A Word from Interim Pastor Wayne Disciples and Community Ascension May 10th and Pentecost May 20th

As Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection; his disciples were there, "looking intently up into the sky" (Acts 1:10). Their Lord and Master was being taken away from them, yet they were assured by an angel, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). What the disciples experienced while looking up inspired them in their discipleship. "They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God," the Bible says (Luke 24:52-53). These eleven now must figure out what that discipleship would look like. On returning to Jerusalem the first thing they came to realize is they were not complete they needed to be whole. Acts 1:12 is clear that their community was not complete until the lost Judas was replaced with Matthias. They had a call to become a complete community to not let anything stop them from becoming a complete community not bound to what they had lost but to seek wholeness in what they could gain. They were then called to wait for divine intervention. And fifty

days after the resurrection they were again all together in one place (Acts 2:1) and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) and the amazing thing that happened is they now went out and those things like language and ethnicity that had always before been a dividing and road block to becoming community now were removed. People once separated were now able to confess to one another their short comings and together to give absolution and support to each other. Each aware they were part of this new community of Christians aware that they have a role to play and they too are called to be disciples and builders of community. May we at St. Paul use the long green season of Pentecost to grow as a community.

There is no I in the “Lord’s Prayer”!

Have you noticed that there are no singular pronouns in the Lord’s Prayer? We pray Our Father who art in Heaven. Give us our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive. Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. Maybe the lord expected the people who prayed that prayer to be in community.

The Messenger

May 2018

Opportunities to Serve May BirthdaysMay 2 – Mark AustinMay 3 – John LambertMay 6 – Gavin ManningMay 7 – Marvin MillerMay 13 – Aaron PutnamMay 15 – Wendy HaaseMay 16 – Paul ThorsonMay 18 – Nathan MilleMay 18 – Erik SolbergMay 19 – Frank CurtissMay 19 – Maya EstesMay 23 – Mark MackinsonMay 25 – Jim GirardMay 25 – Amber SalinasMay 26 – Anna SchmidtMay 27 – Ted BauknechtMay 28 – Reagan HaaseMay 28 – Lisa JenningsMay 29 – Tom JacquatMay 29 – Sara Solberg

May Anniversaries

May 1 – Doug & Peggie Schneeman (1971)May 1 – Jim & Amanda Walsberg (1994)May 28 – Marvin & Darlene Miller (2011)May 31 – Ken & Danita Lewis (1996)

Boys and Girls Club Ministry!

Fourth Fridays of Each month3:15-4:15 @Boys & Girls ClubPlay Games and Enjoy Treats!See Julie Mehlberg for more

information!Come Join Us!!

We will be collecting Macaroni and Cheese for the months of May and June in honor and memory of Nancy Highland.

Mary Leach is the flower chairperson for the months of May and June. If you would like to donate flowers on a particular Sunday in memory of or in honor of someone, please sign your name on the Flower Chart located on the kiosk, and write a check, payable to St. Paul Lutheran Church, for $25.00, noting on the check that it is for altar flowers, and County Market will deliver the flowers to the church. If you have questions, contact Mary.

Graduate Recognition May 13Attention! May 13 is our graduate recognition day. Anyone who has a graduating 8th, 12th, college, or post college graduate, please have your names to Angie Zehr at 815.842.2095 or email her at stpaulpontiac@gmail.com by April 29. Thank you!

Reminder:

Health and Wellness Sunday is the third Sunday of each month.

Mary Leach or one of our many parish nurses will be on hand before and after worship on these Sundays to check blood pressures, blood sugars, and help you form questions for your health professional should you have need.

The Bibles & Bagels group will meet on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 9:30 am. At Edinger’s Filling Station. Any woman who would like to attend an informal bible study is welcome to come to this meeting.

Want to be an EME? That is an Extraordinary Minister of The Eucharist. Since Pastor Wayne is only ¾ time, he could use help taking communion to shut-ins he would like 3-6 people to volunteer to take communion on Sundays after church to our shut-ins. You will be provided with a communion liturgy and a communion kit. Also if you could write down the names of people you think might benefit from this ministry and give it to Pastor Wayne, this would be much appreciated.

Our Mission Statement:

The People of St. PaulGather to worship,

Reach out,and serve the Lord.

Worship Flower DonationsThe new 2018 flower chart is on the kiosk. You are encouraged to sign up for two weeks. Please remember to write your $25 check to St. Paul specifically earmarked as “flower donation.” Thank you for helping to make our worship space bring glory to God!

PLEASE NOTE: The Confirmation Class meets on Sundays at 9:00 am.

