PASTOR'S MESSAGE: "The Day the Sun Stopped Shining"

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Easter is coming, a day filled with joy, life and hope!

But before Easter, we must go through Good Friday, the day the sun stopped shining. The Bible tells us that, "From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land...The earth shook and the rocks split." (Matt.27:45,51) Darkness came over the land, symbolizing God's displeasure at the mistreatment of his Son at the hands of sinful men. Worst by far, however, was the divine darkness that fell upon Jesus as God the Father meted out on him the just punishment for our sins. When all was said and done, we're told that the earth shook and the rocks split, signaling the fulfillment of Christ's redeeming work. So filled with weight and importance was this day that God the Father let all creation join in recognition of what was happening. One Pastor comments on Christ and his cross this way: "Nowhere is the quiet majesty of Jesus more apparent than in his passion...He was the Victim, and yet, as his disciples noted, He was also somehow completely in control."

1

True, some very horrible things happened to Jesus. And yet, none of it happened apart from God's full knowledge and authority. As true God, Jesus was in complete control that day. "Behold we are going up to Jerusalem...The Son of Man will be delivered over...They will condemn him to death...to be mocked and flogged and crucified." (Matt.20:18,19) Jesus (not his enemies) determined the time of his betrayal and arrest: "Rise! Let us go!" he said after he finished

praying. "Here comes my betrayer!” (Matt.26:46) and Jesus went out to meet him. Even as they arrested him, Jesus was in charge: "Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to Peter...'Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matt.26:52-54)

Yes, Jesus was in complete control of things that day at Calvary. Let it be a standing reminder to us that all of our times are in his hands. When our days turn gloomy and dark, we know Jesus is in control. Every moment he is working out his divine plans in our lives. Abiding in him and his Word we find strength and direction to get through all things. No hole is too deep, no situation too grave that he can't turn things around. He does more than just help us cope, too. He strengthens and transforms us into his disciples. He enables us to serve him with a new focus. He gives us some of his divine determination and focus to sustain us as we seek to help and serve others that they, along with us, may safely arrive one day in heaven's glory where there "will

be no more night," and we will "reign forever and ever." (Rev.22:5) This Good Friday, let's join with all creation, the angels and God's family of believers to worship Jesus, reflecting on the darkness of sin, rejoicing in the victory he won, and being renewed to serve him in the joy of our salvation!

1 Martin Franzmann in "Follow Me: Discipleship According to Saint Matthew" (CPH: St. Louis MS, 1961. p.208)

ST. PAUL EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER

“Making Friends for Eternity”

Est. 1859 APRIL 2017

2017 LENTEN THEME: "Repent: Turn to Jesus"

LAST MIDWEEK SERVICE: WED, APR 5th 7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 5th Rev. Peter Kesting, Zion, Readfield - "Repent: Turn to Jesus; He Changes Your Life"—Luke 7:44-50

Serving at the April 5th Dessert Fellowship: The St Paul Ladies Aid

2017 HOLY WEEK & EASTER SCHEDULE:

Palm Sunday is April 9th (Sunday School Palm Processional) Maundy Thursday is April 13 th - 7:00 pm (Choir sings)

Good Friday is April 14 th- 7:30 pm (Choir sings) Easter Sunday is April 16th (Sunday School & Choir sing)

Easter Breakfast is at 7:00 am; worship follows at 9:00 am ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

FINANCIAL UPDATE: Our Treasurer shared a report with the congregation on Sun, Mar.19. Our total 2017 budget, adopted back in October 2016, is $119,188. We came to this amount based on actual expenses incurred the previous year. This is the basic amount we need to pay bills and keep the Ministry of the Word going here at St Paul. The weekly amount to support our church's ministry is $2,292.00. Total YTD offerings

have totaled $24,0797.30. We are 13 weeks into the year. That comes to $1,853.64 per week. Looking ahead to April and a number of quarterly expenses are due. Total expenses for April already figure to be $10,935. Quarterly bills (Building insurance, Pastor’s SECA tax, sewer tax) and a couple other bills like heat and snow plow are coming due in April. Our average weekly offerings plus extra offerings estimated for Holy Week and Easter might still come up short ($2,289 shortfall projected by the end of April). Of course this is an estimate because we do not know what offerings will come in by the end of April (5-weeks in April). It's typically an uphill battle this time of year and then again during the summer months when attendance tends to drop with people busy and gone on weekends. If you are someone that is gone a lot and cannot get to church, maybe the online giving will work for you. Lent is a good time to reflect on Christ's sacrificial giving. His work of redeeming of us from sin and death by his cross inspires our giving. Thank you for your continued support on-going ministry at our church!

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: Midweek Wednesday Worship 1- 30; 2- 39; 3 - 36; 4- 36. Sunday Worship 3/5 - 62; 3/12 - 56; 3/19 - 101; 3/26 - 60.

ELECTRONIC GIVING AT ST PAUL: Create an account at our church website (stpauldale.com) and get started on electronic giving today. It's simple, easy, safe and secure. The company we use (Vanco) is the largest provider of electronic giving for churches in the nation, offering bank-level security (PCI compliant) so your giving is secure! Give online, with your mobile device (text-to-give) anywhere anytime. 24/7 transaction reporting.

CHURCH APP: Download St Paul's mobile app at the Google app store today--it's a great

way to grow in faith and share your faith. Catch up on church news, opportunities for

fellowship & other coming attractions. Listen to sermons & devotions; find reliable links to

sites that help you study the Bible and dig into creation science (Search for "stpauldale" at Google Play).

Thank you to everyone serving desserts & foods of their choice each night!!

