Author: Jill Richard

A Note from Pastor Don Summer 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K. (St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know)

 Summer 2021

questionsBy the time you read this newsletter, Covid-19 restrictions from the state will have been rescinded. It’s as if nothing ever happened! Well, almost. The memories of the last 15 months will be with us for a long time. And some things that came about because of the pandemic will remain such as our live streaming Sunday services. But for the most part, our church life is returning to the way it was before the governor’s stay-at-home order. Some things remain to be seen however such as in-person attendance (who will come back and who won’t,) long-term impact on our giving and finances, and new questions such as: how do we count membership in the congregation now that we have people joining us for worship who don’t live in Oregon? For example, my friend and his wife in Louisiana have participated in online worship almost every Sunday for an entire year. That’s wonderful; but does their faithful participation make them members? They aren’t confirmed, and I haven’t developed a new member class for those who live out of state, yet, we have several people connected to our church who fall into this category. Perhaps there needs to be a new category of membership status. These are just some of the things all our churches are experiencing since the pandemic started.

 

As far as this summer goes, you can expect some return to normal. Mission Festival will happen on Sunday, July 25 at 10:45 AM in the grove. Our theme this year will be “30 years of St. Paul Preschool,” and our guest of honor is Chris Cullen, the preschool’s first director. She is excited to share some stories of the early days of one of the most vital missions of our church. On top of that, we will have a potluck, then I’m off to Camp Lutherwood with three of our youth for Confirmation Camp. Vacation Bible School will happen August 2-6, and since Covid restrictions will be over, I expect there will be more than double the number of kids attending than last year.

 

Now that Covid restrictions are lifted, I encourage everyone to attend church in person if they are physically able. Unless we get another one of those miserable heat domes upon us, the mornings should be quite agreeable temperature-wise. So come to the 10:45 service and enjoy the short two months we get to worship outdoors. May God bless you, your families, and may He continue His blessings upon our church.

 

Pastor Don

VBS 2021: We are blasting off on a Miraculous Mission

Posted on by Jill Richard

We are blasting off on a Miraculous Mission

August 2-6, 2021

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Join us as we learn how

Christ came to save us all with

His world-shaking Love!

 

Come with us as we blast off our rockets, play games, enjoy snacks,

laugh with Robbie the Robot, create beautiful crafts, and so much more.

Registration filling up quickly and we only have a few spots left!  https://vbsmate.com/StPaulLutheranSherwood

We are in need of volunteers!!

We desperately need leaders and helpers for the week of VBS.

If you are available to volunteer, please register with the link above.  

If you would like to help us prepare various items to be used during VBS,

reach out to me and I promise to find something for you to do. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

God Bless you all!

Jennifer Gatke

Director of VBS

Cell: 503.550.9457

 Email: stpaulsaintsvbs@gmail.com

Posted in VBS

A Note from Pastor Rich – Summer 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard

Summer GrandparentsGreetings in Christ Jesus

Welcome to the Dog Days of Summer.  This refers to the hot days of heat, thunderstorms, lethargy, mad dogs, and grumpy folks.  Some folks don’t like these hot days.  I like the summertime.  Lots of daylight and warm evenings.  It is also a time to have a change of pace.  Sit in your lawn chair, put some ice in a glass and sip your favorite beverage.  It is also a time to meditate on God’s Word.  It is a time to enjoy worshiping in the grove.  Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together,…but let us encourage one another.” I encourage you to use the Dog Days as time for spiritual renewal.  Jesus loves you! Have a blessed summer.

Senior Saints will meet only on the second Wednesday of July and August.  In August we will have our picnic.  In September we will be offering some new ways of growing together.  Stay tuned for more information.

In Christ’s love enjoy your blessings.

Pastor Rich

 

Greetings gang, 

 It is wonderful to see so many smiling faces on Wednesdays.

 

  I got some PJ from Paul and Karen.  Our thanks to President Tim and Ellen for fixing hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch.  These may be dog days, but they are also mouse days.  I am going to the beach and be cool.  Here are some summer smiles.

