4-17-2011 Announcements

IN OUR DAILY PRAYERS this week we pray for Doris Albrecht and Kenny Handel (both in the hospital), for Richard Salis, June Roth and Leann Albrecht (all recuperating at home) as well as for our shut-in members, our inactive members and for at least two people in your life who don’t know Christ.

QUARTERLY VOTERS’ MEETING will be held today after the worship service.

40-DAY BIBLE READING PLAN – Those of you who are participating in our challenge to read or listen to the whole New Testament during this year’s 40 days of Lent should have just finished Hebrews Chapter 10.

EASTER LILY REMINDER – For those of you who are planning to purchase an Easter lily for our altar next week and would like the person’s name in the bulletin for whom the flowers are given in memory of, please let the Pastor or Diane know as soon as possible but not later than Maundy Thursday (April 21st). Thanks.

MELCHER SCHOLARSHIP applications have been mailed to the high school senior members of St. Paul’s. College students are also eligible to apply for the scholarship. Please contact Garnet Stern for an application.

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY this year will May 1st. A reception for the confirmands will follow the worship service.

THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BANQUET will be held on May 1st beginning at 6 p.m. with a pot-luck dinner. Ladies of the congregation are invited and are welcome to bring a guest. The theme of the banquet is “Aprons.” Gladys Simantel will entertain us using her apron collection. If you have a special apron you would be willing to show and share your story, we encourage you to do so! It would add to our enjoyment.

FREEWILL OFFERINGS for the “Faith Comes By Hearing” Bible CD program will be taken after today’s and next week’s worship services. As you recall, the CDs were provided to us at no cost. In appreciation and assistance to that organization for their work, and in response to our Lord’s command that we do what we can to spread the Gospel message while there is still time, we agreed to take a special offering to help them continue their Bible CD production operations. We note that they just released CDs in 13 more languages that are spoken by about 7.4 million people. Their goal is to produce CDs in 2,000 languages by the year 2016; these 2,000 languages cover 97% of the world’s population. It costs them about $950 to produce each of the 27 books of the New Testament in each language; thus, it costs almost $26,000 to produce the whole New Testament in any given language. Whatever financial help you can provide will be greatly appreciated and will be put to good use! Thank you!

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES – Our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services will both begin at 7:00 p.m. Please take advantage of this opportunity to worship with us during these last two Lenten services! The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be observed on Maundy Thursday. We will offer two services again this year on Easter Sunday. The sunrise service will begin at 7:00 and the late service will begin at the usual time of 9:30.

FINANCIAL AID is available for any full-time undergraduate student attending one of our Synodical universities and who is preparing for professional church work as well as for any full-time seminarian attending one of our Synodical seminaries. $1,800 is available for undergraduate work; $5,000 is available for seminarians. Financial Aid Request forms must be received by the Sioux Falls District Office no later than May 1st. Applications received after the deadline may not be considered or may be approved only if budgeted funds are still available. Students must apply each year. Applications are available online at the District web site http://sd.lcms.org under the Forms and Resources tab.

MENTOR/MENTEES are looking to put a list of people’s names together (especially men) who would be willing to be a mentor. We could really use a few people to put on the list for the kids to choose from when making that decision. Please contact Betsy if you would like your name on the list.

FROM MAY 24th UNTIL AUGUST 15th, Sarah Ruml will be in Wisconsin Dells living, working, studying the Bible and ministering with several other college students from the Upper Midwest. Before leaving for the Dells, Sarah needs to raise $2,400 for the training program fee, room and board. She is asking God to surround her with a team of people who will each pray for and financially contribute anywhere from $25 to $500. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Scott or Susan Ruml (605-925-7004) or Sarah (605-660-5330) or sarah.ruml@jacks.sdstate.edu). Also refer to the bulletin/message board for an extended letter explaining more about what Sarah is doing this summer. Thank you!

MAIN STREET LIVING:
April 24th Kid's Crossing will see that Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life.

The featured speaker is Rev. Hyle Anderson from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, SD. The sermon theme is "The Stones Cry Out!" The hymns are Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Christ the Lord is Risen Today and The Day of Resurrection. The Main Street Living Choir will provide the hymns. The program is interpreted for the hearing impaired.