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 

MAY 2013

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me”  (John 15:4).

Dear Friends at St. Paul,
Spring is a time we think of growing.  Although we may have been impatient with the coming of spring’s warmer days and growing times this year (especially compared with last year), it will all happen in due time.  We like the optimism of budding trees and flowers or of planting seeds and marveling at their sprouting and growing. 

May we give similar heed to our spiritual growth!  We urge our confirmands to stay close to Christ following their big day.  That is a reminder we all need.  Jesus pointed out the importance of remaining in him in the verse above.  That means using his Word and sacraments.  The gospel message we thus receive strengthens faith and enables us to fight the temptations that Satan assails us with.  It also cultivates a growing crop of fruits of faith, lives to God’s glory.  Obedience to the commandments and service to our Savior and to others are involved.  That production comes only as the Spirit works through the gospel.  That’s why Jesus called out, “Remain in me.”  Rely on his promise, “And I will remain in you.”

Do you see signs of dwindling crop production in your spiritual life?  Then dig deeply into the invigorating soil of God’s Word.  Do so in worship and study with your fellow Christians at St. Paul and in your home.  Bear fruit for the Lord!  A harvest is guaranteed, for God’s Word works.

Growing together with you,

Pastor James Rath

ASCENSION DAY
We observe the ascension of our Lord with a special worship service on Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m.  Junior Choir and Praise Singers will both sing for the service as we celebrate our Savior’s completion of his earthly mission and his return to heaven.

LAKESIDE SUNDAY
Sunday, May 19 is Lakeside Sunday.  We have the privilege of hosting the Lakeside A cappella Choir in our Sunday services and focus on the blessing of Christian education in our services that weekend.

MISSION SOCIETY
St. Paul Mission Society meets on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m.  Carol Gronholz will be the guest speaker, telling of her work in Malawi, Africa this past December presenting Christmas for Kids as a volunteer with WELS Kingdom Workers.  All ladies are invited.

LADIES OF ST. PAUL
The Ladies of St. Paul meet on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m., hosted by Marie Burrow at 203 South Oak Street.  All ladies are welcome for Bible study and fellowship.

VOTERS’ MEETING   
The spring quarterly voters’ meeting will be held following the late service on Sunday, May 19 (about 11:30 a.m.).  This meeting considers the budget for the next fiscal year as well as hearing reports on the work of the congregation and its boards.

SUMMER SCHEDULE
The summer worship schedule begins on Memorial Day weekend.  On Sunday, May 26 we move the late service to 10:00 a.m.  All other service times of the weekend remain the same.  The summer schedule continues through Labor Day weekend.

DELEGATE NEEDED
We are in need of a voting member to serve as our lay delegate to a special district convention this summer.  Odd-numbered years are normally for the district Pastor-Teacher Conference, but because of the discussion of Bible translations it was decided to have the laymen there this year also.  The convention will be held in Watertown June 3-4, all day Monday and until noon on Tuesday.  Any men interested in serving should contact one of the pastors or our chairman, Mike Shiels, by May 7.

ANNIVERSARIES
We join the couples listed below in giving thanks to God for his blessings as they celebrate special (multiples of five years) anniversaries during the coming month.  May he continue to guide you and all our families!

RELAY FOR LIFE
Under the auspices of our Outreach Board St. Paul enters a team in the Lake Mills Relay for Life, an activity in support of the American Cancer Society.  This year’s Relay is June 21-22.  Our team of walkers and fundraisers is being formed now, and is limited to the first 15 individuals.  Sign up by May 12 to receive a tee shirt.  We also welcome volunteers to come up with ideas for campsite decoration (the theme is “Kicking Cancer Out of the Spotlight” and relates to movies) and to prepare food items for sale.  For more information, please contact Pastor Rath.

SOFTBALL
Deadline to sign up for our church league softball team is May 1.  The list is at church or contact Pastor Rath.  Active communicant members, both male and female, are needed.

MOVING EXPENSES
Included with this newsletter is a special envelope for moving expenses as we anticipate the arrival of our new principal and his family.  We encourage your participation in this special offering.

LAWN MOWERS NEEDED
Sign up at church to help with lawn mowing this summer.  Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

RECENT OFFERINGS
We give thanks for the generous outpouring of offerings during Holy Week and Easter.  May our appreciation of the Lord’s goodness continue!  Offerings for our operating budget in recent weeks are listed below.  Average weekly needs are $18,700.

March 31          $ 37,989
April 7              $ 11,065
April 14            $ 13,771
April 21            $ 18,259

Also received during those weeks were gifts of $2,884 for deficit reduction, $309 for the Improvement Fund, $8,835 for the Building fund (Bountiful Blessings), $648 for tuition Assistance, $150 for WELS World Missions, and $1,542 for the Lakeside mortgage.

MEMORIALS RECEIVED
We give thanks for several recent memorial gifts.

To the Building Fund (Bountiful Blessings): 
In memory of LESTER BEHM, $10
In memory of BETTE MEYER, $10
In memory of LEO PARKER (father of Pam Brassfield), $20
In memory of SARA ANN SELJE (mother of Don), $120
In memory of MARTIN STRAKELJAHN, $100
In memory of PAT TOPEL, $50

To St. Paul Tuition Assistance:
In memory of GREGORY BRUENGER, $10
In memory of BETTE MEYER, $830

For Hand bells, in memory of LEO PARKER (father of Pam Brassfield), $500

LAKESIDE LADIES’ GUILD
The Lakeside Ladies’ Guild will meet on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m.  The program will be Lakeside Piano students performing. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Save the date for the Mother-Daughter banquet, “Growing in Grace”, on Sunday, June 9, noon-2 p.m.

NEW FROM NPH
When Christ Walked Among Us:  The Messiah’s Life and Ministry by MLC professor James Pope.  Trace Jesus’ steps and see how God unveiled his plan to overcome the human issues of sin, death and hell through his Son.Order for $25 at 1-800-662-6022 or www.nph.net.  An e-book edition is also available through amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD
In this month’s newsletter and subsequent issues, the Stewardship Board wanted to share excerpts of a paper they are studying.  It was written by Professor Emeritus John Jeske.  Its purpose is to remind God’s people that Christian stewardship is all about taking God at his Word.  We hope you enjoy the tenth installment.

So Many Warnings!

            Christians, can you hear God’s warning against using money improperly? 
            Do not think about money differently from the way your God thinks about it. 
            Do not feel about money differently from the way your God feels about it. 
            Do not use money differently from the way your God uses it.

Why all these warnings about the awful consequences of using money improperly?  Because money can have a dangerous, warping, shriveling influence on us.  Money can make a man proud and conceited; it can give him a false sense of independence a d self-sufficiency.  It will take resolute determination to resist these pressures.  The person who has received an abundant supply of material possessions may find it very difficult to admit that his possessions are not his own creation but simply tools a gracious God has placed into his hands.  But every Christian already professes that in the first line of the Apostles’ Creed:  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”  Your money was his before it was yours.

Or the absence of “enough” money can make us doubt God’s ability or desire to give us our daily bread.  Worry over money can be like a wild animal pacing in a steel cage, ever restless and so miserable.

And “God, for whom and through whom everything exists” (Heb 2:10) has placed money into your hand for a double purpose:  to glorify your God by an act of worship and to serve your fellowmen in love.

Carl Berner warns:  “Material possessions pose a constant danger to the spiritual life, and they presage ultimate calamity if they are not under the constant control and management of a Christian steward” (The Power of Pure Stewardship, p. 67).