MAIN PAGE, página principal en Español, THE CHIMES, SCHOOL NEWSLETTER, SCHOOL REGISTRATION INFORMATION, Alumni, LWML, Scouting, Drama Ministry team, online map, A Good Word from CAMP, nEW:  MISSION TO AFRICA, MISSION TO SWEDEN, links, Archives, Tuition Crediting Program, St. Paul Photo Albums, VBS, SERMONS

Get ready for an exciting celebration of Jesus’ love filled with amazing Bible adventures, unforgettable songs, memory-making crafts, and life-changing missions.  Welcome to Avalanche Ranch, a wild ride through God’s word!  Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 16th – 20th 6:00 – 8:45 p.m.  Click on VBS for more information.

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

May 13, 2007

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, Pastor 

Mr. Douglas Grebasch, Principal

 

CALENDAR

 

 

 

EVENTS THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL,  May 13 - 20, 2007

TODAY:

9:00 AM

Worship Service (NHC)

 

 

Servicio de Adoración (NSC)

 

10:15 AM

Coffee Tour

 

10:30 AM

Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour

TUESDAY:

7:00 PM

Prayer & Praise

 

 

8th Graders Parent Meeting

 

7:30 PM

Praise Team

WEDNESDAY:

7:00 PM

Choir Rehearsal

 

 

Directors

THURSDAY:

9:00 AM

Quilters

 

 

Mailers

 

7:15 PM

Ascension Day Service (comb. with St. John, F. Park Cong.)

 

 

Estudio Bíblico

SATURDAY:

5:30 PM

Contemporary Service (NHC)

SUNDAY:

9:00 AM

Worship Service (HC)

 

 

Servicio de Adoración (SC)

 

10:30 AM

Voters’ Meeting and Luncheon

 

 

You are invited to join us in to celebrate the day Jesus ascended into heaven. That’s a day that changed the lives of his disciples forever.  It changes our lives, too!  Next Thursday, May 17, at 7:15 PM, here in our church, we’ll be celebrating, worshipping, and communing together with our brothers and sisters of St. John Lutheran Church – Forest Park.  Don’t miss this opportunity to worship and to be fed with God’s Word and Sacrament! 

 

PARISH NURSE OFFICE.  Please be informed that the Parish Nurse, Marlene Groll will be on vacation for the next 3 weeks.  Jane Geske, Parish Nurse Co-ordinator, will be available to talk to you if you need to ask some questions or need assistance with medications, etc.  Please call the church office for information.  Marlene will be back in her office the first week in June.

 

THANK YOU!  “I would like to thank everyone who made a donation to the MS Walk.  With everyone’s help I raised just under $800.  Paul S.”

 

STEWARDSHIP CORNER.  Log ago the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?  (Jeremiah 17:9).  We only have to look within to acknowledge that Jeremiah’s statement is still true today.  Fortunately, we have One Who sympathizes with us in our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15).  So deeply does He sympathize with us that He came to us in human form in order to provide the cure for those weaknesses – our sins -  in His body on the Cross.  As Christ gave Himself for us, let us give ourselves in service to Him.

 

 

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:

 

Hildegarde W.

Lois R.

Mary R.

Norm U.

 

 

Lydia G.

Joyce S.

Del M.

Helen D.

Ken H.

 

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.)

 

 

FROM PASTOR JOHNSON.  “If you are in the hospital or are in need of pastoral care, please notify Maria in the church office.  If it is an emergency, please call my mobile phone (in printed copy of chimes).  Please don’t hesitate to call me at any hour if it is important; I keep the phone with me at all times.  If the matter is important enough to think about calling a pastor, by all means call me.  Please do not think you will disturb me or I will think the matter unimportant.  Thanks!”

 

 

ü          We pray for those celebrating birthdays the week of  May 12tn – 18th

 

12:

Oscar Figueroa.

13:

Veronica Berndt, Michael Virelli.

14:

Rilan Betts, Charles Camps.

16:

Mary Gorr, Lois Strauch, Mark Korntheuer.

17:

Rene Figueroa.

18:

Noelle McGee.

 

ü          In thanksgiving,

for Carter Thomas Allen Lennie who was baptized this morning.  He is the child of Andrew & Nicole Lennie.

ü          For those who mourn,

the family of Robert Williams, on the death of his brother Frank Coney, who died this past May 7 in Mississippi.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRAYER AND PRAISE  will continue to meet on Tuesday's through the month of May. We will not meet through the summer. Regular meeting times will resume in the Fall. Please feel free to join us as we take time to pray each Tuesday in the Sanctuary at 7PM.

VBS NEEDS YOU!  We need help to get ready for an exciting celebration of Jesus’ love filled with amazing Bible adventures, unforgettable songs, memory-making crafts, and life-changing missions.  Welcome to Avalanche Ranch, a wild ride through God’s word!  Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 16th – 20th 6:00 – 8:45 p.m.  And we can’t do it without you!  Check out the VBS bulletin board or go to www.stpaulmp.org/vbs to find out how you can help!  You can even sign up online!  Contact Lynette Welter to find out more 708-383-1546 or lynette@stpaulmp.org.

O.W.L.S. will meet at the Palmer House  -State and Wabash- in downtown Chicago on May 16th at 11:30 AM for a South Shore Bus Tour.  This is 2 hour tour through the attractions and parks along the south shore of Lake Michigan.  It will go through Grant Park, Jackson Park (where the Columbian Exposition took place), the Museum Campus as well as other attractions as you travel south.  The easiest way to get to the Palmer House is on the Green Line "L", getting off at Adams.  The Hotel is right there and you just need to walk through the lobby to the American Sightseeing Office where we will all meet. The cost is $19.00 and reservations must be made with Carla S. by May 14th.  Please leave a message if no one is home. Lunch is not included and we’ll decide that day if the group will go for something to eat afterward.

