Friday, February 19 Announcements: In-House Worship Begins February 28, Lenten opportunities, Blood Drive & More!

Good morning. Here are the Friday announcements!

1. Please join us as we worship virtually this week. A prerecorded worship will be available on our YouTube channel this Sunday by 8:00 a.m. Pastor Ioanwill be delivering a message based on Genesis 9:8-17. Below is a devotion based on that Scripture: 

The great flood recorded in the Old Testament (Genesis 9) is an account of God’s judgment upon worldwide godlessness and evil of every kind. God’s love, however, is extended to Noah and his family when He instructed them to build a boat large enough to house Noah’s family and a host of animals. Then God promised never again to blanket the earth with such devastation and offered the rainbow as a sign of His resolve.

There is another sign that assures us even more of God’s love and grace. It is the sign of the cross, where in Christ we are made new people and become inheritors of eternal life. This theme of salvation runs through the entire Bible and it is a source of joy and peace to all believers. – Willard Lund


2. We are excited to announce that we will be offering the choice of gathering in person again. beginning February 28 at  9:30 am. Current 14-day Madison County COVID positivity rates have trended down for several weeks and are currently at 8% (2/17/21).  Please understand that your Council does not make this choice lightly and please understand that worshiping in person IS a choice. If you do not feel safe or if you are showing any signs of illness, please continue to worship online. If you do feel like you can come in person, please be understanding of the need to continue to wear masks and social distance. There are a wide range of feelings, even in our own congregation about returning to in-person worship. Please be understanding and loving with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s overflow with Grace for one another!

3. Virtual Sunday Bible Study – We gather virtually through Zoom at 9:15 am. We discuss the Scripture passage that the sermon for that Sunday focused on. In the sermon you hear one particular interpretation. In Bible Study we will use questions to approach the passage in a discussion style. We welcome insights into Scripture passage that you’ve gleaned in you over the years and more immediate feelings and thoughts that came to you that day.  All are welcome to join in the discussion or listen.

To access Zoom on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. click the link below and enter the required Meeting ID number and the Passcode. Or call by phone the below number and then follow the prompts to dial the required Meeting ID number and the Passcode number.
 
Zoom Sunday Bible Study Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89973259796?pwd=ODNtTTlCZjd2ZHNyUHNRS1oyV0hYQT09
Meeting ID: 899 7325 9796
Passcode: 1120
 
Dial-In by Phone:
+1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 899 7325 9796
Passcode: 1120

4. Virtual Sunday School – We miss having the joy of our kids at church and we know families are under strain with navigating a Covid world as well.  We are offering kid-focused lessons to our Sunday prerecorded YouTube worship.  Directly following our regular worship, you can stay tuned or call the kids over and have a short time for worship dedicated to our preschool to early/middle elementary age kids. 

5. The St. Paul Annual Meeting for approving the 2021-22 budget and elections has been scheduled for Sunday, February 21st at 10:30 a.m.  The format of the meeting will be a hybrid, which means that those that can attend virtually on their computers or phones do so, but we will make an in-person option available also for those who don’t have online capabilities. Here is how to access Zoom/Dial in for the meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86950408413?pwd=UVdJY3RjbjEzSVdYVmNReDZjQ3l3dz09

Meeting ID: 869 5040 8413
Passcode: grace

One tap mobile: +13126266799,,86950408413#,,,,*276353# US (Chicago)

Dial In: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 869 5040 8413
Passcode: 276353

6. Lenten Opportunities – For the next five Wednesdays we will be exploring prayer and practical ways to engage prayer.  There will be an in-person option for folks at 10:30am in the sanctuary and virtual option on Zoom at 7pm. Here is how to access Zoom/Dial in:

Time: Feb 24, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every week on Wed, until Mar 24, 2021, 5 occurrence(s)
        Feb 24, 2021 07:00 PM
        Mar 3, 2021 07:00 PM
        Mar 10, 2021 07:00 PM
        Mar 17, 2021 07:00 PM
        Mar 24, 2021 07:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0vc-qgpj0tEtbeTNRyOMrnSMGEShOktbRY/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGhrD8pEtyTtxGFRpx5AI-gb_zxiCFaj7dfmSvLMTl8TxH4Bc9lF4F3P9PE

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243886782?pwd=eEhMcGJpTXpPRWIrSmhCbkhNa3dMdz09

Meeting ID: 892 4388 6782
Passcode: 1120
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,89243886782#,,,,*1120# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,89243886782#,,,,*1120# US (New York)

Dial by your location
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 892 4388 6782
Passcode: 1120
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kJxB3Ewcd

7. Blood Drive – Our next Blood Drive will be Tuesday, February 23 from 2-7 pm. We need canteen workers! Please call 1-800-287-4903 to schedule your appointment to donate at St. Paul!

8.Pastor Ioan is available for one-one-one conversation and in-home communion. Please feel free to reach out to him. pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net or 515-419-5224. 

Church office phone: 515-462-4270

Church office email: Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net

Pastor Ioan Ittu: 515-419-5224

Pastor Ioan email: Pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net