On this page:  Calendar, Prayers, Announcements, St. Paul School News, Stewardship

 

 

Of all the gifts for which we thank God, above all is the gift of Himself to us, His erring but redeemed children!  “Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).

 

 

Our purpose is to reach out to families and individuals of all backgrounds and bring them into healing and transforming relationships with the Lord Jesus and with others in His Church through the sharing of God’s Word and Sacraments.

 

 

 
THE CHIMES

November 12, 2006

Listen to Sermon Here

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School

a multiethnic family of faith

1025 Lake Street * Melrose Park, IL  60160

Church Ph. No. 708-343-1000 *

School Ph. No. 708-343-5000

Fax No. 708-343-8635 www.stpaulmp.org

 

Rev. Thomas R. Johnson, Senior Pastor 

Mr. Douglas Grebasch, Principal

 

CALENDAR

 

 

 

EVENTS THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL,   November 12 - 19, 2006

TODAY:

9:00 AM

Worship Service (NHC)

 

 

Servicio de Adoración (NSC)

 

 

Coffee Hour

 

 

Youth Bake Auction

 

10:30 AM

Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour

TUESDAY:

10:00 AM

Weekday Bible Study

 

7:00 PM

Directors

 

7:30 PM

Praise Team

THURSDAY:

9:00 AM

Quilters

 

7:00 PM

Choir Rehearsal

 

 

Hispanic Bible Class

SATURDAY:

5:30 PM

Contemporary Service (NHC) 

SUNDAY:

9:00 AM

Worship Service (HC) 

 

 

Servicio de Adoración (SC)

 

10:15 AM

Coffee Hour 

 

 

Voters’ Meeting

 

10:30 AM

Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour

 

 

THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICES:

 Thanksgiving Eve:     Wednesday, November 22,  7:00 PM 

Thanksgiving Day:      Thursday,    November 23, 10:00 AM 

       (Both services include Holy Communion.)

 

 

Please include the following prayer needs in your personal and family devotions this week.   

 

ü             We pray for those in care facilities and at home who are physically unable to worship with us.  We also ask God to heal and comfort the following members and/or friends of our congregation:

 

Carl D.

Renita E.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also want to continue to remember those in nursing facilities, those who are recovering, and those who are receiving ongoing treatments.

 

*(If you would like us to pray for someone, please let Maria, our church secretary; know, either by phone or with a request card.  Names of congregational members will remain on this list for 4 weeks unless additional requests are received.)

 

ü          We pray for those celebrating birthdays the week of  November 11th – 17th

 

11:

John K., Joshua Y.

13:

Martha S., Nicholas B.

14:

Jacqueline C.

 

ü                   For those who mourn,

The family of Ben W., who died this past week.  He was the father of a 6th Gr. Student in our school.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A HUGE THANK YOU….to all who participated and helped make this year’s Fall Praise Celebration such a success:  Lynette W., Frieda Z., Erin B., Jeff K., Doug B., Daniel B., LaDon J., Jamie S., Betty Ruth B., Carol Z., Carla S., Mary M., Pat M., Lori S., Vern B., Mia K., Carl F., and all of the children in the school choirs.  Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the music ministry here at St. Paul.  Praise the Lord for great worship and music! 

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL.  Abraham was a matchmaker.  Today in Sunday School, our children will study the efforts Abraham made to ensure that his son Isaac would marry a person who loved God (Genesis 24). This week, as you Grow in Christ during your family devotion time, read the list ob blessings in the explanation of the First Article and identify the ones God provides especially through faithful Christian spouses.  Thank God for the salvation He provides through His Son, Jesus.

 

O.W.L.S., Next Wednesday, November 15th  at 11:30 AM at the Signature Restaurant on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago . Lunch is $11.00 for the buffet. After lunch we will visit the 4th  Presbyterian Church where Tom Gowens, our former organist, plays the organ.  He has arranged a tour of the church and has agreed to play the organ for us.  Please let Carla S. know if you would like to be included.  Car pooling can be arranged. 

