. The school is located at 1001 Holley in St. Paul Park. Carpeting The Carpet Replacement Fund is making progress towards its goal. About $3,250.00 has been contributed so far. $3,600.00 is needed for this project. We look forward to completing it for the benefit of our Sunday School students. Something That Has Appeared in a Church Bulletin (but not here at Grace) People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of church. Page 9
SCHOOL NEWS St. John Lutheran School St. Paul January 2017 Hope Sure, Anchor Secure Wildcat News & Notes Hebrews 6:19a We have this hope 771 Margaret Street St. Paul, MN 55106 as an anchor for the soul, phone: (651) 771-6406 email: school@stjohnev.net firm and secure. www.stjohnev.net/school William Scharf, Principal On January 4, 2017, we will resume classes after a two-week Christmas Recess. Now that the Children s Christmas Service is past and we ve rested from all our hard work, we look forward to the remainder of this school year. We have lots to accomplish. Our 2017 open houses are scheduled for Thursday, February 9, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m. These open houses are for the 2017-2018 school year. If you know of people wishing to find out more about kindergarten-grade 8, please tell them of these important dates. Please call the school office at 651-771-6406 ext. 230 for more information regarding these open houses. Crown of Life School West St. Paul (WSP) January 4 School resumes 6 Good Samaritan 9 Lego Club 13 Matins & Muffins and Panera End of Quarter 2 16 No school, Martin Luther King Day 18 Report cards distributed 20 Spelling Bee, grades 6-8 24 Pre-K & Kindergarten Round-up 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (open house) 26 No bus service 27 No bus service Spelling Bee, grades 3-5 29 Choristers sing 8:00 at West St. Paul Kindergarten & Pre-K Round-Up Tuesday, January 24, 6:30 8:00 p.m. Crown of Life Lutheran School 115 Crusader Ave. West St. Paul MN 55118 Come to an open house to learn about our Kindergarten and Pre-K programs. Meet the teachers, principal and other parents. RSVP to schooloffice@colwsp.org or 651-451-3832. Martin Luther College (MLC) New Ulm 11 Evangelism Day January 26-28 Focus on Ministry Weekend Page 8
Bits of Interest Congregational Debt The Church Council is announcing good news that our congregational debt has been eliminated as of the end of December. Generous offerings over the past few years have allowed us to pay back all bank loans and internal loans. With gratitude to our members and with thanksgiving to our Lord, the council will close out the Debt Retirement Fund. Of course, the weekly and monthly financial responsibilities of the congregation have not changed, but the elimination of our debt is certainly good news as we move forward in service to our Savior. Volunteer Opportunities Our Grace congregation can use your help during our church service. There are two usher teams that could each use one more usher. It is a commitment of approximately one Sunday every three months. The Lights, Camera, Action Committee has two openings one for managing the sound board and one for videotaping a service on Sunday morning. Two of our video taping volunteers are in the choir so we really need one more. You need no prior experience at all, and there is training available in both areas. Another opportunity is at Town Square Television on Monday or Tuesday afternoon for service editing. This is a rotating position each month. Please contact the church office if any of the above volunteer opportunities interests you. Messenger assembling is one Thursday morning at the end of each month. Easy on-the-job training is provided for inserting the Messenger into the calendar, and then fold, seal, and label. If this interests you, drop in around nine. The back, middle, alley doors are open. We assemble upstairs in the classroom. Mitten Tree Donations Thank you to everyone who so generously donated items! Neighbors Inc. received two boxes of teen/toy items, gift cards to AMC Theatre and to McDonalds, one large bag of mittens/caps/ scarves, one large bag of household items, one large bag of clothing/boots, and a smaller bag of baby/mittens/ hats etc. Thank you to Carol Weber for gathering the donations and taking it to Neighbors. Camp Croix 2017 Registration The registration for Camp Croix 2017 will open on January 2, 2017. Don't miss this opportunity to brighten your child's summer. Children going into 4th - 9th grade are welcome to take part in this wonderful week of God's Word, swimming, sports, games, crafts, mission work, and more. Counselors and staff are needed! We offer three weeks of summer camp: July 9-15, July 16-22, or July 23-29. For more information and to register, go to www.campcroix.org. "Steps of Martin Luther" Even after the June 2017 tour was sold out, more people wanted to join the tour, so Pastor James Humann has decided to host the same tour again in September 2017. This tour leaves September 18, 2017. Pastor James Humann, retired WELS pastor, invites you to join him on September 18, 2017, for a twelve-day, "Steps of Martin Luther" tour to Germany to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. The itinerary includes not only the major sites connected with Luther and the Reformation, but also Prague in the Czech Republic, and Salzburg and Vienna in Austria. Space is limited. Two buses have already been filled for a June departure. For information about this September tour, including the price and complete itinerary, e-mail Pastor Humann at JHumann383@aol.com. If you would also like a hard copy of the brochure, please include your name and mailing address. The church office has a copy of the brochure also. Person of the Month If anyone is interested in being the person of the month in our Messenger, please contact Brenda in the office. It is painless and encourages us to get to know our fellow members. Volunteer with Grace Thank you: to Tony Kulik for repairing the street door by the elevator. to Pastor for replacing the boiler belt. to Tony Kulik for replacing the baluster in the workroom and for putting our bell tower church star back in place after a windy night. Page 5
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Craft & Quilt Day Some ladies of craft day were working on making totes from material donated recently. We make these totes for mothers to carry their items given to them to take home from their classes at Christian Life Ministries. Other gals were working on sewing quilts. Individual projects were also worked on with Christmas coming soon. We were joined by a couple of husbands and new friends. As usual, we had a great pot luck lunch and wonderful fellowship. There are no bosses, no dumb craft questions, training available, much support, wonderful people to spend time with, and of course the lunch is YUMMY! If you want help with something or an idea of how to spend a Saturday, please consider joining us at the next craft day on January 14. Shelly and Brenda Thank You The members of Grace want to thank our fellow member for thread crocheting a new angel to sit on our organ for the Christmas season. The angel is so beautiful and receives many compliments. Page 7