St. Paul’s / Zion Lutheran ChurchFebruary Happenings

St. Paul’s Sunday School: 9:15 AM Zion Worship: 8:30 AMSt. Paul’s Worship: 10:30 AM Zion Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Interim Pastor: Rev. Cheryl IndeharPastor’s Phone #: 651-587-3100

Pastor’s e-mail address: cindehar@aol.com

Sun., Feb. 4 th St. Paul's choir will start practicing at 9:30 AM in the church sanctuary. Anyone interested in joining us PLEASE come and see what a great group of people it is! Very low key and you don't have to have musical experience or background, we'll help you out.  Come "Make a joyful sound to the Lord!!"

St. Paul’s & Zion Members: Luther League Soup Sundays will be Feb. 4th and March 5th please join them for Soup Sundays following the 10:30 worship service at St. Paul’s. Come for delicious soup and fellowship! A free will offering is taken which the league puts toward team building activities and our planned mission trip to Chattanooga, TN, June 23 - 29, 2018. One spot for mission trip is available to youth currently in 6th – 12th grade. Script cards will continue to be available. We will be selling on soup Sundays or contact Marsha or Angie at any time to purchase: your in store purchases from your script cards give 10% back to our youth. If you want to purchase outside of soup Sunday, please let Mike or Marsha know phone: 451-4804 or e-mail marshadinse@gmail.com or Angie Klemmensen at Zion, 402-2711. LENTEN WORSHIP Z&SP: Stone Soup supper Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, served from 5:30 – 6:30 PM before joint Ash Wednesday worship/communion at 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s. Joint services will be at 7:00 PM on the following dates and church, we will be participating in the round robin services with area churches - Light lunch after worship. Wed., Feb. 14 at St. Paul’s – 7 PM Wed., March 14 at St. Paul’s – 7 PM Wed., Feb. 21 at Zion; - 7 PM Wed., March 21 at Zion; 7 PM Wed., Feb. 28 at St. Paul’s – 7 PM Maundy Thurs., March 29 at Zion Wed., March 7 at Zion; - 7 PM Soup served 5:30 – 6:30 PM Worship/Communion – 7 PM

St. Paul’sThank you - to Keith Dinse and Dee Ann Pettyjohn for serving on the church council for the past 3 years –

W elcome - Steve Kath and Liz Keck elected as new members of council. NOTE: St. Paul’s Parish Education Board had two volunteers to be on the board, Ray Wiest and Kristen Wilker will join Norma Hoffmaster and Adam Williams

St. Paul’s Mission offering to be taken on February 4th will be for Hospitality House .

Ushers needed at St. Paul’s – there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex or let Diane know if you can help!!

Sign up sheet is on table in narthex for items needed for the Stone Soup served by the Fellowship committee on Ash Wednesday, February 14th - 5:30 – 6:30 PM before the 7 PM worship.

Newsletter-Islam

What is the Islamic religion all about? Lutheran Social Services in Minnesota put together a handout on My Neighbor Is Muslim to address that question and I will use their material to explain the religion. It would seem that knowing something about Islam is important today. There are 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. In the United States there are 3.3 million Muslims about 1% of the U.S. population.To understand the Islamic religion is to know the Five Pillars of Islam. These five pillars are core beliefs and practices that unite all Muslims. The first is the declaration of faith. The basic profession of faith is: There is no god but God(Allah) and Muhammad is the messenger of God. The prophet Muhammad is the one through whom the final and decisive revelation was given to humanity. To be a Muslim or convert to Islam one only has to declare this profession of faith to other Muslims. The second pillar is prayer. Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. The times are: dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. In Muslim countries there are minarets that announce and call Muslims to pray. The prayers can be done at any place. On Fridays the noon prayer should be done at a Mosque for men and women are encouraged to attend. Prayers in Islam are reciting verses from the Quran, their holy book. While praying there is movement such as: standing, kneeling, touching one’s forehead to the ground. The idea behind the movement is to show submission and humility before God. Muslims will also face toward Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. The third pillar is almsgiving. The expectation is that 2.5% of net worth, not just income, is given. Muslims believe that all wealth and material possessions are entrusted to humanity by God. Muslims are called to be faithful stewards of what is given to them. The thought behind the giving is that the basic needs of all are met. The recipients of almsgiving are the poor, orphans, widows, travelers, and debtors.The four pillar of Islam is fasting. Fasting occurs during the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar called Ramadan. This is the first month where God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. During this month, Muslims refrain from eating and sexual activity from dawn to dusk. The idea of fasting is remind Muslims of their dependence on God. An important religious occasion is the meal that takes place at the end of Ramadan. At this meal gifts can be exchanged and communal prayer takes place.The last pillar is a pilgrimage to Mecca. If one is physically and financially able, it is expected that one will do this once in your lifetime. Those who take the pilgrimage all wear white garments a symbol of unity and purification. It is a week-long event. Pastor Cheryl Funerals, Baptisms, Weddings:

Funerals: SP: Norbert Schroeder - born: Dec. 26, 1923; died: January , 2017; Funeral: Saturday, January 13, 2018 at St. Paul’s SP: Jeff Kath - born: Dec. 24, 1953; died: January 15, 2018 Funeral: Saturday, January 20, 2018 at St. Paul’s

(Answer top of next page) Bible Quiz Answer: E (See Romans 8:38-39)

January Council Notes Jan. 14, 2018 after worship

Meeting called to order Secretary & treasurers reports were reviewed and approved.

Old business: * One candidate has been found for position on Church council, looking for one more. * Treasurer books will be audited before Annual Meeting. * Report on updates done at parsonage. New Business: * Council set the annual meeting agenda -

Next council meeting February 11, 2018 after worship.

Meeting was adjourned - Closed with the Lord’s Prayer St. Paul’s Annual Meeting – Jan. 21, 2018 33 members attended St. Paul’s Annual meeting after potluck lunch following worship. Vern Wilker presented the Cemetery Board Report. - A Property Committee to handle maintenance of church, parsonage and grounds per 2017 annual meeting, members are Brad Keck, Joel Weber, Betty Weber and Cindy Wesely. If you see anything that should be looked at please let one of them know so it can be fixed. - Lenten Worship will alternate between Zion and St. Paul’s; Ash Wednesday (Feb.14) will be at St. Paul’s, soup supper, 5:30 – 6:30 PM served by Fellowship committee, followed by 7 PM worship. During the mid week services we will have pastors from other area church’s as Pastor Cheryl will be participating in the round robin Lenten program this year. - Discussion on holding Sunday School during worship time, after looking at many pros and cons, it was voted to leave Sunday School at 9:15 AM. - Pastor Cheryl went over the Hope in Christ process offered by the synod. This will be a joint effort between St. Paul’s and Zion with a guide team being formed with 3 members from each congregation, this is a part of strategic planning during this “spirit process of discerning our congregation’s future. Looking for 3 volunteers from St. Paul’s for this team. - Church Shingles – there is a fund now set up for donations to the need to shingle roof of church, probably within 4 – 5 year. It was voted and passed that we would set aside $200 per month toward this fund, along with any donations designated to this project. - The church insurance has risen and suggestion of looking into comparable insurance to see if same coverage can be obtained at another company, Voted that council will look into this and update congregation as needed. - New hymnals – discussion on getting the new cranberry hymnal which has a combination of hymns from the blue and green books along with the liturgical settings including what we now use. Cost is $22.50 per hymnal, we will need 200 hymnals. There is some memorial money that is available to be used for this. Motion passed to purchase of the new hymnals. (this will replace the green and blue hymnals and will only need the one book, Zion will be voted on this same motion) - Summer worship Zion – 8 AM and St. Paul’s – 9:30 AM, suggestion to begin the first week in June. - Synod support for 2018 - $5,000. - Lenten quarters voted to be sent to Rachel’s Light. - Christmas Eve Offering voted to be sent to Rachel’s Light. - Missions were voted on to stay the same as last year, months to be adjusted - Reviewed salaries for Pastor, Organist, supply organist, custodian, secretary and treasurer. Pastor received 2% raise and Secretary/Treasurer position increased. - 2 Volunteers, Ray Wiest and Kristen Wilker were elected to the Parish Education Board. - Steve Kath and Liz Keck were elected to the Church Council for 3 year term.

- Thank you to Keith Dinse and Dee Ann Pettyjohn for serving on council the past 3 years.

