The Connection - stpaulcoldwater.com · Courtney Eaton, 4 year old teacher Michele Broughman,...

September 2017 The Connection

The deadline for the October issue of The Connection is September 18. Please have all items submitted by 8:30am.

Thank you. Submissions may be made:

In writing or Email: [email protected]

Church Staff Rev. Aaron B. Chittick [email protected] Larry Bruce, Worship Coordinator [email protected] Renee Taden, Church Secretary [email protected] Laura Oswood, Administrative Assistant [email protected]

Sunday Schedule: 9:00am Worship 10:30am Sunday School for all ages 11:30am Worship interpreted for the deaf

St. Pau l Lutheran Church Sonshine K ids Preschool

95 W. State Street Coldwater , MI 49036

278-8061 www.stpaulco ldwater .com

Preschool Staff Lisa Dove, 3 year old teacher Courtney Eaton, 4 year old teacher Michele Broughman, Assistant

Kids: downstairs - begins with music in the blue room, then break out into clas-ses 3yrs-K: Bible Stories (blue room) with Miss Donna 1-3 grade: Bible Stories (purple room) with Miss Kelsey 4-5 grade: Building My Faith (tan room) with Miss Lupe

Youth: downstairs 6-8 grade: Growing in Christ (classroom #2) with Miss Laura 9-12 grade: Teen Topics (Youth Room) with Chris & Lisa

Adults • Reformation Topics and their contemporary relevance & brunch—Fellowship Hall with Larry Bruce • Expository walk through the Gospel of John—downstairs classroom #3 with Pastor Aaron • Philippians: Instructions on living a life united with Christ; a study for Adults in a kid-safe environment so bring

your babies & toddlers with you— Movement Room (across the hall from the Preschool Room) with Lisa Dove

Sonshine Kids Preschool News God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. We have filled up our morning classes and now have room in our afternoon sessions for both 3 and 4 year olds. The sessions would run T/Th (3 year olds) or M/W/F (4 year olds) from 12:30-3:00 PM. Our class sizes are small with 12 children max in each with two teachers. Our classes also in-clude Kindermusik for each child once a week. We will run either or both of these classes if there are at least 6 children in them. Classes begin Sept. 5 & 6. Please contact the church office if you are interested in learning more or to register. ~ Miss Courtney & Miss Lisa

Carylin Rose was born to

Nate & Shelby Burlew on August 3, 2017 at the

Coldwater Hospital.

She is healthy, beautiful and strong.

Congratulations!

The Connect ion

Greetings in the name of Christ, I had a good chuckle after hearing someone quip “September is like the Monday of the year.” I had to think about that for a little bit, but it is so true. Everything really gets started again this month after our summer vacations have come to a

close. I pray that your time in the sun has rejuvenated you for the wonderful things God has in store for us. I am really looking forward to Sunday School this year. We have new classes and new teachers to help out with the many different ages of children we have this year. God continues to bless us with opportuni-ties to serve Him by teaching His statues and His love to the next generation. Let us lift them up in our prayers. By the time you are reading this, I should be all settled in to my new house. I want to extend a thank you to the entire congregation, especially Dan Johnson, for being a part of this process with me. It means a great deal to me that you have vouched for me in good faith and that I am able to afford a place to call my own here in Coldwater. You truly take care of your pastor and his family. The youth group will be getting together again Wednesday nights for pizza and fun. The age range for Wednesday night hangouts is 6-12th grades. This year we are focusing more on having a conversation over a meal, and then having time to hang out with friends. The high school class will also be getting together twice a month for activities and community service projects. Only 2 summers left until the NYG! Blessings on your September, Pastor Aaron

Worship Coordinator Update September 2017 In last month’s newsletter article, I tried to define the nature of the Word and Sacrament ministry of corpo-rate worship. The goal was to set it apart and distinguish it from what we can call the liturgy. In so doing, I hope that I clearly communicated that, when it comes to worship, Word and Sacrament must be done in purity and according to Scripture. To continue this discourse, I would like to share what I have found to be a very helpful visual regarding the relationship between liturgy and Word and Sacrament. This graphic is not my own, I have re-created it here for you from a text I have mentioned a few months ago, titled A Simplified Guide to Worshiping As Luther-ans. When it comes to worship, we must find a way to determine those things that inform others and those things that are subordinate to others. The graphic at right assumes an understanding of what it means to define something as “normative.” Let’s use the Gospel, which appears in the upper left of the graphic. The Gospel is non-negotiable, and serves as our authoritative standard by which other things are understood. It norms and informs our reading of Scripture, which is represented in the graphic through the use of arrows. The Gospel and Scripture, then, are mutually reinforced and informed, but both are normative over Creeds and Confessions. All three of these appear in the top and have a normative effect over the things in the bottom, which are not normative–they are neither authoritative nor standards. We can see that history and traditions in-form our liturgy, but it cannot go in the other direction. Neither can we suggest that history and traditions inform or norm Scripture.

