Issue: XLI.a

October 8, 2023

Highlights

  • Stew Supper
  • Sunday School/Adult Bible Study
  • Voters Meeting October 15

Features

  • Weekly Devotion
  • Theological Study (Difficult Scripture)
  • Weekly Report

Stewardship Thought for the Week

Matthew 21:43 – “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.” The Pharisees were not bearing fruit. Though they were faithful to the letter of the Law in keeping the Sabbath, tithing, and all the rest, they neglected the heart of God’s will. The grace of God belongs at the center. Our giving and all our other good works flow forth from receiving God’s grace and living in that grace on a daily basis.

EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS… Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken.  This week’s topics include: Myths About Christopher Columbus, The Need for Masculine Men, Understanding Polygamy in Scripture, The Expulsion of the Canaanites and more.  You can listen at your convenience at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app and your favorite podcast provider.

Worship Service Information

Order of Service: Divine Service IV (p. 203)

Hymns

  • O Love, How Deep
  • The Son of God Goes Forth to War
  • Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord
  • Fruitful Trees, the Spirit’s Sowing
  • Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
  • Christ, the Word of God Incarnate

Readings

  • Isaiah 5:1-7
  • Philippians 3:4b-14
  • Matthew 21:33-46

Birthdays/Baptisms/Anniversaries

Birthdays

  • Terry Scheiber (Oct 11)
  • Joyce Mueller (Oct 12)
  • Dustin VanDonsel (Oct 12)
  • Noah Larsen (Oct 12)
  • Sarah Marxhausen (Oct 14)

Baptisms

  • Lynn Marxhausen (Oct 8)
  • Sarah Marxhausen (Oct 14)
  • Lane Marxhausen (Oct 14)

Anniversaries

none

Book of the Month

Envy, greed, gluttony, lust, anger, sloth, and pride are all vices and manifestations of unbelief. In Battle of the Soul, author Rev. Dr. Michael T. Fieberkorn explains how daily living of the Ten Commandments kills our unbelief. 

Redefining the Aristotelian view of vice and virtue from Ethics, Martin Luther transforms their use for Gospel-centered living. Following this transformation, Fieberkorn combines them with the Ten Commandments to show you how you can fight the battle against daily sin, even the ones that seem harmless. Battle of the Soul includes relfection questions after each chapter, prayers to use after finishing the book, and a chart visually showing the connections between vice and virtue. 

With clear connections between Luther’s teachings and our world today, this book will serve you as a how-to guide on living a Gospel-centered life.

Preorder at Concordia Publishing House or Amazon.com (kindle)

Serving Schedule

Serving Next Week

If you are unable to keep your scheduled serving day, please contact the church at least a few days before the service so there is time to find a replacement. Thank you!

Voting Members, please attend the 3rd Quarter Voters Meeting on Sunday, October 15th.  Among other things, we will be electing officers.  Please prayerfully consider serving on a board or on the council.  We are especially in need of folks to serve on the Board of Christian Education and Youth, and the Board of Stewardship.  

St. Paul’s Sunday School for all ages meets today!  

Teachers, please sign up to teach on the Sunday School Teachers schedule found on the bulletin board just outside the Fellowship Hall.  It is important that we know who is teaching at least 2 weeks in advance.  This year we will also need someone to sign up to teach the Sunday Youth Group.  If you have questions, please speak to Pastor.  Parents, please make every effort to have your kids in church and Sunday School every week.

What is Lifetree Cafe, and why is St. Paul’s doing it?  Simply put, Lifetree Cafe is an opportunity for St. Paul’s to reach out into the community through simple and helpful conversation, to fulfill our mission to “Grow together as God’s family in worship, fellowship, outreach, education, and service,” and to help those in our community who do not know the love of Christ.

Every first and third Wednesday, the fellowship hall is setup like a comfortable, cozy, and FREE “cafe” where everyone is welcome to come, enjoy delicious cafe food and beverages, and to take part in a 1-hour conversation-centered experience led by a series of video-based topics and pre-scripted questions and activities.  Topics range from simple, day-to-day matters such as stress, vacations, family issues, and even to matters of faith, theology, and spirituality.

Every member of St. Paul’s is invited and encouraged to attend, and to invite friends.  In fact, your inviting people to Lifetree Cafe is VERY important!  While there will be plenty of marketing throughout the community and online, word-of-mouth is always the best way. 

Speak to Pastor if you have interest or have more questions about Lifetree Cafe.  And please do pray for this endeavor, that it bear good fruit and draw sinners to the cross of Christ.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS OCTOBER 18th at 7:00!  See the intro video below.  We will be talking about DREAMS and Nightmares!

Finances & Attendance

Please continue to prayerfully commit to supporting the ministry of St. Paul’s through your regular offerings, and to take part in the worship and educational opportunities afforded.  St. Paul’s is here for you, your kids, and your neighbor!

Stew Supper News

Stew Supper is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th from 4pm to 7pm.  A sign-up board is in the Narthex for volunteers to provide ingredients and to help on the night of the supper.  As always, we need your help to make this a success.  We still have a few volunteer opportunities and ingredient providers open.

Teals no longer carries the “dark pull-apart bread” but only the white.  Therefore, when signing up to provide bread, take note that you will be picking up whole wheat rolls (pre-sliced) from the Teals bakery in place of the dark pull-apart bread.  White pull-apart bread is the same as always.  You’ll pick up and pay for your bread on the 10th of October.

If you have questions, please speak to Ron or Sharon Moe.  Thank you for volunteering for this year’s Stew Supper!

Prayer Requests

Tom Litfin

Ray Halgren

Rev. Tim Lamkin

Gary Asher

Gloria Oien

"Love admits no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony.”

Are you saving your Teals receipts and turning them in?  Every dollar you spend at Teals returns a percentage back to St. Paul’s, but you have to save your receipts and turn them in regularly.  Speak to Jane Marquardsen if you have questions!

“Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 18:3

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” – 3 John 1:4

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4

We continue normal Adult Bible Study this Sunday.  Pastor Carlson will lead the adult study this year. 

This year we will walk through the Psalms using the Life by His Word series from Concordia Publishing House.  Please bring your bible if you can.

Be sure to stop by the table in the Narthex and sign up to provide one or more basket themes for the Silent Auction on October 11th!  Proceeds support the Scholarship Fund.

Also, be sure to sign up for helping with the Stew Supper, either by providing ingredients or serving in some capacity at the supper.  There are still a few things we need and a few was you can help.