Friday, February 13, 2015

This Week at St. Paul
Sunday, February 15th
   8:00am & 10:30am – Worship/Communion (Central Site)
   9:15am -  Bible Class/Sunday School  (Central Site)
   9:15am – SPY Band
   9:15am -  Worship (Northwest Site)
 10:15am – Bible Class (Northwest Site)
   4:00pm – Elders Meeting (Northwest Site)
   6:30pm – Confirmation Review (Northwest site) (2nd Year only)
Monday, February 16th
 10:00am – Monday Morning Bible Class (Central Site)
   5:30pm – 7:00pm – Northwest Site Reserved
Tuesday, February 17th
   9:00am – Piecemakers (Undercroft)
  3:30pm – 5:30pm – YES Club (Northwest Site)
Wednesday, February 18th Ash Wednesday
  7:00am – 8:15am – Men’s Devo & Prayer (Spring Garden-Loves Park)
10:30am –Ash Wednesday Worship (Central Site)
  11:30am – Ladies Guild Pot Luck (Undercroft)
   7:00pm – Mid Week Ash Wednesday Worship (Northwest Site)
   7:00pm – Ambassador Ministries
Thursday, February 19th  
  11:00am – Knitting Etc./Community Activity (Northwest Site)
Saturday, February 21st
   8:30am – 9:15am  – Market Day Pick-up (Central Site)
Sunday, February 22nd  
   8:00am & 10:30am – Worship (Central Site)
   9:15am -  Bible Class/Sunday School  (Central Site)
   9:15am -  Worship/Communion (Northwest Site)
 10:15am – Bible Class (Northwest Site)
   1:00pm – 3:00pm – SPYS Bowling (Park Lanes)
   6:30pm – Confirmation Review (Northwest site) (2nd Year only)

       Serving in God’s House at Central Site Today:
Acolytes: 8:00am –                             10:30am – Michael R.
Preacher: Pastor Thies
Ushers: 8:00am –  Group 4               10:30am – Group 8
Elder: Scott Sautel
                   
       Serving in God’s House at Northwest Site Today:
Preacher: Pastor  Thies                    Elder: Jon Schuknecht
Acolyte:   Aries & Tristan 

        
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.

Generosity Moment - Mark 9:6  “For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.” Soon enough, the disciples’ terror turned into joy for when Jesus is with us, there is no need to fear. He loves us and cares for us and will never abandon us. That assurance is the basis of all generosity – for only those who are set free from worry can learn the joy of giving like we do in our regular weekly offerings to the Lord’s church.

COME TODAY! - In the introduction to the Large Catechism, Martin Luther wrote "I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain".  The Large Catechism contains the basic foundations that all of our doctrine is built upon: the Ten Commandments, the Creed, Lord's Prayer and the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.  Would you like to dig deeper into these basic biblical doctrines that we as Lutherans hold so dear?  Join us as we study Luther's Large Catechism during Sunday morning Bible study at both the Central at 9:15am and Northwest site at 10:15am.
           
Please Note – In observance of National Lutheran Schools Week, the 10:30 service on March 8th will be held in the Wesling Family Coaches Gym.

2nd Year Confirmation students meet with Pastor Thies to prepare for Questioning tonight, February 15th, at 6:30pm at Northwest site.

Please pray for our school Principal, Mr. Bruce Volkert, as he and family consider a call to be Principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Utica, Michigan.  Pray that the Lord make clear His Will and give us all peace as Mr. Volkert considers both his call here and now the one to Michigan.

The Season of Lent THIS WEEK begins with Ash Wednesday, February 18th. It gives us another opportunity to rededicate ourselves to authentic worship and sincerity of faith as the Body of Christ together in His church here on earth. Mid-week services will be held at 10:30am at Central Site and 7:00pm at Northwest Site. This year did not allow for our other churches to join with us in sharing pastors each week.   So our messages will be delivered by Pastor Thies and the blueprint of the themes for each Wednesday is as follows:
Week 1. Ash Wednesday: What It Is to Be Penitent, Psalm 6  (February 18th)
2. Lenten Midweek 2: Blessed Are the Penitent, Psalm 32
3. Lenten Midweek 3: The Disposition of the Penitent, Psalm 38
4. Lenten Midweek 4: The Penitent Prays for a Purified Heart, Psalm 51
5. Lenten Midweek 5: The Afflicted Penitent Hopes in the Eternal Lord, Psalm 102
6. Lenten Midweek 6: The Penitent Waits Patiently on the Lord, Psalm 130
7. Maundy Thursday: The Penitent Thirsts for the Lord, Psalm 143
8. Good Friday: Our Lord Did This for You! Psalm 22

Lent brings us special devotions from Lutheran Indian Ministries.  They are available for you to take from the church entrance ways.  LIM “shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native American Nations, encouraging them to proclaim Christ’s Kingdom to their own and to others.”  Please take one to help make this Lent a special time to reflect on the things of God.
            
The Ladies Guild will host a Potluck lunch immediately following each of the morning Lenten services at the Central Site. Ash Wednesday, February 18th, will be the first luncheon and will continue on each Wednesday through March 25th. Please bring a dish to pass – beverage and table service are provided. ALL ARE WELCOME to join with us for lunch and a time of fellowship as we follow Christ’s journey to the cross.

The Brothers of John the Steadfast announce our 2015 Conference, held once again at Bethany Lutheran Church in Naperville, IL. February 20-21, 2015 The topic of this conference is: “When Heterodoxy Hits Home”.  The conference will feature worship, presentations on various topics as well as time for meals and fellowship with Lutherans from around the country (and world!).  If you are interested in learning more, visit steadfastlutherans.org or contact Pastor Thies or Mike Woolery at 815-222-0009.  Several of us are attending, so we can arrange to share rides from Rockford to Naperville. 

Jr. & Sr. SPYS, Mark your Calendars for next Sunday, February 22nd when we will go bowling at Park Lanes (5813 N. 2nd St.) in Loves Park at 1:00pm. Cost is 20.00 for two games of bowling including shoes, all you can eat pizza and drinks. Ask Pastor Thies if you need a ride from church. Please have your ride pick you up at 3:00pm at Park Lanes. Hope to see you there!

Mark your Calendar for Saturday, March 14th from 11 am – 2 pm and join us for St. Paul School's Fun Fair.  To go along with our school theme the Fun Fair’s theme is “Jesus is our Treasure!”  We are looking for donations of all kinds to be used for our “give away” table.  Please contact Liz Temple (815)637-4486 if you have something you would be willing to donate.  Thank you!

A memorial plaque has been installed in the hallway outside the gym which remembers the friends of St. Paul who gave memorials to our school. You are welcome to visit the plaque and let us know if there is  a name that can be added. This plaque is in itself in memory of Richard “Dick” Schoonover.

St. Paul Lutheran School has seats available in the following grades: Kindergarten, 7th & 8th grades. Grades 1-6 are at capacity. However, we may make an exception in those grades if a sibling of a new student in grades K, 7& 8 were to enroll.

Do you want to hang out with kids and serve our school as well?  Then, we have fantastic opportunities for you!  We are seeking a volunteer study hall "sitter" on Mondays and Fridays from 12:30 - 1:15 PM.  The study hall has about 12 5th and 6th grade students. We are also continually looking for people to read with students.  Carol Ulrich is the coordinator for this effort.  Please contact the school office if you are interested in either valuable position (815-965-3335 est. 215 or stpaulrockford@gmail.com).

Little Lambs is now accepting applications for spring enrollment. Please call Katie Lopez at 815-965-3335, ext. 218.