By studying this visual representation, we can gain a better understanding of why it is tricky and dangerous to place liturgical forms in a place where it does not belong. Debates over worship practices are nothing new. Almost 500 years ago, our church fathers tried to put it to rest. Next month, I will take you into the Lutheran Confessions to see what they said.

~ Larry Bruce

The Connect ion

September 3 Green Volunteer Sheets Due 4 Office Closed - Labor Day 6, 7, 8 Family Promise 9 Book Club Reformation500 Road Rally Race 10 Voters’ Meeting & Potluck 12 LWML Lunch & Meeting 30 LWML Fall Retreat Reformation500 Movie Night

Used Stamps LWML would like you to save your envelopes that have stamps on them. They will go toward projects of the LWML. We will turn them in September 17. Please bring them to the Ingathering Station.

Baptism Birthdays

Birthdays Anniversaries

Small Group Study There’s a leader all ready to lead another session and we’re looking for interested

participants. Contact Larry with questions or to sign up. [email protected]

1 Insa Raymond 5 Ken McDonald 5 Larry Bruce 7 Bea Richardson 8 Andy AcMoody 9 Alissa Smith 9 Marnie Wood 11 Dan Johnson 13 Makenzie Powell 14 Carla Raymond 14 Kim Zimmerman 15 Craig Wood 18 Eileen Luckert 19 Bonnie Polzin 22 Shelby Burlew 22 Gary Malcolm 24 Ed James 28 Steve Oswood 28 Easton Harfst 29 Dr. Ed Lake 30 Heath Taner

1 Jim & Amey Scherer 9 Chris & Dusti Donbrock 10 Kevin & Eileen Luckert 13 Don & Sally Albain 13 Vic & Kay Guenther 14 Ed & Lois James 16 Ward & Carol Yearling 20 Aaron & Mindy Garn 23 Lester & Pam Burger 23 Rick & Renee Taden 23 Ryan & Jessica Akers 30 John & Pat Worden

Sharon Chinery Gary Holbrook Marnie Wood 10 Jan Dimmick 11 Marilyn Pascoe 16 Carmen Bruce 20 Ruth Patch 23 Brooklyn Dalchow 29 Larry Bruce 29 Benjamin Downs 30 Melissa Chittick

LWML Monthly Meetings Resume September 12 @ noon

Bring your lunch, chat with friends, eat dessert, enjoy a Bible study, and participate in a short business meeting. Learn what the LWML is and what our chapter does at St. Paul.

Dessert and coffee are provided. Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of the month at noon, September - May. All women are invited!

12:30 - Potluck: bring a dish to pass Beverages, plates, cups, etc. are provided

1:15ish - Voters’ Meeting All members, 18 years of age and older are encouraged to attend and participate. If you haven’t been before, check in with Laura before the meeting.

Sunday

September 10

Operation Christmas Child Keep in mind when you go shopping we need these small items: • 72 notebooks • 128 floss • 48 washcloths • 88 soap • 51 combs or small brushes • 77 crayons/markers • 45 toys (trucks, marbles, jax, yo-yos, balls,

jump ropes, cars, dolls, games)

Remember, everything needs to fit into a smaller shoe box with the other items collected.

School supplies are still on sale for Back-to-School!

Thank you for your support! Please pray for our church members to be fruitful so the word of Jesus

can get out to all the world. ~ Toni & Dusti

The Connect ion

In the middle of last month, I was privileged to sit down with all of the Small Group leaders for a quarterly training. We do this for a variety of reasons, but I think the best reason is for a regular mutual encouragement and edification. Leading a small group is a calling not without struggle; it is a humble recognition of the need to gather in the company and com-munity of believers for devotion, fellowship, service, and worship. As I listened to what was shared that evening, conversation revolved around two themes: 1) faith grows when it is fed in small group community and 2) we all have a need for what is found in a small group, though we often resist what we haven’t yet experienced.

It is in the spirit of encouragement that I direct your attention to the existing opportunities for you to grow your faith in this way. Below are our current small groups listed by leader. Pray about how the Spirit is moving in your life and then make the first step to join a group by contacting one of the leaders below. Need help? Do the times or locations not fit? Give me a call. Let us work together to start a new group for you and others like you. ~ Larry Bruce

A small group is an intentional gathering, ideally 6-10 people, that meets regularly for the purpose of joining God’s mission. This group of people has a vested interest in the lives of one another, seeking to encourage and main-tain a relationship with Christ in all aspects of life. They plan where to meet and arrange their schedules to be there. The group has a regular meeting time and schedule and knows what to expect at each meeting. Most of all, small groups relationally connect people to one another so that group members become more fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ by transforming their lives in many ways:

• living God's Word in life,

• handling life's crisis' and issues better,

• empowering each other and other people,

• and extending hope through relationships with each other and Christ.

