March 2020 Calendar We Are Always to Be Growing and Maturing in Faith
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The Word “In Thee Is Gladness” “Mine!" What do you think of when you hear the word, “Mine!” The first thing I think of is a struggle between two youngsters. Standing in the middle of toys scattered across the floor there is always one toy that a child wants over another. Whenever anyone gets In this Issue: close to the block, or car, or ball the shout is heard, “Mine!” Often, mother’s and father’s run quick to the scene with some embarrassment. “Son, share with your “The Word on our St. Paul’s Ministries”” friend.” “Daughter, that’s not yours, give that back to her.” page 2 “The Word on the Hymn of the Season” While some equate these selfish times with the “terrible twos” others give a different page 3 name. Understanding the quest for independence and the development of awareness “The Word on our Local Mission” of oneself in relation to other people and things, some have call these times the page 4 “opportunity twos.” This is the opportunity to guide independence, interest and “The Word on Local/National Missions”” energy in the right direction. Already at this young age, it is time to give guidance to page 5 “Mine!” “The Word on International Missions” page 6 In our hymn of the season, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” the first verse concludes with the expression, “I joy to call Thee mine.” Interestingly we seem to be taught by “The Word on Congregational Ministries” Pastor Gerhardt that there is a time and a place for “Mine!” And indeed, this is true. page 7 During Lent we will have Jesus placed before our eyes. We will see Him in His “The Word on Congregational Ministries” ministry, teaching, suffering and death for us. The preaching will remind us that all of page 8 this Jesus did for us, even for “me.” In this way, Lent is a very personal time of the “The Word on Congregational Ministries” year. It is a time of the year that we ponder the meaning of our baptism and realize page 9 that Jesus has given us an opportunity to cry, “Mine!” “The Word on Congregational Ministries” page 10 So, it is not selfish to cling to Jesus as your own. In fact, this is what Jesus desires for “The Word on our Church Family” all the world and the means of grace are presented to reaffirm this fact. When you are Page 11 baptized, you were baptized by name, into His strong name. When you received the “The Last Word” very body and blood of Jesus you personally eat and drink of Him. The same Jesus, page 12 whose life was given for the world, was specifically given for you. February 2020/March 2020 Calendar We are always to be growing and maturing in faith. Even at the youngest of ages, we February 2020/March 2020 Schedule can learn how rightly to apply “mine!” While blocks and cars and dolls are nice., those Those who serve as we worship come and go. There is only one Jesus, and He is for all. Thanks be to God it is just right to call Him “Mine!” St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church St. Paul’s Music Conservatory 239 Frank Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 712 322 4729 St. Paul’s Lutheran Early Childhood Center February 2020 1500 North 16th Street March 2020 Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712 322 3294 St. Paul’s Ministries Off to a Good Start In 2020 St. Paul’s ministries got off to informed of ongoing matters, the Motions: Council meeting minutes will be With meeting packets handed out a good start in 2020 with our first published in one of the ahead of time everyone who ever “Annual Meeting.” This corresponding month’s bulletins came to the meeting was well meeting was held Sunday, and newsletters. informed of what was going to be January 26th immediately after discussed and its background. the second service beginning Moving into an “Annual Meeting” Motions that were passed with a congregational potluck. we knew we needed to reformat included the following: Once our bellies were satisfied, our approach. So, a meeting we got right down to business. packet was handed out to the 1. A definition of the roles St. What follows is a synopsis of the congregation at both services the Paul’s pastors will hold in meeting. Watch your bulletins week ahead of the meeting. This leadership positions within soon for formal meeting minutes. packet provided the meeting the newly created non-profit agenda, minutes of the previous (soon to be Recognized + + + voter’s meeting, reports, motions Service Organization of the and the 2020 budget. LCMS) David’s Harp. The plan to move to an annual 2. A new memorial list meeting was approved already in Reports: presented by the Board of early 2019 as the congregation The reports in the packet were Elders. modified its own By-Laws in from the pastor’s, our Early 3. A plan of moving forward on order to make meetings more Childhood Center and the Music capital improvements to our efficient and give more time for Conservatory. In summary, these church facility. hands on service. The voters reports shared that local ministry 4. A list of miscellaneous agreed to move away from the and missions are very active and renovations to occur within idea of “Boards” and turn “Board our congregation is functioning at the church. (One on this list Chairs” into “Directors.” This a healthy level. While it wasn’t includes the removal of the move is what brought about the mentioned, it should be here, that carpet in the chancel area and goal of establishing a “Service the Annual Appeal initiated the refinishing of the original League,” encouraging every during the month of December hardwood floors.) This work congregational member to sign was very successful and will be donated by one of our up to serve in a specific area of appreciated! 35 giving units members. our church’s ministry over the participated in this opportunity 5. Approval of our slate of course of the year. Another to support St. Paul’s Ministries. officers. change at this time was going Over $24,000 was raised! This 6. Approval of the 2020 budget. away from four predetermined caused us to finish the year over voter’s meetings to one annually $12,000 in the black and get a As you recall, the theme for predetermined meeting. Held good start on staying ahead in the ministry this year is “In Thee Is each January. Presently, if we New Year. Thanks to all who Gladness!” We indeed are glad to need another voter’s meeting participated and to all who give know the love of Christ and throughout the year, we will call to the Lord’s work through St. desire fervently to serve Him one. If we don’t have anything to Paul’s cheerfully and sacrificially! faithfully is 2020! vote on or bring to the The “Annual Appeal” each year congregation formally, the idea is will be one great way for St. that we don’t need a meeting. In Paul’s ministries to remain order to keep the congregation consistently strong year to year. ~2~ The Word on the Hymn of the Season 450 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100010969. Public domain. Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt. Paul Gerhardt was born into a middle-class family at Gra fenhainichen, a small town on the railway between Halle and Wittenberg. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Fu rstenschule in Grimma. The school was known for its pious atmosphere and stern discipline. The school almost closed in 1626 when the plague came to Grimma, but Paul remained and graduated from there in 1627. In January 1628 he enrolled in the University of Wittenberg. There, two teachers in particular had an influence on him: Paul Ro ber and Jacob Martini. Both of these men were staunch Lutherans, promoting its teachings not only in the classroom but in sermons and hymns. Ro ber in particular often took his sermon texts from hymns. In this way Gerhardt was taught the use of hymnody as a tool of pastoral care and instruction. Gerhardt graduated from the University of Wittenberg around 1642. Due to the troubles of the Thirty Years War it seems he was not immediately placed as a pastor, and thus moved to Berlin where he worked as tutor in the family of an advocate named Andreas Barthold.[1] During his time in Berlin his hymns and poems brought him to the attention of Johann Cru ger, the cantor and organist at the Nicolaikirche in Berlin. Cru ger was impressed by Gerhardt's hymns and included many of them in his Praxis pietatis melica. The hymns proved popular, and Gerhardt and Cru ger began a collaboration and friendship that continued for many years. From Wikipedia. ~3~ Our Local Mission: St. Paul’s Lutheran Early Childhood Center 2020 is going to be a great year for St. Paul’s Lutheran Early Childhood Center! As you can see, our numbers are on the increase and continue to be so in the New Year. Most of our classes have a waiting list and we are giving tours regularly. Thanks be to God! December the center was in the red $350.13, but the end of the year saw the center sustained itself with $9,130.10. This has been a goal of the SPLECC Board, Pastor Sherrill and our administrative staff for a long time.