1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

St. Paul Lutheran Church
March 1, 2015
Volume 17, Issue 3
The St. Paul Messenger
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which
you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body
and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. (Ephesians
4:1-4)
Our Lenten journey continues throughout March. So far, WE have learned some things about
Physical Wellbeing, especially why it’s important that WE stay well physically. This week, WE
will learn some things about being healthy financially as God’s children.
FROM THE
PASTOR
I have to admit, it’s hard to teach these things completely from the pulpit. After all, how can I
fully promote health and wellness and give all the tools necessary to do so in about 25
minutes? But then again, we already have some knowledge on how to be healthy and how to
manage money for the Lord’s work.
But just because we have some knowledge doesn’t mean that we put that knowledge into
practice. There have been times in my own life where I knew that God commands me to pray and that He
promises to hear my prayers, but I didn’t always pray regularly and earnestly as I ought. I always knew that
God encourages generosity and sacrificial giving for the Lord’s work. I knew what a tithe was. (The math is
easy: move the decimal point one place to the left of what I earn and that’s a good guide as to how much I give
in offerings at church, supporting missions, and gifts for human care.) Yet, there were times where I lacked the
love and trust in God to actually give regularly and generously.
Sometimes, we can fall away from practicing good, healthy, Christian disciplines. Some of us didn’t have good,
healthy, Christian disciplines and practices in our homes when we grew up, and so we never developed them.
Change is hard. Starting something from scratch is even harder. But is that a legitimate excuse to not work on
developing good, healthy Christian practices like weekly worship, daily prayer, Bible study, daily devotions, discussing and encouraging one another according to the Word, or regular giving? Of course not!!
I believe that many times our lack of good, healthy, Christian practices are a matter of the heart. If these were a
priority, we would do them. If we say we have no time, we can change the priority in our life, and we will make
the time for it. If we don’t feel like doing them, that’s a time to check our hearts. It’s a time for repentance: God,
I’ve sinned badly! God, I’ve put the things of this world above you. Have mercy on me! Forgive me! Help me do
better! Restore unto me the joy of your salvation! Create in me a clean heart, O God! Renew a right spirit within
me!
I hope that this Lent, God will challenge us to grow as His dear children. I earnestly pray that God will renew
and bless our congregation. I pray that God will move all our hearts and restore unto us the joy of His salvation.
I pray that God will bless our life together. I pray that God give us great zeal and passion to live as His children,
individually and as a congregation. I can’t wait to see how God will answer these prayers!!
Since I can’t teach every detail of wellbeing from the pulpit, I encourage you to go through and discuss the wellbeing questions in the WE GET TO GROW bulletin insert at home and whenever we’re gathered at church so
that we can apply the lessons we’ve learned during worship.
Keep up with those Lenten Devotion packets. So far, I’ve enjoyed the emphasis and encouragement to maintain and remember our unity especially whenever we encounter and interact with different people in the
congregation.
Pastor Witte
Page 2
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
St. Paul Shut-Ins
We keep in our prayers the following:
DELORES ATKINSON—Alpine Village Assisted Living #317,
1032 S. Perry St., Napoleon, OH 43545
RITA KESSLER– Home—6859 Co Rd U, Liberty Center, OH 43532
MARY MYLES—Home—T 074 County Road 4, Liberty Center, OH 43532
LOUISE TROWBRIDGE—Home—25999 County Road HJ, Archbold, OH 43502
CAROLYN WEIS, The Lutheran Home, 1036 S. Perry St., Napoleon, OH 43545
Remember our shut-ins with a note, card or a visit when appropriate.
Adult Bible Study: Let God’s Grace Flow in our Life Together
Sunday Morning 9:00!!
Let’s share our insights with one another from the Grace Place Lenten Devotions. What does a healthy
congregation look like based on Ephesians chapter 4? What areas of wellness can we thank God for in our
congregation? What shall we ask God to help our congregation become more healthy? What lessons can we
apply to our life together in other areas, such as our family or at work?
Keep up with the Lenten Devotions, take notes, and bring your devotion packet to church for discussion.
