PARISH NEWSLETTER

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

Beatrice, Nebraska

DECEMBER 2014 AD

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SCHOOL NEWS Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

As the month of December begins we turn our thoughts toward the coming of Christ our King,

and the celebration of His birth long ago in Bethlehem. While the busyness of the holiday season

can sometimes distract us, we hope to keep our students focused on the real reason for

Christmas. We spend time in religion classes speaking of God’s plan for our salvation, we sing

Christmas hymns and carols in music and chapel, and on December 19 we will have Birthday

Party for Jesus. We celebrate because He came to save us!

One important aspect of our preparations includes the upcoming Children’s Christmas Program.

This year the program will be held on Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. We invite

all of you to come and hear the wondrous news that Christ has been born as presented by our

church and school children. The theme for this year’s program is “Of the Father’s Love

Begotten”.

There will be no school from December 22 through January 5 as we enjoy time with our families

during Christmas vacation. School will resume on Tuesday, January 6. That Friday, January 9

will be the end our our second quarter of the school year

There will be no school on Monday, January 19 as the teachers will be having an inservice day

of learning and classroom preparation.

Our Parent Teacher League is sponsoring a New Year’s Family Celebration on Friday, January

2, from 6:00-9:00 PM. The party will include a DJ, concessions, a bounce house, and a photo

booth. Come and join us for an evening of family fun and fellowship!

We are presently taking applications for the 2014-2015 Pre-School (3 year olds) and Pre-

Kindergarten (4 year olds) classes. Anyone interested in enrolling should contact the school

office for an application.

Please continue to save ***Campbell’s Labels for Education, ***General Mills Box-tops for

Education, ***Our Family labels, ***SunMart cash register receipts, ***Tyson Project A+

labels, ***My Coke Rewards codes. Thank you for your help with these collections.

B.E.A.R. (Be Excited About Reading) Fair will be held the end of January again this school year.

Students will be taking magazine subscriptions. If you are about to subscribe or renew a

subscription we would appreciate if you would wait until then! The profits from the fair are used

to buy new books for the school library. Watch for more information as the B.E.A.R. Fair gets

closer.

Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

Mrs. Amy Duever, Principal

Notes and Reminders… Every Sunday- 8:00a & 10:30a- Worship Services 9:15a- Sunday School & Adult Bible Class

Dec 3, 10 & 17- 10:00a- Advent Matins 11:00a- Matins lunch provided by Dorcas 5:30p- Advent Vespers Supper 7:00p- Advent Vespers

Dec 7- Youth Group Christmas Caroling

Dec 14- Children’s Christmas Program 3pm & 5pm

Dec 31- 6:00p New Year’s Eve Service

Thanks to the gracious people at the Beatrice State Developmental Center for preparing our monthly newsletters for mailing this month. We sincerely appreciate their volunteer work and a job well done.

Thank You to Chris Morris for donating the soup money for the Advent lunches.

December at St. Paul’s Lutheran School:

14- Children’s Christmas program at St. Paul’s Church 19- Early Dismissal at 11:45am 22- (to January 5th)- Christmas Vacation

Reminder to Dorcas members! The January meeting will be held January 15, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Home in the activity center. Business meeting at 12:30pm and activities at 1:30pm. All members bring a precut Angel Food cake.

Visit our website for the latest updates at stpaulbeatrice.org

BULLETINS RECEIVED

October 26 Arvid & Althea Wiest Hope Lutheran- Shawnee, KS Oct 19, Nov 2 & 9 Dorothy Nickel Holy Savior Lutheran- Lincoln, NE

November 9 Arch & Sarah Morris Univ. Presbyterian Church-TX November 2 Wilferd Deke, Easley Family First United Methodist-Lincoln, NE

Stewardship Article

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God became man; he took on human

flesh, so that men would once again dwell with God. In the fullness of time, the Son of God from

eternity became a part of history to be born under the law in order to redeem those under the law.

Christ came from heaven above to earth below for us men and for our salvation. He who knew

no sin became sin so that we would be declared righteous in God’s sight. He was defiled so that

we would be cleansed. He was born so that we would not die, and He died for us so that we

would live in Him. He took upon Himself everything that rightfully belongs to us—sin and

death—and in exchange gave to us everything that rightfully belongs to Him—righteousness,

life, and the status as the sons of God.

