| Sunday, January 9– Epiphany of Our Lord Come worship with us at 9:30. Join us in person, or watch our livestream Sunday morning on our YouTube channel, or view the service on the YouTube channel on Monday. Supply pastor Rev. Tony Nester will be delivering the message based upon. For your devotions from God Pause: Hymn Reflection: ELW 311. When I was a child, hearing verses like these always disturbed me. I wondered what the chaff was and why Jesus would burn it with unquenchable fire. It fostered questions of who the wheat and the chaff were and how one would know how to recognize them. It seems we can spend significant time prejudging people as to whether they will be saved or not, when in reality the matter of salvation isn’t ours to judge but rather belongs to Jesus. If chaff is the waste husk of the grain, could it be possible that the fire burns the chaff off the grain so that all the grain may be saved? I continue to be challenged by these texts, but perhaps what I need most to take from this is John’s words of humility before Jesus and my need to be humble as well and simply focus on sharing Jesus’ message of forgiveness and salvation with others. Worship Helpers. Greeters/Ushers: Chuck & Bonnie Fenimore; Reader: Lily Burkett; Sound, Screen, & Streaming: Jacque Mohs; Videographer: Tim Mohs; Musician: Clarice Blanchard; Singer: Clarice Blanchard; Counters: Jen Acton and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Jacque Mohs; Communion Servers: Wayne and Debi Martens. Sunday Bible Study: Bible Study meets 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. Class will be held with a substitute leader. COVID Reminder: Masks are encouraged for all services and ministries at St. Paul. Please come, worship, and be fed! If you want to wear a mask to keep some distance between yourself and others at any service or ministry, for any reason, please do so with St. Paul’s full blessing. |
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Christmas break is the perfect time to begin a book, especially one that encourages us to wholehearted living. We have a limited number of books available for purchase ($11). See Brenda Hollingworth or Ann Bartelt or stop in the office to pick one up.
New Membership Class Jan. 30 & Feb. 6: St. Paul will be offering a membership class consisting of two 45 minute sessions, led by Pastor Ioan. The first session will be on Sunday, January 30,, directly after church, and the second will be the next Sunday, February 6, also directly following worship. Contact Pastor Ioan with your questions and to express your interest.
A commitment of membership is for those who wish to make a public promise of helping move God’s ministry forward at St. Paul through the giving of time, talent, or treasure. Our two-session membership class will include
Opportunities for growing closer to God & fellow St. Paul friends and families
The character and values of St. Paul as a community of Christians, and the vision for our continued ministry
Lutheranism & our ELCA Denomination.
ALL, members or not, are welcome at St. Paul and all that it offers. We are blessed by your presence, just as we hope you are blessed by your time with us.
Women’s Bible Study: Women’s Bible Study will begin in January at Cobblestone Inn & Suites. We will meet at 9:00 am on the first and third Tuesday mornings. We will be studying Psalm 23 The Shepard with me by Jennifer Rothschild published by Lefeway. You can order the study book online or the Christian book store Choices in Wes Des Moines can order for you. For more information, please contact Sheila Sheila Stewart at stewartlive@aol.com
Wednesday God Squad & Confirmation: God Squad & Confirmation Classes are on pause and will resume January 26.God Squad (4 yrs. to 6 grade) begins at 5:40 p.m. with a meal. Confirmation (7 & 8 grades) starts at 6 p.m. Children and youth are welcome to join at any time throughout the year. Please sign-up for God Squad through our website home page.
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.
Lion’s Bags to Benches. Winterset Lions are collecting and recycling plastic bags to earn benches to donate to the community. The goal is to collect in a six-month period 500 pounds of plastic film and bags. With that, the Lions will receive one bench to donate to the community Look for recycle bins at Ben Franklin Covered Bridge Realty, the Methodist Church, Sports Page, with more to come.
| Save the Date! Pastor Ioan’s Installation will be held January 23 at 9:30 service; ELCA synod representatives will be with us. A time of church gathering and fellowship will follow the service. Watch for more details to come. Cards of Thanks. Thank you for all the Christmas blessings you all have given us. We are especially grateful for the thoughtfulness to the kids with us. Your kindness, as always, goes above and beyond. – Deb & Pastor Ioan Thank you to the entire congregation for my Christmas gift. I am humbled to serve you and will donate the money to the furniture ministry. – Lisa Vossekuil Thank you to the entire congregation for your thoughtfulness of me during the Christmas season. I am extremely grateful for your generosity of the Christmas gift and am very appreciative of it. – Traci Davis Giving Envelopes. The 2022 giving envelopes are now available in your church mailbox. Should you desire a set, please contact the church office. Alternatively, you may give online by signing up on our church website. Pastor Ioan will be out of the office December 26-January 12. For pastoral emergencies through January 12, call the office or Pastors Kevin & Sue Blader (First Christian Church of Winterset) at 515-468-1941. Thank you to Rev. Sally Wilke and Rev. Tony Nester who will be leading worship while Pastor Ioan is away. Upcoming Worship Helpers Sunday, January 16, 9:30 am. Greeters/Ushers: needed; Reader: needed; Sound, Screen, & Streaming: Jacque Mohs; Videographer: needed; Musician: Georgine Bellamy; Singer: Needed; Counters: Steve Dick and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Jacque Mohs; Communion Servers: Karl and Ruthanne Korte. Choir: Please join St. Paul Choir rehearsals Wednesdays evenings at 7:10 pm. We sing about twice a month. We are excited to see current members and enthusiastically welcome any new members as we sing praises to the Lord! 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 and Pat Nelson are available for any “training” you may want. 3 Easy ways to sign up: 1. Use SignUpGenius! It’s easy to access at this link and will even send you a reminder of your commitment. 2. Volunteer Kiosk: We have clipboards on the kiosks in the entryway for you to sign. 3. Call the Church office at 515-462-4270. Ongoing Transportation Ministry: St. Paul’s transportation ministry helps families who have are in need of transportation to appointments. Our current recipients are Ronnie and Shirley Addy who need transportation to Ronnie’s kidney dialysis three days a week in south Des Moines at Fresenius Kidney Care, 6651 SW 9th Street. His appointments begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at approximately 2:30 p.m. He needs to be picked up no later than 9:40 at North Ward, 415 N. 2nd Street, Winterset, at the south door of the east building. Ronnie is unable to get into a high vehicle. Please contact Shirley with any questions 515-468-0121. Ronnie’s cell is 515-468-1982. Please use SignUpGenius to indicate when you are willing to drive Ronnie. Note you may sign up to take him, return him, or do both. Please include your cell phone number in the comments. This is a long-term ministry, so check back often as SignUpGenius is updated. |
Church office phone: 515-462-4270
Church office email: Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Ioan Ittu email: Pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastoral Emergencies: 515-419-5224