Friday, April 28 Announcements

Come worship with us at 9:30Join us in person or or watch our livestream Sunday morning on our YouTube channel , or view the service on the YouTube channel on Monday. Pastor Dan Kuckuck will be preaching on John 10:1-10  Here is a devotion from God Pause:  Obedience to the truth is liberation from fear. The fear of being unworthy of God’s love can either push people to work to exhaustion to prove they are worthy of salvation or push people away from God because they feel it is impossible to please God. The truth liberates us from that fear, for anyone who repents and is obedient to God’s call to love one another deeply from the heart has already received the gift of grace, the forgiveness and love of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived the life of a true human being, suffered the death of a criminal, and rose from the dead to destroy death. Those who believe in the risen Christ may rejoice in the gift of grace and—as Martin Luther wrote in the Small Catechism—confidently live and serve God in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

Upcoming Worship Helpers April 30, 9:30 am
 
Greeters/ Ushers: Dean and Ann Bartelt
Reader: Dick Anderson
Sound/ Screen/ Streaming:  Lisa Vossekuil
Videographer: Cheryl Young
Musician: Georgine Bellamy
Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Steve Dick
Communion Bread: Kim Patience
Communion Server: John and Kim Patience
Acolytes: Ellie Michelson and Logan Moeller

Pastor Dan Kuckuck. will be preaching on April 30th.  Rev. Dan Kuckuck is a pastor in The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and has served an assistant to Bishop Amy Current in the Southeastern Iowa Synod since 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (M.Div.), with a graduate certificate in Spiritual Direction from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN. Pastor Kuckuck manages the areas of mobility and call process, rostered minister leadership, wellness, and support, provide leadership and support for synod youth ministries, and clergy coaching. As Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Kuckuck will also be visiting and accompanying congregations of the Southeastern Iowa synod. Prior to serving in the Office of the Bishop, Kuckuck served as pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Urbandale, Iowa since 2013 and as a pastor in residency at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA. He has also served on many synod committees and as a synod dean. He is a trained ELCA Coach and has also served as a consultant with LEAD, a coaching and consulting ministry. Dan has also served congregations in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Chicago, Illinois. Pastor Kuckuck is married to Minda Kuckuck, a communications professional in Des Moines. They have two children, Olivia and Zoe, a 90-lb Labrador named Luna, and a 16-year-old Forest Cat named Ditto. Pastor Kuckuck enjoys cooking for others, baking bread, running absurdly long distances, watching sci-fi television shows and movies, traveling, and hanging out with his family in the backyard on sunny days

Sunday Bible Study:  
Bible Study will meet at 10:45 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.


Graduate Recognition. Join us Sunday, May 7, to honor our graduates and bless them with quilts made by our Comforter Quilters. Graduates are Elise Aasen, Bailey Acton, Kael Blanchard, Addie Burkett, Avary Darling, Sean Dole, Halle Hoefing, Elise Petsche, Megan Riley, and James Snow. 

Mailboxes.  Members who previously did not have a mailbox, there is now one with your name on it! The names are not in exact alphabetical order, but your box should be in close vicinity to where your name would fall. Please see Lisa Vossekuil or Cheryl Young if you cannot find yours or if we inadvertently missed you. (The mailboxes will be totally redone after we have the Servant Keeper sign-ups)

Upcoming Book Study.  Dynamics For Living by Charles Fillmore. People everywhere on earth are now realizing as never before that the well-being of this world rests with its inhabitants. It is no longer a religious dogma or a philosophical theory that the destiny of the race is in the hands of man. Our Bible plainly teaches that God implanted in man executive ability to carry out all the creative plans of the Great Architect. The great and most important issue before the people today is the development of man’s spiritual mind and through it, unity with God. Religion and all that it implies in prayer and recognition of God in idea and manifestation is the one and only way out of the chaos in which we find ourselves. We must therefore begin at once to develop this unity with the Father mind by incorporating divine ideas into all that we think and speak. You can sign-up on the sheet and take a book. Both are located on the Kiosk on Sunday’s and on the table in the entry way during the week. Please contact Darrell Vossekuil with questions: (920) 295-2036 or darrellvossekuil@gmail.com

Pastoring St. Paul – Next Steps. Pastor Kathleen’s last Sunday is April 23. We are extremely grateful for her time with us. We have scheduled pastors for pulpit supply in May, June, and July as we await our next interim pastor. They are pastors who have been here before and that we trust in our relationships with each other and with God.

Pastoral care has also been established for your needs. Please contact Traci, office manager, at 515-462-4270, or Ann Bartelt, council president at 515-418-3565, should you need support from a pastor.  Pastor Jodi Hinrichs of Peace Lutheran in Earlham and Pastor Tania Schramm of Grace Lutheran in Adel will be our primary contacts through May.  Pastor Kathleen will also be available starting in June.
 
Church Directory Sign Up May 7. St. Paul has an online membership directory called Servant Keeper. It is a valuable tool for connecting with each other and is secure to our constituents. It is password protected for each individual and for access to the complete directory. The directory information of families and individuals is only what you provide and allow to be seen. We will be available to sign you up for an account Sunday, May 7, from 8:30-9:15 and 10:45-11:30. Come early, stay after worship, grab some coffee and sign up!

