| 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, May 5. Pastor Heidi Williams will be preaching on John 15:9-17. Here is a devotion from God Pause: God’s hope and love for us is abundant and plentiful in God’s sending of the Son. Such hope we find in God cannot be contained. God moves constantly to transcend and break out of boundaries, bringing hope to a tired and weary world. God’s hope surprises us as it works in ways beyond our understanding. It pushes to the limits of our imagination and invites us to dream bigger, because God’s hope works in ways that do not always align with the way things have been done, but always aligns with God’s mission of boundless love and endless grace. Sometimes all we need to do is just get out of our own way, and be present in the immensity of God’s love and burgeoning Kin-dom. We are bound up in the expansive, flourishing, and inclusive covenant of Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior and Lord. Upcoming Worship Helpers May 5, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Dave Kauzlarich and Fred Young Reader: Lisa Vossekuil Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Cheryl Young Musician: Georgine Bellamy Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Jen Acton Communion Server: Wayne and Debi Martens Communion Bread: Debi Martens 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.
Graduate Recognition. St. Paul’s Winterset High School graduates will be recognized at worship Sunday, May 12. The quilters will bestow attending graduates with a quilt, and a cake reception will follow worship.
Church Landscaping. The new Landscape project is progressing with the main shrubs, initial grasses and some perennials now in place. Additional purchased perennials and donated plants including black eyed Susans, Shasta daisies, Coreopsis, Purple cone flowers and border Phlox can be placed in the next 2 weeks. Additional wild flowers will arrive around May 15th to be placed and mulch installed. Any one interested in helping to decide what plants go where will need to meet to help make those decisions after church on Sunday May 5th. Weather permitting we will install plants during the week of May 6-10.
Donated plants may be brought to the church or our house. Text or Call me at 515-468- 0383 or email handythompson@mchsi.com We will begin a watering schedule 3X weekly soon which people can sign up to help.
Thanks for your support of this project. Rich Thompson
Little League Concession. I am looking for volunteers to help me work the little league concession stand the week of May 6th-10th. It would be from 4:30pm – 8:30pm each night that week. The goal is to raise $750 seed money towards Junior High/High School fellowship events like baseball games, swimming, movies, etc. I would need 4-5 people for each night. They can call, text or write me for more information.
Thank you! Tom Acton
515-991-0167
tacton09@yahoo.com
LSI Birdies for Charity. Now is the time to donate to Lutheran Services of Iowa through the Birdies for Charities Program as part of the Principal Charity Classic. LSI will receive matching funds from Sammons Financial, making it possible for LSI to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build communities throughout Iowa. Give before June 1 with checks to LSI, Birdies for Charity on the memo line, and mail to Lutheran Services of Iowa, 3125 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311-3809. You may also give online at lsi.org/give and include Birdies for Charity in the dedication section.
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.
VBS Registration is Open. Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp is joining us this summer to host VBS! It will be held Monday, July 8th through Thursday, July 11th from 9AM – 2PM. This year we are exploring what John 15:5 means in our lives: How we can cultivate faith, a renewed mind, peace and purpose through the love and teaching of God’s word. Registration is open and can be done online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmGNt2AFb_UHBgY44yYYY6ikFuQ9tWciNJlWgvE_7ZZwN5IA/viewform Physical registration is available at the Greeter’s / Usher’s Table in the Fellowship Hall. Questions? Please contact Amanda Turnquist anturnquist_316@meisha-sible
Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp
3001 Riverside Rd
Story City, IA 50248
1-515-733-5271 or 1-800-372-7748
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 May 28, 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. From September- May we practice weekly and sing a couple times each month during this time. Choir practice is held Wednesday evenings at 7:10 pm during the months of September-May. 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 May 12, 9:30 am Greeters/ Ushers: Needed Reader: Cheryl Young Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Lisa Vossekuil Musician: Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Bonnie Fenimore Communion Server: Needed Communion Bread: Needed Acolytes/ Crucifer: 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 Heidi Williams: (515) 450-0490