08-19-2018 Announcements

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE WITH US TODAY

HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated in our worship service today.  What a joy and privilege!  In this Sacrament our Lord gives unto us not only bread and wine, but also His very body and blood to eat and drink.  In this Sacrament He assures us that our sins are forgiven and He strengthens our faith.  To our guests who desire to receive Holy Communion, we ask that you consider the following:  If you do not believe in Jesus as your Savior, do not believe in the Real Presence of the Sacrament, or have never received instruction on how to prepare yourself for Communion, you should refrain from receiving the Sacrament, but are encouraged to come to the altar for a blessing, indicated by folding the arms over the chest.  We do this not to offend, but to honor the faith we hold at St. Paul Lutheran.  If you have any questions regarding communion, please speak to the Pastor or an Elder before service begins.

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.

MAIN STREET LIVING – August 26,2018:. Worship Service- The message is presented by Rev. Dr. Corey Rajek, Senior Pastor at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pierre, SD.  Based on Mark 7:1-13, he tells us of “God’s Recipe for Salvation”.  The program is interpreted and closed captioned for the hearing impaired.  Additional information is available on the web site: www.mainstreetliving.com.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT YOU that you either bought a book on how to be a man or were given a book on how to be a man...Such is evidence that as a society, we have simply lost-or forgotten- the collective knowledge of what it means to be a man"  From the author in the preface of Man Up!  The Quest for Masculinity.  Please join the Men's morning Bible study, starting September 5th at 6:00 a.m. for this Biblical study

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A PASTOR OR DEACONESS?  Did you know that recruiters from our two Seminaries (Concordia Theological Ft. Wayne, and Concordia St. Louis) make area visits to meet with prospective students of all ages (elementary through adults)?  The two Seminaries also have on-campus visitations, but these area visits are opportunities to informally meet with the recruiters (bring family/friends) within an hour or two drive.  Please let me know if you are interested and I can get you details of when and where.  Or, you can dig around on their websites (ctsfw.edu and csl.edu) – Pastor

PARENTS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY to teach the doctrines (teachings) of the faith to their children until they are mature enough to carry on learning God's Holy Word on their own - which is what we call "confirmation".  (You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise - Deut.11:19 and others).  The basic foundation of these doctrines is Luther's Small Catechism.  To help parents, I will begin after Labor Day to include bulletin inserts that have a section of the Small Catechism (with explanation and Bible verses) on one side, and a family devotion and prayer on the other side.  Like the "Kids in the Divine Service" inserts, I pray these resources will help you in your vocation as Christian father and mother.

CATECHISM REBOOT!  Yep.  It is that time of year again. For those parents who would like me to teach their child a deeper understanding of the doctrines of the faith leading to confirmation (finishing school so to speak), we will meet with parent(s) and child on Wednesdays at 6:30, beginning Wednesday September 5th, and continue approximately through May.  For midweek Advent and Lent Wednesdays, we will switch to 4:00 so parent and child can worship together at 7:00 (parents need not attend at 4:00).  While traditionally, this type of instruction begins in 7th grade, any age past third grade is welcome to attend, just be aware that age, or the number of years the student has attended will NOT have anything to do with whether they are ready to be confirmed!  This is something that you, me, the student, and the elders determine and could come after one year, three years, in sixth grade, or 9th grade.  It will depend instead, on if your child's maturity...physically, mentally, and spiritually.  The question will be; Is your child ready to take the responsibility of learning the faith on their own without being told?  Please contact me to sign up (402-336-7819) so I can make sure I have enough materials.  Pastor Terry Makelin