St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church Newsletter
1530 S. Main Street 
Lake Mills, Wisconsin 53551
Pastor Bruce A. McKenney   648-7583
Pastor James E. Rath  648-8033
Principal Grant A. Gentz  920-568-0885
Church-648-2235; School–648-2918
www.stpaullakemills.org
Principal James Grasby LLHS 648-2321 

FEBRUARY 2012

(This is the final in a series on Lutheran Worship from the Worship Conference held last summer.)

Choices have consequences
Back in the 1700s the pietistic movement swept Lutheranism.  The goal of the pietistic movement was very noble:  to get people away from dead ritual, to get them into personal Bible study, into more prayer, and so on.  Those were noble goals.  The problem with pietism is that the movement ended up becoming anti-clerical, anti-sacramental, emotional, enthusiastic (theologically, the term “enthusiasm” or “enthusiastic” refers to something that’s not focused on the means through which God works).  In retrospect, we look back at the pietistic movement as a very negative influence on Christianity and Lutheranism.

Today’s choices regarding worship have consequences.  History will judge the decisions we make.  Our posterity will look back, and they will either thank us for leaving them a legacy of worship in which the gospel holds center stage, or they will lament today’s worship variegations and say, “What were those people thinking?  The goals of that generation were good, but the results were very detrimental.”

Choose wisely!

Pastor Bruce McKenney

MISSION PRESENTATION
All are invited to a special presentation on our WELS mission in Indonesia on Saturday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m.  Pastor Pieter Reid, who spent many years as our mission counselor for the field, and his wife Marlys will tell of the exciting work going on despite opposition from Muslim neighbors.  After the topic (11:30 a.m.) there will be a potluck luncheon.

OUTREACH WEEKEND
Our services February 4-6 will highlight opportunities for outreach.  Guest speaker for the services will be Rev. Mark Henrich, pastoral advisor for WELS Kingdom Workers.  He presently serves at Atonement in Milwaukee after several years in Antigua, West Indies.  Between the Sunday services Bill Meier, executive director of Kingdom Workers will lead a special Bible class.  We encourage all to attend.  We also welcome treats to share at the fellowship time between services.

CALL DECLINED-SPECIAL MEETING SET
Mr. David Stoltz has returned our call to serve as principal of St. Paul’s School.  A special voters’ meeting to issue another call will be held following the late service on Sunday, February 5 (about 11:30 a.m.)  We pray that the Lord will lead us to the person whom He desires to serve us.

LENT
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 22.  A series of six midweek services begins that day, held at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.  The Ash Wednesday services include Holy Communion.  Theme for the sermons will be “See His Cross”.  Join in meditating on your Savior’s suffering and death.

LENTEN SUPPERS
Each of the six Wednesdays on which we have midweek Lenten services we plan to offer a light supper served in the gym from 4:30-6 p.m.  Groups have come forward to serve all but one of those Wednesdays.  March 21 remains open.  Any group that is interested in serving should contact Gregg Tucek or Pastor Rath.

BIBLE INFORMATION CLASS
We are looking to offer a new session of the Bible Information Class.  Individuals interested in learning more about the teaching of God’s Word, whether preparing for membership or as a review, are welcome to attend.  The class will meet on Saturday mornings, 9-11 a.m., beginning February 18.  If you or someone you know is interested, please sign up in the church lobby or contact the office.

NEW BIBLE CLASS
When our regular Bible studies resume on Sunday, February 12, a new class will be offered on the epistle of James.  This class will meet in the school library.  James has been called “a course in practical Christianity”.  Join us at 9:15 a.m. to study this epistle and its message for us today.

CONVENTION DELEGATE NEEDED
We are in need of a voting member to serve as our lay delegate for the Western Wisconsin District Convention, to be held at Luther Prep in Watertown in early June.  If interested, contact Scott Filter, chairman of the Auxiliary/Services Board, or one of the pastors.

