| 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 16. Pastor Tony Nester will be preaching on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Here is a devotion from God Pause: We revisit this week’s theme considering the pitfalls of freedom. I remember a lector in one of our parishes receiving this Romans text to read on a Sunday morning. The comment after the service was, “And I thought when I read Romans 5:12-19 that was challenge enough,”—Paul’s talk there of sin and God’s free gift, with Adam the culprit and Jesus the conqueror. The lector, given some freedom, might have chosen either not to read that week or to choose another text. So it is with the choices we make because we are free to do so. All the talk here of doing one thing, wanting to do another. Of nothing good dwelling in me. Of being of the flesh and sold in slavery under sin. Wretched person that I am! We know daily how things pull us away from God and how our will is bound. It seems so complicated. But Thanks be to God who frees us in Christ. Upcoming Worship Helpers July 16, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Fred Young and Dave Kauzlarich Reader: Cheryl Young Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Jacque Mohs Musician: Georgine Bellamy Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Jen Acton Communion Server: Jason and Nicole Darling Communion Bread: Connie Tadlock Acolytes: Ellie Michelson 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. |
Deacon Jodi Schuman – July 23.Assistant to the Bishop, Deacon Jodi Schuman will fill our pulpit on Sunday, July 23. She has provided excellent support to St. Paul in her responsibilities for supporting and relating to synod candidates, local church governance and constitutions, and Synod events.
Family Fun Day July 26 – Corrected Address. Adult Faith Formation invites you to a Family Fun Day, Wednesday, July 26, from 5:00-8:00 at the Hollingsworth’s home 2452 Millstream Avenue (south of Winterset, just off Clark Tower Road). Join us for grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, fellowship, and outdoor games. Please bring a side dish to share, your own beverage, and lawn chairs. Those who would like to carpool or need more information may contact Cheryl Young 515-770-5806 or Brenda Hollingsworth 515-468-8129.
Semi-Annual Meeting August 20. Join us after worship on Sunday, August 20 for our semi-annual meeting. We’ll celebrate the paying off of our mortgage and hear the report of the second phase of the capital campaign to eliminate our $70,000 debt. Committee and team reports and the financial report will also be given.
Iowa Bishops Ride Against Hunger. Iowa Bishops Ride Against Hunger. The three ELCA bishops in Iowa are riding in the 50th Annual RAGBRAI, riding 50+ miles together each day, celebrating and highlighting 50 anti-hunger ministries in the three synods and raising $50,000 for ELCA World Hunger. We will collect a special offering on July 23, the first day of Ragbrai, to support this cause. Checks may be made to SE Iowa Synod; write Ragbrai on the memo line.
Faith in the Future, Imagining the Next Chapter. Our pledge drive for eliminating our remaining debt has begun! With gratitude to God, our commitment to paying off the final building loans to the Trust Fund and the Fellowship Fund will move us into our next chapter. Your commitment, above and beyond giving to the General Fund, may extend over a two-year period. Letters and pledge cards have been mailed; if you do not receive one, please see the ushers’ table. We ask that pledges be returned by August 13. Questions may be addressed to Wayne Martens, chair, or Ann Bartelt, Council president.
Pastoring St. Paul – Next Steps. Pulpit supply: will be Pastor Tony Nester; and July 23 July 23 will be Deacon Jodi Schuman, Assistant to the Bishop; July 30 will be Rev. David Endriss who is newly serving as 1st Presbyterian’s part-time pastor. We welcome Pastor Heidi Williams who will serve as our interim pastor beginning August 1. Please plan to join us for her first worship service with us on August 6.
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.
Call Committee Activity. The Ministry Site Profile is a summary that tells about St Paul Lutheran Church, what’s important to us and how we bear witness to Christ’s love in our community. The Call Committee wrote this narrative about St Paul with the help of each of you who participated in surveys and interviews. The Ministry Site Profile (MSP) was submitted on May 25th and approved by the office of the Bishop on June 2nd.
Here’s a small portion called the “Summary Description” we submitted: St Paul Lutheran Church is a small but mighty church with a big dream to have a healthy church culture, one that changes lives. We believe our primary calling as a congregation is to love God and love people. This congregation will welcome a pastor who loves the Lord, Jesus Christ, and spends sufficient time alone with God to sustain the work of the ministry, by living out of a cup that overflows; one who is willing to train and partner with us in the work of evangelism; who is willing to walk together with us as we learn a theology of grieving; who is willing to faithfully bear with us as we struggle to yield in the areas where God is at work transforming us.
Now we wait, knowing that God is leading us into a season of waiting and listening and trusting. While you’re waiting and listening and trusting please remember to pray for discernment for your Call Committee and for the Church Council.
VBS Success and Thank You! About 42 children attended VBS “Uncovering the Truth of Who God Is and Who We Are.” They participated in Bible lessons and recreational, music, and craft activities. Much thanks goes to Amanda Turnquist for coordinating VBS, and her team of Marty Knapp, Walt Libby, Darlene Loiler, Kim Patience, and Lily Burkett. Thank you to the overnight hosts Jacque Mohs and Darlene Loiler, to Kim’s kitchen crew, and to the adults and youth who helped the counselors from Ingham Okoboji Day Camp. We are truly blessed with these stewards of God’s love for our children!
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.
| Senior Center Volunteers. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals for the Senior Center. It takes approximately 45 minutes and the schedule is flexible. To assist with this or learn more, please call 515.462.1334. Thank you. 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. July 25, 2023 is the next scheduled blood drive. Call for Cookies. Cookies are always needed for Sunday morning services and the monthly blood drive. Sunday morning cookies and bars can be store bought or home-made. Jim asks that the cookies for the monthly blood drive be home-made. |
| Church Directory Sign Up. Remember when you filled out an information sheet for our membership directory? Now you can have access to our online directory, Servant Keeper, that provides contact information of our members. Servant Keeper 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 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. Email Lisa Vossekuil if you would like an account at finances@stpaullutheranchurch.net. 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) 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. 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, please contact the office and we’ll help find a way you can make a difference! Upcoming Worship Helpers July 23, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Needed Reader: Corrie Huizinga Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Cheryl Young Musician: Needed Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Bonnie Fenimore Communion Server: No Communion Communion Bread: No Communion Acolytes: Payton Charlet 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