02-18-2018 Announcements

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE WITH US TODAY

IN YOUR PRAYERS - this week please remember those who are recovering from surgery and illness, those in cancer treatment programs, our shut-in and inactive members and at least 2 family members or friends in your life who do not know Christ as they could, that they would accept the invitation to come to Church with you to hear God's Word preached in its purity, and see the Sacraments rightly administered.

THE LORD’S SUPPER at St. Paul Lutheran Church is administered in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.  It is celebrated in the confidence that we receive – in, with and under the consecrated bread and wine – our Savior’s true Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  All who commune at this altar are making this public confession of the faith that we believe and teach as is written in the Holy Scriptures.  If you are not a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, please speak with the Pastor before the worship service.

MAIN STREET LIVING –February 18:  Worship Service - Todays message “Who is Jesus” is presented by Rev. Thomas Brown of Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD.

THE MENTOR/ MENTEES will be helping the youth with the Steak Supper this month so there will not be a meeting on Feb 25th.

ATTENTION DARTBALL PLAYERS:  This week’s game is Monday, Feb. 19--Freeman at Clayton.  If you would like to carpool, meet at St. Paul at 7:00 pm.  Game time is 7:30 pm.

ZONE DARTBALL TOURNAMENT is next Sunday, Feb. 25 at St. Paul/Freeman beginning at 2:30 pm.  There will also be a meal and concession stand with homemade pies served by the St. Paul L.Y.F.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS are available in the rack for whoever would like one.  Please let us know if we are out and more can be printed.

WELCOME:  When you get a chance, please welcome new members Vicky Huber and Emily Andersen (see pictures on the bulletin board) to the St. Paul Lutheran family.

LADIES AID will meet on March 1st  at 2:00 pm for Bible Study with Pastor Makelin followed by the business meeting.  Phyllis Knittel is hostess for the meeting.  Mildred Siekmann is responsible for Altar flowers for March and Visiting Helpers are Orville and Julie Huber.  Coffee Hour committee for March 4th is Julie Huber, Phyllis Knittel and Sharon Pfeiffer. 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR, if you are willing to furnish flowers, put them on the Altar and then remove them after the service please sign the sheet on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. We need volunteers for these months, June and July of 2018 and January 2019.

WE ALSO NEED A FEW VOLUNTEERS TO GO AND VISIT with our members that are at the Salem Home for the Aged, the Nursing Home and also some that are still in their own homes but unable to be out and about anymore. If you are willing to be a Visiting Helper, please sign the sheet on the bulletin board; the months available are April and August of 2018 and February 2019.

THRIVENT no longer mails a yearly reminder to its members concerning their Thrivent Choice Dollars.  Please call 1-800-847-4836 before Mach 1^st.  Unfortunately, this directive must be made each year or Thrivent decides which nonprofit organization it chooses to send your money to.  We, the Thrivent Committee of St Paul’s, are hoping that you will call give our church those funds to benefit our causes and needs to home thank you.

COFFEE HOUR DATES THAT ARE OPEN:  The dates that are open there is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board if you are interested in help fill in the dates that are empty. 

USHERS NEEDED please sign up on the bulletin board as of right now there is only one person that has signed up.

Now Jesus^[a] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say... (Luke 11:1-2a)  The Lord's Prayer (sometimes called the Our Father) is the third chief part of Luther's Small and Large Catechism and it is both the antidote and immunization for life in our spiritual warfare on this earth.  Come, grab a friend and join us for the Lenten Midweek services as we dig deep into this great gift from Son of God every Wednesday at 7:00 until Holy Week.  - Pastor Makelin
Note: For a video review of the Small Catechism, you may go to the website address at: http://higherthings.org/resources/video/catechism/introduction

 As some of you know, a family - who are not members of our congregation or synod - have asked to use the church facility for a funeral tomorrow.  This has raised issues concerning "church fellowship" and what is going on.  St. Paul Lutheran Freeman's constitution states; "In the public services of this congregation, such hymns and in all ministerial acts such forms shall be used that are not contrary to the Word of God.  Only such pastors of congregation in church fellowship who have been approved by the Pastor and the Deacons of this congregation are permitted to preach in our house of worship.". 
Efforts have been made to assure that they will not preach "contrary to the Word of God", but because of the "church fellowship" issue, they will be preaching from a lectern, not the pulpit, as a public acknowledgement that they are not in local fellowship (St. Paul) or Synod fellowship (Missouri Synod), but merely using the facilities in love and service in the larger catholic fellowship (Christian) of His Church.  Also because of the fellowship issues, I, as your pastor, cannot be involved because of my ordination/installation vows (we can discuss later) however...others in the congregation are free in Christ to help with ushering, meals, playing the organ, or other tasks.  You would be helping them hold their funeral in our facilities and are in Christian freedom to do so...or not.
I pray this helps to clarify and let you know this is an exception, not the rule.  May God always be the glory and may the funeral tomorrow give the hope that all those in the body of Christ have, in the promise of the resurrection and life everlasting. - Pastor Makelin