Newsletter of Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Grange TX God’s work. Our hands.

A Member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Volume 49 Issue 4

April 2016

Bishop Mike Rinehart will preach Sunday, April 17!! Make plans to attend!!

8th Grade Confirmation Service

9 a.m.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Bishop Mike is preaching here on April 17! Please plan to join us at 9:00 am for worship on April 17th! I’ve had a couple people ask the question, “Why is the bishop coming?” Sometimes people are inclined to associate visits from the synod office as, “uh oh, what’s wrong?” Let me put your mind at ease: there’s nothing wrong! Bishop Mike is coming to visit us because I asked him to! I believe it is important that we have a strong partnership with the Synod Office. As part of that relationship I like to have the Bishop, or one of his representatives, come visit us once a year if possible. Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Blair Lundborg was here for my installation and so it’s time. I believe that we as the church are stronger when we are united than when we are apart. That means both inside the walls and outside the walls. That’s why we participate in things such as the Community worship services at Thanksgiving, and now on Easter morning. That’s why we work with other churches in AMEN and Second Chance. That’s why we maintain a partnership with our sister congregation in Peru. And that’s why I asked the Bishop to come bring greetings to us from our fellow congregations around the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet and greet Bishop Mike either before or after the service on April 17th! Blessings on you this Easter season!

Pastor Candy Confirma�on Class 2015-2016

(Confirmaon Class is Wednesday from 5:45-7:00 p.m.)

April 13

April 20

May 1 - Confirmaon Service

July 24-29 Confirmaon Camp at Lutherhill

BLOOD DRIVE

St. Paul Fellowship Hall

Thursday, April 21

10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Happy 100th Birthday Glennie Oppermann – April 16th, 2016

Glennie Oppermann is joining Florine Falke in St. Paul Lutheran Church’s “100’s Club”. Glennie will celebrate her 100th

birthday on April 16th

.

Glennie’s family would like to invite each of you to celebrate this milestone birthday and con�nue crea�ng a life�me of

memories with Glennie.

When: Saturday, April 16, 2016

Where: Rutersville Hermann Sons Lodge Hall

5830 St. Hwy 159; La Grange, Texas

Time: 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

If you are unable to join Glennie on Saturday, April 16th, and would like to send a birthday card, please mail it to:

605 Blair Avenue; Bastrop, Texas 78602.

Glennie was born in Haw Creek, Texas to Henry and Frieda Eilers. She married Arthur Oppermann on June 23, 1938, at

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Warrenton. They later moved to La Grange, and joined St. Paul Lutheran Church. They were

blessed with two children: Barbara Ann and Fred Henry (1939-2005).

Glennie has numerous hobbies and past mes. She enjoys crocheng, sewing, and quilng. For numerous years, she quilted

with the St. Paul Quilters on Monday mornings. Glennie also enjoys watching sports. Her love for sports began when she

a@ended Oldenburg School and played sports with the Oldenburg Owls. She sll avidly watches the Astros on television,

and when her Great-Grandchildren were in high school she a@ended the events and cheered them on from the bleachers.

Glennie liked gardening, canning, and cooking. Glennie’s true love has always been her family, and recently she was blessed

with her first Great-Great Grandchild, Brooks Saxon, born on January 19, 2016.

Once again, the family would like to invite you to join them on April 16th.

Chatting with the Volunteer Coordinator

Much action at St. Paul’s in the last five weeks!!

The addition of the Lenten lunches following the 10 a.m. service was enjoyed by 25-30 weekly. Soups, sandwiches,

deviled eggs, delectable desserts, coffee and tea were provided by various members. At the last Lenten service, folks

asked to please do this again next year.

The St. Paul Church Council Retreat was held Sunday, March 13 at the Randolph Center. Pastor Don Carlson lead us

through a Spirituality and Leadership Workshop where we identified our personality, discovered our spirituality type

and discussed how important it is that the Leadership knows who they are in order to have individual and

congregational growth! There is much theological diversity! St. Paul’s is encouraged to participate in The LEAD

Journey specifically the Wake Up Process: 1. Clarity of congregational purpose and values and 2. Alignment

congregation for mission

“A Circle of Love” – Year No. 6 at St. Paul—it was a beautiful ‘circle of love’ again. Despite the time and effort,

“every person who worked on it said: “Call me again! I do think it was a glimpse of reunion in the kingdom!!”

Worship and Communion, photography, delicious fried chicken and love and fellowship—God’s blessings abound!

The Funeral Food Committee met March 30 to complete the teams for the congregational ministry of hospitality by

providing a luncheon reception for bereaved families. Thanks to all of you for returning your letters!! This

information will be shared with all participating!

Landscaping, new sidewalks, sprinkler system are all in process of installation!!

