Good morning. Here are the Friday announcements!
1. The Council will be discussing returning to in-person worship in our sanctuary on Monday, February 15. To help inform the Council of our desires, please take a moment to fill out the survey in the below link:
https://groupdynamic.wufoo.com/forms/x1x9lmnv1jawake/
Please submit your response by Monday, February 15th, Noon.
2. 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 Ioan will be delivering a message based on John 15:9-17. Below is a devotion based on that Scripture.
Mention John 15 and we immediately think of us as sheep and Jesus as shepherd. But we are beyond that in these verses. Here we are Jesus’ friends – not even servants, certainly more responsible creatures than sheep. Sheep may jump over a low barrier if their predecessor does so. They may jump even if the barrier has been removed. Sheep are not wise or responsible enough to keep commandments. But we can. We can even ponder what it must have been like to lay down one’s life for our friends as Jesus did for us. We have more than enough to try to digest from all that God has revealed to us via his Son. And beyond all this, we can experience the great joy which comes of being loved by God. How different this is from what the rest of the world knows about God and Jesus and life. – Wendell Frerichs
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. At the end of this Valentine’s Sunday School there are two craft making videos on how to make some fun valentines. The kids will need colored paper, scissors and glue.
5. Sunday is the last day for Souper Bowl of Caring! There’s still time to celebrate the Souper Bowl of Caring! This is part of a nation-wide drive begun more than 20 years ago by a youth group. Here’s how you can help:
- Bring canned goods and non-perishable grocery items to the church and put in the grocery cart in the entryway.
- Write a check made out to Matura and place in the basket in the grocery cart in the entryway.
- Write a check made out to ELCA Hunger Fund and place in the pot in the grocery cart in the entryway or in the lockbox by the office door. Please do not make checks out to St. Paul or Twila Seibert.
Last year 565 grocery items and $130 cash was taken to Matura. $1,966 was sent to ELCA Hunger Fund. Let’s see if we can beat those numbers this year! Thank you!
6. 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. More information will be forthcoming.
7. Ash Wednesday – ST PAUL’S LENTEN WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: St. Paul members and friends will begin our Lenten journey on Wednesday, February 17. The Lenten Ash Wednesday service will be available to watch that Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. on St Paul’s YouTube channel, and accessed through our website: stpaullutheranchurch.net . Our Ash Wednesday service continues a tradition of partnership with First United Presbyterian Church of Winterset. Pastor Ioan Ittu will provide the message and Rev. Randal K. Lubbers will lead the liturgy. This virtual service will be accompanied by the opportunity for in-person traditional Imposition of Ashes in a drive-thru style. Pastor Ioan Ittu will greet you at the church entry as you drive through the church‘s circle drive at 7:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., or 5:30 p.m. the 17th. Please wear a mask.
8. Pool of Siloam – The needs are great this time of year. Please consider giving to this important ministry and remember that your financial gift is doubled!
9.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.
10. Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp: Early registration is now happening at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp. Register your child before Feb 15th to get the camp’s discounted rate. Please check out their week long Youth Camp, Ranch Camp & Adventure Camp. Through the generosity of the St. Paul Trust Fund we are offering a $300 campership per child for St. Paul families attending a week long camp at Riverside. It’s been a tough year, and the Trust Fund wants our kids to look forward to a joyful Summer. At the end of the registration process when you get to the payment section enter “SPW21” as your discount code and the $300 will be automatically applied in addition to the deposit families will also need to provide. If the deposit or remaining camp costs would still prevent your child from going to camp, please talk to the camp or Pastor Ioan and we will work something out so finances aren’t the preventing factor. If you have a little one who wants to go to ½ week for littler campers and need a discount, please talk to Pastor Ioan and we can also make something happen. Please feel free to call the camp with any questions you may have about which camp is right for your kid, COVID or financial matters.
https://www.riversidelbc.org/youth-camp
https://www.riversidelbc.org/ranch-camp
https://www.riversidelbc.org/adventure-camp
Church office phone: 515-462-4270
Church office email: Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Ioan Ittu: 515-419-5224
Pastor Ioan email: Pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net