1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

May 2015
Epiphany Lutheran Church
May 2015
Brianna’s verse:
For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
Alex’s verse:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
(Psalm 23:1)
Josiah’s verse:
Go in the strength you have and save Israel
out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?
(Judges 6:14)
Brianna
Alex
Josiah
Baptized &
Confirmed
in Christ
God’s blessings on your confirmation day,
May 10th, 2015
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
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May 2015
Checkpoint Confirmation
On the front range of the Rocky Mountains, north of Colorado Springs,
there is a 9,300 foot mountain called Eagle’s Peak. When I was in college,
I climbed it a few times with friends. At the foot of the mountain, there is
a trailhead sign that reads: “Stay on the trail. Off-trail terrain is extremely
hazardous.” There’s also this warning: “Climbing near the face of the mountain
has resulted in deaths and numerous injuries. Don’t be next!” Then there is a
question at the bottom: “Are you prepared?”
The hike begins in a thick forest of pine and aspen groves. The heavy
trees and winding trail make it difficult to see beyond your immediate
vicinity. As you climb, the oxygen gets increasingly rare. The burning in
your lungs and legs makes you want to stop. But then you come to the
first clearing. Even more powerfully than the thin air, the view takes your
breath away. Forgetting the fatigue, you can’t wait to see it from the top.
Christian Confirmation is like coming into that clearing.
Whether you want to call it a sacrament (as with the Roman Catholics) or a response to God’s promise
in the Sacrament of Baptism (as with the Lutherans), the intended impact is the same: Confirmation is
supposed to help us push through the fatigue and keep climbing.
Sadly, the practice of Confirmation has often been held hostage by another metaphor: graduation.
Rather than being treated as a checkpoint along the way, it has been taken as an occasion to say, “Whew,
I’m so glad to be done with that!” When I graduated from college and had completed my last ever calculus
class, I thought, “I’m glad to be done with that!” But, when I came into that clearing on the path up Eagle’s
Peak, I thought, “Look how far we’ve come.” And after pausing a moment to enjoy the view, everyone
agreed—we didn’t come this far to stop here.
At the top of our climb with Jesus there is uninterrupted fellowship with
God in His kingdom that is coming “on earth as it is in heaven.”
The path supporting us, the trailhead warning sign, and the inspiring view
are all different ways to describe God’s Word. His 10 Commandments guide
and warn us: “Are you prepared?” They grab our attention to keep us from
falling to our death. God’s words we hear in the Creed, in Baptism, and the
Lord’s Supper promise unfailing support and strength. They inspire us.
God even gives us the words we need to ask for His help in the Lord’s Prayer.
We don’t ever “graduate” from these words—we live by them.
On May 10th, we will celebrate the confirmation of
Brianna, Alex, and Josiah. We pause for a moment to
enjoy the view and say, “Look how far you’ve come!”
And together we confess, “We didn’t come this far
to stop now.”
Pastor Zeigler
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
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May 2015
Christian Fellowship & Formation
It’s More than a Fish Story
Study the Book of Jonah (May 31st – July 5th)
Join us for a 6 week, Sunday morning Bible Study on the
Book of Jonah.
Sunday School - Children are invited to meet in the
upstairs parlor (by church office) at 10:45 a.m.
Sunday School Snapshot
DATE
LESSON
ACTIVITY
May 3rd
Jesus is the Vine
Plant Flowers for
Mothers’ Day
May
10th
May 17th
May 24th
May 31st
Confirmation Reception
Reaching Out
Raise Funds for
Outreach
Fourth Sunday Fellowship Meal
Sharing Good News
Purchase Goat
thru World Vision
Many people have heard this Bible story summarized as
“Jonah and the Whale.” But once you take time to read
and study it, you will find that there is much more to it.
“Jonah is like a can that contains a coiled spring. Opening it
innocently, we are shocked as the spring leaps out! Most of us are
fine with Jonah as a Sunday school lesson, but it is a life-changing
call to repentance and mission disguised as a ‘bedtime story’ that
simply takes our breath away!”
