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August 2020 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Concordia, MO

“Fix Your Eyes on Jesus” Where has your focus been lately? I don’t know about you, but there have been a number of very loud voices all vying for my complete attention in the past months. Doesn’t it just seem like there is just too much happening? Don’t you just get tired of trying to stay up to date on everything that is “going on” in the nation and world as you try to balance focus on the important issues of the time with the everyday callings of family, friends, work, and church? Well, I do. Technology is a wonder and such a blessing in many ways but with the blessings come the less welcome side effects. Constantly having news media playing on several different channels at all times of day or night on the televisions in most rooms in our houses mixed with continuous access to all sorts of information on computers at home or work or through the mini cell phone computers that are always within arm’s reach fuels both the pressure

and desire to always be “in the know.” Where once the concerns that held our minds captive throughout the day were the tangible issues of work, family, and community, now, are replaced with the addictive pull of the “BREAKING NEWS.” Our focus has shifted, and we may not have even realized it. Now, this is not simply a millennial pastor’s shot against news media, because it can also be counted as a blessing that we can quickly know both the great and joyful events that happen across the country as well as the tragic and unnerving. It allows us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn across the world. It gives us many reasons to pray. It informs us of events that might affect our lives. To be “in the know” is not inherently sinful, but like anything, moderation is key. In my own life, I have found that the issues of national news have highjacked my focus, moving it from what God has put right in front of me. This happens far too often and hinders my work as a friend, a family member, and a pastor.

It’s a funny thing, instead of dealing with the things we can actually affect, we take the national and global problems of the world upon our own backs and then are surprised when they overwhelm us! We need refocusing. Our shoulders are not broad and strong enough to hold the weight of the world. So, fix your eyes on the one who has shouldered it all. Look to Jesus. When you look at Him, you will know that your limitations don’t prevent His limitless love. When you look at Him, you will know that the unforgivable sins of this world are indeed subject to His merciful forgiveness and grace. When you look at Him, you will know that He is holding this broken world just as He is holding you. When you look at Him, He will direct your focus to the people He has placed in your life to love. He will give you both rest and meaningful work. Jesus lifts the weight of the world from our shoulders as He refocuses us on all the ways we

can love and positively affect our neighbors in our everyday lives. How is Jesus urging you to love your neighbor today? Maybe with some it is as simple as wearing a mask to protect their health. Maybe with others it is reminding them that Jesus defeated death and they don’t need to live in fear for their lives. Maybe it is listening to someone’s thoughts and concerns regardless of your opinions on the subject and trying to understand their view. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith” and in His love He will continue that work of strengthening faith and sanctifying our lives in faith as we show His love to our neighbor. Pastor Andrew

2

Preaching...Teaching...Reaching Family Life Ministry

The Process of Polishing

I always loved going to my great aunt and uncle’s house outside of New Franklin, Missouri. I waited anxiously to

turn the bend in the gravel road where I would see the red house atop a high hill. I could not wait to get out of the car to see what goodies and adventures awaited my brother and

I. My Uncle Roy always had a “kid box” for us. This “kid box” was actually a red cooler that contained such priceless

commodities as bottled Pepsi and Snickers candy bars. When visiting, we would go for walks in the garden, take a ride in the truck to see livestock, swing in the glider, and then at afternoon’s end, we

would be assured that Uncle Roy would take out his fiddle and play for us. I have many fond memories of those days, but the thing I remember most (besides the “kid box”), was the rock pile. I LOVED exploring that rock pile! This rock pile was a compilation of various rocks that sat on top of the

foundation of an old fireplace from a house that resided in that location years ago. It had long since burned down and the fireplace foundation was all that was left. I used to comb through those rocks that

my aunt and uncle had collected on various outings and deposited there in that spot. There were reddish granites, sparkling quartz, one with a fossil in it, one that looked like a hotdog, one that looked like a

piece of coral, and very smooth river rocks. That was the reason I would pick them up and run my hands over them countless times...to feel the smoothness. Back then I wondered, “How do these rocks become so smooth?”

