Friday, September 27, 2013

Week of September 29th,  2013
Saturday,  September 28th
  6:00pm - Contemporary Worship (Northwest Site)
Sunday, September 29th
  8:00am & 10:30am – Worship (Central Site)
  9:15am -  Bible Class/Sunday School  (Central Site)
  9:15am – Worship (Northwest Site)
10:30am – Bible Study (Northwest Site)
  6:30pm – Jr. Confirmation (Northwest Site)
Monday, September 30th
10:00am – Monday Morning Bible Class
  6:30pm – Church Council
Tuesday, October 1st Circuit Pastors’ Conference
   1:00pm – Ladies Guild Meeting (Northwest Site)
  5:30pm – Trustees
  6:00pm – SPUM
  6:15pm – Social Ministry
  6:30pm – Board of Education
  6:45pm – Board of Youth
  7:00pm – Stewardship
  7:15pm – Evangelism
Wednesday, September 18th
  7:00am – 7:45am -  Men’s Devo & Prayer (Stockholm Inn)
  8:25am – Chapel
10:30am – 1:00pm – Flu Shots (Northwest Site)
11:00am – 1:00pm – Ladies Guild Salad, Pie & Sandwich Luncheon
Friday, October 4th
  8:00am – NW Clean-up
Saturday,  October 5th
10:30am – “It’s All in Me” Retreat (Northwest Site)
  6:00pm - Contemporary Worship (Northwest Site)
Sunday, October 6th
  8:00am & 10:30am  – Worship/Communion (Central Site)
  9:15am -  Bible Class/Sunday School  (Central Site)
  9:15am – Worship (Northwest Site)
10:30am – Bible Study (Northwest Site)
11:00am – Walcamp Fall Festival (Walcamp)
  1:00pm – Walk to Remember (YMCA  Log Lodge)
  6:30pm – Jr. Confirmation (Northwest Site)
Prayer for the Day is a daily devotional ministry. To hear a devotion recorded by Pastor Thies, please call the special Prayer for the Day phone number (963-7641) and then dial 3 when the call is answered.

Sermon Series by Pastor Thies – As part of our effort to transform our church and school ministry with some planning, this weekend each person will receive a prayer journal.  For the next four Sundays that Pastor Thies preaches he will lead us through the four themes in the journal: 1) The Dream, 2) Trust, 3) Money & 4) Courage.  You are invited each of these weeks to prayerfully work through the journal with five personal and/or family devotions and to keep some notes on your thoughts.  The hope is that these weeks serve to bring us together in reflecting on the Lord’s things in our lives as we prayerfully attempt to plan our ministry together as a church.  Everyone can participate in this!

HELP--LADIES GUILD and LWML of NID collect for "Gifts from the Heart."  We are collecting Women's Toiletry items which will be delivered to the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. Some suggested items are--lotions, body washes, new slippers, etc.  A complete list is with the black collection tub at the narthex at each site.  LADIES GUILD sincerely thanks all who help with this LWML project.

The OCTOBER LADIES GUILD meeting is this TUESDAY, October 1st at 1:00pm at the Northwest Site.  After a short business meeting, we will set up the dining room for the Salad, Sandwich, and Pie luncheon we are serving on Wednesday, October 2nd. If you have not already signed up to donate pies and salads, call the church office  (815) 963-5435  to get your name on the list.  Bring your MITES to this meeting.

What if we could replicate our St. Paul Lutheran School ministry several times over in Africa in places where there is NO SCHOOL AT ALL for the children there without it?  Well, we actually can by partnering in supporting Joe Boway,a friend of St. Paul Lutheran for many years.  Mr. Boway is a missionary who returns several times a year to his native Liberia to establish Lutheran schools for the families living there.  He has established twelve schools with Lutheran churches there so far in just a few years!  He has visited our school for many years to tell us about his work to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Our students enjoy hearing about life in Africa when Mr. Boway speaks to us for chapel.  He was here in May and will be back via Skype for a chapel service in October.  Our school chapel offerings for September and October will go towards Mr. Boway's ministry.  We are also collecting school supplies for the schools in Liberia.  We invite you to participate!  You may bring in writing utensils, loose leaf paper, spiral notebooks, folders, and other items.  Financial gifts help as well as long as they indicate for this ministry in some way.  You may provide a donation in the offering plate or bring to Mr. Volkert or leave in the school or church office.  Just a few dollars allows a child to have a Christian education in an area where they would otherwise receive absolutely no education.  Mr. Boway will be by in person on October 30th to pick up what we have collected.   You can find more information at http://www.nl4u.org/page8.html

