Pastor’s Message St. Paul Lutheran Church, LCMS — Mount Vernon, Iowa

June 2017

Volume 12 Issue 6

We are...

Christ's Love in Action!

Sword of the Spirit “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword

of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

600 5th Ave. SW Mt. Vernon, IA 52314 (319) 895-8772 www.splcmv.org info@splcmv.org

Pastor: Rev. Sean D. Hansen pastor@splcmv.org Secretary: Tracy Schmidt secretary@splcmv.org

Family Life Coordinator: Julie Baumler, famlylife@splcmv.org

Youth Coordinator: Sonya Sullivan, youth@splcmv.org Facilities Dir.: Jeff Adrian facilities@splcmv.org

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The second Sunday of this month is called Trinity Sunday. You might remember it as the Sunday when we say that really, really long creed. But why do we have Trinity Sunday? What is the mystery of the Blessed Trinity? Why do we say that long, long creed? The mystery of the Blessed Trinity is the mystery of love. Love is not simply an attribute, a description of God’s personality. St. John writes, “God is love.” The love of God is inseparable from existence of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The moment we say, “God is love,” we really are talking about a different sort of God. He cannot be the “mono” God of Islam who is forever alone. He cannot be the all-encompassing, mind-numbing force of oriental religions. To say that God is love means that there must be a lover and a beloved. And so at Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration, the Father speaks from heaven and says, “This is my beloved Son.” And Jesus lives, suffers, and dies because He loves the Father (John 14). The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father.

The Holy Spirit is the bond and fruit of this divine love. Hence the blessing, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” This blessing brings us to the reason why we cele-brate Trinity Sunday and why we say that long creed. Because the wonderful news of Pentecost (the first Sunday of this month) is that God has sent His Spirit into our hearts, so that in the Spirit we might be brought into the communion, and love, and grace of the Blessed Trinity.

All the Sundays after Trinity, after Pentecost, are about this marvelous entrance into the life of God. This portion of the church year is often called the Time of the Church. Like the Time of Christmas and the Time of Easter, this time has one pur-pose: that God has come into our world, so that we might live in Christ and come to the Father.

Our Lord prayed for this on the night when was betrayed in John 17, “I do not pray for these [the apostles] alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.” As you have the opportunity, read this whole chapter throughout the coming months. For this is the reality of our lives, that by the death and resurrection of Jesus, by His ascension into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the triune God has made us one even as God is One.

In Christ, Pastor Hansen

Sunday Schedule

Sunday School (Sept.-May; nursery through adult)—

8:15am Worship—9:30am

Fellowship—10:30am

Wednesday Schedule (Sept—April)

Responsive Prayer Svc. (& com-munion when following a com-

munion Sunday)—6:30pm Midweek Instruction—7pm

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News from the Family Life Coordinator

Wow! It’s been a great year for Sunday School. I want to thank all of you who took the time to teach, served as a substitute, were a helper, and staffed the nursery. Additionally, I want to thank the parents who faithfully brought their children to learn about Jesus.

If you have any suggestions for how we can improve the Sunday School experience – both from the child/youth perspective and from the parent/adult perspective, please let me know.

I’d love to hear your ideas!

In Christ,

Julie Baumler, Family Life Coordinator 319-292-2097, familylife@splcmv.org Join our Mighty Fortress VBS July 9-13 VBS 2017 is a victory celebration! In Mighty Fortress VBS, your children learn that in Jesus, the victory is won! They’ll look into the Bible and explore five Bible accounts about God, our Mighty Fortress, and the victory Jesus has won for us. Mark your calendars and plan your vacations around VBS this year. All children entering preschool through 5th grade in fall 2017 are invited to join us. Registration is Open! You may now register your children (ages 3 through 5th grade in fall 2017) at our online VBS registration link on the church website homepage: www.splcmv.org. There are also some paper registration forms on the table in the Narthex. Please place completed forms in my mailbox. Invite Your Friends & Family! We love to have guests come to VBS. There are some 2-sided postcards on the table in the Narthex that share the theme and the registration website. Feel free to take as many as you need to get the word out. Volunteer Meeting We will have a brief VBS volunteer meeting on Tuesday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. We will cover the schedule, our child protection plan, and answer questions. Help With VBS Decorations

We will have a work night to make some VBS decorations on Tuesday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. (or immediately following the volunteer meeting). Upcoming Dates June 13 – VBS volunteer meeting & decorating prep, 6:00 p.m. July 8 – Heritage Days Parade July 9-13 – Vacation Bible School

St. Paul

Notes & News

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Monthly Groups

Men’s Breakfast Sat., June 3 at 8am

Women’s Bible Study Sat., June 10 at 10:30am

Forever Young Potluck Tues., June 13 at 12 noon

Fellowship Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to provide/serve refresh-ments for fellowship on Sunday, June 18. The sig-nup sheet is on the wall near the counter in the fellowship hall.

