(November 2013NewsletterSt. Paul Lutheran Church)

(From the Heart of Your Shepherd)

(A few weeks ago my daughter asked, Daddy, has there ever been a time when the Packers didnt make the playoffs? Seeing the Packers have a good team for many years, she wonders if that is something permanent. Having been born in 1969, I assured her that, yes, there have been long stretches of playoff-free Packer football. You just need a broader context to know what is cyclical and what is permanent.Smaller children even have to learn the cycle of seasons. The leaves fall, but theyll grow again. Just a cycle. The snows falls. But it will melt. We know those cycles because we live through them time and time again.But what about patterns or trends that last longer than a lifetime? If each season lasted 200 years, some people would be born in winter and die in winter and never quite believe there was such a thing as spring and summer, while others would regard snow as a legend. Thats why older people are wiser; they have a broader perspective on life. They see some things as temporary or cyclical that others, not knowing any better regard as permanent, and some things as minor problems that other, again, not knowing any better, regard as major. You can see this in arguments over things like global warmingsome people say it is cyclical, others say it is new in history. Or take the economic downturn which has been with us for almost six years; for younger people it is just the way things are, while for older people it is a chapter in a larger story. When a congregation is in a time of pastoral vacancy every month seems like a long time. When are we going to get a new pastor? People who have lived through many vacancies tend not to panic too much about it. In the grand scheme of a lifetime, a few extra months doesnt make too much difference. But in the scale of a season or a year it is a very big deal. In addition to recommending that the people of St. Pauls have patience as we await Gods plan for the future in terms of the call process, I would also say this way of zooming out, so to speak, to look at things from a larger context. Something that has been done a certain way for three generations has not always been done that way. Even St. Pauls as a congregation, though the building is 125 years old and the congregation older still, does not represent the whole of salvation history or the way church has always been done. Anything that is old by definition has staying power. But seeing in context, be it the context of months, years, centuries, or millennia, helps us appreciate what is good and necessary about it and be open to changing what it is merely reflective of a certain era or stage about it, even if that stage was as long as a human lifetime. Gods plan goes from beginning to end. He is the Alpha and the Omega. We can confidently trust that He has this stage and this place firmly in His hands as we participate in the unfolding of the divine drama here in Montpelier in A.D. 2013.In Christ, Pastor Speckhard) (The mission of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran is to strengthen and support our members in their Christian faith through Gods Word, the Sacraments, education, prayer and fellowship; thereby preparing them to be witnesses of the Gospel in our community and the world, so that all who believe shall receive the gift of eternal life.) (Mission Statement) (N4118 Cty Rd ABLuxemburg, WI 54217Church Office: P: 920-845-2095 F: 920-845-9075www.stpaullux.org)

(St. Paul Charger News) (Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:5First Annual Walk-a-thon FundraiserThe first annual Walk-a-thon fundraiser took place on Friday, September 27th at NEW Lutheran High School. The students at St. Paul joined together with other area Lutheran Schools to walk and raise money for their school. To date, St. Paul Lutheran School has raised $10,286.50. To God be the glory!! Lutheran Education AssociationThe Lutheran Education Association Convocation was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at theWisconsin Center, October 24-26, 2013. The theme for this convocation, Rise and Shine, bringing knowledge to light and Light to knowledge, is based on several scripture passages: We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about Gods glory, which shines from Christs face. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1As a staff we look forward to this amazing conference and the opportunities for growth, enrichment, and fellowship. It proves to be an outstanding event.Early Childhood Registration InformationRegistration for church member families, St. John families and any school families will open on Friday, November 1st. These families get the first opportunity to register their children at St. Paul. The public will then begin enrolling on Monday, December 2nd. If you would like an enrollment packet and are interested in St. Pauls 4K program, please call the school office and we would be happy to send one to you. If you have any questions about the 4K program, we would be happy to answer them. Please feel free to e-mail Tiffany Dart attdart@stpaullux.orgwith any questions or concerns. Please spread the word about our 4K program to your neighbors, family and co-workers. We would love for their families to join our school as well!CalendarNovember 5Picture retake dayNovember 7Report CardsNovember 10Veterans Service 9:30amNovember 14Algoma Library visitNovember 19/21Parent Teacher ConferencesNovember 22No SchoolNovember 27Noon dismissal, Aissen Field TripNovember 28-29Thanksgiving Break )

(Walk-a-thon 2013 Thank You for your support!!!!)

(Stewardship News & Views)

November is a popular month for many Americans. In the farm belt most of the crops have been harvested and stored safely away. In other areas snow has already fallen and skiers are anxious to head for the hills to get an early start on the new ski season. Sports fans are treated to a large number of college and professional football games. But perhaps the best thing about November is THANKSGIVING DAY.

Christians love to join together with fellow Christians and sing hymns of harvest and thanksgiving like:

Come, ye thankful people come; raise the song of harvest-home.

All be safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.

Come to Gods own temple, come; raise the song of harvest-home. (TLH, 574, v 1)

Christians and Lutheran Christians, in particular, recall how Dr. Martin Luther explained the meaning of the petition Give us this day our daily bread. Luther said that God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all wicked people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. He then went on to explain what is meant by daily bread with these words: Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and wants of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Thats quite a list of things for which to be thankful. We enjoy these many blessings because two things that God delights in doing are loving and giving. This is stated so clearly in the well-known words of John 3:16 (NIV): God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

St. Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, penned these words in Romans 8:31-32 (NIV): He [God] who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us allhow will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

A suggestion for Christians each morning is to pray, Thank You, Lord, for the gifts of life, health, work, family, friends, home, daily bread and this new day. Bless and protect us this day in all our activities, travels, work and play.

