Friday, October 22nd Announcements


Sunday, October 22 Come worship with us at 9:30Join us in person, or watch our livestream Sunday morning on our YouTube channel, or view the service on the YouTube channel on Monday

Pastor Ioan will be delivering the message based on Jeremiah 31:7-19. The sermon theme is “It will get better.” For your devotions from God Pause: It’s easy to shout aloud with gladness when things go our way. We see good news posted on Facebook and shared through email all the time. What about when things are not going our way? We don’t shout with gladness then, do we? That is exactly what the prophet calls the people of ancient Israel to do. They were defeated and dispersed in foreign lands, a physical and emotional exile. Yet the prophet called them to shout with gladness because God was going to lead them back. This was a call to faithful action and trust. In the midst of their suffering, the people were called to act, praising God and trusting that God would save them. And God did! God made a way for them to return home. We too experience many forms of exile. Through them all, God calls us to faithful action and continually offers to lead us home.

Worship Helpers. Greeters/Ushers: Stephanie and Jace Bellamy; Reader: Jacque Mohs; Sound: Matthew Brakhane; Videographer: Abby Hoefing; Musician: Clarice Blanchard; Singer: Lori Paup; Counters: Kim Patience and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Jacque Mohs; Communion Servers: Marilyn Mount and Jacque Mohs.

Office Manager Joins St. Paul Staff. Traci Davis has joined the St. Paul staff as our office manager. She brings fifteen years of office experience from her family-owned property management business. As Traci transitions into her new position, office hours will generally be 9:00 am to noon Tuesday through Friday. Contact the church at 515-462-4270, office@stpaullutheranchurch.net and Pastor Ioan at 515-419-5224, pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net.

Sunday Bible Study: Bible Study meets at 10:30 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.  

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.New Evening Bible Study Sessions Begin October 24. A five-week study of Jesus’ Miracles as told by Luke will run Sunday evenings, October 24-November 21. You are welcome to join the group at any time! There are no books to buy; just bring your Bible. We begin at 5:30 p.m. with snacks and fellowship, and enter our study time at 6:00. Please contact Brenda Hollingsworth with your questions and/or to indicate your interest. (515-462-4092, 515-4468-8129, hollingsworthb51@gmail.com).
 
Wednesday God Squad & Confirmation: Our weekly Wednesday evening children and youth education programs are in session.  God Squad (4 yrs. to 6th grade) begins at 5:40 p.m. with a meal. Confirmation (7th & 8th 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.
A big THANK YOU goes to our meal sponsors! This week’s sponsor was Barb Kellogg, and sponsors for October 27 are Jim & RoxAnn Rhoads and Liz Hansen. Previous sponsors have been Tim & Jacque Mohs, the Brakhane family, Jim & Pat Nelson, Gus & Erlene Henrichs, and Liz Hansen.  Donations of food or cash for the meal provided to God Squad and Confirmation are a much appreciated gift to our Christian education program. Please contact Rainy Gibbens (rainygibbens@hotmail.com, 515-462-2122 or 515-229-1119 ) if you would like to participate.  You may also volunteer on SignUpGenius. We are thankful for all the kitchen/food help at 5:00, child care, teachers, and activity leaders.
 
Wednesday Gift for Parents & Guardians. Come inside to see all the good things that are happening at God Squad and Confirmation. You are welcome to join us for the meal, the activities, and the lessons. Be the first parent or guardian to approach Coordinator Rainy Gibbens, referring to the free gift. You then will receive two tickets to the Iowa Theater and a certificate for the concession stand. This is a weekly gift that can be received once per family as a blessing for all you do in God’s name for your children.

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 Tuesday, October 26.
 
CROP Walk Leaders–Again! Kudos to St. Paul Lutheran Church for leading the way with the community’s CROP Walk again this year. Dick Anderson, chair, reported St. Paul members and friends contributed $3350 of the $4362 collected from the four partnering churches. 25% of the monetary proceeds go to Madison County Matura and 75% to Church World Service. God’s Work. Our Feet!

CRISP Fundraiser. CRISP has announced Christmas4Kids Madison County 2021. The organization is now preparing to match Madison County families in need to organizations, individuals and families wanting to help with gifts this holiday season. See the flyer on the kiosk to learn how you can sponsor a child or contribute to this community cause. Questions? Contact CRISP at 515.462.9400 or CRISP@familyresourcelink.org.
Church Directory.  It’s time for a new church directory!  Please sign up soon to have your picture taken. Appointments can be made on at church using the forms on the sign up table.  If these dates won’t work for you, other dates can be opened up to accommodate you. Please contact Shirley Tallman (515-462-1214, 303-437-9799) if you want a different date. 

Pictures will be taken at the church.  If you want to do an outdoor photo, please contact Dodgen Photograph directly to schedule an appointment. Call 515-270-5031. Dodgen Photography will also take portraits of any members who are home bound or in a care facility. 

If you are intending pictures as a Christmas gift, they will be ready for you.  The photographer does ask that you sign up using an early date to avoid the rush.   
 
Lighting of the Greens. Our traditional service at the beginning of Advent will be held Sunday, November 28, at 6:00 pm. This is a time to remember the meaning of some of our Christmas traditions, finish decorating our sanctuary, and flip the switch to light the sanctuary decorations.  People are needed to read the different scriptures and the meanings of the different traditions, manage the sound system, or help with ushering.  Use SignUpGenius on the website or the clip board in the front hallway to volunteer.  Please prayerfully consider helping on that Sunday evening.  If you have any questions, please call Ruthanne Korte at 641-765-4468, or by email at kortehouse68@myomnitel.com or call the church at 515-462-4270.

Holiday Hop. Holiday Hop, sponsored by six Winterset churches and the Art Center, returns on Saturday, November 20, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Proceeds will be given to local service agencies. St. Paul features handmade crafts, baked goods, a cookie walk, and gently-used Christmas decorations. Contact Co-Chairs Liz Hansen (515-462-3987, lhansen6307@gmail.com) and RoxAnn Rhoads (515-468-8239, travelingchic55@gmail.com) to contribute and participate.
 
Upcoming Worship Helpers Sunday, October 31, 9:30 am. Greeters/Ushers: Morgan Vaughn and Barb Kellogg; Reader: Ann Bartelt; Sound: Jacque Mohs; Videographer: needed; Musician: Clarice Blanchard; Singer: Lori Paup; Counters: Jen Acton and Lisa Vossekuil; Communion Bread: Jacque Mohs; Communion Servers: Sally Wilke and Dean Bartelt.
 
Prayer Chain. St. Paul has a group dedicated to the power of prayer, with faith and action following the words of 1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” If you have a prayer request for the Prayer Chain, please share it with Twila Seibert (515-462-1505) or Jim Nelson (jnelson91@q.com) or the church office.  Thank you, Twila, for organizing our calling tree and Jim for giving notice of prayer needs by email. If you feel called to intentionally pray for others, please contact Twila Seibert or Jim Nelson to be added to the praying group.
 
Choir: Please join St. Paul Choir rehearsals Wednesdays at 7:10 pm. 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: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.
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 will 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.
 
Free Sunshine! If you would like to help mow the church lawn this fall to help make sure it’s in good shape for winter, please sign up on the clipboard on the kiosk in the front hall.
 
Church office phone:  515-462-4270
Church office email:  Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Ioan Ittu email:  Pastorioan@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastoral Emergencies: 515-419-5224