Our schedule:
March 1: Days 5-10
March 8: Days 11-16
March 15: Days 17-22
March 22: Days 23-28
March 29: Days 29-34
WELLNESS MOMENTS: Let’s talk about Physical Wellbeing
Why does God want us, His baptized children, to be physically healthy? Romans 6:12-14;
1 Corinthians 6:10; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 6:5-8
What one or two things can we do as a family to become more physically healthy? What goals
can we set for our own physical wellbeing?
Who are the best advocates for health and wellness in our family and in our congregation? How
can we help others listen and learn from them?
Volume 17, Issue 3
Page 3
The St. Paul Messenger
March Birthdays
Melissa Studer—1
Dustin Salmi—1
Jeana Minnich—2
Malinda Slawinski—3
Mark Myles—3
Kaitlann Hogrefe—4
Lindsey Overmier—4
Lauren Overmier—4
Karen Weis—5
Derek Miller—5
Anne Braucher—6
Leo Rabe—6
Theresa Seedorf—7
Rachel Childers—8
Mike Mann—10
Nicole Meyer—11
Riley Chapa—12
Cathy Glanz—13
Stephanie Busick—13
Eric Bitzinger—15
Evan Lewis—15
Amy Davis—16
Mason Knipp—16
Brock Sonnenberg—17
Cole Zeiter—17
Casey Mohler—18
Julie Heitman—19
Richard Hoover—20
Stephanie Pippin—20
Jason Perkins—20
Joseph Witte 22
Thomas Oberhaus—22
Shannon Smith—23
Payton Carnahan—24
Amy Smith—24
Angela Izor—25
Braylen Baker—25
Margaret Glanz—26
Kathryn Mohler—26
Cassidy Chapa—27
Stephen Minnich—29
Tim Spiess—29
Jason Miller—30
Hal Miller—30
March Anniversaries
Ken & Karen Bergstedt—1
Todd & Melissa Carnahan—10
Ricky & Corinne Anderson—11
Victor & Cathy Oberhaus—18
Bill & Cathy Glanz—21
Tony & Jody Lanzer—23
March Baptismal Birthdays
Owen Weirich —4
Haley Mohler—6
Malinda Slawinski—7
Natalie Hoover—9
Bill Salmi—11
David Myles—12
Johnathon Smith—13
Arianna Smith—13
Dustin Salmi—14
Tami Salmi—14
Andrew Oberhaus—14
Pastor Keith Witte—15
Matthew Baker 16
Bruce Sonnenberg—19
Jill Overmier—20
Emma Glanz—21
Jillian Knipp—21
Ruth Swearingen—22
Andrew Baynes—23
Scott Armey 23
Jason Rumsey—24
Alexis Mohler—24
Terry Vollmar –25
Nathan Zeiter—25
Kassidee Bergstedt—27
Deb Bostelman—29
Joseph Witte 30
Rex Knipp—30
Steven Miller—30
Leo Rabe—30
Jody Lanzer—31
Karen Weis—31
Richard Hoover
Mark Myles
Page 4
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
BGSU Concessions – Helping to Clear Our Debt
Since September, we have brought in $8,253.39, which has helped us reduce
the shortage we owe ourselves in both the checking and the savings accounts – money which has been given
for a specified purpose. We have truly been blessed to have this opportunity.
10 people are needed for each event. So please consider helping when you can. Sign-up sheets are in
the Narthex, or talk to Dan Seedorf if you have any questions.
As we man the booths, we are oftentimes offered tips for our service. This money is added to the
amount Sodexo provides for our services. So if you see that we made $7.00 in tips, that is only the amount
given us through tips, but we have earned at least $35.00 per person while we worked in the booths.
Hockey games start a 7:07 p.m., unless otherwise noted. That means that our lead crew should arrive at
5:00 p.m. to do inventory. The rest of the crew should arrive about 5:30 p.m.
Our schedule looks like this for the hockey season:
Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7
March 13 -15
Alabama Huntsville
WCHA First Round
And we have been asked to work some of the following:
March 17 – 21
High School Basketball Playoffs
If you are over 18, please consider signing up. 16 & 17 year olds may help if their parent is with
them.
PRAYERS
The weekly edition of our prayer
requests may be found in every
Sunday bulletin and on our
church website: saintpaullc.org.