Thanks to all for your help and input as we daily answer God’s call and share His ministry at St. Paul’s!

Members please complete the “Time and Gifts Survey” if you have not already done so!! You can pick one up at the

office or on the bulletin board across from the Friendship Room. Or you can contact me at any time and I will get it to

you. The completed ones can be turned in to the office or placed on narthex counter in basket!!

What is a Volunteer Coordinator? It is the duty of the Volunteer Coordinator to be sensitive to and knowledgeable of

the various ways God calls and equips people to share His ministry within the context of our church. I encourage each

of you to contact me at any time with any current areas of interest or participation of existing or new activities in our

church. You may talk to me in person, call or text me at 979-966-8104 or email me at Carolyn@cvctx.com. I am

presently in the church office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays .

Carolyn Bennetsen

Quilt and Kit Shipping Fund Appeal The Quilt and Kit Shipping Fund Appeal will be held the weekend of April 9-10 worship services. “Love Offering” envelopes

will be given to all attending the services. Your gifts can be placed in the offering plate or brought/mailed to the church office. St. Paul shipped 116 school kits, 129 personal health kits and 106 quilts this year. Additionally, 181 personal health kits collected at the WELCA Synod Gathering at St. Paul’s in the fall were delivered to Rutersville Monday, March 28. The cost for shipping these kits is as follows:

116 School Kits @ $1.40 = $ 162.40 129 Personal Health Kits @ $2.65 = $ 341.85 106 Quilts @ $2.25 = $ 238.50 181 Personal Health Kits (Synod) @ $2.65 = $ 479.65

Total Shipping Costs $1,222.40 Thank you for your generosity to help defray the cost of shipping!!

On March 19, 1026, we welcomed into our bapzed

membership: � Colby Douglas Menefee, son of Courtney Menefee and John Barakat. Colby’s sponsors are Christopher Menefee and Casey Edmiaston.

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church

2016 Second Chance Work Schedule

April 5 – 11 May 17 – 23 July 12 – 18

August 23 – 29 October 11 – 17 Nov. 29 – Dec. 5

Second Chance hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. & Mondays, 8 a.m.

Tuesday-Thursday are spent receiving, pricing and puFng items out to sell; Fridays and

Saturdays are the days the store is open to the public; and Monday mornings are for

straightening up the store for the next volunteers.

Thank you to all volunteers and we always welcome new volunteers!

St. Paul Coordinators:

Darlene Bramble@, Carolyn Buchanek, Pa@y Ehler,

Jo Lene Hughes, Linda Morrison, and Gloria Raschke

Send St. Paul to Peru!

A trip to visit our sister congregaon, Emanuel Lutheran, in Peru is scheduled for June 9-13. It has

been 8 years since our last visit. We need your help to send a team to visit our sisters and brothers

in ministry. We are going in conjuncon with the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod trip to Peru.

Kathy Toensing and Gail Cook have booked their ckets! The base cost to send a member to Peru

is approximately $1,500. Anything above that expense will be sent with the team as a donaon for

to start a children’s program at Emanuel.

Please prayerfully consider helping in any or all of the following ways. All monetary donaons will

be reflected in your statement of contribuon.

St Paul Lutheran church, the members and community of Peru Thank you!

I, ___________________________________________________ want to help!

(please print full name)

_____ SIGN ME UP! I feel called to show Christ’s love to our sisters in ministry in Peru. I will go to

Peru as a member of the team. Please provide your contact informaon below.

_____ I WANT TO SPONSOR A MEMBER. Even though I cannot be there, I would like to

contribute toward “send a member to Peru”. Please find my donaon enclosed in the

amount of ____________________________.

_____ I HAVE AIRLINE MILES. I have airline miles I would like to give toward trip.

_____ START THE CHILDREN’S PROGRAM. The children’s program is very important to the

children of Peru and me. Please find my donaon enclosed in the amount of

__________________________.

_____ SEND MY LOVE. Please share this message with our sisters in ministry:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Please provide your contact informaon Name, phone number, email address.)

LYO Lutheran Youth Organizaon

What’s up?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

March was very busy!! Thank you for supporting our Easter Breakfast!! $257.00 for Meals on Wheels.

We continued our Stock Sale and planning for our summer trip. Here is what’s coming up for us in April & May:

April 1 - LYO Scholarship Applications due in office by noon

April 6 - Agape (Weyand)/Wolfpack (Rhodes/Mach) 6:30 p.m.

April 13 - LYO Wednesday (Cooper) 6:30 p.m.

April 15 - Final Trip deposits due!

April 20 - Agape (Virnau)/Wolfpack (Colo ᷇n) 6:30 p.m.

April 24 - Officer Meeting (6:00 p.m.); Regular LYO Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

April 27 - LYO Wednesday (Fajkus) 6:30 p.m.