I now know the answer to that question. It is from wear. Rocks become smooth through being tossed, tumbled, rolled, or rubbed. That source of continuous pressure, grinding, or tumbling is what shapes

them into the beautiful smooth treasures that they are. My devotion had these words in it, “...for polish is the result of difficulties.” Oh, isn’t that the truth. How we would like to be spared the disappointments

and turmoils of life. How much wouldn’t we rather sit comfortably away from hardship and trial? But the fact is, we live in the uncertainty of not being able to predict what will befall us or have control of the

outcome. Feelings and faith almost always come into conflict with one another at some point in time. Our feelings view trials as absolutely unnecessary hardships that stink! Our souls see it as an opportunity to grow closer to the One who came down to save us. And yes, they play tug of war back and forth

within our minds. Feelings most certainly need to be acknowledged, but let us also be trusting enough to continue to move forward in faith. Don’t let Satan succeed when he throws up those roadblocks that

prohibit us from drawing closer to our Savior! Keep moving forward! Processing situations through the filter of the assurance of God’s love instead of the tangled places of our hearts is what can give us

strength. Search those places of truth in His Word. God loves us; therefore, we need to trust why He is allowing this to happen. Make sense of? No. See the good in the outcome of such hardship? No, not now and maybe not for a very long time. Wrestle between our feelings and faith? Yes. Being assured of God’s

great love and mercy? ALWAYS. Let faith lead the way.

So back to those rocks. I know that God is polishing me for the niche that He wants me to fill. He knows

what edges need to be ground down. He knows what parts of me need to be tumbled and rubbed. He knows because He created me.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5&6

~Gina Martens, Family Life Director

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Preaching...Teaching...Reaching Congregation News

Lutheran Women in Mission

Still time to submit Mission Grant Proposals for the 2021 national LWML Convention in Lexington,

Kentucky. Electronic submission is requested by August 15, 2020; final hard copy submission is to be postmarked by September 30, 2020. More information is at www.lwml.org.

Ladies Aid #1 will meet August 4, at 7:00 p.m., in the Parish Office. This is a change of both time and

place from that stated in the program book since the August birthday party as GSCC cannot be held.

Joanne Reinke will lead the devotion. Roll call will be answered with “Your Favorite Summer Pastime.” Although the GSCC event was cancelled, the aid will still be hosting a birthday party at their meeting.

Sharon Riesterer, whose birthday comes in early September, will be the honoree.

1912 Ladies Aid plans to meet August 11, at 7:00 p.m., in the Parish Office Building. Luci Mehl will

lead the Bible study from the Quarterly. Roll call will be, “How do you define faith?” Aid members plan to help sort at Orphan Grain Train on August 25, at 1:00 p.m.

Confirmation Rescheduled for August 23

Aid members are reminded that their confirmands are preparing to confirm their faith on August 23.

Keep them in your prayers.

National LWML

Mission Goal

Progress as of

June 30, 2020

National LWML has 21 mission grants to fund during the 2019–2021 biennium.

These grants total $2,100,000.00. As of June 30, $1,290,057.44 (61.4% of goal)

had been received. Eleven of the grants have now been fully funded, and one was partially funded. The other ten grants are still waiting. Total Mites still needed by

March 31, 2021: $ 809,942.56.

With societies unable to meet due to Covid-19, members have not been able to turn in their Mites; however, Mites donations may be given online at https://

www.lwml.org/donate-online or mailed to LWML, 801 Seminary Place, Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. Thanks, aid members, for sharing your blessings

with others.

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Preaching...Teaching...Reaching Congregation News

Sent to Serve As summer vacation comes to a close, St. Paul’s Lutheran School prepares for another year teaching stu-dents about God’s love and the joy we have because of that love. While the year brings changes to staff (Mrs. Grass retired), new teachers joining us (Mr. Moore and Ms. Mehl), and a slightly later end time

(3:20 AM), St. Paul’s Lutheran School remains dedicated to teaching God’s Word and love every day.

I, for one, am extremely excited about the 2020-2021 theme: “Sent to Serve”. As Christians, we are called to serve God and serve others, rather than serving ourselves. When we do so, we act in a way that

is countercultural. The sinful world often seeks to serve its own wants, needs, and desires. Christians, when acting in a holy and upright way, seek to serve the needs of others, to provide love, care, and com-fort in both tangible (food, clothing, service) and intangible (listening, praying, etc) ways. With a global

pandemic (and fear), opportunities for the church and school to serve others has never been more important. I look forward to the ways in which we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, will serve our

community and the world this year!

