Volume 5, Issue 8 MARCH, 2017

Contact Information From Pastor . . . . St Paul’s Lutheran Church 101 W Chandler Ave Arlington MN 55307 PREPARING FOR LENT

Website: www.stpaularlington.com

WELS website: www.wels.net “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt

Pastor Matthew C. Rauh offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O

507-964-2731 God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected] When you think of Mardi Gras, you think of parades, costumes, feasting, and drinking. Lots

of drinking. But did you know that Mardi Gras actually has a religious background (at least Church Assistant Don Koch not the drinking)? Another name for Mardi Gras is “Fat Tuesday.” It is a day you are to eat 507-964-5452 / 507-964-2731 all of the sweets and good stuff because the next day, Ash Wednesday, when you didn’t eat Email: any sweets or desserts until Easter. Over time it turned into an even more self-indulging [email protected] event which we witness in New Orleans.

Principal Eric Kaesermann

507-964-2397 For thousands of years God’s people have fasted. Fasting was practiced in the Old

Email: Testament. The early Christians fasted. Paul and Barnabas fasted and prayed before

[email protected] appointing elders in the churches they founded. The early Christian Church fasted during

the season of Lent. Lent is a time when people would reflect upon their own sinfulness. Ashes would be placed on the forehead. Ash reminded the people that one day some pastor I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE would say at their graveside, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” We die because we are sinners.

1 From Your Pastor To help, Christians would fast. Some would not eat any meat during Lent. Others would avoid any pleasant things like sugar and desserts. Others would fast in other ways, not 2 Spotlight on a Hymn/Lent Season eating after the noon meal, for example. Fasting, denying sweets, a growling stomach, this self-affliction seemed to help the Christian say to the Lord, “I am penitent; please have 3 St Paul’s School News mercy on me.” I remember how my Lutheran grandmother would not bake pies during Lent.

4 Miscellaneous Is there anything you give up for Lent? Don’t worry if you don’t fast. I don’t. My craving for an afternoon Snickers bar is satisfied during Lent, too. Fasting is purely optional. 5 Mission Society Minutes But there is one way we can observe Lent, and on all the weeks and Sundays before and 6 This ‘ That after. David explained it to us in Psalm 51. Offer to God a broken and contrite heart. A broken heart understands it is lost and condemned, useless and hopeless. It is sad, contrite, 7 WELS Commission Evangelism over who we are and what we have done.

But the Lord will not turn away a broken and contrite heart. Rather, he knows that is all we can give him. David wrote elsewhere in this Psalm, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” He washes us clean, as holy as he is, whiter and without any blemish as pure, virgin snow. He does this through Christ, slain for our sins, raised for our justification. There is no better way to prepare.

Have a blessed Lent.

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HYMN THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

Yep, this isn’t in our hymnal. But it is a hymn that we hear. It is one of the most popular American hymns that has been written. It was written by a Methodist minister by the name of George Bennard. He was born in 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio. As his father passed away while he was a teenager, he at first became a coal miner to provide for his family. After his marriage, he and his wife worked for the Salvation Army. Later he became a Methodist preacher spending some time in Canada and the northern states and finally in Michigan. He wrote the music first for this hymn. He had a just the first few words of the hymn in mind, “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross…,” and was somewhat stymied for the rest. He was preaching at a revival when some youths heckled him. After this experience, the words came to him quite freely. It appears this hymn was first sung at the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon, Michigan on June 13, 1913, by a choir of five, accompanied by a guitar. The hymn was published in 1915. Following the writing of “The Old Rugged Cross,” Bennard ministered another forty years. During this time he wrote about 350 hymns, none of which were as popular as his first one. He passed away at the age of eighty-five on October 9, 1958. He spent the last years of his life a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. Near his home is a twelve-foot-high cross erected with a plaque saying, “’The Old Rugged Cross’ Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn. It’s interesting to note that this hymn has been a country gospel favorite since 1952 when recorded it for one of his albums. Since then many artists have recorded this hymn including Andy Griffith, , , , , Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, , and to name a few. Linda Dose will be singing this hymn for our last Lenten service on April 5.

