Saint Paul Lutheran Church
   
 March Newsletter 2016
   


As we move through Lent, towards Holy Week, we hope to provide you with food for thought, questions to ask, and reasons to change, but most of all we wish you the peace of Christ that can be found in people around you and surpasses understanding.

In this newsletter you will find various ways to stay connected to each other and God, in and around the church, and we hope there is something here for everyone.

In Christ,
Saint Paul Lutheran Church Staff
kids_welcome.jpg
Everyone is welcome!
 
Welcome to St. Paul's Holy Communion worship. We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable, or dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to wailing babies and excited toddlers.
 
We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You are welcome here if you're "just browsing," just woken up or just gotten out of prison. It does not matter if you're more Christian than the Pope, or haven't been to church since Easter ten years ago.
 
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome athletic moms, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, and junk food eaters, and ethnic groups of all kinds. We welcome you regardless of your political party, profession or the language you prefer to speak. We welcome those in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you're having problems, are down in the dumps or don't like "organized religion." (At times we're not that keen on it either.)
 
We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell, or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to come to St. Paul's.
 
We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as kids or got lost in the midst of wine tasting and wound up here by mistake. We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters . . . and you!  
Holden Village Evening Prayer-   
6:15 p.m., Wed. Feb 10 through Wed. Mar 16 

Holden Village Evening Prayer had been a traditional part of St. Paul's observation as the congregation gathers for a soup supper following the worship service.  Lenten Vespers is both beautiful and reflective. Come, relax and engage in Lent!
Children's Palm Sunday Parade 
Sunday March 20

We will be gathering for worship on Palm Sunday as we begin the Holy Week observances. Palm Sunday marks Christ's entry into Jerusalem being greeted by the crowds as a new king. A spontaneous parade formed around Christ as he entered into the city. The church seeks to remember this entry of Christ by recreating the Palm Sunday procession. All children of the congregation are invited to bring their bikes, big wheels or scooters to church on this day. Plan to gather from 8:30am to 9:20am to decorate your "wheels" for the Palm Sunday parade.  I hope to see lots of children in procession at the 9:30am service!
Holy Week Worship Schedule

Sunday, March 17, 9:30 a.m.: Palm/Passion Sunday with Palm Processional
Thursday, March 24, 7:00 p.m.: Maundy  Thursday: Holy Communion and the closing of the Lenten Confession
Friday, March 25, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday: Traditional Tenebrae
Saturday, March 26, 7:00 p.m.: Easter Vigil - the most beautiful liturgy of the year
Sunday, March 27, 6:00, 8:00 and 10:30 a.m.: Celebration of the Resurrection
Holy Saturday Work Day - Saturday March 26

St. Paul's gathers for an annual work day each year on the Saturday morning before Easter. The purpose of the day is to prepare the sanctuary and spruce up the campus in preparation for the Easter Celebration. The day begins at 8:30a.m. and ends at 11:30a.m.  There will be tasks for all ages and abilities including setting up for the Easter Breakfast, cleaning and decoration of the sanctuary, replacing and matching light bulbs, cleaning out gutters and a variety of other tasks as well. 
ST. PAUL LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL
  "Create in me a pure heart, O God Psalm 51:10
 
Hello from your Preschool.  
 
The last few weeks of February kept us very busy.   The children invited parents to attend a special "Ash Wednesday" service with Pastor Dan.  We also became a part of this service by singing with Mr. Hummel and the Children's Choir.  Miss Katelyn, one of our teachers, taught the children a special song to sing at this service, "Create in me a pure heart, O God."  We participated in a successful "Surf & Turf" event along with our St. Paul Youth Group. Our Parents and Staff donated time and materials for this night. The Preschool Board and Staff participated in Soup Supper on February 24 and our school visited the "Children's Museum" on February 25. It is now time to begin enrollment for our next school year.  Please see me if you would like a tour of our Preschool.  We are inviting Church families to enroll on Friday, February 26. 
 
We have much to accomplish before the end of May and are experiencing another extremely blessed and successful year. 
 
School happenings include:  Dr. Suess Day on March 2, P.J. Day on March 4, St. Patrick's Day on March 17, Spring Break covers March 14-25, we are open. Good Friday on March 25 with Easter Monday on March 28.  Lil 'Angels will be here on March 29/30...then it's April!
 
Themes for March:  Famous Authors, Wind and Weather, Easter and the Easter Bunny, Space.  Our alphabet letters:  Xx, Yy, Zz.  Shape:  Shamrock, Color: Green, Number:  Eight. Science: Growing Plants
 
Thanks to all of you for your support and consideration.
 
We wish you a great month and will be back soon.
 
Sincerely,
 
Rita A. Spohn, Director

It's time to order Azaleas and Lilies for Easter!
Spring Showers!
The Salvation Army has put into place a weekly event to support homeless folks in Lodi. One of the things they provide is a shower. They provide the water and we want to provide the soap! In the month of April we will be collecting the following new shower items:

Bars of soap

Shampoo

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Washcloths

Towels 

Combs and Hair Brushes

As you do your regular shopping over the next few weeks, grab 2 - one for your family and one for someone less fortunate. There will be tubs in the Narthex after Easter to collect your donations!

Worship and Music Ministries

Chancel Choir is rehearsing on Wednesday evenings with new members, some new music, and a renewed sense of purpose. We have some very special anthems we are preparing for the upcoming Sundays, which we hope will lift you up, cause you to ponder, or encourage you to join us. We have been delighted with our growing ensemble and would love to include YOU in it! Our schedule and links to anthems (helpful for learning the music) are available on our website.