As St. Paul’s starts a new school year, I ask that you would continue to pray for our school. Pray that we daily model repentance, forgiveness, God’s love, and joyfulness. Pray for students as they learn more about God, His love, and His wonderful creation. Pray for our teachers as they educate these little ones

with patience and love. Pray for the parents of our students that they would raise their children to know Christ. Pray for our pastor as he leads our school spiritually. Pray for all those who spend time with our

students each and every week that Christ’s love would flow through them. Lastly, pray for me, an imper-fect instrument that God has chosen to lead in this place at this time. May the LORD bless our year!

~Mr. Nathanael Poppe, Principal

Tails From Jessy the Comfort Dog Do you wear a fur coat? In the summer? Well, I do, and I have been really hot! But then God sends the beautiful rain to cool us again. Isn’t God amazing? He

sends us so many wonderful gifts. We need to give Him thanks every day!

One of my gifts is my groomer, Jennifer Foster. She drives all around town in her dog spotted van. That’s where she does her magic, making me beautiful. (I hope that doesn’t sound conceited.) Even

though she isn’t a member of our church, she donates her services when she grooms me. How awesome is that? She loves Jesus and she loves dogs, so she wants to support the Comfort Dog Ministry in this way. I’m so thankful for her.

My good friends at Christ the King at Lake Ozark finally received their Comfort Dog! His name is

Boaz. I’ve seen his picture and think he is pretty cute! I hope I can meet him soon!

I have been able to get back “into the swing of things” just a little bit. I’ve been going to church every Sunday. I have also gone to the Lafayette County Courthouse. It’s nice to see people I haven’t seen in a while. I have heard

that my handlers might be having a meeting soon. I haven’t seen some of them for months, so it will be good to get back together again.

I guess that’s about all I have to tell you. Please take a little time to thank God for all His wonderful gifts

to you. Love, Jessy

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Preaching...Teaching...Reaching

A World of Possibilities “I believe I counted ten booklets in the local library,” a former missionary once remarked, referring to the library in the small town

where he served in Africa. “That’s booklets, not books. An American author might produce more reading material in a day than this entire

community will produce in a year!”

Having books readily available—and the opportunity to learn to read—are things I took for granted growing up. My life has been enriched and my worldview expanded through access to the written word.

Not everyone in the world has been similarly blessed. “Reading and writing are not practiced skills in

communities that don’t require them. When your material survival is almost entirely dependent on your ability to produce your own food and care for your own livestock, you spend your time doing just

that, not reading and writing.”

Additionally, some languages have no written format. There is simply no tradition of reading and writing among these language speakers. Even when a writing system has been developed, there may be few opportunities for education.

Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) works with local

churches and Bible societies to establish literacy programs in communities as translated Scripture because

available. In fact, Scripture portions are often the first printed materials to which people have ever had access. What follows are publications that range from folk

stories to medical pamphlets to Sunday school leaflets—a growing stockpile of resources that address spiritual

and practical needs.

God’s Word opens hearts and minds to the assurance of life everlasting through faith in Jesus Christ. Being literate presents new options and opportunities for

individuals, communities and the church. In fact, studies show that education and literacy are key to empowering communities to deal with social issues. People learn new skills, can make informed

choices, students are more engaged when lessons are in their first language.

Though we ourselves now faces challenges in how to best educate our children, there are countless print and online resources we can employ in the schoolroom and the home. It’s a stark contrast to communities that have few if any materials in a language they can understand, and little opportunity to

learn to read and write. We thank God for the growing interest in literacy among the people LBT serves. And we thank God for you and so many others, sharing Scripture with those still waiting to

hear—and read!—about Jesus Christ.

Mission News

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10 Betty Dedeke Orlyn Heimsoth Rev. Richard Rudowske Jeremy Schnackenberg Gene & Judy Rittman Larry & Sandra Schelp