Warning, if you are under the age of 65; do not proceed. The following is for mature readers only who understand what follows.

  • The elderly grandmother always talked to the hens whenever she fed them. Her grandson asked why she did that.  She replied that she was just trying to egg them on. 
  • A state police officer pulled a car over. Five older ladies were in the car and looked in shock.  They were all very pale.  The driver asked why he pulled them over.  She said she was going the speed limit, 22 mph.  The officer said that was the route number, not the speed limit.  The officer said they looked unsettled.  We will be fine, we just got off route 119.
  • What do lawyers wear to court? Lawsuits

 

  • What do you call someone with no body and no nose? Nobody knows.

 

  • When you are 20 and drop something you pick it up. When you are 80 you decide you don’t need it any more.

 

If you were under 65 and read these and need help understanding, contact a Senior Saint.

 

Have a wonderful summer!

Love, Zeke

July 2021 From Your Congregational President

Posted on by Jill Richard

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord! 

Sunday School continues to meet at 10:00 AM on Sundays. We are using a combination of the three-year lectionary readings and literature from Concordia Publishing (CPH) for our lessons. It is fun to see the changes in the color-coded pie-shaped calendar and lectionary each week and looking forward to each new season.

We are just finishing up our lessons on the Conversion of Saul found in Acts 9:3-5; “Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,”

Striking how well Paul’s story resonates with Jesus’ words in John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

We continue in the season after Pentecost, the readings have transitioned from the book of Acts and our study of the early church to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and the Gospel of Mark. Here’s the introduction to Paul’s letter.

Ephesians 1:1-14 

The Blessings of Redemption

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.

In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching, basically, we are thirty days out. Our theme is Outer Space!  We will be doing Miraculous Missions based on John 3:16! We are changing lives, HOPE you can join us!  Please sign up to volunteer to HELP out during the week of August 2-6. Everyone should have plenty of vacation stored up from this past year when everything was closed down. 

Good News on masks! Recently our State Governor changed the Covid rules. That means social distancing will not be required; masks are not required for participants or youth volunteers, adult volunteers should be vaccinated or check with the VBS director for additional instructions. Morning drop-off will be similar to last year and will occur in the parking lots with pre-screening of participants. Parents will pick up and sign-out their kids at closing in the grove and will be able to share in the excitement of the closing each day.

Wednesday, August 4th in the evening we are planning to have a Camp Fire and S’mores and hope many of the church members will come out and join in the fun! We will have a special music program that will bring a smile to your face 😀.

On Friday, August 6th at the end of VBS, we will be having a special celebration following the closing that you will not want to miss. We are planning to have a combination of outside food brought in. Details are still being worked out but we would like to get food and refreshments from Poke Makana, as well as some tacos and a shaved ice vendor.  

Summer Camp: Check ✅ that happened June 22-24 and it was a BLAST, literally. Pastor Don shared his knowledge of model rockets and the kids had fun with water games. Hope the spirit of FUN continues for the rest of the summer!

Robin Hood Festival and the parade have been moved to September 24 and 25. This will be the same weekend as the church’s October Festival that will be September 26. Is the Spirit calling you? You know He is…

The Investment Committee will be meeting in July to make a recommendation to the Council of some appropriate investments for the LCEF Building Fund CD(s) that will mature on August 9, 2021. If you would like to participate, please reach out to Tim or Karen for additional information. We are always looking for new ideas and people interesting in serving. Please continue to pray for guidance and His protection for our congregation.

Blessings,

Tim Grace

Vacation Bible School – St Paul Lutheran Sherwood, 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard

 

Miraculous Mission

 

 

We are blasting off to our Miraculous Mission

VBS August 2-6, 2021!

I hope you have booked your seat aboard our rocket ship this summer!

Come with us and learn how Christ came to save all of us with His world-shaking Love!