Baptism

Congratulations to Eden Kluver who was wel-comed into the Lord’s family by the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at our worship service on May 21. Parents are Brad & Tiernie Kluver and sibling Abe.

News from the Youth Coordinator

Adventureland: Date: Wednesday, June 21st

Time: Leave at 8:00am from St. Paul, return in the evening. Youth invited: Jr. and Sr. High (5th grade and up, 2017-2018 school year)

Bring money for food (both lunch and supper! Approximately $30) and inci-dentals. Do not let money be a deterrent from attending! We will cover any-one who needs it!

**I will need some adult chaperones and drivers (depending on how many youth are coming), and I ask the drivers to donate their gas for the trip.**

Youth Summer Fundraiser:

We are asking congregation members to save their cans and bottles. We have two options for collection.

1. You can bring them to church (We will have a drop off area)

2. If you have a large amount you can call the church, or email Sonya at youth@splcmv.org, or text Sonya at 319-360-8521, and a time for pickup will be arranged.

In Christ, Sonya Sullivan, Youth Coordinator 319-360-8521, youth@splcmv.org

Wednesday Evening Prayer Services

We will be having an Evening Prayer service with communion on Wednesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 28 at 6:30pm.

Organ Music

At our Wednesday Evening prayer services on June 7 & 28 (6:30pm), we will be using organ music provided through CPH, rather than through Church Music Solutions as we usually do on Sundays. If you are interested in hearing it and sharing your thoughts with Pastor and congregational leadership, please make sure to attend one or both of these services.

Thank You

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent for Marjorie Legband's funeral. It meant a lot to us. And thank you for your understanding and allowing Pastor to go out to Nebraska right away. In Christ, the Hansen family

Priscilla Guild News

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During the summer the Priscilla Guild is collecting items for baby care kits for Lutheran World Relief. Items needed for kits are :

Lightweight cotton t-shirts (no Onesies ®)

Long- or short-sleeved gowns or sleepers (without feet) (NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME)

Receiving blankets, medium-weight cotton or flannel, or crocheted or knitted with lightweight yarn, between 36” and 52” square

Cloth diapers, flat fold preferred (can be made from large t-shirts/instructions on donation ta-ble)

Jacket, sweater or sweatshirt with a hood, or in-clude a baby cap (NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME)

Pairs of socks

Hand towel, dark color recommended

Bath-size bars of gentle soap equaling 8 to 9 oz., any brand, in original wrapping; no mini or hotel size bars

Diaper pins or large safety pins

If you would like to make homemade diapers for the kits, they can be made from flannel or even by recy-cling t-shirts. Instruction flyers for making home-made diapers are near the collection basket in the Narthex. PLEASE NOTE: There is now a list of all items needed for each LWR kit (1/2 sheet of paper) on the table near the basket. Please take one for ref-erence while shopping for items.

The Priscilla Guild will be having their an-nual garage sale and food booth on Satur-day, August 5. Please place donated items in the designated rooms in the Sun-day School wing.

Mission of Hope

The church directory will be updated and distrib-uted in July. During the month of June, there will be a current copy of the directory on the table in the Narthex. Please take a moment to check your listing and make any changes necessary. Thanks!

St. Paul will be serving a meal at Mission of Hope on Wednesday, June 28th. The Mission of Hope’s free meal program operates at 1700 B Ave NE in Cedar Rapids Monday through Friday from 12pm-1pm. One can find a hot, homemade meal served by staff, volunteers and a community of friends working together to restore hope and rebuild lives. Mission of Hope's daily activities reflect our Lord’s call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit the imprisoned. With the expanded facility at 1700 B Ave NE, they now offer increased services in many areas. Through partnerships with local churches and volunteers, six days each week, the mission now offers:

Hot lunches for 115 to 150 people daily

Food pantry for 30 to 50 visitors daily

Clothes closet services for 18 to 25 men, wom-en, and children weekly

Shelter services for up to 18 men nightly

Resources and programs for those leaving Linn County Correctional Center

Discipleship and addiction recovery programs

For more information please visit: www.missionofhopecr.org. There is a signup sheet in the Narthex to provide food and/or service for the meal. Contact Vickie Ozburn for more information.