 

 

THE AED is now ready for emergency use and located in the lunchroom.  Mrs. Groll, the parish nurse, would like to create a list of all those members who are currently certified in CPR/AED.  You may call her office at extension 285 and leave a message giving your name and date of certification, or you may leave a note for her in the church office.

 

Thanksgiving Services

 

Thanksgiving Eve:

Wednesday, November 22:                    7:00 PM  Holy Communion

 

Thanksgiving Day:

                               Thrusday, November 23:                 10:00 AM  Holy Communion

 

 

ST. PAUL SCHOOL NEWS this week

Click here for school newsletter page

ADJUSTING TO CHANGE…Just as a football team makes adjustments at half time (except the Bears last Sunday) to their opponent’s offensive, people need to make adjustments when their situation in life changes.  In one country, it’s proper etiquette to burp after a meal…but not in the United States.  To look at one’s shoes when listening to someone speak shows respect…but not here…here eye contact shows that you are paying attention to the speaker.  Those are only minor adjustments are that a person has to face when moving to the United States.  Imagine what major adjustments have to be made…finding a place to live, obtaining a job, and learning a new language.  Exodus World Service helps refugees make those adjustments.  This was the message Heidi Schoedel shared with the children in chapel this past week.  This week’s chapel speaker will be Jonathan Laabs from the Lutheran Education Association.

 

THE CALL FOR HELP WAS ANSWERED…Since work on the gym floor is scheduled to begin this Monday, it was essential that all the nuts be packed and orders filled and picked up by the weekend.  A word of thanks goes to all the members of the congregation, the faculty, and the parents, who in three short days packed and filled orders for over 3,600 pounds of nuts. THANKS SO MUCH…PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO COME TO THE STAGE AFTER THE 9:00 SERVICE TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER!!! Sincere thanks to Jewel Food Store located at 31st St. Charles Rd. in Villa Park for donating the shopping bags for this sale.

 

SCIENCE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM…As a culminating activity to their science unit, this past week, Kristin Ulrich’s 6th graders boarded a bus and went to the Morton Arboretum.  While there, the children were involved in a number of hands-on science activities related to the topic, “The Earth – inside and out.”   Activities included mineral classification and soil sample identification.  What a great way to “experience” science.

  

YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED…Mr. Ben Williams, the father of Sydney Williams, a 6th grade student, was called home to be with his Heavenly Father.  May Mr. Williams’ family and friends take comfort in the words, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”

 

HOOPS BEGIN…League play for the girls’ basketball team, coached by Kristin Ulrich, begins on Tuesday, November 14th, when the team travels to Zion – Hinsdale.  The team has been practicing long and hard in anticipation of their league opener.  The tip-off is set for 4:00.  Look for the results in next week’s edition of the Crusaders’ Adventures.

 

HEAD ACROSS THE STREET…Next weekend, the girls’ basketball team will head to Walther Lutheran High School to participate in their annual invitational tournament.  The tournament schedule is not available at this time.  However, it should be available early this week.  If you would like to cheer your Lady Crusaders on to victory, please call the office for the time of the game.

 

MORE TOURNAMENT PLAY…The 7th & 8th grade boys’ basketball team, coached by Chuck Haak, will make their first appearance in the St. Philip Holiday Tournament.  In the opening round, your Crusaders will face Holy Family.  Tip-off for the game is set for Friday, November 17th, at 5:00.  The results of this contest will determine the time of their first game on Saturday.  St. Philip Lutheran School is located at 2500 West Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago.   Look for the results of the tournament in a future edition of the Crusaders’ Adventures.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS…Have you started making your Christmas list?  Well, if a big, flat-screen TV, or perhaps clothes or new toys, are on your Christmas shopping list, why not use gift certificates and gift cards through our Manna program and reduce your child’s tuition as you shop?  The gift cards are just like cash.  Check out the list: Circuit City, Best Buy, Kohls, Borders, and so many other stores are available to you.  The Manna Program allows you the opportunity to support the Rose Backhaus Fund and thus, assist families experiencing temporary difficulties to continue to have their child(ren) attend St. Paul.  Start your Christmas shopping early.  Questions about the program?  Contact  Mrs. Koehne at.  (Note:  The last Manna order before Christmas will be on December 18th, with delivery on December 20th.)