Thursdays

6:30pm

The Garns’ House

Leaders: Mindy Garn 517-617-3789

Laura Oswood 269-719-5717

Mondays

7:15pm

The Fellowship Hall @ St. Paul

Leader: Rick Taden

517-617-5434

Mondays

12:00pm or 1:00pm

The Moores’ House

Leader: Jamie Moore 517-677-1645

Tuesdays

6:30pm

The Bruces’ House

Leader: Karen Bruce

517-462-1034

Thursdays

7:00pm

The Tunisons’ House

Leader: Barb Tunison 419-304-7449

Tuesdays

7:00pm

The Fellowship Hall @ St. Paul

Leaders: Wally & Mary Smith

517-238-4145

TBD

Youth Room @ St. Paul

Leader: Gail Green

517-227-2470

Tuesdays

7:00pm

The Dalchows’ House

Leaders: Mark & Toni Dalchow

278-6343

The Connect ion

Swimming

September 24, 2:00-4:00pm

at Kevin & Eileen Luckert’s house. 100 Western Ave. If weather is bad, we will

play games and hangout. 7-12 graders

7:00pm. For all 6-12 graders. Bring your friends.

Relax. Share how your week is going.

* Pizza * Fun * Games * Free *

September 17, 2:00-4:00pm

7-12 graders - We will make a trip to Maple Lawn. Get more details from Chris & Lisa Mobley or Pastor.

Road Rally Race See page 8 for details.

7 & 8 graders

contact Pastor Aaron if you’re interested in

4 youth from St. Paul went to a one-day retreat at En Gedi Campground River Resort on August 19. There were devotions, group games, team building exercises, and lots of time for swimming. A great time was had by all!

Sunday School is back and we’re so excited.

6-8 grade: Growing in Christ 9-12 grade: Teen Topics

The Connect ion

Read the book then join the Book Club discussion on Saturday, September 9 @ 10:00am

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost… Like many couples, Michael and Jolene have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a soldier she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own–for everything that mat-ters to his family. At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on an ordinary American family, HOME FRONT is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor and ultimately, hope.

~ https://kristinhannah.com/books/home-front/

Book Club

Women of St. Paul You’re invited to a

Dual Zone LWML Fall Retreat Where: St. Paul Coldwater When: Saturday, September 30; 9:00am-3:00pm (registration at 8:30am) Guest Speaker: Crystal Hughes, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will tell us

about what she does and how we can help her by making up Care Bags for the foster child program.

Please join us for a Spirit-filled day of worship, food, and fellowship with your LWML Sisters from the Gateway and Battle Creek zones. See Jacque Osborn if you have any questions.

Beginnings Care For Life Annual Fundraising Banquet St. Paul will support Beginnings Care For Life at their annual banquet on Thursday, October 12 by sponsoring a table. Each table seats eight people and we are happy to fill more than one ta-ble. The banquet is a major fundraiser for BCFL which is a resource center for pregnant women and their families in our community. BCFL provides Christian focused family education and counseling during and after pregnan-cy. Families earn points by participating which they are able to exchange for diapers, baby clothes, and other baby supplies. The banquet will be at the Dearth Center and will include dinner and a speaker. There is no cost for attendees but there will be an oppor-tunity for guests to make donations. If you would like to attend, please speak with Karin Kennedy or sign up on the bulletin board.

HOPE FOR LIFE LFL REGIONAL CONFERENCE September 16, 2017

Fort Wayne, Ind.

Lutherans For Life (LFL) conferences are wonderful places to meet new friends and build relationships. You will find many FOR-LIFE-minded folks from around the United States and Canada.

One of four regional conferences will be held at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind. on September 16, 2017. Speakers include Michael Salemink, Rev. Scott Licht, Dr. Christina Francis, Rev. Dr. Matthew Reuger, and Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer.

For more information visit http://www.lutheransforlife.org/conference/

The Connect ion

WORSHIP FOR SHUT-INS Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. produces a weekly, 30-minute Lutheran broadcast worship service called Worship for Shut-Ins. Each service includes music, scripture readings, prayers, and a Lutheran pastor delivering a message that is designed to feel one-on-one to the viewer. Each program is closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.

• Southwest Michigan - Sunday 11:00 am - WHME-TV46 (LeSEA) Sunday 12:30 pm - Comcast 138 [TLN]

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READINGS & SERMON SUMMARIES

September 3, 2017 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17) Psalm: 26; Old Testament: Romans 12:9-21; Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28; “Taking Up a Cross” - Sermon Text: Matthew 16:21-28 - Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Brege Jesus here states His goal as the Christ: He must die and then rise from the dead. In this work we have an exchange for our souls. As His saved people, we are now empowered to take up our cross and follow Him.