 Come and Enjoy a FALL TRADITION -- PIES, SALADS, & SANDWICHES are being served on Wednesday, October 2nd by the Ladies Guild at our Northwest Site.  Serving time is from 11:00am until 1:00pm.  Tickets are $6.00 and can be purchased from any Ladies Guild member or at the door the day of the luncheon.  Anyone willing to donate a salad or pie, please call the church office 815-963-5435.  The 2013 FLU shots will be available from 10:30am until 1:00pm on the day of this luncheon.  Bring your Medicare card for Medicare B to cover the cost of the shot.  Cash or check for $30 will also be accepted for the shot if you are not enrolled in Medicare.

St. Paul Lutheran Church & School and its 125th Anniversary are featured in the current Fall issue of Northwest Quarterly Magazine.  Page 219 gives us and our ministries of the past, present and future a full page description.  You may take home your cost free issue to review and/or keep by picking it up from one of the church entrance ways or in many business establishments around the area, courtesy of Guler Appliance which supplied the ones to our church.
          
You are still invited to tell others about enrolling their children in St. Paul School next Fall.  Seats are available in most classes.  We think we are the best deal in town - tuition is only $2,700 a year for Community Members.  That is less than $68 a week for a quality education in a small school setting.  Remember to tell them that the children learn of Jesus each and every day!  That is priceless!  Interested families can call 815-965-3335 or email Lynn Warner at stpaulrockford@gmail.com.

We are having our first St. Pauliday of the year!  It is being hosted by Sam's Drive- in (Byron) which is operated by are very own Todd and Shirlee Aldrich.  Join us today (Sunday) September 29 from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.  Take your family out for lunch after church!  A portion of the proceeds benefits our school.

You need some St. Paul Lutheran Spiritwear!  You really do!  It is an easy way to show your pride and let people know your church and/or school home.  There are numerous designs, logos, and items from which to choose.  We have shirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, sweat pants, back packs and more that can be imprinted with the design of your choice.  Please see the display in the narthex or stop by the school office.  Orders are due into the church or school office by Monday, September 30.

"8 oh 4 St. Paul".  This is our new method to remind ourselves to take time from our busy lives to bow our heads in prayers to our Father.  Last Spring we used "stop at 1:30 to pray for 130 students" for our school .  We want to continue the habit of the St. Paul Family uniting in prayer at the same time.  You are welcomed to set your alarm or phone for 8:04 (AM or PM) and join us to pray at 8 oh 4 St. Paul.  Pray that God continues to guide and bless the ministry of St. Paul Lutheran School.  Pray for our students, families, and teachers… and anything else that is on your heart.  Jesus promises to hear our prayers!

Perhaps you have a musical instrument at your house that is no longer being used.  If it is donated to our band program we can guarantee that it will once again produce beautiful music!  Donated instruments are used by our students for no charge.  For many students, being able to use a "school instrument" is what allows them to join our band.  Talk to Mr. Volkert if you have any questions.
   
Little Lambs is now accepting applications for fall enrollment. Please call Jan Morton at 815-965-3335, ext. 218.

The Website Returns - It is back up, running & renovated for your use and for those who want to get to know St. Paul.  You will find calendars for all church and school activities.  Take at look at the same old address:  www.stpaulrockford.org


Walcamp Fall Festival – Bring your family for a day of fun at Walcamp Outdoor Ministries and Retreat Center on October  6th at 11:00am. This day offers many fun activities. Come and explore the beautiful fall colors of God’s creation. Events of the day will include Civil War living history, children’s games, food, craft vendors, live music and fellowship. Worship service starts the celebration at 11:00am. Entertainment and pork dinner begin at noon.