 

December Newsletter Items:

As the Newsletter is very cumbersome to duplicate online, a few important items from the most recent issue are included here.  We will endeavor to keep them up to date.

 

“HOME IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD

(“Red” Envelope)

--VS--

“CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT”

(“Blue” Envelope)

 

It is important for members to understand that the above 2-envelopes are “DIFFERENT” and the purpose for the 2-envelopes is “DIFFERENT”.

 

The “HOME IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD” (“Red” envelope) is for our current “SPECIAL DRIVE” with a goal of $30,000 to be received by Thanksgiving.  These monies are needed to pay the balance of the invoices for the major “BUILDING REPAIRS” (Total $60,000) approved at the Voters’ Meeting on 09/10/2006.  Your donations to this “SPECIAL DRIVE”, over and above your regular contributions, are needed to reach the ‘GOAL” .  As of 11/05/2006, we have received **$21,938**-------**$8,062** SHORT OF OUR GOAL.

 

The “CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT” (“Blue” envelope) is a “regular monthly” envelope.  These monies are held in a designated account to provide “SEED MONEY” for future major repairs, just as they did this fall.  As there will be numerous additional “BUILDING REPAIRS” in the near future, it is extremely important that the monthly “CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT” envelopes be utilized so that the ‘CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT” designated account is replenished.  The commitment of the members of St. Paul to use both of these envelopes is important. If you have any questions, contact Barbara Karg, Treasurer, or Jane Pluss, Business Manager.

PROVISO PANTRY FOOD DRIVE.    For the past several years, the Care Corps, with the help of other members, have participated in a food drive for the needy in our area at Cub Food Stores in early December.  The food products were contributed to the Proviso Food Pantry, for which we have an ongoing support.

 

This year, due to the closing of the Cub Stores, it is necessary to change the nature of the drive.  On December 2-3, 9-10, the Care Corps will collect food or a monetary contribution for the Pantry.  Tables will be set up in the narthex and in the lunchroom for accepting your gifts.

 

Items which can be used are non-perishable products such as:  Canned Vegetables and Fruits, Tuna, Soup, Packages of Rice, Cereal, Beans, Potato Products, Mac & Cheese, Pasta, Tomato Sauces and Paste.  Please support this effort with your on-going care for the needy in our area!

 

FROM THE CARE CORPS

Time Again for COOKIES

 

The Care Corps is again requesting your help with the provision of home-baked cookies which will be included in the December Gift Bags for our Shut-ins.  The current edition of Portals of Prayer is also sent.

 

Please bring your contribution of cookies to the School lunchroom by Thursday, Dec. 7th             in time for the preparation of these gifts on December 8.  The Care Corps Committee thanks you in advance for this service.

 

 

FROM THE PARISH NURSE

 

Marlene Groll

 

 

Caring for Body, Mind and Spirit

 

Over the past few years I have written numerous newsletter articles. I have covered a variety of topics on physical illnesses. I have written others on how we, as a Christian community, are called to nurture and uphold each other in all matters related to spiritual healing and wellness. This month I would like to address emotional and mental health.

 

We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when speaking of a mental illness, clinical depression, bipolar disorder or any other maladies that cause us to feel alone and often very depressed. We may all feel "down" at times but sometimes it is more than just feeling blue. It can be a clinical depression. Clinical depression affects more than 19 million Americans each year. Many still feel that this depression is a "normal" part of everyday life and that you can get over it if you just try. True clinical depression makes you feel that all is hopeless. Untreated it can cause unnecessary suffering and unhappiness.