The Rebecca Circle will meet on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 1:30 pm in the fellowship hall. The hostess will be Donna Buckler. The lesson “Hospitality for All” will be given by Mil Girard. Hospitality is more than just “good manners” – it’s a spiritual discipline. The lesson encourages us to define ourselves as God does- through love. Martha Telford will lead in devotions, and Carol Thorson will give the offering meditation. Any woman who would like to attend this afternoon Bible study is welcome to come and join us.

Congregational Open House – May 20Jake Dixon and Blayne Jacobs

Everyone is welcome to stop by the parish hall on May 20 after worship and congratulate Jake and Blayne on their upcoming wedding. Feel free to share a favorite recipe, special advice, or a gift for the couple. They are registered at Target and Menards. Hope to see you there to wish God’s blessings upon them as they begin their life together!

www.stpaulpontiac.org is New!Please check out our new church website! You are still able to watch videos of the sermons, newsletters, and bulletins. If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact Julie Mehlberg.

In an effort to keep our prayer list up to date and to allow Pastor Wayne to make visits, there are new prayer request forms in the Church office. You may still contact Angie by phone or e-mail with prayer requests.

It is time to update the Church directory. Copies of the directory will be on a table outside the sanctuary so please check your information and provide us with any necessary updates. Deadline for updates will be May 1st.

May 2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

Admin. Team Meeting4:30 pm

Deadline for Directory updates

6 7 8 9 10 11 129am Adult SS10am Worship“Around the Rail” Communion

.Bibles & Bagels

9:30 am

13 14 15 16 17 18 199am Adult SS10amWorshipGraduate RecognitionRed bag offering

Council Meeting6-8 pm

1:30 pmRebecca

Circle

20 21 22 23 24 25 269am Adult SS10am Worship“Open House” for Blayne Jacobs & Jake DixonHealth & Wellness

Newsletter articles due

Boys & Girls Club

3:15 pm

27 28 29 30 319am Adult SS10am Worship

May 6

Presiding Minister: Pastor Wayne ShelksohnWorship Steward: Mark MackinsonMusician: Sara SolbergLector: Gerald BucklerPsalms: Tate HendershottAcolyte: Tate Henderschott Ushers: Ted & Ginger BauknechtGreeters: Jimm & Becky EdingerPrayers: Pat LundCommunion Prep: Becky EdingerComm. Assist: Karen Claypool & Anita KleinGuest Ambassador: Pat LundHospitality: Linda Harms, Mary Leach & Darlene MillerCounters: Marty Heller & Mark Mackinson

May 13

Presiding Minister: Pastor Wayne ShelksohnWorship Steward: Brad SolbergMusician: Sandy EricksonLector: Kris LambertPsalms: Kaylee DelheimerAcolyte: Kaylee DelheimerUshers: Susan Curtiss & Mark MackinsonGreeters: Ed & Maurine Gentes Prayers: Kathy RyghCommunion Prep: Jean HarrisonCommunion Asst: Max Gschwendtner & Sam Lambert, Jr.Guest Ambassador: Jill RappHospitality: Bill Frazier, Sara Solberg & Mil GirardCounters: Marvin Miller & Dennis Leach

May 20

Presiding Minister: Pastor Wayne Shelksohn Worship Steward: Pat LundMusician: Sandy EricksonLector: Dawn BoitnottPsalms: Maverick WilcoxAcolyte: Maverick WilcoxUshers: Steve & Jill RappGreeters: Larry & Tracy LeachPrayers: Jeanne RappCommunion Prep: Carol ThorsonCommunion Assist: Brad & Sara SolbergGuest Ambassador: Jeanne RappHospitality: none- open house for Blayne & JakeCounters: Cody Leach & Jean Harrison

May 27

Presiding Minister: Pastor Wayne ShelksohnWorship Steward: Mark MackinsonMusician: Julie MehlbergLector: Lori BristowPsalms: Reagan HaaseAcolyte: Reagan HaaseUshers: Tom & Linda HarmsGreeters: Darlene Miller & Jessica MillsPrayers: Lucy KehindeCommunion Prep: Denny & Mary LeachComm. Asst: Marvin Miller & Jill RappGuest Ambassador: Lucy KehindeHospitality: Carol Thorson, Sandy Erickson & Alexis RichCounters: Jake Dixon & Marty Heller

Worship Servers—May 2018

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND YOUR OWN SUBSTITUTE IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE ON THE DATE ASSIGNED. IF YOU ARE FILLING IN FOR SOMEEONE, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU LET THE WORSHIP STEWARD KNOW WHO YOU ARE

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND YOUR OWN SUBSTITUTE IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE ON THE DATE ASSIGNED. IF YOU ARE FILLING IN FOR SOMEEONE, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU LET THE WORSHIP STEWARD KNOW WHO YOU ARE