- Thank you to Vonna Dinse and Sheila Katzung for their service on Parish Ed Board.

- Keith stated there are too many people to thank and he would not try to name them, just a “BIG thank You” to everyone.

Meeting adjourned and closed with Lord’s Prayer.

Below is a list of month of offering: January: Salvation Army - February: Hospitality House; March: Food Shelves; April: Rachel’s Light; May: Young Life; June: Lutheran Campus Ministry; July: Habitat for Humanity; August: Transitional Housing; September: Women’s Crisis Center; October: SE MN Synod; November: Lutheran Social Services; December: Malaria (Mosquito) nets for an African village and Missionary, Karen Anderson in Chili; Owatonna; January, 2018: Hospitality House

Nov./Dec. Church attendance – General Offering Mission Offering Jan. 7 - 80 $ 3,541 $ 234.25 + $50 made out to them Jan. 14 - 56 $ 741 Jan. 21 - 60 $ 1,063 Jan. 28 - 39 $ 764 ______ Total 235 $ 6,109 $ 234.25

2017 Financial Report: included in Annual report available on the table in the narthex. I mportant Upcoming dates :

Sun., Feb. 4: Mission offerings taken at St. Paul’s and Zion St. Paul’s mission: Hospitality House;

Luther League will serve soup after worship at St. Paul’s Freewill offering for League mission trip in June

Tues., Feb. 6: St. Paul’s Hope Women of Mission – 6:30 PM at Church Bible Study: Dee Ann Pettyjohn; Serving: Sweet Swap (bring 1 serving of dessert) We will take kitchen inventory at 5:30 for those who can come early

Wed., Feb. 7 : Zion & St. Paul’s Confirmation class, 6:15 at St. Paul’s

Sun., Feb. 11: St. Paul’s Council meeting, after worship Zion Council meeting, 6:00 PM

Mon., Feb. 12: Zion WELCA General Meeting, 7:00 PM Bible Study: Mary Ann Woodfill; Servers: Laurie Dahlin & Newell Sommers

Wed., Feb. 14: Ash Wednesday Worship/Communion, 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s Soup will be served from 5:30 – 6:30 PM with freewill donations will be given to Luther League for their mission trip.

Wed., Feb. 21: Lenten Mid week worship, 7:00 PM at Zion

Wed., Feb. 28: Lenten Mid week worship, 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14 th

February Worship Services Sun., February 4: – Worship w/Communion, 10:30 AM

Ushers – Brad & Liz Keck - Acolyte: Communion Server – Joel

Mission offering taken for Hospitality House

Sun., February 11: – Worship Service – 10:30 AM Ushers – Kent & Kristen Wilker – Acolyte:

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14: Worship/Communion at St. Paul’s, 7:00 PM Soup served from 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Freewill offering will be given to Luther League for their Mission Trip

Sun., February 18 – Worship w/Communion – 10:30 AM Ushers – Jerry & Linda Kath - Acolyte:

Communion Server – Richie

Wed., Feb. 21: Lenten Midweek worship at Zion, 7:00 PM

Sunday, February 25 - Worship Service 10:30 AM Ushers: - Brad & Tam Lewison - Acolyte:

Wed., Feb. 28: Lenten Midweek worship at St. Paul’s, 7:00 PM Ushers: Kent & Kristen Wilker

March 4 - Worship/Communion – 10:30 AM

Ushers: Brad & Liz Keck - Acolyte:

Bits and Pieces Remember, visitors are guests sent by the Lord. Please make them feel welcome by introducing yourself and greeting them warmly. Invite them to come back again and to please sign our guest book.

For a reservation of the church and/or fellowship Hall at St. Paul’s either for personal use or your organization outside of regular meetings, please contact Diane Kath-Schoenfeld, call 507-444-9978; or e-mail currer@charter.net so events can be written on calendar to avoid schedule conflicts. Cost is $50 to rent the fellowship hall for personal use. For newsletter and Sunday bulletin items, please contact Diane Kath-Schoenfeld at 444-9978 or e-mail, currer@charter.net March Newsletter items due February 19 th .

February Birthdays 2/12: Gavin Lewison

2/23: Lex Lewison 2/27: Diane Kath-Schoenfeld

Please let Diane know the month and day of your birthday so we can include you on our birthday list!