 

Join us for dancing, singing, games, puppets, challenges, and leave with a heart bursting with the Love of Christ! Registration is open now!

https://vbsmate.com/StPaulLutheranSherwood

We are in need of many volunteers! If you would like to lead a crew of kids, help make decorations, cut out stars, or help in your own special way; just give me a call! I promise to find something for you to do.  You can register to volunteer on the website above. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! God Bless you all!

Jennifer Gatke

Director of VBS

503.550.9457 -or- stpaulsaintsvbs@gmail.com

A Note from our congregational President – June 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard

June 2021 from Your Congregational President

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord!

Following is a scripture that is appropriate for Pentecost and the season after Pentecost as Paul reminds us of who we are and who we serve. Love seeing the Fruit of the Spirit listed as often as possible (vs. 22) with his reminder that we are to walk by the Spirit.

Galatians 1:1-5 and 5:16-26

1 Paul, an apostle not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead, 2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

5 Follow the Spirit

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

So what is new this month?

How about a BIG AMEN for being able to worship without a MASK!  Amen.  Almost feel like it could stop there. Praise be to God for our continued health and well-being regarding a COVID-free congregation.

Summer Camp is happening. On June 22-24 from 10 AM till 1 PM, Families of school-aged children are welcome to join Pastor Don and me as we build rockets, enjoy our sack lunches, and play around with water balloons. This is a great time for families to get to know each other better. Please bring your own lunches, we will provide the rocket kits and the water balloons! Also, I want to encourage families and community members to enjoy our campus this summer. Feel free to invite people to our campus and gather for picnics or games, most of all HAVE SOME FUN! Call the Church Office to set up your next get-together.

 

 

 

Dog Nose Work Event is almost here.  They will be setting up starting at noon on Thursday, June 3rd. Our CAMPUS WILL BE CLOSED Friday and Saturday, June 4 & 5 to church members.

Robin Hood Festival and parade will be July 16-17. Still looking for someone to organize the church’s participation in this event. Please let Pastor or I know if you are interested.

Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching. Please sign up to volunteer even for a few hours during the week of August 2-6, our theme is Outer Space!  We will be doing Miraculous Missions based on John 3:16! We are changing lives, HOPE you can join us!

Council is working on the budget and will have a voters’ meeting on the second Sunday of the month on June 13, 2021, at noon. The council meeting is Thursday, May 27 at 6:30 which will have passed by the time this is published but is noted for the record. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please call or email one of the council members. We are always looking for new ideas and people interesting in serving, most of all we ask for your continued prayers and support that we may stay strong and continue to seek His will for our congregation.

Blessings,

Tim Grace

Summertime Officially Starts – Pastor Rich – June 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

Welcome to June.  Summertime officially starts.  I am looking forward to warm, long days.  I am pleased that life is getting back to a more normal way of living.  I pray that you have an enjoyable summer.  This is the time for enjoying God’s beautiful creation.  You can hear children playing outside, laughing, and having fun.  Matthew19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  The old saying goes that “kids will be kids.” President Teddy Roosevelt’s five kids once took a pony into a second-floor bedroom after riding it up the elevator!  We can learn about God’s Kingdom from kids!  God wants us to have fun and enjoy life like kids.  Have great summer!

Senior Saints will meet each Wednesday in June.  You are welcome to bring a sack lunch at high noon and enjoy fellowship, Bible Study, and worship.

God’s Peace abide with you!
Pastor Rich

 

  

Hi gang,

         I am so thrilled to see so many on Wednesdays.  My whiskers and tail twitch.  I actually see smiling faces.  No masks are required and social distances are not enforced.  Pastor mentioned that Jesus invited the children to come and we should have fun like them.  So I did some research to find some smiles for your good health.

Ready?

Put on your glasses, hold your sides.  Smile big like a child.  Warning!  You need to be a senior to understand some of these. 

