| Come worship with us at 9:30. Join us in person or or watch our livestream Sunday morning on our YouTube channel , or view the service on the YouTube channel on Sunday, July 21. Pastor Heidi Williams will be preaching on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56. Here is a devotion from God Pause: This week’s readings emphasize listening carefully for God, who calls us to speak God’s messages boldly and lovingly. Today, we read that Amos spoke God’s prophetic message. But he resisted the label of “prophet.” He said, “I am no prophet . . . I am a herdsman” (v. 14). Like Amos, some of us may say, “I am no prophet. I am a [fill in the blank].” We might ask God, “Who? Me? You want me to prophesy?!” However, just as God told Amos, “Go prophesy to my people” (v. 15), God calls each of us to share prophecies with our neighbors. Although “prophesy” can seem like a daunting word, it simply means to communicate messages of warning or hope about future events. We certainly can proclaim the message that everyone—all of us—will receive abundant grace when we seek God’s forgiveness. That’s a life-changing prophecy we should share! Upcoming Worship Helpers July 21, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Corrie Huizinga and Naomi Bradbury Reader: Dick Anderson Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Cheryl Young Musician: Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Wayne Martens Communion Server: Jason and Nicole Darling Communion Bread: Cheryl Bales Acolytes/ Crucifer: Sunday Bible Study: Bible Study will meet at 11:00 a.m. following morning worship in the front most classroom near the church office. During the class, we invite questions, comments, and connections, as we expand upon the readings from the worship service. Larger Bulletins & Kids Bags: The ushers will have large print bulletins available. St. Paul has kids’ bags to engage your child during church. They are hanging on hooks by the entry doors or see the ushers. |
Part-Time Musician. St Paul is looking for a part-time musician to provide accompaniment for worship services. This would require playing for church service probably once a month on the piano or guitar, if you are interested, please contact Pastor Heidi or Beth Sunds.
St. Paul to Host Pork Belly Ventures during Ragbrai. In a joint effort with our neighbor St. Joseph Catholic Church, we will be hosting the Pork Belly Ventures (PBV) Ragbrai group of about 1500 riders and crew members. Both churches will house overnight sleepers, have campers on the grounds, and serve a pasta dinner. PBV is highly experienced in all things Ragbrai; they are self-sufficient with their own portable toilets and showers and pitch in at the host sites. We need your help with hosting the sleepers and preparing and serving the meal. See Sign-Up Genius and the ushers table for clipboards for how you can help. Questions may be directed to Jacque Mohs and Ann Bartelt. Sign-up Genius link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B48AFAF22A6FF2-50177560-ragbrai
Landscaping project. The new flower plantings are doing well and blooming. Brooke and I are watering 2x a week. Genelle and I have deadheaded the existing 10 rose bushes twice and I have trimmed shrubs lightly and removed barrels of weeds, grasses and overgrown plants in the front beds and sprayed gallons of weed and grass control. This Fall we will be planting 2 new ornamental trees and installing bulbs and plants for spring flowers. We are asking for help in reimagining the front beds to add some new perennials for color to enhance what we already have in place. Rich Thompson.
Not an official St. Paul member yet, but want to be? We would love you to have you join the St. Paul family. Please contact Nicole Darling at 50273@gmail.com with details on how and when this can happen.
Pastoral care. Please feel free to contact our new Pastor, Heidi Williams, with any pastor cares you need. Her cell number is 515-450-0490
Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp Sign-up. Riverside’s many different summer camps are open from March to June. Make sure to sign up soon because spots go fast! Sign-up at RIVERSIDELBC.ORG. The Trust Fund is covering all St. Paul camper’s fee for Riverside Bible Camp. Riverside LBC provided a code to discount the cost and then bills the Trust Fund after registration closes. The code is: 24SPL. We hope your kid(s) will enjoy some quality time this summer, embracing the beauty of God’s creation while fellowshipping with their friends and other campers from across Iowa. This year’s theme is “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” For more information contact Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp, 3001 Riverside Rd, Story City, IA 50248. 1-515-733-5271 or 1-800-372-7748.