– Dr. Reed Lessing, author of Jonah, Concordia Commentary
Even if you can’t make it to all six Sunday morning
sessions, you can still follow along in the study guide
and use it as a home, family, or small group Bible Study.
Ask Pastor Zeigler for a printed study guide
or request one via email by contacting him at
[email protected].
Women’s Bible Study
Wednesdays
through June 15th
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
at Epiphany
You can still join this study
on the book of Esther.
We will follow materials
written by Beth Moore,
which are also designed as daily devotionals.
“Beth peels back the layers of history to show how very contemporary
and applicable the story of Ether is to our lives. This portion of God’s
Word contains treasures to aid us in our hurried, harried, and
pressured lives” (Lifeway Publishers).
Serve Boldly – our church is one of 36
St. Louis area congregations participating in the
“Serve Boldly” initiative sponsored by the Lutheran
Foundation of St. Louis. The purpose of “Serve Boldly”
is to discover, celebrate, and amplify where God is at
work in our congregations to serve our communities
through social service and human care outreach. Learn
more at serveboldly.org.
Cost is $10/person. Assistance available upon request.
Non-members are welcome. Contact Desiree Stout or
Amy Zeigler to register.
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
Friday,
May15th
Mail them to the church office, call
them in, or E-mail them to
[email protected]
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May 2015
May
Please notify the
church office of
any errors or
omissions.
1st Bill Dorsam
4th Marsel Cuka
Janet Smart
Scott Walters
th
7 Amanda Lee
Fred Wachter
th
11 Carolyn Gluesenkamp
15th Kristina Yaeger
16th Thomas Poss II
21st Alex Pfeuffer
24th Greyson Barnett
25th Justin Kirkpatrick
Riley Voss
27th Paula Lamb
June
Michael Weihl
nd Emily Driscoll
2
th
30 Ronald Littrell
Eddie Foster Jr.
31st Kevin Stovall
Paul Weihl
4th Zakary Littrell
5th Mark McMurry
6th Bd. of Elders
7th National Day of Prayer
10th Mother’s Day
10th Confirmation Day
14th Ascension of the Lord
16th Armed Forces Day
19th Council (rescheduled)
21st LWML
24th Fellowship Potluck
24th Pentecost
25th Memorial Day
31st Trinity Sunday
3rd Bd. of Elders
8th Council
14th Flag Day
21st Father’s Day
21st 1st Day of Summer
28th Fellowship Potluck
Helen Reisner
1st
21st
22nd
24th
25th
25th
25th
28th
29th
Susan & Jesse Driscoll
Andrea & Don Reynolds
Christine & Thomas Poss
Amy & Michael Weihl
Ruth & Rodney Schury
Billy & Andrea Barnett
Carol & Robert Trautman
Hazel & Ronald Littrell
Sharon & Jeffrey Kirkpatrick
27 years
25 years
16 years
12 years
30 years
14 years
52 years
8 years
18 years
born October 26th, 1919,
member of Epiphany
since November 29th, 1977,
asleep in Jesus, May 1st, 2015,
now awaiting the
resurrection of the dead
at the glorious return
of our Lord Jesus Christ
Together in Mission (T.I.M.)
Although donations can be given any time,
April is one of the months we ask you to
remember them by giving a little something
extra. Through our support they are able to
continue teaching about Christ in a country
where there are many unchurched people.
Thank you for your continue support.
---T.I.M. Committee
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Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
May 2015
Our Stewardship
Offerings
Attendance
Week
of
Sunday
Growth
in the
Word
4/5
123
41 (Easter
Breakfast)
4/12
65
25
4/19
86
33
4/26
106
39
Week
of
Sunday
Dedicated
Gifts
Other
Income
MidWeek
4/5
$3,664.56
$509.96
--
Lent: $1,274
4/12
$770
$471
--
4/19
$1,458.35
$195
$80
4/26
$1,955.25
$110
$10
Honor someone, celebrate a special
occasion, or give as as a memorial to a
loved one special altar flowers.
A sign-up calendar is in the narthex.
The cost is $25.00 for two bouquets.