WITH THE LORD
MARTIN STRAKELJAHN departed this life on January 1 at the age of 88.  His funeral was January 5.  May God’s Word bring comfort to his loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating special (multiples of five years) wedding anniversaries this month.  May God continue to fill your homes with His love!

Shane & Tami DeVries              February 14     20 years
Shawn & Michelle Topel           February 22     20 years
Mike & Toni Shiels                    February 28     25 years

RECENT OFFERINGS
As we move into another year of God’s goodness, His people respond with gifts for the work of His kingdom.  The amounts offered to the operating budget of St. Paul congregation in recent weeks appear below.  The average weekly needs are $ 19,774.
January 1 (Dec. 31 also)           $ 26,707
January 8                                 $ 15,838
January 15                               $ 12,222
January 22                               $ 20,953

Also received during those weeks were gifts of $7,430 for the Building Fund (Bountiful Blessings), $ 393 for the Improvement Fund, $5,766 for deficit reduction, $800 for our deficit to WELS, $500 for Sunday School, $20 for Tuition Assistance, $1,066 for the Lakeside mortgage, and $10 for Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service.

MEMORIALS & SPECIAL GIFTS RECEIVED
We acknowledge with gratitude several memorials recently received, all directed to the Building Fund (Bountiful Blessings):

In memory of FRED HINZMANN, $305
In memory of LOIS LOHMAN (sister of Frieda Luetzow), $215
In memory of WILBERT LUEHRING, $20
In memory of MARTIN STRAKELJAHN, $40

In December we also received the semi-annual distribution from the Helen Limp Trust, an amount of $32,283, which is divided among church and school directed accounts and mission work, directed by the Outreach Board.  There was also a distribution of $307 from the Koplin Trust.

FELLOWSHIP WINERY TOUR
The Fellowship Board has planned an outing to the Lewis Station Winery in Lake Mills on Saturday, February 25, at 5 p.m.  Included will be wine education, taste of two different wines and snacks of fresh breads and olive oil, cheese and crackers.  Cost is $10 per person.  Please sign up at church.

CHURCH LIBRARY NEWS
BIBLE DISCOVERY SERIES: The first 5 volumes are now available in the church library.  Tools in each book take you into every level of the Bible such as Two Covenants, Using Archaeology, Key Words and Understanding Politics in the New Testament.

LAKESIDE FAMILY FEST
Attention, families with young children! Lakeside Lutheran High School Family Fest is set for Saturday, February 18. Children from preschool through fourth grade are encouraged to come to Lakeside anytime from 9 a.m. to noon, when the west gym will be filled with fun games, activities, crafts, demos and more! Children can win prizes, see magic tricks, eat some tasty treats and have an exciting time with dozens of other young families. No registration is required, but the student-run National Honor Society at Lakeside would love to hear from you that you'll be there to aid in their planning (send name and children's ages to nhs@llhs.org). Cost is $5/child, with a maximum of $10 per family. It's a super time for the whole family!

SUICIDE WORKSHOP
“Dealing With Suicide” is a workshop for Christian dialogue, education, and prevention.  Christians can learn about suicide, helping survivors, preventing suicide, and bringing hope.  Chaplain Ken Wenzel of Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries and UW Hospital chaplain will speak.  Date:  February 11th from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Fort Atkinson.  Register by calling St. Paul’s at 920-563-2263 or e-mail to wenzel@wlim.net by February 6th.

INVITATIONS FROM TRINITY PINES
Trinity Pines Retirement Center invites you to play Euchre on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 2:00 p.m.  A free fashion show will be given by Mary's Unique Boutique of New Glarus on Thursday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m.  "Hearing Loss, Hearing Testing and Hearing Aids - Your Questions Answered" by Dr. Amy Kroll is on Tuesday, February 21 at 10:00 a.m. (This is a free program.)

See Attachments for the Church and School Calendars and Lakeside’s Federation Connection