Volume 9, Number 1 Spring 2015 Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church U.A.C. The Emmaus Lutheran And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 We Know Our Savior by His Scarred Hands How important is Easter to you? Easter is a fun holiday, with the children hunting eggs, a big meal with loved ones, and all the trimmings. But Easter should be more than just a holiday. In reality, Easter should change the very order of our lives. This celebration tells us who to trust and who to follow throughout our lives. This is well illustrated by a story Leslie Flynn told of a small boy being raised in a frontier city by his grandma. One night, the house catches on fire. The grandma, trying to rescue the boy who was asleep in the bedroom upstairs, is overcome by the smoke and dies in the fire. This frontier city doesn't have much of a fire department. A crowd gathers around the house and they hear a small boy crying out for help. The lower floor is a wall of flames, and no one seems to know what to do. Suddenly, a man pushes through the crowd and begins climbing an iron drainage pipe, which runs to the roof. The pipe is hot from the fire, but he makes it to a second floor window. The man crawls through the window and locates the boy. With the crowd cheering encouragement, the man climbs back down the hot iron pipe with the boy on his back and his arms around his neck. A few weeks later, a public meeting was held to determine in whose custody the boy would be placed. Each person wanting the child would be allowed to make a brief statement. The first man said, "I have a farm and would give the boy a good home. He would grow up on the farm and learn a trade." The second person to speak was the local schoolteacher. She said, "I am a schoolteacher, and I would see to it that he received a good education." ...continued on pg. 8 Rev. Dr. John Hellwege Inside this Issue His Hands pg. 1, 8 New School pg. 2, 3 Compass St. Louis pg. 4 Moving Day pg. 5 Thrive Update pg. 6 Special Notes pg. 7 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 Emmaus School Building Starts New Chapter Our congregation thanks God for a recent partnership with Eagle College Prep Schools! When Emmaus Lutheran closed its day school doors in 1974, a deep desire remained within the hearts of members: The school building should still be a valuable part of the congregation’s ministry of creating Lutheran education opportunities for all ages, and especially for youth. But, God’s timing and plan is not our own. For the last four decades, this hope’s fulfillment has been seen only in small ways, guided by the prayers and resourcefulness of members through the years. Whether a parenting class and homeschool co-op here, or a short-lived school group there—Emmaus has continued to look for the best ways to utilize the school building for Gospel outreach, serving both for our members and the Fox Park community. A new opportunity arrived before us in December 2014. After years of struggling, God has sent a refreshing rain of promise to assist our outreach ministry and infuse educational hope into the Fox Park neighborhood. This good news came to us from Rev. Matt Hoehner, a Lutheran pastor who currently serves as the St. Louis Regional Executive Director at a nonprofit organization called Educational Enterprises, Inc. Hoehner announced that EEI For over 80 years, the sound of children’s voices and laughter filled the rooms of 2617 Shenandoah Ave. Now, in 2015, the music of young lives will resume. wanted to begin a partnership with Emmaus. On behalf of EEI, Hoehner explained how our school building would make an ideal location for the expansion of St. Louis Eagle College Prep Schools and Compass Educational Programs. And right in front of us would be the ability to form relationships with children and their families at the school. Eagle Prep is a charter school model with recorded highperformance in closing the educational achievement gap and character building. These goals and success stories are no longer common in St. Louis city schools. “Eagle” stands for “Expecting Academic Greatness with a Loving Emphasis.” Hoehner’s proposal set into motion prayers and plans to open Eagle Fox Park in fall 2015. But the icing on the cake for Emmaus’ Gospel outreach is the unique missional focus of the Compass program. ...continued on pg. 3 2 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 Emmaus School Building Starts New Chapter (Continued from pg. 2) Compass is a Lutheran Christian-based program that partners with Eagle Prep to provide optional Before/After school care for children who attend Eagle Prep Fox Park. Activities include recreation, Bible time, homework help, and so much more. When parents sign up their children up to participate, they can be sure that their little ones will grow spiritually, socially, and academically. Compass care is designed to nurture both students who have a Christian background and those who are learning about God’s Word for the first time. According to Jennifer Prophete, Compass Regional Director in St. Louis, the joy of Compass is its faith foundation. “With the decreased access to faith-based education, we see Compass as an essential piece to helping support these families,” Prophete noted. “We do this by providing . . . care that includes a devotional time and Christian staff who can witness to their faith in their daily interactions with the children and families.” So what does all of this mean for Emmaus? The blessing of Compass supporting Eagle Prep is that Compass’ fulltime staff structure welcomes and encourages their host congregation’s members to get involved. So in whatever ways we’re able, from helping with Bible time to tutoring or teaching a sports class, we can play a role in these students’ lives—and eventually get to know their families—as God allows. Please join us in prayer as we anticipate how He will work through us in this ministry opportunity. Eagle Prep Fox Park will offer K–2 classes this fall, with plans in place to eventually grow to grade eight. During the next few months, the school building will be undergoing extensive renovations. While Emmaus remains the owner of the building, our renter and new partner EEI is overseeing renovations set to begin before April. “I am personally so excited by the reception we have already received from Emmaus,” Prophete shared. “I am looking forward to watching how God will bless our partnership.” If you have any questions about Emmaus’ new partnership with Eagle Prep and Compass, please feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at (314) 7761274. We’d love to hear from you! Prayer Requests for Our Compass Partnership From Jennifer Prophete, Compass Regional Director For our future students, that God is preparing them to be fertile soil. For the process of licensure/inspections, that God gives us a clear path and good partners in the city and state as we work to open the site For God to give us wisdom in building the team that will serve the students at CompassFox Park From Ben Mayes, Emmaus Congregational President For the success both of the Eagle Prep school and the Compass program, and pray especially that through these efforts many people would receive the gift of faith in Christ and be joined to Christ's Body, the Church. 