St Paul Church

The Father-Son Banquet will be held here at the church on Saturday, April 4th at 6:30pm. There will be a delicious meal followed by a program presented by Terry Simmons, Vice President of Student Success at Gateway Technical College.

Terry is one of four children raised by Barbara and Jacob Wallace in Waukegan. He graduated from high school in 1980 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree In Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Higher Education Administration at Northern Illinois University.

He has worked in higher education for the past 19 years as an instructor, counselor, director and dean. He is currently the VP of Student Services for Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Terry enjoys playing golf, cycling, listening to books on tape, cooking, the Northwoods and coaching his children’s sports teams. Sue, his wife, Olivia, his daughter and Adam, his son, are the pride and joy of his life. Terry is also the son-in-law of Fred and Pat Smith.

Reservations for the banquet can be made before and after worship or by calling Helen Schneeberger. The cost is $5.00 for adults. $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and under 6 is free.

Thanks to all who came to celebrate our AWANA year with our leaders and students. We especially appreciate the dedication of the parents and grandparents who invested the energy and effort to bring these beloved young people week after week and our large group of committed volunteers who invested so much energy and faith into the goal of the AWANA club — which is to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him! We have had a fruitful year, with many enthusiastic and active young people age 3 thru 6th grade, and it is a joy to see them grow in their knowledge of the WORD and love for the Lord.

Following is a list of those volunteers that helped throughout the year:

• Piggies: Adam, Christina and Jan Boyer, Barb Leifheit
• Cubbies: Pat Smith, Diane Meinert
• Sparks: Sally Kuhlmeier, Vicki Thomas, April Zettle
• T & T: Mary Gallagher, Shirley Goeke, Connie Marty, Jean Bechtold, Joanne Meinert, Diane Schurch, Jim Kleckner
• Game Leaders: Duane Schurch, Paul Babler
• Leaders in Training: Heather Niedermeier, Maycee Zettle, Stephon Terpstra
• General Secretary: Amy McKee
• General Help: Fred Smith, Russ Ellis, Carol Olsen, Fred Meinert, Pastor Dick
• Commander: Deanna Babler

Thank you so much!

It’s that time of year again, time to start thinking about the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event will be held at Aquin High School on June 19th. We would love for you to join our team and help raise money for the American Cancer Society. If you can’t walk with us, but would like to make a donation to our team, please see April Zettle. A box for donations will be in the narthex beginning the first Sunday of April. Thank you for your support!

The Freeport Choral Society is presenting its spring concert Sunday, March 29th at 3pm at St. John UCC Church in Freeport. It is an interesting mix of music fitting for the Easter and spring season.

Our women’s ministry group will be starting an exciting series called The Bucket List. We’d like to encourage all women to be a part of this series. Amy McKee will host our kick-off night on April 3rd at 7pm. If you would like to carpool, meet at the church by 6:30pm. We will be watching the movie The Bucket List. This will lead into a 5-part study. Please consider being a part of this series. You might be amazed at what God will do in your life. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board and a clipboard will go around during worship on Sunday, March 29th.

** One question we’d like you to think about is this: Are you living out God’s purpose here on earth before you ‘kick the bucket’?

Sunday, April 26th will be Confirmation Sunday here at St. Paul. There are just two confirmands this year, so we will be having their Faith Statements that day as well as celebrating together their first communion. Our 2009 confirmands are Dustin Barnes and Lukas Wymer. Please plan to be in attendance for this special service.

The Youth Fellowship will be leading our Easter Sunrise service on April 12th beginning at 7:30am. The service will be followed by breakfast. Please sign up on the bulletin board so that we can plan accordingly. Thank you for supporting the youth of St. Paul.

Winneshiek Evangelical Free Church will host the Good Friday worship service sponsored by the Stateline Ministerial Association on April 10th. The service will begin at 1pm and Pastor Dick will be speaking.

Our Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7pm on April 9th. This will be a service of song and reflection as well as Holy Communion. Please plan to attend this service. Confirmation students are expected to attend this service.

Come to SonRock Kids Camp — an adventure camp like no other! Mark your calendars now to join us for a week of fun and adventure July 20-24, 9am-noon! Kids ages 3 by January 1st through 7th grade completed, will participate in fun-filled activities and learn how each one of them is loved by Jesus! We will haev a great time with lively songs, hilarious skits, creative crafts, Bible stories and tasty snacks — all of the things that make Vacation Bible School so much fun for children!

If you would ike to help out at VBS this year, please contact the church office or watch for a sign-up sheet in the narthex. We can’t do this without you, so please pray about this wonderful opportunity to share God’s love with our kids! If you have questions or concerns, please call April at 815-865-5314. We are looking forward to a truly exciting week!

Please help us welcome the newest additions to St. Paul by joining us in Greeting our Families of the newborns immediately following our morning worship service on Sunday, April 5th.

There is a container in the hallway for your monetary donation, as well as a signature card to wish them a special greeting. A group gift will be purchased with all donations.

Please help welcome them with your presence on Sunday, April 5th!!

St. Paul will be hosting Life Line Screenings again this year on Tuesday, June 2nd. Please share this information with your family and friends.

These health screenings will be offered for people 40 years old and older. The vascular screenings are performed using Doppler color flow ultrasound and include the following:

1. A Carotid Artery Screening - visualizes the buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries, which leads to stroke. (Most strokes are linked to carotid artery blockage.)
2. An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) test - looks for an enlargement in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery. The vast majority of people who have an aneurysm have no symptoms.
3. An Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) - screens for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the lower extremities, which is closely linked to coronary artery disease.
4. Bone density screenings - which tests for the early signs of osteoporosis.
5. Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) - a test to measure irregular heart beat, may be added to any vascular package for only $20.
6. Complete Lipid panel and Glucose blood tests are also available for an additional $50 when added to a vascular package. These blood tests require an 8 hour fast.