Handbells will be resuming on Thursday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. because we have acquired a new director, Spencer Lang! Spencer is a longtime member of Saint Paul, with many musical (and medical) gifts, and we are delighted to announce that he will be leading our bell choir! He is in the process of communicating with our 'known' ringers, but is certainly welcoming new ones. Please contact Spencer by email or phone (518-8944) if you are interested in joining or have questions.Check the website for updates. Welcome to the staff, Spencer!

'Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation'
-Psalms 95:1
Thank you! 

The Crab Feed was a great success and we owe it to all of you!  We couldn't have done it without your donations of desserts and gift baskets and raffle items. Thank you to those that were able to attend, it was a fabulous evening! Thank you!
St. Paul Senior Connection Notes
           
The Mission of the St. Paul Senior Connection is to provide, with God's guidance, opportunities for ministry by and for senior adults in spiritual, service and social areas of our church and community.  We welcome seniors and friends to join events and activities on the Senior Connection calendar.  We welcome your ideas for future social, spiritual and service projects.
 
Ongoing activities
Book Club :  4th Wednesday of the Month.  Read and discuss a book chosen by the members from the Lodi Public Library "Books in a Box" project.  The book for March is Call of the Wild by Jack London. March's meeting is the 23rd. Contacts:  Brenda Nicholas, 369-7769 or Lorene Freggiaro, 931-3188

Knitting Group: 1st and 3rd Wednesday Every Month beginning in September
Contact:  Pat Fredstrom, 268-2261
 
Calendar of Events:  2016
Community Concert                                   May                         Hutchins Street Square
1776 The Musical                               Sunday, June 26th          Stockton Civic Theatre

Giving more hope for the future!
Your Social Ministry Board wishes to thank all the members who donated to the Tiqvah Sc holarship Fund in February. We raised $800 to go toward the 2 college scholarships. These scholarships go to children who are in foster care and do not have the family support many young adults have as they head off to college. Tiqvah means "hope" so thanks for giving them the gift of hope for the future.  We will keep you updated on the destinations of your gifts as the scholarships are awarded this spring.
Thrivent benefit members the deadline to direct your 2015 Choice Dollars® is March 31, 2016.

Time is running out to direct 2015 Choice Dollars® Thrivent Choice® gives eligible Thrivent benefit members the chance to recommend where Thrivent Financial directs some of its charitable grant funds.
Did you know: Choice dollars may be designated to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lodi or St Paul Lutheran Pre-School or your preferred organization(s)?

You have two easy options in directing your Choice Dollars:
1) Direct dollars online now through March 31 at thrivent.com/thriventchoice
2) Direct dollars by calling 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and say "Thrivent Choice" at the prompt. The Member Connection Center is open until 8 p.m. Central time.
If you have already donated your Choice Dollars® Thank You!  If not, time is running out, please donate them prior to March 31.
Friendship Ministry Spring Fest
The Spring Fest will be held in Morton Hall, Sunday, April 17 following worship. The Spring Fest provides a fellowship opportunity, and a time to connect with each other, for Friendship Ministry visitors and members of the congregation age 80 and over.  The Spring Fest will include lunch and a time to play BINGO with prizes provided. Watch for your invitation in the mail.
We look forward to seeing you,
St. Paul Friendship Ministry Coordinators

March Birthdays
 
Ray Abinanti, Erin Andrews, Joanne Barkley, Mary Ann Blomgren, Sarah Blomquist,
Lori Bryant, Tristan Churchill, Greg Clark, Brenda Colla, Jennie Coughran, Jeff DiPiero,
Logan DiPiero, Erik Edwards, Lillian Elliott, Paul Evans, Adam Faszer, Bailey Faszer,
Alek Francovich, Jerry Frohling, Karyn Gilbert, Thomas Goldman, Jonathan Gordon,
Harold Grasmick, Rev. Oscar Gross, Helm Haas, Roland Hatterle, Alissa Heil, Noah Hennecke, Roxanne Hess, Abby Hildenbrand, Joanne Hildenbrand, Phil Honkala, Herbert Horstmann, Rosalyn Hoyt, Randy Kiedrowski, Doug Lang, Arne Larson, Jill Ledterman, Cole Martinez, Pauline Marzolf, Manny Menezes, Michelle Moore, Craig Moser, Maggie Munoz, Michelle Munoz, Marique Neu, Cheryl Nitschke, Ryan O'Connell, Jeff Plunkett, Nicholas Price, Mary Rall, Tony Rasmussen, Ben Roget, Bernice Rohrbach, Karen Rohrbach, Brenda Schafer, Bernice Schaffer, Jacob Shepherd, Chuck Stinnett, Robin Tiede, Sarah Tingesdahl, Victoire Turner, Kate Velarde, Alivia Wagner, Stacey Westerlund, Alyson Whittaker.
March Anniversaries
 
Scott & Jeannie Beaton
Morgan & Jennifer Blachly
Mike & Chris Ferri
Herbert & Marion Horstmann
Lloyd & Diana Kuehne
Shaun & Jennifer Mackey
Erwin & Mary Rall
Jeff & Rachel Simpfenderfer
Ernie & Kate Velarde
Charles & Sandra Wagner
Staying connected as a family, in the church and in the world, is important to us at St. Paul. Thank you for being a part of our church family.

   In Christ,

  Your Church Staff
  Saint Paul Lutheran Church


The  mission of St. Paul Lutheran Church is to
Connect with God, each other and the world.  

The priorities in that mission are outreach to families with children and youth, deepening spirituality, strengthening stewardship, and developing leadership.  

The vision for St. Paul is to be an oasis, a place of refreshment, respite and renewal.
 
If you would like to be a part of this mission and vision, please contact the church office at 368-2747 or officestpaul@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.