A Note from Pastor Don – April 2023

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K. (St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know) April 2023

Dear friends,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you have found our Lenten series Promised Treasures to be edifying for your faith and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. I know I have. Here are some important things I would like you to know about for this month:

Holy-Maundy Thursday Divine Worship at 1:30 PM in the Senior Saints chapel, and 7 PM in the sanctuary with communion.
Good Friday hot cross bun service at 1:30 PM in the Senior Saints chapel; 8 PM service of darkness in the sanctuary.
Easter sunrise service in the grove (weather permitting) at 7 AM. Easter breakfast served afterwards. Easter Divine Worship at 8:30 and 10:45 AM. Breakfast served in between.
We will be welcoming several new members to the church on Easter Sunday. Some are transferring from other Lutheran churches, and some have been through catechism class.
Our junior confirmand (D.J. Garstka) will also be confirmed on Easter Sunday.
Invite your friends to church!
The Gideons will be at church on Sunday, April 23^rd.
We will have a special evening egg hunt for the youth on Sunday April 23^rd. Young people, invite your friends to that too!
I will be attending the Oregon Pastors Conference at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, April 25-27.

God bless and keep you,

Pastor Don

Greeting in Christ Jesus – Pastor Rich April 2023

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

What’s your response to Easter? The response at the first Easter was fear and confusion. When Jesus came out of the grave, the guards were terrified and ran. The women who came didn’t believe. When they told the disciples, they didn’t believe. There were no Alleluias.

This Easter we will declare our Alleluias! Yet there will be many who will not. Many do not believe in the Resurrection. Fortunately, the women and disciples soon came to believe the wonderful news. This Easter may the joyous good news of Resurrection give you hope that blesses you every day. May we share this message with those who do not know what we have. Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Maxine and I pray that your Easter is joyful!

On Good Friday, there will be a special worship service at 1:30 pm. In the Senior Center Chapel followed by enjoying a Hot Cross Bun. All are invited. There will also be a Maundy Thursday Service with Holy Communion at 1:30.

Time for Bingo your friendly Basset Hound..

Hi Folks, Things are buzzing at the Senior Center. Spring is in the air. But where is global warming? I am waiting for warmer temperatures. It is easier to sniff out rabbits. This month I have some Sunday humor for you. Easter celebrates smiles. So here are some for you.

Here are some signs you may be in the wrong church. Everyone singing in the choir is an Elvis impersonator.
You must ask the pastor for the keys to the bathrooms.
Service was supposed to start 10 minutes ago, still you are the only one there.
How did Pharaoh’s daughter come into financial gain? She found a little prophet floating in the Nile.
Did you know tennis was mentioned in the Bible? Joseph served in Pharaohs court.
A SS teacher asked her class, why should you be quiet in church? A little boy said, because the people are asleep.

Keep smiling,

Bingo

Children Youth and Family April 2023

Posted on April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Jill Richard

Happy April everyone! Praise be to God for He has Risen Indeed!

I can tell spring is in the air as the sun shines a little more each day. Your CYF board has been busy organizing several upcoming events and planning the next few months’ calendars. We want to give you ample time to plan for these events.

Sunday school is finishing up our special Lent lessons, The Tree of Life God’s Promise of Salvation, this month. We’ve really enjoyed this special curriculum with its games and trivia cards that have kept us all on our toes. We would love to see you all every Sunday from 9:40 to 10:30 am in the Education Building for Sunday school! If you would like to help with Sunday school, now is the perfect time to join us! My email is jennifergatke@stpaulsherwood.org

CYF news and upcoming events:

April 2^nd is Palm Sunday. We would like all the kids to attend the 10:45 am service and join the procession of palm branches at the beginning of the service.

April 8^th is our Egg Hunt. Middle and High schoolers are to arrive at 9 am to help set up and hide eggs before the hunt starts. The Egg hunt begins at 10 am in the Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome- bring your friends, neighbors, and family! Once the Egg Hunt is concluded, we will set up the lower level of the Church for the Easter Breakfast the next day.

April 8^th we will also be decorating the flower cross in front of the church. If you would like to donate flowers and help decorate, join us at 11 am by the front of the Church.

April 9^th is Easter Sunday. Those helping with the Easter Breakfast need to arrive by 7 am. Breakfast begins at 7:30 am and ends at 10 am. We will be serving pancakes, scrambled eggs, diced potatoes, ham, sausage, fresh fruit, coffee and juice. This is a wonderful fundraiser for our youth group and we have a lot of fun serving you! Your donations are graciously accepted.