This is what we celebrate in Advent and at Christmas. We celebrate the coming of our Lord to

save us from sin, death, and hell. We celebrate that God in Christ cared for us in body and soul,

for He came not only to reconcile us to the Father by taking away our sin, but also to redeem us

from death and hell so that we would live with Him in His kingdom, which has no end.

In a sermon on Acts 6 for St. Stephen’s Day, preached on December 26, 1522, Martin Luther

said this: “From this story we learn in the first place how a Christian community should be

constituted. In addition, we have a true pattern of spiritual government that the apostles here

provide. They care for souls, occupy themselves with preaching and prayer, and yet also see to it

that the body is cared for; for they suggest several men who are to distribute the goods, as you

have heard. Thus the Christian rule is concerned for the people in body and soul, so that no one

suffers want . . . that all were richly fed and well cared for in both body and soul.”

And this is one reason we give to the church. We give so that people will see the church not just

as a place that cares for souls, that forgives sins, but also a place that cares for the body. For the

church is a place of mercy. It is a place where we inhale God’s mercy and loving kindness

through the Word and the Sacraments for the forgiveness of our sin. And it’s a place where we

exhale the mercy we received there in love and service to our neighbor. The church cares for

both the body and the soul.

The church is not so heavenly minded that it forgets those in need on earth. In fact, it cares for

the needs of this body and life precisely because it is heavenly minded. We seek to do what God

has done for us. The church is so ordered that it does both.

Giving to the church is a responsibility given to those who are the church. This can sometimes be

difficult. But it is also a great joy. For in giving to the church we are giving back to God for His

use for others what He has first given to us. In giving to the church, we participate in God’s work

here in time for all eternity. In giving to the church, we who are heavenly minded do what God

has done for us: dwell with those who live in a fallen world and care for them in both body and

soul. Let us, then, in this most joyous season of the church year, dwell not on the struggles in

giving, but rather on the joy set before us in caring for body and soul as God in Christ has done

for us.

Kelly Mees-Coordinator: 402-806-8839

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 100th Anniversary

Cookbook!

It’s your chance to share your TOP 4 recipes to be treasured for generations to come!

This mouthwatering cookbook will contain approximately 300+

recipes and will include your name next to your recipes.

***All recipes must be submitted on the provided forms available in the Narthex or church office.

**Recipe Deadline is January 4th!**

*Pre-Order your $15 cookbook today!

*Fill out the “Advanced Sales Cookbook Coupon”, available in the Narthex or church office and return it to the church office with your

$15 book fee!

*Cookbooks will be available during the 100th Anniversary Celebration in June 2015.

*Professionally printed by Morris Press Cookbooks of Kearney, NE.

2015

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Beatrice, Nebraska

CODE NUMBER OF ELDERSCASSIGNED TO FAMILIES

223-3177 Rod Aden ............................................................... Dale Adam to Dallas Burroughs

239-9128 Cliff Kumm .......................................................... Gary Busboom to Delores Eggert

223-4207 Al Mentgen .................................................... Dietrich Eisele to Marilyn Hammond

754-4213 Eldean Adam ......................................................... Shelby Hartig to Ronald Jobman

239- 5870 Kevin Ankersen ....................................... Duane Johnsen to Kristy Kumm-Stewart

228-3932 Wilfred Deke ........................................................ Maxine Kyles to Janet McClellan

223-4638 Keith Krecklow. .............................................. Brenda McConnell to Vernon Ming

223-5123 Dave Doering ..................................................... Loretta Mohling to Louis Oltmans

223-2926 Mel Bodtke............................................................... Norma Orth thru Della Roebke

688-4245 Dennis Leners ..................................................... Shirley Roebke thru Norbert Sohl

228-2137 Norbert Meyer ................................................Naomi Spielman thru Stacy Wallman

223-3672 Leonard Wortman ........................................... Brian Walters thru Chelsea Zutavern