Epiphany’s LWML will meet on the
3rd Thursday of the month after Bible Study.
Refreshments will be served.
Towel & Blanket Collection
Remember our furry friends at
the Humane Society during the
month of May. Bring old towels
and blankets (can be torn) to
church for the puppies and
kittens. - Sponsored by Thrivent
Fourth Sunday Potluck Brunch
Join us for our monthly potluck brunch in the lower level Fellowship Hall.
Bring main dish, side dish, or dessert to share and enjoy some
conversation with your sisters and brothers in Christ.
Make it a date.
11 a.m. on May 24th & June 28th.
Contact Karen Slama,
(314) 353.2396
with any prayer
requests.
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Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
May 2015
Homebound:
Bonnie Crites
Donna Reek
Dorothy Zickler
Serving as Police Officers:
Emilee Sutherlin
Kurt & Kathy Zickler
Jonathan Baublitz (Desiree Stout’s brother)
Andrew Kleffner
Mark McMurry
Adrian Patton (Alison McMurry’s brother)
Don Reynolds (Andrea’s husband)
Epiphany Members - for God’s Grace, Health, & Healing:
Carolyn Gluesenkamp
Bonny Lang
Rod Schury
Ron Diederichs
Anita French
Serving in the Military:
Patrick Coil
Paul Frederich (Shirley Frederich’s grandson)
Jinming Lam
Tyson Patton (Alison McMurry’s brother)
James Welch (Michele’s husband)
David Wheeler (Judy Langdon’s son-in-law)
(Information as of Wednesday, May 6th.
Please notify the office of any additions or removals.)
Serving in May
Date
Time
Elder(s)
Greeter(s)
Acolyte
5/3
9:30 a.m.
Bill Dorsam
Marlene & Andrew
Kleffner
Hanna Hawk
5/10
9:30 a.m.
Mike Meyer
Wil Degenhardt
Brianna Meyer
5/17
9:30 a.m.
Chris Pfeuffer
Carey Depew
Alex Pfeuffer
5/24
9:30 a.m.
Rich Berg
Johanna & Ron
Armstrong
Elise Zeigler
5/31
9:30 a.m.
Bill Dorsam
Hazel & Ron Littrell
Josiah Zeigler
Altar Guild Duty – Andrea Barnett & Shirley Frederich
May Food Pantry Collection
It is always a blessing to go around to these pantries and
drop off items. I witness many volunteers working
tirelessly to help others and many people in need having
their need met. Epiphany members always step up with
food donations and monetary donations and that is
greatly appreciated. These pantries cannot operate
without generous donors! Our first donation for the
month goes to Feed My People. Followed by: St. John's
on Morganford, St. Trinity, and Concordia Seminary.
Thank you for your continued support!
-Board of Social Ministry
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
Each Sunday, our nursery is staffed
with one worker and one volunteer.
They are located in the lower level,
below the front entryway. Care is
provided for children under 5 years
of age from 9:15 a.m. to noon to allow
for parents to attend worship and
Bible Class.
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May 2015
There are flyers on the bulletin boards with detailed information for most of the following events;
or you can check with the office for more information if you are interested .
Peace Center for New Americans, 4019 So. Grand Blvd., 63118, is having a FREE Health Education and Screening. Hearing,
vision, dental, blood pressure, nutrition… Registration: 9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Diabetes screening included in the
morning. Dates: May 2nd, June 6th, July 25th, Sept. 5th, Oct. 3rd, Nov. 7th, 2015. Bring medications, eye glasses, &
insurance cards.
Join fellow Lutherans from around the world on Sun., May 3rd + 8 a.m. CDT + Wittenberg, Germany, for the dedication
service of the International Lutheran Center at the Old Latin School in Wittenberg, Germany. Watch live:
livestream.com/thelcms/wittenberg
Join us for the 2015 Lutheran Day at Busch Stadium on Sun., May 3rd, at 1:15 p.m. when the Cardinals play the Pirates.
The Lutheran South and Lutheran North varsity baseball teams will play at Busch following the Cardinal game.