You must pre-register by calling 1-800-324-1851. These screenings are completely painless, non-invasive and require 60-90 minutes of your time. The cost for all 4 vasular screenings is 4139, or all five tests (which includes the osteoporosis screening) for only $149.

7-10% of all screenings result in ABNORMAL TO CRITICAL FINDINGS. The screenings are effective and are saving lives!!!

St. Paul’s 7th Annual Garage Sale is scheduled for April 17th and 18th from 8 AM to 4 PM.

Spring cleaning? Don’t forget your church. We will be having our annual garage sale again this year. You may drop off your items April 12th (pm) - 15th (noon) in the choir room.

Here are some helpful hints to make it easier:

1. Separate our clothes by women, girls, men, boys and infants.
2. Put all household items in a separate box.

These two minor requests would make our job of setting up much easier.

We again this year will be offering Bake Sale & Lunch Stand.

If anyone is interested in helping this year, please sign up on a volunteer sheet posted on the bulletin board. If you would like flyers to distribute at your place of work or business, they are located under the bulletin board. Please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 with any questions you may have.

– Your Finance Committee

The Father-Son Banquet will be held on Saturday evening, April 4th. This will be a time of food and fellowship along with an inspiring messaeg from Terry Simmons, Vice President of Student Success at Gateway Technical College. Terry is the son-in-law of Fred and Pat Smith and the topic for the evening will be “Mett my Father’s Fathers and Sons.” Tickets for the event will be on sale before and after worship on Sunday March 22nd and 29th. Please watch the bulletin for further details.

The Committees for the banquet are as follows:

• Program: Fred & Pat Smith, Gil & Darlene Koch, Russ & Carol Ellis
• Food: Dennis & Mary Jane Zimmerman, Rich & Jeanne Fiene, Cliff & Cheryl Bradt
• Decorations: Cathy Ludeking (chair), Sarah Holweg, Diane Hayes
• Tables: Jerry & Carol Olsen, Ralph & Loretta Jones, Jim & Barb Leifheit
• Chairwoman of Waitresses: Connie Marty
• Reservations: Ruth M. Fiene, Helen Schneeberger

It’s that time of year again, time to start thinking about the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event will be held at Aquin High School on June 19th. We would love for you to join our team and help raise money for the American Cancer Society. If you can’t walk with us, but would like to make a donation to our team, please see April Zettle. A box for donations will be in the narthex beginning the first Sunday of April. Thank you for your support!

The date for the 61st Annual Meeting of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference is set for July 20-23 at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa. This is probably as close as the Annual Meeting will get to us, so we would like to encourage members and/or friends of St. Paul to attend. If you would like more information, please speak with Pastor Dick or contact the church office.

It’s time to start thinking about things you can donate for the church garage sale set for April 17th and 18th. Start cleaning those closets, dressers, cupboards and basements and start sorting. Please box your items accordingly, label them and after Easter Sunday bring those boxes to the church! Thank you in advance for your willingness to donate items that you no longer want or need.

Thursday, March 19th at 8:30 am

The Stateline Ministerial Association will be hosting Sunday evening Lenten services during the Lenten season. All services begin at 7pm with the exception of Good Friday, that’s at 1pm. Here is the schedule:

• March 1st — Dakota Community presbyterian Church with Pastor David Schrader speaking
• March 8th — St. Paul Church of Epleyanna with Dennis Buss speaking
• March 15 — Freeport Mennonite Church with Pastor Jack Ward speaking
• March 22 — Emmanuel Evangelical Congregational Church in Cedarville with Pastor Bob Kolb speaking
• March 29 — TBD - watch bulletins for location and speaker
• April 10 (Good Friday) — 1pm service at Winneshiek Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Dick Thompson speaking

We hope that you will be an active participant in these Lenten services helping to represent our church.

On Sunday, December 28th, Justin Schlueter will be with us during our 10:30am worship to present a morning message entitled “From Filth to Beauty.” Justin will also be sharing with us during our 9:30am Sunday school hour about his call to ministry, the seminary to which he has been accepted and his request for a scholarship from the St. Paul Theological Fund. Please join us on December 28th at 9:30am for an informal gathering to hear Justin’s presentation. Decisions regarding his request will be made at the annual meeting.

The members of the Freeport Mennonite Church will hold their annual meat canning project January 15th & 16th at 4380 E. Brick School Road and are encouraging community churches to get involved with this mission project.

If you would like to volunteer your time and talents, please feel free to contact Larry Pfile at 815-449-2516 or if you’d just like to see what it’s all about, contact Pastor David Schrader at 815-449-2251 or speak with Mike Zettle.

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby:

• set-up on January 22, 2009
• check-in and trial runs on January 23, 2009, from 6pm to 8pm
• derby on January 24th - Congregation invited to come cheer on the Scouts!

Awana meeting in January:

• 7th at 6pm - Crazy hat/sunglasses night
• 14th at 6pm - Pajama/slippers night
• 21st at 6pm - Cowboy/cowgirl night - boots, bandanas, stick ponies
• 28th at 6pm

Christmas Eve pageant at 7:30 PM on December 24th. Music prior, beginning at about 7:10.

The Junior Choir will begin rehearsals for their part of the Christmas Eve pageant on Sunday, December 7th at 6pm. There will also be practices December 14th at 22nd at 6pm. All 1st—6th graders are encouraged to participate . If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with Amy Meier. We look forward to a FULL loft!