11 Evva Evans Art Jaster Tylan Thomas LaVern & Marie Meyer

12 Donald Fiene Andrew Heimsoth Travis Moore Rev. Alfred & Ruth Rodewald Jeremy & Blair Sayre

13 Gena Brackman

Mildred Kirchhoff Karon Meineka Jonathan & Becky Haase

14 Dale Dieckhoff Jim Ebers Alessandra Oetting Jeremy Sayre Troy Steinkuhler Troy & Stacey Steinkuhler

15 Amy Gerdts

Michael Heins Patrick Martens Nathan Meyer Bruce Strobel Kevin & Gena Brackman

16 Wyatt Finley Peyton Moore

17 John Beerman Christoph Marsh Joshua Mourey Susan Oetting

18 Ross Fiene Annette Kirchhoff Ethan Kueck Joe McKnight Samantha Meyer Roger Woodrich Mark & Cindy Tolias

19 Nathan Beissenherz

Drake Fiene Wade Heimsoth Collin Spangler Jon Spells

20 Dianne Bankston Gary Bredehoeft Callie Dawson Carley Fahrmeier Josiah Gerdts Scott Graves Rusty McGinnis Mary Roepe

Linda Wodrich Dennis & Paulette Oetting Ray & Kathy Schuknecht

21 Paul Frerking

Brooke Lange Evan Lyons Shilah Martens Johnny & Mary Beth Self

22 Connie Brackman Abigail Graham Troy Schuette Gene Virus Sharon Woodrich Paul & Rosalie Pennington

23 Steve Frerking Tanner Frerking Marissa Heins

Michelle Knight Melva McGinnis Kaden Schnakenberg

24 Joe Connell Justin and Julie Boehmer Mark & Cheryl Petersen

25 Rev. Harold Block

Sophia Burrow Melinda Collins Jared Durand David Harms Tristen Hass Lois Martens Lester Roepe

26 Carl Bonar

Risa Bushman Meredith Marsh Greg Schmidt

27 Bruce Hass

Peyton Trautman

28 Larry Graham Delores Herndon Amber Lockney Brittany Tolias Gary & Judy Beissenherz

29 Britt Hasselbring

Victoria Ritzma Margie Roepe Olivia Strobel Seth Wasson Willie & Becky Heath Richard & Lavona Larimore

30 Robert C. Frerking

Betty Umbach

31 Aiden Frerking Kelly Meyer Sharon Oetting Wesley Schemmer Tucker Strobel Peyton Woods

1 Melondy Bushman Alyssa Evans Lauren Fiene Wess & Christine Murray Kenneth & Linda Wodrich

2 Jesse Laubenstein

Gavin Locke Leslie Morrison Roger & Lois Martens Wayne & Tami Myers

3 Edith Fischer

Beverly Frerking Emily Heins Emma Johnson Tim & Lisa Larimore Seth & Vanessa Rodewald

4 Cory Howard Olivia Rolf Virgil Wille John & Susan Mehl Nick & Shannon Virus Alan & Karel Vogelsmeier

5 Peyton Meyer Jim Parks

6 Linda Stuenkel Monte & Marta Pitsch

7 Linda Brown

Robert W. Frerking Eric Inman Dena Koch Kathryn Oetting Renee Ravanelli Nevaeh Rozell Janelle Virus Marvin & Arleen Dittmer Roger & Carolyn Flandermeyer Jim & Judy Marshall Brian & Amy Woods

8 Kyleigh Brandt Celeste Bredehoeft Rev. Paul Mehl Terry Schnakenberg Lillie Todd Grant Umbach

9 Randy Frerking Richard Frerking Sam Hafley Jana Mueller Gilbert Roepe Rev. Leslie & Yvonne Mitkos Ronald & Cindy Stuenkel

Preaching...Teaching...Reaching August Birthdays and Anniversaries

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Preaching...Teaching...Reaching

Serving this Month - August

Elders - Ben Lange;

Craig Poese; Russ Kruse

Sound System - Dan Hoppman 8:00am

Scott Borchardt 10:30am

Ushers - Clint Stuenkel;

Chris Dittmer; Lonnie Fischer

8:00am: Jordan Murray, Capt.;

Mark Heins, Jim Mills, Donald Fiene, Kyle Fiene, Ronald Stuenkel, Paul Heins, Wess Murray, Steve Beerman, Ron Cordes,

Clint Stuenkel, Tyler Tolias, Ben Stuenkel, Luke Stuenkel, Ken Demel

Altar Guild - Cindy Ebers;

Donna Moyers; Melissa Luebbert

Dial-A-Devotion - Rev. Andrew

Lehenbauer

10:30am: Richard Strobel, Capt.; Joe Blackburn, Jim Ebers, Lyle Freund,

Dale Dieckhoff, David Strobel, Alan Luebbert, Harland Mieser, Jon Lange,

Mark Lyons, Eric Ritzma, Johnathan Self, Matthew Rose, Andrew Self

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