| Greenfield Community Support. There are several ways to support disaster relief for the community of Greenfield. Cash donations may be made to the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation https://www.greenfieldiafoundation.org/ or Lutheran Disaster Response: https://community.elca.org/lutherandisasterresponse. Also, gift cards to Fareway, Dollar General, and Caseys are welcome. Physical goods are not needed at this time. Please see Kim Patience for more about the gift cards. You may also contact Matt Holliday, St. Paul member, who is working closely with the County Emergency Manager to coordinate relief efforts for Greenfield. Matt says, “At this time, the greatest need is for volunteers to assist with various relief activities. We encourage everyone, regardless of age or ability, to consider lending a hand. Detailed instructions on how and where to volunteer can be found on the Madison County IA Facebook page.” Matt can be reached at 515.739.0014. For direct information from the Greenfield community, also go to the Adair & Guthrie County EMA Facebook page. Transportation Ministry. Transportation ministry is providing rides home mainly for outpatient surgery patients who cannot secure another way home. There is a clipboard in the back of the church if you would like to add your name to the volunteers. The need is occasional but so much appreciated. Questions? Contact Chris Madison (515-468-0051) Women Infants and Children Services. WIC will be using St. Paul Church to support local families beginning Thursday, January 25. This Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk. We welcome these services to our fellowship hall every second and fourth Thursday of the month, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Matthew 25: Ministries – Pill Bottle Donations. Matthew 25: Ministries is an international relief organization that supports medical missions. We can be a part of this by donating empty plastic pill bottles. All sizes, with plastic lids, are accepted. Please remove all outside labels. See the flyer at the church; the donation box is located near the mailboxes. Contact Kim Patience with any questions: kimpatience62@gmail.com Matura Food Pantry: Our offering to the Matura Food Pantry is blessed the first Sunday of each month. Help us fill the shopping cart will non-perishable food, diapers, and even pet food. Checks made out to Matura Madison County or cash are also accepted. St Paul Trust Fund. The St. Paul Trust Fund was established in 1986 to provide Mission work outside the operational budget of the church. It supports needs locally, nationally and internationally on items such as supplying animals and tools overseas, supporting kids playgrounds to supporting youth summer camps. If you have questions, contact chairman Jim Nelson at jim@nelson.dev Furniture Ministry: St. Paul collects and gives home goods, furniture, and appliances to those in need. Contact Lisa Vossekuil (920-979-0304 or levossekuil@gmail.com) about any donations. Monetary gifts are also appreciated for our storage units. The Furniture Ministry needs able bodies to help with picking up and delivering furniture on a Saturday morning (usually 9;00 – 10:00 a.m.). Willing workers should contact Lisa (levossekuil@gmail.com) or jim@nelson.dev. Pool of Siloam: Pool of Siloam is St. Paul’s local benevolence program for Madison County residents that provides monetary support for those in need of such things as gas money or car repair, rent or mortgage assistance, and utility bills. In partnership with local agencies (CRISP, Matura, and Crisis Intervention), we annually serve over 100 individuals, including children. All giving to the Pool of Siloam is matched by an anonymous donor. Offerings to this program can be indicated on your giving envelope or online giving form. LifeServe Blood Drive: St. Paul hosts the community LifeServe Blood Drive every fourth Tuesday of the month. We are known for our home-baked goods and appreciate your donations of cookies and bars. Please bring them to the church by noon the day of the drive July 29, 2024 is the next scheduled blood drive. Call for Cookies. Cookies are always needed for Sunday morning services and the monthly blood drive. They can be store bought or home-made and can be dropped off at anytime. Jim asks that the cookies for the monthly blood drive be home-made. |