Discounted tickets are available for $25 at the schools or online at lhsastl.org/news-events/2015-cardinal-daybusch-stadium.
GIVE STL DAY: Tues., May 5th. Give STL Day is a 24-hour, online giving event organized by the Greater St. Louis
Foundation to grow philanthropy in the St. Louis area. More information: givestlday.org
Join LSS on Fri., May 8th at 5:30 p.m. to experience inspirational works of art, both vintage and modern, while helping to
restore hope to seniors in need. Event is free; however, donations to defray costs are welcomed. Visit
www.worksofheart.eventbrite.com
Fri., May 8 at 7:30 p.m. is the annual Spring Band Concert. This event features Lutheran South’s Wind Symphony in
addition to the high school Concert Band. Also included will be the Junior Winds, a select band of the best
Lutheran elementary school band members in the area. This concert will be held in the Concordia Center at
Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood.
ASCENSION AT ASCENSION . You’re invited to celebrate the Ascension of our Lord at Ascension Lutheran Church. The
service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., May 14th. Weather permitting, we’ll worship outside under the same
sky into which Jesus Ascended to His Father. A frozen custard reception will be held immediately following the
service.
Dr. Paul Maier will present the latest Village Lutheran Lecture on Christianity and Culture on Sat., May 16th, 2-4 p.m. at
Village Lutheran Church, 9237 Clayton Rd, Ladue. A reception and book-signing will follow. All are welcome to
attend this free event.
The Annual South St. Louis Thrivent Chapter Picnic will be held at Lemay Park, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sat., May 23rd. All
families in South St. Louis Mo. Thrivent Chapter #30663 are invited to come for food, fun, and fellowship. Watch for
more details!
Join Solea in their 1st ever Barefoot Ball, on Sat., May 30th, for an evening of dinner & dancing to honor those around the world
without shoes or safe drinking water. All proceeds will benefit Solea water's clean water programs in Latin America. At
Saint Louis University, allied health multipurpose room 3040, 3437 Caroline Mall, 63104. Visit
http://www.soleawater.org/barefoot for more info or to sign up.
Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) First Annual Walkathon, Sat., May 30th, Registration 9 - 10:30 a.m., Laclede
Groves, 723 S. Laclede Station Rd., STL 63119. Join the fun! Walk or Sponsor a Walker & participate in welcoming
New Americans. Register on line cfna-stl.org/walk or at the Walkathon. Call (314) 517.8513 for details.
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Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
May 2015
Overcoming Temptation
Only he who flings himself upward
when the pull comes to drag him down
can hope to break the force of temptation.
Temptation may be an invitation to hell,
but much more is it an opportunity to reach
for the God of heaven.
At the moment of temptation, sin and
righteousness are both very near the Christian;
but, of the two, the latter is the nearer.
Come, Holy Spirit
As the blood of Christ is the fountain of all
merit, so the Holy Spirit is the fountain of all
spiritual life; and until he quickens us,
imparts the principle of divine life to our
souls, we can put forth no vital act of faith to
lay hold upon Jesus Christ.
—John Flavel
—Charles H. Brent
Word + Spirit
Advice for Grads
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to
be useful, to be honorable, to be
compassionate, to have it make some
difference that you have lived and lived well.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
We must not be content to have the Spirit
without the Word or the Word without the
Spirit. Our lives must travel along these two,
as the locomotive travels along parallel rails. It
is only by our devout contact with the Bible
that we shall be able to detect the Holy Spirit’s
voice. It is by the Word that the Spirit will
enter our hearts, as the heat of the sun passes
into our homes when its beams of light enter
the open windows.
—F.B. Meyer
CONTACT US
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.epiphany-stl.org
4045 Holly Hills Blvd.
St. Louis, Mo 63116
Phone: (314) 752.7065 Fax: (314) 752.7065
Pastor Zeigler:
Church Office:
On the Web:
Mail:
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO
The Star
is the monthly publication of
Epiphany Lutheran Church
4045 Holly Hills Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63116
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May 2015
Epiphany Lutheran Church – St. Louis, MO