March 2010
St. Paul’s Annual Congregational Meeting and Carry-In Lunch
Our annual congregational meeting and election of council members will take place after worship on Sunday, March 14th. We’ll begin with a carry-in lunch. Council members will bring meat dishes, and others are asked to bring a side dish and/or dessert. The meeting will follow the meal. Please plan to be with us. Since we are having a meal, there will be no Coffee and Conversation during March.
Dear Friends,
It was another inspiring and exhausting and renewing and fulfilling weekend for me. I’m talking, of course, about the annual Synod Youth Gathering at Rend Lake. Eight youth from our group joined about 130 others and, once again, the experience was wonderful.
Over the years, a few of you have attended these gatherings with our youth, and have first hand experience with what happens there. And parents probably get a more detailed account of our weekends from their daughter/son. But, I suspect, that the rest of you have a very limited picture of what we do at these gatherings.
Each weekend gathering has a specific theme. Texting Luke 4:1-14 “It is written” was the theme for the gathering these past two days at Rend Lake. So what we were studying and discussing this weekend was the same gospel lesson that all of you heard in church on the 21st. I liked that connection. The gathering weekends are built on a framework of large group gatherings, small group sessions, community building activities, and workshops.
Within that framework this past weekend, our youth listened to six sermons, participated in five small group Bible studies, took part in two workshops and three sessions of team building activities, sang a countless number of songs with enthusiasm, had a dance / movie on Saturday night, and worshipped together on Sunday morning, as we shared the body and blood of our Lord.
I am very proud of our youth. And I especially see it at these weekend gatherings. They are active and involved. They participate willingly in all the events. They make lots of new friends from other churches in our synod. They share of themselves, and they grow in their relationships with others and in their relationship with God.
I wish there was a way that each and every one of you could participate in the excitement and energy of a youth gathering weekend. And I am so glad that you support our youth so that they can learn and grow in their faith as they experience the joy of their connection to one another and to God. Thank you, Pastor Ken
The Sign of Jonah
Special Mid-Week Lenten Worship
“The Sign of Jonah” began on Ash Wednesday and continues through March 24th. Please join us as we follow Jonah on his journey . . . and Jesus on his way to the cross.
We gather each Wednesday evening from 7:00 – 7:30 pm to focus our thoughts and our hearts on our preparation for the Holiest Week of the year. Please join us on Wednesday evenings for Soup and Sandwich at 6:00 and for worship at 7:00 – and bring your family.
HERE I STEP / LENTEN WALK
Perhaps you didn't know???? This is the fifth year for this walking campaign. You are invited to live prayerfully through this Lenten Season and increase your physical activity. Walking two miles a day during the 40 days of Lent will allow you to journey the distance (80 miles) from Jesus' hometown of Nazareth to Jerusalem. All you need is your own "go power" and a pedometer.
Recording your miles may be helpful to completing this journey. Whether walking, running, dancing, biking or exercising on a treadmill, note your progress on the activity log that will be provided. At the end lent the Activity, Logs will be collected to see who covered the most miles. Not much effort to accomplish so much.
On Monday mornings, when the temperature is above 32 and not raining, anyone interested will meet at St. Paul's for a group walk at 9:00 a.m. We will walk two miles by the time we return to church. All other days you exercise on your own, or with luck you might have a partner to exercise with you. See Doris Enochs for additional information and to get an Activity Log. AND don't forget to get a pedometer to measure your journey
“Genesis”
at the Monday Night Adult Discussion Group
The first book of the Bible is the current focus of our Monday Night Adult Discussion Group. We’ve only just begun so you can still get in on the “ground floor” of our discussion. We gather every Monday evening in the Fireside Room at church from 7 – 8:30. We hope you will join us.
This is a wonderful way to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture. So, open the Book of Faith with us and join the conversation. If you have any questions, please talk to Pastor Ken.
Holy Week Worship
March 28th ... Palm/Passion Sunday
Worship with Palm Procession
April 1st ... Maundy Thursday
Worship with Holy Communion 7:00 pm
April 2nd ... Good Friday Worship
Community Service at 12:15 pm at St. Paul's
Tenebrae Service of readings and meditation at 7:30 pm
April 4th ... Easter Celebration
Worship with Holy Communion 10:15 am
Community Services
On Good Friday and Easter
The community Good Friday Service will be held here at St. Paul’s this year on April 2nd beginning at 12:15.
The community Easter Sunrise Service will be celebrated at Hillsboro Presbyterian Church at 7 am on Easter morning, April 4th. The Easter Breakfast will follow the service.
Everyone is invited to join your friends and neighbors as we worship together on these two very important occasions.
Baobab Blast:
God’s Great Get-Together!
2010 Vacation Bible School
Monday – Friday . . . June 14 – 18 . . . 9:00 to 11:30 am
ages 4 through 5th grade completed
If you are willing to volunteer, in any way, to be a part of a rich and delightful week, contact Marcia Sandlin. Thanks
Applying Bible Principles
God’s Word has more to say about money and material possessions than about heaven and hell combined. Obviously, how we, as his children, handle what God has entrusted to us is a very important subject to him.
