PARISH NEWSLETTER

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Beatrice, Nebraska

MAY 2017

Stpaulbeatrice.org

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SCHOOL NEWS

“Oh come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise

to Him with songs of praise.” Psalm 95:1

What a blessed year we have had at St. Paul’s Lutheran School as we focused on the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus. We are thankful that throughout the year 135 children and their families have had the opportunity to hear about Jesus each day at school! This month we will be celebrating the many blessings God has bestowed on us throughout the 2016-2017 school year. We also ask for His continued blessing on the ministries of St. Paul’s Lutheran School to the children and families of Beatrice. We have many fun field trips planned this month. The 1st Grade will be traveling to Pioneers Park and the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The 2nd Grade will be visiting Memorial Stadium and Morrill Hall. The 5th Graders will be visiting the SAC Museum near Ashland. These trips are wonderful learning opportunities and are very enjoyed by our school community! On Friday, May 5th, we will be hosting the annual Field Day sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran School. It begins at 10:00 a.m. and five other Christian schools from the surrounding area will be joining us for the track and field events. We are excited to welcome St. Paul Plymouth, Good Shepherd Lincoln, Good Shepherd Marysville, St. Joseph’s Beatrice and Linn Lutheran to our school for the day. This year Fifth Grade Graduation will take place on Sunday, May 14th, during the 10:30 a.m. worship service. There will be a reception beginning at 9:30 a.m. during the Bible Class hour to honor our 5th grade graduates and our High School graduates. Our 2017 Fifth Grade Graduates are: Ty Dittbrenner Andrew Duever Olivia Eckert Jackson Huls Trevin Lang Jordan Loomis Natasha Martin Hannah Mayer Carly Meints Chase Meyer Brendan Moon Cheyne Oates Sofie Poole Jacob Scholl Paige Southwick Jordyn Vanschoiack The last day of school will be Friday, May 19th. Chapel will begin at 11:15 a.m. and dismissal will be at 11:45 a.m. That evening, we will celebrate the close of the school year with the PTL Hot Dog Meal and School Carnival which begins at 6:00 p.m. The Board of Education will be serving hot dogs and chips, and parents are encouraged to bring a side dish to share. The carnival will begin at 6:30 p.m. with carnival games and fun for the whole family. You are all invited to attend these special celebrations! We thank you for your continued support of our school with your thoughts, prayers and gifts. Have a blessed summer! In Christ, Amy Duever

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May at St. Paul’s Lutheran School: 5 – Field Day 10:00am-3:00pm 14 – 5th Grade Graduation 10:30am service 17 – Last Day of Pre-Kindergarten 18 – Early Dismissal 11:45am 18 – Last Day of Pre-School 19 – Last Day of School with Dismissal at 11:45am

Do you need a prayer?

If you would like a prayer for you at church, please call the church office by Thursday. Please do this once you know that you need prayers, especially if you will be having medical procedures and will be in the hospital. Please leave your name and number so they can return your call. Another prayer option:

There are currently two Prayer Chains available here through our church. Chain #1 contact person is Darlene Scheideler at 402-228-1909. Chain #2 contact person is Mary Ann Stohs at 402-223-2287. Contact either of these ladies or both to start the chain going for prayers.

They each have a list of ladies on their list that will call each other to spread the need for your prayer. When you call, give them your name and what you may need a prayer for, you may also just ask for prayers and not give the reason why, God will know what you need the prayer for.

If you would like to be a person on a Prayer Chain so that you may pray for those who need prayers, please contact Mary Ann Stohs at the number above. Men are welcomed as well to be a part of the Prayer chain.

Our St. Paul’s students will be singing in church on the following Sunday:

May 14

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Last day of Sunday School for this school year will be Sunday, May 21st. Classes will resume on August 20th.

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Notes and Reminders…

Every Sunday 8:00am & 10:30am - Divine Services

9:00am - Coffee & Snacks served in the basement 9:15am - Adult & Youth Bible Class and Sunday School

Every Monday 7:00pm - Divine Service

Church Office: Office hours are 8:30am to 1:30pm, Monday thru Friday. The office may be closed on occasion, so please call ahead.