April 16^th we will begin selling the gorgeous flower baskets for Mother’s Day. Baskets will be $38.00 each and available for pick up from The Purple Hen on or after May 1^st. Thanks to the generosity of The Purple Hen, this fundraiser will continue throughout the summer as well. Order forms available to print here.

April 23^rd from 7 pm- 9:30 pm is our Youth Group Egg Hunt in the Connect Center. This event is for all middle school and high school youth. We are going to have potluck taco bar for dinner, followed by our flashlight egg hunt and special prizes! Watch for the email to sign up to bring a dish as we get closer to this event.

Looking into May, Pastor Don will be hosting a model building Saturday May 20 from 12-3 pm for those 12 years old and up. More details will be given in the May newsletter.

Lastly, we need a new location to have our High School youth group meetings. For many years we would meet at Symposium on a Wednesday evening. Symposium closes in the early afternoon on week days now. We are looking for a cozy place to have fellowship along with a small bite to eat and drink. If you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Do you have any ideas, suggestions, questions, and/or you want to volunteer?

My email is: jennifergatke@stpaulsherwood.org

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”-Hebrews 6:19

Jennifer Gatke

St. Paul Lutheran Youth Program Director

CYF Events calendar april

Children Youth and Family – March 2023

Posted on March 5, 2023March 7, 2023 by Jill Richard

Hello March Children Youth and Family 2023

Hello St Paul Children, Youth and Families!!

In Sunday school, we are doing a Lenten devotional. Each Sunday we will learn about a different ‘father’ in the bible and how they showed love to their families and friends. Just like God our Father shows His love for each of us through the life and death of Jesus. We will also make St. Patrick Day cards for our homebound members as we share the Gospel like St. Patrick did. Sunday school starts at 9:40 in the Ed building for all kids Elementary school age and younger. Our middle school and high schoolers will continue meeting in the lower level of the church with the adults. We would love to have you all join us this each Sunday.

I am pleased to announce that we will resume our coloring book fun this month! On Sunday March 19^th from 2-4pm we will be coloring, crafting, drinking tea, and enjoying fellowship with one another. If you would like to join us, just let me know! We will have coloring supplies available along with tea and snacks.

Now that we are in the full swing of Lent, here are some dates for upcoming activities. We will begin collecting wrapped candy on March 8^th for the Easter egg hunt on April 8^th. We will have the older youth help with setting up the egg hunt and cleaning up afterwards. We will also have our Easter Sunday breakfast again this year. The wonderful Talia Johnston will reach out to all who helped last year as we get closer to Easter Sunday.

Do you have a beach house you’d share with us for a weekend? We weren’t able to have our Youth Ski retreat this January. This retreat is a great way to reinforce how important each teen is to our church and to God. Pastor Don, Talia, and I are looking for an opportunity to spend time away with our teenagers and help deepen their faith connection to our church family. Do you have a suggestion? Please let us know!

My email is jennifergatke@stpaulsherwood.org

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.”- Isaiah 55:1

Jennifer Gatke

Youth Program Director

CYF calendar Mar 23.docx

A Note from Pastor Don – March 2023

Posted on March 5, 2023March 5, 2023 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K. (St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know) March 2023

Dear friends in Christ,

May God’s grace and peace be multiplied to you.

This whole month of March we are in the season of Lent. Since I outlined our Lenten worship series “Promised Treasures” in last month’s newsletter, I ‘d like to use this month’s newsletter to update you on the Firm Foundations Academy Northwest that is using our school classrooms. Along with our own preschool, I believe Firm Foundations operating on our campus is one of the best things happening at our church.

Firm Foundations Academy Northwest was started last summer by Melissa Parmelee and Clare Kozushko, two educators who live in this area. Melissa’s children are alumni of our preschool. Melissa and Clare’s vision was to set up a Christian, hybrid homeschool in Newberg and Sherwood, to serve as an alternative to traditional home-schooling, public and parochial school. Students have in-person class three days a week with a teacher, and two days at home working on assignments. For their Sherwood operation, Firm Foundations is using our old schoolhouse and gym (Connect Center), one modular classroom and the adjacent playground. Plus, the kids have the whole grove to explore and play in. When the weather is warm and dry, they eat lunch in the grove. There are 32 students on our campus in grades K through 8^th. The students wear uniforms and learn by the classical model of education: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Within that sphere they learn the classics of literature, art, languages (Latin, French) history, theology, and much more.

