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THE EPISTLE
January 2015
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
VINCENNES, INDIANA
Message from Bishop Gafkjen
Inside This Issue
December 2014
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
[Good Christian Friends, Rejoice; ELW 288, LBW 55]
Oddly, this refrain from a sprightly medieval Christmas hymn came to mind
in mid-November as I watched, through tear-blurred eyes, the press conference of Ed and Paula Kassig, the parents of Peter Abdul-Rahman Kassig,
after they learned of his brutal murder by ISIS. The press conference was
held in the narthex of the family’s United Methodist church in Indianapolis.
“Our hearts are battered,” Paula said, “but they will mend. The world is
broken, but it will be healed in the end. And good will prevail as the one
God of many names will prevail.”
“Please,” Ed asked, “allow our family the time and privacy to mourn, to Bishop William O. Gafkjen
cry – and yes, to
forgive – and begin to heal.”
Battered…will mend. Broken…will be healed. Allow us the time…to forgive. God will prevail.
Unexpectedly, oddly, my heart began to sing, quietly, slowly, barely audible in my own
heart: Christ was born for this. Christ was born for this.
One commentator on this hymn has said that its “catchy melody bounces along in a triple rhythm
that is easily sung and danced.”i There was neither singing nor dancing when it came to my mind.
It was more like the voices of the Kassigs, weary, broken, trusting, hopeful: Christ was born for
this, even this, especially this. Christ will not let this deep brokenness, this savage evil, this unbearable pain have the last word. It will take time, but we will be healed, we will forgive; the world will
mend, God will prevail. Christ was born for this.
One of the unusual traits this hymn has picked up as it has echoed its way to us from the 14th century is a brief, strange mid-verse change in meter.ii In some versions (preserved, for example, in
some United Methodist hymnals), the phrase “News! News!” is inserted before the refrain in each
verse. So, verse two of the hymn reads like this:
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: News! News!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven’s door…
This odd interruption reminds me of a newsboy standing on an old, cold December street corner holding up the special edition newspaper just released, beckoning to all who pass by,
“News! News!” Perhaps a contemporary image of this might be those intrusive pop-ups that
appear on our computer screens to let us know that an important email message or news report has arrived and demands our attention.
As we move through the challenges of our days, Advent and Christmas interrupt our rhythm,
break our stride, and disrupt the doldrums of our days with the cry: News! News! Christ was
born for this!
The tinsel, bright lights, and beautiful wrappings of this season cry out, too, with the good
news that all our struggles, pain, anguish, doubts, fears, and most desperate aching for peace
and joy, forgiveness and new life find their home in the manger, in the child of Bethlehem who
enters deeply into this troubled world to break its stride by rising from the tomb.
I can hardly wait to sing this wonderful hymn this Christmastide. Thanks to the Kassigs, it
might even move me to dance (or at least to sway a bit; I am Scandinavian, after all), resting
the world and my own travails in the sure and certain promises that come wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Christ was born for this!
+Bishop Bill Gafkjen
i Paul Westermeyer, quoted at http://www.hymnary.org/text/good_christian_men_rejoice
ii http://www.gbod.org/resources/history-of-hymns-good-christian-friends-rejoice
Loaves and Fishes
2
Special Days in Janu-
2
Praying the Psalms
2
2014 Flower Chart
2
I Can Do That Forms
2
Church Directory
2
Financial Report—
3
Season of Epiphany
4
Rainbow Jar
4
Prayer Journal
4
Looking Ahead
5
I Can Do That
I Can Do That forms are
now
being collated and we’ll
begin
using them in February.
However, if you have not
turned one in yet, it’s not
too late!
Please get it to the church
office as soon as you can.
We would love to have
your participation!!
Loaves and Fishes
Thursday, January 8
See details inside on
page 2
Praying the Psalms at
the Parsonage
Tuesday, January 27
See details inside on
page 2
January 2015 Page 2
LOAVES AND FISHES—JANUARY 25TH
Loaves and Fishes will be served at Bowman Terrace
Thursday, January 8th beginning at 5:30 pm
If you would like to help or donate fruit or a dessert
of your choice, please contact Annie Prout at 812-899-6167.
Please prepare a
“new recipe” for a
new year to share at the meal with the
group.
Pastor will provide drinks.
Flower Chart for 2015 now posted
Special days in January
The 2015 Flower Chart has been posted in the Narthex (by the
front church doors). We hope you’ll sign up soon to donate
altar flowers throughout the year in memory of, or in celebration
of friends or loved ones.
Birthdays
9
11
18
19
29
30
31
AND “NEW PECIPE” MEAL WITH PASTOR NAN AT THE PARSONAGE
Tuesday, January 27th
At the Parsonage
5:30 pm
Thursday, January 8th
Bowman Terrace
5:30 pm
5
PRAYING THE PSALMS—JANUARY 28TH
Heather Schmeling
Kirsten Schmeling Stead
Erie Coe
Lee Noble
Genna Pesch
Kurt Roesler
Holly Dagney
Katie Kotter
Pete Slowik
I Can Do That forms
I Can Do That forms are now being collated and we’ll begin
using them in February, 2015. If you have not turned one in
yet, it’s not too late!
Please get it to the church office as soon as you can—we
would love to have your participation!
Church Directory Changes
Anniversaries
3
4
6
13
22
23
28
Bill Rump—please use e-mail address
Pastor Nan Dehnke –Baptism
Chad Covey—Baptism
Frank Anthony Baracani—Baptism
Amanda Shelly—Baptism
Nicholas Stull—Baptism
Jake Personett—Baptism
Eric Cameron—Baptism
[email protected]
Jon Hillenbrand—change cell phone number to
(812) 881-1911
Prayer chain contacts
Sunday School Cancelled on Jan 4
th
Sunday School will be cancelled on January 4th
due to holiday travel and school breaks.
Peggy Adams
Becky Blagrave
Sue Mahrenholz
Mary Lou Reitmeyer
885-0085
890-1358
890-2096
887-4988
January 2015 Page 3
SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE!
Special thanks go out to