September 10, 2017 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18) Psalm: 32; Epistle: Romans 13:1-10; Gospel: Matthew 18:1-20; “God’s Economics of Grace” - Sermon Text: Matthew 18:1-20 - Rev. William E. Mueller Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. Yet it can be very hard to practice. Why should we be so ready to forgive each oth-er? It’s because of what our God has done for us. God’s economics of grace begins at the cross of Jesus!

September 17, 2017 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19) Psalm: 103:1-12; Old Testament: Genesis 50:15-21; Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35; “Forgive” - Sermon Text: Matthew 18:21-35 - Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier III When someone wrongs us, the world says, “Get revenge!” But Christ tells us to respond in a different way: to for-give. We can actually do this, motivated by the Gospel.

September 24, 2017 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20) Psalm: 116:12-13, 15-16; Old Testament: Isaiah 55:6-9; Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16; “First and Last” - Sermon Text: Matthew 20:1-16 - Rev. James L. Elsner Waiting your turn was tough when you were a child. And it may not be any easier now! Who wants to be “last”? We’d rather be “first.” Jesus show us the difference.

MARRIAGE IN GOD'S WAY SEMINAR October 21, 2017 Faith, Grand Blanc

Marriage in God's Way, a seminar for married or engaged couples to grow in understanding God's blessings for mar-riage, will be hosted by Rev. Dr. Todd and Heather Biermann at Faith, Grand Blanc on Saturday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Biermanns have been leading these seminars world-wide with enthusiastic response for over ten years. This is an excellent way to prepare for marriage, take a good marriage and make it great, or move from the verge of divorce to a hopeful future. To REGISTER, please contact Pastor Biermann at 810.771.8837 or email [email protected]. Cost, to be paid at the door, will be $20/person. For other event dates and locations visit http://lifeingodsway.com/upcoming-events

tel:(810)%20771-8837

mailto:[email protected]

The Connect ion

Michigan District-wide Reformation Worship Service

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Breslin Center - Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

2:00 p.m. Concourse Displays Open 4:00 p.m. Pre-Service Concert 5:00 p.m. Celebration Worship

Events in the concourse will include:

Door displays, Girls of Grace dance group, children’s activities, CPH display (Reformation items for sale), historical timeline of Reformation, placing thumb-prints on event door, and Breslin Center food vendors.

Having tickets will ensure that: • There will be no confusion about “Where

should I sit?” as seats will already be as-signed;

• Congregations will be able to sit together and, even if they come in separate trans-portation, they will be able to find each other in the crowd;

• Ushers will be able to direct people to their proper section thus avoiding confusion.

Get more info and sign up for tickets on the rolling bulletin

board by August 30.

Reformation Potluck on Sunday, Oct. 15 after worship services, 12:30pm. This is the usual type of potluck with the added fun of activities that will celebrate the way that the Holy Spirit used Martin Luther to change the course of His church and begin the Reformation in 1517. Join us for some food and fun. Following the potluck a car pool will leave at 3:00 for the Breslin center in Lansing for the District Reformation 500 Worship Service. Please sign up on the rolling bulletin board before Aug 30 if you would like to go so a ticket may be ordered for you.

Reformation 500 Road Rally Race

The cars will soon be stacking up at the starting line! Will

you be in one of them? You are invited to join us in this

HISTORIC race on September 9 @ 6:00PM

St. Paul, Coldwater, 95 W. State St. You will: Receive a cardboard box & instructions on how to make it into

a race car after you register, Decorate your car with items provided plus your imagination, Return with your decorated car on Sept. 9th to complete your

entry into the Reformation 500 Road Rally Race Ages 2 to high school seniors are welcome to join in the fun and snacks. Bring your family to cheer you on. Bring a friend to race against. Learn some history about the beginning of our Lutheran church. The children will carry their race car with them along to the check points following clues like in “The Amazing Race”. Each check point will have an activity related to Luther and the Reformation. We will have 3 age groups. Call 278-8061 or stop in to register to receive your race car instruc-tion packet. Registration must be made by August 31, 2017. The entire race will be run on church property.

Reformation 500 Movie Night There's a movie for everyone. For the adults we are showing the "Luther" movie. If you were unable to attend the Sunday morn-ing class or just want to see it all again, come see it in one sitting. The more you see it the easier it is to follow and under-stand the whos and the whys. Drinks and popcorn will be served. The children will have a movie and activities especially for them it the Preschool Movement room. The title is yet to be deter-mined. We will have a sign up for the movies. Join us on Saturday, Sept 30 from 6:00 - 8:00pm.

“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I will not recant

anything, for to go against conscience is neither honest nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no

other. God help me. Amen.” ~ Martin Luther

The Connection - stpaulcoldwater.com · Courtney Eaton, 4 year old teacher Michele Broughman,...

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