 

 

 

Starting immediately, and for security reasons, we’ll be requiring that EVERYBODY entering the school and/or the church building sign in the visitors log sheet located at the school entrance, and also wear a visitor’s pass.  Please do not be offended, we might know very well who you are, but this is necessary for everyone’s protection.

 

 

 

ST. PAUL SCHOOL NEWS this week

Click here for school newsletter page

 

THE LORD HAS RISEN!!

 

THE CHILDREN WERE ASKED…to close their eyes, listen to a tape, and then attempt to identify the individual who was speaking.  This task was easy when they heard their teacher’s voice.  They were familiar with that voice and could visualize their teacher speaking to them.  The same is true of the voice of Jesus.  He told us, “My sheep hear my voice and they know me…”  Just as we listen to and recognize the voice of our teacher or a friend, we need to listen to the voice of Jesus.  He is our leader and our guide as we walk the road of life.  He will never mislead us.  By following Him, our road will lead to the gates of heaven.  This was the message Oliver Hemmann, our 5th grade teacher, shared with the children in chapel this past week.  This week’s chapel speaker will be the group known as the Puppet People.

 

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL…If you weren’t able to attend this year’s Fine Arts Festival, you missed a fantastic evening.  Both the upper grade choir and the primary grade choir performed songs, members of St. Paul’s band presented individual selections, and everyone had the opportunity to view the children’s art projects.  The event closed with an ice cream social.  A word of thanks goes to Mia Koehne, our choir director, to Samatha Rose, the band director, and to all the parents who helped with the ice cream social.

 

SPEAKING OF THE CHOIRS…Both children’s choirs will be involved in the Ascension Day Service to be held at 7:15, Thursday evening, May 17th.  COME AND WORSHIP!!!

 

HELP FROM ACROSS THE STREET…This Thursday, May 17th, approximately 75 students from Walther High School will be earning their service hours at St. Paul.  They will be involved in various projects including painting the storage shed, “gardening” in the space between the school and the church, washing windows, removing old desks, painting the locker room hallway, recycling hymnals, and a number of other tasks.  An advance word of thanks goes to all the student volunteers from Walther.  (Pray for good weather!)


NOW IS THE TIME…with the arrival of Spring and the need to “spruce up” your yard with plants and fertilizer, or perhaps to purchase a lawnmower, Home Depot and Sears cards from Manna are the answer.  Manna cards also provide you with the opportunity to assist your school through everyday purchases (i.e. gas, groceries, and household essentials).  MANNA cards and certificates are just like cash…there are no processing fees involved.  (At Kohls, you can even pay off your existing credit card bill.)  Orders placed on Monday may be picked up each Thursday.   Just pick up a pencil and place your order every Monday.  Manna order forms are located in the narthex of the church and in the hallway between the church and the cafeteria.  The Manna summer schedule will begin on May 14th.  This will be your last chance to place individual orders.  There will be a large stock of “pay as you go” inventory through the summer.  Most of the inventory will include gas, grocery, and a limited number of restaurant cards.  Any questions, please call Mrs. Koehne.

 

DON’T FORGET…Market Day pickup is set for Thursday, May 17th from 3:00 – 4:00.  As always, help is needed to assist with sorting and packing orders.  If you would like to volunteer your time, just show up in the cafeteria at 2:00.  THANKS FOR VOLUNTEERING!!!

 

NOW IS THE TIME…St. Paul has received a substantial number of applications from families with children at St. John – Forest Park, families from other nonpublic and public schools in the area, and from families new to the community.  As a result, if you are aware of individuals considering having their child(ren) attend St. Paul Lutheran School for the next school year, it is imperative that they call the school office and establish an appointment ASAP.

 

 

 

MAY 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.

 

PASTOR JOHNSON’S MAY LETTER:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” —Acts 2:42- 47, ESV

 

Something was going right with the early Christian Church. She was small but she was growing. The growth was both deep and wide. What was the formula? And how can we apply that magic bullet to help St. Paul Lutheran Church grow deep and wide? Don’t you want a piece of the action?! I sure do.

 

Well, (un)fortunately, God leaves no room for utilitarianism or a “quick-fix” to satisfy our American impatience and need for instant gratification. There is no formula or magic bullet. “The Lord added to their number day by day.” The Lord did it…period.  Maybe a better question is: “What does it look like when the Lord is adding to our number or gearing up to add to our number?” The Scriptures are clear about this. And the Book of Acts gives us that picture—especially in the first few chapters.

 

The Early Church cared. They cared about the truth of God. And so, they cared about hearing God’s word. They cared about all of God’s gifts that He wants to give: forgiveness, life, and salvation through the Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. And so, they got together often to enjoy those things—both in public worship and their homes.

 

The Early Church cared. They cared about one another. They cared that everyone had what they needed. They sacrificed their own stuff to help those in need. They were excited about being part of each other’s lives. They were at the Temple on Sundays and in each other’s homes Monday through Saturday. They not only cared, they even seemed to like each other.

 

When you went to the Temple on Sunday and to Simon Peter’s house for lunch on Tuesday, you heard the same simple message. That message came from the Apostle’s mouth in his sermons and Bible studies. That message came from the gifts of God that you received on Sunday morning. And that message came from the demeanor, interest, and hospitality of the people around you.