Our cantors, Janet Day and Elizabeth Brochin.

All the dedicated Sunday School teachers from the past year

All who gave so generously to the Giving Tree so that we might help provide for the needs of those
staying in the two new LAM houses for men and women and the blanket bundles for CASA.

Those who shared their special musical talents—Denise Hendrix, Jana Yochum, Pam Stewart and the all the
wonderful choir singers and bell ringers who took part in our very meaningful and beautiful Christmas Cantata.
Discipleship in Action
World Hunger Offering Announced
A big thank you to our youth leadership for taking the
responsibility for they Youth Led Advent Service on Sunday,
December 14th. All participants did a good job in leading the
service.
Many thanks to all who raised $535.40 to be sent to the many
people throughout the world who are without adequate food and
clean water.
________________________________
________________________
Our appreciation goes out to the décor and planning committee
for all the extra effort which went into producing such a beautiful
Cantata and Christmas Eve Services.
________________________________
Of course we want to thank all those who helped to plan and
coordinate the Advent Services. A tremendous job was done as
always.
Are you Interested in becoming a new
member of St. Paul’s
congregation?
See Pastor Nan!
St. Paul’s financial report, November 2014
11 Month
Year-to-Date
Budget
Year-to-Date
$10,377.35
$10,181.51
$195.84
$98,191.90
$104,718.10
($6,526.20)
$108,556.25
$108,556.25
$0.00
($10,364.35)
($3,838.15)
($6,526.20)
Building Fund Receipts
Mission Support Receipts
$258.00
$518.00
$3,428.50
$5,397.50
$4,583.33
$5,729.17
($1,154.83)
($331.67)
Current Fund Balance
Dec-13
$45,095.05
Nov-14
$38,347.18
2014
Current Fund
Offering/Total Receipts
Current Fund Expenses
Gain/(Loss)
November
Actual
Variance
January 2015 Page 4
The Season of Epiphany
On the day of Epiphany, January 6th,
the church celebrates the revelation
of Christ to all nations as represented
by the magi (wise men) who come to
worship Jesus. The church calendar
recognizes the season of Epiphany
from January 6th until the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, which is
celebrated as the Transfiguration of
our Lord.
Colors and Symbols of the
Season