Firm Foundations is an impressive operation. The teachers are very professional, and the students are some of the brightest, most personable young people I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with. I am privileged to be able to have devotions with the 6-8^th grade classes each Friday morning and afternoon. You can tell just by talking with the students that their parents are serious about a Christian education for them, in a safe environment. It is such a joy to see children playing in the playground and in the grove again. I am fond of mentioning that we haven’t had middle school students learning and playing on our campus since 1968. I hope it is a long-lasting relationship between our church and Firm Foundations. If you have any questions about this school or even if you’d like to walk through the classrooms and see what it’s about, I’d be happy to show you. Pastor Don

Greeting in Christ Jesus – Pastor Rich – March 2023

Posted on March 3, 2023March 5, 2023 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

Welcome to March,

The name March is derived from the Latin word Martius, the Roman god of war. In Ancient Rome, March marked the start of the military campaign season. Today much of March is about Lent. In Lent the church sets aside time to reflect on Jesus and His campaign to defeat sin, death, and the devil. At the cross Jesus took our place and His sacrifice removed these enemies from us. Lent gives us the opportunity to draw closer to God and His love for us. In this month of March, rejoice in the victory won for you!

This Lenten Season the Senior Saints will study and meditate on the Hallelujah Psalms, 113-118. These psalms were sung at the Passover meal. Therefore Jesus and His disciples would have sang them the night He gave us the Lord’s Supper.

Note: Lenten worship is available on Wednesdays at 1:30 and 6:30. The 1:30 Service is in the Senior Center Chapel. God bless your life this month!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Rich

Hi Folks,

Beware the Ides of March. Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44BC. It changed the course of Roman history. Today it means look out for trouble that could change your life. Have no fear, it has no power over us. Strange how events in history are used today. But I would warn all rabbits to beware, for Basset Hounds are getting ready to sniff them out. I have sniffed some March smiles for your good health. The bigger your smile, the healthier you will be.

How many seconds are there in Match? Give up? March 2nd.
Why is March a good time to buy a mattress? It is when they are most springy.
Can February March? No but April May.
Did you know North Korea’s military marches to the left? They have no rights.
What’s Irish and comes out during March? Paddy O’Furniture
Why is everyone so tired on April 1? Because they just finished a long, 31 day March.

Your Basset Hound,

Bingo

March 2023 From Your Congregational President

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Jill Richard

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord !

And just like that it was finished. This will be my last newsletter article as your president. Brian Logan will be taking on the challenges of leading and shepherding the congregation. I leave you with some words from Peter. Chosen in part because of Peter’s role in Christ’s ministry and Simon Peter is a larger than life figure in the Christian mini-series The Chosen. I encourage everyone to watch it, Debbie and I have seen many of the episodes in this three (3) season documentary on Christ countless times. Other than reading the scriptures, you will not find a truer depiction of our Lord and Savior and His ministry here on earth. All to His Glory! Amen.

2 Peter 1:16-21, 3:14-18, 3:10

Eyewitnesses

1:16-21 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— and we ourselves heard this declaration made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

3:14-18 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and loose your own firm commitment, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.

Blessings,

Tim Grace

A Note from Pastor Don – February 2023

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Jill Richard

S.P.A.R.K.

(St. Paul Church’s Announcements to Read and Know)

February 2023

PROMISED TREASURES: A series of midweek services for Lent

This Lenten season, we have a fresh opportunity to embrace God’s amazing love for us, His baptized children, in new ways. St. Paul clearly says that “faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17), but the Gospel is also communicated through the physical senses of sight, smell, touch, and taste. Jesus mentions that a good teacher not only brings out new treasures but reminds people of old and rich treasures as well (see Matthew 13:52). So, each Wednesday in Lent, we will take a weekly journey to see, smell, touch, and taste a number of biblical elements. Our Lenten series is called Promised Treasures. Just as Israel wandered through the wilderness under Moses for forty years, awaiting the Promised Land, we await heaven in the wilderness of this life. Life as exiles in the wilderness of this world is not easy and pain-free. In this vale of tears, we await our real home, the new promised land of heaven. Until we enter our eternal promised land, however, the Lord calls us to be His light in this dark world (see Colossians 3; Ephesians 4). This series will begin with ashes, then proceed to salt, water, light, bread, and finally, palms. Then, during Holy Week, the focus shifts toward water and blood, wood, fragrant oil, and finally, on Easter, milk and honey. All these beautiful Old and New Testament elements will remind you of God’s eternal love in Christ, fill you with renewed hope, and increase your joy, knowing that because we are His baptized children, God is near to us now more than ever.

Ash Wednesday – February 22 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Sitting in Dust and Ashes

Children’s Message: Ashes and Hope!