If you would like to include
someone’s name in our published prayer requests, (printed or online) please secure permission from the individual and then contact Pastor/church office. You can say, “We at St. Paul,
Liberty Center, believe in the power of prayer
and would love to lift you up in our weekly and
daily prayers. Would it be ok if I share your
name so that it’s on a printed list and published
Remember: Daylight
Savings Time Begins on
March 8th!
(Set your clocks ahead
1 hour)
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
Page 5
Stewardship for February
DATE
ATTENDANCE
COMMUNION
2/01
46
2/08
101
2/15
(Church Cancelled)
2/18 (Ash Wed.)
59
2/22
89
2/25 (Lent) (not available at time of printing)
TOTAL
295
SUNDAY
AVERAGE
79
S. SCHOOL
33
OFFERINGS
$ 1,697.00
$ 2,385.00
$
$ 555.23
$ 1,498.00
SUNDAY
AVERAGE
SUNDAY
AVERAGE
33
Special Projects/Memorials for Feb.—$1,704.12
Feb. Mission Door Offering—$ 106.00
BG Concessions—$680.11
OFFERINGS
$ 6,135.23
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” There’s the ultimate word on stewardship: your heart goes where you
put the treasure which God has given you to manage in this life.
Easter Garden
It is now time to order flowers for the
Easter Garden to form our beautiful
display of God’s workmanship.
Please use this form and mark the
plants you wish to purchase. You can
place the completed form with your payment
in the offering plate marked “Easter Garden”
or turn it in to the church office.
Your name
_________________________________________
White Asian ‘Easter’ Lilies _________
Chrysanthemums _________
Tulips ________
Hyacinths _______
Tuberous Begonias ________
In Thanksgiving of:
____________________________________________
Make checks payable to: St. Paul Lutheran Church __________________________________________
All plants for the 2014 Easter Garden are $9.50 each. In Loving Memory of:
____________________________________________
Deadline for ordering – Sunday, March 22, 2015
__________________________________________
Page 6
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
Lent and Holy Week Worship Schedule—
2015
LET THE LIFE-GIVING BAPTISMAL WATERS
OF GOD’S GRACE FLOW!!
Special Evening Services
(7:30pm)
March 4:
March 11:
March 18:
March 25:
Lenten Service
Lenten Service
Lenten Service
Lenten Service
This Lenten Season, WE will learn how God graciously restores and refreshes us to
be healthy in various aspects of our lives—in Baptism, Spiritually, Relationally, Emotionally, Physically, Financially, Vocationally, and Intellectually. WE pray that the life-giving
Baptismal waters of God’s grace will flow freely in each and every one us, in our congregation as a whole, in our families, and in our community.
(All member households should have received a devotional booklet produced by Grace Place Lutheran
Wellness Ministries that will help us learn more and guide our discussions together as the body of
Christ throughout Lent.)
Holy Week Schedule:
March 29: Passion Sunday Divine Service at 10:00am
April 2: Maundy Thursday Divine Service at 7:30pm
April 3: Good Friday Service at 7:30pm
April 5: Easter Sunday Divine Service at 7:00 & 10:00am
(Note new time for Sunrise Service)
Every Sunday:
Sunday Morning Bible Study and Sunday School at 9:00.
Sunday Morning Divine Service/Morning Prayer at 10:00.
Volume 17, Issue 3
The St. Paul Messenger
Page 7
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
The preschool classes will be busy in March. We will be celebrating Dr.
Seuss's birthday and trying green eggs and ham, exploring animals of the
ocean, St. Patrick's Day, spring, farm animals/baby animals and birds. We will
learning the letters t,u,v,w, and x.
The Henry County Hospital is hosting its annual poison prevention week.
They have invited the preschool students to the hospital to attend an
educational program designed to help preschoolers understand the dangers
of medications and other common household items. We will be attending on
March 20th at 10:00 a.m.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you
learn, the more places you'll go."
~Dr. Seuss
Page 8
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
Easter Season Preparations being Made by Music Groups
The musicians of St. Paul are preparing for Easter and its Season. Why not see if you can become a
part of a music group?
