St Paul Church

Just a reminder that the times for Sunday School and Worship will change on Sunday, May 3rd. Sunday School will begin at 9am with Worship at 10am.

The Church Council is in the process of getting a new copy machine for the office, and though this process have found new ways that technology can help us possibly cut costs. They would like to know how many people in the church would be willing to receive their monthly newsletter via email or would be willing to pick it up at the church th elast Sunday of the month? If you would be willing to receive the newsletter in one of these ways, please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 or stpaulucc@stateline-isp.com as soon as possible. If there is enough interest, we would like to begin this new method as soon as the new copier has been purchased.

Thank you for considering this option as a way to help cut costs here at the church!

The Church Council is calling a brief congregational meeting following worship on Sunday, April 5th regarding the church cemetery. Please take note of this meeting and plan to attend.

The Board of Christian Education continues to sponsor monthly food drives for The Salvation Army, and the month of April will be a cereals and juices, or anything else you wish to bring. As always, thank you for your continued support of this outreach to our local communities.

Just a reminder that the times for Sunday School and Worship will change on Sunday, May 3rd. Sunday School will begin at 9am with Worship at 10am. Please mark your calendars now!

This is a reminder that all winter items need to be removed from the cemetery by April 1st. New items may be placed after May 1st. Thank you for your cooperation!

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!

Easter lilies are again available this year at a cost of $9.00. This includes foil and a bow as well. There are forms available on the table in the narthex should you wish to order a lily in honor or memory of someone. Jeanne Fiene will be handling the orders this year and all orders need to be received along with payment by April 5th. Should you be unable to order at the church, please use the form (in the printed newsletter) and return to the churchofmail it directly to Jeanne Fiene.

The lilies will not be tagged again this year, so we ask that after worship when you take your lily, please cross your name off the list that will be provided. This will help  us to know who has taken their lily and whose are left. Thank you!

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.

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!!!

The Stephenson County Senior Center is excited to announce the availability of Free Senior Ride in the outlying communities of Stephenson County. The funds to provide county transportation come from grants we receive through the State of Illinois, as well as local and individual donations. There is no charge for Seniors age 60+ to ride. There is a flyer posted on the bulletin board with more information if you or someone you know would be interested. The Freeport Community Foundation, provided the Senior Center with additional funds needed to purchase a minivan to provide this service.

If you have questions or would like to reserve a ride, please call 815-233-5678.

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

This is a reminder that all winter items need to be removed from the cemetery by April 1st. New items may be placed after May 1st. Thank you for your cooperation!

Freeport Industrial Roofing has completed the re-roofing of the fellowship hall and Sunday school wings and has come in $2900.00 under their bid. The final cost of the roofing project is $81,100.00. Of that, $24,457.54 will come from the Capital Campaign, $13500.00 from our PrimeVest Account, and $1,642.46 from Garage Sale proceeds, leaving a balance of $41,500.00 borrowed from the Endowment Fund. The Council would like to let you know that you can contribute tot e cost of the new roof by earmarking your gifts to eitehr the Roof Project or Capital Campaign. Thank you to those that have already contributed to this project and for those that will now that the project is complete. May God guide you as you give.

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.

Plans are being made for obtainnig Easter lilies again this year. However, at this point, we do not have a quote on the cost but information will be available by the middle of March. Order slips will then be on hand in the narthex of the church and an order blank will be in the next “Visitor.” All orders, with payment should be in no later than Palm Sunday.

Beginning in March, a new address and telephone directory will be in the works, so if you have had any changes to what is listed in the 2008 directory, please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 as soon as possible. This includes telephone and email changes. We would also like to have dates for birthays and anniversaries.

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.

With the start of the New Year, the church office would like to update our church records. So, we are asking EACH HOUSEHOLD to fill out the form in the newsletter [also available online in PDF format] and return it to the church office either via mail, email or bring it with you when you come to worship. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email the church office. The email is still stpaulucc[at]stateline-isp.com (replace “[at]” with “@”) — we are in the works of getting this changed, but have had some “snags” along the way. We would like all updates to the church office by January 11th. Thank you for your help in the update.

The Church Council has set the following dates regarding the Annual Report and Meeting:

• December 31, 2008—Church books close—all recorded contributions should be made by this date.
• January  4,  2009—All reports due to the church office (If you can have them to the office earlier, that would be greatly appreciated!)
• January 5, 2009— 6pm Council meets to assemble Annual Reports
• January  6,  2009—Annual Reports mailed.   If you would like us to keep yours here for pick up, please let April know!
• January  18,  2009— Annual Meeting Potluck with meeting following at approximately 12:30pm.   Please bring a dish or two to share and your table service.   Drinks will be provided.

Freeport Industrial Roofing has completed the re-roofing of the fellowship hall and Sunday school wings and has come in $2,900.00 under their bid.  The final cost of the  roofing  project is $81,100.00.  Of  that, $24,457.54 will come from the Capital Campaign, $13,500.00 from our PrimeVest Account, and $1,642.46 from Garage Sale proceeds,  leaving a balance of $41,500.00 borrowed from the Endowment Fund. The Council would like to let you know that you can contribute to the cost of the new roof by earmarking your gifts to either the Roof Project or Capital Campaign.  Thank  you  to  those that have already contributed to this project and for those that will now that the project is complete.  May God guide you as you give.

We will be working on a new telephone/address directory during the month of January,  so if you have had any changes to what is listed in the 2008 directory, please contact the church office at 815-865-5314 as soon as possible. This includes telephone and email changes.   Thank you!

The Davis, Dakota and Rock City Red Cross Blood Drive will be held December 4th at Dakota High School from 2pm—6pm. Donors must be at least 17 years old and in good health, however, 16 year olds can donate, but need parental consent. For an appointment, please call Dorothy Schlueter at or Helen Schneeberger. Walk-ins are welcome!