LENTEN SEASON Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1. Service times are 3:45p.m. and 7:00p.m. The overall theme of the sermons this year will be “Repent: Turn to Jesus!” This theme flows from the critical questions that occasioned the Ninety-five Theses and thereby the Lutheran Reformation: What is the essence of repentance? Is repentance the act of “doing penance”-making satisfaction for sin? Or is repentance entirely something else entirely? Repentance, Luther came to see, is God’s gracious gift to us. Luther proclaimed the biblical truth that the believer’s entire life is a life of repentance-a daily return to the saving waters of Baptism. We will have a rotation of area pastors again this year. The schedule is as follows: March 1 Pastor Rauh Turn to Jesus and Not to Yourself March 8 Pastor Reichow, Town Helen Turn to Jesus: He Changes Your Life March 15 Pastor Redfield, Belle Plaine Turn to Jesus: He Longs to Forgive You March 22 Pastor Fredrich,Lutheran Home Turn to Jesus: Do Not Turn Away March 29 Pastor Glowicki, Jordan Turn to Jesus: He Holds the Key to Heaven April 5 Pastor Rauh Turn to Jesus When You Face Temptations 2

Be a Saint Program Updates: The school office is beginning to scholarship donations for the next

school year. If there is a congregation member who

would like to anonymously sponsor a student’s tuition for the next school year 2017 – 2018 speak

St. Paul’s Lutheran School Arlington, MN with Mr. Kaesermann. Open house is coming and “Preparing Children Now and For Eternity” we would like to have funds in place to share with families.

Lutheran Elementary School Week: March 13-

MARCH 2017 19 is Lutheran Elementary School week. We celebrate the wonderful blessing we have of CES Bingo and Friendship Sunday: Thank you for Christian Education using our elementary school. all those who set-up and cleaned up for Bingo Day. It was a fun time for us all to get together. Thank you to Here is the schedule for the week: all those who brought the delicious food too! Monday 13th: PreK-8th Grand. Day: (Sign up for lunch in narthex) CES Silent Auction: March 1st begins the silent Tuesday 14th: Author Visit 9:00 - Swimming @ basket auction items in the basement of church. SE in afternoon 12:30 Anyone who would like to donate a basket please Wednesday 15th: Mystery Readers all morning bring them to school office. All proceeds this year will Thursday 16th: Parent/Visitor Day (Sign up for go towards non-budgeted school items. If you have lunch in narthex) Sunday 19th: Reading Fair and School serves questions talk with Mrs. Petzel. Basket registration fellowship sheets are in the narthex. School will be collecting soaps, lotions, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE: Thank you for saving these toothpaste, deodorants, diapers, etc. for MN items. They can be dropped off at school or there use Valley Action Council. a collection bucket in the back of church. 1. Country Hearth UPCs Website and Facebook: Keep up-to-date with all 2. Campbell’s (Labels for learning) school events and happenings 3. Our Family UPC labels——> online. www.stpaularlington.com/school

4. Box Tops for Education Upcoming Events: 5. Aluminum Cans 6. Coborns/Cash Wise Receipt Points March 7. Kwik Trip Milk Moola 1 Silent Auction begins 8. Thrivent Choice Dollars 4 Parent Children Basketball Game 3:00 @ school gym 8 CES serves Lenten meal 5:00-6:30 @ church Basketball Note: It has been a fun year for the St. 13-19 LUTHERAN ELEMNTARY SCHOOL WEEK Paul’s basketball teams. Feb 24 our Aboys will begin 19 SERVE FELLOWSHIP PREK-8th SING at MVL 4:30; the girls will begin 5:30 at MLC. Come 28 MSU HISTORY DAY 6-8h graders and cheer us on! The players will finish the year 30 PREK-KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP 6:00 playing their parents on March 4th. Games will start April around 3:30. Everyone can come to watch the closing 4 Track Season starts games. 9 Palm Sunday/Kids Sing Outreach Opportunity: It is that time of year for our 13-17 NO SCHOOL school open house. The last few years we have had 21 Belinda Jensen visit to school many new faces and visitors to school that night, and 28 Children’s Theater MLC we always can use an extra hand. If you are interested in serving dinner, addressing envelopes, or decorating the school sign– up sheets are in the narthex. You can talk with a school teacher too!! Thanks

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YOUTH GROUP FORWARD IN CHRIST – MARCH Our next meeting will be Sunday, March The March edition of Forward in Christ has arrived and is awaiting to be picked up by you. This 12, at 6:30 PM at school. We will be discussing our Lenten meal which will be relatively short but chocked-full of faith Wednesday, March 22. strengthening articles has something for everyone. We will also be talking about the Easter Lent is a somber time, but a good time to reflect on egg hunt for the children and possibly the word grace. Here are just some pieces to check out! helping with Open House and Roundup on • “In like a Lamb out like a Lion” by Pastor March 30. Schwanke paints a picture of Jesus, God’s Lamb and