May 1 - LYO Summer Trip Meeting (10:15 a.m.)

May 2 - LYO Summer Trip Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

May 4 - Agape (Naiser)/Wolfpack (Naiser) 6:30 p.m.

May 8 - Senior Recognition during the 9 a.m. Worship service

May 11 - LYO Wednesday (OPEN) (OPEN) (OPEN) (OPEN) 6:30 p.m.

May 15 - LYO End of Year Party - float river in San Marcos - leave

immediately after church. The LYO 5th Annual Stock Sale began in February. This is our primary

fundraiser and we appreciate the generous support from our family at St. Paul!!

Our Stock holder meal will be held Saturday August 13, 2016. Our Stock holder meal will be held Saturday August 13, 2016. Our Stock holder meal will be held Saturday August 13, 2016. Our Stock holder meal will be held Saturday August 13, 2016.

Postcards invitations to the Stock holder meal will be mailed in July.

LYO is the high school ministry of St. Paul,

for youth in 9th

-12th

grade.

1 Tracy Richter

2 Edward Anders, Maddie Sustr

3 Dennis Neuman, Ashley Steinmann

4 Greg Bage, Marley Grimes, Ty Koether

5 Joshua Roscher

7 Caleb Parks, Don Steinmann

8 Verlene Citzler, Morgan Fajkus, Joyce Kolbe,

Jordan Moore , Jenelle Oeltjendiers, Brooke Sustr

9 Mel Cameron, Monroe Hengst

10 Carol Kirsch, Victoria Staal

11 Katie Anders, Evan Elias, Jennifer Gilliam

12 Kenlie Muske, Chris Mayer

13 Randy Freudenberg, Korley Roesler

14 Elton Oppermann, Jr., Sean Spano

15 Lori Moerbe

16 Ginger Friemel, Brenda Killough, Sarah Lude,

Glennie Oppermann

17 Grayson Bage, Tracetyn Nietsche, Kole Parchman,

Martha Powell, Edgar Tiedt

19 Patsy Fowler, Eugene Hunger

21 Glenn Altwein, Betty Anders, Vivian Gest,

Cindy Hengst, Harley Latham,

Hamana Pestana, Jaxon Radcliff

22 Bonnye Karger, Sid Roden

23 Janet Coronado, Rose Hunger

24 Madison Berger, Sara Gutierrez, Jaxon Kurtz

25

Aimee Elles, Juanita Frels, Julie Karstedt,

Ryann Marshall

26 Kenneth Hernandez

27 Lummus Hannes

28 Dawn Blackwell, Christopher Morales

29 Edmund Anders, Jr., Callie Byler, Ryan Elles,

Jonathan Harbers, Marilyn Miller, Art Schneider

30 Kyle Oltmann, Gary Richter

6 Connor Paden

Kenny & Patti Weber April 6 25 years

Howard & Phyllis Bohot April 12 30 years

Richard & Janet Schmidt April 13 31 years

Steven & Laurie Boehm April 14 9 years

Edmund & Betty Anders April 15 38 years

Ted & Jean Harbers April 16 33 years

Royce & JoAnn Friemel April 18 19 years

Jarrett & Chelsea Fajkus April 30 5 years

2016 Synod Assembly

May 19-21, 2016

Hilton Houston North

Sunday, August 7, 2016

KC Hall

Mark your calendars!!

We would like to thank everyone for the beautiful service and luncheon on Maundy Thursday. The meal was delicious and we appreciate it.

God Bless, AC & Annazell von Minden

Thank you for Lenten Lunches & Suppers!!

Thank you for bringing soups, sandwiches, deviled eggs, breads,

cornbread, crackers and delectable desserts to the lunches after

the morning Lenten services. Twenty-five to thirty-two folks

enjoyed these meals weekly and “voted” to do it again in 2017!!

Thanks, too, to the organizations and families who furnished

delicious soups and desserts for the traditional suppers held each

Wednesday prior to the evening service!

Sidewalks

The sidewalk to Washington Street and the office

will be replaced as soon as possible!

The Ark Playscape

The Ark has been removed from its exisng area.

A new Ark will be relocated at a later date.

Landscaping

The Landscaping project will be completed when

the sidewalk work is finished.

If your group has a special event planned, let us know by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the newsle"er.

Any of these organiza%ons and groups would be pleased to have you become a part of their ministry and

ac%vi%es.

AAernoon Circle meets the first Tuesday, April 5, 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Fishers of Men meet Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. at the home of David Ehler, 450 E Pecan. Frank Macaulay and

Frank Teykl co-host. All men are welcome to a@end!!

Friends In Faith will meet Monday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Agnes Hannes. All are invited to come for

fellowship and Bible study.