Principle themes





The revelation of Christ to all
nations
Jesus’ baptism in the River
Jordan
Christ as the light of the world
The public ministry of Jesus
Christ, including Jesus’ first
miracle of turning water into wine
a the wedding at Cana
Growth in a Christian’s baptized
identity
is used in the Season of
Epiphany beginning
with the second week after
the Epiphany until the week
before the Transfiguration of
our Lord is celebrated.

White, a color associated with the
festivals of Christ and suggesting
gladness, joy, and light for the
day of Epiphany when the
Baptism of our Lord is
celebrated, the last week of
the season of Epiphany when
the Transfiguration of our Lord
is celebrated.

Stars are a traditional symbol
of the festival of Epiphany.
During this season of the church
year, we especially encourage all
the members of our church family
to use the gifts God has given
them in service to others. Our
hands and feet reveal the light of
Christ in the world.
Green, the color used for times
when festival or penitential colors
are not appropriate. Green is reminiscent of living plants and suggests spiritual growth. Green is
Hope you are enjoying readingJesus: A Pilgrimage
February Epistle items Needed
—due by Jan 10th
Pastor Nan is looking forward to the 2
discussion sessions planned to be host-
Items or articles for the February issue of the
Epistle will be due into the Church Office by
ed at the parsonage in February.
Saturday January 10th.
——————————————
Rainbow Jar—Social Ministry Special Project for
January
In January, we encourage donations to our Rainbow Jar on the
table in the Narthex (by the front doors of
the church). These donations are used to
assist families and members of St. Paul’s.
If you have a need, please see Pastor Nan
for a confidential conversation about those
needs—don’t hesitate, please come and
share your needs.
Prayer Journal
The Prayer Journal is located near the main
entry door of our Sanctuary.
Please write any prayer requests in the
journal and Pastor will lift these petitions
during Sunday morning Worship.
January 2015 Page 5
Looking Ahead—in the Month of January
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS
We will begin having small group discussions on same-sex blessings
and marriages starting in February. These discussions will be run by 2
council members who will be contacting you sometime in early
February to set up times. We will try to make the groups
6-10 people so everybody has plenty of time to be heard. The first session will be primarily listening to people’s experiences, hopes, and fears on the
topic. These discussions will not be debates, but a time to listen to all members
thoughts on this difficult topic. We will follow the 4 step approach laid out by
the Bishop when he came to council. There is no agenda or timetable for our
congregation to come to a final decision. We hope everyone will participate in
these discussions and help us chart a path for the future of our congregation
that is best for us.
Sincerely,
Mike Hidde – Council President
Matthew 2 The Message (MSG)
Wise Men from the East
2 After Jesus was born in Bethle1-2
hem village, Judah territory— this
was during Herod’s kingship—a band
of wise men arrived in Jerusalem
from the East. They asked around,
“Where can we find and pay homage
to the newborn King of the Jews? We
observed a star in the eastern sky
that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
So what star are you following on
your journey in Epiphany with Jesus?
Page 8
January 2015
S T P AU L ’ S L U T H E R AN C H U R C H
V I N C E N N E S , I N D I AN A
925 Broadway Street
Vincennes, Indiana 47591
Pastor: Nan Dehnke
Phone: 812.882.6028
E-mail: [email protected] (Pastor)
[email protected] (Secretary)
Website: www.stpaulsvincennes.org
Celebrate Faith and Grow in Discipleship!
St. Paul’s Mission Statement
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church is a Word and Sacrament community.
We strive to be faithful, prayerful, loving Christians dedicated to serving
God and his creation in joyful response to his gift of redemptive love.