Youth in grades 6-12 are always welcome our Lion, and his sacrificial love for all mankind. to attend our meetings. Any questions, (p.10 -11) contact Judy Petzel. • “How Big Is Your God?” reminds is that although God’s power, knowledge, and presence are awesome, his boundless love is what we sinners truly 316 NOW – SHARING GRACE IN CHINA need. (p.12-13) A unique ministry of WELS is 316NOW. This • “heart to heart parent conversations” tries to answer is a ministry of WELS and ELS Lutherans who the question, “How Can We Shape Responsible are committed to bringing the Gospel to the Behavior in our Children?” (p.16-17). Chinese people by empowering Chinese • “Moments with Missionaries” this month comes Christian leaders through Scripture study. from Tomsk, Russia. It glimpses life of teachers They provide online courses for these church Tabitha and Karl Mueller -St. Cyr. (p.20) leaders. They network students so they can •“Confessions of Faith” tells about an Iranian care for each other. They provide Chinese woman who was raised Muslim and how she grade school students with English -as-a- discovered Jesus and the Word. (p14 -15) foreign language instruction. These courses • Discover the other Bible studies, devotions, are based on Bible stories. To learn more LENTEN SUPPERS about 316NOW find them at316NOW. They are also on Facebook and Twitter. Serving typically begins after the first service and continues to about 6:30 pm or so.

SENIOR MINISTRY Suppers are free will offering.

Senior Ministry will meet on Monday, March 1: Married Couples Club serving hot

March 13, at 1:30PM in the church beef sandwiches basement. We invite everyone who is March 8: Christian Education Society just a little older (and a little wiser) to serving tacos join us for an afternoon of Bible study March 15: Choir serving assorted hot dishes (short), games, snacks, fellowship, and March 22: Youth Group serving hot ham fun. If you haven’t tried Senior patty sandwiches Ministry, come and try it. We’d be March 29: Mission Society serving Dave happy to see you! Hansen's famous chili April 5: Sunday School serving spaghetti

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MISSION SOCIETY MINUTES ......

Mission Society was called order by President Mary Ann Buck at 7:05 p m. Opened with a devotion on 2 Kings 4:8-37. The Shunammite Woman. Hostess hymn “Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessings” was sang. Roll call was then taken with 13 members answering. Secretary's report was read with one correction that the Ruth group will be up next to serve the next funeral. Also the Lent supper date has been changed to the 29th of March now instead of the 8th. Minutes approved. Treasure's report read and approved. Sunshine Lady Ruth read her list of members cards have been sent to. Ruth also reported the food shelf items taken to MLC in the amount of 34# and $45.00. No bills were presented at this time. Correspondence was read.

OLD BUSINESS: Pat updated us on the bingo night students at MLC hold in March. MLC Ladies Auxiliary sponsor this event with prizes of all sorts. Motion made to donate toward this event, second and passed. Mite box donations will be taken at the Feb. meeting. Motion to add enough money with what we collect tonight to make it an even two hundred dollars from our account, second and pass. The quilts for graduation senior high school students are finished and just await to have the LWMS label sewn on. We will have put in the bulletin that we are seeking to start a group to take over the set-up of communion ware and possible also doing the altar flowers and such.

NEW BUSINESS: Motion to donate to the CES basket auction being held during lent, second, pass. Lent supper serving and set up is -Marth group will serve from 5 -7 pm. Ruth group will serve 3:45- 5 p m. More discussion at our next meeting.

LWMS Dist. Spring Rally will be hosted by our church on April 29th. Martha group in charge of all food and prep in that area. Ruth group in in charge of decorations, table set up around church. At our next meeting will be the final menu and decorating ideas, time lines for set up, etc. We will be putting a sign-up sheet in church for persons who will be able to help out on the 29th as it is a big effort and we currently have a low numbers ladies to help cover all areas as needed. There will be two Easter lilies ordered to adorn the altar. Janet Hansen will get a sign-up sheet for members of the congregation who would like to order a lily in memory/honor of someone during Easter. Also a water schedule sheet will be put on for anyone who would like to help out keeping the plants looking good.