One of the best benefits that comes with thanksgiving is thanksliving that shows up as we freely and joyfully manage all of life and lifes resources for Gods purposes. That is Christian stewardship in the best sense of the word.

Courtesy of LCMS

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bonnie Lannbrecht, Lon Fager, Paul Janda

(Scrip Ordering for the HolidaysScrip will be ordered on a weekly basis after Thanksgiving to help meet the Christmas gift-giving needs. Scrip will be ordered every week except for December 22nd. Scrip will be ordered the following weeks in November: November 3 and 17, and in December: December 1, 8, 15, and 29. Please note that items on the front of the form with an asterisk (*) and all items on the back of the form must be ordered. Please make sure and check out the back as there are a lot of vendors that take Scrip and can be ordered. Please note that there may be a bit of delay in getting some orders through Great Lakes Scrip due to the demand and volume that they are dealing with during the holidays. Therefore, we are urging you to order early. The sooner in the season you order for holiday gift-giving, the better we are able to ensure that you will have what you need. We hope that the increase in ordering will help to meet the needs for those ordering Scrip for the holidays. Thank you for your continued support and use of the Scrip program. )

(Our annual Veterans service will be held on Sunday, November 10th at 9:30am. It will be held in the school gym. All of the Veterans Organizations in Kewaunee County have been invited. The Luxemburg-Casco Community Band will be again joining the St. Paul Band to play special patriotic music. There will also be special music by St. Paul Choir and St. Paul School Children. Following the service, there will be a lunch of chicken booyah, sandwiches, and dessert to $5. Veterans will receive a free meal. If you are a veteran and you want to march in with all the veterans, please meet in the hall outside of the gym. )

(Mark your calendars:The 3rd Annual Cookie and Candy Walk will be on Sunday, December 15th. Watch upcoming bulletins and newsletters for additional information.) (Wisconsin Veterans Home at King IngatheringSt. Paul Christian Service Guild will be collecting items at our Veterans Worship Service on Sunday, November 10th. Thank you for your donations.Suggested items:Puzzle books (large print circle words, soduko, crosswords)Bags of chocolate candy Cans of coffee Plastic Suncatchers/ Suncatcher PaintSmall notebooks / notepads Lap robesLarge Print BooksSpanning across 320 acres of the richest, picturesque scenery, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King is a gem like no other.Exquisitely nestled between the bluest of blue spring-fed lakes, embraced by lush green rolling hills, the sights and sounds of this magical setting will take your breath away. This unsurpassed beauty is not commonly home to a long term care facility, but how appropriate a setting providing peace and tranquility for those who bore the battle. The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King is serving those who selflessly served for all of us.)

"And His Mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50 ESV).

Conference location: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 8301 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA 50322

How do we live out our biblically-based, For Life convictions in this culture? Our 2013 Lutherans For Life National Conference will help you do that as we focus on L.I.F.E.Living In Faith Everyday.

Registration Fees

Individual: $100

If anyone is interested in attending from the congregation please contact Dianne Zeitler or Nola Duescher for a conference brochure and reimbursement for the conference fee from Lakeshore LFL.

Thrivent Choice Double Direction Church Campaign

Thrivent Financial is giving up to $15 Million to enrolled churches all over the country through Thrivent Choice . Be a part of this one-time campaign and you can help your congregation in a big way! Simply direct Choice Dollars to an enrolled congregation between Oct. 1 Nov. 30. Thrivent Financial will double all Choice Dollars directions made during this time or until $15 Million has been awarded, whichever comes first.

Learn more at www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and when prompted state Thrivent Choice.

Holy Humor

A Lutheran Minister was new to his rural congregation, but he had gotten word that a man was interested in joining his church. He went to the front door, and rapped several times, but got no answer. Reasonably sure the man was home he walked around to the back door, and to his surprise, the back yard was built up like an English garden with serpentine walks, a fish pond, fountains vines, the whole nine yards. He walked up to the back door, and still got no answer. Finally, he took out one of his calling cards and wrote on the back, "Rev 3:30" [Behold I stand at the door and knock...] The following Sunday, as the parishioners were leaving the church, someone slipped him their card with "Gen 3:20" written on the back. When he was finally able to get to a Bible, he discovered his response: "I heard you in the garden, but I knew I was naked, so I hid!"

(Faculty/Staff Contact Info)

( )Pastor: Peter Speckhard: pspeckhard@homtail.com

Principal: Debbie Kline: dkline@stpaullux.org

4K Teacher: Tiffany Dart: tdart@stpaullux.org

4K Teacher: Beth Budnik: bbudnik@stpaullux.org

5K Teacher: Sherry Byrne: sbyrne@stpaullux.org

1st & 2nd Grade: Heidi Schneider: hschneider@stpaullux.org

3rd & 4th Grade: Ruth Bernau: rbernau@stpaullux.org

6th, 7th, & 8th Grade: Ben Phelps: bphelps@stpaullux.org

Secretary: Jenny Tenor: jtenor@stpaullux.org

Newsletter: Angie Peterson: apeterson0727@yahoo.com

(Veterans Day Service) Funerals: Tina Peterson 920-863-5137

Arlene Gruetzmacher 920-845-5048

Prayer Chain: Tina Peterson 920-836-5137

DVDs are available of the church service. Call the church office at 920-845-2095 and one of our volunteers will deliver it to you.

Need a ride to church? Please notify the church office for a ride to and from church services.

Newsletter Deadline: the 21st of the month.

(Newsletter Title)

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