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, October 22. Pastor Heidi Williams will be preaching on Matthew 22:15-22 . Here is a devotion from God Pause: What a beautiful disposition the Apostle Paul calls us to operate with in the world: gentleness. To be gentle is to be open to life, ready to listen and respond to others. Gentle souls take the other seriously, place themselves in the other’s shoes, and anticipate the effects words and actions have on the other. Gentleness begets resonant relationships, in which participants experience mutual in-tune vibrations that lead to vitality, recognition, and sharing. Paul reminds us that our openness to life’s many dimensions will prove beneficial. Both the profane secular world and the sacred religious world sponsor instances of goodness and excellence. For God loves the world and works in it to bring forth meaningful experiences of such profound realities as beauty, truth, justice, and love (which some even identify as nicknames for God). We are to think about these excellent worldly things that are of God. Upcoming Worship Helpers October 22, 9:30 am  Greeters/ Ushers: John and Kim Patience Reader: Cheryl Young Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Wayne Martens Musician: Clarice Blanchard Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Jen Acton Communion Server: Chris and Dulce Baumgarden Communion Bread: Bonnie Fenimore Acolytes: Peyton Ray Crucifer:  Christian Cook 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.

God Squad and Confirmation. St Paul’s Christian Education program for children and youth meets Wednesday evenings during the school year. PK-6th graders gather in God Squad, and 7th and 8th graders meet in Confirmation with the Pastor. A free meal is served at 5:30; classes and activities are held from 5:50 to 6:50pm.  Food and monetary donations are welcome for the meal. Sign-up on Signup Genius to help in the kitchen.

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. CRISP and MATURA Food Boxes CRISP and Matura are partnering again this year to provide food boxes for our families who are receiving gifts.  If you are interested in helping provide a food box please contact Theresa at MATURA.  Her number is 515-462-4704.  They will take donations of cash/check, gift cards or food to help complete the food boxes.  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’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 ande0508@gmail.com. Please note that this is Dick’s new email. 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. (jim@nelson.dev) to let them know availability. Please note that this is Jim’s new email.   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 October 31, 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 and can be dropped off at anytime.  Jim asks that the cookies for the monthly blood drive be home-made.

Church Directory. St. Paul’s family photo directory is 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. We also have an online directory, Servant Keeper, that provides contact information of our members and is a valuable tool for connecting with each other. Secure to our constituents, Servant Keeper 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. Email Lisa Vossekuil if you would like an account 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 in to the office. New Trees on Property.   Have you noticed the two new trees on our property along 8th Ave? These were recently planted to replace the ash trees that died and were cut down. Rich Thompson, Darrel Vossekuil and Wayne Martens handled the dirt work.  Genesis 2:8-9 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 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. 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.   St. Paul Choir. Choir practice is held Wednesday evenings at 7:10 pm. 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 October 29, 9:30 am  Greeters/ Ushers: Needed Reader: Amanda Turnquist Sound/ Screen/ Streaming: Lisa Vossekuil Musician: Georgine Bellamy Counters: Lisa Vossekuil and Bonnie Fenimore Communion Server: Needed Communion Bread: Bonnie Fenimore Acolytes: Peyton Ray Crucifer:  Christian Cook 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.

 

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Church office phone: (515) 462-4270
Church office email:  Office@stpaullutheranchurch.net
Pastor Heidi Williams: (515) 450-0490