| Bible Study on First and Third Tuesday of the month at 9:00am. We will be starting a new study in March. Everyone is welcome to come to this study at the quilting room / large classroom at the church. If you are interested, please contact Linda Darling at 515-468-1131 or email ldarling1950@gmail.com Free Sunshine! If you would like to help mow the church lawn this season starting next week, and get your dose of Vitamin D, please use Sign Up Genius to sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/ Thank you! Pictorial Directory: The Church Directory is in! Please contact Cheryl Young at 515-770-5806 or the church office if you have signed up to purchase any. The cost is $5.00 per booklet. If you did not sign up, we do have extras available at $5.00 a copy. You may get one at worship service or contact the office by email office@stpaullutheranchurch.net, phone 515-462-4270 or stopping in. Also an updated picture directory is now online on the church website. To access names and contact information from our online directory Servant Keeper, see Lisa Vossekuil or contact her at finances@stpaullutheranchurch.net Are you a new member or need to update your information? Please take a few minutes to complete the online form or pick up a paper copy at the usher table and turn it into the office. Call Committee Activity. Bishop Current’s office has provided us with an easy to follow four step process for use by call committees. The four steps are: 1 Leave-taking – Saying goodbye 2 Preparation – Formation of the call committee, Workshops and Ministry Site Profile. 3 Discernment – Identifying potential candidates, Interviewing candidates, Council recommendation and Call. 4 Walking Together – Installation, Check in at 3-6-12-18 months, One year review The Call Committee has completed step two and is currently in a season of discernment as we interview candidates. This season may last a few months or longer. In order to protect the confidentiality of candidates, no specific information can be shared about who is being interviewed or when the interviews are planned. However, once the Call Committee decides on a primary candidate that name is submitted to the Congregational Council, who then makes preparations for a Congregational Meeting. A two-thirds vote of the congregation calls a pastor. The Call Committee invites you to pray with us. Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, you have given us grace to make our common prayer to you. Direct us Lord God, in this time of transition as we join in one prayer together. Grant to us in this time of searching, courage, patience, and vision and use us , we pray, as you will, but always to your glory and the welfare of your people. Guide our decisions as we do the work of calling a pastor. May we receive a faithful servant who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries. Through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Amen Prayer Chain: St. Paul has a group dedicated to the power of prayer. If you have a prayer request for the Prayer Chain, please share it with Jim Nelson (515-468-1675) jim@nelson.dev or Ann Bartelt annbartelt0204@gmail.com or the church office. St. Paul Choir. The Choir is always looking for new members. Choir practice is held Wednesday evenings at 7:10 pm during the months of September-May and sing a couple times each month during these times at Sunday morning service. Everyone is welcome to spread the good news through our music ministry. Questions may be directed to Sue Hansen, choir director, 515-468-0137. Got Time? Got Talent? We Want You! We have a variety of opportunities available where you can showcase an existing talent or pursue an interest you have. Do you have finance or organizational skills, like to show your concern for others, can teach others, or know your way around building maintenance? All of these skills can be put to use on various St. Paul committees that need our time and talent. So, if you want to give back to our church, please contact the office and we’ll help find a way you can make a difference! Upcoming Worship Helpers July 28, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Needed Reader: Amanda Turnquist Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Needed Musician: Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Dean Bartelt Communion Server: Needed Communion Bread: Needed Acolytes/ Crucifer: Worship Service Helpers/Volunteers Needed! Serving as a worship leader and helper is an excellent way to become better acquainted with our congregation. All are invited to serve in a variety of capacities: usher, reader, communion server, etc. Any introduction or training you may want for the positions is offered by Debi Martens debi.martens21@gmail.com 3 Easy ways to sign up: Use SignUpGenius! It’s easy to access at this link and will even send you a reminder of your commitment. Volunteer Kiosk: We have clipboards on the kiosks in the entryway for you to sign. Call the Church office at 515-462-4270. |
Church office phone: (515) 462-4270
Church office email: Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Heidi Williams: (515) 450-0490