Member Photo Directory. St. Paul’s family photo directory is now posted on our website, stpaullutheranchurch.net. Find it under the About tab and enjoy! We will be able to add photos as they become available. If you are new to St. Paul or missed including your photo, please contact Cheryl Young or the church office. 

VBS. Vacation Bible School will be held July 10-13 for children entering grades 1-6 in the 2023-2024 school year. This year’s theme is Uncovering the truth of who God is and who we are.  Hours are 9:00 to 2:00; snacks and lunch will be provided. Please register online on our website or download the registration form. Children from the community are welcome! Helpers with the children and in the kitchen are needed. Please contact Amanda Turnquist, coordinator, anturnquist_316@hotmail.com or 319-491-4052.

Call Committee Activity.  The Call Committee began our work in January of this year. Since then we have met 8 times and logged over 37 hours in online training. We have learned about the different parts of the work needed to complete the Call Process. In addition to doing research, we created several surveys and hosted a World Cafe, collecting lots of helpful information from the members of St Paul about what’s most important to you. We’re happy to tell you we are nearly finished writing the Ministry Site Profile (MSP), a fourteen page document that the Bishop’s Office requires from congregation’s in transition.  The next step in this process, after we submit the MSP, is waiting. It might be 2 months, 3 months or more before we receive names of candidates from the Bishop’s representative. Once those names are received we will invite candidates for an interview. The names of the candidates and the interviews are confidential.  The last step in our work is to recommend a candidate for call to the Congregational Council. The Call Committee’s responsibilities end with the installation of the new pastor. Please remember to pray for the Congregational Council and the Call Committee as we do the work of discernment during this time of transition.


Adult Faith Fellowship presents:  The Prayer Course An eight week journey Through the Lord’s Prayer.  Prayercourse.org This program will start on Sunday, March 5th 2023 from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. During this season of transition at St Paul,  Strengthening our ability to pray as individuals And joining our hearts together in prayer as a congregation  Will be important now and also in the days ahead.  Classes will start in the sanctuary with a video, followed by discussion and snacks in the Fellowship Hall.  Class dates are:  April 23, 30.  All are welcome! 

Lutheran Study Bibles.  There are extra Lutheran Study Bibles for sale at $36.00 each if anyone is interested in purchasing one.

Youth Committee: The newly formed Luther League, Grades 5th through 12th, will have opportunities to grow together as a group, have some fun, and share memories made together. Suggestions and questions may be addressed to Clarice Blanchard and Ted Leonard. Please watch for future youth events.

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’s Trust Fund: The Trust Fund committee, elected by the congregation, supports mission projects ranging from national and international disaster relief, congregants’ mission trips, and camping scholarships for youth and children. Please contact Chair Dick Anderson with any questions or suggestions for mission support at REAND0508@aol.com

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 N.(jnelson91@q.com)  to let them know availability.   

Pool of Siloam: Pool of Siloam is St. Paul’s local benevolence program 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. May 30, 2023 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.
Darvin Olson Services. Our sympathies to the family of Darvin Olson, who passed away April 21, 2023. Visitation will be held Monday, May 8, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. The memorial service will begin at 11:30 am. followed by a graveside service at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel. 

35th Annual Women’s Convention and Gathering Southeastern Iowa Women of the ELCA.  Convention and Gathering will be held on June 9 and 10th, 2023 at Stoney Creek Hotel Des Moines – Johnston. Make your reservations by calling (515) 334-9000.  Group code for reservation is 2306LUTHERAN.  Rate is $130 per night. Final date to make reservations under the block rate is Tuesday, May 9, 2023.   Registration deadline is Friday, May 19, 2023.  Registration fees are $80 for 2 days or $65 for 1 day.  
There is a printable version on the website at 2023SWORegistration.jpg (seiasynod.org)

Synod Revival.  A one-day event presented by the Southeaster Iowa Synod, ELCA designed to nourish and connect people to each other and to reimagine our relationships in and with the church. This event is free of charge and intended to be a joyful fun gathering for all ages full of inspiration, worship, and prayer. Bring your friends, neighbors, family, or anyone and watch what God does!  Saturday, may 20th. Grand View University, Des Moines 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.  Learn more at synodrevival.org   

St. Paul Choir. The choir has begun its new season with rehearsals at 7:10pm Wednesday evenings.  We are always looking for new members, and all singers are welcome.  We hope to see you there!

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 Twila Seibert (515-462-1505) or Ann Bartelt (annbartelt0204@gmail.com) or the church office.  

Member Information Update. 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 in to the office.

Free Sunshine! If you would like to help mow the church lawn this season, and get your dose of Vitamin D, please use Sign Up Genius to sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/ Thank you!

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, give Jacque a call at 515-468-1899, and she’ll help find a way you can make a difference!   
 
Upcoming Worship Helpers May 7, 9:30 am
 
Greeters/ Ushers: Needed
Reader: Amanda Turnquist
Sound/ Screen/ Streaming:  Wayne Martens
Videographer: Jacque Mohs
Musician: Clarice Blanchard
Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Wayne Martens
Communion Bread: Debi Martens
Communion Server: Amanda Turnquist and Debi Martens
Acolytes: Blake Acton

Worship Service Helpers/Volunteers Needed! 
 If you are able and willing, we need your help in returning our 9:30 service to “normalcy.”  It’s important that all of the positions be filled. Worship team members Debi Martens is available for any “training” you may want.
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 Kathleen Wohlers: : (608) 387-5015