Money is also the only subject about which God says, in essence, “Prove Me. Trust Me. Try Me.” He does not issue that challenge concerning any other aspect of our Christian walk of faith. Not about prayer; not about sharing our faith with others; not even about salvation – just money.
God said to Malachi, the prophet, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test . . . see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”
Some promises in the Bible are unconditional in nature. They are going to be fulfilled, regardless of what we might or might not do. Others have been interpreted as “if . . . then” promises. If we will do our part, then we will know the fullness of God’s blessing. This passage from Malachi 3:10 is one of the latter. When we bring our tithes to God’s storehouse, then we know the blessings that God gives as he opens for us the windows of heaven and pours out such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
The question is whether we really believe God when he makes a promise like this. If we do, we will take him at his word. We will accept his challenge and “test” him by giving to him as he directs. And, as we do that by faith, then we are confident that God will meet that “test” by providing all we need – and more.
Souper Bowl Results
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s “SouperBowl” collection. This year, donations were given according to which team you thought would win the game. The Saints received $151, while the Colts collected $72. The grand total, $223.38, will be used to buy food for the local Hillsboro food pantries.
Beyond Our Walls
In January . . .
January’s donations were given to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. During these tough economic times, LSSI has been hard hit by the lack of timely payment for the services they provide for the state of Illinois, and our donations are greatly appreciated.
In February . . .
The World Hunger Appeal and a food drive for our local food pantries were the recipients of our donations in the month of February.
In March . . .
In March, donations given to Beyond our Walls will be directed to the local Senior Citizens Center in Taylor Springs to support them in the services that they provide.
Old Church Basement Floor Covering
Most of the snap-together tile covering for the church basement floor was installed last March, but we still need to finish installing flooring in one storage room and in the side basement entry area, and we need your help.
Please mark Saturday, March 6th on your calendar and plan to be with us to help. We’ll start about 8:30 am and hope to be finished by noon or shortly thereafter. We need as many people as possible to make the job go faster. If enough people show up to help, we also have a few other jobs we need to complete. So mark the date today. Or, better yet, talk with our property chair, Dave Rahe, and tell him you would like to help. Thanks!
The Promise
Contemporary Christian Music Ministry presents its 19th Annual Production of “The Promise” at Zion Lutheran Church, 1301 North State Street, in Litchfield. Performances for this musical drama based on the life of Jesus will be March 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:00 pm; and March 14 and 21 at 2:00 pm. Admission is free, however, tickets are required. To obtain tickets visit www.thepromiselitchfield.com or call 324-6133. Seating is open on a first come first served basis, and doors open 45 minutes before the performance.
Hymns You Request
We appreciate those who continue to share their requests for hymns that they would like to sing. During the second half of January, and February, we sang the following requested hymns . . .
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Beautiful Savior
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
God Is Here
Here I Am Lord
Sympathy is Extended
Our prayers and sympathy to the family of Aleen Muse who passed away on January 23rd. She will be missed.
Also, our sympathy and prayers to the family of Jessie Hewitt and Gladys Hewitt on their passing on February 4th. Jessie was a long time member of St. Paul’s and a very lovely lady who will be missed by many. Gladys attended St. Paul’s with Jessie at times and will also be missed by her friends and family.
We also extend our sympathy to the family of Virginia Roos who passed away on February 10th. She had been a member of St. Paul’s in past years and still had many friends in Hillsboro. There will be a memorial service at St. Paul’s for Virginia on Saturday, March 20th at 2 p.m. with a light lunch following.
The Lord is mindful of our need for comfort and has promised, “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” St. John 14:18.
Letters of Thanks to St. Paul’s
Dear friends,
We want to than all the ladies who prepared and served the delicious food for Jerry’s funeral dinner. It was greatly appreciated.
The Jerry Darda family
Thank you so much for allowing us room for our quarterly meetings. You are appreciated.
Sincerely, Nyla Graham for Fayco Enterprises
Dear Gerry & All of the Committee:
Thank you to all who cooked and served the delicious funeral dinner for the Aleen Muse family. Lutheran ladies are the best cooks!
Sincerely, Sandra Lanter
A thank you card was also received from the family of Jessie Hewitt for the funeral dinner that was served.
Gerry Rhoades wishes to thank everyone who helped in any way with the funeral dinners for Aleen Muse and Jessie Hewitt. These dinners are important to the families and could not take place without your help.
Other Announcements & Notices
Don’t forget to sign up to bring food to our Soup & Sandwich suppers during Lent. We need more volunteers. Thanks for your help. Also, don’t forget to attend our suppers. We begin serving at 6 p.m. every Wednesday before each Lenten service.
Mark your calendars for our annual spaghetti supper which will be held on Friday, April 9th. We will need lots of help for our lunchtime carry-outs and deliveries and for our evening meal. You can find a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in March. We need everyone to participate! We will in fact need more help this year because of the annual Roubaix that will be held the next day. We will no doubt have more people eating on Friday evening and so we will need more cakes and more workers. Please, please help.
Our sign up lists for lectors & altar guild remain on the bulletin board. Please help when you are able.
There are three dates left for altar flowers for 2010. They are July 25, September 5 & December 19. The cost is $15.00 each. Please call the church office to reserve one of these dates.
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