CONFIRMANDS…. Congratulations to those who were confirmed on April 30: Alexander Glynn, son of Tamara Kuhlmann and Michael Glynn; Mackenzie Holthus, daughter of Michael and Dawn Holthus; Connor Kelley, son of Ann Kelley and Bill Kelley, guardians are Dale and Rhonda Rickers; Josiah Wallman, son of Craig and Tiffany Wallman; Ellie Whitfield, daughter of Christopher and Amy Whitfield.

Thank You to the gracious people at the BSDC for preparing our monthly newsletters for mailing this month. We sincerely appreciate their volunteer work and a job well done.

Radio Broadcasts and Bulletin Sponsorships are available for 2017. Radio sponsorship cost $100 and bulletin sponsorship cost $20. Please call Kelly in the church office if you are interested in sponsoring a date.

GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS …. You will be recognized at the 10:30am service on Sunday, May 8th. Graduates are to meet in the church basement at 10:15am. At 9:15am there will be a reception in the church basement. We hope you and your family will be able to attend. Congratulations, to those high school seniors graduating this spring: Aaron (Parker) Blythe, Ashely Doering, Dalton Hartig, Madeline Heard, Dalton Lauby, and Ashley Murray. GRADUATING 5th GRADERS …. You will be recognized at the 10:30am service on Sunday, May 15th. Graduates are to meet in the church basement at 10:15am. At 9:15am there will be a reception in the church basement. We hope you and your family will be able to attend. Congratulations, to those graduating from fifth grade at our St. Paul’s Lutheran School. Ty Dittbrenner, Andrew Duever, Olivia Eckert, Jackson Huls, Trevin Lang, Jordan Loomis, Natasha Martin, Hannah Mayer, Carly Meints, Chase Meyer, Brendan Moon, Cheyne Oates, Sofie Poole, Jacob Scholl, Paige Southwick, Jordyn Vanschoiack.

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CHURCH POTLUCK: The church potluck held on March 12 had a great turnout! Thanks to all who attended! The next one will be June 11 at noon in the church basement. Mark your calendar and come for great food and great conversation with fellow St. Paul members. No meeting, no reason, just fellowship! Hope to see you then!

BULLETINS RECEIVED

April 2 Pat Nave First Christian Church, Marysville, KS April 2 Roberta Creek First Christian Church, Marysville, KS April 2 Sue Yates First Christian Church, Marysville, KS April 2 Deb Lance First Christian Church. Marysville, KS

Do You Have Some Free Time?

St. Paul’s is always looking for volunteers to serve on the various Boards, to help with the Turkey Supper in the fall, to help the Trustees with various cleanup activities throughout the year, to volunteer at Vacation Bible School in the summer, to help with funeral dinners, to teach Sunday School, or to help in some other way. Volunteers are such an important part of St. Paul’s! Contact the church office or a board member if you can help! Currently St. Paul’s is looking for people who would like to serve in the areas of greeters and communion preparation. If you would be interested, please contact the church office.

We’re continuing to update our church records!

The church office is continually working on keeping our records up to date. We are not deleting anyone from the roster, but rather wanting to gather current information on everyone. So, if you have moved, changed your home or cell phone number, children have gone to college or have moved out on their own, etc. please let the church office know. Information the church office collects is names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, birthdays, baptism dates, confirmation dates & verses, and wedding dates.