SP: Hope Women of Mission Meeting, Tues., Feb. 6, 6:30 PMBible Study & Meditation: Dee Ann Pettyjohn

Serving: Sweet Swap – bring 1 serving of a dessertWe will do group cleaning and inventory on the before circle meeting, if you can help, we will start at

5:30 PM you are welcome to join us when you can. All welcome to join us for the 6:30 meeting Feb. 4th. St. Paul’s church kitchen is cleaned each month by Women of Mission. If you have items in the refrigerator and/or freezer, please remove them or they will be disposed of. If any items will be left in the kitchen refrigerator and/or freezer that you will be using please let the person(s) who will be cleaning know, they are listed in the church yearbook and listed each month in the newsletter.

St. Paul’s: Our women’s group meets on a monthly basis with Bible Study and fellowship. We welcome you to join us at monthly meetings which are held at 6:30 PM on the first Tuesday after the first Sunday of each month, watch the bulletins/newsletters for meeting information meetings are held at church unless noted.

The Special Missions of the Church listed in the annual report lists the many projects that were accomplished this past year with many opportunities for you to share some of your time and/or talents. We will have sign-up sheets through the year for donations and/or help on the table in the narthex. Please consider volunteering for one project during the year as you are able.

Thank you to everyone for your support and help on all projects and missions of the church. With the support and help from the congregation we are able to complete many projects for the good of the community.

We have the opportunity to donate new or gently used children’s Books to the Steele County Detention Center. The books will be used by families visiting their parents. Also, moms and dads read a book while being taped and the video and book is then sent home with the children. Books need not be new if they are in good condition. There is a basket in the narthex for your donations.mmThank you for your continued mission outreach to our community.

Quilting Dates Monday, Feb. 5, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Wed., Feb. 7, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Monday, Feb. 19, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Wed., Feb. 21, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Sunday School A reminder to all families that Sunday, February 4th is Super Sunday, where our Sunday School children will be focusing on giving back to others. They will be working on special projects to be able to give back to those in our community. They will also be participating in ELCA Good Gifts, and the Sunday School children will be using their offering money from this year in order to purchase items, together they will decide what they will purchase, if it will farm animals or vaccinations, or combination of both, that will be their decision. Sunday School will start at 9 AM on Sunday, February 4 th and it will end at its normal time. As always if anyone has any suggestions or feedback we would love to hear it!! Vonna Dinse – 651-357-2924; Norma Hoffmaster – 507-456-6753 Sheila Katzung – 507-390-2417; Adam Williams – 507-369-8354

Z&SP: information for the yearbooks can be turned in as soon as officers, committees and schedules have been completed. Please complete your schedules through February, 2019. The yearbooks are not completed until after the organizational meetings of church councils in February.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Looking for volunteers to usher for the coming year from March 2015 – Feb. 2016. Please consider volunteering to usher – There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex or let Diane Kath-Schoenfeld know if you can help. Thanks!!

Also looking for persons to serve on the Fellowship Committee who serve coffee in the

Summer, and do the Ash Wednesday Soup.

St. Paul’s: Everyone is welcome to coffee hour during the Sunday School session. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex for volunteers to serve coffee during the Sunday School hour, 9:15 – 10:15 AM. Sunday School parents are welcome to come and join in fellowship while your children are at Sunday School.

Let Diane know if you would like to join this Committee.

ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH 2781 SW 92nd Ave Meriden, Minnesota 56093 February 2018 Newsletter

Check it out Join Choir – Feb. 4th practice begins 9:30 AM Lenten Worship Schedule- begins Feb. 14th Volunteer opportunities

“What do I have!” What so I have, Lord, that you would need me as a servant?

Eyes, he said, to see the beauty in all that I’ve made – and my children as they travel life’s highway.Hands, he said, to reach out and touch hurting souls, to give a hug or encouraging pat on the back.Feet, he said, to lead my children through this world of strife and to help them run from sin and follow me.Mouth, he said, to lift up your voice and sing praises to me so others may hear the joy in your heart.Ears, he said, to listen to my still, small voice of love and to hear my children when they cry for help.Heart, he said, so you may know the full love of my Spirit and love my children as I have loved you.