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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 February 17, 2008 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, – February 17 - 24, 2008
TODAY:	9:00 AM	Worship Service (HC)
		Servicio de Adoración (SC)
	10:15 AM	Coffee Hour
	10:30 AM	Sunday School/Christian Growth
MONDAY:	Offices closed in observance of Presidents Day
TUESDAY:	6:30 PM	Women’s Bible Study
WEDNESDAY:	10:00 AM	Midweek Lenten Service
	7:00 PM	Midweek Lenten Service (Supper served at 6 PM)
	8:00 PM	Directors
THURSDAY:	9:00 AM	Quilters
		Mailers
	7:00 PM	Adult Choir Rehearsal
		Hispanic Bible Study
		“Nova” Youth Group
SATURDAY:	5:30 PM	Contemporary Service (HC)
SUNDAY:	9:00 AM	Worship Service (NHC)
		Servicio de Adoración (NSC)
	10:30 AM	Sunday School / Christian Growth Hour

A LENTEN DINNER has been planned for February 20^th. We are hoping to offer meals for the remaining Wednesdays, before the 7:00 PM worship service, but we need volunteers, otherwise we will not be able to serve any. If you would like to provide a Lenten dinner, please contact John or Joan Fiene at 708-562-9324, or let them know on Sunday, at the coffee hour. March 12^th is the last Midweek Lenten Service before Palm Sunday.

The first Chrismon supplies have arrived.  All people wanting to help make theses decorations for our church Christmas tree, please meet at the Latzke’s on Monday evening, February 18, at 7:00 pm (1104 N. 10^th Ave.-second house north to the corner).  We will decide whether to meet as a group on a regular basis or to work individually, and we will get started with directions, etc.

ANYONE interested in the Call Committee for the Youth and Family Outreach Worker, please contact a member of the Deacons or Pastor Johnson this week. We are accepting names for this position up until March 1^st. If you know of anyone, please give the(ir) name(s) to them.

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:

Jordan T.	Vivian M	Erna F.	Margot G.	Mary W.
			Norma R.	Irene S.
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 Feb. 16^th – 22^nd

16:	Ruth B., Helen D., Lianne O., Kathleen F.
17:	Kristina T.-K.
18:	Mary Elizabeth G.
19:	Admaryz A., Nicole L.
20:	Aaron K., Barbara Pm.
22:	Angela Z.

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!”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STEWARDSHIP CORNER. During this penitential season of Lent, we kneel at the cross, pondering the perfection of our Savior and the sin of our souls which led Him to that place. We ask for forgiveness, and we ask that we might be strengthened through His Word and Sacrament to rise as new creatures, eager to do His will, eager to thank Him with grateful hearts, and eager to speak the message of His love and sacrifice for all.

PRAYER SHAWL NOTICE: We continue to give prayer shawls to our shut-ins and others who might benefit from the gift of a Prayer Shawl. Twenty four shawls have been given, and in addition, four shawls were sent to members who have moved closer to family.  We are also giving baby blankets to our new babies and shawls for young people who may have a particular need. If you would be interested in knitting or crocheting a shawl, please contact Carla Schoepp at 708-345-7730. We have had very generous gifts of yarn given to us so no yarn needs to be purchased. I also have patterns if you would need one. 

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS. It is the last opportunity to renew your subscription of The Lutheran Witness magazine. Price is $14.16 for one year. The July/August issue is a combined edition so there are 11 magazines mailed in the year. If you currently are not a subscriber but would like to start receiving this Magazine in May, please enclose your check for the above amount in an envelope marked “The Lutheran Witness” and place it in the offering plate when it is being passed or mail it to the church office, attention Maria.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST. On Sunday, March 2^nd, the 7^th & 8^th grade students of Grace Lutheran School (Chicago), are sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast after the worship service. Their purpose is to raise money to cover travel expenses for their Washington, DC Trip May 17 – 23. Donations are accepted.

YOUTH NEWS:

Homeless Ministry Begins! This Thursday, February 21^st, is St. Paul’s first evening helping with the PADS ministry to the homeless. We will be helping to set up the sleeping pads for the clientele and checking them in for the night as well. Our shift is from 6:30pm until 9:30pm. We will meet at St. Paul at 6pm and then drive over to 1^st United Methodist Church to begin our helping the homeless! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us!

Rummage Sale! Youth group will be sponsoring a rummage sale Saturday, April 5^th. Bring all your old junk to be sold then! If you need to store it at St. Paul, please contact Chelci at 343-1000 ext. 243.

Appalachia Announcements! Okay, now that camp has done and passed, the next major event to look for is St. Paul’s servant trip to Appalachia. Those of you interested in going, I need to have a set commitment by MARCH 31^st. That is more than 6 weeks away, so don’t panic! I can take NO MORE than 36 people, so the sooner you commit to going, the more certain it is you will have a spot. For questions or additional information, please call Chelci at 343-1000 ext. 243.

Camp News! Last but not least, St. Paul, our youth just got back from our retreat to Camp Wartburg, and it was wonderful! St. Paul, your students are an outstanding group, and I have been so blessed to get to spend this weekend with them. We discussed how to seek the Lord like it is spoken of in Jeremiah 29:13-14: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. We went caving, completed some cha