St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
Newsletter
July 2008
Dear Fellow Member of St. Paul:
I know people don’t like to hear this, but once we get to the 4th of July celebration, summer is half over. Soon parents will start shopping again for school supplies. Soon athletes will start getting into shape for the fall sports programs. Soon faculties will start in-service meetings. Soon teachers will start making home visits again. I know people hate to hear it, but once the 4th of July comes, summer is half over and things start to gear up for the new school year.
As I think about that, it is another reminder of how quickly time flies and how things never stay the same. How true that will be as the summer starts its downward slope after the 4th. Here at St. Paul we will be welcoming a new staff member. Mrs. Donna Hackbarth will be our new preschool teacher. We pray for God’s blessings for her as she prepares for the coming school year. At the same time we will be saying a brief farewell to Mr. Meyer as he leaves for a year for his vicar work at Peace in Sun Prairie. We pray for God’s blessings on his continuing preparation for the pastoral ministry. Again, how time flies and how things change.
So what’s my point? My point is simply this--amidst all the changes we experience and in view of the time that flies by so fast, isn’t it nice to know that there is One who does not change and who is Timeless? That, of course, is Jesus the Son of God. Because he is our never-changing Lord who is ever present with us, his blessings never change and are always with us—the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Since this is so, don’t let the constant changes unsettle you or the passing of time frighten you. Simply enjoy the rest of summer and have a blessed 4th of July celebration.
In Christ,
Pastor McKenney
QUARTERLY VOTERS’ MEETING
The summer quarterly voters’ meeting will be held on Sunday, July 20, following the late service, or about 11:00 a.m. The meeting will review the work conducted in our various programs during the past quarter. All members are welcome to come to receive the information.
FORWARD IN FAITH
Commitment forms for our Forward in Faith phase 3 have been coming in. To date we have received 128 commitments, indicating over $493,000 in total gifts and matching funds can be expected in the next three years toward our building mortgage and the Lakeside mortgage. We are thankful for these gifts! At the same time we recognize that many of our members have not yet returned a commitment form. We ask you to do so by the middle of the month so that a more complete report can be shared at the voters’ meeting.
COUNTY FAIR
The Jefferson County Fair is July 9-13. Each year our congregation joins with several others WELS churches in the area to host an outreach booth. Volunteer workers are needed for shifts of a minimum of 2 hours, from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Some volunteers meet and visit with those who stop by, others provide face painting, and several are needed to pop popcorn, make lemonade, and keep the booth operating smoothly. Sign up sheets are available at church. You can sign up for multiple shifts or a single shift; you can come as a group or as an individual. Please sign up by July 6.
4TH OF JULY TAILGATE
The fellowship board is planning a tailgate fellowship event for the evening of the 4th out at church. There is a great view of the city fireworks display from our property. Watch the June 29 bulletin and listen for announcements in church that weekend for more information.
FAMILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
A three-evening event for the children through adults is being planned for Wednesday, August 6 through Friday, August 8. On those three evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, we are inviting the entire congregation and community to events which will focus us on family and relationships in our lives as Christians living for and serving our loving God and one another in an imperfect world. All of you ages 4 through adult are invited! Visiting presenters and experts in the fields of relationships and family will be with us and leading us through understanding the sometimes “rocky” and often difficult lives we live in the circumstances in which God has lovingly placed us. Mark your calendars and set aside a couple hours on those evenings. Our prayer is that all of us from the four-year-olds through grandmas and grandpas will grow in our understanding of ourselves and one another.
For more information and to register online go to www.stpaullakemills.org. Online registration will be available soon. Or call the office for more information.
WORSHIP-IN-THE-PARK AND CHURCH PICNIC
Sunday, August 10 is set aside for the annual event in downtown Commons Park. Stay tuned for upcoming information.
RENTAL POLICY
When we moved into our new facility, new tables and chairs were purchased and most of the old equipment was disposed of. Thus we no longer have any tables available for lending. We do have a limited number of the older chairs that can be rented. If you are having an event in your family and desire to use some of the chairs, please contact the church office to check on availability and to pay the rental fee of $10. When you pick them up, be sure to check with the staff on which chairs may be taken.
Members are also welcome to hold events in our facilities. Again, check with the office for a copy of the rental policy and available times.
RELAY FOR LIFE
Our congregation is sponsoring a team in the Lake Mills Relay for Life on July 25-26. The Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. If you wish to make a donation through our team, you may contact Jason Nickels (723-7788) or leave it in the office. Be sure to stop by our booth if you attend the Relay.
ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating special anniversaries during July:
Don & Lois O’Connor July 5 50 years
Ken & Jackie Frandle July 17 15 years
May God continue to bless you and all our families!
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!
This month we introduce the McKenna family, who recently moved here from Two Rivers. We’re happy to have you with us!
SAM and MISSY McKENNA both grew up in the Saginaw, Michigan area. Sam served our country in the US Marines. His present job involves computer work for the Wisconsin National Guard recruiting office. Missy works in the Lakeside cafeteria. Their children are BEN, who will be in seventh grade; MADDIE, entering fourth grade; and BRENDAN, who will be starting kindergarten, all at St. Paul’s School. The family enjoys camping and cheering for the Detroit sports teams.
MEMORIALS RECEIVED
We acknowledge with gratitude several recent memorials.
In memory of MARGARET KULOW, $ 10 to St. Paul School.
In memory of LOIS MEYER, $ 85 for the Building Fund, deficit, and senior choir.
In memory of PHYLLIS PITZNER, $10 for the Building Fund.
In memory of SHIRLEY SCHWITZER (daughter of Evelyn Treptow, sister of Mary Lou Treptow and Sharon Yanggen), $225 for the Building Fund and for the hand bell choir.
IN THE NEWS
This past spring TIFFANY MEDENWALDT won first place in the shot put at the WIAA division 2 state track and field meet. This is the third year in a row that a Lakeside girl has won the event. Last year’s winner was JAIMI HOEPPNER, also a member of St. Paul. MANDI HOEPPNER, now a student at UW-Madison, has been in the news for her track performance in the throws. She holds the UW record for the hammer throw and the weight throw. She recently qualified for the regionals in the hammer throw and shot put.
You may also have noticed that articles by some of our high school students have appeared in the Forward in Christ magazine. Most recent was LUKE SCHWECKE, whose item appears on the back cover of the July issue.
THANK YOU
To the members and children of St. Paul School & Church
Thank you for the many kind words and gifts. I am humbled by the outpouring of love and generosity. I have been blessed to have served the Lord at St. Paul and will treasure many fine memories. God’s continued blessings on St. Paul School and Congregation. Again, thank you for so many recognitions and gifts.
In Christ,
Karen Voigt
CENTRAL AFRICA MEDICAL MISSION
“Did You Know” Although the central Africa Medical Mission and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society are two different and separate organizations, one special lady played a significant part in both their beginnings. Mrs. Erna Speckin was LWMS’s first President. However, from 1961 to 1983, she also served as Executive Secretary for CAMM committee. Her duties included recruiting nurses for the field (25 nurses over 22 years), orientation of all nurses, coordinating contact women in the states to raise funds, and coordinating written correspondence between the field nurses and the committee. She served the Lord humbly. Her accomplishments were monumental to the success of CAMM. (Ernst H. Wendland, Theodore A Sauer, Let Us Do Good, 2001)
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
We are looking for high school and college students to volunteer over the summer months at The Escape, Fort Atkinson’s new Teen Center. The Escape is open on Wednesdays and Fridays and provides a place for teens to socialize, play games and receive spiritual guidance based upon their mission of “Connected to Christ, Constructing Character, Conditioning Conduct and Caring for the Community”. If you are at least a high school sophomore or are in college, and are looking for a great place to volunteer this summer, The Escape is the place for you. For more information, please contact the director, Sy Vanissaveth, at 920-723-1672.
LAKESIDE LADIES GUILD
Lakeside Ladies Guild will be meeting on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. There will be entertainment. The ladies of St. John, Juneau and Trinity, Watertown will be serving. The men are invited to attend. Ladies, you are reminded to bring along the copies of the proposed revised constitution and by-laws that you received at the June meeting. See you there!
WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS?
The Lutheran Women's Missionary Society has given support to many mission projects. These are a few they have supported in the past year:
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Over $10K to Cameroon to help pastors and future pastor.
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Revision/printing/shipping of two editions of The Promise, a Multi-Language project.
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Full funding provided for women's retreats in Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia.
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Support to purchase 126 Bibles, 42 communion kits, and 11 television segments in Malawi.
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Almost enough support for Nigerian Youth Group Transportation for 1 year, triple the amount requested for study bibles and double the amount requested for new motorbikes for pastors in Nigeria.
These and many other projects help to support our Wisconsin Synod Missions. Come to our monthly meetings here at St Paul and learn more about the work LWMS does.
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