  • Know how to prevent sagging?  Just eat till the wrinkles fill out. 
  • Did you hear why the 80-year-old got married to a 72-year-old? Because she could still drive after dark.
  • I got used to arthritis, to my dentures I am resigned. I can manage my bifocals, but oh, I much I miss my mind.
  • I called a friend not long ago. When he answered, I hung up quickly without speaking, for I forgot who I called.
  • Here are some signs that you have grown up.  6 am is when you get up, not when you go to bed. 
  • Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt. 
  • You take naps from noon to 6 pm
  • How many times is it appropriate to say, “What?” Before you just nod and smile because you still did not hear or understand a word they said?
  • Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either. 
  • You enjoy hearing about other people’s operations.

Join us on Wednesdays for more corny smiles.

Enjoy June like a child.
Love, Zeke

 

 

“Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are not what they appear.” – Pastor Don June 2021

Posted on by Jill Richard
UFOs are not what they appear

S.P.A.R.K. (St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know)

June 2021

    If you heard my sermon on Pentecost Sunday, I said, “Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are not what they appear.” I used this premise as a “hook” for the sermon opener, and to illustrate the tongues as of fire at Pentecost are not what they appear either. I hope it served its purpose. I didn’t attempt to answer the question as to what UFOs are since it was out of the scope of the text in Acts. Some of you may still be wondering then, if UFOs aren’t what they appear, what are they? I’ll bet the suspense is killing you!

 

   To answer, consider what UFOs have accomplished on earth. What have they done for us? What have they done to us? What does their sole purpose seem to be based on centuries of eyewitness reports and documentation? Nothing more than to confound, perplex, mystify, confuse, alarm, and distract the human race. Christians could take this a step further and claim UFOs do not point people to God, especially to His Word and promises. They do just the opposite. They take people in directions that are outside the holy ark of the Christian Church. Examples are the many paranormal and psychological belief systems centered around UFOs such as The Church of Scientology, Nation of Islam, and Falun Gong. Not to mention—believe it or not—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who have it in their doctrine that Jesus and Satan are brother beings from another planet who traveled to earth. Not in a spacecraft, but you get the picture. None of these religions glorify the triune God of truth or point people to Him alone. Whatever UFOs are, they don’t bring people into church to hear of the forgiveness of their sin and reconciliation through Jesus Christ with God the Father, the one who made the universe and all that is in it.

 

   Stopping short of saying anything not pointing to Christ is the Antichrist, I will say when it comes to UFOs, they are anti-Christ in that they seem to have nothing to do with him and even steer people away from him. Could it be then the devil is pulling the strings behind UFOs? He is after all a liar, a deceiver, and the prince of this world in that God has given him a lower level of dominion in which he can manipulate some aspects of creation. I would consider that a more plausible explanation than they are spacecraft from other worlds or dimensions.

 

   At any rate, let’s leave UFOs to the ufologists and truth to the Church. Whether UFOs are spaceships on a mission to earth or a mission of the devil to deceive millions, there’s only one mission that really counts and that’s the miraculous mission of God in sending his Son Jesus to be the savior of the world. That’s what this summer’s Vacation Bible School will be all about.

It will have a space theme, but I won’t be focusing on UFOs. I’ll gladly entertain the question about them though if it comes up from any child because it’ll be an opportunity to show them the Way, the Truth, the Light and the Life which is Jesus. Consider how challenging a task this is when UFOs and aliens are so ingrained in our culture. Your prayers and support will be needed.

 

   Another “miraculous mission” this summer will be the return of our blessed Mission Festival Sunday on July 25th. Our theme and focus this year will be on our preschool. I’ve already mentioned how vital a mission our preschool has been during the pandemic, and I can’t emphasize it enough. The Mission Festival will be the perfect occasion to celebrate the wonderful school year we just had and its 30th anniversary as a mission of our church. Potluck will resume, so bring a dish of something yummy to share.

 

   The blessings continue this Spring and summer at St. Paul! I encourage as many of you to worship in person again as possible. The 10:45 service in the grove will start July 4th weekend. If you haven’t attended church in person since March of last year (or earlier!) make this summer the time to come back to church, hear the Word of truth, and partake in the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of your sin and strength. See you soon.