Directory Update

June Anniversaries

Loren & Sue Ripke June 3 Darin & Lea Snedden June 6 Terry & Lynn Smith June 9 Duane & Norma Frey June 17 Brian & TaLisha Zell June 20 Josh & Olivia Randall June 26 Mark & RuthAnn Scheer June 27 Scott & Julie Golberg June 28 Brad & Tiernie Kluver June 29

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June Birthdays

St. Paul Lutheran Church, LCMS Volume 12 Issue 6—June 2017

July newsletter articles are due Sunday, June 18.

Noah Pape June 2 Aubry Zell June 8 Amber Herboldsheimer June 9 Kay Heck June 11 Ashley Shultz June 11 Ben Sullivan June 14 Kelly Hanselman June 15 Jeff Adrian June 16 Cassondra (Williams) Jones June 17 Carol Moore June 18 Terry Smith June 20 Matt Heck June 22 Jim Schmidt June 23 Alison (Spiess) Montag June 24 Jared Jackson June 25 Jo Klooster June 26 Jim Kain June 27 Chris Porter June 27 Emry Schlotterbeck June 27 Aliya Keaton June 28

High School Graduates

Jenna Baumler Parents: Scott & Julie Baumler

Birthdate: April 10, 1999 Baptized: May 9, 1999 Graduating from Mt. Vernon High School. Jenna plans to attend Iowa State University to major in

Early Childhood Education.

Gabriel Golberg Parents: Scott & Julie Golberg

Birthdate: May 14, 1999 Baptized: July 4, 1999 Graduating from Mt. Vernon High School. Gabe

plans to attend college to major in Business.

Payton McCarty Parents: Jay McCarty and the late Becky McCarty

Birthdate: February 2, 1999 Baptized: Oct. 7, 2007 Graduating from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rap-ids. Payton plans to study a trade—heating/cooling

or electrical.

Lexi Williams Parents: Steve & Colleen Williams

Birthdate: October 7, 1998 Baptized: Dec. 13, 1998 Graduating from Lisbon High School. Lexi plans to attend Des Moines Area Community College and major in Early

Childhood Development.

College Graduate

Nicole Spiess Parents: Gary & Kim Spiess

Graduated from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis on Tuesday, May 2 with a degree in Education Specialist: Curriculum & Instruction. Nicole works at

the Missouri School for the Severely Disabled and will be working on her Doctorate.

God’s blessings be upon you as you begin a new phase in your life!

Serving the Lord in June

Sunday, June 4 (Communion-Pentecost) Elder: Daniel Sanchez Acolyte: Mollie Snedden Crucifer: Elder Ushers/Greeters: Sneddens Fellowship: Council Sunday, June 11 (Communion-Holy Trinity) Elder: Nate Von Behren Acolyte: Bryce Hepker Crucifer: Elder Ushers/Greeters: Margheims Fellowship: Youth Sunday, June 18 (Communion) Elder: Scott Baumler Acolyte: Kian Hageman Ushers/Greeters: Dennis Uthof, Maureen DeWald Fellowship: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sunday, June 25 Elder: Daniel Sanchez Acolyte: Bryce Hepker Ushers/Greeters: Youth Fellowship: Muffins for Mites

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FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR

6/4 Gary’s/donuts Council

6/11 Gary’s/meat & cheese Youth

6/18 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

6/25 Muffins for Mites P. Guild

7/2 Gary’s/donuts Elders

7/9 Gary’s/meat & cheese Altar G.

7/16 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

7/23 Voters’ Assembly & Potluck

7/30 Muffins for Mites P. Guild

Prayer Corner Please continue to remember last month’s special prayer requests… Elva Wolrab, Recovery from broken hip (is home)

Susan Schmidt, Hospitalized for TIA

Ron Hertzler, Chronic pain Glenn Kurth, Health concerns

Deb Kurth, Health concerns

Tessa Cords, Complications with diabetes Jeff Butterbaugh, ALS Marsha Light, Cancer Koreen Thompson, Breast cancer Bryan Maxie, Leukemia Leila Taylor (Curt’s mother), Cancer Kathleen Hoagland, Brain cancer Joyce Conley, Leukemia Carmen Musser, Cancer Bryan Mason, Cancer Keith Karr, Health Issues Leona Danker, Cancer Aïchatou Johnson, Mental health concerns

Sharon Jurgens, Acute leukemia

Jim Steinberg, In need of kidney transplant

Eldon Meyer, Hospitalized with pneumonia

Whitney (friend of Sullivans), Knee surgery

Cindy Hatfield, Cancer

Jan Behn, Health concerns

Family of Dennis Williams, Death

Family of Marjorie Legband, Death

Family of Lucille Kremenak, Death