Midweek of Lent 1 – March 1 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Salt: The Gift That Sweetens and Preserves

Children’s Message: Salt to Sweeten and Preserve

Midweek of Lent 2 – March 8 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Water Gives You Life

Children’s Message: Water for Life

Midweek of Lent 3 – March 15 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Light Shining in the Darkness

Children’s Message: Light Shining in the Darkness

Midweek of Lent 4 – March 22 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Bread of Life

Children’s Message: Bread of Life

Midweek of Lent 5 – March 29 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Palms and Victory

Children’s Message: Palms and Life!

Maundy (Holy) Thursday – April 6 (1:30 PM Senior Center; 6:30 PM Sanctuary)

Sermon: Water and Blood

Good Friday – April 7 (1:30 PM Senior Center Hot Cross Bun Service; 7 PM Sanctuary Service of Darkness)

Sermon: The Old Rugged, Wooden Cross

Easter Sunrise – April 9 (7 AM in the Grove, weather permitting)

Sermon: The Oil of Joy and Gladness

Easter Morning – April 9 (8:30 AM & 10:45 AM in the Sanctuary)

Sermon: Welcome to the Promised Land of Milk and Honey

Children’s Message: Milk and Honey Bible Study: Milk and Honey

Notes:

Soup suppers will start at 5:15 PM in the lower level of the church for the midweek services 1 through 5.

Communion will be served at the Maundy Thursday services.

Easter falls on a non-communion Sunday at St. Paul. Invite your friends to church!

Pastor Don

Greeting in Christ Jesus – Pastor Rich – February 2023

Posted on February 1, 2023February 1, 2023 by Jill Richard

Greetings in Christ Jesus

February offers a variety of days to celebrate. You can check out the weather on Groundhog Day. You can ask someone to be your Valentine. You can listen to the State of The Union Address. You can have ashes put on your forehead in the form of a cross. A busy month indeed. We are busy people. I want to encourage you to slow down this Lenten season and reflect on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Focus on what Jesus did for you on the cross. He took all your sins upon himself. He was sacrificed on your behalf. You are free from condemnation. Jesus loves you! If you believe in Jesus, you can live in Heaven with Him. It won’t matter what the groundhog says the weather will be. He invites you to be His Valentine. The State of The Union is in His care. God bless your February.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Rich

Hi Folks,

The daylight is increasing. Yea! I am waiting to see what my groundhog friend is going to predict. As you know, we Basset Hounds prefer rabbits. But since there are no rabbit days this month, I will share some groundhog smiles. Remember the more you smile, the healthier you will be.

What do you call a pig with no legs? Ground Hog

What did the groundhog say when the wolf grabbed his tail? That is the end of me.

What do groundhogs put on pancakes? Hog cabin syrup.

What do you call a groundhog laundromat? A Hogwash

That is enough. Have a great February! Come see me at the Senior Center.

Your Basset Hound,

Bingo

February 2023 From Your Congregational President

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Jill Richard

Declaring & Teaching – Jesus is Lord !

John 14:4-6

“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

This is a difficult scripture for many, I wonder why that is? It seems so exclusionary, could that be the reason? Jesus also said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Matthew 10:34–36

How can this be? This doesn’t seem to make sense. As part of the agenda for this past voters meeting, I included an extensive reference to the book of James, but forgot to include the particular book and verse from the Bible. The passage was James, chapters 3 to 5. Here we are told to pray for wisdom and understanding. Every time I read these passages I hope to have a better understanding of what Jesus meant when He said that He is the way, and the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the father except through Him.

Clarification on Member Participation on Boards

There was a question asked at the voters meeting about serving on boards if you are not a voting member. Our constitution indicates that voting members “are entitled to vote and/or hold office according to the provisions provided by this Constitution.” This implies if you are not a voting member then you cannot be elected to a board or office. All board members are eligible to be chair persons and all chair persons are a part of the church council and represent the board and congregation with their vote on various issues at our council meetings. On page 3 of our constitution we have established three distinct types of congregational membership, there are (1) Baptized members, (2) Communicant members, and (3) Voting members.

It seems reasonable that all three member types not just voting members can attend and participate on our boards, they just won’t be voting members of those boards. All church meetings are open meetings and are open to all members. All are encouraged to serve and you can serve by attending and contributing your thoughts and your love to the body of Christ, His church at our various meetings and other activities.

May His Spirit be with us all in this time of growth for our church, sometimes we feel growing pains, and this might be one of those times, but He is faithful.

Blessings,

Tim Grace