 

Pastor Don

VBS August 2-6, 2021 from 9am till Noon

Posted on by Jill Richard

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
August 2-6, 2021 from 9 am till Noon
This year we are blasting off into outer space to discover how the Love of
Jesus Saves the World! Come join us for games, stories, snacks, crafts, and rocket ships! All kids ages 4 to 12 are welcome to attend. If you are 13 and older, we would love to have you as a volunteer!!
We are following the Oregon Health Authority’s guidelines for Outdoor
Summer Camps. We will have a limited amount of campers, so register soon! Registration starts Monday, May 10th
.
Our Registration website is: https://vbsmate.com/StPaulLutheranSherwood
Our VBS will be August 2-6, 2021 from 9 AM till Noon

May 2021 From Your Congregational President

Posted on by Jill Richard

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord !

Gracious, what a word.

Psalm 51:1 tells us, “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness. According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings.” While Psalm 145:8 indicates “The Lord is gracious and compassionate; Slow to anger and great in mercy.” John a popular biblical name means ‘God has been gracious.’  What does this word mean to you as we move forward together in our faith walk? Has God been Gracious to you? Have you been Gracious to your neighbors?

 

Well, today is a new day and opportunities abound for us to slow down and breathe in the Lord’s Grace and to show Grace to each other as we search for the way He would have us go. Where is He leading us as individuals and as His Church Body here at St. Paul? Is this current season of separation over? Is it safe to come out and worship together and for the young and young of heart to get outside and play with friends and others?  We will all need to answer these questions for ourselves and the Lord will continue to lead and guide us in the way that He would have us go.

 

What’s new?

A couple of things:

There is a new Family Style Bible Study Sunday School that has kicked off at 10:00 AM on Sundays. We are starting with a review of the Church Calendar including reading and exploring the scriptures contained in the three-year lectionary. I have ordered some literature to help bring the scriptures ALIVE to our youth and others who are encouraged to attend. The hope is that by having a family-style study the greatest number of participants can attend and also find nourishment in His Word. It might be a little different and the time is different, but we hope that some of our more senior members from the first service will stick around for fellowship and help by sharing and contributing some of their wisdom with a new generation who are eager to learn of God’s Grace and Love.

 

Summer Camp, we are looking at the possibility of having a camp that will run for approximately four weeks starting on about June 23 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We have located a potential director and will be meeting with her shortly to develop the program. It is really just going to be a time and place where kids can come to play and have some fun outdoors doing what kids are supposed to do, HAVE FUN !  We will need leaders and volunteers of all ages. If this sounds like something you would be interested in participating in, please let me know.

 

 

 

Reminders from last month’s article are quickly approaching:

  • Neighbor 2 Neighbor Event May 8, 2021: Still need volunteers to help seniors with yard work, window washing, and/or gutter cleaning. We found out that Dottie Buss had signed up with N2N and Debbie and I will be headed to her place Saturday morning on the 8th to work on the items noted. Hope others can join us to expand our effort. It is a little late for any seniors needing help to contact N2N, but if you contact the church office with some details on what you need to be done, we will do our best to get-er-done on the 8th.

 

Other items to look forward:

  • Dog Nose Work Event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 4 & 5. There will be NO access to the campus for church members except for people wanting to observe the event. In the past there have been around fifty participants who come from all over the Northwest with their four-legged friends to participate in the Nation Association of Canine Scent Work It is really quite amazing to watch the enthusiasm of the handlers and dogs alike. If you are interested there is more information and some videos on their website NACSW.NET Come and enjoy a Cappuccino or your favorite beverage at 10:00 AM on Saturday 6/5 on our new balcony (deck) off the library.  
  • Robin Hood Festival: The festival and parade will be July 16-17; looking for a few leaders and volunteers for the float committee.
  • Vacation Bible School: VBS is set for August 2-6 and our theme is Outer Space! We will be doing Miraculous Missions based on John 3:16! 

Blessings,

Tim Grace