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May Birthdays & Anniversaries - 2017 Happy Birthday to… 1 James Boyer Dale Hagemeier Andrew Venneman Larry Vetrovsky 2 Shannon Benash Randy Roberts 3 Carley Jones Ava Rix 4 Carline Mencl Marissa Sandman Sydney Southwick 5 Azlyn Carpenter Kody Crosier Dolores Kadlec James Nedrow 6 Jeff Berry Dale Brase Gordon Theis Samuel Wallman 7 Steven Leishman Dorothy Nickels 8 Carter Holthus Konnor Kolm Peggy Young 9 Ruth Brisbois Joseph Wright 10 Alexander Glynn

Brian Hoops Rick Koenig Robert Scheideler Cheryl Sturdivant Kamree Weishahn Christopher Whitfield Leon Zimmerman 11 Drew DeBuhr Andrew Korte 12 Dorothy Daubendiek Claris Stevens 13 Sophia Luehring 14 Noah Hagemeier Laura-Leigh Norris Wilbur Oestreich Naomi Speilman 15 James Hartig Lyndon Wiegand Chelsea Zutavern 16 Caleb Wallman 17 Louise Braun 18 Brandon Scheer Kody Wolf 19 Harold Baumfalk 20 Logan Glynn Jessica Schmidt Alex Weise

21 Jason Lueders Duston Meyer 22 Ashley DeBuhr Bernice L. Pfingsten Samantha Rickers 23 Vernon Rogge Willard Workman 24 Jocelyn Junker Alberta Rahe 25 Donald Henshaw Michael Holthus Leola Wollenburg 26 Katherine Moyer Wayne Zimmerman 27 Natalie Doering Michelle Poling Kodey Smith 28 Kathleen Gonderinger 29 Jan Busboom Dustin McAllister 30 Karl Boerger Cassandra Mohling Marlene Seckel 31 Colton (Cole) Blythe Bonnie Workman

Happy Anniversary to… 1 Nicholas & Lacey Jurgens, 8 yrs. 3 Kenneth & Dawn Crosier, 32 yrs. 5 Harlan & Iris Hintz, 44 yrs. Vernon & Dolores Kadlec, 61 yrs. Gary & Joyce Swanson, 43 yrs. 6 Vaughn & Valentina Wright, 22 yrs. 11 Robert & Lorelie Ankersen, 59 yrs. Dennis & Peggy Wallman, 33 yrs. 14 Robert & Myra Denton, 51 yrs. 15 William & Diane Lux, 24 yrs. Mark & Christine Seckel, 7 yrs. 16 Jon & Teri Zimmerman, 25 yrs.

18 Arvid & Althea Wiest, 43 yrs. 19 Jeffrey & Michelle Junker, 27 yrs. 21 Lawrence & Norma Sohl, 56 yrs. 25 Jeffrey & Teresa Hatzenbuehler, 15 yrs. 26 Jason Duff & Ashley Mentgen-Duff, 5 yrs. 29 Lowell & Alberta Rahe, 58 yrs. 30 Wynn & Betty Reiman, 42 yrs. 31 Kenneth & Carla Loemker, 37 yrs. Robert & Naomi Schroeder, 14 yrs.

If your information is missing or incorrect, please contact Kelly in the church office as work continues in order to keep our records up to date. We apologize for any errors.

Visit our website for the latest updates at stpaulbeatrice.org

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Upcoming LWML Events

Mother/Daughter Salad Supper

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the church basement

Theme:

“RAZZLE DAZZLE”

Come dressed for an evening of fun in your vintage wear.

Entertainers:

Kramer Sisters

Bring a friend!

Join us as we celebrate 75 years of LWML

Fall Rally Saturday, October 21, 2017

Host Site:

Zion Lutheran Church, Harbine, NE

Theme: “Diamonds Shine in All Generations Through Our Service”

Joshua 24:15b

Presentation will be given by Angie Frerking.

Watch the bulletin for more updates!

LWML Sunday Sunday, October 1, 2017

LWML Ladies will sing at both services

Watch the bulletin for more updates!

Did You Know?

There is a purple & white “Mites for

Missions” box on the table in the narthex

for any loose donations you would like to

give to support LWML local & national

mission work. Thank you!