Motion to adjourn, second and pass. Closed with the Lord's Prayer. March Hostesses: Joan Pinske & Mary Piotter March Communion Set-up: Pat Grabitske & Lois Grunst

Respectfully Submitted Lee Wendland Treasurer

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CES SILENT AUCTION The Christian Education Society Silent Auction WEDNESDAY PM BIBLE STUDY begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1 in the church The Wednesday afternoon Bible Study is auditorium and will run through Easter Sunday, changing its meeting time to 2:45pm April 16. We thank all the people who have so beginning on March 1 for Lent. This is to generously contributed their creative baskets to our auction. Proceeds this year will go toward non- better accommodate those who will be budgeted school items. These items include Bibles attending afternoon church. The schedule for for second graders, Catechisms for older students, the lessons are as follows: "Strong Roots for Tender Shoots" - packets of March 1 Transfiguration & Peter’s religious books and materials for children ages 0-4, Confession and new desks and chairs for our classrooms. March 8 Mary Anoints Jesus & Palm Sunday Please stop downstairs and check out the baskets March 15 Parables of the Tenants & and other items - there's something for everyone! Wedding Banquet Thank you to those who bid in helping raise money March 22 Jesus & His Disciples in the Upper for our school. Your generosity in thinking "cause", Room not "cost", is greatly appreciated! March 29 Jesus Betrayed in Gethsemane & Peter’s Denial LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WEEK Our school will be celebrating Lutheran School April 5 Jesus before Pilate & His Crucifixion Week during the week of March 12-19. In honor of As you can see the lessons are somewhat that here are some statistics. In our Synod there are seasonal-hoping they will help you to reflect 301 Lutheran elementary schools with a total 24, on what our Lord did for us. 335 students served by 1,805 called teachers. In addition to this there are 392 Early Childhood WELS 2016 REPORT Ministry programs serving 10,754 children. There Each year the synod puts out a report on their are also 25 Lutheran high schools attended by 5,320 activities. These have been covered in the students. Our synod also maintains 2 preparatory past, but a few areas are highlighted here. high schools with 645 students. WELS WORLD MISSIONS… In our Minnesota District of our Synod there are 36 *has a presence in 23 different countries; elementary schools with 2,589 students. Out of the * serves 79,780 baptized members in 12 districts of our synod we have the fourth largest number of schools. We also have three Lutheran Lutheran churches; high schools: Minnesota Valley Lutheran High * serves 60,000 more souls through School, New Ulm; St. Croix Lutheran High School, correspondence and workshops; West St. Paul; and West Lutheran High School, * is training more than 160 men to become Plymouth. We are also privileged to have Martin pastors in their own countries; Luther College, New Ulm, as the teacher (and * is assisting national pastors to train pastor) training school in our district. hundreds of people to be Sunday School teachers, liturgists, evangelists, and leaders in congregations in their home countries; * is exploring outreach possibilities in 14 additional countries; * supports 38 missionaries, 9 teachers, and more than 60 lay workers in our missions.

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Power of the Gospel

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

Crucifixion was a most shameful way to die. The condemned individual was stripped of both clothing and dignity, nailed to a wooden cross, and left there to die slowly over the course of hours or days. It was an execution reserved for only the very worst of criminals.

With all this in mind, you might expect the early Christians to have been ashamed or even embarrassed about what had happened to Jesus. Instead, from the very beginning, the message of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross has been at the heart and core of Christianity.

As he addresses a group of Christians in Rome, the apostle Paul even calls Jesus’ suffering and death “the gospel,” which means “good news!” He writes, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”

How could Paul and other Christians be so positive about the shameful death of Jesus? The answer is that by Jesus’ death, God was accomplishing something wonderful for all people.

The prophet Isaiah put it like this: “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” The reason Jesus died that shameful death on the cross was to take away all our sins—our lust, pride, selfishness and greed…every cruel word we have said to hurt other people…every wicked action for which we are ashamed and wish we could take back. All these sins, for which we deserve to be punished, were placed on Jesus and he took the punishment in our place.

Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross means that we are saved from God’s punishment for our sins. It means that relying on Jesus as our Savior we can look forward to eternal life in heaven that our Savior has prepared for us.

Thank God for the message of the gospel, “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Powerful enough to wash away our sins. Powerful enough to bring us home to heaven one day. Powerful enough, and important enough, for us to rely on Jesus alone for salvation.

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