Ladies Aid meets the third Tuesday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. in the Friendship Room.

Tacky Tuesday is Tuesday, April 19 beginning at 8 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will be pinning, hemming and

tying quilts for Lutheran World Relief. We begin making quilts for 2017!!

Lasagna will be furnished. Bring a side dish to share at a 11:45 lunch!! Lots of fellowship!!

Hand-Quil�ng takes place every Monday morning at 8 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Monday Morning

Quilters welcome anyone to join in to observe, learn and/or stch quilts. We quilt for the public and charity!! All

proceeds go to Lutheran World Relief.

CUT-UPS meet Wednesday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 13 at 8 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Join in to help iron

fabric, cut fabric into squares and make kits for Lutheran World Relief Quilt Tops!!

The Altar Guild meets quarterly. They meet Tuesday, June 14, 4 p.m. in the Friendship Room.

A.M.E.N. (Area Ministries for Emergency Needs) 2016 Work Schedule

Mondays 9 - 11 a.m.; Thursdays 1 - 3 p.m.

June 13 & 16; August 29 & September 1; November 14 & 17

Sponsoring churches are asked to provide at least 4 people to distribute food and 2-3 people to interview

clients. Volunteers should arrive 15 minutes early to prepare for clients. Please plan to stay aTer AMEN closes

to restock and finish any paper work.

We thank everyone who volunteered in the past and welcome new volunteers!

St. Paul Coordinator: Mannie Fritsch Schmid

APRIL 2016

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April 2 & 3

Greeters

Ushers Annette Citzler Becky Wessels Wayne Anders Family

Lectors Margaret Roscher

Acolytes Tyson Roscher Colby Spann

Altar Guild Kathy Brewer Faye Bresan

Flowers

5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.

April 9 & 10

Greeters

Ushers Mark & Kathy Carter Mark Bage Family

David Jochen Family

Lectors

Acolytes Ryann Marshall

Altar Guild Dennis & Nancy Zbranek Janet Coronado

Flowers Annette Citzler

5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.

April 16 & 17

Greeters

Ushers Jackie Skelton Jarrett Skelton

Gene & Sherry Jaster Kenny & Patty Weber

Lectors Margaret Roscher

Acolytes Tyson Roscher Natalie Blackwell

Altar Guild William & Rose Hunger Tanya Psencik

Flowers Altar - Mannie Fritsch

Stand - Friemel/Holsinger

5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.

April 23 & 24

Greeters

Ushers John D & Kay Marburger Harvey & Debbie Busch

John Pineda Family

Lectors

Acolytes Katie Anders

Altar Guild Darlene Bramblett Lisa Moellenberndt

Flowers

April 30 & May 1

Greeters

Ushers Darlene Bramblett

Barbara Greenwood Chuck & Karen Bellue Darrell & Lori Moerbe

Lectors Annazell von Minden

Acolytes

Altar Guild AC & Annazell von Minden Velrie Prause

Flowers Confirmation Families

5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.

Our Mission Statement:

Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church,

in the name of Christ, cares, shares, and provides

Christian growth opportunity to our community.

Saint Paul 2016 Congrega�on Council

Glenn Davis, President

Gene Jaster, Vice-President

Diane Berger, Secretary

Gail Cook, Treasurer

Katy Adams, Youth & Parish Ed

ScoI Toensing, Property

Dianne Lude, Worship

Kay Schielack, Outreach/Social Ministry

Don Koether, Mutual Ministry

Debbie Busch, Stewardship

Parish Office Hours:

Monday 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday (closed for lunch noon-1 p.m.)

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m.-noon

Office Phone: 979-968-5657 Fax: 979-968-6950

Pastor Cell Phone: 979-966-2459

Fellowship Hall Phone: 979-968-9603

www.stpaullg.org stpaul@cvctx.com

Saint Paul Lutheran Church Leaders

The Rev. Candis O’Meara, Senior Pastor pastorcandis@gmail.com

(979)966-2459

Melinda Zajicek, Office Administrator stpaul@cvctx.com

Carolyn Bennetsen, Volunteer Coordinator carolyn@cvctx.com

Sherise Davis, Organist

Bonnye Karger, Organist

Jean McHenry, Organist

Kathy Toensing, Adult Choir/Praise Band Choir

Laurie Stork, Handbell Choirs

Carolyn Bennetsen, Agnes Hannes, Lummus Hannes,

Ruth Hensel, & Mannie Fritsch-Schmid,

Stephen Ministers

Messenger April 2016

Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

P O Box 567/427 S Washington Street

La Grange, Texas 78945

Non-Profit Organiza�on

U.S. Postage Paid

La Grange, Texas

Permit No. 83

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Pray for Peace!