Oh, no! John Swearingen, Jr., broke his arm! And the choirs are scheduled for the next day. Can we
make it through? Praise God, we did, but we had to rearrange some of the pieces so that we could do
them without John’s assistance. On Sunday, January 25, the mixed choirs offered their joyful praises.
We keep John in our prayers that he may have a speedy healing.
Ash Wednesday came around and it was time for the Senior Choir to offer their assistance with the
Lenten pieces. Although we did not have a Divine Service, we were able to welcome God into our
presence and ponder on the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Junior Ringers will be offering their talent during the Wednesday evening. Deb Nash works with
them before class on Wednesday evenings. We look forward to hearing from them more often.
Perhaps you have other musical talent that you would like to share with the congregation. Talk to
Dan Seedorf to get things moving your way. He’ll gladly help you in anyway that he can to help you
offer your talent for the glory of the Lord.
We praise God that He has blessed us with so much talent. We are a singing congregation and we
love to rejoice through our music.
Mixed Choir rehearses on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.
Junior Ringers rehearse Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
March Greeters Selected
The Board of Evangelism has selected the greeters for March. Greeters are requested to greet for Sunday
morning worship service. Greeters are asked to be on hand by 9:30 a.m. If there are handouts for that day, they
will be labeled as such. Greeters should welcome all who come to worship, and request visitors to sign the
Registration Book. If a person is unable to greet, please call Dan Seedorf at 419-265-2798, and he will see that
a greeter is in place. A big “Thank You!” goes out to all who help to make our worshipers feel more welcome.
March Greeters are:
March 1:
March 8:
March 15:
March 22:
March 29:
The Brian Baker Family
Norma Weis
The Bill Zeiter Family
The Ken Glanz Family
The Rob Mohler Family
Volume 17, Issue 3
The St. Paul Messenger
Page 9
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS SCHEDULE
March, 2015
DATE
ACOLYTES
CRUCIFER
Mar. 1
Madison Overmier Benjamin Aschliman Erv Sonnenberg
Claudia Wittenmyer
Bill Zeiter, II
Tom Mohler
Lee Sonnenberg
Mar. 4
Lent
Alexis Mohler
Olivia Zacharias
Tom Mohler
Kirk Rumsey
Kody Woods
Leo Rabe
Mar. 8
Alyssa Woods
Nathan Smith
Brian Baker
Harold Smith
Dan Woods
John Overmier
Mar. 11
Lent
Cassidy Chapa
Mackenzie Armey
Ken Glanz
Paul Bergstedt
Ray Carpenter
Rob Mohler
Mar. 15
Bailey Izor
Emily Pippin
Erv Sonnenberg
Mike Elling
LeVerne Gerken
Jeff Nash
Mar. 18
Lent
Levi Anderson
Garret Seiler
Tom Mohler
Lee Sonnenberg
Bill Zeiter, Sr.
John Engler
Mar. 22
Benjamin Aschliman, Jr.
Nathan Smith
Brian Baker
Tom Mohler
Bill Zeiter II
Leo Rabe
Mar. 25
Lent
Madison Overmier
Claudia Wittenmyer
Ken Glanz
Kirk Rumsey
Kody Woods
Dan Woods
Mar. 29
Alyssa Woods
Alexis Mohler
Erv Sonnenberg
John Overmier
Harold Smith
Ray Carpenter
Cole Zeiter
Garret Seiler
DEACON
USHERS
Preparing communion for March is Patsy Mohler
Winter Weather Policy—Approved by Church Council:
If Henry County is in a Level 2 or 3 snow emergency, all activities, meetings,
and services are cancelled at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Liberty Center.
Page 10
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
YOUTH & FAMILY NEWS
Youth, Families & Sponsors
Fellowship Supper
Ultimate Pancake Bar
Wednesday March 18 @ 6:00pm
Bring a topping to share and come enjoy some
pancakes and fellowship before Catechism class and Mid-Week Lenten
service.
Topping Suggestions
Strawberries
Cinnamon Chips
Jam or Jelly
Chocolate Chips
Whipped Cream
Almonds
Blueberries
Be Creative!