3 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 Sneak Peek: How Does Compass Impact Kids? Compass Educational Programs is already making a difference in Tower Grove South. Jennifer Prophete, Compass Regional Director, recently reflected on how God is working in students’ lives at Compass’ first St. Louis location on Morganford Road. Listen in . . . “One [story] that comes to mind is a student who started Compass in the second semester. He didn't connect quickly with other students or the staff and was somewhat sullen and troublesome. Things have quickly changed. We were invited by St. John's Lutheran [the host congregation] to sing for their Ash Wednesday service. This student had really started to be engaged with our daily singing during devotions, particularly songs with a lot of actions. Pastor Tanney began working with the students to learn the song for Ash Wednesday and praised this student often for his enthusiasm. Ash Wednesday came, and he was there! He sang his heart out and was so proud to be a part of something. But that's not all—even though we are not singing at the other Lenten services, he comes anyway. He sits in the very front row so that he can get to the children's message more quickly and not miss anything. He refuses to leave early when his parents come to get him. He hasn't missed a service yet. During Compass, he is making friends with other students and often gives me hugs. Isn't it remarkable what God can do?” “Lord Jesus Christ, the children’s friend, To each of them Your presence send; Call them by name and keep them true in loving faith, dear Lord, to You.” LSB 866:1 Interested in donating materials for Compass? If you’d like to collect and donate any of the follow items as you see sales or go to garage sales this summer, the Compass staff would be very appreciative! Basic school supplies Art supplies Office supplies Rainy day activities: puzzles, card or board games, flash cards, books, coloring books, Legos, etc.) 4 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 Where Should We Put This Heavy Box? Here? On a warm January weekend, Emmaus members and friends gathered to move office spaces and boxes to the church. Mark This Down! Our church mailing address has changed: 2241 South Jefferson Avenue 5 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 Thrive Parent University Classes Now Call Crave “Home” By Rebecca Mayes, Emmaus Volunteer Recruiter for Parent University Due to the renovations that are beginning on the Emmaus school building, the Parent University classes previously held there by Thrive St. Louis have found a temporary new home. Classes now meet at the Crave Coffee House, 3500 Caroline St., next to the Saint Louis University campus. Both the Tuesday and Thursday classes have now combined to Thursdays, which forms a crowd of over 40 students at times and up to 15 children. Crave has a wonderful banquet space which we've been using to serve our suppers and then provide the childcare. We are grateful to Rev. Matt Schultz and the partner congregation, Christ in the City, for sharing their facilities with us during these spring and summer months! Emmaus is also planning a post-Easter dinner for the volunteers, students, and their families, on April 16 and we look forward to sharing the Easter message with all who attend. Our current prayer requests include: Additional volunteers for food donations and childcare Peace and stability in the lives of the students and their children Faith to grow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the hearts of the students as they hear God's Word each week in Bible study and class Emmaus member Rev. Randy Golter leads a few Thrive students in Bible study. 6 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 “I thank my God in all remembrance of you.” Just a few notes from Jefferson Avenue. Sympathy: In your prayers, please remember the family and friends of Martin Breitenfeld, former Emmaus member and friend of the congregation. He died in the arms of His Savior on December 16, 2014. Pastor Hellwege’s Ordination Anniversary: Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 26! We look forwarding to honoring Pastor Hellwege for 15 years in the Office of Holy Ministry on that day. A special guest preacher will be leading us in Bible study and the Divine Service, and a reception will follow worship. Please join us in giving thanks for the gift of Pastor Hellwege! Use Amazon? Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Emmaus whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. Start here each time you shop with your regular Amazon account: smile.amazon.com/ch/43-0662466 Thank you to our frequent nonmember donors! Your prayers and support are a blessing to Emmaus as we proclaim God’s love in Christ to south city St. Louis. On March 31, your 2014 Thrivent Choice Dollars will expire. Remember to direct your Choice Dollars before the end of the month. For more resources related to this program, please visit: https://www.thrivent.com/making-adifference/living-generously/thrivent-choice/ 7 Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church 2241 South Jefferson Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104 emmaus-stl.org Our New Mailing Address! Emmaus Ev. Lutheran Church U.A.C. Spring 2015 We Know Our Savior by His Scarred Hands (Continued from pg. 1) Finally, the banker said, "Mrs. Morton and I would be able to give the boy a fine home and a fine education. We would like him to come and live with us." The presiding officer looked around and asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to say anything?" A man rose and said, "These other people may be able to offer some things I can't. All I can offer is my love." Then, he slowly removed his hands from his coat pockets. A gasp went up from the crowd because his hands were scarred terribly from climbing up and down the hot pipe. The boy recognized the man as the one who had saved his life and ran into his waiting arms. The farmer, teacher and the banker simply sat down. Everyone knew what the decision would be. The scarred hands proved that this man had given more than all the others. In many ways, this story is like the story of Easter and why Easter makes such a difference in our lives. Like the boy, we have been saved, not from a house fire, but from the very fires of hell. Easter is a celebration of our salvation. But more than that, it also reminds us that, like the boy, we also can trust the One who loved us enough to save us. This means that, like the boy, we live our lives following our Savior, following the One who loved us so much that He endured great pain in order to see that we are safe. And how do we recognize Him? By His scarred hands—His nail-scarred hands. May the love of Christ be with you always, Pastor John Hellwege 8
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