CHAIRMAN-DR. JAMES NEDROW 1415 Oak St 228-2637

VICE-CHAIRMAN- SHAWN MEYER 2300 Grant 228-8314

SECRETARY-BONNIE LENERS 18117 E Scott Rd- Virginia 688-4245

TREASURER- ARVID WIEST 1612 Lake 228-3210

BOARD OF ELDERS: DAVE DOERING 1403 S 5th St 223-5123

AL MENTGEN 601 27TH Circle 223-4207

CLIFF KUMM 219 Belvidere 239-9128

ROD ADEN 1315 Paddock Ln 223-3177

DENNIS LENERS 18117 E Scott Rd- Virginia 688-4245

ELDEAN ADAM 315 Barry St- Harbine 754-4213

KEITH KRECKLOW 2121 High St 223-4638

KEVIN ANKERSEN 923 Prairie Ln 239-5870

LEONARD WORTMAN 613 Spring View Cir 223-3672

MEL BODTKE 517 S 10th St 223-2926

NORBERT MEYER 623 Pleasant St 228-2137

WILFERD DEKE 1702 Summit St 228-3932

BOARD OF EDUCATION DOUG TEGTMEIER- 3rd YR 1305 N 17th St 520-0463

BERRI EASLEY-2nd YR 1711 N 11th St 228-0319

PEGGY LOSEMAN-1st YR 410 Hill St 223-1461

SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD KELLY MEES- 3rd YR 209 South 13 St 223-5801

TOREE LANG-2nd YR 44224 S 36th Rd 239-4040

DIXIE JOHNSON-1st YR 300 Wiebe St 806-7504

TRUSTEES MONTE LOFING 1423 Grant St 223-2269

DUANE DELOZIER 1900 S 3rd St 228-4010

KEVIN RIEKENBERG 1001 N 13th St 223-2025

ERIC JOBMAN 6590 E Hoyt Rd 239-2941

STEVE SCHMIDT 632 E Linden Rd 228-0354

JASON DUFF 1605 N 11 St 223-0123

EVANGELISM VICKI FRERKING 831 W Scott St 228-3094

ASHLEY MENTGEN-DUFF 1605 N 11 St 223-0123

FLOICE MEYER 520 Wiebe St 228-4327

SHARON ADAM 315 Barry St- Harbine 754-4213

TERESA BRETHOUWER 2010 High St 223-4279

STEWARDSHIP SUZANNE MUNN 808 W Locust Rd 223-5582

PEGGY DOERING 1403 S 5th St 223-5123

DIANE LUX 113 S Sumner St 228-2363

MARILUS SNYDER 5432 W Lilac Rd 223-0434

Notes from Pastor Irmer Advent and Christmas are such a part of our awareness. Even in June and July we are

aware of Christmas. Some churches celebrate “Christmas in July” so people can

concentrate on Christmas, rather than the world’s distractions.

During December the Church Year is just beginning while the calendar of the world is

winding up for another year. At Advent we concentrate on the coming of Christ: Christ’s

coming at Bethlehem; Christ’s coming to us in Word and Sacrament and Christ’s coming

in glory at the Last Day.

In the Divine Service we have traveled through the entire Church Year. We have invoked

the holy and mighty name of the Triune God: Father Son and Holy Spirit; as was done in

our Baptism. We confessed our sin and received Holy Absolution. We heard God’s Word

read and the proclamation of the Sermon. We have received the Lord Jesus Christ’s holy

body and precious blood in, with and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

When those who are present have received the body and blood of the Savior for their

forgiveness and salvation, the congregation sings the mighty hymn of St. Simeon.

Simeon held the baby Jesus in His hands and prayed, “Lord, now let Your servant depart

in peace, Your word has been fulfilled. My eyes have seen the Salvation You have

prepared for all people.” In the Sacrament of the Altar we have seen Jesus, just as Simeon

saw Jesus; we have received forgiveness, life and salvation, even as St. Simeon did.

Having received forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, we thank the Lord for His gifts

and pray that He will grant us faith to use them in love toward our neighbor.

The Divine Service ends quickly after the Supper is over. We raise our voices in song.

The Pastor proclaims God’s grace to us in the benediction. We are assured and reassured

of God’s mercy and His protection for us. The Lord blesses us and keeps us, The Lord

makes His face shine upon us and is gracious to us. He lifts up His countenance upon us

and gives us His peace.

The peace of God is the peace that passes all understanding. This is the peace that the

angels sang outside of Bethlehem to the shepherds and all people: “Peace on earth, good

will toward men.”

Jesus Christ is our peace with God. In the Divine Service Jesus Christ comes to us in

Word and Sacrament. In the Divine Service the Lord Jesus forgives all our sins. The

Divine Service is not “what the church does,” the Divine Service is who we are.

The Divine Service defines us and directs us throughout our lives. As at Christmas, in the

Divine Service Almighty God stoops down and comes to us. As Jesus became a baby at

Christmas, He comes to us in the Divine Service.

The Divine Service is why we come to church: the forgiveness of sins. As at Christmas, n

the Divine Service Christ puts away what is ours and gives us what is His. Thanks be to

God!

Pr. Irmer