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Stewardship Article

“It is more blessed to give than to receive,” said St. Paul, quoting our Lord (Acts 20:35). How can this be? Jesus and His disciples withdrew to a mountain by the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The crowds followed them, for the Lord had just showered upon them the gift of His teaching, the gift of His Word. But the day was waning; the sun was setting, and it was getting late. Looking upon the crowds, Jesus had compassion on them and asked, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat” (John 6:5)? Philip said that two hundred denarii (a day’s wages for two hundred men) could not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little. But Andrew, Peter’s brother, brought a young boy forward, who had five barley loaves and two small fish. “But,” Andrew asked, “what are they for so many” (John 6:9). Jesus replied, “Have the people sit down” (John 6:10). Then Jesus, the Son of God, gave them a second gift, a gift from what only He could give—a gift from above. He took the bread and the fish, gave thanks, blessed them, and distributed them to the crowd. Then came the miracle. As these five loaves and two fish were given out, they multiplied. He fed the hungry crowd until they were all full. And twelve baskets full were left over. But Jesus was not the only one who gave that day. There is one person who also gave from what he had. It was the boy with the five loaves and the two fish. All the others, including the boy, received the gift of a miraculous feast. And they would look back on it with wonder. But the boy, when he would look back on it, would look back and remember not just what he received. He would look back with wonder and delight when the Son of God made his gift into something miraculous. For it is more blessed to give than to receive. This our Lord does for each of us. He presses our gifts, no matter how big or how small, into His service and works wonders with them. He provides through what we give: water for baptism, bread and wine for the Lord’s Supper, a man called and sent for the preaching of the Gospel and Absolution. He provides a building in which we can gather as His children, lights so that we might not gather in darkness. He provides funds for the care of the poor and struggling, for missionaries who preach and teach beyond our borders. He makes Christians, disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in our midst by bringing them to faith and nurturing them in that faith. He takes our gifts and turns them into something miraculous. Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Thus, we give. We give of what we have. And the Lord works His wonders.

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As May begins in worship and in our congregational life, we’re already two weeks into the season of Easter. Our Gospel lessons control our worship and weekly focus; and they’re all from the Gospel of John…right up to Pentecost on June 4.

There’s something intriguing for our thinking about John’s Gospel especially in these days as we’re looking at the emotional system of the congregation in Bible class (April 23, May 21, and June 4-11 (at least)). John’s Gospel is filled with personal encounters between Jesus and individuals—Nicodemus, the woman at the well, Pilate, the man born blind, Thomas. These persons then find themselves in interactions with groups in a continual interplay.

That characterizes our lives all the time. We are individuals created uniquely and claimed uniquely by Jesus in baptism; and we are continually thrown into groups—family, work, community, congregation. Sometimes we fear being swallowed up by the group in some way; we fear losing who we are. At the same time, we cannot know ourselves outside human encounter; it’s rather futile to be ourselves apart from people. That’s a huge dilemma for all people…apart from Jesus.

It is because the Triune God has made you uniquely who you are that you are a gift to His world. It is because the Triune God has claimed you through baptism and bound you to your risen Savior that you count. You matter! You are not merely a “piece of the whole,” a “cog in a machine.” Groups of people are not finely tuned mechanisms that hum; we are living organisms that stumble and humble and bumble our way along.

A key question that will arise in our study of family systems, especially in the light of the Holy Scriptures is whether the whole is greater than or equal to the sum of the parts. Hint! Answer! Greater! Whether it’s family, classroom, team, community or congregation, the entire experience is more than it would be had you not been made a part of it by Christ. Treasure that! And treasure one another for it!

In the weeks that lie before us, I intend to be “on-site” in the office every Monday afternoon beginning about 3 until after worship and on Wednesday beginning in the morning into the early afternoon. Anyone who has a special need, interest, hope to sit and visit with me personally is surely encouraged to take advantage of these times. Please call the church office if that would be helpful to take advantage of.

As the work of the intentional interim time for your congregation continues, I will be communicating more with you as specific plans unfold.

You are all in my prayers. I ask that you remember me and mine similarly.

Rev. Dr. J. Dirk Reek