CHRISTIAN FUNERAL: The Lord called our Christian brother, Wayne "Buddy" Seegers to himself in heaven. Wayne was a longtime, faithful member at St Paul. A Christian funeral was conducted here at church. Pastor Finn preached on Hosea 13:14, "I will deliver this people from the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where o death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" We thank God for giving Wayne to us and praise him for delivering him from his struggle with cancer to the eternal happiness of heaven

HOSPITALIZED: We are praying for Jean Luchterhand (receiving treatments for cancer). Praying also for Sue Spiegel's nephew "AJ" who was severely injured recently. If you are hospitalized and in need of pastoral service please call Pastor Finn anytime day or night. Please note: the church number also rings at the house, and is the best number to call (779-6777; Cell: 538-1567; Email: revwfinn@gmail.com)

SUNDAY SCHOOL PARENTS NOTE: The children will participate in worship both on Palm Sunday (April 9th) and on Easter Sunday. Please let the teachers know if they will not be in church either of those days.

HOLY BAPTISM: We thank and praise God the Holy Spirit for the way he descends in worship to bestow the gift

of faith and eternal life in the hearts of his people, including little infants.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for

the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Mt.19:14) Amelia Mae

Ila Zeinert was born on Jan 14, 2017, and born again into God's kingdom of

grace on Sun, March 19, 2017. God bless Amelia's parents, Andrew &

Allison as they bring their daughter up in the training and instruction of the

Lord. May we all cherish our baptism, rejoicing in the promise of forgiveness the LORD gives us there!

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Coming May 7th- 9:00 AM Concert in Worship!

Potluck to follow--Invite a friend!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Announcing!!

Paperland Circuit Spring Rally!

Hosting Congregation: Martin Luther—Neenah.

TOPIC: Asia Lutheran Seminary - REGISTRATION: 8:00 AM

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APRIL BIRTHDAYS APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

1st Bonnie Meyers 18th Paul Buman 1st Jon & Virginia Gordee

3rd Catherine Heise Madeline Danke 6th Dan & Darlene Sheibe

Joanne Gorges Ryan Dougherty Sr. 13 th Cheryl & Jeff Harrmann

4th Cheryl Harrmann Rick Kramer 15 th Rick & Heidi Kramer

8th Candace Kohler 19th Jaxon Laabs

13th Timothy Kohler 22 Parker & Kylie Heise

14th Louise Rhode Rebecca Finn

16th Heather Gubbels Matt Selle

24 Linda Knuth

25 Debbie Guyette

Caleb Herbst

FVL REPORT TO THE FEDERATION March 2017

FVL MISSION: As partners with families and Federation churches, providing students with a

Christ-centered education preparing teens for lives of service and for eternity.

STAFFING:

Assistant Principal Mr. Dave Voss recently underwent kidney removal surgery. He hopes to return to his full-time role in late March. Praise the Lord for his successful surgery. Please keep him in your prayers.

Chemistry Instructor Mr. Ben Stern has returned his call to Wisconsin Lutheran High School.

Guidance Counselor Ms. Amy Dirksen will be getting married over Spring Break to her fiancé Mr. Brandon Gilmet. She will continue to serve at the high school. The Lord’s blessings to the happy couple!

Mrs. Amanda Gronholz is holding a call to teach English.

Rev. David Wenzel has received a call to serve as an associate pastor at St. John-Center.

SCHOOL NEWS:

Enrollment for next year’s freshmen class looks strong—with 149 students indicating they will enroll. Work continues on reaching families who remain undecided. We expect a class of about 160.

FVL hosts this year’s WELS National Band Festival. The concert is Sunday, March 19, at 2pm.

The application windows are open for both FVL’s Tuition Assistance Program and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program. More information can be found on our website. A workshop to assist families with the application process will be offered on Tuesday, April 4, from 5:30-7pm.

FVL & FVL Schools partnered to raise over $18K for our sister schools in Zambia. Pastor Kangongo shared a chapel message on March 14 that was livestreamed for all schools.

In February, the General Board approved a recommendation to engage an architect to help address potential space needs in light of growing enrollment (science labs, classrooms, office space). This is only an exploratory step at this point.

Spring Break starts March 17 and runs through March 26; Easter Break will be April 14-17.

The FVL Choirs Sacred Concert is set for on Sunday, April 2, at 6pm.

CO-CURRICULARS

The spring musical Cinderella enjoyed a successful. With two elementary school and the three public performances, over 4,000 people filled the auditorium to enjoy this production.

Led by our student Peer Leadership Group, over $6,000 was raised for the Wisconsin Special Olympics through the Polar Plunge event.

The winter sports season has wrapped up. Post-season honors went to Jenna Bruss-1st Team and Alyssa Charron-Honorable Mention in girls’ basketball. For the boys, Jared Kraftzenk and Zayne Rodencal received 2nd Team honors. Noah Hablewitz earned 2nd Team in hockey, with Elo Montes named Honorable Mention in wrestling.

FVL’s Math Team captured the conference crown for the 7th consecutive year. The VEX Robotics team will compete at the World Championships for the 4th year in a row after winning the State Championship. Forensics students are beginning their “post season” as they strive to make it to state.

Spring sports are in full gear. Students are active in baseball, softball, track, golf, soccer, and tennis.

Registration for FVL’s Summer Camp programs is now available online.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

The General Board approved the 2017-18 budget at their February meeting.

Congregation support for operations continues to stay 4% ahead of last year; however, congregations are still about 5% behind the budget needs for the current fiscal year.

In February, Growing in Grace gifts totaled $8,332. SCRIP sales were $195K. Total sales for the year are about $1.9M. Tuition credits to families amounted to $57K.

The FVL Foundation has received $707K from 379 Legacy donors to be endowed for Tuition Assistance.

With you, serving Jesus – Principal Steve Granberg

Providing Christian education, training for lives of service, preparing for eternity