Questions? See Lori Bostelman, Amy Meyer or Alison Witte
Mission Brunch
Sunday April 26
11:00am
Save the date and come learn about the many
mission fields of the LCMS in the United States
and around the world.
Proceeds benefit the Family Mission Trip.
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
Page 11
LWML Napoleon Zone Spring Rally
Saturday April 18th
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Where: St. Luke Lutheran Church
When: Saturday April 18th
Time: 8:30 Registration / breakfast
Program 9:00 to 11:30
Guest Speaker: Carolyn Brinkley will speak on the CTS Military
Project and on her devotional book based on the
Renaissance Woodcuts of Albrecht Důrer.
We will be collecting for three offerings.
The CTS Military Project
Mite offering
Napoleon Zone treasury (We are sending a delegate to the LWML
National Convention).
Carolyn will also have some of her devotional books for sale. The cost is $15.00.
Sewing Project
The Stewardship Committee would like help sewing an
activity book. The booklet is divided into pages. We will
meet in the narthex after church on March 1st to explain
and answer any questions and distribute pages to volunteers. Instructions come with each page. Any further
questions, contact Lora Pittman (419-308-2819). Please
return pages to church by April 12th.
P a g e 12
The St. Paul Messenger
Volume 17, Issue 3
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
Christian Stewardship – It’s all About GOD and YOU
Why does giving seem so difficult? In reality, it isn’t. But we make it difficult. We make it difficult because we’
re afraid. We’re afraid that it isn’t worth the investment. We’re afraid that what we give to the church might be
wasted, or that we could use it for something better, something more enjoyable, something more real, more
tangible, more immediate, even more important, something more important than God and His gifts.
The point is this: We struggle with giving because we don’t believe as we should. We should fear, love, and
trust in God above all things. And so we fail to give because we don’t love God with our whole heart, soul,
and mind. We fail to give because we don’t fear Him more than we fear other things. We fail to give because
we don’t trust Him more than we trust the things we can more immediately see, taste, and touch. We don’t
trust that He will give us everything (EVERYTHING!) we need to support this body and life. For if we did fear,
love, and trust in God above all things, we would see and know that all the other things that vie for our time,
our talents, and our treasures pale in comparison to the joy of the real, tangible, immediate love God has
showered upon us in the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins on account of His Son’s death, resurrection,
and ascension.
The only proper response to this is repentance: to confess our sin, our stinginess, our lack of fear, love, and
faith in God’s promises, and to trust in Him to help us bring our desire to do better to fruition. For God is not
holding out on us. He never has. He never will. For if He has given you His only Son, how will He not also
give you all things? He will. It is His promise. And these promises are sure and certain.
The reality is that God doesn’t need our giving. He doesn’t need our time, our talents, our treasures. He is
God. We are not. He can do all things without our help. And even what we do give, even the good and righteous things we do accomplish, these are but filthy rags, as the prophet Isaiah tells us (Isaiah 64:6). Our gifts
to God and to the Church are like a child’s gift of dandelions to his mother. They are weeds, which most of us
spend an entire summer trying to rid our yards of them. And yet despite the fact that they are weeds, mothers
always receive them with a smile and with joy. They will even put them in vases and display them on tables
and countertops. They will recount to friends and other family members how their child gave them “flowers,”
just to say I love you and I’m thankful for all you do.
Our Lord, too, receives with joy and a smile the gifts we give in thanksgiving and praise of what He has done.
Even though these gifts are but weeds, filthy rags, and despite the fact that He doesn’t need them to accomplish what He wills, He receives them and puts it to use for our and our neighbors good. That is the real joy of
giving. He doesn’t need us. Yet He makes use of us, He employs us in His service despite it. He makes all
that we do—our giving, our work, our service to our family and friends and neighbors—holy. And He blesses it
for their and our good and to the glory of His name.
So is giving so hard? Nah, it’s like giving dandelions to our mothers. And when dinner is ready, when the food
is on the table, she’ll gladly have a vase full of them right in the middle. The Lord has prepared a table for
you. Dinner is ready. The table is set. His Body and Blood is given to strengthen and nourish you. And right
there, where Christ is with us, are the dandelions we gave. He has put them to use for our good, for our forgiveness, for our life in Him.